Libraries are a measure of our civilization. When you drive into an old town with an ancient library that Andrew Carnegie had built in many parts of the country, you stop and look, and even when the library is closed, you look in wonder at the magnificent structure where generations of people of all ages had borrowed books that they might not have read without a good local library that stores the treasures of our civilization.
On Tuesday, July 5, Jacksonville will vote on a proposed 1-mill increase to rebuild its crumbling library. It is the oldest in the Central Arkansas Library System and has so many structural problems that it would cost less to build a new one for about $2.5 million.
Although Jacksonville would get a wonderful new library, the costs are modest. The average taxpayer would pay $20 a year if the millage passes. That $20, of course, is on a home valued on the assessor’s books at $100,000. Assessed at 20 percent ($20,000) times .001 = $20.
That’s a rather modest investment in a library that is sorely needed and would help revitalize downtown Jacksonville.
Here’s a reminder to Jacksonville residents: Early voting has started at the Pulaski County Courthouse. Early voting continues next Monday at Jacksonville City Hall. Otherwise, please vote on Tuesday, July 5 and help make reading fun again.
Wednesday, June 22, 2005
NEIGHBORS>> Idea House
IN SHORT: Benefit is set in Cabot for Open Arms on July 9-10
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
Years ago at church, Rhonda House, of Uniquely Southern Homes Inc. of Cabot, asked a group of children if they had a prayer request. A little girl asked for prayers for one of her friends but told House she couldn’t tell the group her friend’s name. When House asked the little girl why not, the answer moved her.
“She said, ‘Because her daddy’s been sexually abusing her and her mommy does drugs so the Department of Human Services is going to take her to a safe house shelter and she doesn’t want anybody to know,’” House said.
Since then, House said she’s felt God calling her to work with Open Arms Shelter for abused and neglected children in Lonoke County. Opened in 1986, the shelter has provided safe housing to over 1,400 children. As House found out more about the organization, she realized the group had a need for more room. She organized efforts and materials that resulted in a building for the shelter to store clothing for the children in racks and closets. Previously, shelter workers dug through garbage bags full of wrinkled clothes to find appropriate sized clothes for the children at the shelter.
Last year, House became part of the fundraising committee for Open Arms and began planning the first-ever Cabot’s Avenue of Dreams Home Spectac-ular to be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 9 and from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sunday, July 10 to benefit Open Arms Shelter.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or at the Cabot Chamber of Commerce, Community Bank locations, First Security Bank locations, Dillard’s in McCain Mall and David Claiborne Ltd. in Sherwood. All proceeds from ticket sales goes to Open Arms Shelter for Children. Maps for the Avenue of Dreams are available at ticket locations and at www.cabotavenueofdreams.com. Information on all the participating businesses will be available during the event.
The 26 homes in the Avenue of Dreams are scattered throughout Cabot in The Park on Mountain Springs Road, West Oaks, North Magness Creek, The Berry Patch, Krooked Kreek, Silver Streak and Greystone. In Greystone, the homes are in neighborhoods such as Wellington Place, Valhalla, Cobble-stone, Water’s Edge and Georgetown. The homes on display range in size from 1,800 square feet to over 2,900.
“This gives people a chance to see the latest trends in building, and home decor and shows off some of Cabot’s neighborhoods,” said House.
Uniquely Southern Homes Inc. built The Idea House at 21 Cossatot Circle and another home at 20 Blanchard Drive.
The Idea House is 3,164 square feet, furnished by Dillard’s of McCain Mall, decorated by Nina Butler Interiors of Cabot and features state of the art amenities such as a Sharp drawer microwave and ODL Tubular Skylights.
“When I found out it was benefiting Open Arms Shelter, I was on board,” said Butler. Her décor color-scheme was inspired by the subtle hues in the stucco back splash in the kitchen.
“Nothing went inside this house without meeting Nina Butler’s approval,” House added.
House says her favorite room in The Idea House is the theater room.
The room boasts twin rows of leather reclining seats, a 130-inch projection screen and sound system from Sound Ideaz in Cabot as well as a mini-bar complete with refrigerator, microwave and sink. It also has a retro ticket booth equipped with a telephone.
“Not only is it fun, but if you get a phone call while watching a movie, you can step inside the booth and close the door for privacy,” House said.
Artwork from Cynthia Delahunt of CD Creative Studio in Cabot is displayed in the theater. The paintings depict scenes from classic movies such as Rhett Butler embracing Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone with the Wind” and Fred Astaire dancing with a lightpost in “Singing in the Rain.”
The outside of the home is landscaped and the porch features a phantom screen. A remote control lowers a screen wall around the porch to provide a bug-free environment for evening enjoyment.
House credits Butler and designer Katie Pierson, of KDS Interiors of Sherwood, for their support in the Cabot Avenue of Dreams Home Spectacular.
Pierson is the designer of Uniquely Southern’s second home on the tour, 20 Blanchard Drive, just around the corner from The Idea House.
She’s been involved in Arkansas Symphony Designer House, a benefit open house for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
“I worked on the Symphony House in Little Rock,” Pierson said.
“Each designer had to design a room and it has been a fun challenge to do an entire home for the Avenue of Dreams.”
Visitors who visit at least ten homes of the homes featured during the Avenue of Dreams will be eligible to win prizes during the estate sale. The grand prize is a $2,500 Hearth Falls fireplace, a combination gas fireplace and fountain.
The Sumner Design Group decorated the interior of builder Joe Cunningham’s showcase home located at 11 Cossatot Circle.
“The designers have furnished this incredible interior with gorgeous furniture pieces from around the world, one of a kind accessories, and custom floral arrangements,” said Heather McCarty, senior interior designer.
The Sumner Design Group will host a lecture series at 11 Cossatot Circle beginning Tuesday, July 5 with “Color Psychology: How To Make Your Interior Space Work for You,” by Tracy L. Sumner. “Understanding and Learning How to Implement the Principles and Elements of Design,” will be presented Thursday, July 6 by Heather McCarty followed by “Children, Pets and Indestructible Fabrics: How to Live in Your Luxury Home” by Lesley Haugha-boo on Friday, July 8.
The lectures are from 6 until 8 p.m. each night.
Tickets are $20 per night or $50 for all three nights. Seating is limited and food and drink are included.
Additionally, Sumner Design Group will throw an “End of the Show” party at the home at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 9.
Party tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance by Friday, July 8. Food and drink is included in the ticket prices and a silent auction will be featured during this event.
For more information or tickets for the Sumner Design Group events please call (501) 690-3037 or (501) 351-1101.
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
Years ago at church, Rhonda House, of Uniquely Southern Homes Inc. of Cabot, asked a group of children if they had a prayer request. A little girl asked for prayers for one of her friends but told House she couldn’t tell the group her friend’s name. When House asked the little girl why not, the answer moved her.
“She said, ‘Because her daddy’s been sexually abusing her and her mommy does drugs so the Department of Human Services is going to take her to a safe house shelter and she doesn’t want anybody to know,’” House said.
Since then, House said she’s felt God calling her to work with Open Arms Shelter for abused and neglected children in Lonoke County. Opened in 1986, the shelter has provided safe housing to over 1,400 children. As House found out more about the organization, she realized the group had a need for more room. She organized efforts and materials that resulted in a building for the shelter to store clothing for the children in racks and closets. Previously, shelter workers dug through garbage bags full of wrinkled clothes to find appropriate sized clothes for the children at the shelter.
Last year, House became part of the fundraising committee for Open Arms and began planning the first-ever Cabot’s Avenue of Dreams Home Spectac-ular to be held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, July 9 and from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Sunday, July 10 to benefit Open Arms Shelter.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door or at the Cabot Chamber of Commerce, Community Bank locations, First Security Bank locations, Dillard’s in McCain Mall and David Claiborne Ltd. in Sherwood. All proceeds from ticket sales goes to Open Arms Shelter for Children. Maps for the Avenue of Dreams are available at ticket locations and at www.cabotavenueofdreams.com. Information on all the participating businesses will be available during the event.
The 26 homes in the Avenue of Dreams are scattered throughout Cabot in The Park on Mountain Springs Road, West Oaks, North Magness Creek, The Berry Patch, Krooked Kreek, Silver Streak and Greystone. In Greystone, the homes are in neighborhoods such as Wellington Place, Valhalla, Cobble-stone, Water’s Edge and Georgetown. The homes on display range in size from 1,800 square feet to over 2,900.
“This gives people a chance to see the latest trends in building, and home decor and shows off some of Cabot’s neighborhoods,” said House.
Uniquely Southern Homes Inc. built The Idea House at 21 Cossatot Circle and another home at 20 Blanchard Drive.
The Idea House is 3,164 square feet, furnished by Dillard’s of McCain Mall, decorated by Nina Butler Interiors of Cabot and features state of the art amenities such as a Sharp drawer microwave and ODL Tubular Skylights.
“When I found out it was benefiting Open Arms Shelter, I was on board,” said Butler. Her décor color-scheme was inspired by the subtle hues in the stucco back splash in the kitchen.
“Nothing went inside this house without meeting Nina Butler’s approval,” House added.
House says her favorite room in The Idea House is the theater room.
The room boasts twin rows of leather reclining seats, a 130-inch projection screen and sound system from Sound Ideaz in Cabot as well as a mini-bar complete with refrigerator, microwave and sink. It also has a retro ticket booth equipped with a telephone.
“Not only is it fun, but if you get a phone call while watching a movie, you can step inside the booth and close the door for privacy,” House said.
Artwork from Cynthia Delahunt of CD Creative Studio in Cabot is displayed in the theater. The paintings depict scenes from classic movies such as Rhett Butler embracing Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone with the Wind” and Fred Astaire dancing with a lightpost in “Singing in the Rain.”
The outside of the home is landscaped and the porch features a phantom screen. A remote control lowers a screen wall around the porch to provide a bug-free environment for evening enjoyment.
House credits Butler and designer Katie Pierson, of KDS Interiors of Sherwood, for their support in the Cabot Avenue of Dreams Home Spectacular.
Pierson is the designer of Uniquely Southern’s second home on the tour, 20 Blanchard Drive, just around the corner from The Idea House.
She’s been involved in Arkansas Symphony Designer House, a benefit open house for the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra.
“I worked on the Symphony House in Little Rock,” Pierson said.
“Each designer had to design a room and it has been a fun challenge to do an entire home for the Avenue of Dreams.”
Visitors who visit at least ten homes of the homes featured during the Avenue of Dreams will be eligible to win prizes during the estate sale. The grand prize is a $2,500 Hearth Falls fireplace, a combination gas fireplace and fountain.
The Sumner Design Group decorated the interior of builder Joe Cunningham’s showcase home located at 11 Cossatot Circle.
“The designers have furnished this incredible interior with gorgeous furniture pieces from around the world, one of a kind accessories, and custom floral arrangements,” said Heather McCarty, senior interior designer.
The Sumner Design Group will host a lecture series at 11 Cossatot Circle beginning Tuesday, July 5 with “Color Psychology: How To Make Your Interior Space Work for You,” by Tracy L. Sumner. “Understanding and Learning How to Implement the Principles and Elements of Design,” will be presented Thursday, July 6 by Heather McCarty followed by “Children, Pets and Indestructible Fabrics: How to Live in Your Luxury Home” by Lesley Haugha-boo on Friday, July 8.
The lectures are from 6 until 8 p.m. each night.
Tickets are $20 per night or $50 for all three nights. Seating is limited and food and drink are included.
Additionally, Sumner Design Group will throw an “End of the Show” party at the home at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 9.
Party tickets are $35 and must be purchased in advance by Friday, July 8. Food and drink is included in the ticket prices and a silent auction will be featured during this event.
For more information or tickets for the Sumner Design Group events please call (501) 690-3037 or (501) 351-1101.
SPORTS>> Piranhas top Bryant-Lonoke team
IN SHORT: The Cabot Piranhas youth swim team got its first win of the season Saturday against the Lonoke-Bryant consolidated swim team at the Lonoke Community Center.
By Ray Benton
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Piranhas got their first win of the Central Arkansas Swim League season Saturday by barely defeating the Bryant-Lonoke consolidated team 498-480.
Cabot head coach Debbie Skidmore was surprised at how close it was, but was pleased by the effort of her team.
“I thought for a while we might lose,” Skidmore said. “But they pulled it out. There were a lot of highlights. A lot of the kids swam really well.”
Cabot’s Darby Harmon won all five events in the 8-under girls division to lead the way for the Piranhas. Harmon not only won the events, she improved her status from bronze swimmer to gold swimmer in three of the five events, including the freestyle, backstroke and butterfly, and to silver swimmer in the other two.
Lonoke’s Kayla McGhee won all five events she swam in the 6-under division, and had the best time in four of the five.
She was the only swimmer above the bronze level of the backstroke when the day began, so she won the silver backstroke race. But her time was beaten by Cabot’s Caitlyn Cun-ningham in the bronze race. Cabot’s Elaine Helpenstill also improved to silver in the backstroke and finished with the third best time overall.
McGee did have the fastest times in the freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and kickboard races, and took first place in all four events.
Riley Young finished just be-hind her teammate Harmon in the backstroke, and moved up to the Silver level with her time of 27.69.
Harmon, Alex Caple and Payton Binns made for a 1-2-3 Cabot finish in the butterfly.
The Bryant team dominated the 10-under division, but Cabot nullified that by doing the same in the 12-under girls class.
Bryant’s Megan Matthews managed to slip into a plethora of point-scoring Cabot 12-year olds that was led by standout Megan Owens.
Owens won the gold indepen-dent Medley race, while Faith Blair and Jenni Vaughan finished first and third in the Silver. Erin Loraditch, Emma Fulham and Rachel Moore, all from Cabot, finished one, two and three in the bronze IM.
Owens and Blair took first and second in the Gold freestyle. Matthews took first in the silver race, but Vaughan and Stephenie Odom were right behind. The Cabot quartet of Rebekah Koon, Amanda Baltz and Fulham and Loraditch finished first through fourth in the bronze freestyle.
Owens won the gold race in the backstroke, but her time was bested by Bryant’s Matthews in the Silver race. Blair and Baltz took second and third in the Silver backstroke, while Koon won the bronze race.
Cabot put three gold swimmers in the girls 12-under breaststroke, and they finished one, two and three. Stephenie Odom won the event with Owens and Blair not far behind.
Vaughan and Loraditch finished in the top two spots in the bronze breaststroke, while Lonoke’s Kristen Wood took third. Those three, plus Cabot’s Katie Burchfield and Rachel Moore all moved up to the silver level with their times in the event.
Blair won the gold division butterfly with Owens coming in second and Matthews third.
Loraditch, Odom and Baltz finished in the top three spots in the bronze butterfly race.
Cabot’s Ashley Baird had the best times in every event in the 14-under girls competition, while Vicki Lovelette turned in the best times in four of the five events in 16-under races.
Lonoke’s Mindy James beat out Lovelette in the IM, and both swimmers moved up to the gold level in the race.
Dylan Owens won every event for Cabot in the 6-under boys division. John Santiago and Michael Rakoski, along with Lonoke’s Brandon Herecamp and Jeffrey Riggs, did most of the damage in the 14-under boys division.
Cabot will host its first meet this year when Lakewood visits the Piranhas at the Jacksonville Community Center. Lonoke will go back on the road when it visits Sherwood.
By Ray Benton
Leader sports editor
The Cabot Piranhas got their first win of the Central Arkansas Swim League season Saturday by barely defeating the Bryant-Lonoke consolidated team 498-480.
Cabot head coach Debbie Skidmore was surprised at how close it was, but was pleased by the effort of her team.
“I thought for a while we might lose,” Skidmore said. “But they pulled it out. There were a lot of highlights. A lot of the kids swam really well.”
Cabot’s Darby Harmon won all five events in the 8-under girls division to lead the way for the Piranhas. Harmon not only won the events, she improved her status from bronze swimmer to gold swimmer in three of the five events, including the freestyle, backstroke and butterfly, and to silver swimmer in the other two.
Lonoke’s Kayla McGhee won all five events she swam in the 6-under division, and had the best time in four of the five.
She was the only swimmer above the bronze level of the backstroke when the day began, so she won the silver backstroke race. But her time was beaten by Cabot’s Caitlyn Cun-ningham in the bronze race. Cabot’s Elaine Helpenstill also improved to silver in the backstroke and finished with the third best time overall.
McGee did have the fastest times in the freestyle, breaststroke, butterfly and kickboard races, and took first place in all four events.
Riley Young finished just be-hind her teammate Harmon in the backstroke, and moved up to the Silver level with her time of 27.69.
Harmon, Alex Caple and Payton Binns made for a 1-2-3 Cabot finish in the butterfly.
The Bryant team dominated the 10-under division, but Cabot nullified that by doing the same in the 12-under girls class.
Bryant’s Megan Matthews managed to slip into a plethora of point-scoring Cabot 12-year olds that was led by standout Megan Owens.
Owens won the gold indepen-dent Medley race, while Faith Blair and Jenni Vaughan finished first and third in the Silver. Erin Loraditch, Emma Fulham and Rachel Moore, all from Cabot, finished one, two and three in the bronze IM.
Owens and Blair took first and second in the Gold freestyle. Matthews took first in the silver race, but Vaughan and Stephenie Odom were right behind. The Cabot quartet of Rebekah Koon, Amanda Baltz and Fulham and Loraditch finished first through fourth in the bronze freestyle.
Owens won the gold race in the backstroke, but her time was bested by Bryant’s Matthews in the Silver race. Blair and Baltz took second and third in the Silver backstroke, while Koon won the bronze race.
Cabot put three gold swimmers in the girls 12-under breaststroke, and they finished one, two and three. Stephenie Odom won the event with Owens and Blair not far behind.
Vaughan and Loraditch finished in the top two spots in the bronze breaststroke, while Lonoke’s Kristen Wood took third. Those three, plus Cabot’s Katie Burchfield and Rachel Moore all moved up to the silver level with their times in the event.
Blair won the gold division butterfly with Owens coming in second and Matthews third.
Loraditch, Odom and Baltz finished in the top three spots in the bronze butterfly race.
Cabot’s Ashley Baird had the best times in every event in the 14-under girls competition, while Vicki Lovelette turned in the best times in four of the five events in 16-under races.
Lonoke’s Mindy James beat out Lovelette in the IM, and both swimmers moved up to the gold level in the race.
Dylan Owens won every event for Cabot in the 6-under boys division. John Santiago and Michael Rakoski, along with Lonoke’s Brandon Herecamp and Jeffrey Riggs, did most of the damage in the 14-under boys division.
Cabot will host its first meet this year when Lakewood visits the Piranhas at the Jacksonville Community Center. Lonoke will go back on the road when it visits Sherwood.
SPORTS>> Gwatney AAA team improves to .500
IN SHORT: Jacksonville’s AAA American Legion team swept Sheridan on Saturday, the team will split with Searcy Monday to move to 5-5 on the season.
By Ray Benton
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville Gwatney Chevrolet AAA Legion team improved its record to 4-4 over the weekend with a doubleheader sweep of Sheridan. Shortstop Mitchell Regnas led a set of hot Jacksonville bats, going 4 for 5 at the plate in game one and leading the Chevy boys to a 6-3 victory.
Blake Cochran went the distance on the mound, striking out seven and picking up the win.
“They played pretty good, a few of ‘em hit the ball extremely well,” Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham said.
Three singles got Jacksonville on the board first, but the home team came back to tie the score in the bottom of the same frame.
No one scored in the second, but the two teams traded runs in the third to even the score at 2-2.
A pattern began developing as a scoreless fourth inning was followed by each team collecting one run in the fifth to keep the score knotted at three apiece.
After another scoreless inning, Jacksonville finally put some distance between itself and its host in the seventh.
Gwatney started the inning with two walks. Josh Mansfield then singled in one run.
Back-to-back doubles by Neil Hatcher and Regnas brought in the next two and set the final margin.
Jacksonville picked up 13 hits as a team with Regnas leading the way, but other Jacksonville players turned in nice performances as well.
Outfielder Trey Smith went 3 for 3 while fellow outfielders Walt Winer and Hatcher each got two hits in the win.
Jacksonville only got four hits in a 2-0 game-two victory. Regnas went 2 for 2 in that game and was 6 for 7 at the plate on the day.
The Jacksonville team stayed at .500 Monday with a doubleheader split with Searcy Crain AAA.
Jacksonville took game one 4-1, but fell apart in game two to lose 9-1.
Kyle West got his fifth home run and Neil Hatcher his second to lead Gwatney in the game one victory.
Justin Akin got the win on the mound.
In game two, Jacksonville had a man on second and no outs while holding a 1-0 lead.
That’s when a bunt attempt went bad and the ensuing reactions were worse.
The ball hit the plate, bounced up and hit the batter.
The home plate umpire called the batter out, which drew protests from the Jacksonville dugout.
Hickingbotham and assistant coach Travis Lyda converged on home plate and vehemently argued the call. The umpire tossed Lyda before sending Hickingbotham back to the third base box with a stern warning.
The Jacksonville squad responded negatively to the incident, and began making mistakes that cost the team four unearned runs.
Jacksonville played Cabot AA in a doubleheader last night. Both teams begin play in the Sheridan Wooden Bat Classic Thursday.
By Ray Benton
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville Gwatney Chevrolet AAA Legion team improved its record to 4-4 over the weekend with a doubleheader sweep of Sheridan. Shortstop Mitchell Regnas led a set of hot Jacksonville bats, going 4 for 5 at the plate in game one and leading the Chevy boys to a 6-3 victory.
Blake Cochran went the distance on the mound, striking out seven and picking up the win.
“They played pretty good, a few of ‘em hit the ball extremely well,” Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham said.
Three singles got Jacksonville on the board first, but the home team came back to tie the score in the bottom of the same frame.
No one scored in the second, but the two teams traded runs in the third to even the score at 2-2.
A pattern began developing as a scoreless fourth inning was followed by each team collecting one run in the fifth to keep the score knotted at three apiece.
After another scoreless inning, Jacksonville finally put some distance between itself and its host in the seventh.
Gwatney started the inning with two walks. Josh Mansfield then singled in one run.
Back-to-back doubles by Neil Hatcher and Regnas brought in the next two and set the final margin.
Jacksonville picked up 13 hits as a team with Regnas leading the way, but other Jacksonville players turned in nice performances as well.
Outfielder Trey Smith went 3 for 3 while fellow outfielders Walt Winer and Hatcher each got two hits in the win.
Jacksonville only got four hits in a 2-0 game-two victory. Regnas went 2 for 2 in that game and was 6 for 7 at the plate on the day.
The Jacksonville team stayed at .500 Monday with a doubleheader split with Searcy Crain AAA.
Jacksonville took game one 4-1, but fell apart in game two to lose 9-1.
Kyle West got his fifth home run and Neil Hatcher his second to lead Gwatney in the game one victory.
Justin Akin got the win on the mound.
In game two, Jacksonville had a man on second and no outs while holding a 1-0 lead.
That’s when a bunt attempt went bad and the ensuing reactions were worse.
The ball hit the plate, bounced up and hit the batter.
The home plate umpire called the batter out, which drew protests from the Jacksonville dugout.
Hickingbotham and assistant coach Travis Lyda converged on home plate and vehemently argued the call. The umpire tossed Lyda before sending Hickingbotham back to the third base box with a stern warning.
The Jacksonville squad responded negatively to the incident, and began making mistakes that cost the team four unearned runs.
Jacksonville played Cabot AA in a doubleheader last night. Both teams begin play in the Sheridan Wooden Bat Classic Thursday.
TOP STORY>> Bank appeals ruling on new Ozarks branch
IN SHORT: First Arkansas Bank files an appeal to have Bank of the Ozarks’ Jacksonville branch approval reversed.
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
First Arkansas Bank and Trust quietly continued its battle against Bank of the Ozarks by filing an appeal recently in Pulaski County Circuit Court. On May 6, Arkansas Bank Commissioner Robert H. “Bunny” Adcock approved Bank of the Ozarks’ application to construct a branch at 901 W. Main St. in Jacksonville. The appeal asks the court to reverse that decision. Bank of the Ozarks and Adcock are listed as respondents in the appeal.
“We can’t comment on pending litigation,” said Candace Franks, attorney for the Arkansas State Bank Department. “The state has 20 days to reply to the appeal.”
Donnie Farmer, senior vice president of Bank of the Ozarks, said he could not comment on the appeal or the status of the property at 901 W. Main. Farmer, a long-time Jacksonville resident, had been slated to manage the new branch.
The appeal hasn’t deterred Bank of the Ozarks, according to Susan Blair, executive vice president of Bank of the Ozarks.
“We’re even more eager to do business in Jacksonville,” Blair said. “It’s a vibrant community. Just look at the expansion of the Little Rock Air Force Base.”
The base is tentatively slated to get about 3,900 new jobs, if the Base Relocation and Closure (BRAC) commission approves a recommendation making LRAFB the nation’s primary C-130 training facility.
Bank of the Ozarks submitted an application last December to the Arkansas State Bank Department to construct a branch in Jacksonville. First Arkansas Bank and Trust filed a formal protest against the application with Adcock’s office on Jan. 12 .
Adcock and the Arkan\sas State Bank Department examined the application, protest and responses before approving the application. First Arkansas Bank and Trust reviewed the decision and decided to appeal in circuit court.
In the appeal, First Arkansas Bank and Trust states “the economy in Jacksonville is stagnant” and deposits are not growing. It takes Adcock’s order to task for failure to have an administrative hearing and “cherry picking statistics for Pulaski County and Arkansas instead of the correct market, Jacksonville.”
The appeal further states Bank of the Ozarks failed to meet its burden of proof while Jacksonville’s population is growing, if at all, at a marginal rate, less than half of one percent per year.
“This action is not about anti-competitive measures,” said Larry T. Wilson, chairman, chief executive officer and president of First Arkansas Bank and Trust. “It is all about the Bank Department rubber- stamping branch applications with little or no regard for the real needs for banking services of any particular market and the health of the institutions already operating in those markets.”
Wilson said six banks with 13 locations and the state’s largest credit union is evidence there is already significant banking competition in Jacksonville.
“It was particularly interesting to see that the Bank Department appeared to accept everything submitted in this case by Bank of the Ozarks as factual and completely disregarded or discounted each and every fact submitted by us,” said Wilson. “One would think that since we have been operating in the market for over 45 years that we would have more insight into the market than a bank that has never had a presence here.”
Jacksonville has six banks and the Arkansas Federal Credit Union that serve a population of 29,916.
In addition to First Arkansas Bank and Trust, the Jacksonville banking industry has US Bank, Community Bank and Metropolitan National Bank, as well as Bank of America, the country’s largest bank, and Arvest Bank, the largest bank in the state. In Lonoke County, Cabot has seven banks serving an estimated population of 40,000 over a five-mile area surrounding the city limits. Community Bank started in 1903 as the Bank of Cabot. It has five locations in Cabot and two in Jacksonville. First Arkansas Bank and Trust opened a branch in Cabot in 1994.
South of Jacksonville, North Little Rock has 12 banks serving a population of about 63,000.
According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s spring 2005 profile, Arkansas banks headquartered in Arkansas posted record earnings of $454 million in 2004.
According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Cooperation, First Arkansas Bank and Trust had a first- quarter income of $1.2 million and total assets of $262 million. Bank of the Ozarks had a first-quarter income of $7.8 million and total assets of $1.7 billion.
“The general public can easily see that the number of branch banks in the state has mushroomed in the last few years even though the public’s needs were being met by the banks already in place and can’t understand why it is happening,” said Wilson.
“The state Bank Department doesn’t seem to see the same picture,” he added.
According to the FDIC, there were 168 banks in Arkansas in 2004.
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
First Arkansas Bank and Trust quietly continued its battle against Bank of the Ozarks by filing an appeal recently in Pulaski County Circuit Court. On May 6, Arkansas Bank Commissioner Robert H. “Bunny” Adcock approved Bank of the Ozarks’ application to construct a branch at 901 W. Main St. in Jacksonville. The appeal asks the court to reverse that decision. Bank of the Ozarks and Adcock are listed as respondents in the appeal.
“We can’t comment on pending litigation,” said Candace Franks, attorney for the Arkansas State Bank Department. “The state has 20 days to reply to the appeal.”
Donnie Farmer, senior vice president of Bank of the Ozarks, said he could not comment on the appeal or the status of the property at 901 W. Main. Farmer, a long-time Jacksonville resident, had been slated to manage the new branch.
The appeal hasn’t deterred Bank of the Ozarks, according to Susan Blair, executive vice president of Bank of the Ozarks.
“We’re even more eager to do business in Jacksonville,” Blair said. “It’s a vibrant community. Just look at the expansion of the Little Rock Air Force Base.”
The base is tentatively slated to get about 3,900 new jobs, if the Base Relocation and Closure (BRAC) commission approves a recommendation making LRAFB the nation’s primary C-130 training facility.
Bank of the Ozarks submitted an application last December to the Arkansas State Bank Department to construct a branch in Jacksonville. First Arkansas Bank and Trust filed a formal protest against the application with Adcock’s office on Jan. 12 .
Adcock and the Arkan\sas State Bank Department examined the application, protest and responses before approving the application. First Arkansas Bank and Trust reviewed the decision and decided to appeal in circuit court.
In the appeal, First Arkansas Bank and Trust states “the economy in Jacksonville is stagnant” and deposits are not growing. It takes Adcock’s order to task for failure to have an administrative hearing and “cherry picking statistics for Pulaski County and Arkansas instead of the correct market, Jacksonville.”
The appeal further states Bank of the Ozarks failed to meet its burden of proof while Jacksonville’s population is growing, if at all, at a marginal rate, less than half of one percent per year.
“This action is not about anti-competitive measures,” said Larry T. Wilson, chairman, chief executive officer and president of First Arkansas Bank and Trust. “It is all about the Bank Department rubber- stamping branch applications with little or no regard for the real needs for banking services of any particular market and the health of the institutions already operating in those markets.”
Wilson said six banks with 13 locations and the state’s largest credit union is evidence there is already significant banking competition in Jacksonville.
“It was particularly interesting to see that the Bank Department appeared to accept everything submitted in this case by Bank of the Ozarks as factual and completely disregarded or discounted each and every fact submitted by us,” said Wilson. “One would think that since we have been operating in the market for over 45 years that we would have more insight into the market than a bank that has never had a presence here.”
Jacksonville has six banks and the Arkansas Federal Credit Union that serve a population of 29,916.
In addition to First Arkansas Bank and Trust, the Jacksonville banking industry has US Bank, Community Bank and Metropolitan National Bank, as well as Bank of America, the country’s largest bank, and Arvest Bank, the largest bank in the state. In Lonoke County, Cabot has seven banks serving an estimated population of 40,000 over a five-mile area surrounding the city limits. Community Bank started in 1903 as the Bank of Cabot. It has five locations in Cabot and two in Jacksonville. First Arkansas Bank and Trust opened a branch in Cabot in 1994.
South of Jacksonville, North Little Rock has 12 banks serving a population of about 63,000.
According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation’s spring 2005 profile, Arkansas banks headquartered in Arkansas posted record earnings of $454 million in 2004.
According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Cooperation, First Arkansas Bank and Trust had a first- quarter income of $1.2 million and total assets of $262 million. Bank of the Ozarks had a first-quarter income of $7.8 million and total assets of $1.7 billion.
“The general public can easily see that the number of branch banks in the state has mushroomed in the last few years even though the public’s needs were being met by the banks already in place and can’t understand why it is happening,” said Wilson.
“The state Bank Department doesn’t seem to see the same picture,” he added.
According to the FDIC, there were 168 banks in Arkansas in 2004.
TOP STORY>> Sewage rates may double in Cabot
IN SHORT: Aldermen move toward raising sewer costs to build new treatment plant.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The Cabot City Council took the first step toward raising sewer rates to pay for a new treatment plant Tuesday night, opting to double rates for the average user over the next three years while barely increasing rates for customers who use 2,000 gallons or less.
Technically, the council didn’t vote to raise rates but only on the option that will be advertised before a public hearing is called. After hearing from the public, the council could tweak the ordinance before setting the new rates.
But whether rates will actually go up could be up to city voters who could elect instead to pay for the sewer treatment plant by continuing an existing one-cent sales tax.
David Hicks, who lost his seat when the Public Utilities Commission was re-created about a month ago to become the Water and Wastewater Commission, addressed the council during the public comment portion of the meeting, saying he was part of a group of concerned citizens who would launch a petition drive to refer the question to voters.
Hicks, as well as most members of the former commission, favored paying for the $16 million sewer treatment plant with the sales tax, but he council, turned down that proposal saying the council promised when the tax was put to vote in 1999 that it would sunset when the bonds to pay for water improvements were paid off.
Furthermore, if the tax was to be used again later, it should be for something besides utilities which are supposed to be self-supporting, they said.
Alderman David Polantz was opposed to raising rates to pay for the sewer plant when the plans for the plant have not been drawn. The estimated cost is about $16 million, but Polantz said he was unwilling to spend tax money without knowing an exact cost.
“My fear is that if I tell an engineer I’ve got $16 million to spend on a plant, I’m going to end up with an $18 million plant,” Polantz said.
J.M. Park, chairman of the Water and Wastewater Commission who had earlier presented the proposal that was eventually selected told Polantz that with both state and federal environmental agencies closely monitoring the problems with the existing plant, the whole question was really out of their hands.
“You don’t have a choice,” he told Polantz. “The city doesn’t have a choice.”
Dennis Benson, with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, addressed the council saying the city has already had to pay about $25,000 in fines because of pollution problems at the plant and more are coming because the plant is still out of compliance.
The plant is simply too small, he said.
“You’ve got a one-ton load you’re trying to carry with a three-quarter ton pickup,” he said.
Compounding the problem is infiltration from broken sewer lines allowing rainwater to get into the system. Benson said that in the past three years, there have been about 100 overflows from manholes that left raw sewage on the ground.
“Even the EPA is looking at this city and wandering when they’ll get their act together and get something done,” he said.
Prompted by Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh, Benson told the council that ADEQ would look favorably on the council raising sewer rates to pay for building a new plant, enough so that the fines might not be as large as they would be if the council did nothing. At press time, it was not known how Hicks announcement about the possible referendum would impact the city’s precarious position with ADEQ and the EPA or how long it could delay plans to build a new plant.
In other business, the council passed a resolution for partisan elections in the city. Alderman Patrick Hutton, a Republican, sponsored the resolution as he has twice before. But always before, he was alone in wanting to separate the Democrats from the Republicans at the council table.
Lonoke County Justice of the Peace Gina Burton, who is active in the Republican party, spoke for the resolution saying knowing which party a candidate belonged to made it easier for her to vote.
If she knew the party, she also knew where the candidate stood on such issues as abortion and gun control, she said.Polantz disagreed saying those issues did not play into the work required of a city council. However, partisan elections might produce more candidates which were sorely needed in Cabot.
The vote for partisan elections was 4-3. Hutton, Polantz, Eddie Cook and Jerry Stevens voted for the resolution.
Aldermen Odis Waymack, Tom Armstrong and James Glenn, voted against it. Alderman Bob Duke abstained saying he would not run for re-election. The mayor provided the fifth vote needed for the resolution to pass.The council discussed, but did not approve an annexation and rezoning of 50 acres near Greystone where developers intend to build condominium-style apartments and patio homes as well as a commercial complex.
Council members said they were not opposed to the development and Duke said as he understood, the plan was to build “the best of the best.”
However, some members of the council said they needed more time to look over the ordinance before they vote to pass it.
The matter will be taken up again in July.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The Cabot City Council took the first step toward raising sewer rates to pay for a new treatment plant Tuesday night, opting to double rates for the average user over the next three years while barely increasing rates for customers who use 2,000 gallons or less.
Technically, the council didn’t vote to raise rates but only on the option that will be advertised before a public hearing is called. After hearing from the public, the council could tweak the ordinance before setting the new rates.
But whether rates will actually go up could be up to city voters who could elect instead to pay for the sewer treatment plant by continuing an existing one-cent sales tax.
David Hicks, who lost his seat when the Public Utilities Commission was re-created about a month ago to become the Water and Wastewater Commission, addressed the council during the public comment portion of the meeting, saying he was part of a group of concerned citizens who would launch a petition drive to refer the question to voters.
Hicks, as well as most members of the former commission, favored paying for the $16 million sewer treatment plant with the sales tax, but he council, turned down that proposal saying the council promised when the tax was put to vote in 1999 that it would sunset when the bonds to pay for water improvements were paid off.
Furthermore, if the tax was to be used again later, it should be for something besides utilities which are supposed to be self-supporting, they said.
Alderman David Polantz was opposed to raising rates to pay for the sewer plant when the plans for the plant have not been drawn. The estimated cost is about $16 million, but Polantz said he was unwilling to spend tax money without knowing an exact cost.
“My fear is that if I tell an engineer I’ve got $16 million to spend on a plant, I’m going to end up with an $18 million plant,” Polantz said.
J.M. Park, chairman of the Water and Wastewater Commission who had earlier presented the proposal that was eventually selected told Polantz that with both state and federal environmental agencies closely monitoring the problems with the existing plant, the whole question was really out of their hands.
“You don’t have a choice,” he told Polantz. “The city doesn’t have a choice.”
Dennis Benson, with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, addressed the council saying the city has already had to pay about $25,000 in fines because of pollution problems at the plant and more are coming because the plant is still out of compliance.
The plant is simply too small, he said.
“You’ve got a one-ton load you’re trying to carry with a three-quarter ton pickup,” he said.
Compounding the problem is infiltration from broken sewer lines allowing rainwater to get into the system. Benson said that in the past three years, there have been about 100 overflows from manholes that left raw sewage on the ground.
“Even the EPA is looking at this city and wandering when they’ll get their act together and get something done,” he said.
Prompted by Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh, Benson told the council that ADEQ would look favorably on the council raising sewer rates to pay for building a new plant, enough so that the fines might not be as large as they would be if the council did nothing. At press time, it was not known how Hicks announcement about the possible referendum would impact the city’s precarious position with ADEQ and the EPA or how long it could delay plans to build a new plant.
In other business, the council passed a resolution for partisan elections in the city. Alderman Patrick Hutton, a Republican, sponsored the resolution as he has twice before. But always before, he was alone in wanting to separate the Democrats from the Republicans at the council table.
Lonoke County Justice of the Peace Gina Burton, who is active in the Republican party, spoke for the resolution saying knowing which party a candidate belonged to made it easier for her to vote.
If she knew the party, she also knew where the candidate stood on such issues as abortion and gun control, she said.Polantz disagreed saying those issues did not play into the work required of a city council. However, partisan elections might produce more candidates which were sorely needed in Cabot.
The vote for partisan elections was 4-3. Hutton, Polantz, Eddie Cook and Jerry Stevens voted for the resolution.
Aldermen Odis Waymack, Tom Armstrong and James Glenn, voted against it. Alderman Bob Duke abstained saying he would not run for re-election. The mayor provided the fifth vote needed for the resolution to pass.The council discussed, but did not approve an annexation and rezoning of 50 acres near Greystone where developers intend to build condominium-style apartments and patio homes as well as a commercial complex.
Council members said they were not opposed to the development and Duke said as he understood, the plan was to build “the best of the best.”
However, some members of the council said they needed more time to look over the ordinance before they vote to pass it.
The matter will be taken up again in July.
TOP STORY>> Lesson: FOI law must be obeyed
IN SHORT: Beebe board told to hold more of its meetings in public as critic is silenced.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The Beebe School Board sat through a lesson on the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act Monday night at the request of a White County deputy prosecutor who has heard complaints for several months that the board conducts too much of its business in secret.
Teacher for the evening was Paul Blume, general counsel for the Arkansas School Board Association. Stewart Kirby, the complainant and general thorn in the flesh of the Beebe School Board, was thrown out of the class when he tried to ask a question.
Kirby said the next morning that he only wanted Blume to clarify for the board that he was entitled by law to be notified not only of a change in the date and time of regular meeting but also of a change of location. The board recently started meeting in the new storm shelter instead of the intermediate library.
But Blume flatly refused to respond saying the in-service he was conducting was for the board and no one else.
“I’m not answering your questions,” he told Kirby.
Dr. Kieth Williams, the superintendent, opened his cell phone and started dialing the Beebe Police Department as Kirby explained that the policy book for the school board said the board president could allow anyone to speak during a meeting.
Butch Rice, board president, settled the matter by telling Kirby he would not be allowed to speak and followed up the next morning, Kirby said, with an email threatening his arrest if he ever became unruly in a meeting again.
The unusual meeting was the culmination of months of discord between Kirby and the board that he has been closely scrutinizing and writing about on a website he created, the “Beebe School Examiner” at http://www.bbschoolexaminer.blogspot.com/.
Lorrie Belew, a member of the board, asked Blume if there was anything that could be done about Kirby’s website. At what point would his comments be considered libelous?
The board members works free because they want what’s best for the children, she said, but Kirby uses their names on his website with impunity.
“It’s really kind of a scary website, really,” she said.
Blume answered that it isn’t liable if it’s true.
Kirby’s two latest entries posted in May deal with Williams’ July retirement and the FOI class held Monday.
He writes on the retirement: “Did you get an invitation? I wasn’t invited to Dr. Williams’ surprise party. He was given a barbecue grill by the board. I hope they took up a collection because they are limited by law if it was paid for with school money. Also, staff and faculty gave him an envelope of cash. Give me a break. He is not going to be unemployed. He already has a new job. And why would anyone give him money considering that he was paid almost 100 grand a year plus benefits and lived in a house owned by the school? I’m sure I am not the only one who would have given him money to retire some years ago.
He writes on the Freedom of Information class: “According to the Prosecuting Attorney’s office the Beebe School Board will be having a training session on the Freedom of Information Act. This is “to ensure that the FOIA is not violated by the Board and that the law is understood thoroughly.” The FOIA is very simple. Meetings are to be held in public expect for certain personnel matters and that is it. A student can request a closed expulsion hearing but the board cannot. Nothing else should be talked about behind closed doors.
Dr. Williams you cannot destroy public records. Dr. Williams you cannot ignore FOIA requests. There are laws you must follow even if you think you are above them.”
Specifically, Kirby says Williams refused to show him a copy of the board policy book which is a public document and that he failed to notify him of the change in location of the regular meetings.
He would like to be notified about special meetings which he says the board holds to circumvent the FOI. As Blume explained to the board after Kirby left, the press must be notified, of special meetings, but not the public.
His reference to destroying public documents was to Williams’ shredding applications for superintendent. He provided the press with the names of the applicants but no other information. He shredded the resumes after the board saw them, he told Blume.
And that is apparently acceptable according to Blume, who said the FOI makes the documents public as long as they exist, but the school district can’t hand over documents that have been shredded.
But his talk was also full of warnings since failing to comply with the FOI is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $200 and 30 days in jail. He told board members they need not fear “talking shop” if they happen to meet on the street. Put don’t turn chance meetings into mini school board meetings and discuss actions that the board will take.
If in doubt, be cautious. “If you’re going to err, err on the side of being public,” he said.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The Beebe School Board sat through a lesson on the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act Monday night at the request of a White County deputy prosecutor who has heard complaints for several months that the board conducts too much of its business in secret.
Teacher for the evening was Paul Blume, general counsel for the Arkansas School Board Association. Stewart Kirby, the complainant and general thorn in the flesh of the Beebe School Board, was thrown out of the class when he tried to ask a question.
Kirby said the next morning that he only wanted Blume to clarify for the board that he was entitled by law to be notified not only of a change in the date and time of regular meeting but also of a change of location. The board recently started meeting in the new storm shelter instead of the intermediate library.
But Blume flatly refused to respond saying the in-service he was conducting was for the board and no one else.
“I’m not answering your questions,” he told Kirby.
Dr. Kieth Williams, the superintendent, opened his cell phone and started dialing the Beebe Police Department as Kirby explained that the policy book for the school board said the board president could allow anyone to speak during a meeting.
Butch Rice, board president, settled the matter by telling Kirby he would not be allowed to speak and followed up the next morning, Kirby said, with an email threatening his arrest if he ever became unruly in a meeting again.
The unusual meeting was the culmination of months of discord between Kirby and the board that he has been closely scrutinizing and writing about on a website he created, the “Beebe School Examiner” at http://www.bbschoolexaminer.blogspot.com/.
Lorrie Belew, a member of the board, asked Blume if there was anything that could be done about Kirby’s website. At what point would his comments be considered libelous?
The board members works free because they want what’s best for the children, she said, but Kirby uses their names on his website with impunity.
“It’s really kind of a scary website, really,” she said.
Blume answered that it isn’t liable if it’s true.
Kirby’s two latest entries posted in May deal with Williams’ July retirement and the FOI class held Monday.
He writes on the retirement: “Did you get an invitation? I wasn’t invited to Dr. Williams’ surprise party. He was given a barbecue grill by the board. I hope they took up a collection because they are limited by law if it was paid for with school money. Also, staff and faculty gave him an envelope of cash. Give me a break. He is not going to be unemployed. He already has a new job. And why would anyone give him money considering that he was paid almost 100 grand a year plus benefits and lived in a house owned by the school? I’m sure I am not the only one who would have given him money to retire some years ago.
He writes on the Freedom of Information class: “According to the Prosecuting Attorney’s office the Beebe School Board will be having a training session on the Freedom of Information Act. This is “to ensure that the FOIA is not violated by the Board and that the law is understood thoroughly.” The FOIA is very simple. Meetings are to be held in public expect for certain personnel matters and that is it. A student can request a closed expulsion hearing but the board cannot. Nothing else should be talked about behind closed doors.
Dr. Williams you cannot destroy public records. Dr. Williams you cannot ignore FOIA requests. There are laws you must follow even if you think you are above them.”
Specifically, Kirby says Williams refused to show him a copy of the board policy book which is a public document and that he failed to notify him of the change in location of the regular meetings.
He would like to be notified about special meetings which he says the board holds to circumvent the FOI. As Blume explained to the board after Kirby left, the press must be notified, of special meetings, but not the public.
His reference to destroying public documents was to Williams’ shredding applications for superintendent. He provided the press with the names of the applicants but no other information. He shredded the resumes after the board saw them, he told Blume.
And that is apparently acceptable according to Blume, who said the FOI makes the documents public as long as they exist, but the school district can’t hand over documents that have been shredded.
But his talk was also full of warnings since failing to comply with the FOI is a criminal offense punishable by a fine of up to $200 and 30 days in jail. He told board members they need not fear “talking shop” if they happen to meet on the street. Put don’t turn chance meetings into mini school board meetings and discuss actions that the board will take.
If in doubt, be cautious. “If you’re going to err, err on the side of being public,” he said.
TOP STORY>> Roads to go one-way
IN SHORT: Change along Hwy. 67/167 corridor could start next Monday evening
By John Hofheimer
Leader staff writer
Barring last-minute glitches, commuters will awaken Tuesday morning to find Landers and Warden roads between McCain Boulevard and Wildwood Avenue converted to one one-way roads, according to the state Highway and Transportation Department.
A decade in the planning and two years in the making, the one-way frontage roads will essentially form a counterclockwise loop running south on Warden and north on Landers, according to Farrell Wilson, special projects coordinator for the department’s public affairs office.
The conversion will make the roads safer and able to carry more traffic, Wilson said.
The frontage road conversion is part of a $22.5 million reconstruction that includes widening Hwy. 67/167 from McCain Boulevard to Wildwood Avenue.
As the main corridor in and out of central Arkansas from the north, approximately 80,000 vehicles travel the highway each day, with about 24,000 vehicles traveling on the frontage roads, she said.
Motorists on Landers will be able to cross over to Warden under a newly elevated section of Hwy. 67/167 at Five Mile Creek—site of the old Wal-Mart—or at Wildwood.
Southbound motorists on Warden wishing to cross over to Landers may do so at Five Mile Creek or at the elevated flyover located just yards north of the McCain Boulevard overpass, Wilson said.
Wilson said that to make the one-way conversion as safe and convenient as possible, the newly constructed turnaround at Wildwood and the underpass at Five Mile Creek would be opened at the same time that the frontage roads are converted.
It will take a few additional days to open the McCain Boulevard turnaround ramp, because it must be graded to smoothly meet the temporarily closed northbound lane of Landers Road.
“Reducing indirection for the convenience of motorists in this area has been a top priority for AHTD planners on the project,” said Dan Flowers, director.
“Initially, there may be some confusion as drivers adjust to this change, but once they become accustomed to the new travel patterns, motorists will see a significant improvement to the traffic flow and safety within this high-traffic corridor.”
“Indirection” refers to the current need for motorists entering or leaving the highway to negotiate on-coming traffic, a practice universally recognized as dangerous.
Depending on the weather, Wilson said the one-way conversion could begin as early as next Monday evening and would involve closing one lane on each frontage road, allowing motorists to get used to the new arrangement and also allowing the contractor—Muskogee Bridge Company—to resurface the closed lane.
Traffic on the frontage roads will always travel the same direction as the traffic in the adjacent lane of Hwy. 67/167. Frontage road traffic must yield to traffic exiting the highway.
Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim said conversion of those frontage roads and completion of the six-laning of the highway this fall between McCain and Wildwood won’t make much difference to traffic in Jacksonville, but plans call for the eventual widening of the highway through Jacksonville, and the frontage roads between Vanden-berg Boulevard and James Street could be converted to one-way, with new crossover structures that would allow motorists to get from one to the other.
Sherwood Mayor Bill Harmon couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Bids may be let in September for widening the next section of Hwy. 67/167 between Wildwood and Keihl and also from I-40 through the McCain Boulevard interchange.
A new entrance ramp from Warden to southbound Hwy. 67/167, roughly across from Dillard’s department store, also will be part of the next project.
By John Hofheimer
Leader staff writer
Barring last-minute glitches, commuters will awaken Tuesday morning to find Landers and Warden roads between McCain Boulevard and Wildwood Avenue converted to one one-way roads, according to the state Highway and Transportation Department.
A decade in the planning and two years in the making, the one-way frontage roads will essentially form a counterclockwise loop running south on Warden and north on Landers, according to Farrell Wilson, special projects coordinator for the department’s public affairs office.
The conversion will make the roads safer and able to carry more traffic, Wilson said.
The frontage road conversion is part of a $22.5 million reconstruction that includes widening Hwy. 67/167 from McCain Boulevard to Wildwood Avenue.
As the main corridor in and out of central Arkansas from the north, approximately 80,000 vehicles travel the highway each day, with about 24,000 vehicles traveling on the frontage roads, she said.
Motorists on Landers will be able to cross over to Warden under a newly elevated section of Hwy. 67/167 at Five Mile Creek—site of the old Wal-Mart—or at Wildwood.
Southbound motorists on Warden wishing to cross over to Landers may do so at Five Mile Creek or at the elevated flyover located just yards north of the McCain Boulevard overpass, Wilson said.
Wilson said that to make the one-way conversion as safe and convenient as possible, the newly constructed turnaround at Wildwood and the underpass at Five Mile Creek would be opened at the same time that the frontage roads are converted.
It will take a few additional days to open the McCain Boulevard turnaround ramp, because it must be graded to smoothly meet the temporarily closed northbound lane of Landers Road.
“Reducing indirection for the convenience of motorists in this area has been a top priority for AHTD planners on the project,” said Dan Flowers, director.
“Initially, there may be some confusion as drivers adjust to this change, but once they become accustomed to the new travel patterns, motorists will see a significant improvement to the traffic flow and safety within this high-traffic corridor.”
“Indirection” refers to the current need for motorists entering or leaving the highway to negotiate on-coming traffic, a practice universally recognized as dangerous.
Depending on the weather, Wilson said the one-way conversion could begin as early as next Monday evening and would involve closing one lane on each frontage road, allowing motorists to get used to the new arrangement and also allowing the contractor—Muskogee Bridge Company—to resurface the closed lane.
Traffic on the frontage roads will always travel the same direction as the traffic in the adjacent lane of Hwy. 67/167. Frontage road traffic must yield to traffic exiting the highway.
Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim said conversion of those frontage roads and completion of the six-laning of the highway this fall between McCain and Wildwood won’t make much difference to traffic in Jacksonville, but plans call for the eventual widening of the highway through Jacksonville, and the frontage roads between Vanden-berg Boulevard and James Street could be converted to one-way, with new crossover structures that would allow motorists to get from one to the other.
Sherwood Mayor Bill Harmon couldn’t be reached for comment Tuesday afternoon.
Bids may be let in September for widening the next section of Hwy. 67/167 between Wildwood and Keihl and also from I-40 through the McCain Boulevard interchange.
A new entrance ramp from Warden to southbound Hwy. 67/167, roughly across from Dillard’s department store, also will be part of the next project.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
EDITORIAL>> Can divided court stand?
It is settled then. The Arkansas Supreme Court has the power to immediately review the work of the General Assembly and the governor on public education, and it is going to do it. That should be a fine victory for the public schools, the children and all of us who believe that the caliber of their schooling holds our future as well as theirs.
But now that the question of the court’s jurisdiction is settled — to the extent that there was ever any question that the court could do anything that a majority wanted to do - we fear that it is a pyrrhic victory. The court was more narrowly and bitterly divided than we have ever seen it. The accusations back and forth among the justices were not what we normally describe as “strongly worded” opinions. They were personal and resentful, which tells us that the court may not be able to make its mandate stick.
A bare 4-to-3 majority granted a petition for the court to dissolve its mandate in the Lake View school case and take a look at the deliberations of the just-finished legislative session to see if the General Assembly and the governor complied with the court’s order in 2002 that they bring all Arkansas schools up to constitutional snuff. The Constitution requires that the state provide suitable, efficient and equal educational opportunities for every child in Arkansas.
This will be the court’s third reflection in three years on how well the state government is meeting its responsibility to school children, and three members of the court believe one was all that the court was lawfully supposed to undertake. The minority, led by the new chief justice, Jim Hannah, says that the court was finished with the case when it ruled unanimously that the schools were operating unconstitutionally and that the legislature and governor needed to fix it.
They argue that the schools that believe that the state did not fulfill the mandate must file a fresh lawsuit in Pulaski Circuit Court. To continually review legislative work themselves, Justice Hannah said, makes the Supreme Court a super legislature and abridges the separation of powers. The court commits itself, the minority suggested, to second-guessing the legislature every time that it meets from now until doomsday.
But this is really not the court’s third pass at a constitutional review of the schools but the fifth in our generation, and we may be forgetting a genuflection or two at the issue. In 1983 and again 10 years later, the Supreme Court declared that the schools were operating in violation of the Constitution. In the first two instances, the court was largely judging the equity of how schools were funded from one corner of the state to another, from poor Lake View to Bentonville, which pays its football coaches more than the entire faculty and administration of many school districts. The Lake View case goes deeper, to the suitability or adequacy of school programs, a standard that obviously is forever changing in an economic order that knows no borders.
The majority — Justices Robert L. Brown, Thomas A. Glaze, Betty Dickey and Donald Corbin - were mindful of that 25-year-history of court orders and disobedience, beginning with the first trial in the original Dupree case in 1980. To tell schools and the whole state that this process would have to start once more and work its way back up to the Supreme Court in, say, 2008 or 2009 seemed, well, foolish. Their remedy may be extraordinary in the annals of Arkansas jurisprudence, but it seems rational to laymen. Where is the wisdom in delaying an unpleasant task when it may be addressed now?
So the majority turned once again to two former justices, who will take testimony on the school laws of 2005 and the condition of the schools and then compare them with the general prescriptions of the Supreme Court in its 2002 order. Who can envy the task of Bradley D. Jesson of Fort Smith and David Newbern, the court-appointed masters?
They will answer to a court that cannot possibly be satisfied and that disagrees in almost seven directions about what the task ahead is. One of the four majority judges seemed to have switched sides from last June, when he was inclined to close the case because the legislature at a special session in 2004 had done right by the schools.
Another, Betty Dickey, who was appointed by Gov. Huckabee to complete an unexpired term, was shaky this week. She voted with the majority with great reluctance. But she at least tried to be consistent. Huckabee wanted the court to keep the case open a year ago when he was mad at the legislature, and she did that.
On the day of this decision, her patron and former employer (she was Huckabee’s legal counsel), who now wants the case closed, denounced her and the other three, although not by name. Justice Dickey is not apt to stay the course if the masters suggest big shortcomings by the legislature and the governor.
Huckabee’s other appointee, Carol Dalby of Texarkana, predictably went his way. The court, it must be remembered, did not declare the legislature and governor in default, yet. The schools that petitioned for the review merely made allegations, and Jesson and Newbern will advise the court by Sept. 1 whether those allegations are true. If they are, the feuding justices then will decide what to do about it.
In similar straits last week, the Kansas Supreme Court - unanimously — gave the legislature and governor until July 1 to put another $143 million into the school budget for the next school year or else, presumably, shut the schools down.
Three Arkansas justices clearly find such a notion repugnant and we suspect that a fourth would follow.
Our own view is that the legislature did fall short. Clearly, it did not meet its own standard, which was $2 billion or more in improvements in school facilities. It appropriated only $104 million and made no provision for future additions unless the state again runs a huge surplus. It might have given voters a recipe for permanently meeting the facility needs through intermittent bond issues, much in the way that the legislature did a dozen years ago when it provided for periodic bonds for water improvements around the state.
The masters can hardly ignore the legislature’s failure to provide even a dime more money for schools the next school year under the state equalization formula. Forty percent of Arkansas schools will receive less state aid in 2006 than in 2005. Legislators, Gov. Huckabee and Attorney General Mike Beebe, who must defend the first two in court while he runs for governor, have a defense for that failing, but it is a hard sell.
But for a court so splintered, querulous and nervous, a poor job may begin to look just good enough.
But now that the question of the court’s jurisdiction is settled — to the extent that there was ever any question that the court could do anything that a majority wanted to do - we fear that it is a pyrrhic victory. The court was more narrowly and bitterly divided than we have ever seen it. The accusations back and forth among the justices were not what we normally describe as “strongly worded” opinions. They were personal and resentful, which tells us that the court may not be able to make its mandate stick.
A bare 4-to-3 majority granted a petition for the court to dissolve its mandate in the Lake View school case and take a look at the deliberations of the just-finished legislative session to see if the General Assembly and the governor complied with the court’s order in 2002 that they bring all Arkansas schools up to constitutional snuff. The Constitution requires that the state provide suitable, efficient and equal educational opportunities for every child in Arkansas.
This will be the court’s third reflection in three years on how well the state government is meeting its responsibility to school children, and three members of the court believe one was all that the court was lawfully supposed to undertake. The minority, led by the new chief justice, Jim Hannah, says that the court was finished with the case when it ruled unanimously that the schools were operating unconstitutionally and that the legislature and governor needed to fix it.
They argue that the schools that believe that the state did not fulfill the mandate must file a fresh lawsuit in Pulaski Circuit Court. To continually review legislative work themselves, Justice Hannah said, makes the Supreme Court a super legislature and abridges the separation of powers. The court commits itself, the minority suggested, to second-guessing the legislature every time that it meets from now until doomsday.
But this is really not the court’s third pass at a constitutional review of the schools but the fifth in our generation, and we may be forgetting a genuflection or two at the issue. In 1983 and again 10 years later, the Supreme Court declared that the schools were operating in violation of the Constitution. In the first two instances, the court was largely judging the equity of how schools were funded from one corner of the state to another, from poor Lake View to Bentonville, which pays its football coaches more than the entire faculty and administration of many school districts. The Lake View case goes deeper, to the suitability or adequacy of school programs, a standard that obviously is forever changing in an economic order that knows no borders.
The majority — Justices Robert L. Brown, Thomas A. Glaze, Betty Dickey and Donald Corbin - were mindful of that 25-year-history of court orders and disobedience, beginning with the first trial in the original Dupree case in 1980. To tell schools and the whole state that this process would have to start once more and work its way back up to the Supreme Court in, say, 2008 or 2009 seemed, well, foolish. Their remedy may be extraordinary in the annals of Arkansas jurisprudence, but it seems rational to laymen. Where is the wisdom in delaying an unpleasant task when it may be addressed now?
So the majority turned once again to two former justices, who will take testimony on the school laws of 2005 and the condition of the schools and then compare them with the general prescriptions of the Supreme Court in its 2002 order. Who can envy the task of Bradley D. Jesson of Fort Smith and David Newbern, the court-appointed masters?
They will answer to a court that cannot possibly be satisfied and that disagrees in almost seven directions about what the task ahead is. One of the four majority judges seemed to have switched sides from last June, when he was inclined to close the case because the legislature at a special session in 2004 had done right by the schools.
Another, Betty Dickey, who was appointed by Gov. Huckabee to complete an unexpired term, was shaky this week. She voted with the majority with great reluctance. But she at least tried to be consistent. Huckabee wanted the court to keep the case open a year ago when he was mad at the legislature, and she did that.
On the day of this decision, her patron and former employer (she was Huckabee’s legal counsel), who now wants the case closed, denounced her and the other three, although not by name. Justice Dickey is not apt to stay the course if the masters suggest big shortcomings by the legislature and the governor.
Huckabee’s other appointee, Carol Dalby of Texarkana, predictably went his way. The court, it must be remembered, did not declare the legislature and governor in default, yet. The schools that petitioned for the review merely made allegations, and Jesson and Newbern will advise the court by Sept. 1 whether those allegations are true. If they are, the feuding justices then will decide what to do about it.
In similar straits last week, the Kansas Supreme Court - unanimously — gave the legislature and governor until July 1 to put another $143 million into the school budget for the next school year or else, presumably, shut the schools down.
Three Arkansas justices clearly find such a notion repugnant and we suspect that a fourth would follow.
Our own view is that the legislature did fall short. Clearly, it did not meet its own standard, which was $2 billion or more in improvements in school facilities. It appropriated only $104 million and made no provision for future additions unless the state again runs a huge surplus. It might have given voters a recipe for permanently meeting the facility needs through intermittent bond issues, much in the way that the legislature did a dozen years ago when it provided for periodic bonds for water improvements around the state.
The masters can hardly ignore the legislature’s failure to provide even a dime more money for schools the next school year under the state equalization formula. Forty percent of Arkansas schools will receive less state aid in 2006 than in 2005. Legislators, Gov. Huckabee and Attorney General Mike Beebe, who must defend the first two in court while he runs for governor, have a defense for that failing, but it is a hard sell.
But for a court so splintered, querulous and nervous, a poor job may begin to look just good enough.
EDITORIAL>> An apology
The United States Senate, by an unrecorded voice vote, formally apologized Monday to the families and descendants of thousands of men and women who were lynched over a century of grim history. The Senate’s declaration of contrition for the lawless murder mostly of blacks might have been made for all of us, whose forebears said little and did nothing. But the Senate spoke only for the institution. Between 1882 and 1968 the Senate blocked more than 200 bills that sought to make lynching a federal crime.
Not all Southern senators signed onto this resolution, but we are happy that Arkansas Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor did, and they were eloquent about it. We will quote Sen. Lincoln:
“This was a moment in our nation’s history that was at odds with the principles upon which we were founded - a moment at odds with our future. When we acknowledge the misdeeds of our past and demonstrate a willingness to learn the lessons from those actions, we build upon the many things that unite us all to make our nation an even greater place to live.”
Other states from Texas to Georgia were stained by many more lynchings in that disgraceful time than Arkansas, but hate and intolerance were not absent from our midst.
The grimmest words in all our libraries can be found in the pages of the Arkansas Gazette where its reporters recounted with utter matter-of-factness the deeds of mobs and vigilantes from the 1880s through the Depression. The accounts sometimes were tinged with the excitement of game coverage.
In 1927, suspicion was cast on a young black man named John Carter as the person who had assaulted two white women at Little Rock. He was tortured, riddled with bullets, dragged through the teeming streets of downtown Little Rock behind a car and his body set afire on a pyre of planks ripped from a black church. One man directed the heavy traffic around the scene with a charred arm torn from Carter’s body. No one was ever charged.
Does it count as lynching when vigilantes slaughter hundreds of sharecroppers, their wives and children in Phillips County on the rumor that a black uprising against white plantation owners was in the works? That was in 1919, and no one was punished except a few of the blacks who escaped the massacre. The U. S. Supreme Court ordered them freed in 1923 and they were two years later. For a full and horrifying account read Grif Stockley’s wonderful book, “Blood in Their Eyes.”
No, there is no requiting those horrific deeds, none better anyway than simply acknowledging that they happened and being vigilant that they never happen again, neither on our soil nor in the prison camps run in the solemn name of the United States.
Not all Southern senators signed onto this resolution, but we are happy that Arkansas Senators Blanche Lincoln and Mark Pryor did, and they were eloquent about it. We will quote Sen. Lincoln:
“This was a moment in our nation’s history that was at odds with the principles upon which we were founded - a moment at odds with our future. When we acknowledge the misdeeds of our past and demonstrate a willingness to learn the lessons from those actions, we build upon the many things that unite us all to make our nation an even greater place to live.”
Other states from Texas to Georgia were stained by many more lynchings in that disgraceful time than Arkansas, but hate and intolerance were not absent from our midst.
The grimmest words in all our libraries can be found in the pages of the Arkansas Gazette where its reporters recounted with utter matter-of-factness the deeds of mobs and vigilantes from the 1880s through the Depression. The accounts sometimes were tinged with the excitement of game coverage.
In 1927, suspicion was cast on a young black man named John Carter as the person who had assaulted two white women at Little Rock. He was tortured, riddled with bullets, dragged through the teeming streets of downtown Little Rock behind a car and his body set afire on a pyre of planks ripped from a black church. One man directed the heavy traffic around the scene with a charred arm torn from Carter’s body. No one was ever charged.
Does it count as lynching when vigilantes slaughter hundreds of sharecroppers, their wives and children in Phillips County on the rumor that a black uprising against white plantation owners was in the works? That was in 1919, and no one was punished except a few of the blacks who escaped the massacre. The U. S. Supreme Court ordered them freed in 1923 and they were two years later. For a full and horrifying account read Grif Stockley’s wonderful book, “Blood in Their Eyes.”
No, there is no requiting those horrific deeds, none better anyway than simply acknowledging that they happened and being vigilant that they never happen again, neither on our soil nor in the prison camps run in the solemn name of the United States.
EDITORIAL>> Beebe enters the fray
A full year ahead of the Arkansas primaries, all the major commanders if not their armies are now in the field. He may not be the last Democrat to enter the race for governor in 2006, but Attorney General Mike Beebe, who made it official yesterday, will be the Democratic candidate for governor barring being caught in flagrante delicto doing something dreadfully impolitic.
Being unusually frank might do it, too. And it doesn’t take much cand or to do a politician in. Choosing your words carefully, which Beebe has done all his public life, sometimes is not enough in a campaign against ruthless opponents. Unless we misjudge him, Beebe will not make sweeping, bold and controversial proposals as a candidate. In that respect, he will be like the two Republican candidates, Lt. Gov. Winthrop Paul Rockefeller and former Congressman Asa Hutchinson.
But the other day, in answer to a question about school taxes if the courts should order considerably higher funding to comply with the Constitution, Beebe said Arkansas had reached the saturation point on sales taxes, which is the way the state has funded incremental increases in school spending for 70 years. It is the only broad-based state tax that can be levied by a simple majority of the legislature, but the Arkansas sales tax is high in relation to nearby states.
In a pinch caused by court orders, Beebe said, the best Arkansas could do would be to raise property taxes, which requires a vote of the people.
It would be incumbent on state leaders, he said, to go out and persuade voters of the need and propriety of the tax. The property tax is terribly unpopular, but the tax rate in Arkansas is among the lowest in the 50 states. Broadening the base of the sales tax to cover some services also would be preferable to raising the tax rate, he said. Now, Beebe was not proposing to raise those taxes but suggesting the most equitable of a range of very bad options. But if you listen to Hutchinson, Beebe wants to raise your property taxes.
Hutchinson issued a statement saying he would oppose raising taxes on the possessions of farmers and homeowners.
When Rockefeller, in similar woolgathering remarks, speculated that raising the currently invisible severance tax on natural gas if the courts put the state under the gun, Hutchinson condemned him and said he would never permit severance taxes to be raised. Gas producers now pay a tax of three tenths of a penny for a thousand cubic feet of gas - by far the lowest rate in America.
So what tax would Hutchinson propose to increase if the state were under court order to spend a lot more on its children? He will, of course, not say. All taxes are too high. When he’s pressed, we predict, Hutchinson will come out foursquare for cutting the waste and fat out of government.
Meantime, the cast and the script for the 2006 campaign are fixed. Whatever precautions he takes, Beebe will be the taxer and spender, Hutchinson the tight-fisted foe of taxes, Rockefeller the absentee in the argument. The negative candidate always sets the terms of the debate. Welcome to the campaign, General Beebe.
Being unusually frank might do it, too. And it doesn’t take much cand or to do a politician in. Choosing your words carefully, which Beebe has done all his public life, sometimes is not enough in a campaign against ruthless opponents. Unless we misjudge him, Beebe will not make sweeping, bold and controversial proposals as a candidate. In that respect, he will be like the two Republican candidates, Lt. Gov. Winthrop Paul Rockefeller and former Congressman Asa Hutchinson.
But the other day, in answer to a question about school taxes if the courts should order considerably higher funding to comply with the Constitution, Beebe said Arkansas had reached the saturation point on sales taxes, which is the way the state has funded incremental increases in school spending for 70 years. It is the only broad-based state tax that can be levied by a simple majority of the legislature, but the Arkansas sales tax is high in relation to nearby states.
In a pinch caused by court orders, Beebe said, the best Arkansas could do would be to raise property taxes, which requires a vote of the people.
It would be incumbent on state leaders, he said, to go out and persuade voters of the need and propriety of the tax. The property tax is terribly unpopular, but the tax rate in Arkansas is among the lowest in the 50 states. Broadening the base of the sales tax to cover some services also would be preferable to raising the tax rate, he said. Now, Beebe was not proposing to raise those taxes but suggesting the most equitable of a range of very bad options. But if you listen to Hutchinson, Beebe wants to raise your property taxes.
Hutchinson issued a statement saying he would oppose raising taxes on the possessions of farmers and homeowners.
When Rockefeller, in similar woolgathering remarks, speculated that raising the currently invisible severance tax on natural gas if the courts put the state under the gun, Hutchinson condemned him and said he would never permit severance taxes to be raised. Gas producers now pay a tax of three tenths of a penny for a thousand cubic feet of gas - by far the lowest rate in America.
So what tax would Hutchinson propose to increase if the state were under court order to spend a lot more on its children? He will, of course, not say. All taxes are too high. When he’s pressed, we predict, Hutchinson will come out foursquare for cutting the waste and fat out of government.
Meantime, the cast and the script for the 2006 campaign are fixed. Whatever precautions he takes, Beebe will be the taxer and spender, Hutchinson the tight-fisted foe of taxes, Rockefeller the absentee in the argument. The negative candidate always sets the terms of the debate. Welcome to the campaign, General Beebe.
OBITUARIES
E.L. Luttrell
Elwyn “E. L.” Leroy Luttrell of Beebe was born July 8, 1912, at Tishamingo, Miss., and died Monday, June 13. He was a veteran of World War II, a building contractor and a Baptist.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Flora Morine Perry; mother, Ada Modeana Bruton; father, Walter Raleigh Luttrell; sisters Mary Helen Thorne and Grace Mae Luttrell; and brother, James Edward Orville Luttrell; and one grandchild.
He is survived by one daughter, Patricia Louise Luttrell Halfacre of Pleasant Grove; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and two sisters, Mattie Faye Croney of Widener and Ruth Louise Moseley of Memphis.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe, and from 11 a.m. Thursday until service time at First Baptist Church, Caldwell. Funeral will be 2 p.m. Thursday at the church, with burial in Hughes Cemetery.
Doris Stanley
Doris R. Stanley, 77, of Pleasant Plains died June 13. She was a housewife and a Baptist.
She is survived by her husband, John Marvin Stanley; two daughters, Regenia Matheny of Pleasant Plains and Phyllis Hensley of Batesville; five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Doris was preceded in death by her son, Marvin L. Stanley.
Visitation will begin 10 a.m. Thursday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday at Roosevelt Baptist Church, Pleasant Plains with burial in Roosevelt Cemetery.
Esther Eubanks
Esther Louise Eubanks, 86, died June 11.
She was a member of First Baptist Church in Beebe. Survivors include two sons, Jim Eubanks and wife Sandra of Beebe and Gary Eubanks and wife Gloria of Jonesboro; one daughter, Marie Miller of Fort Smith; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Doris Armstrong of South Carolina and Sue Coclasure of Lonoke and one brother, Ken Nelson of Lonoke.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at Wattensaw Baptist Church with interment in Wattensaw Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews. Memorials may be made to Wattensaw Baptist Church. Funeral arrangements under the direction of Boyd Funeral Home.
Sara Berry
Sara Nichole Berry, 20, of Austin, passed away June 7. She was born July 26, 1984, in Jacksonville. She was preceded in death by her grandmother Carolyn Darlene Maddox.
Survivors include husband Chris Berry of North Little Rock; children Kaitlyn Michelle Berry and Allen Michael Berry both of Austin; mother, Rita Perkins of Austin; father and stepmother Dana and Marla Perkins of North Little Rock; two brothers, Philip Perkins of Cabot and Marlen Clark of North Little Rock; grandparents, Myrna Perkins of Sherwood, Philip Perkins of Bryant, Bob and Wanda Maddox of Moline, Ill.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, with entombment at Rest Hills Cemetery. Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Service.
Alma Leggitt
Alma Lee Leggitt, 79, of Jacksonville, died June 10. She was born on Sept. 25, 1925 in Des Arc to the late William and Bertie Tremey Dobbs. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Jacksonville. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Charles Thomas Dobbs.
She is survived by her husband, Dewey Leggitt; step-children, Monty Leggitt of Conway, Ted and Jerry Leggitt both of Jacksonville, Joanna Rowley of Jacksonville and Shirley Henry of North Little Rock; brother, William Junior Dobbs of St. Louis, Mo.; sisters, Pauline Branham of St. Louis and Clara Sue Quinn of Brinkley and a host of step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services were held Monday at First Assembly of God Church in Jacksonville, Rev. Royce Lowe officiating. Interment will follow in Rest Hills Cemetery in North Little Rock.
Funeral arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Bertha Ahrens
Bertha Odean Ahrens, 86, of Jacksonville died June 14 at Rebsaman Medical Center. She was born May 29, 1919 in Searcy to the late Oscar C. and Stella Emily Davis Lamb.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Vernon Lamb and O. C. Lamb and a sister, Edna Wortham. Ahrens was a Lutheran and a homemaker.
She is survived by her husband, Edward H. Ahrens; a daughter, Julia Frances Whitsell and a son, Robert Scott Ahrens, both of Jacksonville; sister, Ima P. Gridley; nine grandchildren, Julia K. Leistra, Paula G. Reshel, Sherry Lynn Alberson, Laura Griffith, Lisa Randals, Jeremy Ahrens, Dale Ahrens, Dacota Ahrens, and Lindsey Ahrens; five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Jacksonville Care Channel. Private services will be at a later time. Arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Melvin Tullos
Melvin Charles Tullos, 71, a long-time resident of Cabot, died June 8 at Springcreek Living Center in Cabot.
He was a member of Old Austin Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, and parents Earl and Lela Tullos, a brother Faber, and sister Joyce Ogburn.
He is survived by one son Steve and two step-sons, Mark and Larry Free, five brothers, Eugene of Campbell, Mo., Dwight of Little Rock, Kenneth, Darrell, and Doyle all of Cabot, and three sisters, Marilyn Mahoney, Linda Gramlick, and Doris Brewster all of Cabot; and grandsons Joshua, Cody and Tyler Tullos. Services were held Friday at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Cabot.
The family would like to express sincere appreciation to the staff at Springcreek Living Center for the excellent care provided during Melvin’s stay at the living center. Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Service.
Elwyn “E. L.” Leroy Luttrell of Beebe was born July 8, 1912, at Tishamingo, Miss., and died Monday, June 13. He was a veteran of World War II, a building contractor and a Baptist.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Flora Morine Perry; mother, Ada Modeana Bruton; father, Walter Raleigh Luttrell; sisters Mary Helen Thorne and Grace Mae Luttrell; and brother, James Edward Orville Luttrell; and one grandchild.
He is survived by one daughter, Patricia Louise Luttrell Halfacre of Pleasant Grove; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren and two sisters, Mattie Faye Croney of Widener and Ruth Louise Moseley of Memphis.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe, and from 11 a.m. Thursday until service time at First Baptist Church, Caldwell. Funeral will be 2 p.m. Thursday at the church, with burial in Hughes Cemetery.
Doris Stanley
Doris R. Stanley, 77, of Pleasant Plains died June 13. She was a housewife and a Baptist.
She is survived by her husband, John Marvin Stanley; two daughters, Regenia Matheny of Pleasant Plains and Phyllis Hensley of Batesville; five grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren. Doris was preceded in death by her son, Marvin L. Stanley.
Visitation will begin 10 a.m. Thursday at Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe.
Family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral will be 2 p.m. Friday at Roosevelt Baptist Church, Pleasant Plains with burial in Roosevelt Cemetery.
Esther Eubanks
Esther Louise Eubanks, 86, died June 11.
She was a member of First Baptist Church in Beebe. Survivors include two sons, Jim Eubanks and wife Sandra of Beebe and Gary Eubanks and wife Gloria of Jonesboro; one daughter, Marie Miller of Fort Smith; six grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; two sisters, Doris Armstrong of South Carolina and Sue Coclasure of Lonoke and one brother, Ken Nelson of Lonoke.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at Wattensaw Baptist Church with interment in Wattensaw Cemetery.
Pallbearers will be grandsons and nephews. Memorials may be made to Wattensaw Baptist Church. Funeral arrangements under the direction of Boyd Funeral Home.
Sara Berry
Sara Nichole Berry, 20, of Austin, passed away June 7. She was born July 26, 1984, in Jacksonville. She was preceded in death by her grandmother Carolyn Darlene Maddox.
Survivors include husband Chris Berry of North Little Rock; children Kaitlyn Michelle Berry and Allen Michael Berry both of Austin; mother, Rita Perkins of Austin; father and stepmother Dana and Marla Perkins of North Little Rock; two brothers, Philip Perkins of Cabot and Marlen Clark of North Little Rock; grandparents, Myrna Perkins of Sherwood, Philip Perkins of Bryant, Bob and Wanda Maddox of Moline, Ill.
Funeral services were held Tuesday at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, with entombment at Rest Hills Cemetery. Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Service.
Alma Leggitt
Alma Lee Leggitt, 79, of Jacksonville, died June 10. She was born on Sept. 25, 1925 in Des Arc to the late William and Bertie Tremey Dobbs. She was a homemaker and a member of the First Assembly of God Church in Jacksonville. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Charles Thomas Dobbs.
She is survived by her husband, Dewey Leggitt; step-children, Monty Leggitt of Conway, Ted and Jerry Leggitt both of Jacksonville, Joanna Rowley of Jacksonville and Shirley Henry of North Little Rock; brother, William Junior Dobbs of St. Louis, Mo.; sisters, Pauline Branham of St. Louis and Clara Sue Quinn of Brinkley and a host of step-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and friends.
Funeral services were held Monday at First Assembly of God Church in Jacksonville, Rev. Royce Lowe officiating. Interment will follow in Rest Hills Cemetery in North Little Rock.
Funeral arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Bertha Ahrens
Bertha Odean Ahrens, 86, of Jacksonville died June 14 at Rebsaman Medical Center. She was born May 29, 1919 in Searcy to the late Oscar C. and Stella Emily Davis Lamb.
She was also preceded in death by two brothers, Vernon Lamb and O. C. Lamb and a sister, Edna Wortham. Ahrens was a Lutheran and a homemaker.
She is survived by her husband, Edward H. Ahrens; a daughter, Julia Frances Whitsell and a son, Robert Scott Ahrens, both of Jacksonville; sister, Ima P. Gridley; nine grandchildren, Julia K. Leistra, Paula G. Reshel, Sherry Lynn Alberson, Laura Griffith, Lisa Randals, Jeremy Ahrens, Dale Ahrens, Dacota Ahrens, and Lindsey Ahrens; five great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to Jacksonville Care Channel. Private services will be at a later time. Arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Melvin Tullos
Melvin Charles Tullos, 71, a long-time resident of Cabot, died June 8 at Springcreek Living Center in Cabot.
He was a member of Old Austin Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth, and parents Earl and Lela Tullos, a brother Faber, and sister Joyce Ogburn.
He is survived by one son Steve and two step-sons, Mark and Larry Free, five brothers, Eugene of Campbell, Mo., Dwight of Little Rock, Kenneth, Darrell, and Doyle all of Cabot, and three sisters, Marilyn Mahoney, Linda Gramlick, and Doris Brewster all of Cabot; and grandsons Joshua, Cody and Tyler Tullos. Services were held Friday at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church in Cabot.
The family would like to express sincere appreciation to the staff at Springcreek Living Center for the excellent care provided during Melvin’s stay at the living center. Arrangements by Thomas Funeral Service.
SPORTS>> Jacksonville gets back on track with sweep of SH
By Ray Benton
Leader staff writer
Gwatney A team continued their winning ways Sunday afternoon, defeating Sylvan Hills 10-3. Sylvan Hills made the first strike by getting a walk, an error by Jacksonville, and a double to score one.
The Chevy boys came back in the second inning with two hits and two stolen bases, tying the score 1-1. Sylvan Hills responded by two singles, a walk, and a stolen base to go up 2-1 in the second inning. A single and a Sylvan Hills error tied the score in the third 2-2. The fifth inning blossoms for Jacksonville with a walk, a single, two doubles and a Sylvan Hills error to make it 7-2.
Sylvan Hills scored one in the fifth with a walk and a single. An error and two stolen bases to make it 7-3.
Jacksonville put the icing on the cake in the sixth with two walks, two hits and a stolen base by Zach Thomas to up the score 10-3. Devin Cole went the distance for the Gwatney win. The Chevy boys finished with nine hits and one error. Sylvan Hills had five hits and three errors. Head Coach Hickingbotham said again Sunday, “This club just gets better and better every game.”
Eleven hits by Gwatney and six by Sylvan Hills told the story in a 9-6 Jacksonville win Sunday afternoon.
In the first inning Sylvan Hills scored three unearned runs on Gwatney’s three errors. Jacksonville came alive in the second inning with four hits along with a Sylvan Hills error to take a 4-3 lead. Gwatney got two hits in the third only to leave three stranded.
A single, and a double by Sylvan Hills gave them two more runs to make it 5-4 in the third.
In the fourth inning, a single and a double by Gwatney evened the score 5-5. But Sylvan Hills rallied with a walk and a double to make it 5-6. The Chevy boys erupted in the sixth inning with three singles, an error on Sylvan Hills and a suicide squeeze play to make it 9-6. Sylvan Hills started a come back in the seventh inning with two hits only to be stranded, ending the game.
Gwatney’s Seth Boatman came in as relief pitcher to take the win. Jeremy Williams, Tyler Uptegrove and Tim Payne each had two hits. Randy Peeples was 2 for 5 for the game. Hickingbotham said, “the relief pitching staff of Matt Crane and Seth Boatman did a great job finishing up the game”.
Saturday’s slugfest between Gwatney’s A team and Maumelle’s A team produced 14 hits for Gwatney and eight for Maumelle. Nine innings of play used up three of Gwatney’s pitchers with Jordan Payer taking the 7-6 win.
Maumelle came back and made it interesting in the seventh by tying the score 6-6. Gwatney finally broke the stalemate in the ninth with two hits and a double to win 7-6. Zach James was 4 for 5 and Tyler Upptegrove was 3 for 5.
The AAA club didn’t fare as well, losing a close game to the Maumelle squad.
Three errors in the infield and three missed balls by the catcher gave the Maumelle AAA club two unearned runs which was enough to win 2-0 over Gwatney.
Brad Green of Gwatney pitched a magnificent game, giving up just two hits and striking out six.
Maumelle’s pitcher gave up four hits and struck out seven of the Jacksonville batters.
A single in the first inning, a walk and three passed balls was enough for Maumelle to score its first run. In the second inning, Gwatney came back with two hits only to be stranded.
The second inning started with an error by Gwatneys first baseman Brandon Clements. A single put a Maumelle runner on first and second.
But a base running error put an end to Maumelle’s rally and got Jacksonville out of a jam.
Gwatneys’ Kyle Clark led off with a single in the fifth but was left stranded. Two walks by Gwatney and two errors by Seth Boatman at shortstop gave Maumelle its’ second run to finish the fifth inning.
The sixth inning also left Gwatney stranded with Walter Winer singling to first base. The Chevy Boys held Maumelle to no runs in the sixth. Gwatneys’ final attempt at a comeback failed in the seventh, ending with a line drive to the first baseman doubling up the Gwatney runner on first.
Walter Winner was 2 of 3 for the game.
“We didn’t get the hits when we needed them,” Hickingbotham said.
Leader staff writer
Gwatney A team continued their winning ways Sunday afternoon, defeating Sylvan Hills 10-3. Sylvan Hills made the first strike by getting a walk, an error by Jacksonville, and a double to score one.
The Chevy boys came back in the second inning with two hits and two stolen bases, tying the score 1-1. Sylvan Hills responded by two singles, a walk, and a stolen base to go up 2-1 in the second inning. A single and a Sylvan Hills error tied the score in the third 2-2. The fifth inning blossoms for Jacksonville with a walk, a single, two doubles and a Sylvan Hills error to make it 7-2.
Sylvan Hills scored one in the fifth with a walk and a single. An error and two stolen bases to make it 7-3.
Jacksonville put the icing on the cake in the sixth with two walks, two hits and a stolen base by Zach Thomas to up the score 10-3. Devin Cole went the distance for the Gwatney win. The Chevy boys finished with nine hits and one error. Sylvan Hills had five hits and three errors. Head Coach Hickingbotham said again Sunday, “This club just gets better and better every game.”
Eleven hits by Gwatney and six by Sylvan Hills told the story in a 9-6 Jacksonville win Sunday afternoon.
In the first inning Sylvan Hills scored three unearned runs on Gwatney’s three errors. Jacksonville came alive in the second inning with four hits along with a Sylvan Hills error to take a 4-3 lead. Gwatney got two hits in the third only to leave three stranded.
A single, and a double by Sylvan Hills gave them two more runs to make it 5-4 in the third.
In the fourth inning, a single and a double by Gwatney evened the score 5-5. But Sylvan Hills rallied with a walk and a double to make it 5-6. The Chevy boys erupted in the sixth inning with three singles, an error on Sylvan Hills and a suicide squeeze play to make it 9-6. Sylvan Hills started a come back in the seventh inning with two hits only to be stranded, ending the game.
Gwatney’s Seth Boatman came in as relief pitcher to take the win. Jeremy Williams, Tyler Uptegrove and Tim Payne each had two hits. Randy Peeples was 2 for 5 for the game. Hickingbotham said, “the relief pitching staff of Matt Crane and Seth Boatman did a great job finishing up the game”.
Saturday’s slugfest between Gwatney’s A team and Maumelle’s A team produced 14 hits for Gwatney and eight for Maumelle. Nine innings of play used up three of Gwatney’s pitchers with Jordan Payer taking the 7-6 win.
Maumelle came back and made it interesting in the seventh by tying the score 6-6. Gwatney finally broke the stalemate in the ninth with two hits and a double to win 7-6. Zach James was 4 for 5 and Tyler Upptegrove was 3 for 5.
The AAA club didn’t fare as well, losing a close game to the Maumelle squad.
Three errors in the infield and three missed balls by the catcher gave the Maumelle AAA club two unearned runs which was enough to win 2-0 over Gwatney.
Brad Green of Gwatney pitched a magnificent game, giving up just two hits and striking out six.
Maumelle’s pitcher gave up four hits and struck out seven of the Jacksonville batters.
A single in the first inning, a walk and three passed balls was enough for Maumelle to score its first run. In the second inning, Gwatney came back with two hits only to be stranded.
The second inning started with an error by Gwatneys first baseman Brandon Clements. A single put a Maumelle runner on first and second.
But a base running error put an end to Maumelle’s rally and got Jacksonville out of a jam.
Gwatneys’ Kyle Clark led off with a single in the fifth but was left stranded. Two walks by Gwatney and two errors by Seth Boatman at shortstop gave Maumelle its’ second run to finish the fifth inning.
The sixth inning also left Gwatney stranded with Walter Winer singling to first base. The Chevy Boys held Maumelle to no runs in the sixth. Gwatneys’ final attempt at a comeback failed in the seventh, ending with a line drive to the first baseman doubling up the Gwatney runner on first.
Walter Winner was 2 of 3 for the game.
“We didn’t get the hits when we needed them,” Hickingbotham said.
SPORTS>> Panthers see better play with two twinbill splits
IN SHORT: Cabot takes one each from Jacksonville and Vilonia
By Ray Benton
Leader staff writer
The Cabot Panthers’ class AA American Legion team put together a few respectable performances over the weekend. After losing four straight games, Cabot earned doubleheader splits with Jacksonville’s AA team and Vilonia Friday and Saturday respectively.
Friday’s win was particularly pleasing for two reasons. The main reason is that it snapped a losing streak that saw the Panthers beaten badly three times.
A secondary reason was the fact that some of the Panther legion players’ high school teammates were in the opposite dugout on Hickingbotham Field.
“They were definitely aware of that,” Cabot coach Paul Fuller said. “I think that probably did give them some extra motivation.”
That motivation did little to help Cabot through the first four innings. Jacksonville pitcher Trey Smith was on fire. Smith gave up just two hits, only one of which got out of the infield, and struck out eight Cabot players over the first four innings.
The good news for Cabot was that its pitcher, Justin Haas, was throwing just about as well as Smith, and held Jacksonville scoreless through four also.
Jacksonville sent Seth Boatman to the mound in the fifth inning. Boatman had not pitched in over a month, and his rustiness showed. He walked Haas with one out, then hit Mitchell Durant. A perfect sacrifice bunt by Chad Bryant moved the runners up for Logan Lucas, who hit an infield single to score one run.
Jacksonville answered with two in the bottom of the same inning. Gwatney first baseman Brandon Clements hit a high pop-up to shallow centerfield, where no one claimed the ball and it dropped between three fielders.
Zach Thomas followed with a single to right field and Tyler Uptergrove reached safely on a perfect bunt to load the bases.
Clements then scored when Haas was called for a balk. A sacrifice by leadoff hitter Josh Mansfield scored Thomas to put Gwatney ahead 2-1.
Another infield single and a series of errors led to five Cabot unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Shawn Trammel started off with an infield single and Shayne Burgan reached on an error by Uptergrove. Uptergrove’s throwing error led to Trammell being caught in a rundown between second and third, but third baseman Kyle West overthrew his teammate and sent the ball into right field, allowing Trammel to score on the play.
Kaleb Killough lined out to left field for the first out of the inning, and Justin Free followed that with an RBI single to left to score Burgan.
Boatman then issued back-to-back walks to Haas and Durant to load the bases. Boatman then struck out the next batter, but leadoff hitter Lucas singled to right field to drive in two runs. An error at shortstop off the bat of JC Weir brought in the final run of the inning for Cabot.
Jacksonville scored one in the bottom of the sixth. Randy Peeples doubled to lead off the inning and scored two batters later on an error at second base to set the final margin.
Jacksonville pulled out game two with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to win 3-2, but Fuller was still pleased with how his team played.
“That second one was just a hard-luck deal,” Fuller said. “I thought we played pretty well and really had ‘em where we wanted ‘em. But we made some mental errors on the base paths and that just killed us. We’re starting to come together a little bit though. It helps that we’re finally playing other AA teams. We’d been playing teams that just out-manned us. We’re getting better and gaining some confidence.”
Trammell went 3 for 4 in the game one win, including a double in the seventh inning.
Lucas went 2 for 4 and was the only other player with multiple hits in the game.
Chris Goss went 2 for 3 to lead Cabot in its 5-2 victory over Vilonia Saturday. Killough got the win on the mound, giving up just two hits and zero earned runs.
Cabot picked up five hits in the win.
The Panthers host Stuttgart at Brian Conrad Complex Thursday. Game one of the scheduled doubleheader begins at 6 p.m.
By Ray Benton
Leader staff writer
The Cabot Panthers’ class AA American Legion team put together a few respectable performances over the weekend. After losing four straight games, Cabot earned doubleheader splits with Jacksonville’s AA team and Vilonia Friday and Saturday respectively.
Friday’s win was particularly pleasing for two reasons. The main reason is that it snapped a losing streak that saw the Panthers beaten badly three times.
A secondary reason was the fact that some of the Panther legion players’ high school teammates were in the opposite dugout on Hickingbotham Field.
“They were definitely aware of that,” Cabot coach Paul Fuller said. “I think that probably did give them some extra motivation.”
That motivation did little to help Cabot through the first four innings. Jacksonville pitcher Trey Smith was on fire. Smith gave up just two hits, only one of which got out of the infield, and struck out eight Cabot players over the first four innings.
The good news for Cabot was that its pitcher, Justin Haas, was throwing just about as well as Smith, and held Jacksonville scoreless through four also.
Jacksonville sent Seth Boatman to the mound in the fifth inning. Boatman had not pitched in over a month, and his rustiness showed. He walked Haas with one out, then hit Mitchell Durant. A perfect sacrifice bunt by Chad Bryant moved the runners up for Logan Lucas, who hit an infield single to score one run.
Jacksonville answered with two in the bottom of the same inning. Gwatney first baseman Brandon Clements hit a high pop-up to shallow centerfield, where no one claimed the ball and it dropped between three fielders.
Zach Thomas followed with a single to right field and Tyler Uptergrove reached safely on a perfect bunt to load the bases.
Clements then scored when Haas was called for a balk. A sacrifice by leadoff hitter Josh Mansfield scored Thomas to put Gwatney ahead 2-1.
Another infield single and a series of errors led to five Cabot unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning.
Shawn Trammel started off with an infield single and Shayne Burgan reached on an error by Uptergrove. Uptergrove’s throwing error led to Trammell being caught in a rundown between second and third, but third baseman Kyle West overthrew his teammate and sent the ball into right field, allowing Trammel to score on the play.
Kaleb Killough lined out to left field for the first out of the inning, and Justin Free followed that with an RBI single to left to score Burgan.
Boatman then issued back-to-back walks to Haas and Durant to load the bases. Boatman then struck out the next batter, but leadoff hitter Lucas singled to right field to drive in two runs. An error at shortstop off the bat of JC Weir brought in the final run of the inning for Cabot.
Jacksonville scored one in the bottom of the sixth. Randy Peeples doubled to lead off the inning and scored two batters later on an error at second base to set the final margin.
Jacksonville pulled out game two with a run in the bottom of the seventh inning to win 3-2, but Fuller was still pleased with how his team played.
“That second one was just a hard-luck deal,” Fuller said. “I thought we played pretty well and really had ‘em where we wanted ‘em. But we made some mental errors on the base paths and that just killed us. We’re starting to come together a little bit though. It helps that we’re finally playing other AA teams. We’d been playing teams that just out-manned us. We’re getting better and gaining some confidence.”
Trammell went 3 for 4 in the game one win, including a double in the seventh inning.
Lucas went 2 for 4 and was the only other player with multiple hits in the game.
Chris Goss went 2 for 3 to lead Cabot in its 5-2 victory over Vilonia Saturday. Killough got the win on the mound, giving up just two hits and zero earned runs.
Cabot picked up five hits in the win.
The Panthers host Stuttgart at Brian Conrad Complex Thursday. Game one of the scheduled doubleheader begins at 6 p.m.
NEIGHBORS>> Learning to swim
IN SHORT: Cabot Parks and Recreation offers lessons to kids of all ages
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
From the doggie paddle to the butterfly stroke, Cabot Parks and Recreation’s aquatics programs offer swimming lessons for all skill levels.
“I’m estimating we have about 300 children signed up for swimming lessons,” said head swim coach Debbie Skidmore. “We have 120 signed up for the Cabot Piranhas swim team right now.”
The Learn to Swim program starts out with a Mom and Tot course for 4 year olds and their mothers. The course focuses on familiarizing parents and children with swimming and survival skills.
Level I teaches non-swimmers ages 5 and 6 on survival swimming and getting used to the water.
Level II is for the same age group and focuses on learning freestyle swimming and underwater maneuvers.
Level III is for swimmers ages 7 and 8 to develop stroke technique, diving and underwater swimming. Level IV focuses technique, diving and underwater swimming for swimmers age 9 and above.
Level V is for 7 year olds and up. It teaches competitive strokes for recreation and members of the Cabot Piranhas swim team.
Skidmore says teaching swimming is a passion that all five swim coaches share.
“We see so much progress in two months,” said Skidmore.
“The students go from being scared of the water to swimming laps.”
The Cabot Piranhas swim team was started in 1999 and is for children ages 5 to 18.
The program emphasizes learning proper stroke techniques, increasing endurance and having fun. The team has three skill levels, bronze, silver and gold.
The Cabot Piranhas compete in swim meets each weekend culminating with a competition July 29-31 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
To become a Piranha, children under 6 must be able to swim the length of the pool aided by a kickboard.
Children age 7 and 8 must be able to swim the length of the pool. Children age 9 and above must swim the length of the pool twice.
“We really need a bigger pool, we’ve outgrown this one,” Skidmore said.
Skidmore says many swim team members join swim teams in Little Rock to swim year round.
Year-round access to a swimming pool is one of the biggest challenges for swim team members.
“The children get out of shape when they don’t swim in the winter,” Skidmore said.
“Swimming is just as physically demanding as football.”
The Cabot Piranhas’ next swim meet will be at 5 p.m. Friday at the Lonoke Community Center’s pool.
By Sara Greene
Leader staff writer
From the doggie paddle to the butterfly stroke, Cabot Parks and Recreation’s aquatics programs offer swimming lessons for all skill levels.
“I’m estimating we have about 300 children signed up for swimming lessons,” said head swim coach Debbie Skidmore. “We have 120 signed up for the Cabot Piranhas swim team right now.”
The Learn to Swim program starts out with a Mom and Tot course for 4 year olds and their mothers. The course focuses on familiarizing parents and children with swimming and survival skills.
Level I teaches non-swimmers ages 5 and 6 on survival swimming and getting used to the water.
Level II is for the same age group and focuses on learning freestyle swimming and underwater maneuvers.
Level III is for swimmers ages 7 and 8 to develop stroke technique, diving and underwater swimming. Level IV focuses technique, diving and underwater swimming for swimmers age 9 and above.
Level V is for 7 year olds and up. It teaches competitive strokes for recreation and members of the Cabot Piranhas swim team.
Skidmore says teaching swimming is a passion that all five swim coaches share.
“We see so much progress in two months,” said Skidmore.
“The students go from being scared of the water to swimming laps.”
The Cabot Piranhas swim team was started in 1999 and is for children ages 5 to 18.
The program emphasizes learning proper stroke techniques, increasing endurance and having fun. The team has three skill levels, bronze, silver and gold.
The Cabot Piranhas compete in swim meets each weekend culminating with a competition July 29-31 at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
To become a Piranha, children under 6 must be able to swim the length of the pool aided by a kickboard.
Children age 7 and 8 must be able to swim the length of the pool. Children age 9 and above must swim the length of the pool twice.
“We really need a bigger pool, we’ve outgrown this one,” Skidmore said.
Skidmore says many swim team members join swim teams in Little Rock to swim year round.
Year-round access to a swimming pool is one of the biggest challenges for swim team members.
“The children get out of shape when they don’t swim in the winter,” Skidmore said.
“Swimming is just as physically demanding as football.”
The Cabot Piranhas’ next swim meet will be at 5 p.m. Friday at the Lonoke Community Center’s pool.
TOP STORY>> Voters will decide on Jacksonville's library
IN SHORT: Voters will decide July 5 whether or not Jacksonville is to have a new multipurpose building to replace the 36-year-old library, which is the oldest in the Central Arkansas Library System.
By Brian Rodriguez
Leader staff writer
A Little Rock architectural firm on Monday unveiled designs for a new Jacksonville library that would cost about $2.5 million. Voters will decide whether to fund the library during a special millage election on Tuesday, July 5.
The architectural firm of Witsell, Evans and Rasco showed their plans during a meeting in the Esther Dewitt Nixon Library in Jacksonville, featuring a multi-purpose section for use after library hours, a larger workspace for library employees, study rooms and reading alcoves.
"We’ve got some really, really exciting things going on here in Jacksonville," said Mark Wilson, the Jacksonville representative on the Central Arkansas Library System board. "I think the architects have a lot of passion for their project."
The architects said it would cost about the same to build a new library than to renovate the existing building.
The most discussed part of the presentation was the proposed roof shown in the color renderings — an architectural rarity with the roof sloping from the front and back toward the center of the building.
Charles Witsell, a partner in the WER firm, said the design was used for the triple purpose of imposing monumental size to the side facing Main Street, giving the reading room and the library shelves a high roof, and allowing more window space for reading light.
“When you look outside of the building, it may look a little odd, but when you go inside of the building and there’s light, it’s great,” Wilson said. “With a library, I feel like that’s the bigger issue, how you feel inside the library.”
The pitch would drain the water to the center, said Witsell, and downspouts would then move the water out toward a sewer or drainage ditch to carry the water away from the building.
Most of the argument against the roof came because the center of the proposed roof seemed to have a flat section that reminded the crowd of flooding problems last fall, when the drainage system in the current flat roof leaked and closed the library for about 40 days.
Witsell said Tuesday afternoon that the firm was still in the design stages and other roof designs would be considered to ensure the city is happy with the plans for a new building.
"We certainly saw that it had a negative response so we are indeed going to be looking at different designs," he said. "We listened to the community last night and we certainly will do that."
"Keep in mind I asked the architects to do something very difficult," said CALS director Bobby Roberts, "to draw up a plan with no lot."
An earlier report by the architects showed that not counting land purchase, it would cost more to completely renovate the current building than to build a new one.
The report showed, including the cost to move and rent a temporary location while work was done, expanding and renovating the current building would cost just under $2.5 million.
The cost comparison was broken down to $185 per square foot to expand and renovate the current building, or $170 per square foot to build a new one. Witsell said land purchase was not added to the building cost because a site has not been chosen to get a cost estimate, and if the city is lucky, a site could be donated.
The current library was built in 1969 with 9,265 square feet and was renamed the Esther D. Nixon Library in 1992.
"This is a building that I think has served the community well, but it has worn out," Roberts said. "It’s just simply outlived its usefulness."
The average CALS library building, excluding the Nixon Library, is five years old and has about 14,000 square feet.
"This is like a baseball game – you get a win or you don’t," Roberts said, referring to the millage election. "There’s not going to be a second chance on that."
A positive vote in the election would fund a one-mill tax increase that would generate about $165,000 per year to fund up to a $2.5 million bond for a new library building.
The bond would include paying for a land purchase, equipping the land, and constructing a new library building.
Under the one-mill increase, a home appraised at $100,000 is assessed at 20 percent, or $20,000.
Millage increases are 1/1,000th of the assessed value, so a one-mil increase on that home would cost 1/1,000th of $20,000.
Millage increases are collected once a year, so a $100,000 homeowner would pay $20 per year until a bond was paid.
"I think all you can do is tell people it’s a value to the community," Roberts said.
By Brian Rodriguez
Leader staff writer
A Little Rock architectural firm on Monday unveiled designs for a new Jacksonville library that would cost about $2.5 million. Voters will decide whether to fund the library during a special millage election on Tuesday, July 5.
The architectural firm of Witsell, Evans and Rasco showed their plans during a meeting in the Esther Dewitt Nixon Library in Jacksonville, featuring a multi-purpose section for use after library hours, a larger workspace for library employees, study rooms and reading alcoves.
"We’ve got some really, really exciting things going on here in Jacksonville," said Mark Wilson, the Jacksonville representative on the Central Arkansas Library System board. "I think the architects have a lot of passion for their project."
The architects said it would cost about the same to build a new library than to renovate the existing building.
The most discussed part of the presentation was the proposed roof shown in the color renderings — an architectural rarity with the roof sloping from the front and back toward the center of the building.
Charles Witsell, a partner in the WER firm, said the design was used for the triple purpose of imposing monumental size to the side facing Main Street, giving the reading room and the library shelves a high roof, and allowing more window space for reading light.
“When you look outside of the building, it may look a little odd, but when you go inside of the building and there’s light, it’s great,” Wilson said. “With a library, I feel like that’s the bigger issue, how you feel inside the library.”
The pitch would drain the water to the center, said Witsell, and downspouts would then move the water out toward a sewer or drainage ditch to carry the water away from the building.
Most of the argument against the roof came because the center of the proposed roof seemed to have a flat section that reminded the crowd of flooding problems last fall, when the drainage system in the current flat roof leaked and closed the library for about 40 days.
Witsell said Tuesday afternoon that the firm was still in the design stages and other roof designs would be considered to ensure the city is happy with the plans for a new building.
"We certainly saw that it had a negative response so we are indeed going to be looking at different designs," he said. "We listened to the community last night and we certainly will do that."
"Keep in mind I asked the architects to do something very difficult," said CALS director Bobby Roberts, "to draw up a plan with no lot."
An earlier report by the architects showed that not counting land purchase, it would cost more to completely renovate the current building than to build a new one.
The report showed, including the cost to move and rent a temporary location while work was done, expanding and renovating the current building would cost just under $2.5 million.
The cost comparison was broken down to $185 per square foot to expand and renovate the current building, or $170 per square foot to build a new one. Witsell said land purchase was not added to the building cost because a site has not been chosen to get a cost estimate, and if the city is lucky, a site could be donated.
The current library was built in 1969 with 9,265 square feet and was renamed the Esther D. Nixon Library in 1992.
"This is a building that I think has served the community well, but it has worn out," Roberts said. "It’s just simply outlived its usefulness."
The average CALS library building, excluding the Nixon Library, is five years old and has about 14,000 square feet.
"This is like a baseball game – you get a win or you don’t," Roberts said, referring to the millage election. "There’s not going to be a second chance on that."
A positive vote in the election would fund a one-mill tax increase that would generate about $165,000 per year to fund up to a $2.5 million bond for a new library building.
The bond would include paying for a land purchase, equipping the land, and constructing a new library building.
Under the one-mill increase, a home appraised at $100,000 is assessed at 20 percent, or $20,000.
Millage increases are 1/1,000th of the assessed value, so a one-mil increase on that home would cost 1/1,000th of $20,000.
Millage increases are collected once a year, so a $100,000 homeowner would pay $20 per year until a bond was paid.
"I think all you can do is tell people it’s a value to the community," Roberts said.
TOP STORY>> School board upholds cuts
IN SHORT: PCSSD employees lose their plea Tuesday to have their step pay increases and paid holidays restored, but they threaten a possible lawsuit.
By John Hofheimer
Leader staff writer
Pulaski County Special School District employees failed to convince the school board on Tuesday to reject the administration's freezing of step pay increases and elimination of paid holidays. The board stuck with the new fiscal distress improvement plan, approved unanimously by the board in special session on Monday, to cut spending for the next school year by $8.5 million while restoring—without any discussion in public—the 11 assistant principal positions the board cut in its original improvement plan April 20.
The state Board of Education designated the district as being in fiscal distress April 11, based on its calculation that the district’s operational fund balance would be $5 million in the hole at the end of the next school year.
The district has two years to remedy to the problem or face measures including consolidation, replacement of the superintendent or takeover by the state.
In the April version of the improvement plan, the board thought it reduced expenditures by $11.7 million, only to discover this month that the calculations and projections were inaccurate and the actual reduction would be closer to $8.5 million.
The cuts reduce the projected 2005-2006 school budget from $143.5 million to $135 million, with a projected fund balance June 30, 2006 of about $8 million.
“This allows us a thin cushion,” said interim Superintendent Robert Clowers.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the district will have about 5.9 percent of its budget in its fund balance at the end of the next fiscal year, but there is no state-recommended or mandated percentage. Balances in Arkansas range from about 3.6 percent to 52 percent, according to John Archetko, acting chief financial officer for the district.
Archetko, who met with Education Department representatives, said the state wants the district to live within its means, avoid debt and create a plan that’s doable.
The largest savings are from freezing step pay increases and eliminating paid holidays.
There was great support among board members for restoring paid holidays and unfreezing step increases as soon as the district is back on solid financial footing, but Archetko warned that only if voters approve a maintenance and operations bond issue is the district again likely to have the kind of money it needs.
Because the savings were recalculated to be about $3.5 million less than originally projected, because the board fired Superintendent Donald Henderson and appointed Robert Clowers interim superintendent and because it wanted more explanation about proposed cuts, the state Education Department gave the school district until June 15 to submit an amended fiscal distress improvement plan.
That revised plan, approved after considering board member Jeff Shaneyfelt’s amendments to restore some paid holidays to non-teaching staff and to bolster discipline by keeping the director of student services and athletics position, spared the 11 assistant principal positions, which were slated to be cut by the original improvement plan.
The largest among the cuts in the plan being submitted to the state Education Department is $3.3 million saved by freezing all step increases to teachers and others.
Eliminating the 11 assistant principals, a suggestion of the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers, would have saved the district an additional $850,000. Apparently Clowers discussed keeping the assistant principals in individual meetings or telephone calls with board members, because cutting the assistant principals was not among cuts proposed and adopted Monday night.
Elimination of all paid holidays to all employees saved $1.9 million and another $1 million by paying off the early-retirement incentive. Hiring substitute teachers instead of contracting that to Kelly Services was projected to save another $500,000.
Purchase of new textbooks was reduced $500,000, reductions to the transportation department will save $248,507. The maintenance budget was trimmed by $124,000, $116,000 was saved by reverting Harris from a year-round school to regular schedule and cutting the director of student services and athletics saved the district $101,854.
By John Hofheimer
Leader staff writer
Pulaski County Special School District employees failed to convince the school board on Tuesday to reject the administration's freezing of step pay increases and elimination of paid holidays. The board stuck with the new fiscal distress improvement plan, approved unanimously by the board in special session on Monday, to cut spending for the next school year by $8.5 million while restoring—without any discussion in public—the 11 assistant principal positions the board cut in its original improvement plan April 20.
The state Board of Education designated the district as being in fiscal distress April 11, based on its calculation that the district’s operational fund balance would be $5 million in the hole at the end of the next school year.
The district has two years to remedy to the problem or face measures including consolidation, replacement of the superintendent or takeover by the state.
In the April version of the improvement plan, the board thought it reduced expenditures by $11.7 million, only to discover this month that the calculations and projections were inaccurate and the actual reduction would be closer to $8.5 million.
The cuts reduce the projected 2005-2006 school budget from $143.5 million to $135 million, with a projected fund balance June 30, 2006 of about $8 million.
“This allows us a thin cushion,” said interim Superintendent Robert Clowers.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, the district will have about 5.9 percent of its budget in its fund balance at the end of the next fiscal year, but there is no state-recommended or mandated percentage. Balances in Arkansas range from about 3.6 percent to 52 percent, according to John Archetko, acting chief financial officer for the district.
Archetko, who met with Education Department representatives, said the state wants the district to live within its means, avoid debt and create a plan that’s doable.
The largest savings are from freezing step pay increases and eliminating paid holidays.
There was great support among board members for restoring paid holidays and unfreezing step increases as soon as the district is back on solid financial footing, but Archetko warned that only if voters approve a maintenance and operations bond issue is the district again likely to have the kind of money it needs.
Because the savings were recalculated to be about $3.5 million less than originally projected, because the board fired Superintendent Donald Henderson and appointed Robert Clowers interim superintendent and because it wanted more explanation about proposed cuts, the state Education Department gave the school district until June 15 to submit an amended fiscal distress improvement plan.
That revised plan, approved after considering board member Jeff Shaneyfelt’s amendments to restore some paid holidays to non-teaching staff and to bolster discipline by keeping the director of student services and athletics position, spared the 11 assistant principal positions, which were slated to be cut by the original improvement plan.
The largest among the cuts in the plan being submitted to the state Education Department is $3.3 million saved by freezing all step increases to teachers and others.
Eliminating the 11 assistant principals, a suggestion of the Pulaski Association of Classroom Teachers, would have saved the district an additional $850,000. Apparently Clowers discussed keeping the assistant principals in individual meetings or telephone calls with board members, because cutting the assistant principals was not among cuts proposed and adopted Monday night.
Elimination of all paid holidays to all employees saved $1.9 million and another $1 million by paying off the early-retirement incentive. Hiring substitute teachers instead of contracting that to Kelly Services was projected to save another $500,000.
Purchase of new textbooks was reduced $500,000, reductions to the transportation department will save $248,507. The maintenance budget was trimmed by $124,000, $116,000 was saved by reverting Harris from a year-round school to regular schedule and cutting the director of student services and athletics saved the district $101,854.
TOP STORY>> Cabot sets tax vote for new center, overpass
IN SHORT: Lonoke County Election Commission approves July 12 balloting on millage hike.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The Lonoke County Election Commission has approved a July 12 special election in Cabot to increase the city millage to pay for a railroad overpass and build a community center.
Voters will be asked to vote for or against increasing the millage from 3.5 to 4.5 to raise $700,000 for the city’s part of the federally-funded $5 million overpass and for or against increasing the millage to raise $2 million to help pay for the community center.
The overpass, to be built north of the Polk Street railroad crossing, is touted as the only means of keeping buses off the tracks and as the first step toward a north interchange that would connect Highway 38 to Highway 5.
The community center was expected to cost $3.5 million, including $500,000 for site preparation. But last fall the low bid came in at $4.2 million and the price could be even higher now.
If approved the millage increase would add about $20 to the tax on a $100,000 home. The ordinance calling for the election says the millage will be rolled back when the bonds that will pay for the construction projects are retired.
The millage increase is expected to raise about $160,000 a year.
If voters turn down the increase in taxes, the city will not be able to build the community center, and the overpass will have to wait at least until 2008, said Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh.
The council has the authority to raise the millage without voter approval, but if they did, city voters could always bring a petition for referendum and force an election.
A year ago voters approved paying for the community center with existing taxes, saying overwhelmingly that 1 percent of the city’s 1.5 percent hamburger tax and an existing half-mill should be used to pay for the center.
“I think this [upcoming election] is an opportunity for city residents to say we want the center and we’re willing to pay for it,” he said.
Early voting will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 27 through July 11 at the Lonoke County Courthouse.
On election day, polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the following polling sites:
Cabot City Ward 1 – Richie Road Gym, 432 Richie Road.
Cabot City Ward 2 – Cabot First Baptist Church, 306 W. Pine.
Cabot City Ward 3 – Victory Baptist Church, 501 N. Lincoln.
Cabot City Ward 4 – Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 3105 Hwy. 89 S.
If voters approve raising the millage for one project, but not the other, all the new revenue would be applied toward the selected project.
By Joan McCoy
Leader staff writer
The Lonoke County Election Commission has approved a July 12 special election in Cabot to increase the city millage to pay for a railroad overpass and build a community center.
Voters will be asked to vote for or against increasing the millage from 3.5 to 4.5 to raise $700,000 for the city’s part of the federally-funded $5 million overpass and for or against increasing the millage to raise $2 million to help pay for the community center.
The overpass, to be built north of the Polk Street railroad crossing, is touted as the only means of keeping buses off the tracks and as the first step toward a north interchange that would connect Highway 38 to Highway 5.
The community center was expected to cost $3.5 million, including $500,000 for site preparation. But last fall the low bid came in at $4.2 million and the price could be even higher now.
If approved the millage increase would add about $20 to the tax on a $100,000 home. The ordinance calling for the election says the millage will be rolled back when the bonds that will pay for the construction projects are retired.
The millage increase is expected to raise about $160,000 a year.
If voters turn down the increase in taxes, the city will not be able to build the community center, and the overpass will have to wait at least until 2008, said Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh.
The council has the authority to raise the millage without voter approval, but if they did, city voters could always bring a petition for referendum and force an election.
A year ago voters approved paying for the community center with existing taxes, saying overwhelmingly that 1 percent of the city’s 1.5 percent hamburger tax and an existing half-mill should be used to pay for the center.
“I think this [upcoming election] is an opportunity for city residents to say we want the center and we’re willing to pay for it,” he said.
Early voting will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, June 27 through July 11 at the Lonoke County Courthouse.
On election day, polls will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the following polling sites:
Cabot City Ward 1 – Richie Road Gym, 432 Richie Road.
Cabot City Ward 2 – Cabot First Baptist Church, 306 W. Pine.
Cabot City Ward 3 – Victory Baptist Church, 501 N. Lincoln.
Cabot City Ward 4 – Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 3105 Hwy. 89 S.
If voters approve raising the millage for one project, but not the other, all the new revenue would be applied toward the selected project.
TOP STORY>> Air base gets top planners' attention
IN SHORT: The staff at Metroplan is looking at ways to accommodate an influx of new jobs and personnel at Little Rock Air Force Base. Ideas include widening Hwy. 67/167 from Jacksonville to Cabot, as well as parts of Hwy. 89.
By John Hofheimer
Leader staff writer
Widening Hwy. 67-167 between the North Belt Loop and Hwy. 89 at an estimated cost of $124 million will be a high priority if 4,000 new jobs come to Little Rock Air Force Base over the next few years, according to a recommendation of Metroplan staff on Tuesday.
“We’re pleased that they are looking and making sure that the air base is covered,” said Jacksonville Engineer Jay Whisker, who serves on the Metroplan technical coordinating committee. “Its nice when communities get together and we can all benefit from having the air base.”
He said he was pleased Metro-plan was considering the widening of Hwy. 67/167 between Vandenberg Boulevard near the air base and Hwy. 89 in Cabot. One accident or one small problem can back up traffic to Cabot, he said.
No one expressed serious opposition during Metroplan’s transportation advisory council meeting to consideration and reordering of a dozen projects that could be affected by the expected increase in jobs at the base, but the council stopped short of sending the plan on to the Metroplan board of directors.
It would cost an estimated $197 million to complete all 12 projects, with only $48 million currently projected to be available, according to Casey Covington, a Metroplan traffic planner. Most of the proposed changes involve increasing traffic capacity to and from the front and back gates at the base.
“Getting people to the back air base gate is just as important for folks moving into the west side of Jacksonville,” Whisker said, noting growth at Forest Oaks and Base Meadows subdivisions and the approval by the Jacksonville Planning Commission Monday night of the Lost Creek subdivision.
Broken up into three separate projects to meet increased traffic use with additional base personnel, an estimated 2,000 vehicles a day would be projected to travel on each if the new jobs materialize as a result of the base realignment and closure process.
Ten million dollars already is committed to widen the highway to six lanes from the North Belt Freeway to Redmond Road. An additional $32 million would be available to widen it from Redmond to Vandenberg if the Metro 2030 long-range transportation plan is adopted in August.
The segment from Vandenberg to Hwy. 89 would cost $82 million and the staff has recommended that as a high priority should the jobs materialize.
The Metroplan/Highway De-partment plan already calls for widening Hwy. 107 from Jack-sonville/Cato to General Samuels at a cost of $3 million and the widening of Graham Road from Main Street to Loop Road, also $3 million.
If money is available, the widening of Hwy. 107 from General Samuels to the air base would be a high priority and cost about $4 million. A lower priority would be the widening of Hwy. 107 from the air base to Republican Road—a $10 million project.
The widening of Hwy. 89 from U.S. 67/167 to Hwy 367 in Cabot also is rated a high priority if there is air base expansion, at a cost of $4 million.
The widening of Hwy. 321 from Hwy. 67/167 to Hwy. 89 is rated a low air base priority, but improvement of the interchange is considered important in the context of the air base.
By John Hofheimer
Leader staff writer
Widening Hwy. 67-167 between the North Belt Loop and Hwy. 89 at an estimated cost of $124 million will be a high priority if 4,000 new jobs come to Little Rock Air Force Base over the next few years, according to a recommendation of Metroplan staff on Tuesday.
“We’re pleased that they are looking and making sure that the air base is covered,” said Jacksonville Engineer Jay Whisker, who serves on the Metroplan technical coordinating committee. “Its nice when communities get together and we can all benefit from having the air base.”
He said he was pleased Metro-plan was considering the widening of Hwy. 67/167 between Vandenberg Boulevard near the air base and Hwy. 89 in Cabot. One accident or one small problem can back up traffic to Cabot, he said.
No one expressed serious opposition during Metroplan’s transportation advisory council meeting to consideration and reordering of a dozen projects that could be affected by the expected increase in jobs at the base, but the council stopped short of sending the plan on to the Metroplan board of directors.
It would cost an estimated $197 million to complete all 12 projects, with only $48 million currently projected to be available, according to Casey Covington, a Metroplan traffic planner. Most of the proposed changes involve increasing traffic capacity to and from the front and back gates at the base.
“Getting people to the back air base gate is just as important for folks moving into the west side of Jacksonville,” Whisker said, noting growth at Forest Oaks and Base Meadows subdivisions and the approval by the Jacksonville Planning Commission Monday night of the Lost Creek subdivision.
Broken up into three separate projects to meet increased traffic use with additional base personnel, an estimated 2,000 vehicles a day would be projected to travel on each if the new jobs materialize as a result of the base realignment and closure process.
Ten million dollars already is committed to widen the highway to six lanes from the North Belt Freeway to Redmond Road. An additional $32 million would be available to widen it from Redmond to Vandenberg if the Metro 2030 long-range transportation plan is adopted in August.
The segment from Vandenberg to Hwy. 89 would cost $82 million and the staff has recommended that as a high priority should the jobs materialize.
The Metroplan/Highway De-partment plan already calls for widening Hwy. 107 from Jack-sonville/Cato to General Samuels at a cost of $3 million and the widening of Graham Road from Main Street to Loop Road, also $3 million.
If money is available, the widening of Hwy. 107 from General Samuels to the air base would be a high priority and cost about $4 million. A lower priority would be the widening of Hwy. 107 from the air base to Republican Road—a $10 million project.
The widening of Hwy. 89 from U.S. 67/167 to Hwy 367 in Cabot also is rated a high priority if there is air base expansion, at a cost of $4 million.
The widening of Hwy. 321 from Hwy. 67/167 to Hwy. 89 is rated a low air base priority, but improvement of the interchange is considered important in the context of the air base.
Wednesday, June 08, 2005
FROM THE PUBLISHER>> B.B. King: World’s greatest entertainer
Riverfest rivals Memphis in May, while Handys honors artists
BY GARRICK FELDMAN
When it came to musical variety, last weekend’s Riverfest rivaled the much bigger Memphis in May a month ago. The crowds are much better behaved here — the overpriced Memphis in May attracts mostly adolescents drawn to adolescent music — and when you have B.B. King as your headliner, Riverfest was bound to succeed, even with some rain.
King, voted blues entertainer of the year at the W.C. Handy Blues Awards ceremony in Memphis, performed his hits for an hour and paid tribute to his favorite president. Instead of “Every Day I have the Blues,” usually his first song, he opened with “Why I Sing the Blues,” continued with “Bad Case of Love,” “Early in the Morning,” “Rock Me, Baby,” “Key to the Highway,” “The Thrill Is Gone,” and even included the politically incorrect “Ain’t It Just Like a Woman” (popularized by Brinkley’s Louis Jordan, one of B.B.’s favorites) and we even heard U-2’s “When Love Comes to Town.”
Backed by a rousing band, the king of the blues was in fine form, although he’s showing his age: King, who is a diabetic, will be 80 in September and performs sitting down. Even so, he’s still the world’s greatest entertainer.
As for Memphis in May, it was muddy and claustrophobic, as usual, but it was nice to see Ike Turner, who is in his 70s, is still putting on a good show, although he’ll never find another Tina, although many have auditioned for the job.
The Handy awards ceremony in downtown Memphis, a few days after Memphis in May, saw many of our favorites make an appearance, although not all of them performed, often because the show ran too long and the artists left.
Kenny Neal and Billy Branch, who won best acoustic album for their Alligator CD “Double Take,” came onstage around 1 a.m. and were soon told to stop, which upset Branch, who went into a tirade. Who can blame him?
The great Sam Lay, drummer for Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, waited backstage, but he never got the call to perform. Lay, who is from Alabama, stormed off with his wife and drove to Augusta (Woodruff County) to visit his in-laws.
A Handy nominee, Lay has a new CD out called “I Get Evil” (Random Chance Records), and he sings and play drums, too.
Several winners and nominees did perform, including Mavis Staples, who won for best blues and soul album (“Have a Little Faith”) was named best soul blues artist; Charlie Musselwhite, who won for best contemporary blues album (“Sanctuary”) and was named best contemporary blues artist and blues harmonica player; Pinetop Perkins, who won for best traditional blues album (“Ladies Man”) and was named best traditional blues artist.
Perkins, who is 92, played a little piano, while Honeyboy Edwards, who’ll be 90 this month and was named best acoustic blues artist, played a few minutes onstage before he had his portrait taken backstage and headed back to Chicago that night in his manager’s car.
Amiri Baraka, aka Leroi Jones, the firebrand poet and critic, seemed lost at the proceedings. Baraka, who had written an anti-Semitic poem about 9/11, was supposed to receive an award for his book “Blues People,” but apparently no one recognized him except for this reporter.
Still wearing winter tweeds, Baraka, who must be in his 70s, seemed much smaller since his black power days in the 60s and was largely forgotten until his appalling poem on 9/11. He should have received his award the night before, but he didn’t know that, so he may have left Memphis empty-handed.
The great soul-blues singer Little Milton Campbell has his own take on 9/11. Standing back stage, he told us, “When 9/11 happened, that was the only time we were one. There was no black and white. We were all Ameri-cans. Then we went right back to where we were.”
Koko Taylor, who won for best traditional blues artist, wasn’t well enough to perform. But after accepting her award, she defined blues for us.
“The blues is having a hard time,” she said. “I know what I’m singing about. I experienced everything I sing about.”
Other winners and their categories: John Lee Hooker, Jr., new artist debut for “Blues with a Vengeance;” Holmes Brothers, blues band; Willie Kent, bass; Willie (Big Eyes) Smith, drums; Bob Margolin, guitar; Roomful of Blues, blues horns; Robert Randolph (who played at Riverfest and Memphis in May) blues instrument; Jim Tullio and Jim Welder, “Have a Little Faith,” blues song; Gary U.S. Bonds, “Back in 20,” comeback blues album; Shemeika Copeland, contemporary blues artist; Hound Dog Taylor, “Release the Hound,” historical blues album, and Bobby Rush, soul blues artist.
BY GARRICK FELDMAN
When it came to musical variety, last weekend’s Riverfest rivaled the much bigger Memphis in May a month ago. The crowds are much better behaved here — the overpriced Memphis in May attracts mostly adolescents drawn to adolescent music — and when you have B.B. King as your headliner, Riverfest was bound to succeed, even with some rain.
King, voted blues entertainer of the year at the W.C. Handy Blues Awards ceremony in Memphis, performed his hits for an hour and paid tribute to his favorite president. Instead of “Every Day I have the Blues,” usually his first song, he opened with “Why I Sing the Blues,” continued with “Bad Case of Love,” “Early in the Morning,” “Rock Me, Baby,” “Key to the Highway,” “The Thrill Is Gone,” and even included the politically incorrect “Ain’t It Just Like a Woman” (popularized by Brinkley’s Louis Jordan, one of B.B.’s favorites) and we even heard U-2’s “When Love Comes to Town.”
Backed by a rousing band, the king of the blues was in fine form, although he’s showing his age: King, who is a diabetic, will be 80 in September and performs sitting down. Even so, he’s still the world’s greatest entertainer.
As for Memphis in May, it was muddy and claustrophobic, as usual, but it was nice to see Ike Turner, who is in his 70s, is still putting on a good show, although he’ll never find another Tina, although many have auditioned for the job.
The Handy awards ceremony in downtown Memphis, a few days after Memphis in May, saw many of our favorites make an appearance, although not all of them performed, often because the show ran too long and the artists left.
Kenny Neal and Billy Branch, who won best acoustic album for their Alligator CD “Double Take,” came onstage around 1 a.m. and were soon told to stop, which upset Branch, who went into a tirade. Who can blame him?
The great Sam Lay, drummer for Howlin’ Wolf, Little Walter and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, waited backstage, but he never got the call to perform. Lay, who is from Alabama, stormed off with his wife and drove to Augusta (Woodruff County) to visit his in-laws.
A Handy nominee, Lay has a new CD out called “I Get Evil” (Random Chance Records), and he sings and play drums, too.
Several winners and nominees did perform, including Mavis Staples, who won for best blues and soul album (“Have a Little Faith”) was named best soul blues artist; Charlie Musselwhite, who won for best contemporary blues album (“Sanctuary”) and was named best contemporary blues artist and blues harmonica player; Pinetop Perkins, who won for best traditional blues album (“Ladies Man”) and was named best traditional blues artist.
Perkins, who is 92, played a little piano, while Honeyboy Edwards, who’ll be 90 this month and was named best acoustic blues artist, played a few minutes onstage before he had his portrait taken backstage and headed back to Chicago that night in his manager’s car.
Amiri Baraka, aka Leroi Jones, the firebrand poet and critic, seemed lost at the proceedings. Baraka, who had written an anti-Semitic poem about 9/11, was supposed to receive an award for his book “Blues People,” but apparently no one recognized him except for this reporter.
Still wearing winter tweeds, Baraka, who must be in his 70s, seemed much smaller since his black power days in the 60s and was largely forgotten until his appalling poem on 9/11. He should have received his award the night before, but he didn’t know that, so he may have left Memphis empty-handed.
The great soul-blues singer Little Milton Campbell has his own take on 9/11. Standing back stage, he told us, “When 9/11 happened, that was the only time we were one. There was no black and white. We were all Ameri-cans. Then we went right back to where we were.”
Koko Taylor, who won for best traditional blues artist, wasn’t well enough to perform. But after accepting her award, she defined blues for us.
“The blues is having a hard time,” she said. “I know what I’m singing about. I experienced everything I sing about.”
Other winners and their categories: John Lee Hooker, Jr., new artist debut for “Blues with a Vengeance;” Holmes Brothers, blues band; Willie Kent, bass; Willie (Big Eyes) Smith, drums; Bob Margolin, guitar; Roomful of Blues, blues horns; Robert Randolph (who played at Riverfest and Memphis in May) blues instrument; Jim Tullio and Jim Welder, “Have a Little Faith,” blues song; Gary U.S. Bonds, “Back in 20,” comeback blues album; Shemeika Copeland, contemporary blues artist; Hound Dog Taylor, “Release the Hound,” historical blues album, and Bobby Rush, soul blues artist.
OBITUARIES>> June 8, 2005
PHILLIP SAYLES
Specialist Phillip Nicholas “Nick” Sayles, 26, of Jacksonville, died May 28 in Iraq. He was born May 2, 1979, in Little Rock, to Charles and Pearl Sayles, who survive him.
Nick was the oldest of three children. He was the grandson of the late Earl and Lois Sayles and J. P. and Lucille Lentz.
He was preceded in death by his uncles, Tom Sayles, Jim Sayles, and Tom Barnes.
Nick is also survived by his brothers, Joseph Aaron Sayles of Crocker, Mo., and Wesley Patrick Sayles of Jacksonville; aunts, Don-na Lentz of Cabot, Helen Barnes of Crocker, Mo., Carol Sayles and Teri Sayles, both of Little Rock, and Mildred Sayles of Hensley; uncles, John Lentz and Joe Lentz, both of Cabot, and Don Sayles of Hensley; great aunts, Mildred Hammons of Jacksonville, Emma Jean Purtle, and Ruby Finch of North Little Rock. Nicholas had many loving cousins, including Tyler and Travis Barnes of Crocker, Mo., Joshua Lentz of Cabot, Gabe and Israel Lentz of Beebe, Tracy Slobig of Cabot, Dana Wiggins of Danville, and Tammy Rees of Jonesboro.
Nick attended North Pulaski High School and was enrolled in ROTC classes at Jacksonville High School for three years where he excelled in leadership, which he brought to the program.
He was known by his superiors and comrades for his dependability. Nick earned several awards while serving in ROTC and graduated in 1997 from Cabot High School.
Nick began his military career in May 2002, as an infantryman and earned the rank of specialist. Nick was assigned to 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division in Fort Lewis, Wash., where he took computer training and then taught others.
He trained and became a sniper before his deployment to Mosul, Iraq. While in Mosul, Nick worked in the operations section of the 1st Battalion 24th Infantry Headquarters, drove, and operated computers for the battalion commander. He then moved to a job out on the line with Bravo Company.
Nick was a member of First Assembly of God in Jacksonville. Nick was an exceptional person.
He demonstrated outstanding performance as a soldier and as an individual while employed in numerous capacities in the military and civilian life, earning the confidence of his leadership and peers. He was the epitome of an infantryman, earning numerous awards and badges, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart awarded posthumously, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (Iraq), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (Iraq), Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge and Sniper Distinction.
Funeral services were held Monday at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Cabot with Rev. Terry Fortner, Pastor Royce Lowe and Nick’s former youth pastor Dale Dahl officiating. Interment will be in Sumner Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, make memorials to the Nick Sayles R.O.T.C. Scholarship Fund at Twin City Bank or Community Bank.
RUTH WILSON
Ruth Nixon Wilson, 86, of Jacksonville passed away Sunday, June 5 at her home.
She was born Feb. 25, 1919 in Little Rock to Hugh and Cora Mae McNair Nixon.
After graduating from Little Rock High School in 1937, she attended Southwestern (now Rhodes) College in Memphis.
She transferred to the Univer-sity of Arkansas where she graduated in 1941 with a degree in romance languages.
She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She was elected to the honorary academic fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa.
In February of 1942, she married Pat Wilson and soon began her career as a loving housewife and mother.
Mrs. Wilson was a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville where she served over 30 years as the church organist. Over the years, she contributed her time and talents to the school PTA’s, various church committees and “circle” groups and Little Rock Air Force Base Officers Wives Club. Mrs. Wilson was a charter member of the Rebsamen Hospital Auxiliary.
During the 1960’s, Mrs. Wilson and several of her friends began an informal needlepoint and cross stitch group referred to as the “Needlenuts.”
They traveled nationally and internationally together, met for lunch, swapped recipes, and created many beautiful cross stitch pieces that they shared with family and friends. Mrs. Wilson was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Pat Wilson, on January 2, 2002; her parents; a brother, Dr. Ewing Nixon and a sister, Mae Kathryn Nixon.
She is survived by her three children, Mike Wilson of Jacksonville, Kathy Roberts of Little Rock, Larry Wilson of Jacksonville; nine grandchildren, Kenneth Wilson, Jan Williams, Liza Wilson, Mary Kathryn Williams, Scott Williams, Patrick Wilson, Matt Wilson, Corrie Gladstein and Mark Wilson; five great-grandchildren, Sullivan Williams, Jack and Emily Wilson, Caroline and Joe Gladstein.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. David Dyer officiating. Interment will follow at Bayou Meto Cemetery in Jacksonville.
Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, the Esther DeWitt Nixon Library in Jacksonville or a charity of the choice of the donor.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
THURMAN GARNER
Thurman L. “Dub” Garner, 77, of Jacksonville passed away on Sunday, June 5. He was a cowboy and a Mason.
He is survived by three sons, Bobby L. Garner and his wife Cheryl of North Little Rock, Michael T. Garner of Jacksonville, and Joel C. Garner of Cabot; one brother, Bobby R. Garner of Jacksonville; one sister, Fae Jones of Jacksonville; four grandchildren, Jason C., Zeblin, and Justin Garner and Jodi Haggard; and two great-grandchildren, Bry-son and Zoe Garner. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, A.O. Garner, and his wife, Rachel Garner.
Funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at North Little Rock Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Rest Hills Memorial Park.
Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at North Little Rock Funeral Home.
Lawrence Henry
LAWRENCE HENRY
Lawrence Gerald Henry, 17, of Romance, passed away May 26.
He was born April 11, 1988 in Little Rock to Glen and Brenda Carol Morgan Honey. He attended Cabot schools where he played baseball and football in the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. He loved to hunt, fish and cook.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Joseph and Jewell Higgins and Charles and Ethel Morgan. Lawrence is survived by his parents, a sister, Brittany Henry of Ward and a half-brother, Aaron Henry of Cabot.
His grandparents, Diana and Billy Ray Ashley of Jacksonville and Roy and Velta Morgan of Quitman survive him as well as an aunt, Patricia Lockridge; cousins Erica McDermont of Kansas, Monica Jenson of Jacksonville and J.J. Lockridge of Jacksonville and a special friend, Rachael Herrin.
Funeral services were held May 31 at Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home chapel with interment in H&H Family Cemetery in Romance.
Arrangements by Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
JAMES RAMBO
James Curtis Rambo, 54, of Lonoke, died Saturday, June 4.
Survivors are his children, Curtis Edward Rambo and Tiffany Nicole Rambo of Pine Bluff, Cristi Dulaney of Florida; sisters, Janice and husband Grant Goff of Beebe, Diane Williamson and Mary and husband Chris Vines of Lonoke. He was preceded in death by parents, Mary V. and Curtis L. Rambo and grandparents, Ollie L. and J.D. Shackael. Cremation arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe.
Arrangements were made through Huson Funeral Home in Sherwood.
Specialist Phillip Nicholas “Nick” Sayles, 26, of Jacksonville, died May 28 in Iraq. He was born May 2, 1979, in Little Rock, to Charles and Pearl Sayles, who survive him.
Nick was the oldest of three children. He was the grandson of the late Earl and Lois Sayles and J. P. and Lucille Lentz.
He was preceded in death by his uncles, Tom Sayles, Jim Sayles, and Tom Barnes.
Nick is also survived by his brothers, Joseph Aaron Sayles of Crocker, Mo., and Wesley Patrick Sayles of Jacksonville; aunts, Don-na Lentz of Cabot, Helen Barnes of Crocker, Mo., Carol Sayles and Teri Sayles, both of Little Rock, and Mildred Sayles of Hensley; uncles, John Lentz and Joe Lentz, both of Cabot, and Don Sayles of Hensley; great aunts, Mildred Hammons of Jacksonville, Emma Jean Purtle, and Ruby Finch of North Little Rock. Nicholas had many loving cousins, including Tyler and Travis Barnes of Crocker, Mo., Joshua Lentz of Cabot, Gabe and Israel Lentz of Beebe, Tracy Slobig of Cabot, Dana Wiggins of Danville, and Tammy Rees of Jonesboro.
Nick attended North Pulaski High School and was enrolled in ROTC classes at Jacksonville High School for three years where he excelled in leadership, which he brought to the program.
He was known by his superiors and comrades for his dependability. Nick earned several awards while serving in ROTC and graduated in 1997 from Cabot High School.
Nick began his military career in May 2002, as an infantryman and earned the rank of specialist. Nick was assigned to 1st Battalion, 24th Infantry Regiment, 1st Brigade 25th Infantry Division in Fort Lewis, Wash., where he took computer training and then taught others.
He trained and became a sniper before his deployment to Mosul, Iraq. While in Mosul, Nick worked in the operations section of the 1st Battalion 24th Infantry Headquarters, drove, and operated computers for the battalion commander. He then moved to a job out on the line with Bravo Company.
Nick was a member of First Assembly of God in Jacksonville. Nick was an exceptional person.
He demonstrated outstanding performance as a soldier and as an individual while employed in numerous capacities in the military and civilian life, earning the confidence of his leadership and peers. He was the epitome of an infantryman, earning numerous awards and badges, including the Bronze Star and Purple Heart awarded posthumously, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal (Iraq), the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal (Iraq), Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Expert Infantryman’s Badge and Sniper Distinction.
Funeral services were held Monday at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Cabot with Rev. Terry Fortner, Pastor Royce Lowe and Nick’s former youth pastor Dale Dahl officiating. Interment will be in Sumner Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, make memorials to the Nick Sayles R.O.T.C. Scholarship Fund at Twin City Bank or Community Bank.
RUTH WILSON
Ruth Nixon Wilson, 86, of Jacksonville passed away Sunday, June 5 at her home.
She was born Feb. 25, 1919 in Little Rock to Hugh and Cora Mae McNair Nixon.
After graduating from Little Rock High School in 1937, she attended Southwestern (now Rhodes) College in Memphis.
She transferred to the Univer-sity of Arkansas where she graduated in 1941 with a degree in romance languages.
She was a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority. She was elected to the honorary academic fraternity, Phi Beta Kappa.
In February of 1942, she married Pat Wilson and soon began her career as a loving housewife and mother.
Mrs. Wilson was a faithful member of First Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville where she served over 30 years as the church organist. Over the years, she contributed her time and talents to the school PTA’s, various church committees and “circle” groups and Little Rock Air Force Base Officers Wives Club. Mrs. Wilson was a charter member of the Rebsamen Hospital Auxiliary.
During the 1960’s, Mrs. Wilson and several of her friends began an informal needlepoint and cross stitch group referred to as the “Needlenuts.”
They traveled nationally and internationally together, met for lunch, swapped recipes, and created many beautiful cross stitch pieces that they shared with family and friends. Mrs. Wilson was preceded in death by her husband, Kenneth Pat Wilson, on January 2, 2002; her parents; a brother, Dr. Ewing Nixon and a sister, Mae Kathryn Nixon.
She is survived by her three children, Mike Wilson of Jacksonville, Kathy Roberts of Little Rock, Larry Wilson of Jacksonville; nine grandchildren, Kenneth Wilson, Jan Williams, Liza Wilson, Mary Kathryn Williams, Scott Williams, Patrick Wilson, Matt Wilson, Corrie Gladstein and Mark Wilson; five great-grandchildren, Sullivan Williams, Jack and Emily Wilson, Caroline and Joe Gladstein.
Funeral services will be 10 a.m. Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church with Dr. David Dyer officiating. Interment will follow at Bayou Meto Cemetery in Jacksonville.
Her grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials be made to the First Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, the Esther DeWitt Nixon Library in Jacksonville or a charity of the choice of the donor.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
THURMAN GARNER
Thurman L. “Dub” Garner, 77, of Jacksonville passed away on Sunday, June 5. He was a cowboy and a Mason.
He is survived by three sons, Bobby L. Garner and his wife Cheryl of North Little Rock, Michael T. Garner of Jacksonville, and Joel C. Garner of Cabot; one brother, Bobby R. Garner of Jacksonville; one sister, Fae Jones of Jacksonville; four grandchildren, Jason C., Zeblin, and Justin Garner and Jodi Haggard; and two great-grandchildren, Bry-son and Zoe Garner. He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, A.O. Garner, and his wife, Rachel Garner.
Funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at North Little Rock Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will be in Rest Hills Memorial Park.
Family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at North Little Rock Funeral Home.
Lawrence Henry
LAWRENCE HENRY
Lawrence Gerald Henry, 17, of Romance, passed away May 26.
He was born April 11, 1988 in Little Rock to Glen and Brenda Carol Morgan Honey. He attended Cabot schools where he played baseball and football in the seventh, eighth and ninth grades. He loved to hunt, fish and cook.
He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Joseph and Jewell Higgins and Charles and Ethel Morgan. Lawrence is survived by his parents, a sister, Brittany Henry of Ward and a half-brother, Aaron Henry of Cabot.
His grandparents, Diana and Billy Ray Ashley of Jacksonville and Roy and Velta Morgan of Quitman survive him as well as an aunt, Patricia Lockridge; cousins Erica McDermont of Kansas, Monica Jenson of Jacksonville and J.J. Lockridge of Jacksonville and a special friend, Rachael Herrin.
Funeral services were held May 31 at Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home chapel with interment in H&H Family Cemetery in Romance.
Arrangements by Moore’s Cabot Funeral Home.
JAMES RAMBO
James Curtis Rambo, 54, of Lonoke, died Saturday, June 4.
Survivors are his children, Curtis Edward Rambo and Tiffany Nicole Rambo of Pine Bluff, Cristi Dulaney of Florida; sisters, Janice and husband Grant Goff of Beebe, Diane Williamson and Mary and husband Chris Vines of Lonoke. He was preceded in death by parents, Mary V. and Curtis L. Rambo and grandparents, Ollie L. and J.D. Shackael. Cremation arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home, Beebe.
Arrangements were made through Huson Funeral Home in Sherwood.
EDITORIAL>> The Jayhawker remedy
Pssst. Pass it on, but don’t tell the justices of the Arkansas Supreme Court lest they get ideas about the prerogatives of an appellate court. Friday, in a case breathtakingly similar to Arkansas’ Lake View case, the Kansas Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the legislature had failed to provide the funding for Kansas schools that the state Constitution required.
It gave the governor and the legislature until July 1 to provide another $143 million for the schools next year.
Otherwise, the state will be in default and Kansas schools may have to be closed in the fall.
Within hours, the governor and legislative leaders were huddling about how they might meet the deadline.
The court observed that the legislature had hired Colorado consultants to determine what an adequate school program for all children, which was required by the Constitution, would entail and what it would cost.
The legislature must at least provide what its own unrebutted study showed was necessary, the justices said.
Conditions could hardly be more similar, except the Arkansas legislature hired not one but two sets of experts to enumerate the essential needs of Arkansas schools, one for programs and another for school facilities.
The Arkansas legislature met neither standard, but it fell glaringly short on school facilities. Its own study, celebrated by legislative leaders themselves, said Arkansas needed to spend more than $2 billion to provide safe and modern schools for children. Then the legislature allocated $104 million to meet that need. It could have provided $250 million without raising a dime of new revenue and created a mechanism for raising future capital for schools through general-obligation bonds, but it didn’t.
The Arkansas Supreme Court is deliberating whether to hold the lawmakers and Gov. Huckabee responsible now or let their failures percolate through the judicial system for another three years by forcing a fresh lawsuit.
Arkansas has never taken cues from the Jayhawks, but they may have it right this time.
It gave the governor and the legislature until July 1 to provide another $143 million for the schools next year.
Otherwise, the state will be in default and Kansas schools may have to be closed in the fall.
Within hours, the governor and legislative leaders were huddling about how they might meet the deadline.
The court observed that the legislature had hired Colorado consultants to determine what an adequate school program for all children, which was required by the Constitution, would entail and what it would cost.
The legislature must at least provide what its own unrebutted study showed was necessary, the justices said.
Conditions could hardly be more similar, except the Arkansas legislature hired not one but two sets of experts to enumerate the essential needs of Arkansas schools, one for programs and another for school facilities.
The Arkansas legislature met neither standard, but it fell glaringly short on school facilities. Its own study, celebrated by legislative leaders themselves, said Arkansas needed to spend more than $2 billion to provide safe and modern schools for children. Then the legislature allocated $104 million to meet that need. It could have provided $250 million without raising a dime of new revenue and created a mechanism for raising future capital for schools through general-obligation bonds, but it didn’t.
The Arkansas Supreme Court is deliberating whether to hold the lawmakers and Gov. Huckabee responsible now or let their failures percolate through the judicial system for another three years by forcing a fresh lawsuit.
Arkansas has never taken cues from the Jayhawks, but they may have it right this time.
EDITORIAL>> Pillsbury dough boy sells out again
When friendly economic interests or pastoral connections do not interfere, Gov. Mike Huckabee can be a whale of a leader.
Free of the beseeching of commercial benefactors, he will insist on the consolidation of tiny inefficient school administrations, demand absolute adherence to school standards like music and art classes, fight his party’s conservatives to gain government-paid health services for hundreds of thousands of needy children and educational benefits for the children of undocumented aliens and even, this last week, put a thoughtful and energetic man in charge of public health programs.
But Huckabee’s sturdy backbone turns to jelly any time political benefactors evince an interest in public policy.
The governor’s weakness was plainly in evidence again over the weekend when he told his appointees on the state Board of Education (all are his men and women) that he did not want them to require Arkansas’ 254 school districts to meet a new set of health and fitness standards. The board will do his bidding.
Oh, he likes the standards very much, Huckabee said, but when it comes to these particular rules local school boards and administrators should decide for themselves whether they want to do more to save their children from poor health and early death.
Huckabee will insist, as he has maintained on other such occasions, that his libertarian instincts guide him. He is against nosy, intrusive government.
That is why he stopped his own Board of Health from cracking down on smoking in public places, why he has on other occasions guided his government away from forcing high-fat snack foods and soft drinks out of the schools and why, very early in his political career, he sided with the bottling industry in fighting a tax on soft drinks to pay for nursing-home care and medical services for poor children.
It is just a coincidence, we are supposed to believe, that the unifying factor in all of those fights was that the stakeholding commercial interests were reliable Huckabee financial supporters.
That the governor would go so far out of the way to stop the Board of Education from following the clear purpose of a law that he signed seems particularly perverse and self-defeating. Huckabee is criss-crossing the country promoting his new diet book and fitness crusade.
Junk food can ruin your life and ultimately kill you, he says. The crusade is aimed at children, and with good reason. American youngsters on average have become about the fattest and least healthy in the developed world, and Arkansas kids are about the unhealthiest in the land. Obesity is epidemic.
Act 1220 of 2003 addressed it and Gov. Huckabee proudly signed the legislation. The law is loaded with imperatives. It created a child-health advisory committee comprising health professionals, which was directed to prepare diet and exercise standards for the state Board of Education, which in turn was to use the committee’s recommendations to formulate new standards for Arkansas schools.
The act directed the committee to look at the impact of “competitive” snack foods — the commercial vending-machine foods and drinks that have become pervasive in Arkansas schools. The vending foods have become addictive not only to kids but to school administrators, who count on a cut from the machines to pay for school programs.
Huckabee began to cavil at the law’s purposes even before the advisory committee perfected its recommendations. He wasn’t so sure that the state should try to limit the sugary and fatty foods that children get from the machines. Contrary to his own experience and preaching, Huckabee found that there was no hard evidence of the impact of the vending machines on kids’ health.
Now that the advisory committee has given its findings to the Board of Education, Huckabee does not want the state to mandate the programs. Here’s a shocker: He said the soft-drink industry joined him in not wanting the state to require school administrators to follow the rules.
Among the professionals’ proposals: require at least half the commercial beverage sales in schools to be 100 percent fruit juice, low-fat or fat-free milk and water; ban foods with more than 23 fat grams per serving; limit the size of fat-food packages; ban vending-machine snacks from elementary schools and ban them from other schools until 30 minutes after the last lunch is served.
State Rep. Jay Bradford of White Hall, who has often been a key Huckabee ally in the legislature, was too generous when he was told of the governor’s stance on the fruits of his legislation.
“That's leadership, isn’t it?” Bradford said. “Somehow, I’m not surprised. The governor has always talked a good game, but sometimes when it comes to being proactive, he doesn’t always get there. He has wasted a great opportunity to improve the health of Arkansans who put him in the governor’s office.”
We thought the governor’s lame-duck status would free him of the leg-irons of private emoluments and campaign gifts. Apparently, we erred, or else he has other ambitions.
Free of the beseeching of commercial benefactors, he will insist on the consolidation of tiny inefficient school administrations, demand absolute adherence to school standards like music and art classes, fight his party’s conservatives to gain government-paid health services for hundreds of thousands of needy children and educational benefits for the children of undocumented aliens and even, this last week, put a thoughtful and energetic man in charge of public health programs.
But Huckabee’s sturdy backbone turns to jelly any time political benefactors evince an interest in public policy.
The governor’s weakness was plainly in evidence again over the weekend when he told his appointees on the state Board of Education (all are his men and women) that he did not want them to require Arkansas’ 254 school districts to meet a new set of health and fitness standards. The board will do his bidding.
Oh, he likes the standards very much, Huckabee said, but when it comes to these particular rules local school boards and administrators should decide for themselves whether they want to do more to save their children from poor health and early death.
Huckabee will insist, as he has maintained on other such occasions, that his libertarian instincts guide him. He is against nosy, intrusive government.
That is why he stopped his own Board of Health from cracking down on smoking in public places, why he has on other occasions guided his government away from forcing high-fat snack foods and soft drinks out of the schools and why, very early in his political career, he sided with the bottling industry in fighting a tax on soft drinks to pay for nursing-home care and medical services for poor children.
It is just a coincidence, we are supposed to believe, that the unifying factor in all of those fights was that the stakeholding commercial interests were reliable Huckabee financial supporters.
That the governor would go so far out of the way to stop the Board of Education from following the clear purpose of a law that he signed seems particularly perverse and self-defeating. Huckabee is criss-crossing the country promoting his new diet book and fitness crusade.
Junk food can ruin your life and ultimately kill you, he says. The crusade is aimed at children, and with good reason. American youngsters on average have become about the fattest and least healthy in the developed world, and Arkansas kids are about the unhealthiest in the land. Obesity is epidemic.
Act 1220 of 2003 addressed it and Gov. Huckabee proudly signed the legislation. The law is loaded with imperatives. It created a child-health advisory committee comprising health professionals, which was directed to prepare diet and exercise standards for the state Board of Education, which in turn was to use the committee’s recommendations to formulate new standards for Arkansas schools.
The act directed the committee to look at the impact of “competitive” snack foods — the commercial vending-machine foods and drinks that have become pervasive in Arkansas schools. The vending foods have become addictive not only to kids but to school administrators, who count on a cut from the machines to pay for school programs.
Huckabee began to cavil at the law’s purposes even before the advisory committee perfected its recommendations. He wasn’t so sure that the state should try to limit the sugary and fatty foods that children get from the machines. Contrary to his own experience and preaching, Huckabee found that there was no hard evidence of the impact of the vending machines on kids’ health.
Now that the advisory committee has given its findings to the Board of Education, Huckabee does not want the state to mandate the programs. Here’s a shocker: He said the soft-drink industry joined him in not wanting the state to require school administrators to follow the rules.
Among the professionals’ proposals: require at least half the commercial beverage sales in schools to be 100 percent fruit juice, low-fat or fat-free milk and water; ban foods with more than 23 fat grams per serving; limit the size of fat-food packages; ban vending-machine snacks from elementary schools and ban them from other schools until 30 minutes after the last lunch is served.
State Rep. Jay Bradford of White Hall, who has often been a key Huckabee ally in the legislature, was too generous when he was told of the governor’s stance on the fruits of his legislation.
“That's leadership, isn’t it?” Bradford said. “Somehow, I’m not surprised. The governor has always talked a good game, but sometimes when it comes to being proactive, he doesn’t always get there. He has wasted a great opportunity to improve the health of Arkansans who put him in the governor’s office.”
We thought the governor’s lame-duck status would free him of the leg-irons of private emoluments and campaign gifts. Apparently, we erred, or else he has other ambitions.
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