By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Crystal Lowery was sentenced on Tuesday to 30 years in prison after pleading guilty to the kidnapping and killing of real estate agent Beverly Carter.
The victim’s body was found Sept. 27 in a shallow grave near Hwy. 5 in north Pulaski County. Carter was reported missing a few days earlier, when she didn’t return from showing a house in Scott.
Lowery, 42, of Sherwood, looked frightened and teary-eyed upon entering Pulaski County Circuit Judge Herb Wright’s courtroom. She will be eligible for parole in 21 years.
Prosecutors dropped the capital murder charge against Lowery down to a first-degree murder charge in exchange for her guilty plea and promise to testify against her estranged husband, Arron Lewis.
Lowery, who previously pleaded not guilty, told reporters as she was leaving court that she was sorry for Carter’s death.
Chief deputy prosecutor John Johnson told reporters the victim’s family was pleased with the verdict and it would help them start to seek closure.
He also said Lowery’s plea bargain was a good deal for the state. Her testimony will give the jury a different perspective from investigative files in the already “strong” case against her husband, Johnson explained.
He added that no plea deal had been offered to or requested by Lewis.
The victim’s relatives, friends and co-workers filled most of the crowded courtroom and left without commenting.
The investigation showed that Carter had texted Lowery’s phone. The victim’s phone was found in Lewis’ possession.
Lewis, 34, confessed to police but later told a State Hospital therapist it was coerced because he was beaten and interrogated for 12 hours.
Lowery has filed for a divorce from Lewis, who has contested it. Divorce documents filed with the court state that she didn’t know he had been convicted of seven felonies when they wed on April 20, 2014.
Lewis, of Gravel Ridge, will stand trial Jan. 12 for the capital murder and kidnapping of Carter. A pre-trial hearing is set for Oct. 5.
A mental evaluation submitted to court earlier this year declared that he is mentally competent to stand trial. It also found that Lewis has antisocial personality disorder.
According to the report, he told a therapist from the State Hospital that he could prove Lowery is innocent.
A mental evaluation was not requested for her, and Lewis told the therapist he would not seek a plea of not guilty by reason of mental disease of defect.
The accused elected to not cooperate in the evaluation of his mental state at the time of the alleged offenses. He denied kidnapping and murdering Carter, according the report.
Lewis previously said he would be representing himself, but a motion submitted last month for the court to appoint a public defender has since been approved.
In the motion, Lewis claims he was “not being given a fair opportunity to examine physical evidence and present a defense.”
Having violated his parole, Lewis is incarcerated at the Tucker maximum-security unit.
The typed divorce complaint Lowery filed states that the two separated on Aug. 27, 2014. It also asserts that they have no shared property, debt issues or children and no children are expected.
Lewis’ handwritten answer disputes all of her claims and states that his wife may be pregnant. It also argues that the two have shared property, debt, a bank account and two dogs that ownership of has not been resolved.
Lewis more recently filed a motion to dismiss the divorce if Lowery has no objections. It states that division of property and debt is no longer practical and that they should finalize their divorce at a later date.
Tuesday, July 07, 2015
TOP STORY >> School board filings end
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
While U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall could intervene in the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District’s first board election after he meets with desegregation litigants at 1:30 p.m. July 20, JNP Attorney Patrick Wilson said Tuesday afternoon he doesn’t believe that will happen.
John Walker, attorney for the Joshua Interveners in the sprawling Pulaski County desegregation, has challenged the five-zone, two-at-large school board arrangement chosen by the Jacksonville-North Pulaski district and petitioned Marshall for the conference.
Walker maintains that configuration flies in the face of desegregation agreement requirements and could hurt minority representation.
The current, appointed school board, with five black and two white members, voted unanimously for the five-zone, two-at-large configuration after studying several proposals from Metroplan.
As of close of filing at noon Tuesday, three current, appointed board members — all of them black — are running unopposed and two have an opponent, according to documents on file in the Pulaski County clerk’s office.
School elections will be Sept. 15.
JACKSONVILLE
Current JNP School Board president Daniel Gray is running unopposed for at-large Position 1. The current vice president, Ron McDaniel, is being challenged by Celeste Williams for at-large Position 2.
Carol Denise Miles, the board secretary, is unopposed in her bid for the Zone 2 seat, and board member LaConda Watson is unopposed seeking the Zone 4 seat.
In Zone 1, school board member Richard Moss is being challenged by Marcia Anne Dornblaser.
Jim Moore, Jerald Reichenbach and Barry Roper will face off in a three-way race for the Zone 3 seat.
In Zone 5, Dena Toney is running unopposed.
Although JNP is not a party to the desegregation case, Marshall said Tuesday that it would be permitted to file a response to Walker and address the court on those issues, according to Wilson.
It is conceivable that he could stop the election, Wilson said, but “I don’t know that the odds are very good that he would do that. A couple of boards have already approved of the 5-2 model.
“I think its clear that the board in place has seriously considered the different plans,” Wilson said, “and took the racial impacts into account.”
In Lonoke, Ross Moore and Charlie Hunter are running for the Zone 2, Position 1 seat that was held by Karen James, who was elected to the seat for a one-year term to finish her husband Chris’ term. He passed away in 2013.
Angela Sumner is running unopposed for Zone 3, Position 2. Johnie Watson was reappointed to the position in 2014. He was appointed to the position in 2013 after the late Rick Pennington vacated the seat.
Matt Boyles, who holds the Zone 2, Position 7 seat, has moved to another part of town and is running for the Zone 4, Position 5 seat against Melissa Swint.
The Zone 4, Position 5 is held by Karl Pennington, who moved to another part of town. The Zone 2, Position 7 seat is open and will be appointed.
In Cabot, Sarah Owen is running unopposed. She is a new candidate and will succeed Fred Campbell, who is stepping down.
Beebe school board member Janet Hines is unopposed.
Leader senior staff writer
While U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall could intervene in the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District’s first board election after he meets with desegregation litigants at 1:30 p.m. July 20, JNP Attorney Patrick Wilson said Tuesday afternoon he doesn’t believe that will happen.
John Walker, attorney for the Joshua Interveners in the sprawling Pulaski County desegregation, has challenged the five-zone, two-at-large school board arrangement chosen by the Jacksonville-North Pulaski district and petitioned Marshall for the conference.
Walker maintains that configuration flies in the face of desegregation agreement requirements and could hurt minority representation.
The current, appointed school board, with five black and two white members, voted unanimously for the five-zone, two-at-large configuration after studying several proposals from Metroplan.
As of close of filing at noon Tuesday, three current, appointed board members — all of them black — are running unopposed and two have an opponent, according to documents on file in the Pulaski County clerk’s office.
School elections will be Sept. 15.
JACKSONVILLE
Current JNP School Board president Daniel Gray is running unopposed for at-large Position 1. The current vice president, Ron McDaniel, is being challenged by Celeste Williams for at-large Position 2.
Carol Denise Miles, the board secretary, is unopposed in her bid for the Zone 2 seat, and board member LaConda Watson is unopposed seeking the Zone 4 seat.
In Zone 1, school board member Richard Moss is being challenged by Marcia Anne Dornblaser.
Jim Moore, Jerald Reichenbach and Barry Roper will face off in a three-way race for the Zone 3 seat.
In Zone 5, Dena Toney is running unopposed.
Although JNP is not a party to the desegregation case, Marshall said Tuesday that it would be permitted to file a response to Walker and address the court on those issues, according to Wilson.
It is conceivable that he could stop the election, Wilson said, but “I don’t know that the odds are very good that he would do that. A couple of boards have already approved of the 5-2 model.
“I think its clear that the board in place has seriously considered the different plans,” Wilson said, “and took the racial impacts into account.”
In Lonoke, Ross Moore and Charlie Hunter are running for the Zone 2, Position 1 seat that was held by Karen James, who was elected to the seat for a one-year term to finish her husband Chris’ term. He passed away in 2013.
Angela Sumner is running unopposed for Zone 3, Position 2. Johnie Watson was reappointed to the position in 2014. He was appointed to the position in 2013 after the late Rick Pennington vacated the seat.
Matt Boyles, who holds the Zone 2, Position 7 seat, has moved to another part of town and is running for the Zone 4, Position 5 seat against Melissa Swint.
The Zone 4, Position 5 is held by Karl Pennington, who moved to another part of town. The Zone 2, Position 7 seat is open and will be appointed.
In Cabot, Sarah Owen is running unopposed. She is a new candidate and will succeed Fred Campbell, who is stepping down.
Beebe school board member Janet Hines is unopposed.
TOP STORY >> Teachers pay plan approved by board
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Over the sighs and grumbling of teachers, the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School Board on Tuesday night approved, 5-to-1, a front-loaded salary generous to new teachers, but which leaves experienced teachers with advanced degrees feeling cheated, perhaps looking for new jobs.
That’s especially true when compared to the Pulaski County Special School District, where the salary tops out at nearly $70,000. The proposed JNP schedule starts at $38,000 for first-year teachers, nearly $4,000 more than PCSSD, but it tops out at $55,500.
INCREASE TIED TO ATTENDANCE
On the motion of board vice president Ron McDaniel, four other board members voted to accept the district’s first salary schedule for the 2016-2017 school year, with the proviso that it be revisited after the three-quarter year enrollment figures in the 2015-2016 school year. That’s time enough to increase the salary if it appears the district will have enough students to justify it financially. An increase of 400 students would result in additional revenue of about $2.6 million a year, Superintendent Tony Wood said—money that could help increase the salary schedule.
Joining McDaniel were board president Daniel Gray, Secretary Carol Miles, LaChonda Watson and Robert Price.
DISSENTING VOTE
Board member Richard Moss encouraged the board to value the human resources and find a way to pay employees, particularly teachers, better. His was the dissenting vote.
Employee salary and benefits will account for 75 percent of the anticipated operating revenue for the
first year, based on a projected 4,000 student enrollment, according to Beverly Williams, a consultant who toiled over the alternatives.
The state provides $6,300 in minimum foundation aid per student, and that’s the lion’s share of the money available, she said.
“Clark County is screaming for teachers, and here you are throwing them away,” said Dupree Elementary School math teacher Rick Kron.
“It’s an insult and demeaning to Jacksonville and could slow the district’s dream of greatness by years because you are banking on the unknown,” Kron said. “The pay scale clearly does not value experience or education.”
Kron said the new salary schedule would cut his pay by 20 percent and cut his benefits nearly in half.
SACRIFICES AND CHALLENGES
“We knew there would be some sacrifices and challenges,” said Gray. “When you see it on paper and it affects friends and community members…but we can’t be emotional. We have to base it on fact, and it has to be sustainable.
“We all wish these numbers were greater,” said Price. “We have to make hard decisions.” He asked Williams if she could come back with better numbers for the teachers, but she said it would obligate 80 percent of projected revenues for salaries and benefits and she didn’t recommend it.
“We could be bankrupt, back in fiscal distress in one day,” said Miles.
Earlier, during public comment, Gwendolyn Harper, speaking for the Jacksonville NAACP, said she was disappointed by the lack of transparency in the hiring process and criticized JNP for recommending the hiring of Bobby E. Lester as an assistant superintendent, even though a black woman scored two points higher on the evaluation.
REFUSED TO HIRE
Subsequently, PCSSD Superintendent Jerry Guess refused to hire Lester, saying it would send the wrong signal at a time when the district was trying to achieve unitary status.
Following an executive session, the JNP board accepted Lester’s letter of rescission, refusing the position Harper and Joshua Intervenor attorney John Walker were concerned about.
The board authorized Wood, who started work July 1, to advertise requests for qualifications for architectural, design and construction management companies to oversee design and construction and rehabilitation of district facilities, including a new Jacksonville High School.
That would almost certainly require local voters to approve a property-tax millage increase.
MIDDLE SCHOOL MOVING
In other action, PCSSD Director of Maintenance Brad Montgomery said all teacher materials from the old Jacksonville Middle School had been moved into the appropriate classrooms at Northwood and that the old Jacksonville Middle School sign would soon grace Northwood.
He said two portable building would be brought to the site for additional classroom space, and outfitted to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Charles Blake, director of transportation, said eight to 10 new buses would be needed to accommodate the move to Jacksonville Middle School and that bell schedules would have to be revised at elementary, middle and high schools to accommodate the change.
“Buses are not the problem,” Blake said. “The problem is bus drivers.”
He said the particulars will be posted online at least two weeks before school starts.
Leader senior staff writer
Over the sighs and grumbling of teachers, the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School Board on Tuesday night approved, 5-to-1, a front-loaded salary generous to new teachers, but which leaves experienced teachers with advanced degrees feeling cheated, perhaps looking for new jobs.
That’s especially true when compared to the Pulaski County Special School District, where the salary tops out at nearly $70,000. The proposed JNP schedule starts at $38,000 for first-year teachers, nearly $4,000 more than PCSSD, but it tops out at $55,500.
INCREASE TIED TO ATTENDANCE
On the motion of board vice president Ron McDaniel, four other board members voted to accept the district’s first salary schedule for the 2016-2017 school year, with the proviso that it be revisited after the three-quarter year enrollment figures in the 2015-2016 school year. That’s time enough to increase the salary if it appears the district will have enough students to justify it financially. An increase of 400 students would result in additional revenue of about $2.6 million a year, Superintendent Tony Wood said—money that could help increase the salary schedule.
Joining McDaniel were board president Daniel Gray, Secretary Carol Miles, LaChonda Watson and Robert Price.
DISSENTING VOTE
Board member Richard Moss encouraged the board to value the human resources and find a way to pay employees, particularly teachers, better. His was the dissenting vote.
Employee salary and benefits will account for 75 percent of the anticipated operating revenue for the
first year, based on a projected 4,000 student enrollment, according to Beverly Williams, a consultant who toiled over the alternatives.
The state provides $6,300 in minimum foundation aid per student, and that’s the lion’s share of the money available, she said.
“Clark County is screaming for teachers, and here you are throwing them away,” said Dupree Elementary School math teacher Rick Kron.
“It’s an insult and demeaning to Jacksonville and could slow the district’s dream of greatness by years because you are banking on the unknown,” Kron said. “The pay scale clearly does not value experience or education.”
Kron said the new salary schedule would cut his pay by 20 percent and cut his benefits nearly in half.
SACRIFICES AND CHALLENGES
“We knew there would be some sacrifices and challenges,” said Gray. “When you see it on paper and it affects friends and community members…but we can’t be emotional. We have to base it on fact, and it has to be sustainable.
“We all wish these numbers were greater,” said Price. “We have to make hard decisions.” He asked Williams if she could come back with better numbers for the teachers, but she said it would obligate 80 percent of projected revenues for salaries and benefits and she didn’t recommend it.
“We could be bankrupt, back in fiscal distress in one day,” said Miles.
Earlier, during public comment, Gwendolyn Harper, speaking for the Jacksonville NAACP, said she was disappointed by the lack of transparency in the hiring process and criticized JNP for recommending the hiring of Bobby E. Lester as an assistant superintendent, even though a black woman scored two points higher on the evaluation.
REFUSED TO HIRE
Subsequently, PCSSD Superintendent Jerry Guess refused to hire Lester, saying it would send the wrong signal at a time when the district was trying to achieve unitary status.
Following an executive session, the JNP board accepted Lester’s letter of rescission, refusing the position Harper and Joshua Intervenor attorney John Walker were concerned about.
The board authorized Wood, who started work July 1, to advertise requests for qualifications for architectural, design and construction management companies to oversee design and construction and rehabilitation of district facilities, including a new Jacksonville High School.
That would almost certainly require local voters to approve a property-tax millage increase.
MIDDLE SCHOOL MOVING
In other action, PCSSD Director of Maintenance Brad Montgomery said all teacher materials from the old Jacksonville Middle School had been moved into the appropriate classrooms at Northwood and that the old Jacksonville Middle School sign would soon grace Northwood.
He said two portable building would be brought to the site for additional classroom space, and outfitted to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Charles Blake, director of transportation, said eight to 10 new buses would be needed to accommodate the move to Jacksonville Middle School and that bell schedules would have to be revised at elementary, middle and high schools to accommodate the change.
“Buses are not the problem,” Blake said. “The problem is bus drivers.”
He said the particulars will be posted online at least two weeks before school starts.
EDITORIAL >> Tony Wood gets to work
As superintendent of the newly formed Jacksonville-North Pulaski County School District, Tony Wood has taken on the biggest challenge of his career. He took over for Bobby Lester last week, having previously been Searcy’s superintendent and education commissioner under former Gov. Mike Beebe.
Wood will oversee the largest urban-renewal effort the city has ever attempted. Residents hope that new schools will lead to an economic recovery by attracting young families who have chosen Cabot and Sherwood in recent years.
For decades, the Pulaski County Special School District neglected the city’s schools, and it could take a long time to transform them into high-functioning academic institutions.
Wood knows it will take several years to rebuild the city’s school system. His leadership will be tested early on when he will be tasked with convincing residents to raise their property taxes to pay for new schools while many teacher salaries and benefits are drastically cut.
Many of the schools will be demolished, but, more likely, several campuses will be shuttered and consolidated, which could make many parts of town look vacant and unappealing.
The city needs a new high school, middle school and a few elementary schools. Plans are already in place to make North Pulaski High School a new middle school and consolidate North Pulaski and Jacksonville high schools. The district will save millions of dollars by shutting down many of its campuses, but funds will be needed to build new schools, including a new high school and new elementary schools.
The downside would be leaving several neighborhoods with vacant school buildings that sit idle for years. The advantage would be to sell those properties to help pay for new schools, especially if supplemented by a millage increase. It would also free up prime locations to build new homes and businesses.
The old Jacksonville Middle School land near Hwy. 67/167 is often mentioned as a good location for a shopping center. But what about all the other sites?
District officials should hire urban-development planners to determine where schools should be built. They should also explore ways to build new schools and rehabilitate old ones with financing from the county’s PACE program that allows nonresidential property owners to update electrical systems and remodel in energy-efficient ways with low-cost loans that are repaid through their property-tax bills.
Jacksonville city officials should lobby County Judge Barry Hyde to expand PACE to homeowners. Realtors could also remodel aging properties with modern amenities. Families will be enticed to move to town. Think of the jobs that could be created.
As The Leader’s John Hofheimer noted in a recent article, Scientific American named PACE one of its top 20 “world-changing ideas.”
Wood’s work will determine the future of Jacksonville. He and the school board must spell out their vision of what is needed. They’ll probably be tight-lipped about details until after the September school-board elections, but that will be a mistake in the long run. Let’s get those details before the school board elections.
Wood will oversee the largest urban-renewal effort the city has ever attempted. Residents hope that new schools will lead to an economic recovery by attracting young families who have chosen Cabot and Sherwood in recent years.
For decades, the Pulaski County Special School District neglected the city’s schools, and it could take a long time to transform them into high-functioning academic institutions.
Wood knows it will take several years to rebuild the city’s school system. His leadership will be tested early on when he will be tasked with convincing residents to raise their property taxes to pay for new schools while many teacher salaries and benefits are drastically cut.
Many of the schools will be demolished, but, more likely, several campuses will be shuttered and consolidated, which could make many parts of town look vacant and unappealing.
The city needs a new high school, middle school and a few elementary schools. Plans are already in place to make North Pulaski High School a new middle school and consolidate North Pulaski and Jacksonville high schools. The district will save millions of dollars by shutting down many of its campuses, but funds will be needed to build new schools, including a new high school and new elementary schools.
The downside would be leaving several neighborhoods with vacant school buildings that sit idle for years. The advantage would be to sell those properties to help pay for new schools, especially if supplemented by a millage increase. It would also free up prime locations to build new homes and businesses.
The old Jacksonville Middle School land near Hwy. 67/167 is often mentioned as a good location for a shopping center. But what about all the other sites?
District officials should hire urban-development planners to determine where schools should be built. They should also explore ways to build new schools and rehabilitate old ones with financing from the county’s PACE program that allows nonresidential property owners to update electrical systems and remodel in energy-efficient ways with low-cost loans that are repaid through their property-tax bills.
Jacksonville city officials should lobby County Judge Barry Hyde to expand PACE to homeowners. Realtors could also remodel aging properties with modern amenities. Families will be enticed to move to town. Think of the jobs that could be created.
As The Leader’s John Hofheimer noted in a recent article, Scientific American named PACE one of its top 20 “world-changing ideas.”
Wood’s work will determine the future of Jacksonville. He and the school board must spell out their vision of what is needed. They’ll probably be tight-lipped about details until after the September school-board elections, but that will be a mistake in the long run. Let’s get those details before the school board elections.
SPORTS STORY >> Quiet leaper learns about limelight
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
World-class long jumper and sprinter Jeff Henderson isn’t used to a lot of attention, and isn’t even comfortable with it, but he’s learning how to handle it with the help of his coach, Al Joyner.
Henderson, who finished second in the USA Championships in Eugene, Ore., two weeks ago, and who has the two longest non-wind aided jumps in the world so far this year, got a small taste of the kind of spotlight he can expect if he continues the trajectory he’s on.
Henderson came home last week after the meet in Oregon, and immediately received one media request after another from local outlets. He left on Sunday to begin training for the Pan Am Games in Toronto that begin July 17, but not before being the guest of honor at a community wide send off party on Saturday.
“I’m not really into all this,” Henderson said on Saturday, pointing to the throngs of people filling up the yard and adjoining lots to his parents’ house in McAlmont. “Coach has told me it’s just something that’s going to happen, so I’m just trying to go with it.”
Henderson, who won the USA championships in 2014 and has ultimate goals of breaking the world long jump record and winning an Olympic gold medal, is aware that Saturday’s party will pale in comparison to the national and international attention he’ll receive by achieving those goals.
“I know it’s going to come and I’m ready for it,” Henderson said. “Coach has helped me a lot in preparing for it.”
Henderson sat at a foldout table alone to eat a rare large meal, but was soon, perhaps out of his comfort zone, making the rounds. He greeted and talked with relatives, neighbors, high school friends and even some media.
He even stepped into the center of everyone’s attention when his niece Ciara Hall, one of the top 10-year-old sprinters in her hometown in Oklahoma, challenged him to a race.
After faking a start and laughing while Ciara charged towards the finish line, Henderson joked that he had to get her tired to beat her. But even that didn’t work as Henderson gave up three quarters through the race while trailing.
After the Pan Am Games, Henderson will go back to the Olympic training center in Chula Vista, Calif., to prepare for the world championships in Beijing that runs from Aug. 20-31. A world championship win in China leading into an Olympics year will likely place Henderson squarely as the favorite in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and bring the added attention that comes with being at the top.
Leader sports editor
World-class long jumper and sprinter Jeff Henderson isn’t used to a lot of attention, and isn’t even comfortable with it, but he’s learning how to handle it with the help of his coach, Al Joyner.
Henderson, who finished second in the USA Championships in Eugene, Ore., two weeks ago, and who has the two longest non-wind aided jumps in the world so far this year, got a small taste of the kind of spotlight he can expect if he continues the trajectory he’s on.
Henderson came home last week after the meet in Oregon, and immediately received one media request after another from local outlets. He left on Sunday to begin training for the Pan Am Games in Toronto that begin July 17, but not before being the guest of honor at a community wide send off party on Saturday.
“I’m not really into all this,” Henderson said on Saturday, pointing to the throngs of people filling up the yard and adjoining lots to his parents’ house in McAlmont. “Coach has told me it’s just something that’s going to happen, so I’m just trying to go with it.”
Henderson, who won the USA championships in 2014 and has ultimate goals of breaking the world long jump record and winning an Olympic gold medal, is aware that Saturday’s party will pale in comparison to the national and international attention he’ll receive by achieving those goals.
“I know it’s going to come and I’m ready for it,” Henderson said. “Coach has helped me a lot in preparing for it.”
Henderson sat at a foldout table alone to eat a rare large meal, but was soon, perhaps out of his comfort zone, making the rounds. He greeted and talked with relatives, neighbors, high school friends and even some media.
He even stepped into the center of everyone’s attention when his niece Ciara Hall, one of the top 10-year-old sprinters in her hometown in Oklahoma, challenged him to a race.
After faking a start and laughing while Ciara charged towards the finish line, Henderson joked that he had to get her tired to beat her. But even that didn’t work as Henderson gave up three quarters through the race while trailing.
After the Pan Am Games, Henderson will go back to the Olympic training center in Chula Vista, Calif., to prepare for the world championships in Beijing that runs from Aug. 20-31. A world championship win in China leading into an Olympics year will likely place Henderson squarely as the favorite in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and bring the added attention that comes with being at the top.
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot takes lumps at its 7-on-7 meet
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot football team hosted its third 7-on-7 meet on Monday, the first day back from the mandatory dead period enforced by the Arkansas High School Activities Association. Monday’s meet featured Lonoke, Hazen and Des Arc, and a drastically depleted Cabot squad.
The Panthers had only three defensive starters at the meet and neither the first nor second-string quarterbacks were on hand for the event. The results showed as well.
The Panthers faced Hazen, then Des Arc and finished against Lonoke.
“This is really more or less a JV squad we’ve got out here tonight,” said Cabot defensive coordinator Randy Black. “But we want to do it this way because we’ve got to find some depth. It didn’t look real good defensively, but that’s why we do these things, to try to get better.”
The Jackrabbits looked good offensively in all three matchups, but head coach Doug Bost says improved conditioning should make them even better.
“It’s the first day back and we’ve got to get in shape,” said Bost. “We’re about to start a lot of running. We haven’t done any since summer started. We’ve been concentrating on lifting weights and getting stronger. We’re going to hit the weights a little more and then we’re going to work on conditioning. We’ve got a long way to go.”
Cabot’s first matchup went poorly for the Panthers. Hazen stopped two Cabot drives on downs and three more with interceptions. The Panthers were able to score once on a pass deflection that fell into an unintended receiver’s hand, but the Hornets scored on five of their six drives.
Cabot beat Des Arc 3-1, and then lost to Lonoke by the same margin, again scoring on a deflected pass that dropped into the arms of Cale Eddington.
“The tip drill was our best play,” Black said.
When the two Lonoke County teams met, the Jackrabbits scored first on a 30-yard fade pass from Savonte Rountree to Justin Meadows. The Lonoke receiver went up high over cornerback Cody Skinner to pull down the pass in the back left corner of the end zone.
Cabot picked up one first down, but was on its last play when a Skinner pass intended for Easton Seidl popped over Seidl’s shoulder and into Eddington’s hands at the 12-yard line. Eddington then outran a Lonoke defender to the right corner pylon for the score.
Cabot got a timed sack on Lonoke’s first play of the ensuing drive, but gave up a touchdown on the second play. Rountree found Casey Martin cutting up the middle near the 25-yard line. Martin made the catch and ran untouched into the end zone.
Cabot’s next drive ended with an interception after Seidl was accidentally tripped while running his route. With no officials present, Black made no protest and possession changed hands. Cabot stopped Lonoke on its next drive, but also failed to score again.
Lonoke’s next drive took several plays. It was almost stopped before one first down, but Logan Dozier made a catch near the home sideline and juked a defender to gain enough yardage to keep possession.
Lonoke’s next first down put the ball at the 2-yard line. On second down, Cody Nabors knocked down a pass intended for Meadows. Lonoke’s final play looked almost exactly like the last, with Nabors coming over Meadows’ shoulder to get a hand on the ball, but this time Meadows held on for the touchdown.
“Justin’s got great speed and he’s going to be a key part of things for us,” Bost said of Meadows. “We got one back that we lost after ninth grade in Casey. He’s a good addition for us. He’s the second fastest kid we’ve got and he showed some good things today.”
After opening up the quarterback position in the spring and encouraging competition for Rountree, the returning starter from last year has secured the position again.
“We looked at Dozier and he’s going to run some wildcat quarterback for us, but Rountree has come a long. He’s throwing a nice ball and making good reads. He’s looking pretty good back there. But he’s like the rest of us. We’ve got some improving to do.”
Leader sports editor
The Cabot football team hosted its third 7-on-7 meet on Monday, the first day back from the mandatory dead period enforced by the Arkansas High School Activities Association. Monday’s meet featured Lonoke, Hazen and Des Arc, and a drastically depleted Cabot squad.
The Panthers had only three defensive starters at the meet and neither the first nor second-string quarterbacks were on hand for the event. The results showed as well.
The Panthers faced Hazen, then Des Arc and finished against Lonoke.
“This is really more or less a JV squad we’ve got out here tonight,” said Cabot defensive coordinator Randy Black. “But we want to do it this way because we’ve got to find some depth. It didn’t look real good defensively, but that’s why we do these things, to try to get better.”
The Jackrabbits looked good offensively in all three matchups, but head coach Doug Bost says improved conditioning should make them even better.
“It’s the first day back and we’ve got to get in shape,” said Bost. “We’re about to start a lot of running. We haven’t done any since summer started. We’ve been concentrating on lifting weights and getting stronger. We’re going to hit the weights a little more and then we’re going to work on conditioning. We’ve got a long way to go.”
Cabot’s first matchup went poorly for the Panthers. Hazen stopped two Cabot drives on downs and three more with interceptions. The Panthers were able to score once on a pass deflection that fell into an unintended receiver’s hand, but the Hornets scored on five of their six drives.
Cabot beat Des Arc 3-1, and then lost to Lonoke by the same margin, again scoring on a deflected pass that dropped into the arms of Cale Eddington.
“The tip drill was our best play,” Black said.
When the two Lonoke County teams met, the Jackrabbits scored first on a 30-yard fade pass from Savonte Rountree to Justin Meadows. The Lonoke receiver went up high over cornerback Cody Skinner to pull down the pass in the back left corner of the end zone.
Cabot picked up one first down, but was on its last play when a Skinner pass intended for Easton Seidl popped over Seidl’s shoulder and into Eddington’s hands at the 12-yard line. Eddington then outran a Lonoke defender to the right corner pylon for the score.
Cabot got a timed sack on Lonoke’s first play of the ensuing drive, but gave up a touchdown on the second play. Rountree found Casey Martin cutting up the middle near the 25-yard line. Martin made the catch and ran untouched into the end zone.
Cabot’s next drive ended with an interception after Seidl was accidentally tripped while running his route. With no officials present, Black made no protest and possession changed hands. Cabot stopped Lonoke on its next drive, but also failed to score again.
Lonoke’s next drive took several plays. It was almost stopped before one first down, but Logan Dozier made a catch near the home sideline and juked a defender to gain enough yardage to keep possession.
Lonoke’s next first down put the ball at the 2-yard line. On second down, Cody Nabors knocked down a pass intended for Meadows. Lonoke’s final play looked almost exactly like the last, with Nabors coming over Meadows’ shoulder to get a hand on the ball, but this time Meadows held on for the touchdown.
“Justin’s got great speed and he’s going to be a key part of things for us,” Bost said of Meadows. “We got one back that we lost after ninth grade in Casey. He’s a good addition for us. He’s the second fastest kid we’ve got and he showed some good things today.”
After opening up the quarterback position in the spring and encouraging competition for Rountree, the returning starter from last year has secured the position again.
“We looked at Dozier and he’s going to run some wildcat quarterback for us, but Rountree has come a long. He’s throwing a nice ball and making good reads. He’s looking pretty good back there. But he’s like the rest of us. We’ve got some improving to do.”
SPORTS STORY >> Jacksonville gets past Sheridan
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville’s Gwatney Chevrolet senior American Legion team picked up a nice road win on Monday, beating Sheridan 6-4 in extra innings at the Sheridan Youth Baseball Fields. Jacksonville got an outstanding performance on the mound from left-hander Colton Goodman. He threw all eight innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs while striking out four and walking four.
Sheridan, which consists of several players from the Yellowjackets’ Class 6A high school state championship team, had several other opportunities to score, but Goodman came through with clutch outs in tight situations.
The Jacksonville offense gave him a lead to work with right away. In the top of the first inning, Ryan Mallison hit a one-out double to right-center field. With two outs, Laderrious Perry doubled to straightaway center to drive in Mallison. D.J. Scott then singled to right to score Perry and give GC a 2-0 lead.
Sheridan cut the margin in half in the bottom of the second. Nick Whitley hit a leadoff double before Goodman got back-to-back groundouts. The second one advanced Whitley to third base. He then scored on a single by Tyler Cleveland.
Jacksonville got its first three batters on base in the third, but Courtland Mc-Donald was caught stealing after a single over second base. Mallison and Caleb McMunn then walked, and Mallison was thrown out on a 6-5 fielder’s choice by Perry.
Scott then got his second RBI of the game, this time with a base hit to left field that scored McMunn from second base. But Jacksonville’s lead was again cut to one in the bottom of the third.
Zach Glidden reached on an error at third by McMunn and leadoff hitter Evan Thompson walked. The runners moved up a base on a groundout to first, and Glidden scored on a sacrifice by Hunter Hicks.
Jacksonville made it 4-2 in the top of the fifth. Mallison drew a leadoff walk and Perry drove a 3-2 pitch to the wall in left field that brought Mallison all the way around for the run. That’s how the score remained until the bottom of the seventh. That’s when another Jacksonville error helped Sheridan score twice to force the extra inning.
Goodman hit Clayton Palmer with the second pitch of the inning before getting Glidden to fly out to center field. Thompson then singled to left before Wright grounded out back to Goodman. With two outs and runners at second and third, Jacksonville second baseman Chris Penn misplayed a grounder, allowing Palmer to score. Whitley then singled to center to score Thompson and tie the game.
Fortunes reversed for Penn in the top of the eighth. After Goodman hit a leadoff single, Penn’s bunt back to the pitcher was mishandled, leaving everyone safe and in scoring position.
Two groundouts to short left the runners still on base with two outs, but McDonald singled to right-center field to drive in both runners and set the final margin.
Goodman got a fly out to left and fanned Cleveland before walking Palmer. Glidden then flew out to right field to end the game.
McDonald, Perry and Scott each finished with two RBIs to account for all six runs.
McDonald and Scott went 2 for 4 at the plate while Perry went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles. Mallison went 1 for 2 with three walks and scored two runs and Penn went 2 for 4 with two singles. Jacksonville totaled 11 base hits and walked seven times.
The Gwatney Chevrolet seniors hosted Russellville last night at Dupree Park, and will play at Russellville on Thursday. Look for details of those games in Saturday’s edition of The Leader.
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville’s Gwatney Chevrolet senior American Legion team picked up a nice road win on Monday, beating Sheridan 6-4 in extra innings at the Sheridan Youth Baseball Fields. Jacksonville got an outstanding performance on the mound from left-hander Colton Goodman. He threw all eight innings, giving up six hits and two earned runs while striking out four and walking four.
Sheridan, which consists of several players from the Yellowjackets’ Class 6A high school state championship team, had several other opportunities to score, but Goodman came through with clutch outs in tight situations.
The Jacksonville offense gave him a lead to work with right away. In the top of the first inning, Ryan Mallison hit a one-out double to right-center field. With two outs, Laderrious Perry doubled to straightaway center to drive in Mallison. D.J. Scott then singled to right to score Perry and give GC a 2-0 lead.
Sheridan cut the margin in half in the bottom of the second. Nick Whitley hit a leadoff double before Goodman got back-to-back groundouts. The second one advanced Whitley to third base. He then scored on a single by Tyler Cleveland.
Jacksonville got its first three batters on base in the third, but Courtland Mc-Donald was caught stealing after a single over second base. Mallison and Caleb McMunn then walked, and Mallison was thrown out on a 6-5 fielder’s choice by Perry.
Scott then got his second RBI of the game, this time with a base hit to left field that scored McMunn from second base. But Jacksonville’s lead was again cut to one in the bottom of the third.
Zach Glidden reached on an error at third by McMunn and leadoff hitter Evan Thompson walked. The runners moved up a base on a groundout to first, and Glidden scored on a sacrifice by Hunter Hicks.
Jacksonville made it 4-2 in the top of the fifth. Mallison drew a leadoff walk and Perry drove a 3-2 pitch to the wall in left field that brought Mallison all the way around for the run. That’s how the score remained until the bottom of the seventh. That’s when another Jacksonville error helped Sheridan score twice to force the extra inning.
Goodman hit Clayton Palmer with the second pitch of the inning before getting Glidden to fly out to center field. Thompson then singled to left before Wright grounded out back to Goodman. With two outs and runners at second and third, Jacksonville second baseman Chris Penn misplayed a grounder, allowing Palmer to score. Whitley then singled to center to score Thompson and tie the game.
Fortunes reversed for Penn in the top of the eighth. After Goodman hit a leadoff single, Penn’s bunt back to the pitcher was mishandled, leaving everyone safe and in scoring position.
Two groundouts to short left the runners still on base with two outs, but McDonald singled to right-center field to drive in both runners and set the final margin.
Goodman got a fly out to left and fanned Cleveland before walking Palmer. Glidden then flew out to right field to end the game.
McDonald, Perry and Scott each finished with two RBIs to account for all six runs.
McDonald and Scott went 2 for 4 at the plate while Perry went 2 for 3 with a pair of doubles. Mallison went 1 for 2 with three walks and scored two runs and Penn went 2 for 4 with two singles. Jacksonville totaled 11 base hits and walked seven times.
The Gwatney Chevrolet seniors hosted Russellville last night at Dupree Park, and will play at Russellville on Thursday. Look for details of those games in Saturday’s edition of The Leader.
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot juniors sweep LR pair
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The Cabot Centennial Bank junior American Legion team earned a pair of victories over two different Little Rock teams Monday night at Brian Wade Conrade Memorial Field.
In game one of the doubleheader, Cabot beat the Little Rock D-Backs 11-5 in five innings, and in the nightcap, Cabot beat the LR Eagles 7-3 in six innings.
It took the hosts a couple of innings to get things going in game one against the D-Backs, but in the third inning, Cabot (22-4) reeled off five runs and never looked back.
Centennial Bank trailed 3-1 going into the third inning. The D-Backs were held scoreless in the top half of the inning, and Cabot got to work in the bottom half. Centennial Bank shortstop Blake McCutchen got the inning started with a single to center field, and he scored the next at-bat on a double to right by Brett Brockinton.
McCutchen scored on an errant throw to the infield as Brockinton trotted to second base, and the bad throw allowed Brockinton to advance to third. Bobby Joe Duncan walked two batters later, and he and Brockinton later scored on a bad pickoff attempt at third base.
Brian Tillery and Dylan Billingsley scored the final two runs of the inning to give Cabot a 6-3 lead. Centennial Bank scored five more runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the game away.
Brockinton led off the bottom half of the inning with a double to left center. He went to third base on a passed ball shortly after, and Will Jerry drove him in with a groundout to first base. That gave Cabot a 7-3 lead.
Duncan was next up, and he hit a stand-up double to right center before scoring on a Nicholas Belden single to straightaway center field. Tillery was hit by a pitch the next at-bat and Billingsley walked to load the bases.
Belden then scored on a balk by D-Back pitcher Teddy Bryant, and Tillery and Billingsley scored on a two-RBI single by Brenden Sheldon, which made it an 11-3 game.
The D-Backs scored their final two runs in the top of the fifth, and once the top half of the inning was over, the game was called because the two-hour time limit expired.
In game two against the Eagles, the first two innings were scoreless, but like the first game, Cabot reeled off five runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-0 lead.
Three-straight singles by Sheldon, McCutchen and Brockinton started Cabot’s third-inning rally. Brockinton’s hit drove in both baserunners to make it a 2-0 game. The next hit was a stand-up double by cleanup hitter Dillon Thomas, which drove in Brockinton for a 3-0 Centennial Bank lead.
Thomas scored the next at-bat on a single by Easton Seidl. A sacrifice groundout by Michael Crumbly advanced Seidl to second base, and Seidl went to third shortly after on a passed ball. He scored on a double down the right-field line by Duncan, which capped the scoring for the inning.
Cabot scored an unearned run in the fourth inning to lead 6-0. The Eagles scored their first run in the top of the fifth before Cabot scored its final run of the night in the bottom half of the inning.
Ty Cyr got things going in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out double to the fence in left center, and he scored the next at-bat on a line-drive single to left by Belden.
The Eagles scored two more runs in the top of the sixth to set the final score, and once the top of the sixth was over, the game was called because the time limit expired.
Brockinton earned the win on the mound in game two. He threw four innings of no-hit baseball before being relieved by Cyr in the fifth. Brockinton recorded five strikeouts and gave up just one walk.
In game one, Tillery earned the win. He took to the mound in the top of the third with Cabot trailing 3-1, and pitched the rest of the game. He gave up just one hit and one earned run in his three innings of work, striking out one batter while walking four.
Cabot outhit the D-Backs 11-3, and outhit the Eagles 12-2. In game one, Brockinton led all batters, going 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Duncan and Skylar Weidman also had multiple hits in game one with two apiece.
In game two, McCutchen and Seidl were the only players for either team with multiple hits, as each went 2 for 2.
Leader sportswriter
The Cabot Centennial Bank junior American Legion team earned a pair of victories over two different Little Rock teams Monday night at Brian Wade Conrade Memorial Field.
In game one of the doubleheader, Cabot beat the Little Rock D-Backs 11-5 in five innings, and in the nightcap, Cabot beat the LR Eagles 7-3 in six innings.
It took the hosts a couple of innings to get things going in game one against the D-Backs, but in the third inning, Cabot (22-4) reeled off five runs and never looked back.
Centennial Bank trailed 3-1 going into the third inning. The D-Backs were held scoreless in the top half of the inning, and Cabot got to work in the bottom half. Centennial Bank shortstop Blake McCutchen got the inning started with a single to center field, and he scored the next at-bat on a double to right by Brett Brockinton.
McCutchen scored on an errant throw to the infield as Brockinton trotted to second base, and the bad throw allowed Brockinton to advance to third. Bobby Joe Duncan walked two batters later, and he and Brockinton later scored on a bad pickoff attempt at third base.
Brian Tillery and Dylan Billingsley scored the final two runs of the inning to give Cabot a 6-3 lead. Centennial Bank scored five more runs in the bottom of the fourth to put the game away.
Brockinton led off the bottom half of the inning with a double to left center. He went to third base on a passed ball shortly after, and Will Jerry drove him in with a groundout to first base. That gave Cabot a 7-3 lead.
Duncan was next up, and he hit a stand-up double to right center before scoring on a Nicholas Belden single to straightaway center field. Tillery was hit by a pitch the next at-bat and Billingsley walked to load the bases.
Belden then scored on a balk by D-Back pitcher Teddy Bryant, and Tillery and Billingsley scored on a two-RBI single by Brenden Sheldon, which made it an 11-3 game.
The D-Backs scored their final two runs in the top of the fifth, and once the top half of the inning was over, the game was called because the two-hour time limit expired.
In game two against the Eagles, the first two innings were scoreless, but like the first game, Cabot reeled off five runs in the bottom of the third to take a 5-0 lead.
Three-straight singles by Sheldon, McCutchen and Brockinton started Cabot’s third-inning rally. Brockinton’s hit drove in both baserunners to make it a 2-0 game. The next hit was a stand-up double by cleanup hitter Dillon Thomas, which drove in Brockinton for a 3-0 Centennial Bank lead.
Thomas scored the next at-bat on a single by Easton Seidl. A sacrifice groundout by Michael Crumbly advanced Seidl to second base, and Seidl went to third shortly after on a passed ball. He scored on a double down the right-field line by Duncan, which capped the scoring for the inning.
Cabot scored an unearned run in the fourth inning to lead 6-0. The Eagles scored their first run in the top of the fifth before Cabot scored its final run of the night in the bottom half of the inning.
Ty Cyr got things going in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out double to the fence in left center, and he scored the next at-bat on a line-drive single to left by Belden.
The Eagles scored two more runs in the top of the sixth to set the final score, and once the top of the sixth was over, the game was called because the time limit expired.
Brockinton earned the win on the mound in game two. He threw four innings of no-hit baseball before being relieved by Cyr in the fifth. Brockinton recorded five strikeouts and gave up just one walk.
In game one, Tillery earned the win. He took to the mound in the top of the third with Cabot trailing 3-1, and pitched the rest of the game. He gave up just one hit and one earned run in his three innings of work, striking out one batter while walking four.
Cabot outhit the D-Backs 11-3, and outhit the Eagles 12-2. In game one, Brockinton led all batters, going 3 for 3 with an RBI and two runs scored. Duncan and Skylar Weidman also had multiple hits in game one with two apiece.
In game two, McCutchen and Seidl were the only players for either team with multiple hits, as each went 2 for 2.
Saturday, July 04, 2015
TOP STORY >> Two awarded Purple Hearts
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Former Army Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula of Jacksonville, who was shot numerous times by a self-proclaimed terrorist in 2009, received the Purple Heart in ceremonies at the state Capitol on Wednesday.
Fellow solider and friend, Pvt. William (Andy) Long of Conway, was killed in the same attack and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
The June 1, 2009, attack on Long and Ezeagwula was the first homegrown terrorist incident following 9/11.
Ezeagwula knew the Purple Heart was a big deal, but it didn’t sink in until after the ceremony when an individual asked the 24 year old for his autograph.
“That really was the highlight of the day,” Ezeagwula said. “It certainly made me want to cry and, had I, they would have been tears of joy.”
More than 300 friends, family members, military members, dignitaries and complete strangers filled the second floor of the Capitol for the ceremony. Members of the Patriot Guard stood with American flags on the second floor as well as third- and fourth-floor balconies.
Nikki Brooks Winn, a Gold Star sister, meaning her brother was a Purple Heart recipient, sang the National Anthem and the words echoed off the marble walls, giving a certain solitude to the awards ceremony.
Ezeagwula, along with Long’s father, Daris, were awarded the Purple Heart by Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Snow, the commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Long’s mother, brother and sister were awarded the Gold Star.
“It was just overwhelming,” Ezeagwula said. “I truly appreciate all the love that was shown. It made me feel good about myself.”
But he was quick to say he doubted that the Purple Heart would bring closure or ease the memories.
“I was shot five times and still go to the VA once a week. I’ll never get that time back. I can never change what happened,” Ezeagwula said.
He still thinks of the man who did the shooting, Abdul-hakim Muhammad, 23 at the time, who pulled up in a van and opened fire while Ezeagwula and Long were outside the Little Rock recruiting station, taking a break and discussing recent trips outside Arkansas.
Ezeagwula and Long were part of a recruiting program called “hometown recruiting assistance,” under which soldiers tell their stories to potential recruits. He said he was participating in the recruitment program because he wanted to show his peers that there is more out there beyond Arkansas and that the Army is a good way to see it.
Muhammad was charged with one count of capital murder and 16 counts of engaging in a terroristic act, charges stemming from shots fired at an occupied building.
The attacker was a native of Memphis and a Muslim convert. He told authorities that he was mad at the U.S. military because of what they had done to Muslims in the past.
“It’s a hard task to let go. It will take a lot to do that,” Ezeagwula said.
But he added that things were “falling right.” Even though his mother, Sonya, still lives in Jacksonville, Ezeagwula has moved to Little Rock and is a sophomore at Philander Smith College. He is majoring in business administration.
By 9 p.m. Wednesday evening, he was exhausted from the day’s activities and trying to get something to eat. “I didn’t have a chance to eat at all during the day even though there was food at the reception after the ceremony.”
Ezeagwula said he joined the Army because “I just wanted to help my family out. I thought it was a good way, and then, when I got in it, I actually learned to love the Army.” He was medically discharged shortly after the shooting.
He said that he and the Long family have become very close since the shooting. He said Long’s family “welcomed me with open arms” and has been supportive. And he expressed thanks to well-wishers and those who have offered prayers: “I really appreciate what they have done for my family and Pvt. Long’s family.”
It was Long’s father, Daris, who pushed for six years for changes in the rules and regulations regarding the Purple Heart so that his son, Ezeagwula and others who have been attacked while in the United States by terrorists or those influenced by terrorists would be properly honored.
The bereaving father, a former Marine, said it was about the motto of “never leaving anyone behind.”
Long told those at the ceremony his push was not for the Purple Heart but to complete a promise he made to his son just days before the attack.
“He had called me on Sunday, and I cut the conversation because I was busy with something that was only important to me. I called him back, apologized and said I would always be there for him,” the father said.
Sen. John Boozman (R- Ark.), one of many politicians at the ceremony, said, “The pair were targeted for their service, devotion and dedication to our country in a war where the frontlines against terrorism extend within our nation.
“Awarding Privates Long and Ezeagwula the Purple Heart for their service and sacrifice is simply the right thing to do.”
After the ceremony, many people told Ezeagwula’s mother, Sonya, that he was a hero.
She replied, “He was a hero before he got shot. He was our family’s hero.”
Leader staff writer
Former Army Pvt. Quinton Ezeagwula of Jacksonville, who was shot numerous times by a self-proclaimed terrorist in 2009, received the Purple Heart in ceremonies at the state Capitol on Wednesday.
Fellow solider and friend, Pvt. William (Andy) Long of Conway, was killed in the same attack and was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.
The June 1, 2009, attack on Long and Ezeagwula was the first homegrown terrorist incident following 9/11.
Ezeagwula knew the Purple Heart was a big deal, but it didn’t sink in until after the ceremony when an individual asked the 24 year old for his autograph.
“That really was the highlight of the day,” Ezeagwula said. “It certainly made me want to cry and, had I, they would have been tears of joy.”
More than 300 friends, family members, military members, dignitaries and complete strangers filled the second floor of the Capitol for the ceremony. Members of the Patriot Guard stood with American flags on the second floor as well as third- and fourth-floor balconies.
Nikki Brooks Winn, a Gold Star sister, meaning her brother was a Purple Heart recipient, sang the National Anthem and the words echoed off the marble walls, giving a certain solitude to the awards ceremony.
Ezeagwula, along with Long’s father, Daris, were awarded the Purple Heart by Maj. Gen. Jeffrey Snow, the commanding general of the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. Long’s mother, brother and sister were awarded the Gold Star.
“It was just overwhelming,” Ezeagwula said. “I truly appreciate all the love that was shown. It made me feel good about myself.”
But he was quick to say he doubted that the Purple Heart would bring closure or ease the memories.
“I was shot five times and still go to the VA once a week. I’ll never get that time back. I can never change what happened,” Ezeagwula said.
He still thinks of the man who did the shooting, Abdul-hakim Muhammad, 23 at the time, who pulled up in a van and opened fire while Ezeagwula and Long were outside the Little Rock recruiting station, taking a break and discussing recent trips outside Arkansas.
Ezeagwula and Long were part of a recruiting program called “hometown recruiting assistance,” under which soldiers tell their stories to potential recruits. He said he was participating in the recruitment program because he wanted to show his peers that there is more out there beyond Arkansas and that the Army is a good way to see it.
Muhammad was charged with one count of capital murder and 16 counts of engaging in a terroristic act, charges stemming from shots fired at an occupied building.
The attacker was a native of Memphis and a Muslim convert. He told authorities that he was mad at the U.S. military because of what they had done to Muslims in the past.
“It’s a hard task to let go. It will take a lot to do that,” Ezeagwula said.
But he added that things were “falling right.” Even though his mother, Sonya, still lives in Jacksonville, Ezeagwula has moved to Little Rock and is a sophomore at Philander Smith College. He is majoring in business administration.
By 9 p.m. Wednesday evening, he was exhausted from the day’s activities and trying to get something to eat. “I didn’t have a chance to eat at all during the day even though there was food at the reception after the ceremony.”
Ezeagwula said he joined the Army because “I just wanted to help my family out. I thought it was a good way, and then, when I got in it, I actually learned to love the Army.” He was medically discharged shortly after the shooting.
He said that he and the Long family have become very close since the shooting. He said Long’s family “welcomed me with open arms” and has been supportive. And he expressed thanks to well-wishers and those who have offered prayers: “I really appreciate what they have done for my family and Pvt. Long’s family.”
It was Long’s father, Daris, who pushed for six years for changes in the rules and regulations regarding the Purple Heart so that his son, Ezeagwula and others who have been attacked while in the United States by terrorists or those influenced by terrorists would be properly honored.
The bereaving father, a former Marine, said it was about the motto of “never leaving anyone behind.”
Long told those at the ceremony his push was not for the Purple Heart but to complete a promise he made to his son just days before the attack.
“He had called me on Sunday, and I cut the conversation because I was busy with something that was only important to me. I called him back, apologized and said I would always be there for him,” the father said.
Sen. John Boozman (R- Ark.), one of many politicians at the ceremony, said, “The pair were targeted for their service, devotion and dedication to our country in a war where the frontlines against terrorism extend within our nation.
“Awarding Privates Long and Ezeagwula the Purple Heart for their service and sacrifice is simply the right thing to do.”
After the ceremony, many people told Ezeagwula’s mother, Sonya, that he was a hero.
She replied, “He was a hero before he got shot. He was our family’s hero.”
Thursday, July 02, 2015
TOP STORY >> New chief for district
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Jacksonville-North Pulaski Superintendent Tony Wood took the wheel from interim Superintendent Bobby Lester on Wednesday morning, although for the moment Lester continues to help navigate.
After lunch, Wood, Lester and attorney Scott Richardson met to discuss some of issues left to be resolved with the Pulaski County Special School District before the new district is completely on its own one year from now.
“We’ve still got five things to settle,” said Lester, including bonded debt and selling facilities to the new district. He said fine-tuning and clearing up some ambiguous language were also among them.
Any areas of disagreement would go first to state Education Commissioner Johnny Key, and, if disagreement continues, to a magistrate.
A proposed salary schedule that starts first-year teachers at $38,000 and tops out at $55,500 is slated for consideration at the JNP board meeting at 6:30 Tuesday night in the Jacksonville City Hall Council Chambers.
The board usually meets on the first Monday night of the month, but, to accommodate the July 4th holiday, it was moved to Tuesday.
By way of comparison, at PCSSD this year, beginning teachers will earn $34,106 – a $2,000 increase — while a Ph.D. with 17 years will earn $69,206.
“The board will take a look at it Tuesday night,” Lester said. “I think they’ll approve the salary schedule for all personnel plus the appropriate stipends” for those with coaching or other additional duties.
Tuesday’s will be the first board meeting under Wood’s leadership. He was state Education Commissioner until January, when Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Johnny Key to that post.
“The challenge is to put forth our best effort to provide the educational setting for the children of Jacksonville that they deserve,” Wood said Wednesday.
“The first item of business is to bring closure to the specific items of the separation,” he said. “We are beginning a new school district and everything allows it to function in an organized and structured way.
“One of our challenges to try to work toward being able to provide information (to current staff) regarding future employment,” he said.
“This community has been and continues to be so supportive of the educational process for the young people of Jacksonville. It’s a comforting feeling to know the community is united 95 percent.”
He said he would encourage the new board to ask voters for a property-tax increase tied to the construction of the new high school complex proposed for acreage the Little Rock Air Force Base owns.
“Tuesday night, we’ll discuss their interest in submitting a request for qualifications for architectural and construction management firms” regarding a new high school, he said.
The district has hired administrators for vacancies, including: Mike Hudgeons, principal of Jacksonville Middle School, Jacob Smith from Bald Knob and assistant principal Terrod Hatcher for North Pulaski High School; Angela Stewart as principal at Arnold Drive and Dr. Taniesa Moore as principal at Tolleson, according to JNP chief of staff Phyllis Stewart.
Hudgeons, most recently a consultant, is a former principal of Benton Junior High and principal of Paris High School.
Hatcher graduated from Jacksonville High School and taught math in Bald Knob.
Stewart was principal at Bryant Middle School and Moore was assistant principal at Jacksonville Middle School.
“We recruited them into positions to be interviewed,” Lester said.
Then the actual hiring was through PCSSD Superintendent Jerry Guess, with Key — the one-man, acting school board — approving.
Lester said all administrators, teachers and others would have to reapply next year, because they are currently PCSSD employees through the end of the 2015-16 school year.
While activists have sought their own standalone Jacksonville-area school district for decades, over the past few years Lester has been the wizard behind the curtain.
His knowledge, contacts and Rolodex have helped bring the new district about.
Beginning this coming school year, all Jacksonville-area public middle school students will attend Jacksonville Middle School in the old Northwood Middle School building.
The bands and football teams from North Pulaski High School and Jacksonville High School will combine this year and, beginning in the 2016-17 school year, all will attend Jacksonville High School, freeing up North Pulaski for use as the district middle school, Lester said.
“We’ve met with band parents and boosters from both schools to elect new officers for the new high school, with representation from Jacksonville Middle School,” he said.
Students, parents and alumni are likely to have a hand in choosing school colors and a mascot for the combined high school and middle school.
Lester said the new district is expected to have between 4,100 and 4,500 students. “We’ve never gotten a real solid number,” he said. “We figured the budget and allocations for 4,100.”
Lester said he expected enrollment would climb as the new district has succeeded for a while. With a new high school and elementary school expected to be built on base land, he said, airmen will become more likely to live on base or in the Jacksonville area. Their children will go to Jacksonville-North Pulaski schools instead of to Cabot and elsewhere.
With 240 acres just off the base and a brand new high school facility, parents will be more likely to keep their kids in Jacksonville.
“We’re working on a no-cost or low-cost lease,” of that acreage, Lester said.
An additional 26 acres will be available for a school to replace Arnold Drive and Tolleson elementary schools, he said, with the Defense Department apparently prepared to chip in $18 million toward the new elementary.
Lester said the new elementary school could probably be built for about $25 million.
“The biggest challenge for Mr. Wood will be getting a complete handle on all of it,” Lester said, “income from the school district plus the human resources issue of getting all those people in place.
“He’s got the experience and the qualifications to get it done.”
As far as resolving the issues with PCSSD, Lester said, “Wood and the district’s lawyers would probably go through a settlement line by line and probably sit Key down in a room with them. That’s what I’d do.
“I’m going to be a volunteer,” said Lester, “on call. I’ve been volunteering for the past 15 years. I don’t think it will be as much as in the past.
“I’d like to express appreciation to this school board,” he said. “They are fine people with nothing but the kids in mind. There was nothing I proposed that I didn’t get a unanimous vote.”
He also praised Stewart, who is expected to continue as chief of staff. “Phyllis has been critical with her knowledge and background and stuff that’s happened in the past 15 or 16 years.”
She was the PCSSD superintendent’s administrative assistant for several years, and then worked for the state Association of School Boards and for Tom Kimbrell and Wood during their tenures as state Education Commissioner. “It’s been a pleasure to have her here.”
“It’s been an honor to be trusted by the people of Jacksonville,” he said. I’ve enjoyed it, but at times it’s been stressful. I’ll look back on it with a smile.”
Lester said that, in addition to keeping an eye on the new district, he would spend his found-again retirement attending ball games and events that his grandchildren participate in.
His 17-year-old grandson is an all-state pitcher/first baseman. He has two granddaughters who play catcher and a grandson who swims and plays soccer.
“I haven’t made up my mind whether I’ll continue doing superintendent searches,” Lester added.
Leader senior staff writer
Jacksonville-North Pulaski Superintendent Tony Wood took the wheel from interim Superintendent Bobby Lester on Wednesday morning, although for the moment Lester continues to help navigate.
After lunch, Wood, Lester and attorney Scott Richardson met to discuss some of issues left to be resolved with the Pulaski County Special School District before the new district is completely on its own one year from now.
“We’ve still got five things to settle,” said Lester, including bonded debt and selling facilities to the new district. He said fine-tuning and clearing up some ambiguous language were also among them.
Any areas of disagreement would go first to state Education Commissioner Johnny Key, and, if disagreement continues, to a magistrate.
A proposed salary schedule that starts first-year teachers at $38,000 and tops out at $55,500 is slated for consideration at the JNP board meeting at 6:30 Tuesday night in the Jacksonville City Hall Council Chambers.
The board usually meets on the first Monday night of the month, but, to accommodate the July 4th holiday, it was moved to Tuesday.
By way of comparison, at PCSSD this year, beginning teachers will earn $34,106 – a $2,000 increase — while a Ph.D. with 17 years will earn $69,206.
“The board will take a look at it Tuesday night,” Lester said. “I think they’ll approve the salary schedule for all personnel plus the appropriate stipends” for those with coaching or other additional duties.
Tuesday’s will be the first board meeting under Wood’s leadership. He was state Education Commissioner until January, when Gov. Asa Hutchinson appointed Johnny Key to that post.
“The challenge is to put forth our best effort to provide the educational setting for the children of Jacksonville that they deserve,” Wood said Wednesday.
“The first item of business is to bring closure to the specific items of the separation,” he said. “We are beginning a new school district and everything allows it to function in an organized and structured way.
“One of our challenges to try to work toward being able to provide information (to current staff) regarding future employment,” he said.
“This community has been and continues to be so supportive of the educational process for the young people of Jacksonville. It’s a comforting feeling to know the community is united 95 percent.”
He said he would encourage the new board to ask voters for a property-tax increase tied to the construction of the new high school complex proposed for acreage the Little Rock Air Force Base owns.
“Tuesday night, we’ll discuss their interest in submitting a request for qualifications for architectural and construction management firms” regarding a new high school, he said.
The district has hired administrators for vacancies, including: Mike Hudgeons, principal of Jacksonville Middle School, Jacob Smith from Bald Knob and assistant principal Terrod Hatcher for North Pulaski High School; Angela Stewart as principal at Arnold Drive and Dr. Taniesa Moore as principal at Tolleson, according to JNP chief of staff Phyllis Stewart.
Hudgeons, most recently a consultant, is a former principal of Benton Junior High and principal of Paris High School.
Hatcher graduated from Jacksonville High School and taught math in Bald Knob.
Stewart was principal at Bryant Middle School and Moore was assistant principal at Jacksonville Middle School.
“We recruited them into positions to be interviewed,” Lester said.
Then the actual hiring was through PCSSD Superintendent Jerry Guess, with Key — the one-man, acting school board — approving.
Lester said all administrators, teachers and others would have to reapply next year, because they are currently PCSSD employees through the end of the 2015-16 school year.
While activists have sought their own standalone Jacksonville-area school district for decades, over the past few years Lester has been the wizard behind the curtain.
His knowledge, contacts and Rolodex have helped bring the new district about.
Beginning this coming school year, all Jacksonville-area public middle school students will attend Jacksonville Middle School in the old Northwood Middle School building.
The bands and football teams from North Pulaski High School and Jacksonville High School will combine this year and, beginning in the 2016-17 school year, all will attend Jacksonville High School, freeing up North Pulaski for use as the district middle school, Lester said.
“We’ve met with band parents and boosters from both schools to elect new officers for the new high school, with representation from Jacksonville Middle School,” he said.
Students, parents and alumni are likely to have a hand in choosing school colors and a mascot for the combined high school and middle school.
Lester said the new district is expected to have between 4,100 and 4,500 students. “We’ve never gotten a real solid number,” he said. “We figured the budget and allocations for 4,100.”
Lester said he expected enrollment would climb as the new district has succeeded for a while. With a new high school and elementary school expected to be built on base land, he said, airmen will become more likely to live on base or in the Jacksonville area. Their children will go to Jacksonville-North Pulaski schools instead of to Cabot and elsewhere.
With 240 acres just off the base and a brand new high school facility, parents will be more likely to keep their kids in Jacksonville.
“We’re working on a no-cost or low-cost lease,” of that acreage, Lester said.
An additional 26 acres will be available for a school to replace Arnold Drive and Tolleson elementary schools, he said, with the Defense Department apparently prepared to chip in $18 million toward the new elementary.
Lester said the new elementary school could probably be built for about $25 million.
“The biggest challenge for Mr. Wood will be getting a complete handle on all of it,” Lester said, “income from the school district plus the human resources issue of getting all those people in place.
“He’s got the experience and the qualifications to get it done.”
As far as resolving the issues with PCSSD, Lester said, “Wood and the district’s lawyers would probably go through a settlement line by line and probably sit Key down in a room with them. That’s what I’d do.
“I’m going to be a volunteer,” said Lester, “on call. I’ve been volunteering for the past 15 years. I don’t think it will be as much as in the past.
“I’d like to express appreciation to this school board,” he said. “They are fine people with nothing but the kids in mind. There was nothing I proposed that I didn’t get a unanimous vote.”
He also praised Stewart, who is expected to continue as chief of staff. “Phyllis has been critical with her knowledge and background and stuff that’s happened in the past 15 or 16 years.”
She was the PCSSD superintendent’s administrative assistant for several years, and then worked for the state Association of School Boards and for Tom Kimbrell and Wood during their tenures as state Education Commissioner. “It’s been a pleasure to have her here.”
“It’s been an honor to be trusted by the people of Jacksonville,” he said. I’ve enjoyed it, but at times it’s been stressful. I’ll look back on it with a smile.”
Lester said that, in addition to keeping an eye on the new district, he would spend his found-again retirement attending ball games and events that his grandchildren participate in.
His 17-year-old grandson is an all-state pitcher/first baseman. He has two granddaughters who play catcher and a grandson who swims and plays soccer.
“I haven’t made up my mind whether I’ll continue doing superintendent searches,” Lester added.
SPORTS STORY >> Kingsley will see increased role for Hogs
By NATE ALLEN
Special to The Leader
FAYETTEVILLE – Without his good friend and former AAU teammate Bobby Portis, Razorback post player Moses Kingsley must transform from project to foundation in his third year.
Those obviously are Arkansas coach Mike Anderson’s expectations. On Monday’s SEC basketball coaches summer teleconference, he discussed the impact that Kingsley and sophomore point guard Anton Beard must have now that SEC Player of the Year Portis and guard Michael Qualls have turned pro, while starting guard Ky Madden and starting forward Alandise Harris have graduated.
Growing up playing soccer in Nigeria and catching up mostly on athleticism and shot-blocking upon arrival to the United States, Kingsley will be called upon for an all-round role as a regular starter with Portis gone.
“It presents an opportunity for guys like Moses Kingsley, who I really feel will have a tremendous junior year, to really step up and be that big guy that we need,” Anderson said.
Kingsley does cast a big presence protecting the rim.
Only Portis, 50 blocks, rejected more shots for the Razorbacks in 2014-2015 than Kingsley’s 38. Portis blocked his 50 shots in 1,076 minutes. Kingsley blocked his 38 in just 391 minutes. He averaged a block every 7.5 minutes, but only averaged 3.6 points and 2.5 rebounds.
Beard, of North Little Rock, opened the the 2014-2015 season as a backup, but during the SEC campaign took supreme command on the point, freeing Madden to play off the ball.
In the selection of postseason All-SEC teams, Beard was noticed by the SEC coaches.
“Anton Beard was on the All-Freshman team last year,” Anderson said. “We certainly feel he will step into an impactful role on this basketball team.”
FLAG CONTROVERSY IN THE SEC
No doubt all of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks coaches in all sports have been asked about the controversy of the State of South Carolina first having the Confederate flag waving from the state capitol in Columbia, then feeling pressure, including calls from the governor of South Carolina and Gamecocks athletic director Ray Tanner, to take it down after nine blacks were murdered allegedly by a gun-toting white racist, while at a Bible study in church.
The suspect, Dylann Roof, had posted pictures of himself with a handgun and the Confederate flag before the murders.
Gamecocks coach Frank Martin took more questions on the Confederate flag Monday.
Martin expressed the various interpretations of South Carolina citizens, but ultimately supports the flag’s removal from capitol grounds.
“It’s part of our history,” Martin said of the Civil War beginning with Confederates firing on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. “It’s part of our fabric. It represents a lot of good to a lot of people here and represents what people were willing to die for. But there is also another side to the equation that it’s offensive to numerous other folks.
“So we have to embrace both sides of it. We can’t just look at one side and say ‘the heck with the other group.’ That’s why I think there is a place for that flag in people’s private homes and museums that represent the Confederate states and the history of South Carolina, but not public places. Government buildings and government grounds are a representation of all of our people, not just some of our people. So that is a point that I was trying to make.”
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey did not equivocate.
“I support the calls made to remove the prominent displays of the Confederate battle flag, and applaud the leadership demonstrated around this issue,” Sankey said in a statement last week released by the SEC office. “SEC universities are learning communities filled with people of diverse ethnicities.
“Through intercollegiate athletics we provide a rallying point for people of all backgrounds and beliefs. We must provide our student-athletes an opportunity to learn and compete in an environment conducive to all races, creeds and colors.”
Special to The Leader
FAYETTEVILLE – Without his good friend and former AAU teammate Bobby Portis, Razorback post player Moses Kingsley must transform from project to foundation in his third year.
Those obviously are Arkansas coach Mike Anderson’s expectations. On Monday’s SEC basketball coaches summer teleconference, he discussed the impact that Kingsley and sophomore point guard Anton Beard must have now that SEC Player of the Year Portis and guard Michael Qualls have turned pro, while starting guard Ky Madden and starting forward Alandise Harris have graduated.
Growing up playing soccer in Nigeria and catching up mostly on athleticism and shot-blocking upon arrival to the United States, Kingsley will be called upon for an all-round role as a regular starter with Portis gone.
“It presents an opportunity for guys like Moses Kingsley, who I really feel will have a tremendous junior year, to really step up and be that big guy that we need,” Anderson said.
Kingsley does cast a big presence protecting the rim.
Only Portis, 50 blocks, rejected more shots for the Razorbacks in 2014-2015 than Kingsley’s 38. Portis blocked his 50 shots in 1,076 minutes. Kingsley blocked his 38 in just 391 minutes. He averaged a block every 7.5 minutes, but only averaged 3.6 points and 2.5 rebounds.
Beard, of North Little Rock, opened the the 2014-2015 season as a backup, but during the SEC campaign took supreme command on the point, freeing Madden to play off the ball.
In the selection of postseason All-SEC teams, Beard was noticed by the SEC coaches.
“Anton Beard was on the All-Freshman team last year,” Anderson said. “We certainly feel he will step into an impactful role on this basketball team.”
FLAG CONTROVERSY IN THE SEC
No doubt all of the University of South Carolina Gamecocks coaches in all sports have been asked about the controversy of the State of South Carolina first having the Confederate flag waving from the state capitol in Columbia, then feeling pressure, including calls from the governor of South Carolina and Gamecocks athletic director Ray Tanner, to take it down after nine blacks were murdered allegedly by a gun-toting white racist, while at a Bible study in church.
The suspect, Dylann Roof, had posted pictures of himself with a handgun and the Confederate flag before the murders.
Gamecocks coach Frank Martin took more questions on the Confederate flag Monday.
Martin expressed the various interpretations of South Carolina citizens, but ultimately supports the flag’s removal from capitol grounds.
“It’s part of our history,” Martin said of the Civil War beginning with Confederates firing on Fort Sumter in South Carolina. “It’s part of our fabric. It represents a lot of good to a lot of people here and represents what people were willing to die for. But there is also another side to the equation that it’s offensive to numerous other folks.
“So we have to embrace both sides of it. We can’t just look at one side and say ‘the heck with the other group.’ That’s why I think there is a place for that flag in people’s private homes and museums that represent the Confederate states and the history of South Carolina, but not public places. Government buildings and government grounds are a representation of all of our people, not just some of our people. So that is a point that I was trying to make.”
SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey did not equivocate.
“I support the calls made to remove the prominent displays of the Confederate battle flag, and applaud the leadership demonstrated around this issue,” Sankey said in a statement last week released by the SEC office. “SEC universities are learning communities filled with people of diverse ethnicities.
“Through intercollegiate athletics we provide a rallying point for people of all backgrounds and beliefs. We must provide our student-athletes an opportunity to learn and compete in an environment conducive to all races, creeds and colors.”
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot explodes in late innings for win
By GRAHAM POWELLLeader sportswriter
The Cabot Centennial Bank junior American legion team’s game with Jacksonville’s Gwatney Chevrolet Blue team was tied at 2-2 after four innings of play, but it was all Cabot in the final three innings, as Centennial Bank routed Gwatney Blue 13-2 Tuesday at Dupree Park in Jacksonville.
Cabot (19-4) scored the game’s first two runs in the top of the third inning and Jacksonville (7-9) answered with both of its runs in the bottom of the fourth. Unfortunately for Gwatney Blue, though, Centennial Bank took complete control the rest of the way.
The Cabot junior team put up four runs in the fifth inning, then scored three more in the sixth and four more in the seventh, while holding Jacksonville scoreless through that stretch, to take a double-digit lead and set the final score in the process.
“I think the second time we went around in the lineup they kind of figured the first (pitcher) out,” said Cabot assistant coach Joe Bryant. “I was real impressed with our starting pitcher, (Dylan) Billingsley.
“Our last kid (Skylar Weidman), he’s never pitched before. I wanted to see what he could do, and he came in and threw strikes.”
Billingsley earned the win on the mound. He threw the first six innings Tuesday, and gave up four hits and just one earned run before being relieved by Weidman in the seventh. Weidman retired the side, ending the game with a strikeout. Jacksonville’s two-run fourth inning started with a Tyson Flowers bunt single. Caden Sample singled to center field the next at-bat, and starting pitcher A.J. Jackson lined out to shortstop the following at-bat.
Jackson’s hit was caught by Cabot shortstop Blake McCutchen. Sample was off first base as McCutchen made the catch, and in an effort to turn two, McCutchen threw the ball to first base, but the throw was high, allowing Flowers to score from second base, which cut Cabot’s lead to 2-1. Sample advanced to second on the play.
A bunt single by D.J. Stirgus the next at-bat advanced Sample to third base, and two batters later, Sample scored on a sac fly to center field by Ryan Rosel, which tied the game at 2-2.
Cabot answered in the top of the fifth with its four runs scored that inning. Brian Tillery led off the inning with a walk. He stole second base before scoring via an error at shortstop. That ground ball to short was off the bat of Brenden Sheldon, and it gave Cabot the lead for good.
McCutchen reached on an error at second base the next at-bat, and both Sheldon and McCutchen scored two batters later on a single to right center by Easton Seidl. Seidl later scored on a two-out single by Ty Cyr, which put Cabot on top 6-2.
“We came back up and it was a new ballgame,” Jacksonville Blue coach Clayton Sample said of his team entering the fifth inning. “We walked a few guys and then they got a few base hits, and next thing you know, it’s 6-2, and I think it kind of snowballed from there.”
Cabot then added three more runs in the sixth before scoring four more in the seventh to make it an 11-run game. Tillery scored the 10th run for Cabot after drawing his fourth walk of the game. He crossed the plate on a double by McCutchen.
Centennial Bank’s next run was scored on a sac fly to center field by Seidl. Sheldon scored on the play after walking three batters earlier.
McCutchen made it a 12-2 game after scoring on a passed ball and Brett Brockinton scored the final run of the night on a wild pitch shortly after.
Cabot outhit Jacksonville 9-4 Tuesday. McCutchen led all batters at the plate, going 3 for 3 with two RBIs and four runs scored. Seidl and Brockinton also had multiple hits with two each.
For Jacksonville, Kam Whitmore, Flowers, Stirgus and Sample each had one hit.
The Cabot Centennial Bank junior American legion team’s game with Jacksonville’s Gwatney Chevrolet Blue team was tied at 2-2 after four innings of play, but it was all Cabot in the final three innings, as Centennial Bank routed Gwatney Blue 13-2 Tuesday at Dupree Park in Jacksonville.
Cabot (19-4) scored the game’s first two runs in the top of the third inning and Jacksonville (7-9) answered with both of its runs in the bottom of the fourth. Unfortunately for Gwatney Blue, though, Centennial Bank took complete control the rest of the way.
The Cabot junior team put up four runs in the fifth inning, then scored three more in the sixth and four more in the seventh, while holding Jacksonville scoreless through that stretch, to take a double-digit lead and set the final score in the process.
“I think the second time we went around in the lineup they kind of figured the first (pitcher) out,” said Cabot assistant coach Joe Bryant. “I was real impressed with our starting pitcher, (Dylan) Billingsley.
“Our last kid (Skylar Weidman), he’s never pitched before. I wanted to see what he could do, and he came in and threw strikes.”
Billingsley earned the win on the mound. He threw the first six innings Tuesday, and gave up four hits and just one earned run before being relieved by Weidman in the seventh. Weidman retired the side, ending the game with a strikeout. Jacksonville’s two-run fourth inning started with a Tyson Flowers bunt single. Caden Sample singled to center field the next at-bat, and starting pitcher A.J. Jackson lined out to shortstop the following at-bat.
Jackson’s hit was caught by Cabot shortstop Blake McCutchen. Sample was off first base as McCutchen made the catch, and in an effort to turn two, McCutchen threw the ball to first base, but the throw was high, allowing Flowers to score from second base, which cut Cabot’s lead to 2-1. Sample advanced to second on the play.
A bunt single by D.J. Stirgus the next at-bat advanced Sample to third base, and two batters later, Sample scored on a sac fly to center field by Ryan Rosel, which tied the game at 2-2.
Cabot answered in the top of the fifth with its four runs scored that inning. Brian Tillery led off the inning with a walk. He stole second base before scoring via an error at shortstop. That ground ball to short was off the bat of Brenden Sheldon, and it gave Cabot the lead for good.
McCutchen reached on an error at second base the next at-bat, and both Sheldon and McCutchen scored two batters later on a single to right center by Easton Seidl. Seidl later scored on a two-out single by Ty Cyr, which put Cabot on top 6-2.
“We came back up and it was a new ballgame,” Jacksonville Blue coach Clayton Sample said of his team entering the fifth inning. “We walked a few guys and then they got a few base hits, and next thing you know, it’s 6-2, and I think it kind of snowballed from there.”
Cabot then added three more runs in the sixth before scoring four more in the seventh to make it an 11-run game. Tillery scored the 10th run for Cabot after drawing his fourth walk of the game. He crossed the plate on a double by McCutchen.
Centennial Bank’s next run was scored on a sac fly to center field by Seidl. Sheldon scored on the play after walking three batters earlier.
McCutchen made it a 12-2 game after scoring on a passed ball and Brett Brockinton scored the final run of the night on a wild pitch shortly after.
Cabot outhit Jacksonville 9-4 Tuesday. McCutchen led all batters at the plate, going 3 for 3 with two RBIs and four runs scored. Seidl and Brockinton also had multiple hits with two each.
For Jacksonville, Kam Whitmore, Flowers, Stirgus and Sample each had one hit.
SPORTS STORY >> Jacksonville athletics fills four more open spots
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville High School has now filled all but one of the many coaching positions left open at the end of last school year, and some of the new hires, plus other departures from North Pulaski, means that all JHS and NPHS springs sports will combine in the 2015-16 school year.
“All the spring sports are going to merge together next year,” said Jacksonville athletic director Jerry Wilson. “Baseball, softball, soccer and track will be here. But we’re going to play some soccer games at North Pulaski.”
North Pulaski was left without its track coach when Teodis Ingram was transferred to Fuller before second semester last year. It was also left without a softball coach and athletic director when Tony Bohannon retired at the end of the school year.
The Falcons lost their soccer coach when Jacksonville announced the hiring of Donny Lantrip to head the ninth-grade football program and varsity soccer, and will now lose their baseball coach.
Head baseball Falcon the last two years, Michael Dean, will join head coach Larry Burrows and assistant Jeremiah Clennon onthe Red Devils’ baseball staff.
Crystal Scott, who was William Rountree’s assistant the last two seasons, has been promoted to head girls’ basketball coach after Rountree’s departure for Maumelle. Before coming to Jacksonville, Scott was the head girls’ coach at Dollarway High School in Pine Bluff. She will also continue as girls’ track coach next year.
The football program added a vast amount of experience to its staff with two new hires. Former Vilonia head coach Jim Stanley is now part of second-year coach Barry Hickingbotham’s staff, as well as longtime coach Bobby Gentry.
Stanley only officially resigned from the head VHS position earlier this week, and will likely work on the offensive side of the ball. Stanley’s T-style offenses at Vilonia featured misdirection plays and lifted the Eagles to contender status for several years in the tough 5A-West Conference. Stanley will also be the head boys’ track coach at JHS.
Gentry also joins the JHS football staff, bringing more than 40 years of high school and college coaching experience in Arkansas and Texas.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Whitney Abdullah would take over the girls’ varsity volleyball program and Stephanie Nation would run the ninth-grade team.
It was also announced that Tirrell Brown would assist Lantrip with ninth-grade football before going back to North Pulaski to assist Roy Jackson with the North Pulaski basketball program.
That leaves only the Jacksonville Middle School head boys’ basketball and assistant football position to be filled. Josh Nation is the head JMS football coach and will assist the new basketball coach.
“My goal for football is to have four coaches at every program,” Wilson said. “We get two for middle school and I’m going to try to get two volunteers. We have two for ninth grade and I’m going to try to get two volunteers. We’re starting basically from scratch here and I don’t want to leave these kids shortchanged by not having enough coaches for them. We’ve been lucky enough to have some people who have been helping us out the last couple of years, and I think we’re going to be able to keep that going.”
The JHS varsity football team will have six paid coaches, Hickingbotham and five assistants – defensive coordinator Brian McDermott, Burrows, Wilson, Stanley and Gentry.
Leader sports editor
Jacksonville High School has now filled all but one of the many coaching positions left open at the end of last school year, and some of the new hires, plus other departures from North Pulaski, means that all JHS and NPHS springs sports will combine in the 2015-16 school year.
“All the spring sports are going to merge together next year,” said Jacksonville athletic director Jerry Wilson. “Baseball, softball, soccer and track will be here. But we’re going to play some soccer games at North Pulaski.”
North Pulaski was left without its track coach when Teodis Ingram was transferred to Fuller before second semester last year. It was also left without a softball coach and athletic director when Tony Bohannon retired at the end of the school year.
The Falcons lost their soccer coach when Jacksonville announced the hiring of Donny Lantrip to head the ninth-grade football program and varsity soccer, and will now lose their baseball coach.
Head baseball Falcon the last two years, Michael Dean, will join head coach Larry Burrows and assistant Jeremiah Clennon onthe Red Devils’ baseball staff.
Crystal Scott, who was William Rountree’s assistant the last two seasons, has been promoted to head girls’ basketball coach after Rountree’s departure for Maumelle. Before coming to Jacksonville, Scott was the head girls’ coach at Dollarway High School in Pine Bluff. She will also continue as girls’ track coach next year.
The football program added a vast amount of experience to its staff with two new hires. Former Vilonia head coach Jim Stanley is now part of second-year coach Barry Hickingbotham’s staff, as well as longtime coach Bobby Gentry.
Stanley only officially resigned from the head VHS position earlier this week, and will likely work on the offensive side of the ball. Stanley’s T-style offenses at Vilonia featured misdirection plays and lifted the Eagles to contender status for several years in the tough 5A-West Conference. Stanley will also be the head boys’ track coach at JHS.
Gentry also joins the JHS football staff, bringing more than 40 years of high school and college coaching experience in Arkansas and Texas.
Earlier this week, it was announced that Whitney Abdullah would take over the girls’ varsity volleyball program and Stephanie Nation would run the ninth-grade team.
It was also announced that Tirrell Brown would assist Lantrip with ninth-grade football before going back to North Pulaski to assist Roy Jackson with the North Pulaski basketball program.
That leaves only the Jacksonville Middle School head boys’ basketball and assistant football position to be filled. Josh Nation is the head JMS football coach and will assist the new basketball coach.
“My goal for football is to have four coaches at every program,” Wilson said. “We get two for middle school and I’m going to try to get two volunteers. We have two for ninth grade and I’m going to try to get two volunteers. We’re starting basically from scratch here and I don’t want to leave these kids shortchanged by not having enough coaches for them. We’ve been lucky enough to have some people who have been helping us out the last couple of years, and I think we’re going to be able to keep that going.”
The JHS varsity football team will have six paid coaches, Hickingbotham and five assistants – defensive coordinator Brian McDermott, Burrows, Wilson, Stanley and Gentry.
SPORTS STORY >> Gwatney gets its payback
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The last time the Jacksonville and Cabot senior American Legion teams played each other, Jacksonville gave up a big lead and Cabot won on a three-RBI, walk-off triple. On Tuesday, it was Gwatney Chevrolet that won via walk-off, as the Chevy Boys knocked off Centennial Bank 8-7 in eight innings at Dupree Park.
Jacksonville (9-5) tied the game at 7-7 in the fifth inning on a two-out, RBI single to right field by Courtland McDonald. Chris Penn scored on the play, but the game remained scoreless for the next two innings, which sent the game to extras.
Gwatney held Centennial Bank scoreless during its at-bat, and Jacksonville started the bottom of the eighth strong. With the top of the order up, McDonald reached on an error at second base to start things off, and two-hole hitter Ryan Mallison walked the next at-bat.
Three-hole hitter and winning pitcher Brandon Hickingbotham laid down what was supposed to be a sacrifice bunt down the third base line, but the bunt was so well executed that it turned into a single.
That brought cleanup hitter Laderrious Perry to the plate with the bases loaded, and with a full count, Perry hit a chopper to third base that was fielded cleanly by Brandon Jones.
Jones threw home for the force out, and although the throw was in time, it was too high, and that allowed McDonald to score the game-winning run.
“They played hard,” said Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham of his team. “We really swung the bats well tonight, played pretty good defense. We’re playing kids in positions they’ve never played before. We’re just really shorthanded on players.
“They’re working and trying to do the best they can. We’ve just been playing a lot of days in a row and we haven’t gotten a chance to take a break. They’ve had good days and bad days, but I’m proud of them and it was a good effort tonight.”
Coach Hickingbotham acknowledged that his players had their last meeting with Cabot on their minds entering this game. In that game in early June, Jacksonville jumped out to an 8-0 lead, but Cabot steadily chipped away at that lead and came back to beat Jacksonville 12-11 on a walk-off, three-RBI triple.
“They did,” Hickingbotham said. “They got embarrassed last time. We went up eight runs and then we got beat 12-11. That kills your attitude a little bit, but they came back and played hard. Cabot’s got a good ballclub, a lot of good talent on there. We just played a little better tonight.”
After a scoreless first inning, Cabot reeled off four runs in the top of the second to take a 4-0 lead. Jacksonville, though, answered with five runs in the bottom of the second to make it a 5-4 game. Cabot, however, answered with three more runs in the top of the third.
Gavin Tillery reached base that inning after being hit by a pitch, and Easton Seidl followed with a stand-up double off the fence in left center. Two batters later, Hayden Vinson drove both runners in with a single to left field.
Vinson advanced to second base on a Caleb Harpole walk. He then reached third, then home on wild pitches, which gave Centennial Bank a 7-5 cushion.
Jacksonville scored its sixth run in the bottom of the third on a two-out, stand-up double by Penn that sailed to the fence in left center. Donte Crudup scored on the play after also reaching base via double one batter earlier.
Both teams were scoreless in the fourth inning, but Jacksonville tied it up in the fifth on McDonald’s two-out single to right field, which made it a 7-7 game.
Brandon Hickingbotham took over pitching duties with one out in the top of the fifth and pitched a gem from that point on. He gave up only two hits in his time on the mound, and recorded four strikeouts as well.
At the plate, Jacksonville outhit Cabot 12-8. Brandon Hickingbotham and McDonald each went 3 for 4 to lead all batters. Penn was the only other Jacksonville player with multiple hits. He went 2 for 4.
Seidl, Vinson and Harpole led Cabot at the plate Tuesday, as each went 2 for 3.
Leader sportswriter
The last time the Jacksonville and Cabot senior American Legion teams played each other, Jacksonville gave up a big lead and Cabot won on a three-RBI, walk-off triple. On Tuesday, it was Gwatney Chevrolet that won via walk-off, as the Chevy Boys knocked off Centennial Bank 8-7 in eight innings at Dupree Park.
Jacksonville (9-5) tied the game at 7-7 in the fifth inning on a two-out, RBI single to right field by Courtland McDonald. Chris Penn scored on the play, but the game remained scoreless for the next two innings, which sent the game to extras.
Gwatney held Centennial Bank scoreless during its at-bat, and Jacksonville started the bottom of the eighth strong. With the top of the order up, McDonald reached on an error at second base to start things off, and two-hole hitter Ryan Mallison walked the next at-bat.
Three-hole hitter and winning pitcher Brandon Hickingbotham laid down what was supposed to be a sacrifice bunt down the third base line, but the bunt was so well executed that it turned into a single.
That brought cleanup hitter Laderrious Perry to the plate with the bases loaded, and with a full count, Perry hit a chopper to third base that was fielded cleanly by Brandon Jones.
Jones threw home for the force out, and although the throw was in time, it was too high, and that allowed McDonald to score the game-winning run.
“They played hard,” said Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham of his team. “We really swung the bats well tonight, played pretty good defense. We’re playing kids in positions they’ve never played before. We’re just really shorthanded on players.
“They’re working and trying to do the best they can. We’ve just been playing a lot of days in a row and we haven’t gotten a chance to take a break. They’ve had good days and bad days, but I’m proud of them and it was a good effort tonight.”
Coach Hickingbotham acknowledged that his players had their last meeting with Cabot on their minds entering this game. In that game in early June, Jacksonville jumped out to an 8-0 lead, but Cabot steadily chipped away at that lead and came back to beat Jacksonville 12-11 on a walk-off, three-RBI triple.
“They did,” Hickingbotham said. “They got embarrassed last time. We went up eight runs and then we got beat 12-11. That kills your attitude a little bit, but they came back and played hard. Cabot’s got a good ballclub, a lot of good talent on there. We just played a little better tonight.”
After a scoreless first inning, Cabot reeled off four runs in the top of the second to take a 4-0 lead. Jacksonville, though, answered with five runs in the bottom of the second to make it a 5-4 game. Cabot, however, answered with three more runs in the top of the third.
Gavin Tillery reached base that inning after being hit by a pitch, and Easton Seidl followed with a stand-up double off the fence in left center. Two batters later, Hayden Vinson drove both runners in with a single to left field.
Vinson advanced to second base on a Caleb Harpole walk. He then reached third, then home on wild pitches, which gave Centennial Bank a 7-5 cushion.
Jacksonville scored its sixth run in the bottom of the third on a two-out, stand-up double by Penn that sailed to the fence in left center. Donte Crudup scored on the play after also reaching base via double one batter earlier.
Both teams were scoreless in the fourth inning, but Jacksonville tied it up in the fifth on McDonald’s two-out single to right field, which made it a 7-7 game.
Brandon Hickingbotham took over pitching duties with one out in the top of the fifth and pitched a gem from that point on. He gave up only two hits in his time on the mound, and recorded four strikeouts as well.
At the plate, Jacksonville outhit Cabot 12-8. Brandon Hickingbotham and McDonald each went 3 for 4 to lead all batters. Penn was the only other Jacksonville player with multiple hits. He went 2 for 4.
Seidl, Vinson and Harpole led Cabot at the plate Tuesday, as each went 2 for 3.
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
SPORTS STORY >> Too many stranded, Cabot falls to Conway
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Centennial Bank senior American Legion team made it to the championship game of the Gwatney Chevrolet Summer Classic in Jacksonville, but lost 6-0 to the Conway Cougars on Sunday. Missed opportunities on offense and errors on defense told the story of the game.
Cabot put runners in scoring position in four of the first five innings, and had multiple runners in scoring position with one or fewer outs in the fourth and fifth innings. Cabot loaded the bases with one out in the fifth and failed to score.
Centennial Bank pitcher Lee Sullivan retired Conway’s first nine batters before giving up two singles to start the fourth inning. That’s when the Cabot defense fell apart. The runners advanced on a wild pitch and leadoff hitter Scott Weaver scored on a 6-4 fielder’s choice. Conway scored four more runs in the inning and three were results of errors, one at third base, one in right field and one at the plate.
Conway got one more run on a solo homer by cleanup hitter Josh Walker off relief pitcher Logan Gilbertson to set the final margin.
Cabot won three games to make it to Sunday night’s championship. They beat Searcy 4-2 on Saturday and beat Benton 8-2 early Sunday afternoon.
Cabot scored two runs off two hits in the first inning against Benton. Logan Kirkendoll was hit by a pitch with two outs before Gavin Tillery reached on an error at second base. Logan Edmondson and Brandon Jones then hit back-to-back singles to drive in the runners.
Benton scored one unearned run in the bottom of the first and the second inning was scoreless. Cabot scored four in the third to take command of the game. Braden Jarnagin hit a leadoff single before Kirkendoll was hit by a pitch. Tillery singled to load the bases and Edmondson hit into a 6-2 fielder’s choice that got Jarnagin at home plate.
Jones flew out to left field and Hayden Vinson was hit by a pitch to drive in the first run. Two walks and a wild pitch brought home the other three.
Benton scored once in the bottom of the third and Cabot added two more in the sixth. Dylan Bowers and Jarnagin got two singles to start the sixth inning, and both scored on sacrifice grounders by Kirkendoll and Tillery.
In Sunday’s game against Searcy, Cabot broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth inning for that victory.
Cabot took a quick lead in the top of the first inning, scoring one run on two walks, a stolen base and a sacrifice fly by Kirkendoll. Searcy tied it in the bottom of the first with a hit and a Cabot error. Searcy took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back doubles down the left field line, but Cabot tied it in the top of the fifth with a solo home run by Sullivan.
Centennial Bank then got its first two batters on base in the sixth when Tillery and Jarnagin singled to start things off. After a passed ball put them in scoring position, Gilbertson and Vinson drove them in with sacrifice grounders.
Cabot played at Jacksonville last night in a zone matchup. It will play at Benton tonight and at Sheridan on Thursday. Look for details of those games in Saturday’s edition of The Leader.
Leader sports editor
The Centennial Bank senior American Legion team made it to the championship game of the Gwatney Chevrolet Summer Classic in Jacksonville, but lost 6-0 to the Conway Cougars on Sunday. Missed opportunities on offense and errors on defense told the story of the game.
Cabot put runners in scoring position in four of the first five innings, and had multiple runners in scoring position with one or fewer outs in the fourth and fifth innings. Cabot loaded the bases with one out in the fifth and failed to score.
Centennial Bank pitcher Lee Sullivan retired Conway’s first nine batters before giving up two singles to start the fourth inning. That’s when the Cabot defense fell apart. The runners advanced on a wild pitch and leadoff hitter Scott Weaver scored on a 6-4 fielder’s choice. Conway scored four more runs in the inning and three were results of errors, one at third base, one in right field and one at the plate.
Conway got one more run on a solo homer by cleanup hitter Josh Walker off relief pitcher Logan Gilbertson to set the final margin.
Cabot won three games to make it to Sunday night’s championship. They beat Searcy 4-2 on Saturday and beat Benton 8-2 early Sunday afternoon.
Cabot scored two runs off two hits in the first inning against Benton. Logan Kirkendoll was hit by a pitch with two outs before Gavin Tillery reached on an error at second base. Logan Edmondson and Brandon Jones then hit back-to-back singles to drive in the runners.
Benton scored one unearned run in the bottom of the first and the second inning was scoreless. Cabot scored four in the third to take command of the game. Braden Jarnagin hit a leadoff single before Kirkendoll was hit by a pitch. Tillery singled to load the bases and Edmondson hit into a 6-2 fielder’s choice that got Jarnagin at home plate.
Jones flew out to left field and Hayden Vinson was hit by a pitch to drive in the first run. Two walks and a wild pitch brought home the other three.
Benton scored once in the bottom of the third and Cabot added two more in the sixth. Dylan Bowers and Jarnagin got two singles to start the sixth inning, and both scored on sacrifice grounders by Kirkendoll and Tillery.
In Sunday’s game against Searcy, Cabot broke a 2-2 tie in the top of the sixth inning for that victory.
Cabot took a quick lead in the top of the first inning, scoring one run on two walks, a stolen base and a sacrifice fly by Kirkendoll. Searcy tied it in the bottom of the first with a hit and a Cabot error. Searcy took the lead in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back doubles down the left field line, but Cabot tied it in the top of the fifth with a solo home run by Sullivan.
Centennial Bank then got its first two batters on base in the sixth when Tillery and Jarnagin singled to start things off. After a passed ball put them in scoring position, Gilbertson and Vinson drove them in with sacrifice grounders.
Cabot played at Jacksonville last night in a zone matchup. It will play at Benton tonight and at Sheridan on Thursday. Look for details of those games in Saturday’s edition of The Leader.
SPORTS STORY >> Gwatney drops game behind second
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
After opening its Summer Classic senior American Legion tournament with a win, Jacksonville’s Gwatney Chevrolet squad lost its last two games at Dupree Park Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Jacksonville gave up six runs in the top of the first inning en route to a 9-3 loss to tournament champion Conway. On Sunday, three Chevy Boys’ errors blew two late leads in a 9-8 loss to Benton.
In Saturday’s game, Conway’s first-inning rally included three base hits, and was aided by two walks and an error. Jacksonville scored one run in the third inning when D.J. Scott got a leadoff base hit, followed two batters later by an RBI single to left by Laderrious Perry. Jacksonville scored two more in the fourth on another base hit by Perry, two walks and a passed ball.
Conway scored its next three runs in the sixth on two hit batters, two walks and a base hit.
While walks and hit batters were the main culprits in Saturday’s loss, errors led directly to the loss on Sunday. Jacksonville took a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Colton Goodman got a one-out base hit, which Perry and Caleb McMunn followed with back-to-back walks that loaded the bases. Chris Penn hit a fly ball to center field that scored Goodman. Deaundray Harris and Peyton Traywick then hit back-to-back line drives to center field to score Perry and McMunn.
But Jacksonville committed a pair of two-out errors that led to six unearned Benton runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, a pop-up to shallow right-center field dropped to the ground when Penn and Harris’ gloves collided just as the ball reached them. That allowed three runs to score and tie the game. Two base hits followed before another error gave up another run and a 6-3 Benton lead.
Jacksonville came back in the top of the sixth. Ryan Mallison drew a one-out walk and Brandon Hickingbotham singled to right field. Goodman struck out for the second out, but Perry hammered a towering three-run homer over the wall in left-center field to tie the game.
After Goodman held Benton scoreless in the sixth inning, Jacksonville reclaimed the lead with two runs in the top of the seventh. Penn started the rally with a leadoff single before Harris struck out. Courtland McDonald then ripped a line drive triple to the base of the wall in straightaway center to score Penn. He then scored on a sacrifice grounder by Scott that gave Gwatney Chevrolet an 8-6 lead.
But the bottom of the seventh saw another two-out error on another pop-up past second base that led to the Benton victory. This time, instead of two people trying to catch the ball, no one did, as Penn and Scott stopped and looked at each other as the ball landed between them.
“Anybody could’ve caught both of them,” said Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham. “The first one should’ve been the right fielder’s ball but he waited too long to call it. The second one probably should’ve been second base, but after the first one he wasn’t sure. They just have to learn to talk out there. It could’ve been avoided if they’d just talk. We shouldn’t have lost that game.”
For the tournament, Perry went 5 for 8 with three walks and was hit once. He finished with a double, a home run and five RBIs.
Jacksonville hosted Cabot on Tuesday and will host Conway on Thursday.
Look for details of those games in Saturday’s edition of The Leader.
Leader sports editor
After opening its Summer Classic senior American Legion tournament with a win, Jacksonville’s Gwatney Chevrolet squad lost its last two games at Dupree Park Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday, Jacksonville gave up six runs in the top of the first inning en route to a 9-3 loss to tournament champion Conway. On Sunday, three Chevy Boys’ errors blew two late leads in a 9-8 loss to Benton.
In Saturday’s game, Conway’s first-inning rally included three base hits, and was aided by two walks and an error. Jacksonville scored one run in the third inning when D.J. Scott got a leadoff base hit, followed two batters later by an RBI single to left by Laderrious Perry. Jacksonville scored two more in the fourth on another base hit by Perry, two walks and a passed ball.
Conway scored its next three runs in the sixth on two hit batters, two walks and a base hit.
While walks and hit batters were the main culprits in Saturday’s loss, errors led directly to the loss on Sunday. Jacksonville took a 3-0 lead in the third inning. Colton Goodman got a one-out base hit, which Perry and Caleb McMunn followed with back-to-back walks that loaded the bases. Chris Penn hit a fly ball to center field that scored Goodman. Deaundray Harris and Peyton Traywick then hit back-to-back line drives to center field to score Perry and McMunn.
But Jacksonville committed a pair of two-out errors that led to six unearned Benton runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With two outs and the bases loaded, a pop-up to shallow right-center field dropped to the ground when Penn and Harris’ gloves collided just as the ball reached them. That allowed three runs to score and tie the game. Two base hits followed before another error gave up another run and a 6-3 Benton lead.
Jacksonville came back in the top of the sixth. Ryan Mallison drew a one-out walk and Brandon Hickingbotham singled to right field. Goodman struck out for the second out, but Perry hammered a towering three-run homer over the wall in left-center field to tie the game.
After Goodman held Benton scoreless in the sixth inning, Jacksonville reclaimed the lead with two runs in the top of the seventh. Penn started the rally with a leadoff single before Harris struck out. Courtland McDonald then ripped a line drive triple to the base of the wall in straightaway center to score Penn. He then scored on a sacrifice grounder by Scott that gave Gwatney Chevrolet an 8-6 lead.
But the bottom of the seventh saw another two-out error on another pop-up past second base that led to the Benton victory. This time, instead of two people trying to catch the ball, no one did, as Penn and Scott stopped and looked at each other as the ball landed between them.
“Anybody could’ve caught both of them,” said Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham. “The first one should’ve been the right fielder’s ball but he waited too long to call it. The second one probably should’ve been second base, but after the first one he wasn’t sure. They just have to learn to talk out there. It could’ve been avoided if they’d just talk. We shouldn’t have lost that game.”
For the tournament, Perry went 5 for 8 with three walks and was hit once. He finished with a double, a home run and five RBIs.
Jacksonville hosted Cabot on Tuesday and will host Conway on Thursday.
Look for details of those games in Saturday’s edition of The Leader.
SPORTS STORY >> Henderson at brink of Olympic glory
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The precipice of greatness is an exciting place to be, and central Arkansas sports fans have a rare opportunity to follow and support one of their own as he stands at that precipice. Jeff Henderson, a 2007 graduate of Sylvan Hills, is one of the world’s best long jumpers, and his famous Olympic-gold-medal-winning coach, Al Joyner, believes track and field’s greatest glories, a world record and Olympic gold, are only a matter of time.
Few could imagine a less likely path to world-class status in track and field than the one followed by Henderson, who hails from McAlmont. Unheralded out of high school, but supported by a hard-working father and a committed mother who now lies in bed at home with late-stage Alzheimer’s disease, Henderson never lost belief in himself, even when no one else seemed to notice his talent.
That belief led him to this precipice. The next step, according to his coach, is into hallowed territory – the track and field world record books.
TOILING IN OBSCURITY
Last week in Eugene, Ore., Henderson qualified for the world championships in Beijing by finishing second at the USA championships. He had the longest legal jump, but a wind-aided jump beat his for first place. Henderson has the two longest legal jumps in the world this year at 8.50 and 8.44 meters. The 8.5 achieved at last week’s nationals. He will head to Toronto on July 17 to compete for the United States in the Pan Am Games before Beijing, with the ultimate goal of winning a gold medal in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro.
But Henderson was not a standout athlete in high school. He wanted badly to play football, but no offers were forthcoming until a very late offer by the University of Arkansas, and even it wasn’t a full scholarship.
He was, however, the most successful track athlete in the state that nobody knew about. He finished second in the 2007 decathlon without competing in the pole vault, and he set state high school decathlon records in the long jump and 100-meter dash.
Even with that success, track scholarships weren’t flowing in either.
Henderson ended up signing with Hinds Junior College in Raymond, Miss., where he utterly dominated JUCO competition for two years. At Hinds, Henderson won 10 JUCO national championships. He won the indoor and outdoor long jump and 100-meter dash, and ran the first leg of the two-time outdoor 4x100 relay team his freshman and sophomore years.
The relay team competed in events that included several Division I colleges. In one of those meets, the Hinds team finished third, behind only LSU and Florida.
But the major colleges still weren’t taking notice. Henderson signed with Florida Memorial University, a historically black NAIA school in Miami Gardens. That lasted just one semester. A late semester injury went untreated during the holiday break because he was not on scholarship again until the second semester began.
FINALLY NOTICED
So Henderson came home. He kept in shape and sat out until the fall of 2012, when he landed a scholarship to Stillman College, an NCAA Division II program in Tuscaloosa, Ala. It took a while for Henderson to get back into top shape that first year, but a major event took place that vastly increased his distances. That’s when someone important finally noticed him.
Al Joyner, an East St. Louis native and Arkansas State graduate, won the gold medal in the 1984 Olympic triple jump. He was also married to and coached Florence Griffith-Joyner, who won three gold medals in the 1988 Olympics and is still the world record holder in the women’s 100- and 200-meter dashes. She died of an epileptic seizure in her sleep in 1998.
Joyner saw Henderson at a world class indoor meet in New Mexico, running back and forth from the long jump to the sprints. And while he wasn’t posting world class times or distances, Joyner liked how much he was enjoying himself, and saw a lot of potential.
“You could just see the joy in his eyes and how much fun he was having,” said Joyner. “Then after getting a chance to meet him and know him a little bit, I could see he had the X factors. He had the right stuff, and he didn’t even know how good he really was.”
But Henderson turned down Joyner’s initial offer to join the International Association of Athletic Federations, and begin working with him full time. Instead, he opted to go back to Stillman for his senior year and finish his degree. By the end of that senior year in 2013, he had won two more Division II national championships in the outdoor long jump and 100-meter dash.
“I was OK with him going back to school,” Joyner said. “In fact, that told me a lot about what kind of man he was. He was going to finish what he started.”
Soon after graduation, Henderson moved to San Diego and began working with Joyner, who instantly made him lose 24 pounds off his 202-pound frame.
“I was jumping and every time I would land, I would impact my ankles and they would hurt,” Henderson said. “I’m much lighter now. I don’t feel as strong or as powerful as I did at 200, but I’m 178 now and my distances are a lot farther.”
Henderson broke out last year. He was the USA long jump champion in 2014, and finished in the top three in meets around the world, including Shanghai, Glasgow, Scotland and Stockholm, Sweden. He jumped a personal best 8.50 meters at Mount San Antonio’s SAC Relays earlier this year before matching that jump in Oregon last week.
EARLY DRIVE
Joyner bragged about Henderson’s work ethic and competitiveness, and that’s something that began at a very early age. It was his competitiveness that sparked the work ethic.
At about 13 years old, Jeff began to compete in local open track meets, and kept getting beat by another kid from Little Rock. He lobbied his father, Laverne, for a sled to pull around the back yard. A custodian at Sylvan Hills High School, there wasn’t enough money for a sled, so Dad put his creativity to work.
“He came up to me and said, ‘Dad, this boy keeps beating me. I need a sled.’ So I told him I would come up with something.”
He laid an old car engine block on an old car hood, rigged up a harness to attach to it, and Jeff went to work.
“When he first strapped that thing on, that first step was really slow,” said Laverne Henderson. “I told him to take that thing off because he was going to hurt himself. He said, “no” and in a few weeks he was dragging that thing back and forth across the lot back there.”
FAMILY TRAGEDY
Henderson comes from a strong family. He is the son of Laverne and Debra, and the youngest of six children, including four sisters and one brother. Debra is now in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease. She lays bedridden in a room covered with posters and memorabilia of her son’s accomplishments. She can’t speak, but her eyes widen and turn towards her husband’s cheerful voice as he talks about her impact on their son’s success.
“She’s the reason for all this,” Laverne says, waving a hand around the room. “She’s the one that pushed him. She drove him to meets all over the countryside. She drove him to Fayetteville for his private training. She did it. I was working and couldn’t get to a lot of it. She saw his potential before anybody else, and made sure he had every opportunity to reach it. She did it. She’s the reason for all this.”
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most difficult for families, and Jeff says chasing his dream in San Diego while his mother fades away back home in Arkansas is sometimes hard to deal with.
“I know there’s not really anything I can do for her, anyway, but it’s still hard,” Henderson said. “It was actually harder to deal with when we first heard the diagnosis. That was my senior year in high school. That was really hard.”
There is one thing Jeff can do for his mother, and that’s what he does. He strives to achieve the potential she first saw in him. And even though it means 2,000 miles between them, his heart is at ease because it’s where her vision can best be fulfilled.
FINAL GOAL
It’s also where Joyner puts him through the ringers four days a week. Training is intense, though it almost never includes any jumping.
“I do maybe two jumps every two weeks,” Henderson said. “It’s just a lot of running and bounding and weights.”
The training doesn’t take up an exorbitant amount of time, but it does take up most of his energy. He trains about 30 hours per week, but there’s not much life outside of the training facility. When he’s down, he opens his book of situational and encouraging Bible verses, and occasionally attends New Hope Church in San Diego on Sundays. But he says nightlife is out of the question and relationships are on hold for the time being.
“There’s no one stopping you from going out at night,” Henderson said. “But if you do, you’re going to be so tired the next day in training. And you’re so tired at the end of the day anyway, all you want to do is go home and relax. So really the only people you know are the other people at the training facility.”
That’s the kind of dedication Joyner knows it takes to achieve Olympic greatness. Joyner has searched and waited a long time for another athlete that has all the necessary requirements for that kind of greatness, and he believes he’s found one in Jeff Henderson, heaping the highest praise possible from a man with Joyner’s past.
“It’s been 25 years since I’ve had the honor of coaching my wife,” Joyner said. “Jeff is that type of competitor and athlete. He’s going to be one that people don’t forget. And they aren’t going to remember him as just a long jumper. They’ll remember him as a sprinter, too.”
And about that world record, Joyner is more than confident.
“It’s going to be a great pleasure for me to help win another gold medal for the state of Arkansas,” Joyner said. “Because I don’t have any doubts about that. I don’t have any doubts he’s going to break the world record, either. The only question I have is, how many times?”
BE PART OF THE STORY
Jeff recently joined the National Athletic Institute, which advocates for able-bodied and para-athletes. Unlike athletes in other countries, United States athletes do not receive funding from government sources. Jeff relies on NAI donations for his daily living expenses in order to train full time. Donations can be made through the NAI website, www.nai-usa.com, and can be earmarked specifically for your athlete of choice.
Leader sports editor
The precipice of greatness is an exciting place to be, and central Arkansas sports fans have a rare opportunity to follow and support one of their own as he stands at that precipice. Jeff Henderson, a 2007 graduate of Sylvan Hills, is one of the world’s best long jumpers, and his famous Olympic-gold-medal-winning coach, Al Joyner, believes track and field’s greatest glories, a world record and Olympic gold, are only a matter of time.
Few could imagine a less likely path to world-class status in track and field than the one followed by Henderson, who hails from McAlmont. Unheralded out of high school, but supported by a hard-working father and a committed mother who now lies in bed at home with late-stage Alzheimer’s disease, Henderson never lost belief in himself, even when no one else seemed to notice his talent.
That belief led him to this precipice. The next step, according to his coach, is into hallowed territory – the track and field world record books.
TOILING IN OBSCURITY
Last week in Eugene, Ore., Henderson qualified for the world championships in Beijing by finishing second at the USA championships. He had the longest legal jump, but a wind-aided jump beat his for first place. Henderson has the two longest legal jumps in the world this year at 8.50 and 8.44 meters. The 8.5 achieved at last week’s nationals. He will head to Toronto on July 17 to compete for the United States in the Pan Am Games before Beijing, with the ultimate goal of winning a gold medal in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro.
But Henderson was not a standout athlete in high school. He wanted badly to play football, but no offers were forthcoming until a very late offer by the University of Arkansas, and even it wasn’t a full scholarship.
He was, however, the most successful track athlete in the state that nobody knew about. He finished second in the 2007 decathlon without competing in the pole vault, and he set state high school decathlon records in the long jump and 100-meter dash.
Even with that success, track scholarships weren’t flowing in either.
Henderson ended up signing with Hinds Junior College in Raymond, Miss., where he utterly dominated JUCO competition for two years. At Hinds, Henderson won 10 JUCO national championships. He won the indoor and outdoor long jump and 100-meter dash, and ran the first leg of the two-time outdoor 4x100 relay team his freshman and sophomore years.
The relay team competed in events that included several Division I colleges. In one of those meets, the Hinds team finished third, behind only LSU and Florida.
But the major colleges still weren’t taking notice. Henderson signed with Florida Memorial University, a historically black NAIA school in Miami Gardens. That lasted just one semester. A late semester injury went untreated during the holiday break because he was not on scholarship again until the second semester began.
FINALLY NOTICED
So Henderson came home. He kept in shape and sat out until the fall of 2012, when he landed a scholarship to Stillman College, an NCAA Division II program in Tuscaloosa, Ala. It took a while for Henderson to get back into top shape that first year, but a major event took place that vastly increased his distances. That’s when someone important finally noticed him.
Al Joyner, an East St. Louis native and Arkansas State graduate, won the gold medal in the 1984 Olympic triple jump. He was also married to and coached Florence Griffith-Joyner, who won three gold medals in the 1988 Olympics and is still the world record holder in the women’s 100- and 200-meter dashes. She died of an epileptic seizure in her sleep in 1998.
Joyner saw Henderson at a world class indoor meet in New Mexico, running back and forth from the long jump to the sprints. And while he wasn’t posting world class times or distances, Joyner liked how much he was enjoying himself, and saw a lot of potential.
“You could just see the joy in his eyes and how much fun he was having,” said Joyner. “Then after getting a chance to meet him and know him a little bit, I could see he had the X factors. He had the right stuff, and he didn’t even know how good he really was.”
But Henderson turned down Joyner’s initial offer to join the International Association of Athletic Federations, and begin working with him full time. Instead, he opted to go back to Stillman for his senior year and finish his degree. By the end of that senior year in 2013, he had won two more Division II national championships in the outdoor long jump and 100-meter dash.
“I was OK with him going back to school,” Joyner said. “In fact, that told me a lot about what kind of man he was. He was going to finish what he started.”
Soon after graduation, Henderson moved to San Diego and began working with Joyner, who instantly made him lose 24 pounds off his 202-pound frame.
“I was jumping and every time I would land, I would impact my ankles and they would hurt,” Henderson said. “I’m much lighter now. I don’t feel as strong or as powerful as I did at 200, but I’m 178 now and my distances are a lot farther.”
Henderson broke out last year. He was the USA long jump champion in 2014, and finished in the top three in meets around the world, including Shanghai, Glasgow, Scotland and Stockholm, Sweden. He jumped a personal best 8.50 meters at Mount San Antonio’s SAC Relays earlier this year before matching that jump in Oregon last week.
EARLY DRIVE
Joyner bragged about Henderson’s work ethic and competitiveness, and that’s something that began at a very early age. It was his competitiveness that sparked the work ethic.
At about 13 years old, Jeff began to compete in local open track meets, and kept getting beat by another kid from Little Rock. He lobbied his father, Laverne, for a sled to pull around the back yard. A custodian at Sylvan Hills High School, there wasn’t enough money for a sled, so Dad put his creativity to work.
“He came up to me and said, ‘Dad, this boy keeps beating me. I need a sled.’ So I told him I would come up with something.”
He laid an old car engine block on an old car hood, rigged up a harness to attach to it, and Jeff went to work.
“When he first strapped that thing on, that first step was really slow,” said Laverne Henderson. “I told him to take that thing off because he was going to hurt himself. He said, “no” and in a few weeks he was dragging that thing back and forth across the lot back there.”
FAMILY TRAGEDY
Henderson comes from a strong family. He is the son of Laverne and Debra, and the youngest of six children, including four sisters and one brother. Debra is now in the late stages of Alzheimer’s disease. She lays bedridden in a room covered with posters and memorabilia of her son’s accomplishments. She can’t speak, but her eyes widen and turn towards her husband’s cheerful voice as he talks about her impact on their son’s success.
“She’s the reason for all this,” Laverne says, waving a hand around the room. “She’s the one that pushed him. She drove him to meets all over the countryside. She drove him to Fayetteville for his private training. She did it. I was working and couldn’t get to a lot of it. She saw his potential before anybody else, and made sure he had every opportunity to reach it. She did it. She’s the reason for all this.”
Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most difficult for families, and Jeff says chasing his dream in San Diego while his mother fades away back home in Arkansas is sometimes hard to deal with.
“I know there’s not really anything I can do for her, anyway, but it’s still hard,” Henderson said. “It was actually harder to deal with when we first heard the diagnosis. That was my senior year in high school. That was really hard.”
There is one thing Jeff can do for his mother, and that’s what he does. He strives to achieve the potential she first saw in him. And even though it means 2,000 miles between them, his heart is at ease because it’s where her vision can best be fulfilled.
FINAL GOAL
It’s also where Joyner puts him through the ringers four days a week. Training is intense, though it almost never includes any jumping.
“I do maybe two jumps every two weeks,” Henderson said. “It’s just a lot of running and bounding and weights.”
The training doesn’t take up an exorbitant amount of time, but it does take up most of his energy. He trains about 30 hours per week, but there’s not much life outside of the training facility. When he’s down, he opens his book of situational and encouraging Bible verses, and occasionally attends New Hope Church in San Diego on Sundays. But he says nightlife is out of the question and relationships are on hold for the time being.
“There’s no one stopping you from going out at night,” Henderson said. “But if you do, you’re going to be so tired the next day in training. And you’re so tired at the end of the day anyway, all you want to do is go home and relax. So really the only people you know are the other people at the training facility.”
That’s the kind of dedication Joyner knows it takes to achieve Olympic greatness. Joyner has searched and waited a long time for another athlete that has all the necessary requirements for that kind of greatness, and he believes he’s found one in Jeff Henderson, heaping the highest praise possible from a man with Joyner’s past.
“It’s been 25 years since I’ve had the honor of coaching my wife,” Joyner said. “Jeff is that type of competitor and athlete. He’s going to be one that people don’t forget. And they aren’t going to remember him as just a long jumper. They’ll remember him as a sprinter, too.”
And about that world record, Joyner is more than confident.
“It’s going to be a great pleasure for me to help win another gold medal for the state of Arkansas,” Joyner said. “Because I don’t have any doubts about that. I don’t have any doubts he’s going to break the world record, either. The only question I have is, how many times?”
BE PART OF THE STORY
Jeff recently joined the National Athletic Institute, which advocates for able-bodied and para-athletes. Unlike athletes in other countries, United States athletes do not receive funding from government sources. Jeff relies on NAI donations for his daily living expenses in order to train full time. Donations can be made through the NAI website, www.nai-usa.com, and can be earmarked specifically for your athlete of choice.
EDITORIAL >> Do we need a high court?
You may or may not care about the recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings on several monumental issues, from legalizing same-sex marriage to upholding Obamacare, but at least the highest court in the land made cogent arguments in those landmark cases.
Contrast that with the Arkansas Supreme Court, which sat on a same-sex marriage appeal for seven months and did nothing. The frightened justices hoped and prayed the U.S. Supreme Court would rule before the state court and let them off the hook.
Most of the justices on the state high court hold few principles of their own: They’ve been bought by special interests — from nursing home owners to trial lawyers and others — who helped them get elected. The Arkansas Supreme Court is just a parody of jurisprudence sold to the highest bidders, many of them shady operators who are defendants in criminal cases that could be appealed to the high court.
Presumably, most of the justices who are beholden to those defendants would have to recuse themselves and a temporary court would be appointed for those appeals. Or voters could repeal the state Supreme Court and save us from further embarrassment.
The tireless Max Brantley, who conducts the indispensable Arkansas Times Blog, revealed last Sunday just how corrupt our state high court has become in recent years. Brantley has gained access to its proceedings, which show a pusillanimous court reluctantly weighing its options. According to Brantley, the court was ready to side with Circuit Court Judge Chris Piazza, who last year declared the state’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.
But, later, the justices swung the other way and voted to overturn Piazza’s ruling. Reluctant to announce their decision, they waited for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule Friday morning in favor of same-sex marriage. But, rather than saying later that morning that their decision no longer mattered, the state Supreme Court waited until late Friday, when everyone had gone home, to declare the case moot.
Brantley caught the filing at 5:15 p.m. Friday on his way home and has had a field day ridiculing our tremulous justices. The rest of the Little Rock media missed the decision. The state newspaper seemed unaware until it ran a cartoon Tuesday by John Deering, who at least reads the Arkansas Times Blog.
Contrast that with the Arkansas Supreme Court, which sat on a same-sex marriage appeal for seven months and did nothing. The frightened justices hoped and prayed the U.S. Supreme Court would rule before the state court and let them off the hook.
Most of the justices on the state high court hold few principles of their own: They’ve been bought by special interests — from nursing home owners to trial lawyers and others — who helped them get elected. The Arkansas Supreme Court is just a parody of jurisprudence sold to the highest bidders, many of them shady operators who are defendants in criminal cases that could be appealed to the high court.
Presumably, most of the justices who are beholden to those defendants would have to recuse themselves and a temporary court would be appointed for those appeals. Or voters could repeal the state Supreme Court and save us from further embarrassment.
The tireless Max Brantley, who conducts the indispensable Arkansas Times Blog, revealed last Sunday just how corrupt our state high court has become in recent years. Brantley has gained access to its proceedings, which show a pusillanimous court reluctantly weighing its options. According to Brantley, the court was ready to side with Circuit Court Judge Chris Piazza, who last year declared the state’s ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional.
But, later, the justices swung the other way and voted to overturn Piazza’s ruling. Reluctant to announce their decision, they waited for the U.S. Supreme Court to rule Friday morning in favor of same-sex marriage. But, rather than saying later that morning that their decision no longer mattered, the state Supreme Court waited until late Friday, when everyone had gone home, to declare the case moot.
Brantley caught the filing at 5:15 p.m. Friday on his way home and has had a field day ridiculing our tremulous justices. The rest of the Little Rock media missed the decision. The state newspaper seemed unaware until it ran a cartoon Tuesday by John Deering, who at least reads the Arkansas Times Blog.
TOP STORY >> Huckeby House opening soon
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
The Huckeby House Adult Day Health Care center plans to open next week in Sherwood. The facility hopes to bring fun and engagement to our most undervalued assets, according to administrator Sandra Mancell.
“We are very home-style, not institutional, like some of the others,” she emphasized, comparing the center to a 12-hour nursing home, but one that lends a hand to seniors who remain independent by going home in the evenings and on weekends.
“We want them to feel comfortable and home. I mean, nobody wants to go to a doctor’s office, a hospital-type setting. We’re trying to keep them at home rather than having to go into a nursing home, which then possibly would cost them as much as $6,000 a month.”
The center is licensed for 50 “elders,” ages 55 and up.
Offerings of the 16,000-square-foot Huckeby House at 100 Shadow Oaks Drive include the following “play, fun and fabulous ideas”:
• physical, occupational and speech therapy through a partnership with Arkansas Physical Therapy and Wellness Center;
• medication management,
• Alzheimer’s and dementia care;
• meals and snacks;
• exercise classes;
• back-and-forth transportation for those who qualify to have that cost covered by Medicaid;
• arts and crafts;
• sewing, crochet and knitting clubs (the center has a working treble-foot Singer sewing machine from 1908, Mancell said);
• a game room with a pool table, cards and more;
• napping rooms for both genders;
• a “pet shop” where elders, especially those suffering from dementia, can “check out” a stuffed animal to care for throughout the day;
• a real-life rabbit and two cockatiels to interact with;
• a TV, movie and media room;
• once-a-week lessons from a piano teacher, who is trained to work with dementia patients and contracted from a national company;
• and a computer room where elders can be trained in using technology like Facebook and Skype to connect with relatives that live in other states and countries.
There is also a library with books from when the elders were students, Mancell said. “When they progress back with dementia, they progress back with age,” she explained, noting that the library will help with behavior modification when the elders become stressed.
“We can bring out something they know and will recognize because they’ve already progressed back and be able to do a little one-on-one and be able to calm them down.” Mancell said.
She added that, while the facility can’t provide Farmers’ Market produce because of its licensing requirements, elders could bring vegetables in to prepare at Huckeby House and take home.
“We’re trying to be centered around them, not us and our industry. It’s all about them,” Mancell continued. “We’re just trying to give back to our elders in our community.”
She lamented, “Today’s generation has no use for our elderly population, which is a shame.”
Mancell also said the center is more affordable than a nursing home.
The rate is $10 per hour with a four-hour minimum.
The monthly cost for eight hours a day is $1,600. The monthly cost for the maximum, 12 hours a day, is $2,000.
Private pay and Medicaid — pending licensure and via the Elders’ Choice program — will be accepted. Long-term insurance that would pay for a nursing home could cover services, too, according to the administrator.
The Arkansas Alzheimer’s Association also awards $500 grants for respite care that would help pay for Huckeby House services, she added.
The center is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, but the staff will stay later if caregivers call and ask them to, Mancell said.
The full medical staff of 25 — CNAs, LPNs and Executive Director Lynda Coberley, who is an RN — has decades of experience.
Elders will be assigned to groups, five to one CNA, which Huckeby House hopes they will build a bond with. Elders will spend all day, even meals, with their CNA.
Mancell said family members are also encouraged to call that CNA after hours if they need a night out, although that service would be offered by the individual staff member and not the center.
Several elders are already signed up and “everyone is excited about it,” the administrator told The Leader last week.
Why is she so passionate about her work? It’s a family tradition, and the facility was named for Mancell’s family. She is the fourth generation to work in this industry.
Mancell said, “I was raised to be respectful of my elders. Still to this day, it doesn’t matter where I’m at, if I’m in a restaurant and I see somebody that’s having some physical problems that needs some help, I’m opening doors. I’m checking on them; do they need help getting to their table?”
She said history is not being taught as much as it should be and that seniors are waiting to impart stories you won’t find in a textbook.
“That’s our goal, is to pay tribute back to them and maybe teach a new generation what they didn’t learn in school: to respect our elders, to listen to them. They are a wealth of knowledge,” Mancell concluded.
Coberley, her business partner, said she does this because her parents never knew a stranger and she wanted to be a nurse at age 10 because they help people. Her family has also worked in the elderly care industry.
Leader staff writer
The Huckeby House Adult Day Health Care center plans to open next week in Sherwood. The facility hopes to bring fun and engagement to our most undervalued assets, according to administrator Sandra Mancell.
“We are very home-style, not institutional, like some of the others,” she emphasized, comparing the center to a 12-hour nursing home, but one that lends a hand to seniors who remain independent by going home in the evenings and on weekends.
“We want them to feel comfortable and home. I mean, nobody wants to go to a doctor’s office, a hospital-type setting. We’re trying to keep them at home rather than having to go into a nursing home, which then possibly would cost them as much as $6,000 a month.”
The center is licensed for 50 “elders,” ages 55 and up.
Offerings of the 16,000-square-foot Huckeby House at 100 Shadow Oaks Drive include the following “play, fun and fabulous ideas”:
• physical, occupational and speech therapy through a partnership with Arkansas Physical Therapy and Wellness Center;
• medication management,
• Alzheimer’s and dementia care;
• meals and snacks;
• exercise classes;
• back-and-forth transportation for those who qualify to have that cost covered by Medicaid;
• arts and crafts;
• sewing, crochet and knitting clubs (the center has a working treble-foot Singer sewing machine from 1908, Mancell said);
• a game room with a pool table, cards and more;
• napping rooms for both genders;
• a “pet shop” where elders, especially those suffering from dementia, can “check out” a stuffed animal to care for throughout the day;
• a real-life rabbit and two cockatiels to interact with;
• a TV, movie and media room;
• once-a-week lessons from a piano teacher, who is trained to work with dementia patients and contracted from a national company;
• and a computer room where elders can be trained in using technology like Facebook and Skype to connect with relatives that live in other states and countries.
There is also a library with books from when the elders were students, Mancell said. “When they progress back with dementia, they progress back with age,” she explained, noting that the library will help with behavior modification when the elders become stressed.
“We can bring out something they know and will recognize because they’ve already progressed back and be able to do a little one-on-one and be able to calm them down.” Mancell said.
She added that, while the facility can’t provide Farmers’ Market produce because of its licensing requirements, elders could bring vegetables in to prepare at Huckeby House and take home.
“We’re trying to be centered around them, not us and our industry. It’s all about them,” Mancell continued. “We’re just trying to give back to our elders in our community.”
She lamented, “Today’s generation has no use for our elderly population, which is a shame.”
Mancell also said the center is more affordable than a nursing home.
The rate is $10 per hour with a four-hour minimum.
The monthly cost for eight hours a day is $1,600. The monthly cost for the maximum, 12 hours a day, is $2,000.
Private pay and Medicaid — pending licensure and via the Elders’ Choice program — will be accepted. Long-term insurance that would pay for a nursing home could cover services, too, according to the administrator.
The Arkansas Alzheimer’s Association also awards $500 grants for respite care that would help pay for Huckeby House services, she added.
The center is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, but the staff will stay later if caregivers call and ask them to, Mancell said.
The full medical staff of 25 — CNAs, LPNs and Executive Director Lynda Coberley, who is an RN — has decades of experience.
Elders will be assigned to groups, five to one CNA, which Huckeby House hopes they will build a bond with. Elders will spend all day, even meals, with their CNA.
Mancell said family members are also encouraged to call that CNA after hours if they need a night out, although that service would be offered by the individual staff member and not the center.
Several elders are already signed up and “everyone is excited about it,” the administrator told The Leader last week.
Why is she so passionate about her work? It’s a family tradition, and the facility was named for Mancell’s family. She is the fourth generation to work in this industry.
Mancell said, “I was raised to be respectful of my elders. Still to this day, it doesn’t matter where I’m at, if I’m in a restaurant and I see somebody that’s having some physical problems that needs some help, I’m opening doors. I’m checking on them; do they need help getting to their table?”
She said history is not being taught as much as it should be and that seniors are waiting to impart stories you won’t find in a textbook.
“That’s our goal, is to pay tribute back to them and maybe teach a new generation what they didn’t learn in school: to respect our elders, to listen to them. They are a wealth of knowledge,” Mancell concluded.
Coberley, her business partner, said she does this because her parents never knew a stranger and she wanted to be a nurse at age 10 because they help people. Her family has also worked in the elderly care industry.
TOP STORY >> Delivering Afghanistan’s fourth C-130H from base
By SENIOR AIRMAN HARRY BREXEL
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Since 2013, airmen from Little Rock Air Force Base have advised and trained Afghan aircrews on C-130 operations.
Two Afghan pilots completed the Afghan Air Force’s first-ever C-130 training flight September 2013 at Little Rock AFB. About a month later, Afghanistan received its first two C-130H aircraft from the United States.
Since then, U.S. and Afghan airmen have continued to work side-by-side to make significant progress on the Afghan Air Force’s combat airlift capabilities.
Air Mobility Command airmen recently delivered the fourth C-130H to Afghanistan.
“This will be the last projected C-130 delivery to the Afghans,” said Capt. Adam Fletcher, a 52nd Airlift Squadron C-130H pilot and commanding officer of the C-130H delivery operation.
The Afghan armed forces have relied heavily on helicopters for cargo air support over the past years. This fourth C-130H will enable the Afghan forces to have the same capabilities that NATO forces have used to successfully supply military outposts throughout the country.
In 2010, coalition partners recognized that C-130s could provide the Afghan Air Force with increased airlift, resupply and casualty evacuation capabilities, and a plan to supply the Afghan Air Force with a fleet of their own was born.
Two aircraft arrived in mid-2013, with a third the following summer. The arrival of the fourth and final C-130 from the United States completes a program five years in the making and well worth the wait, said Lt. Col. Tyler Faulk, deputy director of the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan’s Security Assistance Office.
“These C-130s are the Afghan Air Force’s first four-engine aircraft with this type of expanded capability,” said Faulk. “This fleet allows them to transport supplies or troops within Afghanistan, as well as to partner nations where they can execute missions, trainings and exercises; a whole host of international activities.”
Faulk explained that the C-130 is a medium-lift aircraft, capable of expediting troop and supply movement, and allows for international reach, making it “a huge force multiplier.”
“Afghanistan needs to perform more missions, and having a fourth C-130 allows for that,” said Afghan Air Force Capt. Muhammad Azimy, a C-130 pilot who has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the aircraft.
“We need to support more troops, moving them as soon as possible from one point to another, getting them into the fight faster. Getting commandos from the north to the south by helicopter would take days, but by C-130 it will take only a few hours.”
Faulk said, “The new fleet is a complete departure from anything the Afghan Air Force has owned before.”
Fletcher and a team of eight other airmen made the trip to Kabul to deliver the aircraft, which was formerly assigned to the 19th Operations Group at Little Rock AFB.
“I’m really excited for the trip,” said Senior Airman Kyle Miesbauer, a 50th Air-lift Squadron loadmaster assigned to the delivery flight, before they left. “I’ve never been to Afghanistan, but I joined the military to do things like this.”
The cargo plane was modified for its new home and has its own Afghan Air Force tail insignia and lettering.
“Maintenance crews from the 19th AW, 314th AW and 913th Airlift Group worked on the plane for more than 70 total man-hours to ensure that it was in outstanding condition,” said Fletcher.
The Afghan C-130H will be the second to come from Little Rock AFB. The four aircraft are the largest planes in the entire Afghan Air Force fleet.
The Air Force strategically picked a crew made up of Little Rock airmen as well as airmen from Peterson AFB, Colo.
“Who better to ask than the 50th Airlift Squadron and the 52nd AS,” said Fletcher. “They are two of the last active-duty squadrons that specialize solely on C-130Hs.”
Though this will be the last projected C-130 delivery, airmen from Little Rock AFB will continue to help the Afghan Air Force make Herculean steps toward military independence through training their aircrews.
The C-130 formal training unit here has been training aircrew members from across the Department of Defense and 44 allied nations for years. Afghanistan is among the newest nations to receive initial combat airlift training from the 314th AW at Little Rock AFB.
The base is the only place equipped with the most experienced cadre of C-130 flight instructors and a $1.05 billion C-130 Aircrew Training System.
Without the initial training provided by the 314th Airlift Wing’s tactical airlift “Center of Excellence”, the delivery of four C-130Hs to the Afghan Air Force would not have been possible.
Aviators, mechanics and loadmasters trained here in preparation for the arrival of the fleet, and the Afghan Air Force can now conduct regular maintenance and training in country.
As the Foreign Military Sales executor, the Security Assistance Office brought together the requirements needed from the Train, Advise, Assist Command-Air advisers and connected them with available equipment in the U.S. inventory. After each plane’s arrival, the Afghans took control of the aircraft and are committed to taking good care of them.
“Our goal is to get them to self-sufficiency and train them well enough that they are able to take over the entire process from development of the capability, through procurement, sustainment and even life-cycle management,” Faulk said.
Faulk has no doubts the Afghan Air Force will be able to step up to the challenge. He stressed that the collaboration between Afghanistan and the Security Assistance Office played an important role in the successful procurement of the fleet.
“This was a massive effort taken on by the Afghans, but we’ve been around every step of the way to help ensure the mission’s success,” Faulk said.
“It’s a very effective aircraft and will accomplish a lot of missions for the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior and even President Ghani,” said Azimy. “This fourth C-130 is very important to us.”
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
Since 2013, airmen from Little Rock Air Force Base have advised and trained Afghan aircrews on C-130 operations.
Two Afghan pilots completed the Afghan Air Force’s first-ever C-130 training flight September 2013 at Little Rock AFB. About a month later, Afghanistan received its first two C-130H aircraft from the United States.
Since then, U.S. and Afghan airmen have continued to work side-by-side to make significant progress on the Afghan Air Force’s combat airlift capabilities.
Air Mobility Command airmen recently delivered the fourth C-130H to Afghanistan.
“This will be the last projected C-130 delivery to the Afghans,” said Capt. Adam Fletcher, a 52nd Airlift Squadron C-130H pilot and commanding officer of the C-130H delivery operation.
The Afghan armed forces have relied heavily on helicopters for cargo air support over the past years. This fourth C-130H will enable the Afghan forces to have the same capabilities that NATO forces have used to successfully supply military outposts throughout the country.
In 2010, coalition partners recognized that C-130s could provide the Afghan Air Force with increased airlift, resupply and casualty evacuation capabilities, and a plan to supply the Afghan Air Force with a fleet of their own was born.
Two aircraft arrived in mid-2013, with a third the following summer. The arrival of the fourth and final C-130 from the United States completes a program five years in the making and well worth the wait, said Lt. Col. Tyler Faulk, deputy director of the Combined Security Transition Command-Afghanistan’s Security Assistance Office.
“These C-130s are the Afghan Air Force’s first four-engine aircraft with this type of expanded capability,” said Faulk. “This fleet allows them to transport supplies or troops within Afghanistan, as well as to partner nations where they can execute missions, trainings and exercises; a whole host of international activities.”
Faulk explained that the C-130 is a medium-lift aircraft, capable of expediting troop and supply movement, and allows for international reach, making it “a huge force multiplier.”
“Afghanistan needs to perform more missions, and having a fourth C-130 allows for that,” said Afghan Air Force Capt. Muhammad Azimy, a C-130 pilot who has been anxiously awaiting the arrival of the aircraft.
“We need to support more troops, moving them as soon as possible from one point to another, getting them into the fight faster. Getting commandos from the north to the south by helicopter would take days, but by C-130 it will take only a few hours.”
Faulk said, “The new fleet is a complete departure from anything the Afghan Air Force has owned before.”
Fletcher and a team of eight other airmen made the trip to Kabul to deliver the aircraft, which was formerly assigned to the 19th Operations Group at Little Rock AFB.
“I’m really excited for the trip,” said Senior Airman Kyle Miesbauer, a 50th Air-lift Squadron loadmaster assigned to the delivery flight, before they left. “I’ve never been to Afghanistan, but I joined the military to do things like this.”
The cargo plane was modified for its new home and has its own Afghan Air Force tail insignia and lettering.
“Maintenance crews from the 19th AW, 314th AW and 913th Airlift Group worked on the plane for more than 70 total man-hours to ensure that it was in outstanding condition,” said Fletcher.
The Afghan C-130H will be the second to come from Little Rock AFB. The four aircraft are the largest planes in the entire Afghan Air Force fleet.
The Air Force strategically picked a crew made up of Little Rock airmen as well as airmen from Peterson AFB, Colo.
“Who better to ask than the 50th Airlift Squadron and the 52nd AS,” said Fletcher. “They are two of the last active-duty squadrons that specialize solely on C-130Hs.”
Though this will be the last projected C-130 delivery, airmen from Little Rock AFB will continue to help the Afghan Air Force make Herculean steps toward military independence through training their aircrews.
The C-130 formal training unit here has been training aircrew members from across the Department of Defense and 44 allied nations for years. Afghanistan is among the newest nations to receive initial combat airlift training from the 314th AW at Little Rock AFB.
The base is the only place equipped with the most experienced cadre of C-130 flight instructors and a $1.05 billion C-130 Aircrew Training System.
Without the initial training provided by the 314th Airlift Wing’s tactical airlift “Center of Excellence”, the delivery of four C-130Hs to the Afghan Air Force would not have been possible.
Aviators, mechanics and loadmasters trained here in preparation for the arrival of the fleet, and the Afghan Air Force can now conduct regular maintenance and training in country.
As the Foreign Military Sales executor, the Security Assistance Office brought together the requirements needed from the Train, Advise, Assist Command-Air advisers and connected them with available equipment in the U.S. inventory. After each plane’s arrival, the Afghans took control of the aircraft and are committed to taking good care of them.
“Our goal is to get them to self-sufficiency and train them well enough that they are able to take over the entire process from development of the capability, through procurement, sustainment and even life-cycle management,” Faulk said.
Faulk has no doubts the Afghan Air Force will be able to step up to the challenge. He stressed that the collaboration between Afghanistan and the Security Assistance Office played an important role in the successful procurement of the fleet.
“This was a massive effort taken on by the Afghans, but we’ve been around every step of the way to help ensure the mission’s success,” Faulk said.
“It’s a very effective aircraft and will accomplish a lot of missions for the Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Interior and even President Ghani,” said Azimy. “This fourth C-130 is very important to us.”
TOP STORY >> Fighting abuse of prescription drugs
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series examining illicit drug use in the area.
Prescription-drug abuse rates here are trending downward, according to local law-enforcement officials, but the problem is still prevalent, sometimes deadly and being combated in numerous ways.
Those include semi-annual drug takeback events, drop boxes at police departments, public-education programs, training classes for officers, a special investigative unit in Sherwood and initiatives like the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Operation Pilluted.
The DEA, with help from agencies in The Leader’s coverage area, recently netted 50 felony arrest warrants in the pending case against a Little Rock doctor accused of writing fraudulent prescriptions.
Steve Varady, program manager for the state drug director’s office, said prescription- drug abuse had dropped about 3 percent over the last five years among 92 percent of public high school students who participated in the Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment Survey.
The state report for 2014 hasn’t been published yet, he clarified, but it may show prescription-drug abuse figures hitting a plateau after steadily decreasing over the last few years.
In Lonoke County, the lifetime use rates for sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th graders were 11.9 percent in 2011-12, 8.4 percent in 2012-13, 7.8 percent in 2013-14 and 8.8 percent in 2014-15, according to the survey.
For Pulaski County, they were 9.8 percent in 2011-12, 7.8 percent in 2012-13, 7.3 percent in 2013-14 and 7.6 percent in 2014-15.
Although Varady couldn’t provide figures related to deaths by overdoses, he said, “It’s heartbreaking” to hear of them. “It’s real Arkansas families and real people.”
To combat this issue, Varady noted, the state has advocated for legislation, like a bill passed this year that expands access to a nasal spray which can stop an overdose in progress.
Capt. Carl Minden of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office said Arkansas was once No. 1 in the U.S. for prescription-drug abuse, but he thinks it’s done better in the national rankings since then.
Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley said that was in 2007, but — citing the survey — rates in past 30-day and lifetime measures have dropped significantly in the last five years.
Jacksonville Police Chief Kenny Boyd and several other agencies provided their own figures showing how prevalent prescription-drug abuse is in their areas.
He wrote in an email to The Leader that his department conducted 14 undercover buys of prescription pills in 2012. They had two buys in 2014 and 12 as of May 2015.
Cabot police arrested 35 people last year for misdemeanor and felony possession of prescription medications, according to Sgt. Keith Graham. In 2014, there were five deaths — three suicides and two others where the person was attempting to get high — in which prescription medications were a factor, he added.
Boyd said, according to the Centers for Disease Control website, 44 people nationwide die each day from overdosing on prescription painkillers, nearly two million Americans abused them in 2013 and almost 7,000 are treated by emergency rooms each day for using them incorrectly.
Staley said that in 2012, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported there were 6.8 million pill poppers. In 2011, he continued, 2.38 million of the 4.024 million prescriptions written were for narcotic analgesics and 136 million of those were for Hydrocodone.
Minden said the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office doesn’t track deaths by prescription drugs, but he remembered the coroner calling in about 30 teen overdoses one year.
Staley said, nationally, one person dies every 14 minutes from overdosing on a prescription.
Pills are abused because people can easily access them and don’t realize how dangerous they can be, according to law-enforcement agencies in Pulaski and Lonoke counties.
Staley said, “Kids believe the drugs are safe because they’re manufactured in a factory with people with white coats.”
Graham added, “You can walk into any home in any neighborhood and you will find them.”
Lt. Jamie Michaels of the Sherwood Police Department pointed out, too, that pills can cost less than other drugs at first and that many are highly addictive, being opiate-based.
Boyd said some suspects he’d interviewed became addicted while they were legally prescribed pills after a surgery or to treat another condition.
Others succumbed to peer pressure or became addicted early on while growing up in a home where drug abuse was prevalent, he noted.
The Jacksonville chief said pills are readily available to young adults and children from their parents’ and grandparents’ medicine cabinets. Getting drugs that way and for free can be more appealing than purchasing them from a dealer on the streets, he said.
The sheriffs and representatives from local police departments generally agreed that people who take pills to get high come from all walks of life. It affects every demographic group and socio-economic class, they told The Leader.
But Minden, with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, said it’s primarily teens who abuse prescription drugs, while the Lonoke County sheriff said most abusers are 35 or younger.
Graham, with the Cabot Police Department, also said its officers tend to arrest more people in that age group for prescription drug-related charges.
Michaels, with the Sherwood Police Department, added, “People at the crest of their careers have fallen into it.”
No one The Leader spoke with seemed certain when prescription drug abuse became prevalent, but most claimed it was the 1990s and early 2000s.
Staley said, in early 2010, a coalition lead by the state drug director and other officials launched the “Monitor, Secure and Dispose” campaign that coordinated Arkansas’ participation in the DEA’s National Take-Back Initiative. In the 10 events held since 2010, 72.26 tons of unwanted/unused medications have been turned over for safe disposal in Arkansas, the Lonoke County sheriff noted.
Graham said pills have always been around but are being prescribed more often. “People can go to the doctor and say certain things and get pretty much anything prescribed.”
People who sell pills are also from all different backgrounds, law enforcement officials agreed.
Staley elaborated, “What we’ve seen in Lonoke County is the same people dealing illicit drugs are the same people selling prescription medication.”
The Jacksonville police chief said, for the most part, people sell them for the money. Even professionals — doctors, nurses, pharmacists — with access have done so, Boyd noted.
He said some people sell medications legally prescribed to them, and others have pills stolen by people they live with or others who are allowed into their homes.
People who break into vehicles, houses and businesses may also find pills and sell them, Boyd noted.
Agencies have begun to look at where prescription drugs are coming from, he told The Leader.
Staley agreed. His deputies are using tools to identify the “easy writers” of prescriptions and working closely with pharmacists so they feel comfortable in reporting people who send up red flags.
Jacksonville officers find pills by knocking on doors following tips, during traffic stops, by frequenting the house of someone who was reportedly selling them and using undercover cops to buy the pills from a suspect, who is then arrested, according to the chief.
“We also follow up if they are selling narcotics from a residence with the nuisance- abatement aspect of the law and work on evicting them from the property to clean up neighborhoods,” Boyd added.
Of the 35 charges related to prescription-drug abuse, only two are misdemeanor offenses that come with a minimum fine of $1,000 and up to one year in jail.
For felony possession, depending on the amount and type of pills found, penalties were a $1,500 fine with up to six years in prison; a $2,000 fine with three to 10 years; and a $2,500 fine with five to 20 years.
For purpose to deliver or delivery of prescription medications, also dependent on type and amount, the maximum penalty one could face a $25,000 fine and up to 40 years in prison for the most serious offense.
Local law-enforcement agencies are continuing to address prescription-drug abuse through free training classes offered by the Criminal Justice Institute, the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, the DEA, federal prosecutors and others.
Minden, with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, added that an annual conference is held and more training is available now than was available five years ago.
Graham said Cabot officers are invited to groups throughout the year to educate the public on prescription drug abuse. That police department also uses the PRIDE Program to teach younger generations about the dangers of it.
Leader staff writer
Editor’s note: This is the first in a series examining illicit drug use in the area.
Prescription-drug abuse rates here are trending downward, according to local law-enforcement officials, but the problem is still prevalent, sometimes deadly and being combated in numerous ways.
Those include semi-annual drug takeback events, drop boxes at police departments, public-education programs, training classes for officers, a special investigative unit in Sherwood and initiatives like the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Operation Pilluted.
The DEA, with help from agencies in The Leader’s coverage area, recently netted 50 felony arrest warrants in the pending case against a Little Rock doctor accused of writing fraudulent prescriptions.
Steve Varady, program manager for the state drug director’s office, said prescription- drug abuse had dropped about 3 percent over the last five years among 92 percent of public high school students who participated in the Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment Survey.
The state report for 2014 hasn’t been published yet, he clarified, but it may show prescription-drug abuse figures hitting a plateau after steadily decreasing over the last few years.
In Lonoke County, the lifetime use rates for sixth, eighth, 10th and 12th graders were 11.9 percent in 2011-12, 8.4 percent in 2012-13, 7.8 percent in 2013-14 and 8.8 percent in 2014-15, according to the survey.
For Pulaski County, they were 9.8 percent in 2011-12, 7.8 percent in 2012-13, 7.3 percent in 2013-14 and 7.6 percent in 2014-15.
Although Varady couldn’t provide figures related to deaths by overdoses, he said, “It’s heartbreaking” to hear of them. “It’s real Arkansas families and real people.”
To combat this issue, Varady noted, the state has advocated for legislation, like a bill passed this year that expands access to a nasal spray which can stop an overdose in progress.
Capt. Carl Minden of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office said Arkansas was once No. 1 in the U.S. for prescription-drug abuse, but he thinks it’s done better in the national rankings since then.
Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley said that was in 2007, but — citing the survey — rates in past 30-day and lifetime measures have dropped significantly in the last five years.
Jacksonville Police Chief Kenny Boyd and several other agencies provided their own figures showing how prevalent prescription-drug abuse is in their areas.
He wrote in an email to The Leader that his department conducted 14 undercover buys of prescription pills in 2012. They had two buys in 2014 and 12 as of May 2015.
Cabot police arrested 35 people last year for misdemeanor and felony possession of prescription medications, according to Sgt. Keith Graham. In 2014, there were five deaths — three suicides and two others where the person was attempting to get high — in which prescription medications were a factor, he added.
Boyd said, according to the Centers for Disease Control website, 44 people nationwide die each day from overdosing on prescription painkillers, nearly two million Americans abused them in 2013 and almost 7,000 are treated by emergency rooms each day for using them incorrectly.
Staley said that in 2012, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health reported there were 6.8 million pill poppers. In 2011, he continued, 2.38 million of the 4.024 million prescriptions written were for narcotic analgesics and 136 million of those were for Hydrocodone.
Minden said the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office doesn’t track deaths by prescription drugs, but he remembered the coroner calling in about 30 teen overdoses one year.
Staley said, nationally, one person dies every 14 minutes from overdosing on a prescription.
Pills are abused because people can easily access them and don’t realize how dangerous they can be, according to law-enforcement agencies in Pulaski and Lonoke counties.
Staley said, “Kids believe the drugs are safe because they’re manufactured in a factory with people with white coats.”
Graham added, “You can walk into any home in any neighborhood and you will find them.”
Lt. Jamie Michaels of the Sherwood Police Department pointed out, too, that pills can cost less than other drugs at first and that many are highly addictive, being opiate-based.
Boyd said some suspects he’d interviewed became addicted while they were legally prescribed pills after a surgery or to treat another condition.
Others succumbed to peer pressure or became addicted early on while growing up in a home where drug abuse was prevalent, he noted.
The Jacksonville chief said pills are readily available to young adults and children from their parents’ and grandparents’ medicine cabinets. Getting drugs that way and for free can be more appealing than purchasing them from a dealer on the streets, he said.
The sheriffs and representatives from local police departments generally agreed that people who take pills to get high come from all walks of life. It affects every demographic group and socio-economic class, they told The Leader.
But Minden, with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, said it’s primarily teens who abuse prescription drugs, while the Lonoke County sheriff said most abusers are 35 or younger.
Graham, with the Cabot Police Department, also said its officers tend to arrest more people in that age group for prescription drug-related charges.
Michaels, with the Sherwood Police Department, added, “People at the crest of their careers have fallen into it.”
No one The Leader spoke with seemed certain when prescription drug abuse became prevalent, but most claimed it was the 1990s and early 2000s.
Staley said, in early 2010, a coalition lead by the state drug director and other officials launched the “Monitor, Secure and Dispose” campaign that coordinated Arkansas’ participation in the DEA’s National Take-Back Initiative. In the 10 events held since 2010, 72.26 tons of unwanted/unused medications have been turned over for safe disposal in Arkansas, the Lonoke County sheriff noted.
Graham said pills have always been around but are being prescribed more often. “People can go to the doctor and say certain things and get pretty much anything prescribed.”
People who sell pills are also from all different backgrounds, law enforcement officials agreed.
Staley elaborated, “What we’ve seen in Lonoke County is the same people dealing illicit drugs are the same people selling prescription medication.”
The Jacksonville police chief said, for the most part, people sell them for the money. Even professionals — doctors, nurses, pharmacists — with access have done so, Boyd noted.
He said some people sell medications legally prescribed to them, and others have pills stolen by people they live with or others who are allowed into their homes.
People who break into vehicles, houses and businesses may also find pills and sell them, Boyd noted.
Agencies have begun to look at where prescription drugs are coming from, he told The Leader.
Staley agreed. His deputies are using tools to identify the “easy writers” of prescriptions and working closely with pharmacists so they feel comfortable in reporting people who send up red flags.
Jacksonville officers find pills by knocking on doors following tips, during traffic stops, by frequenting the house of someone who was reportedly selling them and using undercover cops to buy the pills from a suspect, who is then arrested, according to the chief.
“We also follow up if they are selling narcotics from a residence with the nuisance- abatement aspect of the law and work on evicting them from the property to clean up neighborhoods,” Boyd added.
Of the 35 charges related to prescription-drug abuse, only two are misdemeanor offenses that come with a minimum fine of $1,000 and up to one year in jail.
For felony possession, depending on the amount and type of pills found, penalties were a $1,500 fine with up to six years in prison; a $2,000 fine with three to 10 years; and a $2,500 fine with five to 20 years.
For purpose to deliver or delivery of prescription medications, also dependent on type and amount, the maximum penalty one could face a $25,000 fine and up to 40 years in prison for the most serious offense.
Local law-enforcement agencies are continuing to address prescription-drug abuse through free training classes offered by the Criminal Justice Institute, the Gulf Coast High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, the DEA, federal prosecutors and others.
Minden, with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office, added that an annual conference is held and more training is available now than was available five years ago.
Graham said Cabot officers are invited to groups throughout the year to educate the public on prescription drug abuse. That police department also uses the PRIDE Program to teach younger generations about the dangers of it.
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