By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The Cabot senior American Legion team put together a seven run two-out rally in the third inning Tuesday against the Gwatney Chevrolet seniors of Jacksonville, and the Centennial Bank squad was able to hold on late to beat the Chevy Boys 10-9 at the Cabot High School Baseball Complex.
There was plenty of offense on both sides in the first three innings of play as 18 of the game’s 19 total runs scored came in that time. Jacksonville led 4-3 after the first inning, and pushed that lead to 7-3 by the end of the second.
Jacksonville upped its lead to 8-3 in the top of the third with a stand-up RBI double by leadoff hitter Courtland McDonald that sailed to the fence in center field. Deaundray Harris scored from third base on the play after walking the previous at-bat and advancing all the way to third on an errant pickoff move at first base.
Cabot, though, was able to take advantage of Jacksonville’s failures to find the strike zone in the bottom part of the inning. Gwatney starting pitcher Derek St. Clair issued two-straight walks to start the inning.
He struck out the next batter he faced, but Dylan Bowers walked the next at-bat to load the bases. Lee Sullivan lined out following Bowers’ walk for the second out of the inning, but leadoff hitter Conner Vocque walked after Sullivan’s lineout, which allowed Landon James to score Cabot’s fourth run of the game.
Things went downhill from that point on for Jacksonville. After Vocque’s RBI walk, Ryan Logan hit a bases-clearing triple to right field that got past the Gwatney right fielder and allowed him to go into third base standing up.
Logan’s three-RBI hit cut Jacksonville’s lead to 8-7, and Kason Kimbrell tied it up at 8-8 the next at-bat with a single up the middle of the diamond. Cleanup hitter Tristan Bulice was plunked by St. Clair following Kimbrell’s hit, putting runners at first and second for the Centennial Bank squad.
That brought Landon James back around the order after he led off the inning with a walk, and he gave Cabot its 10-8 lead after hitting a stand-up double to right-center field, which drove in Kimbrell and Bulice.
“Landon James made some good plays at the plate,” said Cabot coach Chris Gross of his team’s third-inning rally. “He got that double and Ryan Logan hit a triple that unloaded the bases, and it worked out.
“The thing with these boys right now is they’re relaxed. Sometimes they can be too relaxed, but I don’t think they ever really gave up. They knew they could hit the ball and they knew they could manufacture some runs, but I definitely think we can improve.
“They (Jacksonville) definitely outhit us. They were hitting the ball really hard.”
Cabot actually outhit Jacksonville 10-8, but the Gwatney seniors only had four strikeouts total for the game and reached base on two of Cabot’s four errors and had several hard-hit balls that were right at Cabot fielders.
Cabot’s lineup struck out seven times total in the game, but reached base on eight walks issued by Jacksonville. The score remained 10-8 till the top of the fifth, when the Chevy Boys cut their deficit to one while setting the final score in the process.
Harris singled down the third baseline to start things off in the fifth for the visitors. Ryan Mallison walked two batters later, and Harris and Mallison advanced to third and second base on a double steal.
With two outs, three-hole hitter Greg Jones walked the following at-bat to load the bases, and cleanup hitter Blake Perry walked as well to score Harris and give Perry his fourth RBI of the night.
Cabot got out of the jam by striking out the next batter faced, but Jacksonville gave the Centennial Bank team another scare in the top of the seventh.
The Chevy Boys had runners at the corners with two outs in the inning, but Logan, who came in to relieve Sullivan on the mound in the seventh, got the next out with his first strikeout of the game, and therefore, earned the save on the hill as a result.
Kimbrell officially got the win on the mound for Cabot. He came in to relieve Gavin Tillery in the third inning, which helped stymie Jacksonville’s production at the plate. Kimbrell was Cabot’s third pitcher to throw at that point, and Logan was Cabot’s fifth pitcher of the game.
Logan, Kimbrell and Grayson Cole led Cabot with two hits each. Logan’s three RBIs led the team in that category.
Harris, Perry and Mallison led Jacksonville with two hits apiece. Perry’s four RBIs was a game-high.
Friday, June 06, 2014
Tuesday, June 03, 2014
SPORTS STORY >> Badger fans get glimpse of team
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The Beebe Badger football team showed its largest numbers in the John Shannon era Friday at the annual Red-White spring scrimmage at “Bro” Erwin Stadium.
Beebe took to its turf Friday with 64 players that were divided evenly between varsity and junior varsity players – one team sporting black jerseys and the other wearing white jerseys – which in turn, led to a physical and competitive scrimmage.
With the even mix between the varsity and junior varsity players, there were early miscues on the offensive side of the ball for both teams, but regardless of those offensive miscues, each defensive unit showed promise that was noticeable from the start.
“We mixed up our JV guys with our varsity guys, so we knew it was going to be a little bit sloppy because our JV guys are a little bit behind, especially with the formations and some of the plays,” said Beebe coach John Shannon. “They’re not as far along as our varsity guys.
“But overall, I was happy with the effort. I think that’s the most physical our defense has been this time of year in a long time around here, so we’re excited about that. We scrimmaged last week with our ones against the ones and it was real physical all week.
“We’ve got I think 64 kids on the team, the most we’ve ever had, and we’re excited about the future around here. We just hope that we can stay healthy. That’s going to be abig key, and improving each and every day.”
Even though both teams played solid defense at times throughout the scrimmage, there were plenty of offensive bright spots that came as the scrimmage progressed. Senior Aaron Nunez is back at the quarterback position after missing the majority of last season with an ACL tear. Friday’s scrimmage was the first real test to see how Nunez would react in a competitive game-type of setting since his surgery, and his play on the field drew plenty of praise from his head coach.
“I was pleased with Nunez,” Shannon said. “Nunez is coming off that knee surgery. This was really his first experience on it. He didn’t show any hesitation or anything like he was worried about it. He got in there and he ran the option extremely well.”
There was one play in particular that showed Shannon that Nunez is back at full strength. Augusta transfer Jo’Vaughn Wyrick took an option pitch from Nunez 60 yards down the home sideline for a touchdown – a run that was the result of Nunez’s patience, as he waited till he drew the last defender to him before he pitched the ball, and he took a big hit as a result, but got up without any problems.
“The one long run JoJo (Wyrick) had, Nunez stood in there till the last moment and pitched it and took a big hit, but that’s what we’ve got to have,” Shannon said. “It made me feel good about him, because I know now that he’s not worried about it.”
Wyrick, a junior, showed plenty of promise as a skill player. He made several plays on offense and did so from different spots. Wyrick lined up at running back and receiver, and Shannon said he may end up playing defense as well.
“He’s one of the fastest kids we’ve got on the team,” Shannon said of Wyrick. “He looked good running the ball. He caught the ball extremely well, and he’s still learning, too. Everything’s still new to him, and we think he’s going to help on offense or defense or maybe both.
“It depends on how good of a condition he gets in this summer, but he’s definitely good enough to help us on both sides of the ball.”
Another skill guy returning for Beebe is their leading rusher from a year ago, junior running back Tripp Smith. Smith had a stellar sophomore debut last year, as he became one of just three backs in the state to rush for 2,000 yards during the season.
He had several solid runs inside Friday, thanks in part to the blocking up front that opened up several holes for him and the rest of the Badger backs, but he showed his ability and speed on a 50-yard touchdown scamper on a run outside the left tackle.
“I thought Tripp ran the ball extremely hard inside and off tackle, which is what we like to do,” Shannon said.
The annual scrimmage marked the end of spring football for the Badgers, but they’ll have an active summer with summer workouts, 7-on-7 activities and team camps.
Leader sportswriter
The Beebe Badger football team showed its largest numbers in the John Shannon era Friday at the annual Red-White spring scrimmage at “Bro” Erwin Stadium.
Beebe took to its turf Friday with 64 players that were divided evenly between varsity and junior varsity players – one team sporting black jerseys and the other wearing white jerseys – which in turn, led to a physical and competitive scrimmage.
With the even mix between the varsity and junior varsity players, there were early miscues on the offensive side of the ball for both teams, but regardless of those offensive miscues, each defensive unit showed promise that was noticeable from the start.
“We mixed up our JV guys with our varsity guys, so we knew it was going to be a little bit sloppy because our JV guys are a little bit behind, especially with the formations and some of the plays,” said Beebe coach John Shannon. “They’re not as far along as our varsity guys.
“But overall, I was happy with the effort. I think that’s the most physical our defense has been this time of year in a long time around here, so we’re excited about that. We scrimmaged last week with our ones against the ones and it was real physical all week.
“We’ve got I think 64 kids on the team, the most we’ve ever had, and we’re excited about the future around here. We just hope that we can stay healthy. That’s going to be abig key, and improving each and every day.”
Even though both teams played solid defense at times throughout the scrimmage, there were plenty of offensive bright spots that came as the scrimmage progressed. Senior Aaron Nunez is back at the quarterback position after missing the majority of last season with an ACL tear. Friday’s scrimmage was the first real test to see how Nunez would react in a competitive game-type of setting since his surgery, and his play on the field drew plenty of praise from his head coach.
“I was pleased with Nunez,” Shannon said. “Nunez is coming off that knee surgery. This was really his first experience on it. He didn’t show any hesitation or anything like he was worried about it. He got in there and he ran the option extremely well.”
There was one play in particular that showed Shannon that Nunez is back at full strength. Augusta transfer Jo’Vaughn Wyrick took an option pitch from Nunez 60 yards down the home sideline for a touchdown – a run that was the result of Nunez’s patience, as he waited till he drew the last defender to him before he pitched the ball, and he took a big hit as a result, but got up without any problems.
“The one long run JoJo (Wyrick) had, Nunez stood in there till the last moment and pitched it and took a big hit, but that’s what we’ve got to have,” Shannon said. “It made me feel good about him, because I know now that he’s not worried about it.”
Wyrick, a junior, showed plenty of promise as a skill player. He made several plays on offense and did so from different spots. Wyrick lined up at running back and receiver, and Shannon said he may end up playing defense as well.
“He’s one of the fastest kids we’ve got on the team,” Shannon said of Wyrick. “He looked good running the ball. He caught the ball extremely well, and he’s still learning, too. Everything’s still new to him, and we think he’s going to help on offense or defense or maybe both.
“It depends on how good of a condition he gets in this summer, but he’s definitely good enough to help us on both sides of the ball.”
Another skill guy returning for Beebe is their leading rusher from a year ago, junior running back Tripp Smith. Smith had a stellar sophomore debut last year, as he became one of just three backs in the state to rush for 2,000 yards during the season.
He had several solid runs inside Friday, thanks in part to the blocking up front that opened up several holes for him and the rest of the Badger backs, but he showed his ability and speed on a 50-yard touchdown scamper on a run outside the left tackle.
“I thought Tripp ran the ball extremely hard inside and off tackle, which is what we like to do,” Shannon said.
The annual scrimmage marked the end of spring football for the Badgers, but they’ll have an active summer with summer workouts, 7-on-7 activities and team camps.
SPORTS STORY >> Bears scrimmage for school
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The Sylvan Hills Bears just missed the rain at their annual Blue/White spring football scrimmage Friday afternoon at Bill Blackwood Field in Sherwood, and head coach Jim Withrow said his players were excited to get to showcase their play in front of their fellow students, who were let out of classes early to watch the scrimmage.
“We let the kids out and we scrimmaged in front of the school, and it was something they all looked forward to,” said Withrow. “Being that way, sometimes you can get a little too excited and make a few mistakes here or there. But, you know, for the most part it was a pretty good deal.”
The Blue and White teams were split evenly between varsity and junior varsity players in order to make for a more competitive scrimmage.
As Withrow said, because of the level of excitement his players had by playing in front of their fellow students yet again, along with the mix of varsity and JV players on each team, it led to some miscues early on both sides of the ball. But as the scrimmage progressed, the teams were able to get in a groove and made some solid plays on both offense and defense.
Sylvan Hills’ top offensive weapons are back from last year’s 7-4 playoff team. Senior quarterback Tra Doss showed in the scrimmage why he was an All-State player at the position a year ago, and fellow seniors Marlon Clemons, the team’s top running back, and wide receiver Nathan Thomas produced as usual – all for the White team.
“Our older guys, Tra Doss, Marlon Clemons, Nathan Thomas, those guys all made several good plays,” Withrow said. “You could just tell those guys are three-year starters and understand what they’re doing.”
Doss, like he did many times his junior season, threw a touchdown and ran for another on a short-yard play. Clemons scored on a 40-yard run, and Doss’ TD pass was a 35-yarder to Thomas.
When asked whether or not those three seniors have shown much improvement from last year, whether it be getting stronger in the weight room, getting faster or just having a better grasp of the playbook and taking what the defense gives them, Withrow said without any hesitation that they’ve done all three.
“All three,” Withrow said, “all three. They have a better understanding of what we’re trying to do, but one thing for sure is they’re all faster and stronger. They’ve done a lot of good work in the offseason.”
Withrow said the teams’ defensive play wasn’t bad, and showed some bright spots at times throughout the scrimmage. As far as individual efforts he was pleased with, Withrow said linebackers Joe Craft and Tyler Reeves and strong safety Hunter Phillips all played well on defense.
“All three of those guys did a really good job,” Withrow said. The head Bear added that the scrimmage itself, although it had its chaotic moments, turned out to be a pretty good experience for everyone involved.
“It went pretty good,” Withrow said. “We tried to split the teams up fairly even, and when you split ’em all up it gets a little chaotic, but as a whole, I thought the kids did a pretty good job. There are some things we saw that we need to build on, but there was a lot of good positive stuff, too.”
The Bears finished the spring football period with 67 players on their roster, and Withrow said they’ll have a busy summer with summer workouts, 7-on-7 meets as well as team camps – which begins next week.
“We’ve got five or six guys that are headed to individual combines,” Withrow said. “Next week we’ve got a camp at Ouachita Baptist and the next day we’ll go to (Pulaski) Robinson for a 7-on-7 tournament.”
In July, the Bears are scheduled to participate in 7-on-7 meets at Benton and Malvern, as well as two additional team camps, which will also help some of the team’s later additions that recently came from baseball and track, along with the players that are currently recovering from injuries, get more accustomed with the team’s offense and defense.
Leader sportswriter
The Sylvan Hills Bears just missed the rain at their annual Blue/White spring football scrimmage Friday afternoon at Bill Blackwood Field in Sherwood, and head coach Jim Withrow said his players were excited to get to showcase their play in front of their fellow students, who were let out of classes early to watch the scrimmage.
“We let the kids out and we scrimmaged in front of the school, and it was something they all looked forward to,” said Withrow. “Being that way, sometimes you can get a little too excited and make a few mistakes here or there. But, you know, for the most part it was a pretty good deal.”
The Blue and White teams were split evenly between varsity and junior varsity players in order to make for a more competitive scrimmage.
As Withrow said, because of the level of excitement his players had by playing in front of their fellow students yet again, along with the mix of varsity and JV players on each team, it led to some miscues early on both sides of the ball. But as the scrimmage progressed, the teams were able to get in a groove and made some solid plays on both offense and defense.
Sylvan Hills’ top offensive weapons are back from last year’s 7-4 playoff team. Senior quarterback Tra Doss showed in the scrimmage why he was an All-State player at the position a year ago, and fellow seniors Marlon Clemons, the team’s top running back, and wide receiver Nathan Thomas produced as usual – all for the White team.
“Our older guys, Tra Doss, Marlon Clemons, Nathan Thomas, those guys all made several good plays,” Withrow said. “You could just tell those guys are three-year starters and understand what they’re doing.”
Doss, like he did many times his junior season, threw a touchdown and ran for another on a short-yard play. Clemons scored on a 40-yard run, and Doss’ TD pass was a 35-yarder to Thomas.
When asked whether or not those three seniors have shown much improvement from last year, whether it be getting stronger in the weight room, getting faster or just having a better grasp of the playbook and taking what the defense gives them, Withrow said without any hesitation that they’ve done all three.
“All three,” Withrow said, “all three. They have a better understanding of what we’re trying to do, but one thing for sure is they’re all faster and stronger. They’ve done a lot of good work in the offseason.”
Withrow said the teams’ defensive play wasn’t bad, and showed some bright spots at times throughout the scrimmage. As far as individual efforts he was pleased with, Withrow said linebackers Joe Craft and Tyler Reeves and strong safety Hunter Phillips all played well on defense.
“All three of those guys did a really good job,” Withrow said. The head Bear added that the scrimmage itself, although it had its chaotic moments, turned out to be a pretty good experience for everyone involved.
“It went pretty good,” Withrow said. “We tried to split the teams up fairly even, and when you split ’em all up it gets a little chaotic, but as a whole, I thought the kids did a pretty good job. There are some things we saw that we need to build on, but there was a lot of good positive stuff, too.”
The Bears finished the spring football period with 67 players on their roster, and Withrow said they’ll have a busy summer with summer workouts, 7-on-7 meets as well as team camps – which begins next week.
“We’ve got five or six guys that are headed to individual combines,” Withrow said. “Next week we’ve got a camp at Ouachita Baptist and the next day we’ll go to (Pulaski) Robinson for a 7-on-7 tournament.”
In July, the Bears are scheduled to participate in 7-on-7 meets at Benton and Malvern, as well as two additional team camps, which will also help some of the team’s later additions that recently came from baseball and track, along with the players that are currently recovering from injuries, get more accustomed with the team’s offense and defense.
SPORTS STORY >> Gwatney juniors win big
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Gwatney Chevrolet junior and senior teams split a doubleheader at Sheridan on Monday. The junior Chevy Boys won 14-3 while the senior team lost 15-5 after a rough third inning.
The two teams have played a disparaging number of games, with the win lifting the junior team’s overall record to 4-6, while Monday’s loss was the season opener for the senior squad.
“It’s basically the first time the senior team has picked up a glove and a ball in more than a week, and it looked like it,” said Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham. “I thought (pitcher James) Tucker was doing extremely well and then we let the bottom fall out of it in the third inning. Four or five mistakes all right there together and it just killed us. We couldn’t field a thing. We looked like a bunch of goats in a hailstorm out there.
“But really it’s all my fault. We haven’t had a chance to get them out there and practice. We’ve had 10 junior games already and they’ve just been waiting to get on the field.”
The miserable third inning on Monday left Jacksonville with an eight-run deficit, but the team rallied for five runs in the top of the fourth to cut Sheridan’s lead to three. But that was all the team would muster.
The Yellowjackets helped their visitors out by issuing free bases to the three of the first four batters of the fourth inning. Ryan Mallison walked before Deaundray Harris struck out swinging. Troy Allen was hit by a pitch and Donte Harris walked to load the bases and bring up leadoff hitter Derek St. Clair. He singled to drive in two runs and Blake Perry singled to drive home another. Perry was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice by Kaleb Reeves before Greg Jones and Laderrious Perry drew two more walks. St. Clair scored on a passed ball and Reeves scored on Laderrious Perry’s walk to cap the Chevy Boys’ run production.
The junior team scored eight runs in the top of the first inning to take quick command of their game. The big early lead also gave junior coach Barry Hickingbotham a chance to play all 24 players that make up the current junior roster.
American Legion rules dictate that a team can certify a maximum of 18 players by the June 15 deadline, so the father-son coaching duo relishes the opportunity to evaluate as many players as they can as much as they can.
“We’ve been fortunate so far in how much we’ve been able to play everybody,” Bob Hickingbotham said. “We got to split into two teams at the North Little Rock tournament and we’ve run out to big leads in two other games. Then we had a doubleheader where everyone got to play.”
No one got to bat more than twice, but Cayden Sample, A.J. Jackson and Jordan Wickersham all went 2 for 2 for the junior Chevy Boys.
Ean Collie started on the mound and got the win. Payton Traywick and Dillon Morse pitched well in relief, though the margin was too large for Morse to officially get a save.
Both teams played at Cabot on Tuesday, and the Gwatney Chevrolet Junior Invitational Tournament begins at 5:30 p.m. today at Dupree Park. Benton Blue faces Conway to start the tournament and Cabot Red faces Sheridan at 7:45.
Beebe plays Searcy at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Jacksonville faces Cabot Red immediately after. Two more games are set for Friday with six games scheduled for Saturday starting at 9 a.m. The semifinals and championship game will be held Sunday starting at 1:30 p.m.
The senior team gets back to action on Monday at Benton.
Leader sports editor
The Gwatney Chevrolet junior and senior teams split a doubleheader at Sheridan on Monday. The junior Chevy Boys won 14-3 while the senior team lost 15-5 after a rough third inning.
The two teams have played a disparaging number of games, with the win lifting the junior team’s overall record to 4-6, while Monday’s loss was the season opener for the senior squad.
“It’s basically the first time the senior team has picked up a glove and a ball in more than a week, and it looked like it,” said Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham. “I thought (pitcher James) Tucker was doing extremely well and then we let the bottom fall out of it in the third inning. Four or five mistakes all right there together and it just killed us. We couldn’t field a thing. We looked like a bunch of goats in a hailstorm out there.
“But really it’s all my fault. We haven’t had a chance to get them out there and practice. We’ve had 10 junior games already and they’ve just been waiting to get on the field.”
The miserable third inning on Monday left Jacksonville with an eight-run deficit, but the team rallied for five runs in the top of the fourth to cut Sheridan’s lead to three. But that was all the team would muster.
The Yellowjackets helped their visitors out by issuing free bases to the three of the first four batters of the fourth inning. Ryan Mallison walked before Deaundray Harris struck out swinging. Troy Allen was hit by a pitch and Donte Harris walked to load the bases and bring up leadoff hitter Derek St. Clair. He singled to drive in two runs and Blake Perry singled to drive home another. Perry was thrown out at second on a fielder’s choice by Kaleb Reeves before Greg Jones and Laderrious Perry drew two more walks. St. Clair scored on a passed ball and Reeves scored on Laderrious Perry’s walk to cap the Chevy Boys’ run production.
The junior team scored eight runs in the top of the first inning to take quick command of their game. The big early lead also gave junior coach Barry Hickingbotham a chance to play all 24 players that make up the current junior roster.
American Legion rules dictate that a team can certify a maximum of 18 players by the June 15 deadline, so the father-son coaching duo relishes the opportunity to evaluate as many players as they can as much as they can.
“We’ve been fortunate so far in how much we’ve been able to play everybody,” Bob Hickingbotham said. “We got to split into two teams at the North Little Rock tournament and we’ve run out to big leads in two other games. Then we had a doubleheader where everyone got to play.”
No one got to bat more than twice, but Cayden Sample, A.J. Jackson and Jordan Wickersham all went 2 for 2 for the junior Chevy Boys.
Ean Collie started on the mound and got the win. Payton Traywick and Dillon Morse pitched well in relief, though the margin was too large for Morse to officially get a save.
Both teams played at Cabot on Tuesday, and the Gwatney Chevrolet Junior Invitational Tournament begins at 5:30 p.m. today at Dupree Park. Benton Blue faces Conway to start the tournament and Cabot Red faces Sheridan at 7:45.
Beebe plays Searcy at 5:30 p.m. Thursday and Jacksonville faces Cabot Red immediately after. Two more games are set for Friday with six games scheduled for Saturday starting at 9 a.m. The semifinals and championship game will be held Sunday starting at 1:30 p.m.
The senior team gets back to action on Monday at Benton.
SPORTS STORY >> Red Devils’ new coach an alumnus
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville athletic director Jerry Wilson said last week he wanted to move quickly on hiring a new head football coach, and the process indeed was quick. After interviewing nine candidates on Tuesday, the four-person selection committee chose Barry Hickingbotham to recommend for hire by the Pulaski County Special School District.
Hickingbotham is a 1987 graduate of Jacksonville High School and rejoins his alma mater after spending last season as offensive coordinator at Atkins High School, where he helped their Red Devils to their winningest season since 2007.
He signed with Louisiana Tech football out of high school, where he still holds the school record for punting yardage in a season.
Hickingbotham was late into coaching and joined the staff at Jacksonville as a middle school coach in 2002. He spearheaded fundraising efforts to build the sorely needed new middle school field house that also serves as practice facilities for high school spring sports teams.
He took over as head middle school football coach in 2006 before bring promoted to the high-school staff by then head coach Mark Whatley in 2009.
Hickingbotham served as offensive coordinator for two years under head coach Rick Russell before taking the same job at Atkins last year. He replaces Russell, who turned in his resignation early last month.
Hickingbotham also served stints at JHS as assistant baseball coach, including the 2011 state championship year, and was the head softball coach in 2013, leading that team to a No. 2 seed in the state tournament after it had failed to make the playoffs the previous two seasons.
The search committee was made up of Wilson, PCSSD director of athletics Danny Ebbs, JHS principal Bill Barnes and head basketball coach and dean of students Vic Joyner.
Wilson gave several reasons why Hickingbotham stood out among the nine candidates.
“His presentation was excellent,” said Wilson. “He showed a commitment to get Jacksonville back to where it once was as far as being a contender. We’ve seen his commitment in action over the years through his work ethic. He’s a part of this community and he’s dedicated to it. We know he will work diligently.”
Hickingbotham takes over a program that is in a rebuilding process. Last year’s season started with huge expectations and ended in a disappointing 4-6 finish and the team missed the playoffs for the first time in five years.
It was also a senior-heavy team with five players signing to play college ball, and some of the underclass talent has already transferred or left the program for other reasons.
“We made it clear to all the candidates that this is at least a two-year project just building the program back up,” Wilson said. “If everything works out we’ll be our own district in a couple of years and have an opportunity to be a formidable 6A program once again. I think that made this job very attractive to a lot of people.”
Hickingbotham was not available for comment when the news was released last night. He was helping coach the Gwatney Chevrolet American Legion baseball team at Cabot.
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville athletic director Jerry Wilson said last week he wanted to move quickly on hiring a new head football coach, and the process indeed was quick. After interviewing nine candidates on Tuesday, the four-person selection committee chose Barry Hickingbotham to recommend for hire by the Pulaski County Special School District.
Hickingbotham is a 1987 graduate of Jacksonville High School and rejoins his alma mater after spending last season as offensive coordinator at Atkins High School, where he helped their Red Devils to their winningest season since 2007.
He signed with Louisiana Tech football out of high school, where he still holds the school record for punting yardage in a season.
Hickingbotham was late into coaching and joined the staff at Jacksonville as a middle school coach in 2002. He spearheaded fundraising efforts to build the sorely needed new middle school field house that also serves as practice facilities for high school spring sports teams.
He took over as head middle school football coach in 2006 before bring promoted to the high-school staff by then head coach Mark Whatley in 2009.
Hickingbotham served as offensive coordinator for two years under head coach Rick Russell before taking the same job at Atkins last year. He replaces Russell, who turned in his resignation early last month.
Hickingbotham also served stints at JHS as assistant baseball coach, including the 2011 state championship year, and was the head softball coach in 2013, leading that team to a No. 2 seed in the state tournament after it had failed to make the playoffs the previous two seasons.
The search committee was made up of Wilson, PCSSD director of athletics Danny Ebbs, JHS principal Bill Barnes and head basketball coach and dean of students Vic Joyner.
Wilson gave several reasons why Hickingbotham stood out among the nine candidates.
“His presentation was excellent,” said Wilson. “He showed a commitment to get Jacksonville back to where it once was as far as being a contender. We’ve seen his commitment in action over the years through his work ethic. He’s a part of this community and he’s dedicated to it. We know he will work diligently.”
Hickingbotham takes over a program that is in a rebuilding process. Last year’s season started with huge expectations and ended in a disappointing 4-6 finish and the team missed the playoffs for the first time in five years.
It was also a senior-heavy team with five players signing to play college ball, and some of the underclass talent has already transferred or left the program for other reasons.
“We made it clear to all the candidates that this is at least a two-year project just building the program back up,” Wilson said. “If everything works out we’ll be our own district in a couple of years and have an opportunity to be a formidable 6A program once again. I think that made this job very attractive to a lot of people.”
Hickingbotham was not available for comment when the news was released last night. He was helping coach the Gwatney Chevrolet American Legion baseball team at Cabot.
EDITORIAL >> Tension rises in Sherwood
It’s campaign season. That might not be any more evident than it is during Sherwood City Council meetings.
Council members have been bitterly divided over ordinary municipal business, and Mayor Virginia Hillman, who is facing two opponents for re-election, has been the recipient of much of the ire.
In The Leader’s 27 years, we cannot recall so much division over a city’s plan to build a public library. Sherwood’s is one of the oldest and smallest branches in the Central Arkansas Library System.
The conflict is largely over some aldermen not wanting to hold a special election to raise property taxes to pay for a much-needed library. They’d prefer to put it before the voters during the general election in November. To them, it would be undemocratic to sneak in a vote on property tax — a $200 annual increase for a $150,000 home — in August, when many people are on vacation or otherwise uninvolved with civic matters.
Fair point, but we’re not sure a special election would automatically ensure approval of the measure. Consider the recent defeat of Pulaski Technical College’s effort to increase property taxes countywide. That took a lot of grassroots organizing.
When CALS director Bobby Roberts recently told the council of the plan to hold the special election this summer, he was not pleased to hear of the alternative plan to put it on the November ballot. He said the library system, not the city council, is responsible for setting the election date and that a lawsuit against Sherwood may be filed if it interferes because construction plans would be delayed.
Roberts also knows a fight to raise taxes in November would be tough.
The other issue that’s reached a boiling point is the now-canceled plan to build a police firing range on Trammel Road. Residents were alarmed when they were belatedly told of the plan to build an outdoor shooting range near their homes.
City officials abandoned the plan almost as soon as the opposition to it formed.
Hillman, frustrated, said this newspaper called Police Chief Jim Bedwell a liar. A resident who believed the city was sneaking in a firing range in her backyard said that. We know the mayor was simply imprecise with her words. But it illustrates the level of discord at city hall right now.
To be clear, here’s the quote again: Virginia Jones of 828 Trammel Road told us, “So many times that man has told me, ‘You won’t even know we’re out there.’ Liar! Of course I’m going to know they’re out there.”
Tough words. Did she exaggerate? Perhaps, but no more so than saying the shooting noise would be unnoticeable.
Being mayor is a high-pressure job. It’s not easy. Hillman was elected after former Mayor Danny Stedman resigned for stress-related health problems.
Hillman’s opponents, Don Berry and Doris Anderson, can’t beat her by claiming Sherwood is heading in the wrong direction because of mismanagement. Look around, the city’s population is growing and businesses keep opening there, and Hillman deserves to share the credit for the city’s successes.
To move forward, council members should support a timely library vote. Do it for the kids.
Council members have been bitterly divided over ordinary municipal business, and Mayor Virginia Hillman, who is facing two opponents for re-election, has been the recipient of much of the ire.
In The Leader’s 27 years, we cannot recall so much division over a city’s plan to build a public library. Sherwood’s is one of the oldest and smallest branches in the Central Arkansas Library System.
The conflict is largely over some aldermen not wanting to hold a special election to raise property taxes to pay for a much-needed library. They’d prefer to put it before the voters during the general election in November. To them, it would be undemocratic to sneak in a vote on property tax — a $200 annual increase for a $150,000 home — in August, when many people are on vacation or otherwise uninvolved with civic matters.
Fair point, but we’re not sure a special election would automatically ensure approval of the measure. Consider the recent defeat of Pulaski Technical College’s effort to increase property taxes countywide. That took a lot of grassroots organizing.
When CALS director Bobby Roberts recently told the council of the plan to hold the special election this summer, he was not pleased to hear of the alternative plan to put it on the November ballot. He said the library system, not the city council, is responsible for setting the election date and that a lawsuit against Sherwood may be filed if it interferes because construction plans would be delayed.
Roberts also knows a fight to raise taxes in November would be tough.
The other issue that’s reached a boiling point is the now-canceled plan to build a police firing range on Trammel Road. Residents were alarmed when they were belatedly told of the plan to build an outdoor shooting range near their homes.
City officials abandoned the plan almost as soon as the opposition to it formed.
Hillman, frustrated, said this newspaper called Police Chief Jim Bedwell a liar. A resident who believed the city was sneaking in a firing range in her backyard said that. We know the mayor was simply imprecise with her words. But it illustrates the level of discord at city hall right now.
To be clear, here’s the quote again: Virginia Jones of 828 Trammel Road told us, “So many times that man has told me, ‘You won’t even know we’re out there.’ Liar! Of course I’m going to know they’re out there.”
Tough words. Did she exaggerate? Perhaps, but no more so than saying the shooting noise would be unnoticeable.
Being mayor is a high-pressure job. It’s not easy. Hillman was elected after former Mayor Danny Stedman resigned for stress-related health problems.
Hillman’s opponents, Don Berry and Doris Anderson, can’t beat her by claiming Sherwood is heading in the wrong direction because of mismanagement. Look around, the city’s population is growing and businesses keep opening there, and Hillman deserves to share the credit for the city’s successes.
To move forward, council members should support a timely library vote. Do it for the kids.
TOP STORY >> City thinks it’s exempt over noise
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville’s shooting sports range is exempt from the noise ordinance, according to city council minutes obtained through a Freedom of Information Act.
Furthermore, in all council and planning commission minutes from mid-2012, when the range was first talked about, public concern about noise was nonexistent. The city found only three references in nearly two years of minutes referencing noise discussions of any kind — and none from residents.
Since the $3.2 million facility, officially called the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation Shooting Sports Complex, opened noise — loud, constant popping of gunfire — has caused a lot of angst among some Foxwood residents.
Some are considering lawsuits to close the facility down, but that might be hard to do because of the noise exemption that was passed Feb. 21, 2013, more than a year before the facility opened.
The city has hired an engineer who specializes in noise issues and has designed noise abatement solutions for other shooting ranges. He is taking sound samples to determine the best solution.
In council minutes from that meeting, City Attorney Robert Bamburg said the new ordinance (Ordinance 1477) was patterned after several other cities that had similar circumstances regarding a shooting zone.
Bamburg said the “shooting range and mechanical devices that create sounds and alarms would be exempt.” One legal expert told The Leader the city can’t exempt itself from making too much noise.
Also at that meeting, Bamburg said “events that are held between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on public property would be exempt.” He gave the high school cannon as an example. Even though that boom reverberates throughout the neighborhood surrounding the school when a touchdown is scored, it is not considered to be “loud and raucous.”
Noise has to be loud and raucous to be in violation of the noise ordinance and that usually applies to noise after 10 p.m., Bamburg said.
At that meeting, Aldermen Mike Taylor questioned where measurements are taken to determine the loudness of the noise. Bamburg said they are taken 50 feet from the building or the site of the noise.
An amendment was put forth by Taylor for measurements to be taken 50 feet from the property boundary. The council approved the amendment.
At the same February 2013 meeting, the council approved zoning for the range and a short-term loan agreement to cover construction costs.
Eight months later, at a city planning commission meeting, the commissioner approved the site plan for the shooting complex. At that meeting the main concern was not noise disturbing residents but the sun getting in shooters’ eyes.
Tommy Bond, the consulting engineer on the project, said the “direction of the range was tilted slightly to the northeast and there was concern that the shooters would have to face the morning sun, so the direction was shifted due north.”
The commission then discussed designating the complex and the surrounding land as a city park since the facility would be city-owned and operated.
Bamburg told planning commissioners that there was “a conditional-use provision for park facilities that would apply to the facility, which would be part of the process along with annexation issues.”
About 60 acres on the east side of the complex are in Lonoke County.
Bond told the commission that about 2,000 feet was dedicated to the fallout or safety zone for the range and that wetlands had been marked off to ensure they weren’t damaged.
But there was no conversation about noise.
The commission approved the plans “contingent upon the city ensuring that the facility meets all planning and building codes.”
Gov. Mike Beebe, who spoke at the facility’s ribbon cutting in May, said the 160-acre complex at 2800 Graham Road was “one of the finest — if not the finest — shooting ranges in the region.”
“Jacksonville has always had a vision to make the community bigger and better,” Beebe said. “Somebody had to have a vision. This land is absolutely beautiful.” He said the complex will attract families and will get young people involved in shooting sports “for generations to come and will enrich countless lives.”
But not everyone agrees with the governor.
Some Jacksonville residents have complained strongly about the noise at the firing range.
And some residents in the nearby Foxwood Estates subdivision say they can hear shooting from the complex.
One of those is former Police Chief Gary Sipes, who resigned at the end of May to run for mayor, partly because he felt the city was not working sufficiently toward a solution of the shooting range noise.
Mayor Gary Fletcher has promised the city would do something to decrease the noise, but he wants to look at the suggestions from the sound engineer before asking the city to commit money. Sipes, who lives in Foxwood Estates with his wife, DeJuanna, said he’s not happy with the noise at the new firing range. He said the shooting range backs in to his yard. He said he would recommend limiting shooting hours from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville’s shooting sports range is exempt from the noise ordinance, according to city council minutes obtained through a Freedom of Information Act.
Furthermore, in all council and planning commission minutes from mid-2012, when the range was first talked about, public concern about noise was nonexistent. The city found only three references in nearly two years of minutes referencing noise discussions of any kind — and none from residents.
Since the $3.2 million facility, officially called the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation Shooting Sports Complex, opened noise — loud, constant popping of gunfire — has caused a lot of angst among some Foxwood residents.
Some are considering lawsuits to close the facility down, but that might be hard to do because of the noise exemption that was passed Feb. 21, 2013, more than a year before the facility opened.
The city has hired an engineer who specializes in noise issues and has designed noise abatement solutions for other shooting ranges. He is taking sound samples to determine the best solution.
In council minutes from that meeting, City Attorney Robert Bamburg said the new ordinance (Ordinance 1477) was patterned after several other cities that had similar circumstances regarding a shooting zone.
Bamburg said the “shooting range and mechanical devices that create sounds and alarms would be exempt.” One legal expert told The Leader the city can’t exempt itself from making too much noise.
Also at that meeting, Bamburg said “events that are held between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. on public property would be exempt.” He gave the high school cannon as an example. Even though that boom reverberates throughout the neighborhood surrounding the school when a touchdown is scored, it is not considered to be “loud and raucous.”
Noise has to be loud and raucous to be in violation of the noise ordinance and that usually applies to noise after 10 p.m., Bamburg said.
At that meeting, Aldermen Mike Taylor questioned where measurements are taken to determine the loudness of the noise. Bamburg said they are taken 50 feet from the building or the site of the noise.
An amendment was put forth by Taylor for measurements to be taken 50 feet from the property boundary. The council approved the amendment.
At the same February 2013 meeting, the council approved zoning for the range and a short-term loan agreement to cover construction costs.
Eight months later, at a city planning commission meeting, the commissioner approved the site plan for the shooting complex. At that meeting the main concern was not noise disturbing residents but the sun getting in shooters’ eyes.
Tommy Bond, the consulting engineer on the project, said the “direction of the range was tilted slightly to the northeast and there was concern that the shooters would have to face the morning sun, so the direction was shifted due north.”
The commission then discussed designating the complex and the surrounding land as a city park since the facility would be city-owned and operated.
Bamburg told planning commissioners that there was “a conditional-use provision for park facilities that would apply to the facility, which would be part of the process along with annexation issues.”
About 60 acres on the east side of the complex are in Lonoke County.
Bond told the commission that about 2,000 feet was dedicated to the fallout or safety zone for the range and that wetlands had been marked off to ensure they weren’t damaged.
But there was no conversation about noise.
The commission approved the plans “contingent upon the city ensuring that the facility meets all planning and building codes.”
Gov. Mike Beebe, who spoke at the facility’s ribbon cutting in May, said the 160-acre complex at 2800 Graham Road was “one of the finest — if not the finest — shooting ranges in the region.”
“Jacksonville has always had a vision to make the community bigger and better,” Beebe said. “Somebody had to have a vision. This land is absolutely beautiful.” He said the complex will attract families and will get young people involved in shooting sports “for generations to come and will enrich countless lives.”
But not everyone agrees with the governor.
Some Jacksonville residents have complained strongly about the noise at the firing range.
And some residents in the nearby Foxwood Estates subdivision say they can hear shooting from the complex.
One of those is former Police Chief Gary Sipes, who resigned at the end of May to run for mayor, partly because he felt the city was not working sufficiently toward a solution of the shooting range noise.
Mayor Gary Fletcher has promised the city would do something to decrease the noise, but he wants to look at the suggestions from the sound engineer before asking the city to commit money. Sipes, who lives in Foxwood Estates with his wife, DeJuanna, said he’s not happy with the noise at the new firing range. He said the shooting range backs in to his yard. He said he would recommend limiting shooting hours from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
TOP STORY >> VA isn’t the only problem
By GARRICK FELDMAN
Leader publisher
It’s never a good time to visit a government office, where they’re usually understaffed and busy. You might stand in line for 20 minutes at the post office, but you can always come back later — unlike thousands of sick veterans who sit for hours waiting for medical attention at VA hospitals.
We knew a Vietnam veteran who sat in terrible pain for 20 hours with a ruptured appendix at the VA hospital in Little Rock. He was rolling on the floor before he was finally attended to. In Vietnam, he dumped napalm that was probably made in Jacksonville.
He’s a tough old guy who lived to talk about his experience. Others haven’t been as lucky.
A federal investigation might reveal how many veterans have perished for lack of proper care — probably thousands just since the start of the Afghan and Iraq wars. Veterans from other wars have been neglected for decades.
Politicians are good at sending young people to war but are less eager to help them when they’re sick. A recently opened VA hospital in Las Vegas is the first such new facility in 20 years.
Four-month waiting periods are routine at VA hospitals, which lack qualified doctors and staff. The hospitals in Phoenix, Gainesville, Fla., and probably many others hid the long waiting list from auditors. The scandal has cost Gen. Eric Shinseki, the former Veterans Affairs secretary, his job.
But count yourself lucky if you walk out of government offices alive, as unpleasant as they often are. Have you been to the Social Security office on Kiehl Avenue in Sherwood? First, you have to find it since it’s hidden behind some trees. Then you have to find a parking spot. The parking lot is way too small for the number of visitors.
Then you check in on a big monitor that doesn’t seem to work. Regular visitors will tell you to press hard on the monitor so you can punch in your name and social security number while the bored security guard is texting.
The line at the Jacksonville post office at lunch hour last Wednesday reached to the door while one clerk took care of a customer who needed stamps for at least 50 manila envelopes.
The clerk kept printing out postage for about 15 minutes while about a dozen people looked at each other, wondering if her colleagues would come up and help her take care of the customers. Except, at the post office, they’re never called customers.
The post office isn’t the VA, where people writhe in agony, but it’s still annoying to stand in line at a government facility because employees have more pressing business to attend to at lunch hour, like figuring out what to have for lunch.
The service desk has at least three registers, but usually only one clerk will help customers around 11:30 while colleagues make themselves disappear.
No wonder people are paying bills online and avoiding the post office as much as possible.
But wait: A clerk, perhaps the postmaster, came out from behind the wall to tell someone why home delivery stopped at her home. But the clerk soon disappeared and customers started to leave.
Half an hour later, three clerks were taking care of customers, although the line wasn’t moving much faster: One family was applying for passports, and the same clerk who was running out postage for all those manila envelopes was doing the same thing for another lady with a bunch of manila envelopes. Clearly a lot of people run their business out of the post office.
Complaining about the post office is a useless exercise. We’ll just put up with the inconvenience. But the thousands of veterans who risked their lives and limbs for their country deserve better.
The Vietnam veteran I mentioned earlier isn’t doing well these days. He’s old and infirm, but even the VA couldn’t kill him, although it tried.
Leader publisher
It’s never a good time to visit a government office, where they’re usually understaffed and busy. You might stand in line for 20 minutes at the post office, but you can always come back later — unlike thousands of sick veterans who sit for hours waiting for medical attention at VA hospitals.
We knew a Vietnam veteran who sat in terrible pain for 20 hours with a ruptured appendix at the VA hospital in Little Rock. He was rolling on the floor before he was finally attended to. In Vietnam, he dumped napalm that was probably made in Jacksonville.
He’s a tough old guy who lived to talk about his experience. Others haven’t been as lucky.
A federal investigation might reveal how many veterans have perished for lack of proper care — probably thousands just since the start of the Afghan and Iraq wars. Veterans from other wars have been neglected for decades.
Politicians are good at sending young people to war but are less eager to help them when they’re sick. A recently opened VA hospital in Las Vegas is the first such new facility in 20 years.
Four-month waiting periods are routine at VA hospitals, which lack qualified doctors and staff. The hospitals in Phoenix, Gainesville, Fla., and probably many others hid the long waiting list from auditors. The scandal has cost Gen. Eric Shinseki, the former Veterans Affairs secretary, his job.
But count yourself lucky if you walk out of government offices alive, as unpleasant as they often are. Have you been to the Social Security office on Kiehl Avenue in Sherwood? First, you have to find it since it’s hidden behind some trees. Then you have to find a parking spot. The parking lot is way too small for the number of visitors.
Then you check in on a big monitor that doesn’t seem to work. Regular visitors will tell you to press hard on the monitor so you can punch in your name and social security number while the bored security guard is texting.
The line at the Jacksonville post office at lunch hour last Wednesday reached to the door while one clerk took care of a customer who needed stamps for at least 50 manila envelopes.
The clerk kept printing out postage for about 15 minutes while about a dozen people looked at each other, wondering if her colleagues would come up and help her take care of the customers. Except, at the post office, they’re never called customers.
The post office isn’t the VA, where people writhe in agony, but it’s still annoying to stand in line at a government facility because employees have more pressing business to attend to at lunch hour, like figuring out what to have for lunch.
The service desk has at least three registers, but usually only one clerk will help customers around 11:30 while colleagues make themselves disappear.
No wonder people are paying bills online and avoiding the post office as much as possible.
But wait: A clerk, perhaps the postmaster, came out from behind the wall to tell someone why home delivery stopped at her home. But the clerk soon disappeared and customers started to leave.
Half an hour later, three clerks were taking care of customers, although the line wasn’t moving much faster: One family was applying for passports, and the same clerk who was running out postage for all those manila envelopes was doing the same thing for another lady with a bunch of manila envelopes. Clearly a lot of people run their business out of the post office.
Complaining about the post office is a useless exercise. We’ll just put up with the inconvenience. But the thousands of veterans who risked their lives and limbs for their country deserve better.
The Vietnam veteran I mentioned earlier isn’t doing well these days. He’s old and infirm, but even the VA couldn’t kill him, although it tried.
TOP STORY >> Sherwood range takes direct hit
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Even though plans for an outdoor shooting range in the Trammel Estates area of Sherwood were scrapped a week before the recent city council meeting, it didn’t stop salvos from being fired by the mayor, aldermen and residents toward each other.
Mayor Virginia Hillman made it clear numerous times at the May 27 council meeting that it was not her intent or the city’s intent for this to be an issue.
“This was not done intentionally, and there are no plans for an outdoor shooting range in that area now,” she said at last week’s council meeting.
She quickly added that the range had become a political issue and that she was not going to have any name calling from the council or others. She was particularly upset that a newspaper called Police Chief Jim Bedwell a liar. “Our chief is not.” This newspaper did not call him that, but did quote a resident who believed he was.
Alderman Mary Jo Heye was upset that the city circumvented state law by making the five-acre, $18,500 purchase without going through the council first. “The paperwork was not signed by the police department, but by the city of Sherwood. There’s a process, and we need to follow it,” she insisted.
Resident Jason Mitchell, speaking for the neighborhood where the shooting range was going to be placed, just wanted assurances that it was not going to be built there and that there would be better communication next time.
Hillman said the acreage was purchased with police department drug money and the purchase had been cleared by the Department of Justice as a reasonable use of the money. “That fund usually doesn’t have much money in it, but maybe the council should oversee it similar to other large cities,” the mayor said.
Heye also expressed concern about “what now?”
“Now that we have this property, what are we going to do with it?” she asked.
Alderman Tim McMinn said that, if the city ever sells the acreage, that the money needs to be returned to the drug fund. “It’s not the city’s money.”
Alderman Charlie Harmon said the important thing was to extract the city from this mess now. “What are our options with the property? With overseeing the drug fund? These are questions for the city attorney, and he’s not here tonight,” Harmon said.
City Attorney Steve Cobb, the mayor said, was on a long-planned vacation set before the controversy came up.
The police chief also did not attend the meeting.
Hillman reiterated that this was no quick hidden purchase. “It’s been talked about at our budget meetings. The chief’s been looking for a site for a while. He looked at other possibilities before this one. There was no malicious intent.”
Chief Bedwell had said previously that the range would save at least half of the $6,500 spent per year on officers traveling to and from ranges outside Sherwood.
But, Hillman said, “I just don’t think (the outdoor range is) going to be a good move right now.”
The uproar over the outdoor range began when city equipment was used earlier in May to move donated dirt to the 5.13-acre lot that is zoned for single-family homes. The dirt came from the construction site for the new Mapco Express gas station being built at the intersection of Kiehl Avenue and Brockington Road.
The outdoor range would have had six lanes and 12-foot berms on three sides with trees planted outside the berms. Bedwell said, “I think the impact would have been a lot less than (the opposition) thought.”
His goals were to save the city money and keep officers in Sherwood rather than 20 to 30 minutes away so they could respond to an emergency in the city more quickly.
Bedwell said that, over the last four years, officers have spent 866 hours driving to and from the Cabot, Camp Robinson and Jacksonville ranges.
Alderman Toni Butler complained that the council was not working as a team. “I’m finding out things from the newspaper instead of the city. We are like a family and need to work things out in private before taking it out in public.”
Harmon chimed in that the Freedom of Information Act “handcuffs” the city. “We have to argue in public,” he said.
Don Berry, a mayoral candidate, said after the meeting the purchase was a clear violation of Sherwood ordinances and Arkansas statute.
He said it was “misguided and without regard for the citizens’ quality of life or property value.
“Sherwood missteps in planning and execution have become so routine that several aldermen think this is the way to circumvent the right way to plan, budget,” Berry said.
“Leadership must always put the public trust and confidence ahead of all other priorities by acting with full transparency and involving the approval of a well-informed community board of directors – our city council,” he said.
Leader staff writer
Even though plans for an outdoor shooting range in the Trammel Estates area of Sherwood were scrapped a week before the recent city council meeting, it didn’t stop salvos from being fired by the mayor, aldermen and residents toward each other.
Mayor Virginia Hillman made it clear numerous times at the May 27 council meeting that it was not her intent or the city’s intent for this to be an issue.
“This was not done intentionally, and there are no plans for an outdoor shooting range in that area now,” she said at last week’s council meeting.
She quickly added that the range had become a political issue and that she was not going to have any name calling from the council or others. She was particularly upset that a newspaper called Police Chief Jim Bedwell a liar. “Our chief is not.” This newspaper did not call him that, but did quote a resident who believed he was.
Alderman Mary Jo Heye was upset that the city circumvented state law by making the five-acre, $18,500 purchase without going through the council first. “The paperwork was not signed by the police department, but by the city of Sherwood. There’s a process, and we need to follow it,” she insisted.
Resident Jason Mitchell, speaking for the neighborhood where the shooting range was going to be placed, just wanted assurances that it was not going to be built there and that there would be better communication next time.
Hillman said the acreage was purchased with police department drug money and the purchase had been cleared by the Department of Justice as a reasonable use of the money. “That fund usually doesn’t have much money in it, but maybe the council should oversee it similar to other large cities,” the mayor said.
Heye also expressed concern about “what now?”
“Now that we have this property, what are we going to do with it?” she asked.
Alderman Tim McMinn said that, if the city ever sells the acreage, that the money needs to be returned to the drug fund. “It’s not the city’s money.”
Alderman Charlie Harmon said the important thing was to extract the city from this mess now. “What are our options with the property? With overseeing the drug fund? These are questions for the city attorney, and he’s not here tonight,” Harmon said.
City Attorney Steve Cobb, the mayor said, was on a long-planned vacation set before the controversy came up.
The police chief also did not attend the meeting.
Hillman reiterated that this was no quick hidden purchase. “It’s been talked about at our budget meetings. The chief’s been looking for a site for a while. He looked at other possibilities before this one. There was no malicious intent.”
Chief Bedwell had said previously that the range would save at least half of the $6,500 spent per year on officers traveling to and from ranges outside Sherwood.
But, Hillman said, “I just don’t think (the outdoor range is) going to be a good move right now.”
The uproar over the outdoor range began when city equipment was used earlier in May to move donated dirt to the 5.13-acre lot that is zoned for single-family homes. The dirt came from the construction site for the new Mapco Express gas station being built at the intersection of Kiehl Avenue and Brockington Road.
The outdoor range would have had six lanes and 12-foot berms on three sides with trees planted outside the berms. Bedwell said, “I think the impact would have been a lot less than (the opposition) thought.”
His goals were to save the city money and keep officers in Sherwood rather than 20 to 30 minutes away so they could respond to an emergency in the city more quickly.
Bedwell said that, over the last four years, officers have spent 866 hours driving to and from the Cabot, Camp Robinson and Jacksonville ranges.
Alderman Toni Butler complained that the council was not working as a team. “I’m finding out things from the newspaper instead of the city. We are like a family and need to work things out in private before taking it out in public.”
Harmon chimed in that the Freedom of Information Act “handcuffs” the city. “We have to argue in public,” he said.
Don Berry, a mayoral candidate, said after the meeting the purchase was a clear violation of Sherwood ordinances and Arkansas statute.
He said it was “misguided and without regard for the citizens’ quality of life or property value.
“Sherwood missteps in planning and execution have become so routine that several aldermen think this is the way to circumvent the right way to plan, budget,” Berry said.
“Leadership must always put the public trust and confidence ahead of all other priorities by acting with full transparency and involving the approval of a well-informed community board of directors – our city council,” he said.
TOP STORY >> World-class pigeons
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Lonoke County resident Dave Hafner had his flock of Birmingham Roller pigeons compete Thursday in the prestigious World Cup Roller Fly international competition.
Hafner, co-owner of Fin, Feather-n-Fur taxidermy in Jacksonville, raises roller pigeons at his home on Kerr Station Road south of Cabot.
Roller pigeons are bred for their aerial-acrobatic performances. The kit (a group) of 20 pigeons fly from the coop into the air. They fly in a looping pattern overhead. Then, for some odd reason, they do backward somersaults, dropping several feet in the air until they fly out of the tumble and rejoin the group in flight.
Hafner represented the Missouri-Arkansas region of National Birmingham Roller Pigeons in the competition. The region has 20 competitors.
Four-time World Cup Roller Fly champion Heine Bijker of The Netherlands, arrived at Hafner’s home to judge his birds. Bijker was traveling the U.S. and Canada judging other roller pigeons for the competition.
“It’s just for bragging rights, no more than that,” Hafner said.
Several roller-pigeon breeders from across the state came to Hafner’s house to watch the judging.
Hafner’s birds were not up for the performance. They did not roll as a group but flipped individually, causing a low score. Perhaps they were affected by the rain.
Hafner said his interest in pigeons began when he was a youngster. He had wild birds as pets and was introduced to someone who had roller pigeons. He returned to roller pigeons after college.
“There are not very many of us anymore,” Hafner said.
Hafner has 70 roller pigeons. Hawks can be a big problem for breeders. They snatch the pigeons out of the sky because they are not fast and tumble. Hafner said his biggest expense is feed.
“Compared to golf, it is cheap,” Hafner joked.
According to the Arkansas State Roller Association’s website, roller pigeons originated in Birmingham, England, some 300 years ago. Competitions grew as British breeders wanted to see who had the best performers.
Bijker has been raising rollers pigeons and competing for 25 years. The sport does not have a large following.
“It’s too difficult and complicated for what we want our birds to do. We want to have 20 birds roll at the same time,” Bijker said.
Bijker said roller-pigeon owners have to choose if they want an individual performer or a group. The birds have to be bred to work together.
“You want a team, harmony, a family. The birds have to behave in the group at the beginning. If a bird fights, it’s out,” Bijker.
Bijker said the roller pigeons should be treated well for them to give their best performances.
He said some breeders believe in raising their birds in harsh conditions.
“They should look like athletes. They should not be starved or tortured. That doesn’t make sense. They should be in open lofts. They don’t have to be kept in dark boxes. A lot should change,” Bijker said.
A man from Oklahoma who raises roller pigeons was watching the judging.
“I’m still in awe when a pigeon starts rolling. What they do is incredible,” he said.
People interested in pigeons can contact the American Pigeon Museum and Library in Oklahoma City, which will have a grand opening June 13-14.
Leader staff writer
Lonoke County resident Dave Hafner had his flock of Birmingham Roller pigeons compete Thursday in the prestigious World Cup Roller Fly international competition.
Hafner, co-owner of Fin, Feather-n-Fur taxidermy in Jacksonville, raises roller pigeons at his home on Kerr Station Road south of Cabot.
Roller pigeons are bred for their aerial-acrobatic performances. The kit (a group) of 20 pigeons fly from the coop into the air. They fly in a looping pattern overhead. Then, for some odd reason, they do backward somersaults, dropping several feet in the air until they fly out of the tumble and rejoin the group in flight.
Hafner represented the Missouri-Arkansas region of National Birmingham Roller Pigeons in the competition. The region has 20 competitors.
Four-time World Cup Roller Fly champion Heine Bijker of The Netherlands, arrived at Hafner’s home to judge his birds. Bijker was traveling the U.S. and Canada judging other roller pigeons for the competition.
“It’s just for bragging rights, no more than that,” Hafner said.
Several roller-pigeon breeders from across the state came to Hafner’s house to watch the judging.
Hafner’s birds were not up for the performance. They did not roll as a group but flipped individually, causing a low score. Perhaps they were affected by the rain.
Hafner said his interest in pigeons began when he was a youngster. He had wild birds as pets and was introduced to someone who had roller pigeons. He returned to roller pigeons after college.
“There are not very many of us anymore,” Hafner said.
Hafner has 70 roller pigeons. Hawks can be a big problem for breeders. They snatch the pigeons out of the sky because they are not fast and tumble. Hafner said his biggest expense is feed.
“Compared to golf, it is cheap,” Hafner joked.
According to the Arkansas State Roller Association’s website, roller pigeons originated in Birmingham, England, some 300 years ago. Competitions grew as British breeders wanted to see who had the best performers.
Bijker has been raising rollers pigeons and competing for 25 years. The sport does not have a large following.
“It’s too difficult and complicated for what we want our birds to do. We want to have 20 birds roll at the same time,” Bijker said.
Bijker said roller-pigeon owners have to choose if they want an individual performer or a group. The birds have to be bred to work together.
“You want a team, harmony, a family. The birds have to behave in the group at the beginning. If a bird fights, it’s out,” Bijker.
Bijker said the roller pigeons should be treated well for them to give their best performances.
He said some breeders believe in raising their birds in harsh conditions.
“They should look like athletes. They should not be starved or tortured. That doesn’t make sense. They should be in open lofts. They don’t have to be kept in dark boxes. A lot should change,” Bijker said.
A man from Oklahoma who raises roller pigeons was watching the judging.
“I’m still in awe when a pigeon starts rolling. What they do is incredible,” he said.
People interested in pigeons can contact the American Pigeon Museum and Library in Oklahoma City, which will have a grand opening June 13-14.
Sunday, June 01, 2014
TOP STORY >> Entergy builds service facility
Entergy Arkansas opened its new $6.2 million building at 7801 John Harden Drive in Jacksonville on Wednesday afternoon with a wire-cutting ceremony and public tours.
Twenty-three employees will work out of the 17,000-square-foot facility on 30 acres.
The office will help the utility provide service to approximately 26,000 customers in Jacksonville, Little Rock Air Force Base, Cabot, Sherwood, Scott and parts of North Little Rock.
Entergy President and Chief Executive Officer Hugh McDonald welcomed visitors, including Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher, Cabot Mayor Bill Cypert and Sherwood Alderman Ken Keplinger, on Wednesday before cutting a cable to officially open the facility.
McDonald said in a news release, “Entergy Arkansas turned 100 years old in December, and, during a good part of that century, the histories of Entergy Arkansas and Jacksonville have been intertwined.
He continued in the news release, “We’re proud to be a part of Jacksonville, and we want you to know that this new service center represents a long-term commitment to this community as we begin our second century of providing electric service in Arkansas.”
Fletcher said, “It’s always good seeing something of that caliber built in your city. I’m very appreciative of Entergy and its commitment to the community.”
He noted that the new office is organized to be even more responsive to customers.
The move from 2001 Marshall Road in Jacksonville began in October 2013, according to the release.
Jay Hartman, Entergy’s manager of customer relations, explained that the move from the old building boosted morale. Hartman cut the cable a second time for the grand opening.
The new location is larger and much more efficient, he continued. According to the release, the Green Building Initiative has certified it with two Green Globes. That means the facility meets rigorous efficiency standards for how it was built and how it operates, the release continued.
The building features an indoor bay for mechanics to work on vehicles and conference rooms. Neither was available at the Marshall Road location, Hartman said.
And the break room there doubles as a safe room with concrete walls designed to withstand severe weather.
Hartman said, “We’re definitely excited about the new building and are looking forward to being there serving that area.”
The facility has a Cabot mailing address but is located within the commercial corridor Jacksonville annexed a few years ago.
Twenty-three employees will work out of the 17,000-square-foot facility on 30 acres.
The office will help the utility provide service to approximately 26,000 customers in Jacksonville, Little Rock Air Force Base, Cabot, Sherwood, Scott and parts of North Little Rock.
Entergy President and Chief Executive Officer Hugh McDonald welcomed visitors, including Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher, Cabot Mayor Bill Cypert and Sherwood Alderman Ken Keplinger, on Wednesday before cutting a cable to officially open the facility.
McDonald said in a news release, “Entergy Arkansas turned 100 years old in December, and, during a good part of that century, the histories of Entergy Arkansas and Jacksonville have been intertwined.
He continued in the news release, “We’re proud to be a part of Jacksonville, and we want you to know that this new service center represents a long-term commitment to this community as we begin our second century of providing electric service in Arkansas.”
Fletcher said, “It’s always good seeing something of that caliber built in your city. I’m very appreciative of Entergy and its commitment to the community.”
He noted that the new office is organized to be even more responsive to customers.
The move from 2001 Marshall Road in Jacksonville began in October 2013, according to the release.
Jay Hartman, Entergy’s manager of customer relations, explained that the move from the old building boosted morale. Hartman cut the cable a second time for the grand opening.
The new location is larger and much more efficient, he continued. According to the release, the Green Building Initiative has certified it with two Green Globes. That means the facility meets rigorous efficiency standards for how it was built and how it operates, the release continued.
The building features an indoor bay for mechanics to work on vehicles and conference rooms. Neither was available at the Marshall Road location, Hartman said.
And the break room there doubles as a safe room with concrete walls designed to withstand severe weather.
Hartman said, “We’re definitely excited about the new building and are looking forward to being there serving that area.”
The facility has a Cabot mailing address but is located within the commercial corridor Jacksonville annexed a few years ago.
EDITORIAL >> Don’t restrict TV debate
Frank Gilbert, the Libertarian Party’s candidate for governor, this week criticized Arkansas television stations for not inviting him or Josh Drake, the Green Party candidate, to a televised debate this fall.
Gilbert and Drake will be on the ballot in November, but not in this debate, unless something changes. Gilbert hinted he might sue if he’s not invited to the debate.
The debate will include only Republican Asa Hutchinson and Democrat Mike Ross.
KATV in Little Rock, KAIT in Jonesboro and KHBS/KHOG in northwest Arkansas will air one debate between the Republican and Democratic candidates on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Oct. 7.
Gilbert denounced the stations for failing to include new party candidates in the debate.
“The decision to ignore and therefore silence half the candidates in this race is inexplicable,” Gilbert said. “The stations have chosen to ignore their mandate to work in the public interest. They have also ignored the majority of Arkansans who believe we need a third political party,” he continued.
Gilbert called KATV’s explanation for limiting the debate to the two major parties, “A lame excuse.”
A KATV employee told him the station uses the Commission on Presidential Debates rules, which exclude third-party candidates.
“There is no reason for anyone in Arkansas to follow those rules,” Gilbert says. “It has nothing to do with us. It overlooks the fact that Arkansas has a 3 percent threshold for maintaining party status. More importantly, it ignores the absolute fact that Arkansans deserve to hear more than two points of view.
“If the commission and KATV had their way, there would only be McDonald’s and Burger King. Hardee’s, Wendy’s, Popeye’s, Taco Bell, Sonic, Pizza Hut, KFC and hundreds of other fast-food outlets would be ignored and shuttered. If we deserve choice and variety at lunch, we definitely need a broader political menu,” Gilbert said.
When asked if a lawsuit was possible, Gilbert said, “I’d rather not, but it’s up to the media moguls and their political pals.
“These broadcasters need to rethink their decision. Just because the old parties will be buying more advertising is no reason to ignore other candidates,” he said.
Gilbert says the television stations favored the old parties because they’re spending millions of dollars on television advertising. He has accused several Arkansas television stations of bias and failure to serve the public interest.
Hutchinson and Ross should reach out to Gilbert and Drake and invite them to the debate. Voters would be more inclined to watch with the other candidates participating in the proceedings.
Gilbert and Drake will be on the ballot in November, but not in this debate, unless something changes. Gilbert hinted he might sue if he’s not invited to the debate.
The debate will include only Republican Asa Hutchinson and Democrat Mike Ross.
KATV in Little Rock, KAIT in Jonesboro and KHBS/KHOG in northwest Arkansas will air one debate between the Republican and Democratic candidates on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Little Rock on Oct. 7.
Gilbert denounced the stations for failing to include new party candidates in the debate.
“The decision to ignore and therefore silence half the candidates in this race is inexplicable,” Gilbert said. “The stations have chosen to ignore their mandate to work in the public interest. They have also ignored the majority of Arkansans who believe we need a third political party,” he continued.
Gilbert called KATV’s explanation for limiting the debate to the two major parties, “A lame excuse.”
A KATV employee told him the station uses the Commission on Presidential Debates rules, which exclude third-party candidates.
“There is no reason for anyone in Arkansas to follow those rules,” Gilbert says. “It has nothing to do with us. It overlooks the fact that Arkansas has a 3 percent threshold for maintaining party status. More importantly, it ignores the absolute fact that Arkansans deserve to hear more than two points of view.
“If the commission and KATV had their way, there would only be McDonald’s and Burger King. Hardee’s, Wendy’s, Popeye’s, Taco Bell, Sonic, Pizza Hut, KFC and hundreds of other fast-food outlets would be ignored and shuttered. If we deserve choice and variety at lunch, we definitely need a broader political menu,” Gilbert said.
When asked if a lawsuit was possible, Gilbert said, “I’d rather not, but it’s up to the media moguls and their political pals.
“These broadcasters need to rethink their decision. Just because the old parties will be buying more advertising is no reason to ignore other candidates,” he said.
Gilbert says the television stations favored the old parties because they’re spending millions of dollars on television advertising. He has accused several Arkansas television stations of bias and failure to serve the public interest.
Hutchinson and Ross should reach out to Gilbert and Drake and invite them to the debate. Voters would be more inclined to watch with the other candidates participating in the proceedings.
TOP STORY >> Early voting set to start Tuesday
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
In the final and certified Lonoke County primary election results, including recounts, absentee and provisional ballots, the numbers didn’t change much and the outcomes not at all, according to County Clerk Larry Clarke.
Clarke himself lost re-election to former clerk Dawn Porterfield in the Republican primary.
RUNOFFS
With primary runoff elections June 10, early voting will begin Tuesday.
Runoffs will be held in the following races:
In a bid for re-election, Assessor Jack McNally finished second to Jerrel Maxwell in a three-way race, but Maxwell fell short of the needed 50 percent plus one votes to avoid the runoff. The winner of the runoff has no challenger in the November general election.
For Butler Township con stable, Justin McCallister will run against Roger Williams. McCallister was in the news recently — since the May primary — for impersonating a law enforcement officer and confiscating a cell phone. McCallister is not currently affiliated with any law enforcement agency.
Leslie Rutledge got 47 percent of the votes in her bid for the Republican attorney general candidate and will face David Sterling again in a runoff. Finishing third was Patricia Nation, reportedly a resident of Jacksonville.
The winner will face Democrat Nate Steele in November.
PRIVATE OPTION REPLAY
Tim Lemons got 61 percent of the vote to beat Darlene Byrd, both of Cabot, for the House Dist. 43 position currently held by House Speaker Davy Carter of Cabot.
Carter was among the primary architects of the private-option Medicaid expansion in Arkansas, and Lemons says he wants to take another look at the program and the real numbers now that it is set in motion.
He said Tuesday afternoon that he was not hard set against the health insurance that now covers as many as 250,000 working poor Arkansans. Lemons said that, if the private option or Obamacare were rolled back, the state would need to find an alternative for those folks.
“I don’t know that dismantling it is the way,” he said. “It’s easy to stand back and say I’m against something, but we weren’t there during the hours and days and weeks of discussions.
“I know we have to do something, the system is broke.”
FLAWED NUMBERS
Lemons says the numbers that the Department of Human Services is providing are “flawed, and we need to re-examine them.” He said he couldn’t say how they were flawed.
He called encouraging the reports by hospitals that indicate fewer uninsured people are seeking care and that the hospitals are providing less uncompensated care and more compensated care.
Lemons said he’s afraid the private option will cause the state financial hardship. He said a couple of state legislators say they have a new program that is much more sound.
Questioning Obamacare — or the Affordable Care Act, as it is officially known — goes along with Lemons’ intention of “keeping federal control out of our state.
“I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure the 10th Amendment is upheld,” he said.
He also wants to promote autism awareness, noting that he has a special-needs brother, and that a friend’s child is autistic.
Lemons wants to try to reduce taxes, preferring to tighten the belt and reallocate taxes. “I’m pro-life and for traditional marriage, “ he said, “and for the Second Amendment gun rights.”
PORTERFIELD RECLAIMS OFFICE
Porterfield, the former county clerk who lost her office to Clarke two years ago, turned the tables, winning it back.
Formerly a Democrat, she ran as a Republican in a county where it is now difficult for a Democrat to win countywide office. She faces no opponent in November.
“I’ve always seemed to have some really good supporters on both sides,” she said.
She said Clarke is election and computer savvy and made some changes in the office that she’ll keep.
“I haven’t heard anything bad about how he was running his office,” she said.
His employees can apply for jobs in her office, and people currently in the voter registration and in the probate office are holdovers from her administration.
What would she change?
“Some of the record books need refurbished,” she said.
Leader senior staff writer
In the final and certified Lonoke County primary election results, including recounts, absentee and provisional ballots, the numbers didn’t change much and the outcomes not at all, according to County Clerk Larry Clarke.
Clarke himself lost re-election to former clerk Dawn Porterfield in the Republican primary.
RUNOFFS
With primary runoff elections June 10, early voting will begin Tuesday.
Runoffs will be held in the following races:
In a bid for re-election, Assessor Jack McNally finished second to Jerrel Maxwell in a three-way race, but Maxwell fell short of the needed 50 percent plus one votes to avoid the runoff. The winner of the runoff has no challenger in the November general election.
For Butler Township con stable, Justin McCallister will run against Roger Williams. McCallister was in the news recently — since the May primary — for impersonating a law enforcement officer and confiscating a cell phone. McCallister is not currently affiliated with any law enforcement agency.
Leslie Rutledge got 47 percent of the votes in her bid for the Republican attorney general candidate and will face David Sterling again in a runoff. Finishing third was Patricia Nation, reportedly a resident of Jacksonville.
The winner will face Democrat Nate Steele in November.
PRIVATE OPTION REPLAY
Tim Lemons got 61 percent of the vote to beat Darlene Byrd, both of Cabot, for the House Dist. 43 position currently held by House Speaker Davy Carter of Cabot.
Carter was among the primary architects of the private-option Medicaid expansion in Arkansas, and Lemons says he wants to take another look at the program and the real numbers now that it is set in motion.
He said Tuesday afternoon that he was not hard set against the health insurance that now covers as many as 250,000 working poor Arkansans. Lemons said that, if the private option or Obamacare were rolled back, the state would need to find an alternative for those folks.
“I don’t know that dismantling it is the way,” he said. “It’s easy to stand back and say I’m against something, but we weren’t there during the hours and days and weeks of discussions.
“I know we have to do something, the system is broke.”
FLAWED NUMBERS
Lemons says the numbers that the Department of Human Services is providing are “flawed, and we need to re-examine them.” He said he couldn’t say how they were flawed.
He called encouraging the reports by hospitals that indicate fewer uninsured people are seeking care and that the hospitals are providing less uncompensated care and more compensated care.
Lemons said he’s afraid the private option will cause the state financial hardship. He said a couple of state legislators say they have a new program that is much more sound.
Questioning Obamacare — or the Affordable Care Act, as it is officially known — goes along with Lemons’ intention of “keeping federal control out of our state.
“I’ll be doing everything I can to make sure the 10th Amendment is upheld,” he said.
He also wants to promote autism awareness, noting that he has a special-needs brother, and that a friend’s child is autistic.
Lemons wants to try to reduce taxes, preferring to tighten the belt and reallocate taxes. “I’m pro-life and for traditional marriage, “ he said, “and for the Second Amendment gun rights.”
PORTERFIELD RECLAIMS OFFICE
Porterfield, the former county clerk who lost her office to Clarke two years ago, turned the tables, winning it back.
Formerly a Democrat, she ran as a Republican in a county where it is now difficult for a Democrat to win countywide office. She faces no opponent in November.
“I’ve always seemed to have some really good supporters on both sides,” she said.
She said Clarke is election and computer savvy and made some changes in the office that she’ll keep.
“I haven’t heard anything bad about how he was running his office,” she said.
His employees can apply for jobs in her office, and people currently in the voter registration and in the probate office are holdovers from her administration.
What would she change?
“Some of the record books need refurbished,” she said.
TOP STORY >> Interim chief appointed as Sipes leaves
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Capt. Kenny Boyd, a 26-year veteran of the Jacksonville Police Department and an FBI Academy graduate, has been selected to serve as interim chief through Jan. 1 or longer, according to Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher.
Former Police Chief Gary Sipes gave up the post Friday to focus on his run for mayor in November. He and Fletcher said they agreed on the resignation date.
Boyd wants residents to know “it’s business as usual” while he’s in charge.
About being selected, he said, “I was humbled, excited that they had the confidence in me to allow me to continue the service this police department provides for the citizens of Jacksonville. I want the citizens to know that the service will continue in a professional manner.”
Boyd is interested in applying to be the permanent chief, but said serving as the interim chief gives the city a chance to try him out and him a chance to try out the position.
Boyd also said officials had not decided yet who would step up to run the support services division in his stead.
Boyd’s management philosophy is “the leader has to set the example. If you believe in your philosophy of serving the citizens of Jacksonville and stand by that, then others will get on board with that.
He continued, “Based on my experience, you’ve got to communicate. Whether it’s through the citizens or internally, it’s all about communication…Communication is paramount in this business.”
He also said, “We’ve come a long way and we’re going to continue to move forward so we can provide the citizens of this city the service and protection that they deserve.”
Boyd added that he thinks the staff is already on board.
“The support from everyone at the police department has been great. I expect that to continue without any problems. It’s all about serving the citizens. We’ve got to be able to hear them and hear their concerns and do what we can to assist them,” he said.
Fletcher said he also interviewed Patrol Capt. Richard Ward and Criminal Investigations Capt. Kelley Smiley. “I’m very excited that I had three top-notch people to choose from,” he noted.
But “he’s the one I felt needed to be there,” Fletcher said. “I have full confidence that Chief Boyd will continue the highest level of professionalism…I’m excited about the future of our police department, and they’re in good hands.”
The mayor added that any of the three captains would have done a great job running the department.
Fletcher noted that Boyd served as interim chief before Sipes was hired in 2008.
“One thing that I really liked in our interview is he brought some fresh ideas, some fresh eyes to old things that have concerned me,” he continued.
The mayor also said it’s not a one-man job. He was confident that Boyd, Ward and Smiley would work well together.
Boyd agreed. The interim chief said, “We’re going to carry on as a team.”
Fletcher said Boyd brings a lot of experience to the table and is well respected by everyone in the department.
Boyd is from Austin and graduated from Cabot High School.
His law enforcement career began in 1988 when he was hired as a Jacksonville patrol officer.
Boyd has never applied to work in another police department because of the “camaraderie” he felt in Jacksonville.
He said, “Even though I did not grow up here, I still consider Jacksonville as my town. This is where I spend all my hours.”
Boyd transferred to the criminal investigations division in 1989.
He helped investigate the 1993 murders of Debra Reese and Christine Lewis, daughter of the late Alderman Robert Lewis. Ledelle Lee was convicted of the Reese murder and two rapes, but is also suspected of killing Christine Lewis. Lee received the death penalty and is awaiting execution.
But unsolved cases — like Margie Thompson’s murder — and cases that involved kids stay with him too, Boyd said.
Asked about mistakes he’s made, Boyd said nothing stands out.
But, he explained, police officers always think about the what ifs — what if they’d gotten to a scene sooner or done this or that.
“You just have to move on,” Boyd said.
He worked as a detective until 1993, when he was promoted to sergeant for the patrol division.
Boyd returned to the criminal investigations division in 1994.
He was promoted in 2001 to the rank of lieutenant and transferred to the training and community-oriented policing section.
Boyd transferred again in 2005 to serve as the assistant patrol commander. That was a lateral move rather than a promotion, he noted.
Boyd was promoted to his current rank of captain in 2007. He has been captain of the department’s three divisions — patrol, criminal investigations and support services.
In 2011, Boyd graduated from the 10-week FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. He called doing so one of his greatest triumphs.
Boyd has also completed management courses through the Criminal Justice Institute and the School of Law Enforcement Supervision.
He is a member of the FBI National Academy Associates Arkansas Chapter and the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police.
Boyd has been married to Jacksonville officer Regina Boyd for 29 years. They have a 22-year-old daughter.
And the interim chief has been coaching youth football in Cabot for eight years.
During his junior and senior year of high school, Boyd worked for an egg processing plant.
He has also been a volunteer firefighter since age 17.
After graduating from high school, Boyd worked as a welder for a few years.
Then his wife was hired as a dispatcher for the Lonoke Police Department.
Boyd said he got to know the Lonoke chief and rode with him until something clicked.
The interim chief said he liked what he saw and went into law enforcement to do something different every day.
“You get to help people. You may not ever know that you helped them. Usually, when we’re dealing with someone, it’s at a low point in their life. So you have to have compassion to do this job,” he continued.
Boyd also said, “(Law enforcement) gets in your blood. That’s where it’s at. You just don’t feel right not doing it.”
Leader staff writer
Capt. Kenny Boyd, a 26-year veteran of the Jacksonville Police Department and an FBI Academy graduate, has been selected to serve as interim chief through Jan. 1 or longer, according to Jacksonville Mayor Gary Fletcher.
Former Police Chief Gary Sipes gave up the post Friday to focus on his run for mayor in November. He and Fletcher said they agreed on the resignation date.
Boyd wants residents to know “it’s business as usual” while he’s in charge.
About being selected, he said, “I was humbled, excited that they had the confidence in me to allow me to continue the service this police department provides for the citizens of Jacksonville. I want the citizens to know that the service will continue in a professional manner.”
Boyd is interested in applying to be the permanent chief, but said serving as the interim chief gives the city a chance to try him out and him a chance to try out the position.
Boyd also said officials had not decided yet who would step up to run the support services division in his stead.
Boyd’s management philosophy is “the leader has to set the example. If you believe in your philosophy of serving the citizens of Jacksonville and stand by that, then others will get on board with that.
He continued, “Based on my experience, you’ve got to communicate. Whether it’s through the citizens or internally, it’s all about communication…Communication is paramount in this business.”
He also said, “We’ve come a long way and we’re going to continue to move forward so we can provide the citizens of this city the service and protection that they deserve.”
Boyd added that he thinks the staff is already on board.
“The support from everyone at the police department has been great. I expect that to continue without any problems. It’s all about serving the citizens. We’ve got to be able to hear them and hear their concerns and do what we can to assist them,” he said.
Fletcher said he also interviewed Patrol Capt. Richard Ward and Criminal Investigations Capt. Kelley Smiley. “I’m very excited that I had three top-notch people to choose from,” he noted.
But “he’s the one I felt needed to be there,” Fletcher said. “I have full confidence that Chief Boyd will continue the highest level of professionalism…I’m excited about the future of our police department, and they’re in good hands.”
The mayor added that any of the three captains would have done a great job running the department.
Fletcher noted that Boyd served as interim chief before Sipes was hired in 2008.
“One thing that I really liked in our interview is he brought some fresh ideas, some fresh eyes to old things that have concerned me,” he continued.
The mayor also said it’s not a one-man job. He was confident that Boyd, Ward and Smiley would work well together.
Boyd agreed. The interim chief said, “We’re going to carry on as a team.”
Fletcher said Boyd brings a lot of experience to the table and is well respected by everyone in the department.
Boyd is from Austin and graduated from Cabot High School.
His law enforcement career began in 1988 when he was hired as a Jacksonville patrol officer.
Boyd has never applied to work in another police department because of the “camaraderie” he felt in Jacksonville.
He said, “Even though I did not grow up here, I still consider Jacksonville as my town. This is where I spend all my hours.”
Boyd transferred to the criminal investigations division in 1989.
He helped investigate the 1993 murders of Debra Reese and Christine Lewis, daughter of the late Alderman Robert Lewis. Ledelle Lee was convicted of the Reese murder and two rapes, but is also suspected of killing Christine Lewis. Lee received the death penalty and is awaiting execution.
But unsolved cases — like Margie Thompson’s murder — and cases that involved kids stay with him too, Boyd said.
Asked about mistakes he’s made, Boyd said nothing stands out.
But, he explained, police officers always think about the what ifs — what if they’d gotten to a scene sooner or done this or that.
“You just have to move on,” Boyd said.
He worked as a detective until 1993, when he was promoted to sergeant for the patrol division.
Boyd returned to the criminal investigations division in 1994.
He was promoted in 2001 to the rank of lieutenant and transferred to the training and community-oriented policing section.
Boyd transferred again in 2005 to serve as the assistant patrol commander. That was a lateral move rather than a promotion, he noted.
Boyd was promoted to his current rank of captain in 2007. He has been captain of the department’s three divisions — patrol, criminal investigations and support services.
In 2011, Boyd graduated from the 10-week FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. He called doing so one of his greatest triumphs.
Boyd has also completed management courses through the Criminal Justice Institute and the School of Law Enforcement Supervision.
He is a member of the FBI National Academy Associates Arkansas Chapter and the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police.
Boyd has been married to Jacksonville officer Regina Boyd for 29 years. They have a 22-year-old daughter.
And the interim chief has been coaching youth football in Cabot for eight years.
During his junior and senior year of high school, Boyd worked for an egg processing plant.
He has also been a volunteer firefighter since age 17.
After graduating from high school, Boyd worked as a welder for a few years.
Then his wife was hired as a dispatcher for the Lonoke Police Department.
Boyd said he got to know the Lonoke chief and rode with him until something clicked.
The interim chief said he liked what he saw and went into law enforcement to do something different every day.
“You get to help people. You may not ever know that you helped them. Usually, when we’re dealing with someone, it’s at a low point in their life. So you have to have compassion to do this job,” he continued.
Boyd also said, “(Law enforcement) gets in your blood. That’s where it’s at. You just don’t feel right not doing it.”
SPORTS STORY >> Gwatney juniors split at Morrilton Sloughing around in mud
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Gwatney Chevrolet junior team played a doubleheader in the mud Wednesday in Morrilton – or most of one. Because of rain delays, the two teams called off game two in the fifth inning when Wednesday became Thursday. Jacksonville led game one 4-0 before falling apart in the fifth inning and losing 9-7. They led game two 6-2 when the clock struck midnight.
“I don’t know if you’d call it playing baseball or not,” said Gwatney coach Bob Hickingbotham. “We got out there and sloughed around in the mud for about six hours. We didn’t hit the ball very well and we didn’t play very good, but 90 percent of that is my fault. We hadn’t had them out there practicing enough. We just haven’t had a chance to.”
After a scoreless first inning, Hickingbotham decided to try to use the field conditions to his advantage, and began bunting nearly every batter. The strategy worked. When Morrilton was able to field the ball cleanly, throwing the wet, muddy ball on a line to first base proved difficult. Several throwing errors, combined with a few walks, led to Jacksonville taking an early lead.
The Chevy Boys maintained that lead until the roles were reversed in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jacksonville pitchers walked five batters and fielders committed five errors. Combined with three base hits, Morrilton put nine runs across the plate in the decisive inning.
“We just made a whole bunch of mistakes in the field and we walked the whole ball park,” Hickingbotham said. “That was just a terrible inning. We made a little comeback with the bats, but we were too far behind.”
Jacksonville added a run in the top of the sixth and two more in the seventh before making the game’s final out.
Hickingbotham was pleased with the pitching effort he got from game-one starter Colton Goodman, who plays high-school ball for Des Arc. He also thought Tyler Montgomery of North Pulaski showed potential.
“Those two pitched pretty well,” Hickingbotham said. “Montgomery got hurt for the second time. He got hit in the head. I think he’s going to be a pretty good player but it’s hard to tell. He’s been out there twice and had problems both times. But he’s showing some potential.”
A total of 24 players made the trip to Morrilton. Hickingbotham is still approaching games with a focus on seeing everyone play more-so than winning.
“There’s just so many of them,” Hickingbotham said. “If I had more help I’d go ahead and certify two teams. We have plenty to do that with. But as it is, I’m probably going to have to eliminate some of them. We played all 24 of them. Everybody who didn’t play in game one played in game two.”
The game-two players hit it well and built a comfortable early lead. Morrilton scored two runs just before the game was halted.
“We didn’t even start the second game until 10:05,” Hickingbotham said. “Some of these kids are still in school. So we just had to end it. Probably should’ve done it earlier.”
Jacksonville will finally play a home game when they begin play in the Gwatney Chevrolet Junior Invitational on Monday.
“We’re going to try to practice some before the tournament because that’s the main reason for the mistakes,” Hickingbotham said. “We’ve got a lot of pretty good little ball players on this junior team. Once we get the best nine out there on the field, I think they can be pretty good.”
Leader sports editor
The Gwatney Chevrolet junior team played a doubleheader in the mud Wednesday in Morrilton – or most of one. Because of rain delays, the two teams called off game two in the fifth inning when Wednesday became Thursday. Jacksonville led game one 4-0 before falling apart in the fifth inning and losing 9-7. They led game two 6-2 when the clock struck midnight.
“I don’t know if you’d call it playing baseball or not,” said Gwatney coach Bob Hickingbotham. “We got out there and sloughed around in the mud for about six hours. We didn’t hit the ball very well and we didn’t play very good, but 90 percent of that is my fault. We hadn’t had them out there practicing enough. We just haven’t had a chance to.”
After a scoreless first inning, Hickingbotham decided to try to use the field conditions to his advantage, and began bunting nearly every batter. The strategy worked. When Morrilton was able to field the ball cleanly, throwing the wet, muddy ball on a line to first base proved difficult. Several throwing errors, combined with a few walks, led to Jacksonville taking an early lead.
The Chevy Boys maintained that lead until the roles were reversed in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jacksonville pitchers walked five batters and fielders committed five errors. Combined with three base hits, Morrilton put nine runs across the plate in the decisive inning.
“We just made a whole bunch of mistakes in the field and we walked the whole ball park,” Hickingbotham said. “That was just a terrible inning. We made a little comeback with the bats, but we were too far behind.”
Jacksonville added a run in the top of the sixth and two more in the seventh before making the game’s final out.
Hickingbotham was pleased with the pitching effort he got from game-one starter Colton Goodman, who plays high-school ball for Des Arc. He also thought Tyler Montgomery of North Pulaski showed potential.
“Those two pitched pretty well,” Hickingbotham said. “Montgomery got hurt for the second time. He got hit in the head. I think he’s going to be a pretty good player but it’s hard to tell. He’s been out there twice and had problems both times. But he’s showing some potential.”
A total of 24 players made the trip to Morrilton. Hickingbotham is still approaching games with a focus on seeing everyone play more-so than winning.
“There’s just so many of them,” Hickingbotham said. “If I had more help I’d go ahead and certify two teams. We have plenty to do that with. But as it is, I’m probably going to have to eliminate some of them. We played all 24 of them. Everybody who didn’t play in game one played in game two.”
The game-two players hit it well and built a comfortable early lead. Morrilton scored two runs just before the game was halted.
“We didn’t even start the second game until 10:05,” Hickingbotham said. “Some of these kids are still in school. So we just had to end it. Probably should’ve done it earlier.”
Jacksonville will finally play a home game when they begin play in the Gwatney Chevrolet Junior Invitational on Monday.
“We’re going to try to practice some before the tournament because that’s the main reason for the mistakes,” Hickingbotham said. “We’ve got a lot of pretty good little ball players on this junior team. Once we get the best nine out there on the field, I think they can be pretty good.”
SPORTS STORY >> Bison again looking for new coach
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The search for a new head football coach is underway at the Carlisle School District, as Carlisle superintendent Jason Clark and Bison head coach Brandon Barbaree confirmed Thursday that Barbaree has accepted an administrative position in the Pangburn School District.
In Barbaree’s only season as Carlisle’s head coach, the Bison finished with a 12-2 overall record and advanced to the class 2A state semifinals where they lost to eventual state champion and perennial 2A power Junction City.
On Wednesday, Barbaree was hired as principal of Pangburn Middle School. Even though Barbaree is leaving the school, he and his current staff at Carlisle are still overseeing spring football practices as the search for a new coach begins.
“Word travels fast, and we’ve already received e-mails and phone calls about the position,” said Clark on Thursday.
Clark said the search for their new coach began immediately on Thursday, and although he added the school district would like to get through the hiring process in a timely fashion, Clark said there won’t be a rush to make a hire and that the position will be open for as long as it takes to hire a new coach.
“It’s still early, but we don’t have a deadline or anything like that in mind,” Clark said. “The position will be open until a new coach is hired.”
Barbaree spoke with The Leader Thursday evening, and said the opportunity to spend more time with his wife and kids had a lot to do with his decision to leave coaching altogether.
“I just needed a change,” said Barbaree. “I don’t see my own kids as much as the ones I coach. They’re still young and I hate missing things as they’re growing up, and I just want to spend more time with them. I’ve kind of reorganized my priorities, I guess. Like I said, I just want to spend more time with my family.”
Carlisle’s football program has long been rich with tradition, but the Bison had one of its more talented teams last season, which in turn, led to high expectations and team goals. The Bison’s stellar season lived up to those expectations, but Barbaree admitted the way the season ended took something out of him.
“To be honest with you, that team last year had as good of a group of kids as you could ever coach, and that’s all the way down – from the seniors to the sophomores,” Barbaree said. “They were unbelievable to work with.
“The kids worked as hard as they could. They gave everything they had. A couple things happened. Our senior quarterback (Austin Reed) tore his ACL. We had a kid step up, Chase Brazeal; he fought and found a way to lead us.
“Then we have a chance against Junction. We’ve got the ball with three minutes to go and we’re driving, and our running back (and leading rusher), DeRon Ricks, tore his ACL. I just felt that this was about as good as it could get without winning a state championship, and when we lost, it didn’t tear me apart, but it kind of took something from me.
“I felt like I gave everything I had to the team, and I just needed a change. But I do appreciate everything Carlisle has given to me. The two years I’ve been there were unbelievable, and I really, really do appreciate everything they’ve done.”
Barbaree took over head coaching duties last year after former Bison coach Scott Waymire accepted the head coaching vacancy at class 4A Trumann. Barbaree spent a year as an assistant at Carlisle before taking over as head coach, and before that he was the head coach at England.
Barbaree turned the football program around at England, leading the Lions to their first winning season in more than 20 years in 2010.
Under Barbaree’s lead, the Bison finished second in the 2A-6 Conference this past season behind conference champion Des Arc, but had a much stronger showing against Junction City than the Eagles did.
Carlisle challenged the Dragons like no other team had, and had the champs on the ropes till a pick six with 39 seconds remaining gave Junction City a 38-28 win in the semifinals. In the state championship game a week later, the Dragons hammered Des Arc on their way to a 60-0 blowout victory.
Leader sportswriter
The search for a new head football coach is underway at the Carlisle School District, as Carlisle superintendent Jason Clark and Bison head coach Brandon Barbaree confirmed Thursday that Barbaree has accepted an administrative position in the Pangburn School District.
In Barbaree’s only season as Carlisle’s head coach, the Bison finished with a 12-2 overall record and advanced to the class 2A state semifinals where they lost to eventual state champion and perennial 2A power Junction City.
On Wednesday, Barbaree was hired as principal of Pangburn Middle School. Even though Barbaree is leaving the school, he and his current staff at Carlisle are still overseeing spring football practices as the search for a new coach begins.
“Word travels fast, and we’ve already received e-mails and phone calls about the position,” said Clark on Thursday.
Clark said the search for their new coach began immediately on Thursday, and although he added the school district would like to get through the hiring process in a timely fashion, Clark said there won’t be a rush to make a hire and that the position will be open for as long as it takes to hire a new coach.
“It’s still early, but we don’t have a deadline or anything like that in mind,” Clark said. “The position will be open until a new coach is hired.”
Barbaree spoke with The Leader Thursday evening, and said the opportunity to spend more time with his wife and kids had a lot to do with his decision to leave coaching altogether.
“I just needed a change,” said Barbaree. “I don’t see my own kids as much as the ones I coach. They’re still young and I hate missing things as they’re growing up, and I just want to spend more time with them. I’ve kind of reorganized my priorities, I guess. Like I said, I just want to spend more time with my family.”
Carlisle’s football program has long been rich with tradition, but the Bison had one of its more talented teams last season, which in turn, led to high expectations and team goals. The Bison’s stellar season lived up to those expectations, but Barbaree admitted the way the season ended took something out of him.
“To be honest with you, that team last year had as good of a group of kids as you could ever coach, and that’s all the way down – from the seniors to the sophomores,” Barbaree said. “They were unbelievable to work with.
“The kids worked as hard as they could. They gave everything they had. A couple things happened. Our senior quarterback (Austin Reed) tore his ACL. We had a kid step up, Chase Brazeal; he fought and found a way to lead us.
“Then we have a chance against Junction. We’ve got the ball with three minutes to go and we’re driving, and our running back (and leading rusher), DeRon Ricks, tore his ACL. I just felt that this was about as good as it could get without winning a state championship, and when we lost, it didn’t tear me apart, but it kind of took something from me.
“I felt like I gave everything I had to the team, and I just needed a change. But I do appreciate everything Carlisle has given to me. The two years I’ve been there were unbelievable, and I really, really do appreciate everything they’ve done.”
Barbaree took over head coaching duties last year after former Bison coach Scott Waymire accepted the head coaching vacancy at class 4A Trumann. Barbaree spent a year as an assistant at Carlisle before taking over as head coach, and before that he was the head coach at England.
Barbaree turned the football program around at England, leading the Lions to their first winning season in more than 20 years in 2010.
Under Barbaree’s lead, the Bison finished second in the 2A-6 Conference this past season behind conference champion Des Arc, but had a much stronger showing against Junction City than the Eagles did.
Carlisle challenged the Dragons like no other team had, and had the champs on the ropes till a pick six with 39 seconds remaining gave Junction City a 38-28 win in the semifinals. In the state championship game a week later, the Dragons hammered Des Arc on their way to a 60-0 blowout victory.
SPORTS STORY >> Centennial Bank team celebrates season 10
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot American Legion baseball program is a celebrating a decade of smooth operation when it plays its first home game on Monday at Brian Conrade Wade Field, after years with no consistent guidance and a few years without a team,
Elizabeth Frantal took over the program and has been directing it since 2004. With the help of sponsorships from American Legion Post 72 and Centennial Bank, Cabot’s best high-school level baseball players have had a hometown team for 10-straight years.
“When we tried starting this back up 10 years ago we had very little to work with,” Frantal said. “Rayburn Sporting Goods gave us some leftover uniforms that swallowed most of the players up, but we took what we could get. Now with the help of Centennial Bank, their financial supports the last 10 years has made it possible for us to grow our program. We had one team of 11 players that first year and now we have three teams every year with about 40 total players on average.”
The program has also had the benefit of former players giving back of their time to help coach once their eligibility is up. This year there is a record high of alumni on the coaching staff, with four former players making up the six coaches.
Chris Gross, who played for the first team 10 years ago and still has the record for most home runs in a season, has been coaching for eight years. He will be the head coach of the senior team this season. His assistant will be Casey Vaughan, who is a 2013 graduate of Cabot High School and played for the Centennial Bank squad. He played for Crowder Community College in Missouri this season.
The Junior White team also has two former players coaching in Joe Bryant and Bryson Morris. This is Bryant’s second year to help out with the team and Morris’ first. Like Vaughan, it’s also Morris’ first year out of the program as a player. He played this season for Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.
Fifth-year coach David Smith, who is not a team alumnus, leads the Junior Red team but is the head coach of the Cabot Panther Freshmen team. His assistant is Justin Moore, who is in his second year helping out the program.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have so many of our former players show such an interest in getting involved and helping us out the way they have,” Frantal said.
Monday’s home openers against Conway will be free admission to veterans and military families. It will be a doubleheader with Junior Red team taking the field at 5 p.m. and the senior team playing the nightcap immediately afterwards.
“It’s hard to imagine this much time has passed,” Frantal said. “It was tough when we first started out, but there was a need to have this program in Cabot. There was no reason not to have a program like this in our town. Once we got started and began to grow, the support we’ve received has grown along with it. We wouldn’t be where we are without the financial support of Centennial Bank or the sponsorship from Post 71. We’re very, very grateful for all they’ve done.”
Leader sports editor
The Cabot American Legion baseball program is a celebrating a decade of smooth operation when it plays its first home game on Monday at Brian Conrade Wade Field, after years with no consistent guidance and a few years without a team,
Elizabeth Frantal took over the program and has been directing it since 2004. With the help of sponsorships from American Legion Post 72 and Centennial Bank, Cabot’s best high-school level baseball players have had a hometown team for 10-straight years.
“When we tried starting this back up 10 years ago we had very little to work with,” Frantal said. “Rayburn Sporting Goods gave us some leftover uniforms that swallowed most of the players up, but we took what we could get. Now with the help of Centennial Bank, their financial supports the last 10 years has made it possible for us to grow our program. We had one team of 11 players that first year and now we have three teams every year with about 40 total players on average.”
The program has also had the benefit of former players giving back of their time to help coach once their eligibility is up. This year there is a record high of alumni on the coaching staff, with four former players making up the six coaches.
Chris Gross, who played for the first team 10 years ago and still has the record for most home runs in a season, has been coaching for eight years. He will be the head coach of the senior team this season. His assistant will be Casey Vaughan, who is a 2013 graduate of Cabot High School and played for the Centennial Bank squad. He played for Crowder Community College in Missouri this season.
The Junior White team also has two former players coaching in Joe Bryant and Bryson Morris. This is Bryant’s second year to help out with the team and Morris’ first. Like Vaughan, it’s also Morris’ first year out of the program as a player. He played this season for Arkansas Tech University in Russellville.
Fifth-year coach David Smith, who is not a team alumnus, leads the Junior Red team but is the head coach of the Cabot Panther Freshmen team. His assistant is Justin Moore, who is in his second year helping out the program.
“We’ve been very fortunate to have so many of our former players show such an interest in getting involved and helping us out the way they have,” Frantal said.
Monday’s home openers against Conway will be free admission to veterans and military families. It will be a doubleheader with Junior Red team taking the field at 5 p.m. and the senior team playing the nightcap immediately afterwards.
“It’s hard to imagine this much time has passed,” Frantal said. “It was tough when we first started out, but there was a need to have this program in Cabot. There was no reason not to have a program like this in our town. Once we got started and began to grow, the support we’ve received has grown along with it. We wouldn’t be where we are without the financial support of Centennial Bank or the sponsorship from Post 71. We’re very, very grateful for all they’ve done.”
Friday, May 30, 2014
TOP STORY >> Cabot reflects on Memorial Day
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Little Rock) reflected on the importance of Memorial Day during the Cabot American Legion Post 71’s ceremony Monday at the National Guard Armory.
Griffin said many elected officials who speak at Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies try to say things new and differently.
“The point is not to break new ground. It is to say the same thing over and over again. There is a power in repetition and repeated acknowledgement of the sacrifice of those who served and paid the ultimate price,” Griffin said.
Griffin said his dad is a pastor and he had to sit through sermons when he was growing up. Griffin would tell his dad he didn’t hear anything new. Griffin said, looking back on that, the point was not to hear something new, but the same gospel repeatedly until the pieces are taken to heart.
“The point is not to do a new ceremony. It is to do the same thing we always do. The reason is to thank those who paid the ultimate price — to honor them. We must expand that to those parts of the team who went to fight. That team is the family,” Griffin said.
Griffin said he served in Iraq in 2006 and left his wife behind during that time. He said everyone knows individual stories of hardships that families go through when the families are down range or out to sea.
“Just think how much harder it is to deal with when they never see their loved ones return. That’s what Memorial Day is all about,” Griffin said.
Griffin also talked about the differences between Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
Veterans Day honors all veterans, he said. Memorial Day is special because it is about the veterans who gave their lives for our freedoms.
“When you think about the impact on families, you have to include them in the reminder. They bear so much of the burden. They are the ones we are faced with when we see them after they’ve lost a loved one, at church or a store. We have an obligation to them to make sure we do whatever we can to help them through that.
“Not just after it occurs, or six months, but year after year. We cannot know what they personally are going through. We must always on Memorial Day include the family and loved ones who are left behind and that sacrifice that they have endured,” Griffin said.
Griffin brought his 4-year-old son, John, to the ceremony. The boy sat next to him on the dais and stood with him during his speech.
“If I don’t tell him what Memorial Day is, how is he going to know? Is he going to be taught at school? Maybe, maybe not. Is he going to get it from pop culture, from the songs he listens to when he gets older? Probably not. TV, probably not,” the congressman said.
Griffin said it is up to the veterans to teach the young folks and teenagers. Most are not going to choose to serve in the military, he noted.
“If we leave it to some magic force to teach them, they may never find out, never know, fully understand. I would encourage folks to take the risks of whether (their children) will behave or not and bring them. I believe it is important to see the reverence given to the flag, the missing and the service of those who serve in uniform and their families. It is important for the families to know that some people care so much about this country that they were willing to give their lives,” Griffin continued.
“If we don’t teach them, no one else will. We can’t always count on the veteran service organizations. I’m not the one they are trying to reach. A lot of these organizations do not have a lot of young people in them,” Griffin said.
He worries about his American Legion Post in Little Rock not existing in 20 years.
“I’m one of the old guys now. When I look around for the 20-somethings, there may be one,” Griffin said.
He said the (service organizations) are obligated to be the ambassadors to those who do not understand. Griffin said they can start with their own families and then the community. “If we don’t pass it on, no one will,” he said.
The Memorial Day ceremony, “is a poignant reminder that this has to be done every year, every day, all the time, lest we take it for granted,” he said.
Leader staff writer
Rep. Tim Griffin (R-Little Rock) reflected on the importance of Memorial Day during the Cabot American Legion Post 71’s ceremony Monday at the National Guard Armory.
Griffin said many elected officials who speak at Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies try to say things new and differently.
“The point is not to break new ground. It is to say the same thing over and over again. There is a power in repetition and repeated acknowledgement of the sacrifice of those who served and paid the ultimate price,” Griffin said.
Griffin said his dad is a pastor and he had to sit through sermons when he was growing up. Griffin would tell his dad he didn’t hear anything new. Griffin said, looking back on that, the point was not to hear something new, but the same gospel repeatedly until the pieces are taken to heart.
“The point is not to do a new ceremony. It is to do the same thing we always do. The reason is to thank those who paid the ultimate price — to honor them. We must expand that to those parts of the team who went to fight. That team is the family,” Griffin said.
Griffin said he served in Iraq in 2006 and left his wife behind during that time. He said everyone knows individual stories of hardships that families go through when the families are down range or out to sea.
“Just think how much harder it is to deal with when they never see their loved ones return. That’s what Memorial Day is all about,” Griffin said.
Griffin also talked about the differences between Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
Veterans Day honors all veterans, he said. Memorial Day is special because it is about the veterans who gave their lives for our freedoms.
“When you think about the impact on families, you have to include them in the reminder. They bear so much of the burden. They are the ones we are faced with when we see them after they’ve lost a loved one, at church or a store. We have an obligation to them to make sure we do whatever we can to help them through that.
“Not just after it occurs, or six months, but year after year. We cannot know what they personally are going through. We must always on Memorial Day include the family and loved ones who are left behind and that sacrifice that they have endured,” Griffin said.
Griffin brought his 4-year-old son, John, to the ceremony. The boy sat next to him on the dais and stood with him during his speech.
“If I don’t tell him what Memorial Day is, how is he going to know? Is he going to be taught at school? Maybe, maybe not. Is he going to get it from pop culture, from the songs he listens to when he gets older? Probably not. TV, probably not,” the congressman said.
Griffin said it is up to the veterans to teach the young folks and teenagers. Most are not going to choose to serve in the military, he noted.
“If we leave it to some magic force to teach them, they may never find out, never know, fully understand. I would encourage folks to take the risks of whether (their children) will behave or not and bring them. I believe it is important to see the reverence given to the flag, the missing and the service of those who serve in uniform and their families. It is important for the families to know that some people care so much about this country that they were willing to give their lives,” Griffin continued.
“If we don’t teach them, no one else will. We can’t always count on the veteran service organizations. I’m not the one they are trying to reach. A lot of these organizations do not have a lot of young people in them,” Griffin said.
He worries about his American Legion Post in Little Rock not existing in 20 years.
“I’m one of the old guys now. When I look around for the 20-somethings, there may be one,” Griffin said.
He said the (service organizations) are obligated to be the ambassadors to those who do not understand. Griffin said they can start with their own families and then the community. “If we don’t pass it on, no one will,” he said.
The Memorial Day ceremony, “is a poignant reminder that this has to be done every year, every day, all the time, lest we take it for granted,” he said.
TOP STORY >> Anniversary of D-Day remembered
Story by RICK KRON
Photos by SARAH CAMPBELL
More than 200 people enjoyed a pleasant Saturday at Jacksonville’s Military Museum.
Some came for the free hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks provided by area banks, others because they were related to the bluegrass band providing entertainment and some to see the museum’s new D-Day exhibit.
But most – young and old -- came to visit, recall, remember and honor veterans as an early salute to Memorial Day.
The museum offered free admission and one visitor stopped and eyed the large Arkansas map on the wall that listed all the Arkansans who died in that conflict.
Hanging from the ceiling were their dog tags.
“I dated a boy from Texarkana that died in Vietnam,” a woman told one of the museum guides. “His name was Larry Pool.”
The guide found the name and the dog tag for the teary-eyed visitor.
But the highlight of the event was the official opening of the D-Day exhibit, which included biographies, pictures and personal items of area soldiers who fought in World War II. Many of those soldiers had died in the war.
One of those was Army Pvt. Edsel A. Malone. His sister, Frances Malone, came up from Georgia to add sand from the beaches of Normandy to the exhibit.
Jacksonville resident Robert Houston, who put the display together, provided the sand. He got it on a recent trip to Normandy while doing research for the exhibit.
Francis remembers the day her older brother died.
“I was just 10 years old when the man with the telegram came to our house in Hope. The crying started right then,” she said.
Private Malone, who grew up in Clark County playing baseball, hunting and fishing, landed in the area of Etienville, Normandy. Heavy anti-aircraft fire scattered the allied troops. Slowly, the soldiers found each other in the dark and Malone and his fellow “Red Devils” (50th Parachute Infantry Regiment) fought through D-Day holding down the enemy and allowing other units to advance.
On June 7, 1944, Malone and his friend “Buddy” Webster volunteered to go and retrieve vital supply bundles that contained much-needed ammunition and medical supplies.
In search of those supplies, the two came upon a German machine gun position and didn’t have a chance of surviving the barrage of bullets.
Malone was awarded the Purple Heart and was initially buried in a temporary cemetery in the area. In 1948, his body was properly buried, with full military honors, at the American cemetery in Normandy.
But for the younger ones like Robert Trimble, 13, of Cabot, and Hunter Johannes, 13, of Beebe, attending the all-day event, it was an opportunity to try on uniforms, helmets, sit in an aircraft simulator and check out the replica guns.
“Awesome,” Johannes said.
Trimble echoed those thoughts, “It’s really cool.”
Warren Dupree, collections manager for the museum, called it a very nice alternative event for the Memorial weekend.
“It’s very informal. People are drifting in and out, and they don’t have to fight the holiday crowds,” he said.
Photos by SARAH CAMPBELL
Some came for the free hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks provided by area banks, others because they were related to the bluegrass band providing entertainment and some to see the museum’s new D-Day exhibit.
But most – young and old -- came to visit, recall, remember and honor veterans as an early salute to Memorial Day.
The museum offered free admission and one visitor stopped and eyed the large Arkansas map on the wall that listed all the Arkansans who died in that conflict.
Hanging from the ceiling were their dog tags.
“I dated a boy from Texarkana that died in Vietnam,” a woman told one of the museum guides. “His name was Larry Pool.”
The guide found the name and the dog tag for the teary-eyed visitor.
But the highlight of the event was the official opening of the D-Day exhibit, which included biographies, pictures and personal items of area soldiers who fought in World War II. Many of those soldiers had died in the war.
One of those was Army Pvt. Edsel A. Malone. His sister, Frances Malone, came up from Georgia to add sand from the beaches of Normandy to the exhibit.
Jacksonville resident Robert Houston, who put the display together, provided the sand. He got it on a recent trip to Normandy while doing research for the exhibit.
Francis remembers the day her older brother died.
“I was just 10 years old when the man with the telegram came to our house in Hope. The crying started right then,” she said.
Private Malone, who grew up in Clark County playing baseball, hunting and fishing, landed in the area of Etienville, Normandy. Heavy anti-aircraft fire scattered the allied troops. Slowly, the soldiers found each other in the dark and Malone and his fellow “Red Devils” (50th Parachute Infantry Regiment) fought through D-Day holding down the enemy and allowing other units to advance.
On June 7, 1944, Malone and his friend “Buddy” Webster volunteered to go and retrieve vital supply bundles that contained much-needed ammunition and medical supplies.
In search of those supplies, the two came upon a German machine gun position and didn’t have a chance of surviving the barrage of bullets.
Malone was awarded the Purple Heart and was initially buried in a temporary cemetery in the area. In 1948, his body was properly buried, with full military honors, at the American cemetery in Normandy.
But for the younger ones like Robert Trimble, 13, of Cabot, and Hunter Johannes, 13, of Beebe, attending the all-day event, it was an opportunity to try on uniforms, helmets, sit in an aircraft simulator and check out the replica guns.
“Awesome,” Johannes said.
Trimble echoed those thoughts, “It’s really cool.”
Warren Dupree, collections manager for the museum, called it a very nice alternative event for the Memorial weekend.
“It’s very informal. People are drifting in and out, and they don’t have to fight the holiday crowds,” he said.
TOP STORY >> Beebe chamber honors Goffs
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
The Beebe Chamber of Commerce recognized three community leaders during its annual banquet on Thursday.
• Leroy Goff, 70, received the Lifetime Service Award. He was introduced by his son, Clay. Both were instrumental in the construction of Beebe’s new public library that was named in their honor.
This past year, when the new library was becoming a reality, Leroy Goff donated his time, labor and expertise to design and construct the building.
He was born in 1943 in Antioch, Calif., where his family was living in a labor camp and picking fruit. Leroy Goff, his mother and sister moved back to McRae when he was 45 days old. His father and brother stayed for the remainder of the harvest.
Leroy Goff went to first and second grade in McRae and started attending Beebe Public School in the third grade. As a fourth grader, Goff brought his dog, Old Puppy — a black water spaniel — to school. The dog stayed in the classroom, going out when class went out. Old Puppy became its mascot.
When Leroy Goff was 11 years old, he bought a lawn mower on credit from Powell and Company. By the end of the summer, he had the mower completely paid for, but it was completely worn out.
“Leroy soon realized he had worked all summer for absolutely nothing,” Clay Goff said.
Leroy Goff received a $100 inheritance from his aunt when he was 13. He bought a 1947 Plymouth for $90 and started a paper route in town.
Leroy Goff was rolling the Arkansas Gazette at 4 a.m. He started his route at 5:15 a.m. and was back home by 6:30 a.m.
“If Parrish and Mildred Robbins did not receive their newspaper by 5:30 each morning, Mildred would be calling,” Clay Goff said. The Robbins house was so close to the street that, when Leroy Goff threw the paper over the car, it would land on the porch roof.
He also had to collect the monthly subscription money from customers.“He once went to the Robbins’ home, collecting the monthly dues. He explained why he was there. Mildred Robbins told Leroy his money was up on the roof, right where the newspaper had been six times that month. She then slammed the door,” Clay Goff said.
His dad also worked at Adams Grocery on Center Street. He sacked groceries for $5 each Saturday for 13 hours a day.
Leroy Goff later began working at Dean Billingsley’s Gulf gas station on Dewitt Henry Drive, where Jordan’s Kwik Stop is now located. He worked from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week for $40 a week.
Billingsley decided to sell the gas station for $1,500. Leroy Goff, who was 16 and a junior in high school, convinced his brother to go into a partnership. They bought the business and hired their dad to work for them.
Leroy Goff bought out his brother’s share a year later. His dad worked at the store from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Leroy Goff worked there after school and until closing time.
Leroy Goff and his friend, Donnie Bolding, then bought the closed Palace Theater on East Center Street and re-opened the cinema. They rented the building from R.V. Powell for $50 a month and the equipment for $50. They rented movies at $25 for a three-day rental. The two had fliers printed and hired a projectionist for $2 a night.
Leroy Goff graduated from Beebe High School in 1961. He went to Arkansas State University in Beebe and later transferred to the University of Central Arkansas, earning a degree in history and English while working at the gas station at night and on weekends.
Leroy Goff began his teaching career at age 20. He taught at Jacksonville’s Northside Junior High School. He continued his education by earning a master’s degree in history and political science and returning to school again for a master’s degree in school administration.
Leroy Goff was Northside Junior High vice principal when he became interested in real estate after reading a book. In 1969, he took a correspondence course from the University of Arkansas. Then he passed the state broker’s exam.
Leroy Goff built his first office that summer on Dewitt Henry Drive. He partnered with Lois Famer to form Goff and Famer Real Estate and Insurance Agency. They had different ideas for the business and soon split. Leroy Goff then became the owner of Goff Real Estate and Insurance Agency.
He continued to work at the school, run the real estate office, the service station and was owner of Goff’s Tire and Battery Supply on Main Street.
Goff left his education career in 1974 and devoted his time to the real estate business.
• Clay Goff was honored as the citizen of the year. He was presented the award by his sister, Tessa.
Clay Goff serves on the White County Regional Library Board, where his knowledge in finances helped make funding the new library possible.
“He is compassionate. He has wisdom, dedication, strength, knowledge and willingness. He has a vision for the growth of Beebe. He is ready to devote those traits to fulfill that vision,” Tessa Ashley said.
“One thing you might not know about Clay. He picks up hitchhikers weekly,” she added.
Ashley said Clay Goff has a desire to help people. He sees each opportunity as a chance to witness the Lord, she noted.
Clay Goff is a Beebe High School and Ouachita Baptist University graduate. He has studied stocks since high school.
Clay Goff has a real estate license and has worked for First Security Bank for the past 15 years.
He is a member of the Beebe School Board.
Clay Goff has also served on the Beebe Chamber of Commerce and committees within First Baptist Church.
“His love is serving the public. He displays his service, through countless hours of volunteering,” Ashley noted.
• Beebe Elementary third- grade teacher Kim Cox was recognized with the Educator of the Year Award. Cox is retiring at the end of the school. She has 25 years of experience in education, 16 of those at Beebe.
“Her students truly know how much she cares. She loves all children,” Superintendent Belinda Shook said.
Shook said she never received a single complaint regarding Mrs. Cox. Parents even tried to request that their children be in Cox’s class, she noted.
“She is the ray of sunshine. You always enter the elementary and receive a hug and smile from her,” Shook said.
• Beebe High graduate Caleb Gentry was awarded with the chamber’s $500 FBLA college scholarship.
Gentry plans to attend Drury University in Springfield, Mo., major in accounting and minor in theater.
The incoming Beebe chamber president is Karen Zaremba.
• Steve Jones, building and sites coordinator for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, spoke on the importance of businesses and communities having Southern charm.
Leader staff writer
The Beebe Chamber of Commerce recognized three community leaders during its annual banquet on Thursday.
• Leroy Goff, 70, received the Lifetime Service Award. He was introduced by his son, Clay. Both were instrumental in the construction of Beebe’s new public library that was named in their honor.
This past year, when the new library was becoming a reality, Leroy Goff donated his time, labor and expertise to design and construct the building.
He was born in 1943 in Antioch, Calif., where his family was living in a labor camp and picking fruit. Leroy Goff, his mother and sister moved back to McRae when he was 45 days old. His father and brother stayed for the remainder of the harvest.
Leroy Goff went to first and second grade in McRae and started attending Beebe Public School in the third grade. As a fourth grader, Goff brought his dog, Old Puppy — a black water spaniel — to school. The dog stayed in the classroom, going out when class went out. Old Puppy became its mascot.
When Leroy Goff was 11 years old, he bought a lawn mower on credit from Powell and Company. By the end of the summer, he had the mower completely paid for, but it was completely worn out.
“Leroy soon realized he had worked all summer for absolutely nothing,” Clay Goff said.
Leroy Goff received a $100 inheritance from his aunt when he was 13. He bought a 1947 Plymouth for $90 and started a paper route in town.
Leroy Goff was rolling the Arkansas Gazette at 4 a.m. He started his route at 5:15 a.m. and was back home by 6:30 a.m.
“If Parrish and Mildred Robbins did not receive their newspaper by 5:30 each morning, Mildred would be calling,” Clay Goff said. The Robbins house was so close to the street that, when Leroy Goff threw the paper over the car, it would land on the porch roof.
He also had to collect the monthly subscription money from customers.“He once went to the Robbins’ home, collecting the monthly dues. He explained why he was there. Mildred Robbins told Leroy his money was up on the roof, right where the newspaper had been six times that month. She then slammed the door,” Clay Goff said.
His dad also worked at Adams Grocery on Center Street. He sacked groceries for $5 each Saturday for 13 hours a day.
Leroy Goff later began working at Dean Billingsley’s Gulf gas station on Dewitt Henry Drive, where Jordan’s Kwik Stop is now located. He worked from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week for $40 a week.
Billingsley decided to sell the gas station for $1,500. Leroy Goff, who was 16 and a junior in high school, convinced his brother to go into a partnership. They bought the business and hired their dad to work for them.
Leroy Goff bought out his brother’s share a year later. His dad worked at the store from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Leroy Goff worked there after school and until closing time.
Leroy Goff and his friend, Donnie Bolding, then bought the closed Palace Theater on East Center Street and re-opened the cinema. They rented the building from R.V. Powell for $50 a month and the equipment for $50. They rented movies at $25 for a three-day rental. The two had fliers printed and hired a projectionist for $2 a night.
Leroy Goff graduated from Beebe High School in 1961. He went to Arkansas State University in Beebe and later transferred to the University of Central Arkansas, earning a degree in history and English while working at the gas station at night and on weekends.
Leroy Goff began his teaching career at age 20. He taught at Jacksonville’s Northside Junior High School. He continued his education by earning a master’s degree in history and political science and returning to school again for a master’s degree in school administration.
Leroy Goff was Northside Junior High vice principal when he became interested in real estate after reading a book. In 1969, he took a correspondence course from the University of Arkansas. Then he passed the state broker’s exam.
Leroy Goff built his first office that summer on Dewitt Henry Drive. He partnered with Lois Famer to form Goff and Famer Real Estate and Insurance Agency. They had different ideas for the business and soon split. Leroy Goff then became the owner of Goff Real Estate and Insurance Agency.
He continued to work at the school, run the real estate office, the service station and was owner of Goff’s Tire and Battery Supply on Main Street.
Goff left his education career in 1974 and devoted his time to the real estate business.
• Clay Goff was honored as the citizen of the year. He was presented the award by his sister, Tessa.
Clay Goff serves on the White County Regional Library Board, where his knowledge in finances helped make funding the new library possible.
“He is compassionate. He has wisdom, dedication, strength, knowledge and willingness. He has a vision for the growth of Beebe. He is ready to devote those traits to fulfill that vision,” Tessa Ashley said.
“One thing you might not know about Clay. He picks up hitchhikers weekly,” she added.
Ashley said Clay Goff has a desire to help people. He sees each opportunity as a chance to witness the Lord, she noted.
Clay Goff is a Beebe High School and Ouachita Baptist University graduate. He has studied stocks since high school.
Clay Goff has a real estate license and has worked for First Security Bank for the past 15 years.
He is a member of the Beebe School Board.
Clay Goff has also served on the Beebe Chamber of Commerce and committees within First Baptist Church.
“His love is serving the public. He displays his service, through countless hours of volunteering,” Ashley noted.
• Beebe Elementary third- grade teacher Kim Cox was recognized with the Educator of the Year Award. Cox is retiring at the end of the school. She has 25 years of experience in education, 16 of those at Beebe.
“Her students truly know how much she cares. She loves all children,” Superintendent Belinda Shook said.
Shook said she never received a single complaint regarding Mrs. Cox. Parents even tried to request that their children be in Cox’s class, she noted.
“She is the ray of sunshine. You always enter the elementary and receive a hug and smile from her,” Shook said.
• Beebe High graduate Caleb Gentry was awarded with the chamber’s $500 FBLA college scholarship.
Gentry plans to attend Drury University in Springfield, Mo., major in accounting and minor in theater.
The incoming Beebe chamber president is Karen Zaremba.
• Steve Jones, building and sites coordinator for the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, spoke on the importance of businesses and communities having Southern charm.
SPORTS STORY >> Jr. Gwatney wins final two at NLR
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville junior American Legion team played one game as a complete unit at the North Little Rock Optimist Club’s annual Memorial Day Tournament at Burns Park over the weekend. After falling short in a comeback bid and losing 7-5 to Benton, the Jacksonville team, which features 25 players this year, split in two and took the place of a no-show the rest of the tournament.
In all, it meant Jacksonville teams played six games in three days, and none will likely count towards the official record.
“They had a team that didn’t have enough players so they came to me and asked if we’d split,” said Gwatney coach Bob Hickingbotham. “I tried to split them up pretty evenly – put some pitchers and some kids that could swing the bat on both teams. We didn’t look very good for the most part, but I didn’t expect us to with all that going on.”
Jacksonville lost its next three after losing to Benton, including losses to Little Rock Christian, Arkadelphia and Texarkana, before closing the tournament with wins over Cabot and Little Rock Central.
“We almost came back and beat Texarkana,” Hickingbotham said. “We lost 7-6, but we were down 7-0.”
The tournament results are less of a concern for the head coach as what he’s going to do with enough players for two junior teams.
“It would be great to split them up and just have two teams, but there’s not enough coaches,” Hickingbotham said. “I’ve got 14 or so on the senior team, too, that I’m going to coach. That group is primarily made up of the Jacksonville High School team, with a couple of others added to it. But with this junior team, I’ve got 13 players that are 15-years-old, eight 16-year olds and the rest are 17. Usually I’m crying and whining this time of year wanting players. This year I’ve got more than I know what to do with. I’ve never cut a kid my entire time coaching this team. I really hate to think about doing it now.”
American Legion baseball has seen statewide growth this year, even though a few longstanding programs won’t be fielding teams this year, including Sylvan Hills and Pine Bluff.
There are six teams in Jacksonville’s Zone 3 Senior Conference, and 12 in the junior conference.
The Gwatney senior team didn’t begin practice until Monday, and will begin the summer season with a trip to Morrilton tonight. The junior team plays at Bryant on Thursday.
Find details of those games in Saturday’s edition of The Leader.
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville junior American Legion team played one game as a complete unit at the North Little Rock Optimist Club’s annual Memorial Day Tournament at Burns Park over the weekend. After falling short in a comeback bid and losing 7-5 to Benton, the Jacksonville team, which features 25 players this year, split in two and took the place of a no-show the rest of the tournament.
In all, it meant Jacksonville teams played six games in three days, and none will likely count towards the official record.
“They had a team that didn’t have enough players so they came to me and asked if we’d split,” said Gwatney coach Bob Hickingbotham. “I tried to split them up pretty evenly – put some pitchers and some kids that could swing the bat on both teams. We didn’t look very good for the most part, but I didn’t expect us to with all that going on.”
Jacksonville lost its next three after losing to Benton, including losses to Little Rock Christian, Arkadelphia and Texarkana, before closing the tournament with wins over Cabot and Little Rock Central.
“We almost came back and beat Texarkana,” Hickingbotham said. “We lost 7-6, but we were down 7-0.”
The tournament results are less of a concern for the head coach as what he’s going to do with enough players for two junior teams.
“It would be great to split them up and just have two teams, but there’s not enough coaches,” Hickingbotham said. “I’ve got 14 or so on the senior team, too, that I’m going to coach. That group is primarily made up of the Jacksonville High School team, with a couple of others added to it. But with this junior team, I’ve got 13 players that are 15-years-old, eight 16-year olds and the rest are 17. Usually I’m crying and whining this time of year wanting players. This year I’ve got more than I know what to do with. I’ve never cut a kid my entire time coaching this team. I really hate to think about doing it now.”
American Legion baseball has seen statewide growth this year, even though a few longstanding programs won’t be fielding teams this year, including Sylvan Hills and Pine Bluff.
There are six teams in Jacksonville’s Zone 3 Senior Conference, and 12 in the junior conference.
The Gwatney senior team didn’t begin practice until Monday, and will begin the summer season with a trip to Morrilton tonight. The junior team plays at Bryant on Thursday.
Find details of those games in Saturday’s edition of The Leader.
SPORTS STORY >> Beebe big in size, numbers
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Beebe football team is enjoying its highest number of participants in spring football practice in coach John Shannon’s tenure as head Badger. There were 72 players reporting on day one and that number has held above 70 for most of spring session, when teams are given three weeks to get in two weeks worth of practice.
Beebe will continue spring drills through this week to complete its allotment of practices before the mandated dead period begins the second week of June.
“I feel like we’re a little ahead of the game from where we were last year because we’re getting a lot of kids some reps,” said Shannon.
The Badgers have 14 starters returning from last year, including eight on offense and six on defense. That’s meant a lot of extra snaps for players with less experience this spring. Coaches are taking the philosophy that having more players than ever isn’t an advantage ifit doesn’t produce quality depth.
“We’ve got so many returning from last year we’re trying to get a lot of reps for our younger players and build up some depth,” Shannon said. “I’m comfortable with the ones we have coming back and we have a few guys that weren’t regular starters that we already know are going to play a much bigger role for us this year. But we’ve also got some younger guys that are going to be pretty good football players. We’re trying to get them up to speed on what we’re doing so we can plug them where we do have gaps to fill and need some more depth.”
The Badgers aren’t just larger in numbers, but will also be larger in stature than most of the teams Shannon has coached. Beebe has a trio of three-year starters returning on the offensive line that go about 300, 280 and 275 pounds. Those three will be joined in the starting rotation by four players Shannon says are all between 245 and 300 pounds.
The offensive line is not the only place Beebe is bigger.
“We’ve got bigger kids than we’ve ever had at inside linebacker right now,” Shannon said. “Reece Anders, Andy Hurt, Quinton Shears and a transfer from Conway, Bo Smith, all four have looked really good at inside linebacker.”
Aaron Nunez returns as the starting quarterback after missing much of last season with an injury. Shannon says he’s the clear-cut starter, with Justin Burleson, a transfer from Mississippi, filling the role of backup.
“He throws the ball exceptionally well but he doesn’t fully grasp the offense yet,” Shannon said. Stephen Hammill is a sophomore who is also trying to learn the position for the first time. He threw a touchdown pass on his only attempt during a short scrimmage on Friday.
The extra snaps for new players doesn’t mean the starters haven’t had their opportunity, and they have been impressive. Fullback Tripp Smith, one of only three 2,000-yard backs in the state last season, has added 15 pounds to his frame, but doesn’t seem to have lost any speed.
“He’s obviously bigger than he was last year and I was a little worried about it,” Shannon said. “But he still ran a 4.55 on our automatic timer so I’m pretty excited about it now. He juked a couple of kids, broke a lot of tackles. He actually carried a kid several yards on one play. I’ve said from the start he has a chance to be pretty special around here and I still believe that.”
The Badgers will be busy over the summer. They will be at the Conway team camp on June 9-10, and at 7-on-7 meets at Cabot on June 11 and 18. Starting on July 9, they will go to Conway team camps every Wednesday of that month.
Leader sports editor
The Beebe football team is enjoying its highest number of participants in spring football practice in coach John Shannon’s tenure as head Badger. There were 72 players reporting on day one and that number has held above 70 for most of spring session, when teams are given three weeks to get in two weeks worth of practice.
Beebe will continue spring drills through this week to complete its allotment of practices before the mandated dead period begins the second week of June.
“I feel like we’re a little ahead of the game from where we were last year because we’re getting a lot of kids some reps,” said Shannon.
The Badgers have 14 starters returning from last year, including eight on offense and six on defense. That’s meant a lot of extra snaps for players with less experience this spring. Coaches are taking the philosophy that having more players than ever isn’t an advantage ifit doesn’t produce quality depth.
“We’ve got so many returning from last year we’re trying to get a lot of reps for our younger players and build up some depth,” Shannon said. “I’m comfortable with the ones we have coming back and we have a few guys that weren’t regular starters that we already know are going to play a much bigger role for us this year. But we’ve also got some younger guys that are going to be pretty good football players. We’re trying to get them up to speed on what we’re doing so we can plug them where we do have gaps to fill and need some more depth.”
The Badgers aren’t just larger in numbers, but will also be larger in stature than most of the teams Shannon has coached. Beebe has a trio of three-year starters returning on the offensive line that go about 300, 280 and 275 pounds. Those three will be joined in the starting rotation by four players Shannon says are all between 245 and 300 pounds.
The offensive line is not the only place Beebe is bigger.
“We’ve got bigger kids than we’ve ever had at inside linebacker right now,” Shannon said. “Reece Anders, Andy Hurt, Quinton Shears and a transfer from Conway, Bo Smith, all four have looked really good at inside linebacker.”
Aaron Nunez returns as the starting quarterback after missing much of last season with an injury. Shannon says he’s the clear-cut starter, with Justin Burleson, a transfer from Mississippi, filling the role of backup.
“He throws the ball exceptionally well but he doesn’t fully grasp the offense yet,” Shannon said. Stephen Hammill is a sophomore who is also trying to learn the position for the first time. He threw a touchdown pass on his only attempt during a short scrimmage on Friday.
The extra snaps for new players doesn’t mean the starters haven’t had their opportunity, and they have been impressive. Fullback Tripp Smith, one of only three 2,000-yard backs in the state last season, has added 15 pounds to his frame, but doesn’t seem to have lost any speed.
“He’s obviously bigger than he was last year and I was a little worried about it,” Shannon said. “But he still ran a 4.55 on our automatic timer so I’m pretty excited about it now. He juked a couple of kids, broke a lot of tackles. He actually carried a kid several yards on one play. I’ve said from the start he has a chance to be pretty special around here and I still believe that.”
The Badgers will be busy over the summer. They will be at the Conway team camp on June 9-10, and at 7-on-7 meets at Cabot on June 11 and 18. Starting on July 9, they will go to Conway team camps every Wednesday of that month.
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot girls collapse in round two
By ANN THARP
Special to The Leader
Conway – When the Cabot softball team took the field for their first game of the 7A state softball tournament at City of Colleges Park in Conway, the Lady Panthers (15-11) ran upon a Springdale Har-Ber (21-8) team that outhit them 17-9 and outscored them 15-4 to put an end to their season.
The Lady Panthers left nine runners on base, and twice left the bases loaded. Cabot had earned a first round bye as the Central No. 2 seed, and weather delays made for a 5 p.m. Saturday game time. The Har-Ber Lady Wildcats had played Friday and defeated the Mount St. Mary Lady Belles 3-0.
“It was a tough loss,” said Cabot head coach Chris Cope. “Our girls came out and fought every inning. We had every opportunity. We had two innings where we had the bases loaded and didn’t come up with runs, and we had some errors early that hurt us. Give it to Har-Ber, they put the ball in play and made things happen, and we just didn’t. But our girls played hard all the way through, and I can’t fault them for that.”
Har-Ber batted first as the visitors and went down in order. Cabot, on the other hand, got a leadoff double by Brandyn Vines, and a two-out line drive single into right by Hannah Montgomery scored her to give the Lady Panthers the early 1-0 lead. The Lady Wildcats answered back in the top of the second with one run of their own on two hits and an error to tie the game at 1-1.
Cabot did not score in the bottom of the frame, and Har-Ber added two runs in the top of the third as they loaded the bases with no outs, then had two sacrifice flies to score two runners from third.
The Lady Panthers went in order in the bottom of the inning, and the lead was 3-1 for the Lady Wildcats.
The lead increased in the top of inning number four as Har-Ber got five hits after the first two batters were out, and five runs crossed the plate. Montgomery took over the pitching duties from starting pitcher Lauren McCluskey, and got a groundout to end the inning.
Cabot responded with three runs in its half of the inning to narrow the gap to 8-4.
Montgomery led off with a single. Payton Stedman came on to run in her place and was on base as Macee Abbott hit the ball over the fence in left-center field for a two-run home run.
Molly Wood followed with a single. Parker Steadman entered to pinch run, reached second on a grounder to the shortstop, and scored on a dropped throw by the first baseman. Vines and Rachel Allgood walked to load the bases, but after a pitching change, Heather Hill went down on strikes to end the inning.
Neither team scored in the fifth, although Abbott picked up her second hit of the game for Cabot, a double to right-center field.
Har-Ber had its biggest inning in the top of the sixth, adding seven runs on seven hits, one walk, and one hit by pitch to push the lead to the final 15-4 margin.
The Lady Panthers had to score twice in the bottom of the frame for the game to continue. Cabot loaded the bases as Erin Eckert reached on an error, Vines singled, and Hill reached on an infield hit, but with two outs, Montgomery grounded out to the shortstop for the final out.
Abbott led the team in hitting with a home run, a double and a walk, Vines was 2 for 3 and a walk, and Montgomery was 2 for 4.
Special to The Leader
Conway – When the Cabot softball team took the field for their first game of the 7A state softball tournament at City of Colleges Park in Conway, the Lady Panthers (15-11) ran upon a Springdale Har-Ber (21-8) team that outhit them 17-9 and outscored them 15-4 to put an end to their season.
The Lady Panthers left nine runners on base, and twice left the bases loaded. Cabot had earned a first round bye as the Central No. 2 seed, and weather delays made for a 5 p.m. Saturday game time. The Har-Ber Lady Wildcats had played Friday and defeated the Mount St. Mary Lady Belles 3-0.
“It was a tough loss,” said Cabot head coach Chris Cope. “Our girls came out and fought every inning. We had every opportunity. We had two innings where we had the bases loaded and didn’t come up with runs, and we had some errors early that hurt us. Give it to Har-Ber, they put the ball in play and made things happen, and we just didn’t. But our girls played hard all the way through, and I can’t fault them for that.”
Har-Ber batted first as the visitors and went down in order. Cabot, on the other hand, got a leadoff double by Brandyn Vines, and a two-out line drive single into right by Hannah Montgomery scored her to give the Lady Panthers the early 1-0 lead. The Lady Wildcats answered back in the top of the second with one run of their own on two hits and an error to tie the game at 1-1.
Cabot did not score in the bottom of the frame, and Har-Ber added two runs in the top of the third as they loaded the bases with no outs, then had two sacrifice flies to score two runners from third.
The Lady Panthers went in order in the bottom of the inning, and the lead was 3-1 for the Lady Wildcats.
The lead increased in the top of inning number four as Har-Ber got five hits after the first two batters were out, and five runs crossed the plate. Montgomery took over the pitching duties from starting pitcher Lauren McCluskey, and got a groundout to end the inning.
Cabot responded with three runs in its half of the inning to narrow the gap to 8-4.
Montgomery led off with a single. Payton Stedman came on to run in her place and was on base as Macee Abbott hit the ball over the fence in left-center field for a two-run home run.
Molly Wood followed with a single. Parker Steadman entered to pinch run, reached second on a grounder to the shortstop, and scored on a dropped throw by the first baseman. Vines and Rachel Allgood walked to load the bases, but after a pitching change, Heather Hill went down on strikes to end the inning.
Neither team scored in the fifth, although Abbott picked up her second hit of the game for Cabot, a double to right-center field.
Har-Ber had its biggest inning in the top of the sixth, adding seven runs on seven hits, one walk, and one hit by pitch to push the lead to the final 15-4 margin.
The Lady Panthers had to score twice in the bottom of the frame for the game to continue. Cabot loaded the bases as Erin Eckert reached on an error, Vines singled, and Hill reached on an infield hit, but with two outs, Montgomery grounded out to the shortstop for the final out.
Abbott led the team in hitting with a home run, a double and a walk, Vines was 2 for 3 and a walk, and Montgomery was 2 for 4.
SPORTS STORY >> Football coaching search should be quick
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
In just one week after posting the opening for the Jacksonville head football coaching position, JHS athletic director Jerry Wilson has received dozens of applications that he began sifting through on Tuesday. The position has to remain posted for at least two weeks, which ends on Friday.
Wilson plans to stop the application process after the minimum required time elapses, and get to work on the hiring process as soon as possible.
“Next week is June,” said Wilson. “I really need someone in place by the end of next week because that’s when school lets out. I want to be able to give these kids a name and a face to identify with before the dead period. So I’m hoping, I’m hoping, by the end of next week we’ll have a football coach.”
Wilson wasn’t able to be specific about the names of applicants so far because of their current positions at other schools. He did say that most of the applicants are currently assistant coaches with a couple of current head coaches in the mix. He also said the geographic range of applicants is broad.
“We’ve got applicants from northwest Arkansas to southeast Texas,” Wilson said. “Right now there are about 20 resumes that have been turned in. And I’ve gotten some phone calls from several other people that are seriously interested. It’s going to be a task. That’s why I want to start on this as soon as possible. We got through state tournaments. We’ve had graduation. We’ve got all that stuff out of the way. Now it’s time to hire a football coach.”
One problem Wilson faces is the lack of teaching positions for the future coach to fill, but he says that will just have to be dealt with.
“That’s a little bit of a snag, but that’s really water under the bridge at this point,” Wilson said. “We’re needing to move forward. Maybe just the right person will rise to the top. If not we’ll have to work something out the best we can.”
Wilson is also working on getting the Red Devils into some summer activities like 7-on-7 meets and team camps before they fill up.
“That’s just something I’m trying to throw together to keep them active and I’ll just hand off what I came up with to the new coach,” Wilson said. “He can tweak it or do what he wants with it at that point.”
Wilson wants to start the interview process early next week.
“I’m trying to get some interviews set up but we can’t do any until the two weeks is up,” Wilson said. “If it all goes well, hopefully next week we’ll make an announcement.”
Leader sports editor
In just one week after posting the opening for the Jacksonville head football coaching position, JHS athletic director Jerry Wilson has received dozens of applications that he began sifting through on Tuesday. The position has to remain posted for at least two weeks, which ends on Friday.
Wilson plans to stop the application process after the minimum required time elapses, and get to work on the hiring process as soon as possible.
“Next week is June,” said Wilson. “I really need someone in place by the end of next week because that’s when school lets out. I want to be able to give these kids a name and a face to identify with before the dead period. So I’m hoping, I’m hoping, by the end of next week we’ll have a football coach.”
Wilson wasn’t able to be specific about the names of applicants so far because of their current positions at other schools. He did say that most of the applicants are currently assistant coaches with a couple of current head coaches in the mix. He also said the geographic range of applicants is broad.
“We’ve got applicants from northwest Arkansas to southeast Texas,” Wilson said. “Right now there are about 20 resumes that have been turned in. And I’ve gotten some phone calls from several other people that are seriously interested. It’s going to be a task. That’s why I want to start on this as soon as possible. We got through state tournaments. We’ve had graduation. We’ve got all that stuff out of the way. Now it’s time to hire a football coach.”
One problem Wilson faces is the lack of teaching positions for the future coach to fill, but he says that will just have to be dealt with.
“That’s a little bit of a snag, but that’s really water under the bridge at this point,” Wilson said. “We’re needing to move forward. Maybe just the right person will rise to the top. If not we’ll have to work something out the best we can.”
Wilson is also working on getting the Red Devils into some summer activities like 7-on-7 meets and team camps before they fill up.
“That’s just something I’m trying to throw together to keep them active and I’ll just hand off what I came up with to the new coach,” Wilson said. “He can tweak it or do what he wants with it at that point.”
Wilson wants to start the interview process early next week.
“I’m trying to get some interviews set up but we can’t do any until the two weeks is up,” Wilson said. “If it all goes well, hopefully next week we’ll make an announcement.”
SPORTS STORY >> Panthers starting to rebuild
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The Cabot Panthers had their final spring football practice Friday at Panther Stadium, and even though coach Mike Malham said his team has a long way to go to get to where he wants it to be, he added that they’re better than they were at the start of the spring football period.
Cabot is coming off a season that saw great success, as the Panthers won their first 12 games of 2013 and finished the season as the class 7A state runner-up.
Even though some key returning starters are back from last year’s 12-1 team, the Panthers lost 16 starters from a year ago, and Malham and his staff are in the process of finding players to fill the open spots on both sides of the ball.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” said Malham. “When you lose 16 starters, you know, you’re rebuilding with a lot of inexperience. We’re better than we were, or I hope we are, but we’ve got a long way to go. But we’ve got some potential.”
Some of the potential Malham spoke of is at quarterback. Sophomore Jarrod Barnes took the majority of the snaps at quarterback this spring, and is expected to be the starter this fall. Barnes brings a level of athleticism to the position that Malham looks forward to seeing the next three years.
“We’re working a sophomore at quarterback that I think’s going to be pretty special,” Malham said of Barnes. “He’s got a lot to learn, but he’s got some natural talent that you can’t coach.
“Sometimes he wants to try to do too much, but I’m looking forward to working with him for the next three years. I think he’s going to be pretty darn good.”
Cabot lost eight starters on offense, and has been working a lot of kids at various positions, according to the head Panther. Left guard Wyatt Talik and left tackle Curtis Crowder return up front for the Panthers, but those are the only returning starters on the offensive line.
Senior Jake Ferguson returns at split end, where he led the Panthers with 354 receiving yards and six touchdown catches last fall. Cabot will have to replace graduated fullback Zach Launius, who led the team with 2,009 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns last season.
Jack Whisker and Colton Eads took the majority of the reps at fullback in the spring, but both are expected to have defensive duties as well. Sophomore Easton Seidl also got some reps at fullback, but like Whisker and Eads, he could be seeing a lot of time on the defensive side of the ball as well.
Jess Reed, Jason Shrunk and Jalen Hemphill took reps at halfback this spring in Malham’s Dead-T offense.
Defensively, the Panthers return six starters, including Ferguson, a two-time All-State safety who was named Arkansas High School Defensive Player of the Year last season, and fellow senior Tristan Bulice, who Malham said might be the best nose guard he’s ever had in his 33 years at Cabot.
“Defensively, we’ve got a very good nucleus back there,” Malham said. “We’ve got three d-backs back, including Jake Ferguson, who of course was Defensive Player of the Year last year in the state of Arkansas and was the Sophomore Defensive Player of the Year.”
Holdyn Barnes and Logan Melder return at corner, and Dylan Smith is expected to see some time at the position as well. Brian Marshall returns at defensive end, and Whisker returns at strong-side linebacker in Malham’s 5-2 formation.
“We’ve got Whisker back at linebacker and three d-backs back, including Jarrod’s brother Holdyn, who played last year as a sophomore, and Logan Melder. Bulice is as good a nose guard as there is in the state. He can play.
“With six back on defense, if we can fill a couple of holes there, I think we’re going to be pretty strong. But we’re not there yet.”
Leader sportswriter
The Cabot Panthers had their final spring football practice Friday at Panther Stadium, and even though coach Mike Malham said his team has a long way to go to get to where he wants it to be, he added that they’re better than they were at the start of the spring football period.
Cabot is coming off a season that saw great success, as the Panthers won their first 12 games of 2013 and finished the season as the class 7A state runner-up.
Even though some key returning starters are back from last year’s 12-1 team, the Panthers lost 16 starters from a year ago, and Malham and his staff are in the process of finding players to fill the open spots on both sides of the ball.
“We’ve got a long way to go,” said Malham. “When you lose 16 starters, you know, you’re rebuilding with a lot of inexperience. We’re better than we were, or I hope we are, but we’ve got a long way to go. But we’ve got some potential.”
Some of the potential Malham spoke of is at quarterback. Sophomore Jarrod Barnes took the majority of the snaps at quarterback this spring, and is expected to be the starter this fall. Barnes brings a level of athleticism to the position that Malham looks forward to seeing the next three years.
“We’re working a sophomore at quarterback that I think’s going to be pretty special,” Malham said of Barnes. “He’s got a lot to learn, but he’s got some natural talent that you can’t coach.
“Sometimes he wants to try to do too much, but I’m looking forward to working with him for the next three years. I think he’s going to be pretty darn good.”
Cabot lost eight starters on offense, and has been working a lot of kids at various positions, according to the head Panther. Left guard Wyatt Talik and left tackle Curtis Crowder return up front for the Panthers, but those are the only returning starters on the offensive line.
Senior Jake Ferguson returns at split end, where he led the Panthers with 354 receiving yards and six touchdown catches last fall. Cabot will have to replace graduated fullback Zach Launius, who led the team with 2,009 rushing yards and 34 touchdowns last season.
Jack Whisker and Colton Eads took the majority of the reps at fullback in the spring, but both are expected to have defensive duties as well. Sophomore Easton Seidl also got some reps at fullback, but like Whisker and Eads, he could be seeing a lot of time on the defensive side of the ball as well.
Jess Reed, Jason Shrunk and Jalen Hemphill took reps at halfback this spring in Malham’s Dead-T offense.
Defensively, the Panthers return six starters, including Ferguson, a two-time All-State safety who was named Arkansas High School Defensive Player of the Year last season, and fellow senior Tristan Bulice, who Malham said might be the best nose guard he’s ever had in his 33 years at Cabot.
“Defensively, we’ve got a very good nucleus back there,” Malham said. “We’ve got three d-backs back, including Jake Ferguson, who of course was Defensive Player of the Year last year in the state of Arkansas and was the Sophomore Defensive Player of the Year.”
Holdyn Barnes and Logan Melder return at corner, and Dylan Smith is expected to see some time at the position as well. Brian Marshall returns at defensive end, and Whisker returns at strong-side linebacker in Malham’s 5-2 formation.
“We’ve got Whisker back at linebacker and three d-backs back, including Jarrod’s brother Holdyn, who played last year as a sophomore, and Logan Melder. Bulice is as good a nose guard as there is in the state. He can play.
“With six back on defense, if we can fill a couple of holes there, I think we’re going to be pretty strong. But we’re not there yet.”
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