Commissioner of State Lands John Thurston has announced the opening of a new exhibit featuring the survey of the Louisiana Purchase. The exhibit is in the Commissioner of State Lands Office, Room 109 of the State Capitol. Visitors may tour the exhibit from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
“This is the bicentennial of the beginning of the Louisiana Purchase Survey,” Thurston said. “Several other organizations are hosting events later in the year, but my office is presenting a snapshot of a surveyor’s life and what they might have seen as they began their survey, especially in southeast Arkansas, where the initial point was established.”
Following the 1803 purchase from France that more than doubled the size of the United States, President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the Lewis and Clark expedition, the Hunter-Dunbar Expedition and other explorations of the new land. It wasn’t until 1815, though, that President James Madison ordered that the land be surveyed to prepare for orderly development and settlement.
In October 1815, Principal Deputy Surveyor William Rector contracted with two other deputy surveyors to begin work. Prospect Robbins and Joseph Brown began their journeys on Oct. 27, 1815. Robbins set off north from the mouth of the Arkansas River, on the fifth north-south line (Fifth Principal Meridian) to be surveyed in the United States. Brown’s course began several miles upriver, at the mouth of the St. Francis River, and ran due west on what was termed the “baseline.”
On Nov. 10, 1815, Robbins reached the baseline and sent a message for Brown, who had already traveled farther west, to return. Together, they marked the intersection of the baseline and the Fifth Principal Meridian. This intersection served as the initial point of the first survey. Lands in Arkansas, Missouri, Iowa, North Dakota and parts of Minnesota and South Dakota are measured from that point.
“We all know the basic history of the Louisiana Purchase and the survey,” Thurston said. “But most of us rarely think about the day-to-day life of the surveying teams, the equipment they carried or the tools they used. This exhibit gives a small window into that life.”
The exhibit includes several documents from the Commissioner of State Lands records, as well as physical artifacts surveyors used. Documents include original journals, field notes and maps from the 1815 survey.
Items in the exhibit include an 18th-century flintlock musket, a reproduction flintlock and a surveyor’s compass made by 19th-century silversmith and instrument maker Goldsmith Chandlee. “The compass was actually used in Arkansas in the mid-1800s,” Thurston said.
Other items include camping and cooking supplies, a journal for the surveyor’s field notes and models of animals native to the wilderness that the teams traveled through in the survey’s early days. Those range from voles and squirrels to various species of snakes and an alligator.
The exhibit was developed with cooperation from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Witt Stephens Jr. Central Arkansas Nature Center, the Historic Arkansas Museum and historical re-enactors Timothy and Sharlene Richardson.
“We appreciate the assistance from all of these groups,” Thurston said. “The artifacts they have loaned us have built this exhibit into something that will be interesting to all ages.”
Friday, August 21, 2015
TOP STORY >> Judge: New district must obey orders
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
“This is not a new day,” U.S. District Judge Price Marshall said Thursday, giving the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District a slap on the wrist, saying it was still subject to desegregation Plan 2000 and to the desegregation agreement settlement that, among other things, authorized detachment of a Jacksonville-area district.
JNP attorney Scott Richardson told the court that the new detachment agreement — approved by both districts, Education Commissioner Johnny Key and the state Board of Education this month — was intended to replace much of the earlier agreement, giving the Jacksonville board the authority to operate pretty much autonomously.
Not so, Marshall said. He said Pulaski County Special School District Superintendent Jerry Guess remains the final word on all desegregation-related actions contemplated by the new Jacksonville district.
Period.
“If and when collaboration fails, the decision maker is Guess,” he said, subject to review by the court. “He is the chief administrative officer (for JNP) until July of next year. (The two districts are) a single administrative unit until then.”
“There is great enthusiasm for ‘a new day,’” said Marshall, “but there was a day before yesterday and 10 years before that. The world did not begin with the decision for a new district.”
He said Richardson and JNP seemed to “second-guess, nitpick and quibble over” issues resolved in the post-creation agreement.
“The court perceives a slippage by the new district after being created and agreeing to oversight; it was coming back to the well,” Marshall said.
Speaking for the Joshua Intervenors, attorney John Walker said Joshua was not consulted or a party to the new detachment agreement between the two districts, an agreement that will involve desegregation issues such as staffing.
“In my view, PCSSD’s and Joshua’s argument is correct on staffing issues,” Marshall said.
The conflict was brought into sharper focus when, in July, at the recommendation of its new superintendent, Tony Wood, the JNP board hired Jeremy Owoh, who is black, as an assistant superintendent and Bobby E. Lester, who is white, also as an assistant superintendent.
A black woman, Janice Walker, the principal of Warren Dupree Elementary, scored two points higher than Lester in the assessment. The Jacksonville NAACP and Walker called foul.
Because the new district is not totally autonomous, Guess said bypassing Walker could hamper both districts’ efforts to achieve unitary status and refused to authorize it. Lester later withdrew his application for the job, and currently Owoh and JNP chief of staff Phyllis Stewart are “taking up some of the slack,” she said.
Lester is the son of former PCSSD Superintendent Bobby Lester, who served as interim JNP superintendent until Wood took over July 1. Wood was familiar with the younger Lester from the time they worked together for the state Education Department.
Richardson, for the JNP board, said it was its own district now and could make its own decisions — that it was a new day.
Marshall said that, for matters related to desegregation, Guess was still “the final word, captain of the ship.”
He declined to rule on the matter since it involved conflicting laws and was at the moment a moot point.
“This is a very difficult issue that has divided the courts,” Marshall said previously, commenting that he wasn’t sure the issue could be resolved.
As for signing off on the new detachment agreement, Marshall said, “I want to mull (the detachment agreement) further.” Until then, it’s the court’s order that the prior agreement holds.
MEET ON FACILITIES
Saying the districts weren’t making the progress he had hoped in achieving unitary status, Marshall ordered the Pulaski County Special School District, Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District and the Joshua Intervenors to meet monthly to work out specifics of school facilities plans and report back to him at the Dec. 16 status conference.
“I’m not sure we’re making the best use of time in these status conferences. Instead of moving down the road, it’s become an opportunity to fight.”
To help set the tone, he suggested that the host group for each meeting provide “pie and drinks.”
PCSSD’s proposed 5.6-mill property tax increase to fund an ambitious facilities building program failed at the polls May 12, meaning the district had to cut back to what Guess called “Plan B.” That plan focuses on replacing Mills High School and moving Fuller Middle School into the old Mills building.
Marshall said he wanted more details on Plan B, including a timeline.
He also wants more information on the JNP facilities plan. Walker has maintained that building and deciding on sites for new schools, for instance, made the plan a desegregation issue.
Marshall said he wants to know more about where the new district’s new schools are going to be.
Jacksonville-North Pulaski, starting from a plan developed previously by PCSSD and from a tentative facilities plan submitted to the state last February, has hired as a consultant Charles Stein. Stein, who retired as director of the state Transportation and Facilities Department June 30, was in charge of evaluating master facilities plans for participation in the state’s financial matching program.
To be eligible for matching funds for the 2017-19 period, the JNP long-range facilities plan must be submitted by Feb. 1, 2016, and the application for specific projects must be submitted by March 1.
Walker told the court that neither district had included the Joshua Intervenors in facilities discussions or planning.
That will change, assuming the districts follow the judge’s instructions.
Walker also told the court that JNP had already chosen an architect and contractor that were “not minority friendly.”
He said JNP decisions were fraught with favoritism and nepotism.
The JNP board has authorized Wood to advertise a request for qualifications for those positions, to narrow them down to three applicants for each position and to make them available to the board for the purposes of selection.
After the Thursday hearing, Stewart identified the three firms under consideration for each of the two positions.
Of the seven applications for construction manager, Wood chose Adevco with CDI of Little Rock, Baldwin and Shell of Little Rock and Doyne Nabholtz Partnership of Conway.
Of the dozen architectural firms that sent qualifications, Wood chose three Little Rock firms — Lewis Architects and Engineers, Wittenberg Delony and Davidson, Inc., and Witsell Evans Rasco Architects.
Leader senior staff writer
“This is not a new day,” U.S. District Judge Price Marshall said Thursday, giving the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District a slap on the wrist, saying it was still subject to desegregation Plan 2000 and to the desegregation agreement settlement that, among other things, authorized detachment of a Jacksonville-area district.
JNP attorney Scott Richardson told the court that the new detachment agreement — approved by both districts, Education Commissioner Johnny Key and the state Board of Education this month — was intended to replace much of the earlier agreement, giving the Jacksonville board the authority to operate pretty much autonomously.
Not so, Marshall said. He said Pulaski County Special School District Superintendent Jerry Guess remains the final word on all desegregation-related actions contemplated by the new Jacksonville district.
Period.
“If and when collaboration fails, the decision maker is Guess,” he said, subject to review by the court. “He is the chief administrative officer (for JNP) until July of next year. (The two districts are) a single administrative unit until then.”
“There is great enthusiasm for ‘a new day,’” said Marshall, “but there was a day before yesterday and 10 years before that. The world did not begin with the decision for a new district.”
He said Richardson and JNP seemed to “second-guess, nitpick and quibble over” issues resolved in the post-creation agreement.
“The court perceives a slippage by the new district after being created and agreeing to oversight; it was coming back to the well,” Marshall said.
Speaking for the Joshua Intervenors, attorney John Walker said Joshua was not consulted or a party to the new detachment agreement between the two districts, an agreement that will involve desegregation issues such as staffing.
“In my view, PCSSD’s and Joshua’s argument is correct on staffing issues,” Marshall said.
The conflict was brought into sharper focus when, in July, at the recommendation of its new superintendent, Tony Wood, the JNP board hired Jeremy Owoh, who is black, as an assistant superintendent and Bobby E. Lester, who is white, also as an assistant superintendent.
A black woman, Janice Walker, the principal of Warren Dupree Elementary, scored two points higher than Lester in the assessment. The Jacksonville NAACP and Walker called foul.
Because the new district is not totally autonomous, Guess said bypassing Walker could hamper both districts’ efforts to achieve unitary status and refused to authorize it. Lester later withdrew his application for the job, and currently Owoh and JNP chief of staff Phyllis Stewart are “taking up some of the slack,” she said.
Lester is the son of former PCSSD Superintendent Bobby Lester, who served as interim JNP superintendent until Wood took over July 1. Wood was familiar with the younger Lester from the time they worked together for the state Education Department.
Richardson, for the JNP board, said it was its own district now and could make its own decisions — that it was a new day.
Marshall said that, for matters related to desegregation, Guess was still “the final word, captain of the ship.”
He declined to rule on the matter since it involved conflicting laws and was at the moment a moot point.
“This is a very difficult issue that has divided the courts,” Marshall said previously, commenting that he wasn’t sure the issue could be resolved.
As for signing off on the new detachment agreement, Marshall said, “I want to mull (the detachment agreement) further.” Until then, it’s the court’s order that the prior agreement holds.
MEET ON FACILITIES
Saying the districts weren’t making the progress he had hoped in achieving unitary status, Marshall ordered the Pulaski County Special School District, Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District and the Joshua Intervenors to meet monthly to work out specifics of school facilities plans and report back to him at the Dec. 16 status conference.
“I’m not sure we’re making the best use of time in these status conferences. Instead of moving down the road, it’s become an opportunity to fight.”
To help set the tone, he suggested that the host group for each meeting provide “pie and drinks.”
PCSSD’s proposed 5.6-mill property tax increase to fund an ambitious facilities building program failed at the polls May 12, meaning the district had to cut back to what Guess called “Plan B.” That plan focuses on replacing Mills High School and moving Fuller Middle School into the old Mills building.
Marshall said he wanted more details on Plan B, including a timeline.
He also wants more information on the JNP facilities plan. Walker has maintained that building and deciding on sites for new schools, for instance, made the plan a desegregation issue.
Marshall said he wants to know more about where the new district’s new schools are going to be.
Jacksonville-North Pulaski, starting from a plan developed previously by PCSSD and from a tentative facilities plan submitted to the state last February, has hired as a consultant Charles Stein. Stein, who retired as director of the state Transportation and Facilities Department June 30, was in charge of evaluating master facilities plans for participation in the state’s financial matching program.
To be eligible for matching funds for the 2017-19 period, the JNP long-range facilities plan must be submitted by Feb. 1, 2016, and the application for specific projects must be submitted by March 1.
Walker told the court that neither district had included the Joshua Intervenors in facilities discussions or planning.
That will change, assuming the districts follow the judge’s instructions.
Walker also told the court that JNP had already chosen an architect and contractor that were “not minority friendly.”
He said JNP decisions were fraught with favoritism and nepotism.
The JNP board has authorized Wood to advertise a request for qualifications for those positions, to narrow them down to three applicants for each position and to make them available to the board for the purposes of selection.
After the Thursday hearing, Stewart identified the three firms under consideration for each of the two positions.
Of the seven applications for construction manager, Wood chose Adevco with CDI of Little Rock, Baldwin and Shell of Little Rock and Doyne Nabholtz Partnership of Conway.
Of the dozen architectural firms that sent qualifications, Wood chose three Little Rock firms — Lewis Architects and Engineers, Wittenberg Delony and Davidson, Inc., and Witsell Evans Rasco Architects.
SPORTS STORY >> PA to repeat in 5A-Central
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The 5A-Central Conference was a compelling one in 2014, and even so in the offseason. Pulaski Academy once again rolled through the conference undefeated on its way to another state championship.
Beebe started the year 0-4, but finished the regular season by winning five of its last six games to earn the No. 2 seed in the 5A state playoffs, where they advanced to the semifinals.
Before the playoffs started, the Badgers were given a win for their fourth loss of the season against McClellan, who had to forfeit two games because of an ineligible starter. That, and the fact they upset previously unbeaten Sylvan Hills in week nine helped Beebe lock up the two seed from the Central.
Sylvan Hills was expected to give PA a challenge for the top spot, as the Bears opened their season with a perfect 8-0 record, but injuries decimated their chances down the stretch, and as a result, they lost their final three games, including their first round playoff game.
In the offseason, North Pulaski put an end to its football program because participation numbers were incredibly low for a 5A team, and that lowered the conference to seven teams.
As far as what team The Leader expects to claim the conference championship this season, until someone knocks this team off, it’ll keep getting picked to claim the league crown.
1) Pulaski Academy Bruins
There’s a saying that goes ‘to be the best, you got to beat the best.’ Well, that’s the case here, and no one in this conference has ever beaten the Bruins on the gridiron since the 5A-Central Conference was formed three years ago. But PA’s conference winning streak didn’t start there.
Pulaski Academy has won a whopping 35 consecutive conference games and five-straight conference championships, and none of their conference games were close in 2014. Coach Kevin Kelley has set high standards for the program, and has built it into one that’s gained national recognition.
The Bruins returns six starters on offense and five on defense from last year’s state championship team. They did lose some key starters – their quarterback, leading receiver, among others, to graduation, and their second-leading receiver from last year, who’s also the coach’s son, tore his ACL at a recent 7-on-7 tournament.
He’s a senior, but is not expected to miss the entire season. On top of that, the Bruins have plenty of other playmakers back for 2015, and should be in good position for yet another league title.
2) Beebe Badgers
The Badgers had a remarkable run from midseason on, and are hoping to build on that success this season. Injuries plagued the team early last year, but once those guys got healthy, or healthy enough, the Badgers became more of the team that many were expecting to see.
They’ve got two 1,000-yard backs (Trip Smith and Jo’Vaughn Wyrick) returning for their senior seasons, which has given the team a preseason ranking as high as No. 3 in Class 5A by some publications.
Beebe, though, has to replace almost its entire offensive line, a three-year starter at quarterback, and a total of eight starters on that side of the ball. The Badgers do have six returning starters on defense, and if the team can stay healthy, it could perhaps give PA a challenge when the two teams meet this fall.
3) Jacksonville Red Devils
The Red Devils had a rough start to their 2014 season, losing six of their first seven games before winning their final three to earn a playoff berth. The team jumped out to a 14-0 lead against perennial 5A power Batesville in the first round of the 5A playoffs, but the tradition-rich Pioneers responded with 33 unanswered points to put an end to Jacksonville’s season.
Jacksonville has seven starters returning on offense for second-year head coach Barry Hickingbotham, and four on defense. The Red Devils always have athletes on both the line and the skill positions, but some of those players are unproven at the varsity level.
Depth on offense should be a key strength for the Devils this season, but it remains to be seen how the unproven front seven on defense will fare once league play begins in week four.
4) Sylvan Hills Bears
As mentioned, Sylvan Hills was a state championship contender last season before injuries led to the team’s demise down the stretch. The Bears opened the season with eight-straight wins, but lost their final three, including their first round playoff game.
Granted, those three losses were against three of the four semifinalists in 5A, including the two teams that played for the state championship. But the Bears would’ve made things more interesting had they been healthy.
Head coach Jim Withrow has 70-plus players on his team this season, but 23 seniors graduated in May, and only three starters return on offense, and five on defense. A good chunk of those younger players will have to learn and develop quickly if the Bears hope to make a run at a league title this season.
5) Little Rock McClellan Crimson Lions
McClellan won five games last year, but had to forfeit two of its wins because of an ineligible starting player. As a result, the team officially finished the year 3-7. Head coach Maurice Moody is in his third year at the school, and has developed his team into one that coaches around the league have taken notice of.
The Crimson Lions have eight returning starters on offense and six on defense, and the speed and size to do well this season. The lack of depth, though, could hurt the team’s chances if injuries occur. Regardless, though, McClellan’s football team is no longer a gimme win for other teams.
6) Mills Comets
The Comets had a down year last season, finishing 3-7 and missing the playoffs. Only one starter on offense and four on defense return to the team in 2015. The Comets lost an All-State running back and All-Conference quarterback to graduation.
Mills will have some playmakers on its team, but so will every other team in this conference. Expect another tough year for Mills.
7) J.A. Fair War Eagles
It’s been a long time since the War Eagles were relevant on the football field. The team hasn’t won a game on the field since week one of 2013. They did receive a win in 2014 as one of McClellan’s forfeits, giving the team an official 1-9 finish for the second consecutive season.
The team does have some experience returning this year, but very little depth and the team as a whole is undersized for a 5A-Central team. Comparing it to recent years, expect a similar season for the War Eagles in 2015.
Leader sportswriter
The 5A-Central Conference was a compelling one in 2014, and even so in the offseason. Pulaski Academy once again rolled through the conference undefeated on its way to another state championship.
Beebe started the year 0-4, but finished the regular season by winning five of its last six games to earn the No. 2 seed in the 5A state playoffs, where they advanced to the semifinals.
Before the playoffs started, the Badgers were given a win for their fourth loss of the season against McClellan, who had to forfeit two games because of an ineligible starter. That, and the fact they upset previously unbeaten Sylvan Hills in week nine helped Beebe lock up the two seed from the Central.
Sylvan Hills was expected to give PA a challenge for the top spot, as the Bears opened their season with a perfect 8-0 record, but injuries decimated their chances down the stretch, and as a result, they lost their final three games, including their first round playoff game.
In the offseason, North Pulaski put an end to its football program because participation numbers were incredibly low for a 5A team, and that lowered the conference to seven teams.
As far as what team The Leader expects to claim the conference championship this season, until someone knocks this team off, it’ll keep getting picked to claim the league crown.
1) Pulaski Academy Bruins
There’s a saying that goes ‘to be the best, you got to beat the best.’ Well, that’s the case here, and no one in this conference has ever beaten the Bruins on the gridiron since the 5A-Central Conference was formed three years ago. But PA’s conference winning streak didn’t start there.
Pulaski Academy has won a whopping 35 consecutive conference games and five-straight conference championships, and none of their conference games were close in 2014. Coach Kevin Kelley has set high standards for the program, and has built it into one that’s gained national recognition.
The Bruins returns six starters on offense and five on defense from last year’s state championship team. They did lose some key starters – their quarterback, leading receiver, among others, to graduation, and their second-leading receiver from last year, who’s also the coach’s son, tore his ACL at a recent 7-on-7 tournament.
He’s a senior, but is not expected to miss the entire season. On top of that, the Bruins have plenty of other playmakers back for 2015, and should be in good position for yet another league title.
2) Beebe Badgers
The Badgers had a remarkable run from midseason on, and are hoping to build on that success this season. Injuries plagued the team early last year, but once those guys got healthy, or healthy enough, the Badgers became more of the team that many were expecting to see.
They’ve got two 1,000-yard backs (Trip Smith and Jo’Vaughn Wyrick) returning for their senior seasons, which has given the team a preseason ranking as high as No. 3 in Class 5A by some publications.
Beebe, though, has to replace almost its entire offensive line, a three-year starter at quarterback, and a total of eight starters on that side of the ball. The Badgers do have six returning starters on defense, and if the team can stay healthy, it could perhaps give PA a challenge when the two teams meet this fall.
3) Jacksonville Red Devils
The Red Devils had a rough start to their 2014 season, losing six of their first seven games before winning their final three to earn a playoff berth. The team jumped out to a 14-0 lead against perennial 5A power Batesville in the first round of the 5A playoffs, but the tradition-rich Pioneers responded with 33 unanswered points to put an end to Jacksonville’s season.
Jacksonville has seven starters returning on offense for second-year head coach Barry Hickingbotham, and four on defense. The Red Devils always have athletes on both the line and the skill positions, but some of those players are unproven at the varsity level.
Depth on offense should be a key strength for the Devils this season, but it remains to be seen how the unproven front seven on defense will fare once league play begins in week four.
4) Sylvan Hills Bears
As mentioned, Sylvan Hills was a state championship contender last season before injuries led to the team’s demise down the stretch. The Bears opened the season with eight-straight wins, but lost their final three, including their first round playoff game.
Granted, those three losses were against three of the four semifinalists in 5A, including the two teams that played for the state championship. But the Bears would’ve made things more interesting had they been healthy.
Head coach Jim Withrow has 70-plus players on his team this season, but 23 seniors graduated in May, and only three starters return on offense, and five on defense. A good chunk of those younger players will have to learn and develop quickly if the Bears hope to make a run at a league title this season.
5) Little Rock McClellan Crimson Lions
McClellan won five games last year, but had to forfeit two of its wins because of an ineligible starting player. As a result, the team officially finished the year 3-7. Head coach Maurice Moody is in his third year at the school, and has developed his team into one that coaches around the league have taken notice of.
The Crimson Lions have eight returning starters on offense and six on defense, and the speed and size to do well this season. The lack of depth, though, could hurt the team’s chances if injuries occur. Regardless, though, McClellan’s football team is no longer a gimme win for other teams.
6) Mills Comets
The Comets had a down year last season, finishing 3-7 and missing the playoffs. Only one starter on offense and four on defense return to the team in 2015. The Comets lost an All-State running back and All-Conference quarterback to graduation.
Mills will have some playmakers on its team, but so will every other team in this conference. Expect another tough year for Mills.
7) J.A. Fair War Eagles
It’s been a long time since the War Eagles were relevant on the football field. The team hasn’t won a game on the field since week one of 2013. They did receive a win in 2014 as one of McClellan’s forfeits, giving the team an official 1-9 finish for the second consecutive season.
The team does have some experience returning this year, but very little depth and the team as a whole is undersized for a 5A-Central team. Comparing it to recent years, expect a similar season for the War Eagles in 2015.
SPORTS STORY >> Panthers embrace position changes
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
In the second week of preseason practices, the Cabot Panthers lost returning defensive end Bryce Crockom to a knee injury. It was originally thought the injury would have the 5-foot-7, 160-pound senior out for up to six weeks, but the loss was lessened recently after arthroscopic surgery revealed the torn meniscus was not as bad as originally thought. Crockom is now expected to return in three to four weeks, but there have still been major shakeups in the lineup in this week’s practices.
Projected starting fullback Kolton Eads has been working at Crockom’s position, while junior transfer Alex Roberts has shared carries at fullback with Eads.
Roberts, 5-6, 155, has impressed Cabot coach Mike Malham since his arrival, but he also still might play some defense in the secondary.
“Right now we’re definitely going to have Kolton at defensive end,” said Malham. “If Roberts has to play defense, we’ll probably rotate them at fullback, too. Kolton’s looked pretty good on defense. He’s strong and pretty fast.”
Cabot defensive coordinator Randall Black likes having Eads on his side of the ball, and is even more excited about the opportunities available when Crockom returns.
“Kolton’s getting better and better,” said Black. “The thing about him is, he’s going to work hard. He’s still thinking a little too much, but that’s just from not being used to it. He’s a lot better than when we started working him over there and he’s going to keep getting better. And when Crockom gets back, it’s going to give us some options and some diversity that’ll just make us better.”
Roberts transferred from Alaska, where he played for a much smaller 4A school in much different weather. Despite impressing the coaches, he admits the adjustment hasn’t been easy. Immediately after the team ran five gassers to close Thursday’s practice, a winded Roberts expressed the difficulties.
“It’s a lot more humid down here,” said Roberts. “Right now it feels like I’m breathing in chicken grease. But overall it’s been really good. Since I’ve got here I’ve had a lot of coaches supporting me and team members who were really good to me.”
Roberts has also had an eye-opener just about football in the south.
“It’s taken a lot more serious down here,” Roberts said. “It’s a lot better program than the one I was in. We didn’t have a lot of really great programs and teams are kind of scattered around. We have about seven or eight teams we’d play every year. And there’s a couple more bigger people here than up there. It’s more physical.”
Cabot runs gassers in units depending on position. Eads and Roberts both show their work ethic during those conditioning drills.
“They’re both at the front of their groups every time we run gassers,” Malham said. “They’re both guys that give 100 percent at whatever they’re doing, and that’s what you need.”
The Panthers take the field against another team for the first time on Monday when they host Lake Hamilton in a benefit scrimmage game at Panther Stadium. That controlled scrimmage is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at Panther Stadium.
Leader sports editor
In the second week of preseason practices, the Cabot Panthers lost returning defensive end Bryce Crockom to a knee injury. It was originally thought the injury would have the 5-foot-7, 160-pound senior out for up to six weeks, but the loss was lessened recently after arthroscopic surgery revealed the torn meniscus was not as bad as originally thought. Crockom is now expected to return in three to four weeks, but there have still been major shakeups in the lineup in this week’s practices.
Projected starting fullback Kolton Eads has been working at Crockom’s position, while junior transfer Alex Roberts has shared carries at fullback with Eads.
Roberts, 5-6, 155, has impressed Cabot coach Mike Malham since his arrival, but he also still might play some defense in the secondary.
“Right now we’re definitely going to have Kolton at defensive end,” said Malham. “If Roberts has to play defense, we’ll probably rotate them at fullback, too. Kolton’s looked pretty good on defense. He’s strong and pretty fast.”
Cabot defensive coordinator Randall Black likes having Eads on his side of the ball, and is even more excited about the opportunities available when Crockom returns.
“Kolton’s getting better and better,” said Black. “The thing about him is, he’s going to work hard. He’s still thinking a little too much, but that’s just from not being used to it. He’s a lot better than when we started working him over there and he’s going to keep getting better. And when Crockom gets back, it’s going to give us some options and some diversity that’ll just make us better.”
Roberts transferred from Alaska, where he played for a much smaller 4A school in much different weather. Despite impressing the coaches, he admits the adjustment hasn’t been easy. Immediately after the team ran five gassers to close Thursday’s practice, a winded Roberts expressed the difficulties.
“It’s a lot more humid down here,” said Roberts. “Right now it feels like I’m breathing in chicken grease. But overall it’s been really good. Since I’ve got here I’ve had a lot of coaches supporting me and team members who were really good to me.”
Roberts has also had an eye-opener just about football in the south.
“It’s taken a lot more serious down here,” Roberts said. “It’s a lot better program than the one I was in. We didn’t have a lot of really great programs and teams are kind of scattered around. We have about seven or eight teams we’d play every year. And there’s a couple more bigger people here than up there. It’s more physical.”
Cabot runs gassers in units depending on position. Eads and Roberts both show their work ethic during those conditioning drills.
“They’re both at the front of their groups every time we run gassers,” Malham said. “They’re both guys that give 100 percent at whatever they’re doing, and that’s what you need.”
The Panthers take the field against another team for the first time on Monday when they host Lake Hamilton in a benefit scrimmage game at Panther Stadium. That controlled scrimmage is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at Panther Stadium.
SPORTS STORY >> Panther tennis rolls in opener
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
Cabot High School played host to Beebe in the two teams’ first official tennis match of the year Thursday, and the Panthers and Lady Panthers were stellar in their 2015 debut, winning 18 of the 22 matches played.
“For over 20 matches and to only lose four courts, that’s pretty good,” said Cabot coach Mary Emily Nash. “We’re really excited about how it went. We normally do nonconference matches just to gauge our kids.
“Some of them we’re not sure yet whether they’re going to play doubles or singles, but they all really exceeded my expectations. To have a team that’s mostly made up of juniors, I thought we did very well.”
Team scoring in a high school tennis match is usually decided by combining the outcome of the No. 1 and 2 doubles and singles matches. In the boys’ singles division, Cabot’s Clayton Ellis and Max Mathis won their respective matches.
Ellis beat Beebe’s Chase Underwood 8-5, and Mathis beat Garrett Glynn 8-1. In the top two boys’ doubles matches, Cabot’s Turner Bankston and Bryant Cason beat Beebe’s team of JP Savage and Garret Gardenhire 8-2, while Panther players Parker Gibson and Trey Wagnon beat Beebe’s Braydon Fort and Blake Childress 8-1.
That gave the Cabot boys a 4-0 sweep over Beebe in the official match score.
In the girls’ division, the Lady Panthers finished a match shy of earning a sweep. They officially beat the Lady Badgers 3-1. Cabot’s Emily Sumler won her singles match against Taylor Harris 8-1, and the Lady Panthers’ team of Lauren Roberts and Sadie Lea beat Beebe’s Brienne Jackson and Erin McNully 8-6.
In the No. 2 girls’ doubles match, Carly Carpenter and Julie Hill came out on top over Beebe’s Victoria Tarkington and Katie Pacheco. They won that match 8-5. Beebe’s lone win for the official match score came when the top Lady Badger singles player, Allie Lane, beat Cabot’s Jessica Vaughan 8-5.
Those scores are what counted for the match’s team scores, but Nash was pleased with how her group did as a whole, winning all but four matches.
“They all did really well,” Nash said. “I don’t know that anyone necessarily surprised me, because I have expectations for them to win.”
The match didn’t go as well as Beebe coach Brian Davis would’ve liked, but with it being the first match of the year, and a nonconference one at that, Davis said he used some different combinations among his doubles teams in order to see what combinations would work best.
“My No. 1 girl (Lane) won 8-5,” said Davis. “The rest of my top six (players) had some close losses and some not so close losses. We’re trying new teams together, so the first time you’re playing with a new partner it’s always going to be different.
“I saw enough good stuff out there that I was pleased with. We’ll probably try some of these team-ups again.”
Beebe returns experience on its girls’ team, but the boys, as a team, enter this season with little experience at the varsity level.
“Our girls are mostly all back from last year,” Davis said. “So we kind of knew where we stood there. We lost four of our top six boys from last year to graduation. So we knew we had a lot of stuff there to figure out with the guys – trying to figure out who’s going to play singles, who’s going to play doubles, which doubles teams would work.
“We’ve got a lot of experimenting to do in our next match. If they keep getting better at this rate, I think by the end of the season they’ll be in really good shape.”
Beebe’s schedule this year will be made up almost entirely of nonconference matches. In Beebe’s conference, the 5A-Central, only Beebe and Pulaski Academy have enough participants to form a team, so the Badgers’ and Lady Badgers’ matches this year will be against several different teams, including those in their previous conference, the 5A-East.
“We came from a conference that had eight or nine teams, and it is us and PA,” Davis said. “Our (conference) tournament was us and PA, and one kid maybe from Mills. Our conference tournament used to be two days, now it’s half a day.
“We’ve called a lot of people nearby. We’ll be playing Searcy and Harding Academy and some other local people. We’re playing some of our old rivals. We’re going to Nettleton next week, and Batesville’s coming to us after that.
“Our nonconference schedule is against people we’ve matched up OK with before. It’s competitive. We don’t want to play somebody we know we’re going to roll over or somebody that’s going to roll over us. We want to have good, competitive matches. That’s where we’re going to learn stuff.”
On the flip side, Cabot’s conference has plenty of participants, and plenty of competition, according to Nash. She added, though, that despite the stiff competition within that Class 7A league, she likes her group’s chances.
“Our conference is really, really tough,” Nash said. “We’ll be seeing teams that have been playing since they were 5 and 6 years old. Sometimes that’s hard to compete against, but if anybody can compete against them, this group can.
“We’ve been practicing since May to get ready, so we’re ready to get our reps in.”
Other Cabot players that earned wins in their matches Thursday were, in girls’ singles competition, Olivia New, Kaitlynn Follett, Ryane Thurman and Madeline Chosich. In girls’ doubles, the Lady Panther teams of Vaughan/Ally Bevis and Follett/Thurman won their matches.
Among the Cabot boys, Nathan Ellis, Bryant Cason, Parker Gibson and Wagnon won their singles matches. Besides doubles wins by Bankston/Cason and Gibson/Wagnon, the only other boys’ doubles match of the night was won by the CHS team of Mathis and Nathan Ellis.
For Beebe, Underwood lost his first match of the night, but later rebounded with an 8-5 win over Bankston. For the Beebe girls, other than Lane’s victory, two other Lady Badgers earned wins. Jaycee Hall won a 6-0 match against Cabot’s Chosich, and Noor won an 8-4 decision over Gracie New.
Cabot’s next tennis match will be a nonconference one at Vilonia on Monday at 3:30 p.m. Cabot’s first conference match will be Sept. 3 at home against Little Rock Central.
Beebe’s next match will be the same time on Monday at Searcy. Beebe’s first conference match against Pulaski Academy will be Sept. 10 in Little Rock.
Leader sportswriter
Cabot High School played host to Beebe in the two teams’ first official tennis match of the year Thursday, and the Panthers and Lady Panthers were stellar in their 2015 debut, winning 18 of the 22 matches played.
“For over 20 matches and to only lose four courts, that’s pretty good,” said Cabot coach Mary Emily Nash. “We’re really excited about how it went. We normally do nonconference matches just to gauge our kids.
“Some of them we’re not sure yet whether they’re going to play doubles or singles, but they all really exceeded my expectations. To have a team that’s mostly made up of juniors, I thought we did very well.”
Team scoring in a high school tennis match is usually decided by combining the outcome of the No. 1 and 2 doubles and singles matches. In the boys’ singles division, Cabot’s Clayton Ellis and Max Mathis won their respective matches.
Ellis beat Beebe’s Chase Underwood 8-5, and Mathis beat Garrett Glynn 8-1. In the top two boys’ doubles matches, Cabot’s Turner Bankston and Bryant Cason beat Beebe’s team of JP Savage and Garret Gardenhire 8-2, while Panther players Parker Gibson and Trey Wagnon beat Beebe’s Braydon Fort and Blake Childress 8-1.
That gave the Cabot boys a 4-0 sweep over Beebe in the official match score.
In the girls’ division, the Lady Panthers finished a match shy of earning a sweep. They officially beat the Lady Badgers 3-1. Cabot’s Emily Sumler won her singles match against Taylor Harris 8-1, and the Lady Panthers’ team of Lauren Roberts and Sadie Lea beat Beebe’s Brienne Jackson and Erin McNully 8-6.
In the No. 2 girls’ doubles match, Carly Carpenter and Julie Hill came out on top over Beebe’s Victoria Tarkington and Katie Pacheco. They won that match 8-5. Beebe’s lone win for the official match score came when the top Lady Badger singles player, Allie Lane, beat Cabot’s Jessica Vaughan 8-5.
Those scores are what counted for the match’s team scores, but Nash was pleased with how her group did as a whole, winning all but four matches.
“They all did really well,” Nash said. “I don’t know that anyone necessarily surprised me, because I have expectations for them to win.”
The match didn’t go as well as Beebe coach Brian Davis would’ve liked, but with it being the first match of the year, and a nonconference one at that, Davis said he used some different combinations among his doubles teams in order to see what combinations would work best.
“My No. 1 girl (Lane) won 8-5,” said Davis. “The rest of my top six (players) had some close losses and some not so close losses. We’re trying new teams together, so the first time you’re playing with a new partner it’s always going to be different.
“I saw enough good stuff out there that I was pleased with. We’ll probably try some of these team-ups again.”
Beebe returns experience on its girls’ team, but the boys, as a team, enter this season with little experience at the varsity level.
“Our girls are mostly all back from last year,” Davis said. “So we kind of knew where we stood there. We lost four of our top six boys from last year to graduation. So we knew we had a lot of stuff there to figure out with the guys – trying to figure out who’s going to play singles, who’s going to play doubles, which doubles teams would work.
“We’ve got a lot of experimenting to do in our next match. If they keep getting better at this rate, I think by the end of the season they’ll be in really good shape.”
Beebe’s schedule this year will be made up almost entirely of nonconference matches. In Beebe’s conference, the 5A-Central, only Beebe and Pulaski Academy have enough participants to form a team, so the Badgers’ and Lady Badgers’ matches this year will be against several different teams, including those in their previous conference, the 5A-East.
“We came from a conference that had eight or nine teams, and it is us and PA,” Davis said. “Our (conference) tournament was us and PA, and one kid maybe from Mills. Our conference tournament used to be two days, now it’s half a day.
“We’ve called a lot of people nearby. We’ll be playing Searcy and Harding Academy and some other local people. We’re playing some of our old rivals. We’re going to Nettleton next week, and Batesville’s coming to us after that.
“Our nonconference schedule is against people we’ve matched up OK with before. It’s competitive. We don’t want to play somebody we know we’re going to roll over or somebody that’s going to roll over us. We want to have good, competitive matches. That’s where we’re going to learn stuff.”
On the flip side, Cabot’s conference has plenty of participants, and plenty of competition, according to Nash. She added, though, that despite the stiff competition within that Class 7A league, she likes her group’s chances.
“Our conference is really, really tough,” Nash said. “We’ll be seeing teams that have been playing since they were 5 and 6 years old. Sometimes that’s hard to compete against, but if anybody can compete against them, this group can.
“We’ve been practicing since May to get ready, so we’re ready to get our reps in.”
Other Cabot players that earned wins in their matches Thursday were, in girls’ singles competition, Olivia New, Kaitlynn Follett, Ryane Thurman and Madeline Chosich. In girls’ doubles, the Lady Panther teams of Vaughan/Ally Bevis and Follett/Thurman won their matches.
Among the Cabot boys, Nathan Ellis, Bryant Cason, Parker Gibson and Wagnon won their singles matches. Besides doubles wins by Bankston/Cason and Gibson/Wagnon, the only other boys’ doubles match of the night was won by the CHS team of Mathis and Nathan Ellis.
For Beebe, Underwood lost his first match of the night, but later rebounded with an 8-5 win over Bankston. For the Beebe girls, other than Lane’s victory, two other Lady Badgers earned wins. Jaycee Hall won a 6-0 match against Cabot’s Chosich, and Noor won an 8-4 decision over Gracie New.
Cabot’s next tennis match will be a nonconference one at Vilonia on Monday at 3:30 p.m. Cabot’s first conference match will be Sept. 3 at home against Little Rock Central.
Beebe’s next match will be the same time on Monday at Searcy. Beebe’s first conference match against Pulaski Academy will be Sept. 10 in Little Rock.
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
SPORTS SPORY >> Williams likely finished as Hog
By NATE ALLEN
Special to The Leader
FAYETTEVILLE – If the Razorbacks conclude their season in a bowl game, maybe senior running back Jonathan Williams plays for them again.
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said at his Monday press conference, the injury to Williams’ left foot in last Saturday’s scrimmage that requires surgery sidelines him for the 2015 season.
Though Williams has a redshirt year option for 2016 eligibility if he doesn’t play in the bowl game, Bielema said the running back from Allen, Texas likely will turn professional. He was on the verge of doing just that last January before opting to withdraw his name from 2015 NFL draft consideration.
Bielema declined to discuss specifics of Williams’ injury, announced Sunday by the UA as requiring surgery. He did say Monday that “it will require a screw be put in it.”
Bielema said he and Williams “shed a few tears together” Sunday, but that the outlook for Williams’ NFL future remains bright. He said Williams was in the weight room at 6 a.m. Monday doing an upper body workout.
“That shows you how much on task he is,” Bielema said. “Even if he doesn’t play a down of football this year, he could show where he needs to be in the Combine and maybe in an all-star game next year. I don’t think it’s going to overly hurt him in the NFL, his status there because of the type of back he is.”
Williams has a spotless reputation as a team leader for Bielema while rushing for 900 yards on 150 carries in 2013 and a team-leading 1,190 yards on 211 carries last year.
He broke in netting 231 yards rushing on 45 carries and 208 receiving yards on 8 catches for the 2012 Razorbacks under John L. Smith.
Bielema said he “reached out” to various NFL contacts Sunday night and Monday “and the overwhelming result was that this is an injury that is very capable of coming back 100 percent full strong better than ever.”
Thus Bielema foresees Williams not taking a UA fifth year.
“As a head coach obviously I would love to have that,” Bielema said of Williams returning, “but you also have got to think what’s the best for this young man. Unless he’s projected something way, way, way down the line (Williams was estimated third-round material before withdrawing from the 2015 draft) I would guess that it would be in his best interests to come out.”
Bielema said Williams, only needing three hours this semester to complete his degree in communications, and his family know he is extended an open UA invitation to return.
Bielema said Williams took an insurance policy through the UA upon deciding to forego last year’s draft.
Regarding the Razor-backs, Bielema said, “If there’s one team in college football that could take a hit at the running back position, it’s probably the Arkansas Razorbacks, and not get fazed too much.”
Junior running back Alex Collins, on the preseason Doak Walker Award and Maxwell Award watch lists as is Williams, rushed for 1,026 yards on 190 carries in 2013 and 204 carries for 1,110 yards in 2014. In Saturday’s scrimmage Collins rushed six times for 71 yards with a 43-yard touchdown.
Also, fifth-year junior 250-pound fullback-tailback Kody Walker, already granted a sixth year for 2016 by the NCAA after missing most of two seasons with injuries, was the leading rusher, 26 carries for 174 yards, in the spring game with Williams and Collins withheld and ran impressively, 6 carries for 36 yards, during Saturday’s scrimmage while freshman Rawleigh Williams III of Dallas popped a 63-yard touchdown among his scrimmage leading 105 yards on 15 carries.
Bielema also mentioned third-year sophomore Denzell Evans, who lettered on special teams and mopped up some games at running back.
“It’s not a setback in any way, shape or form.,” Bielema said of how his team must respond. “It’s an opportunity for others to take a step forward and I’m excited about that.”
Regarding film review of Saturday’s scrimmage, Bielema after Monday morning’s closed practice reiterated his Saturday comments that defensive line excelled and amplified on the secondary’s performance including the interception by first-team cornerback Jared Collins of a pass thrown by first-team quarterback Brandon Allen.
“Our DBs played pretty snug, you know those guys are very talented,” Bielema said.
“Our corners and safeties make great reads and reactions.”
Bielema also lauded sophomore Dwayne Eugene’s first scrimmage moved from backup weakside Will linebacker to backup strongside Sam linebacker.
Freshman Dre Greenlaw of Fayetteville scrimmaged well enough at backup Will that Bielema acknowledged down the road contemplating moving starting Will ‘backer Brooks Ellis back to middle linebacker, his starting spot for 2013 and 2014.
Sophomore first-team middle ‘backer Khalia Hackett has struggled, Bielema said, while sophomore walk-on backup middle backer Josh Harris, has drawn praise.
“Khalia Hackett was a safety two years ago and now all of a sudden he’s in the middle of our defense calling plays,” Bielema said. “We wanted him to come along quicker. We’re not going to do anything with Brooksie moving him right now, but I think that’s something in the back of our minds you can always do.”
Special to The Leader
FAYETTEVILLE – If the Razorbacks conclude their season in a bowl game, maybe senior running back Jonathan Williams plays for them again.
Arkansas coach Bret Bielema said at his Monday press conference, the injury to Williams’ left foot in last Saturday’s scrimmage that requires surgery sidelines him for the 2015 season.
Though Williams has a redshirt year option for 2016 eligibility if he doesn’t play in the bowl game, Bielema said the running back from Allen, Texas likely will turn professional. He was on the verge of doing just that last January before opting to withdraw his name from 2015 NFL draft consideration.
Bielema declined to discuss specifics of Williams’ injury, announced Sunday by the UA as requiring surgery. He did say Monday that “it will require a screw be put in it.”
Bielema said he and Williams “shed a few tears together” Sunday, but that the outlook for Williams’ NFL future remains bright. He said Williams was in the weight room at 6 a.m. Monday doing an upper body workout.
“That shows you how much on task he is,” Bielema said. “Even if he doesn’t play a down of football this year, he could show where he needs to be in the Combine and maybe in an all-star game next year. I don’t think it’s going to overly hurt him in the NFL, his status there because of the type of back he is.”
Williams has a spotless reputation as a team leader for Bielema while rushing for 900 yards on 150 carries in 2013 and a team-leading 1,190 yards on 211 carries last year.
He broke in netting 231 yards rushing on 45 carries and 208 receiving yards on 8 catches for the 2012 Razorbacks under John L. Smith.
Bielema said he “reached out” to various NFL contacts Sunday night and Monday “and the overwhelming result was that this is an injury that is very capable of coming back 100 percent full strong better than ever.”
Thus Bielema foresees Williams not taking a UA fifth year.
“As a head coach obviously I would love to have that,” Bielema said of Williams returning, “but you also have got to think what’s the best for this young man. Unless he’s projected something way, way, way down the line (Williams was estimated third-round material before withdrawing from the 2015 draft) I would guess that it would be in his best interests to come out.”
Bielema said Williams, only needing three hours this semester to complete his degree in communications, and his family know he is extended an open UA invitation to return.
Bielema said Williams took an insurance policy through the UA upon deciding to forego last year’s draft.
Regarding the Razor-backs, Bielema said, “If there’s one team in college football that could take a hit at the running back position, it’s probably the Arkansas Razorbacks, and not get fazed too much.”
Junior running back Alex Collins, on the preseason Doak Walker Award and Maxwell Award watch lists as is Williams, rushed for 1,026 yards on 190 carries in 2013 and 204 carries for 1,110 yards in 2014. In Saturday’s scrimmage Collins rushed six times for 71 yards with a 43-yard touchdown.
Also, fifth-year junior 250-pound fullback-tailback Kody Walker, already granted a sixth year for 2016 by the NCAA after missing most of two seasons with injuries, was the leading rusher, 26 carries for 174 yards, in the spring game with Williams and Collins withheld and ran impressively, 6 carries for 36 yards, during Saturday’s scrimmage while freshman Rawleigh Williams III of Dallas popped a 63-yard touchdown among his scrimmage leading 105 yards on 15 carries.
Bielema also mentioned third-year sophomore Denzell Evans, who lettered on special teams and mopped up some games at running back.
“It’s not a setback in any way, shape or form.,” Bielema said of how his team must respond. “It’s an opportunity for others to take a step forward and I’m excited about that.”
Regarding film review of Saturday’s scrimmage, Bielema after Monday morning’s closed practice reiterated his Saturday comments that defensive line excelled and amplified on the secondary’s performance including the interception by first-team cornerback Jared Collins of a pass thrown by first-team quarterback Brandon Allen.
“Our DBs played pretty snug, you know those guys are very talented,” Bielema said.
“Our corners and safeties make great reads and reactions.”
Bielema also lauded sophomore Dwayne Eugene’s first scrimmage moved from backup weakside Will linebacker to backup strongside Sam linebacker.
Freshman Dre Greenlaw of Fayetteville scrimmaged well enough at backup Will that Bielema acknowledged down the road contemplating moving starting Will ‘backer Brooks Ellis back to middle linebacker, his starting spot for 2013 and 2014.
Sophomore first-team middle ‘backer Khalia Hackett has struggled, Bielema said, while sophomore walk-on backup middle backer Josh Harris, has drawn praise.
“Khalia Hackett was a safety two years ago and now all of a sudden he’s in the middle of our defense calling plays,” Bielema said. “We wanted him to come along quicker. We’re not going to do anything with Brooksie moving him right now, but I think that’s something in the back of our minds you can always do.”
SPORTS STORY >> Financial aid there for youth athletics
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Questions concerning whether or not Cabot Parks and Recreation offers scholarships for low-income children were brought up by Alderman Ed Long, who is on the Advertising and Promotion Commission during Tuesday’s Advertising and Promotion meeting.
“Some of those fees for kids seemed a little high, especially when we have so many kids on free and reduced lunches in Cabot. There is a lot of money in Cabot but there are a lot of poor folks, too,” Long said.
An example Long gave was the volleyball registration fee is $70.
“Volleyball is great for kids, but the kids who need it the most are the ones sitting at home eating chips and Ramen noodles, the ones who need it the most and can least afford it,” Long said.
“It is a need that we are missing. If there is a way for it to be filled, we need to fill it.
“Entities that are tax payer supported have an obligation to go a little further on supporting things other folks do,” Long said.
The commission helps to support parks and recreation with funding collected from a 1.5 percent sales tax on prepared foods.
Parks director John Crow said sports programs and sports associations fees have money directed to fund scholarships. Crow said the fees could be lowered $5.
Crow said, “All of our fees are based on direct and indirect costs for our programs. We don’t pad our numbers. We bank on our concession sales.”
Football has a lot of equipment costs. Crow said there is used equipment available for struggling families.
“But we don’t turn anyone away,” Crow said.
“We don’t advertise that we offer scholarships, but we have scholarship applications, based on free and reduced lunch status at the school,” Crow said.
Crow continued, “The reason we don’t advertise is that we’ve had families who pull up in a $40,000 SUV and have eight kids pile out. They’ll say, I heard you give out scholarships, I’ve got six kids who need to play sports, can you give a two-for-one deal?”
Long suggested scholarship information is given to school counselors. They see the children who need to participate. He said there is a lot of need in Cabot schools that are being met.
Long said he is checking with the city attorney to see if $3,000 returned from Cabot’s Fourth of July celebration to the A and P Commission can be redirected for scholarships youth sports programs.
Cabot’s youth sports registration fees are very similar to surrounding cities. Cabot youth soccer costs, on average, about $10 less than Jacksonville, depending on age group, while baseball and softball in Cabot is slightly higher than Jacksonville.
Jacksonville does not have a citywide youth football program, which is typically the most expensive sport to play on a strictly local level. Cabot is $10 more than the next closest city, Beebe, at $90 per player. That fee also does not include cleats, helmets or shoulder pads.
Leader staff writer
Questions concerning whether or not Cabot Parks and Recreation offers scholarships for low-income children were brought up by Alderman Ed Long, who is on the Advertising and Promotion Commission during Tuesday’s Advertising and Promotion meeting.
“Some of those fees for kids seemed a little high, especially when we have so many kids on free and reduced lunches in Cabot. There is a lot of money in Cabot but there are a lot of poor folks, too,” Long said.
An example Long gave was the volleyball registration fee is $70.
“Volleyball is great for kids, but the kids who need it the most are the ones sitting at home eating chips and Ramen noodles, the ones who need it the most and can least afford it,” Long said.
“It is a need that we are missing. If there is a way for it to be filled, we need to fill it.
“Entities that are tax payer supported have an obligation to go a little further on supporting things other folks do,” Long said.
The commission helps to support parks and recreation with funding collected from a 1.5 percent sales tax on prepared foods.
Parks director John Crow said sports programs and sports associations fees have money directed to fund scholarships. Crow said the fees could be lowered $5.
Crow said, “All of our fees are based on direct and indirect costs for our programs. We don’t pad our numbers. We bank on our concession sales.”
Football has a lot of equipment costs. Crow said there is used equipment available for struggling families.
“But we don’t turn anyone away,” Crow said.
“We don’t advertise that we offer scholarships, but we have scholarship applications, based on free and reduced lunch status at the school,” Crow said.
Crow continued, “The reason we don’t advertise is that we’ve had families who pull up in a $40,000 SUV and have eight kids pile out. They’ll say, I heard you give out scholarships, I’ve got six kids who need to play sports, can you give a two-for-one deal?”
Long suggested scholarship information is given to school counselors. They see the children who need to participate. He said there is a lot of need in Cabot schools that are being met.
Long said he is checking with the city attorney to see if $3,000 returned from Cabot’s Fourth of July celebration to the A and P Commission can be redirected for scholarships youth sports programs.
Cabot’s youth sports registration fees are very similar to surrounding cities. Cabot youth soccer costs, on average, about $10 less than Jacksonville, depending on age group, while baseball and softball in Cabot is slightly higher than Jacksonville.
Jacksonville does not have a citywide youth football program, which is typically the most expensive sport to play on a strictly local level. Cabot is $10 more than the next closest city, Beebe, at $90 per player. That fee also does not include cleats, helmets or shoulder pads.
SPORTS STORY >> Football’s new rules wrong for the game
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
College football fans will see some calls this year they’ve never seen before. As is often the case, the rule makers hurt the game more than help it.
Players will now be forced to leave the field for any equipment violation, not just for losing their helmet. These equipment violations include everything from not being properly padded to not tucking in their jersey.
It also bans facemasks with too many bars and jerseys tucked underneath the shoulder pads to reveal the stomach.
This is a particularly odd rule considering the NCAA ignored a 2010 study that showed cheerleaders whose uniforms show midriff were at a strikingly higher risk of developing eating disorders.
Nevertheless, the naval gazers at the NCAA suddenly decided the crop-top jersey presents a competitive advantage, even though the practice goes back at least to the 80s.
Also, get ready to see your favorite team penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct when a player helps his teammate out by pulling another player off a dogpile. Not only is this rule unnecessary, it’s exactly the opposite of the direction the committee should’ve gone.
For years, football has actually needed rules that penalize players for dogpiling. They usually occur after a fumble. One or two players will be on the ground. One usually has possession and the other is trying to take it, when a dozen more people pile onto the scene. The players are on the ground. The ball is dead. The play is over. It’s dangerous and it’s a huge waste of time for six more guys to slam into the growing mass of bodies.
Piling on should be the penalty, not un-stacking the pile.
Football is under attack for the very real health risks it involves, and they’re making rules that penalize players who are trying to alleviate that risk.
And it’s not just college rule makers going in the wrong direction.
The Arkansas High School Activities Association has taken a wayward step by eliminating ties in nonconference games. The former rule allowed overtime in conference games because those games mean something. Nonconference games ended after four quarters regardless of the score.
An unofficial Leader survey showed that most coaches like the change, but those coaches are, respectfully, wrong.
It’s an unnecessary risk for no reward. The only argument for it, by every coach surveyed, boiled down to “nobody likes a tie.” Those weren’t the exact words in most cases, but that was the basic premise.
The first argument to not play overtime in nonconference games is simple. Any injury in overtime of a nonconference game is a senseless injury that could’ve been avoided if a longstanding rule had not been changed just because our obsession to win is so strong that we extend it to things that do not matter.
And the time of year nonconference games are played make it more dangerous. It’s often still very hot. Players are very often not in top shape yet, and injuries are proven to be more likely when athletes are fatigued.
In Arkansas, nonconference games have no bearing at all on a team’s chances of making the playoffs or winning a state championship, unlike some other states.
Some other states count all 10 games. It seems illogical and rife with opportunities to pad the schedule, but those systems do exist.
If nonconference games now have to play overtime, they should at least count for something also.
A game several years ago between Fort Smith Southside and Broken Arrow, Okla., played in Oklahoma, was tied at the end of regulation. Barry Lunney Sr. coached Southside at the time and didn’t want to play the overtime, but it meant something to Broken Arrow. If that game had been played on the east side of the state line, Broken Arrow likely would’ve been stuck with the tie.
Also, the one and only argument for ending all ties, that being that nobody likes them, is not always true. Sometimes ties are good for one team or another.
Everyone approaches the tie game theoretically from the standpoint of thinking they should win. Nobody considers the possibility of losing in overtime. Nor do they consider those teams that don’t win very often. Only six Arkansas high school games ended in a tie last year, and one of them was North Pulaski vs. LR Hall. That tie ended a long losing streak for the Falcons.
What about the huge underdog team with a smaller roster and smaller players, that stopped a long drive at the goal line as time expired? That team would be a lot happier if the game could end there, than it would be to go into overtime and lose.
As football is trying to mend its growing reputation as being too dangerous, as more and more studies reveal more and more threats to young people’s health, as training staffs and safety videos become more prominent, the AHSAA changes a longstanding, perfectly operative rule, making the sport even more dangerous, all for games that mean nothing.
Leader sports editor
College football fans will see some calls this year they’ve never seen before. As is often the case, the rule makers hurt the game more than help it.
Players will now be forced to leave the field for any equipment violation, not just for losing their helmet. These equipment violations include everything from not being properly padded to not tucking in their jersey.
It also bans facemasks with too many bars and jerseys tucked underneath the shoulder pads to reveal the stomach.
This is a particularly odd rule considering the NCAA ignored a 2010 study that showed cheerleaders whose uniforms show midriff were at a strikingly higher risk of developing eating disorders.
Nevertheless, the naval gazers at the NCAA suddenly decided the crop-top jersey presents a competitive advantage, even though the practice goes back at least to the 80s.
Also, get ready to see your favorite team penalized 15 yards for unsportsmanlike conduct when a player helps his teammate out by pulling another player off a dogpile. Not only is this rule unnecessary, it’s exactly the opposite of the direction the committee should’ve gone.
For years, football has actually needed rules that penalize players for dogpiling. They usually occur after a fumble. One or two players will be on the ground. One usually has possession and the other is trying to take it, when a dozen more people pile onto the scene. The players are on the ground. The ball is dead. The play is over. It’s dangerous and it’s a huge waste of time for six more guys to slam into the growing mass of bodies.
Piling on should be the penalty, not un-stacking the pile.
Football is under attack for the very real health risks it involves, and they’re making rules that penalize players who are trying to alleviate that risk.
And it’s not just college rule makers going in the wrong direction.
The Arkansas High School Activities Association has taken a wayward step by eliminating ties in nonconference games. The former rule allowed overtime in conference games because those games mean something. Nonconference games ended after four quarters regardless of the score.
An unofficial Leader survey showed that most coaches like the change, but those coaches are, respectfully, wrong.
It’s an unnecessary risk for no reward. The only argument for it, by every coach surveyed, boiled down to “nobody likes a tie.” Those weren’t the exact words in most cases, but that was the basic premise.
The first argument to not play overtime in nonconference games is simple. Any injury in overtime of a nonconference game is a senseless injury that could’ve been avoided if a longstanding rule had not been changed just because our obsession to win is so strong that we extend it to things that do not matter.
And the time of year nonconference games are played make it more dangerous. It’s often still very hot. Players are very often not in top shape yet, and injuries are proven to be more likely when athletes are fatigued.
In Arkansas, nonconference games have no bearing at all on a team’s chances of making the playoffs or winning a state championship, unlike some other states.
Some other states count all 10 games. It seems illogical and rife with opportunities to pad the schedule, but those systems do exist.
If nonconference games now have to play overtime, they should at least count for something also.
A game several years ago between Fort Smith Southside and Broken Arrow, Okla., played in Oklahoma, was tied at the end of regulation. Barry Lunney Sr. coached Southside at the time and didn’t want to play the overtime, but it meant something to Broken Arrow. If that game had been played on the east side of the state line, Broken Arrow likely would’ve been stuck with the tie.
Also, the one and only argument for ending all ties, that being that nobody likes them, is not always true. Sometimes ties are good for one team or another.
Everyone approaches the tie game theoretically from the standpoint of thinking they should win. Nobody considers the possibility of losing in overtime. Nor do they consider those teams that don’t win very often. Only six Arkansas high school games ended in a tie last year, and one of them was North Pulaski vs. LR Hall. That tie ended a long losing streak for the Falcons.
What about the huge underdog team with a smaller roster and smaller players, that stopped a long drive at the goal line as time expired? That team would be a lot happier if the game could end there, than it would be to go into overtime and lose.
As football is trying to mend its growing reputation as being too dangerous, as more and more studies reveal more and more threats to young people’s health, as training staffs and safety videos become more prominent, the AHSAA changes a longstanding, perfectly operative rule, making the sport even more dangerous, all for games that mean nothing.
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot cross-country rebuilds
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot cross-country team has enjoyed a lot of success in recent years, especially the girls’ team. Two Lady Panther runners in the last four years have gone on to Division I colleges, the most recent being 2015 graduate Micah Huckabee signing with the renowned University of Arkansas track program.
This year’s Cabot cross-country squad has just one senior in Samantha Nickell, who performed well the last two seasons despite battling asthma. Coach Leon White says she has improved since last year, and leads a very young team into the season.
“It’s just a young group with a bunch of sophomores,” said White. “We only have the one senior for the girls and the boys don’t have any senior high leaders right now. We’re just sort of starting over.”
The girls’ team lost one strong runner during the 2015 indoor season. Ashley Gore injured her anterior cruciate ligament in the first indoor meet of last season. That caused her to miss the entire outdoor season, where Cabot missed out on a state championship by one point to Bentonville. It also has her out for this cross country year.
Joining Nickell this season as contenders to compete near the top of races are sophomores Casey Gore and Bailey Lebow.
“The best one is Samantha Nickell,” White said. “Casey Gore, who is Ashley’s younger sister, will help us. Bailey Lebow is another sophomore who’s going to be good. After that it’s just some other young girls that we’re trying to get in shape and see what they can do. Maybe one or two of them can come along and get up with these other girls.”
The boys’ team hasn’t been as competitive over the last few years as the girls have, but White sees some potential for this year’s young group.
The top runners on the boys’ team consists of five sophomores, including Gardener Howze, Stewart Nickell, Blake Scott, Grayson Kaufman and Wells Guyor.
“With this group of boys, and we talked about this the other day, what we’re looking at with these guys, if they stay together, by the time they’re seniors they have a chance to be pretty good,” White said.
The team has an intrasquad practice meet scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 3 at the Austin course. The first official meet will be Sept. 12 at the Army National Guard Minuteman Race at Western Hills Park in Little Rock.
Leader sports editor
The Cabot cross-country team has enjoyed a lot of success in recent years, especially the girls’ team. Two Lady Panther runners in the last four years have gone on to Division I colleges, the most recent being 2015 graduate Micah Huckabee signing with the renowned University of Arkansas track program.
This year’s Cabot cross-country squad has just one senior in Samantha Nickell, who performed well the last two seasons despite battling asthma. Coach Leon White says she has improved since last year, and leads a very young team into the season.
“It’s just a young group with a bunch of sophomores,” said White. “We only have the one senior for the girls and the boys don’t have any senior high leaders right now. We’re just sort of starting over.”
The girls’ team lost one strong runner during the 2015 indoor season. Ashley Gore injured her anterior cruciate ligament in the first indoor meet of last season. That caused her to miss the entire outdoor season, where Cabot missed out on a state championship by one point to Bentonville. It also has her out for this cross country year.
Joining Nickell this season as contenders to compete near the top of races are sophomores Casey Gore and Bailey Lebow.
“The best one is Samantha Nickell,” White said. “Casey Gore, who is Ashley’s younger sister, will help us. Bailey Lebow is another sophomore who’s going to be good. After that it’s just some other young girls that we’re trying to get in shape and see what they can do. Maybe one or two of them can come along and get up with these other girls.”
The boys’ team hasn’t been as competitive over the last few years as the girls have, but White sees some potential for this year’s young group.
The top runners on the boys’ team consists of five sophomores, including Gardener Howze, Stewart Nickell, Blake Scott, Grayson Kaufman and Wells Guyor.
“With this group of boys, and we talked about this the other day, what we’re looking at with these guys, if they stay together, by the time they’re seniors they have a chance to be pretty good,” White said.
The team has an intrasquad practice meet scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 3 at the Austin course. The first official meet will be Sept. 12 at the Army National Guard Minuteman Race at Western Hills Park in Little Rock.
EDITORIAL >> New library instant hit
Cabot opened its new $2.6 million public library on West Main Street on Monday. The spacious modern design has 24,000 square feet, six times the size of the old Arlene Cherry Library.
The new facility continues a trend we’ve noticed at other new libraries in the area, such as Jacksonville’s Esther D. Nixon library and the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library in Little Rock.
The colorful new library, designed by Robert Schelle of Cabot, is pleasing to the eye and invites visitors to broaden their minds. It’s a temple of learning, where patrons can borrow thousands of books, use dozens of computers and reach out beyond their world through the Internet and interactive games.
The library is centrally located and has more parking. It is easily accessible from the highway and within walking distance for some neighborhoods.
The new facility is a tribute to the city’s leadership and its forward-thinking residents who approved a $42 million bond issue for the library, along with a sports and aquatics complex, a new freeway interchange, sewer improvements and drainage work in the Highlands subdivision.
Cabot’s library is an architectural marvel and is part of the city’s master plan for the streetscape and drainage improvements. The building was gutted except for the roof and the outside walls. The old storefront glass partitions were taken out.
There’s much more at the new library, from meeting rooms to storytime for kids to genealogical records for the whole family. Students are also encouraged to do their homework and research at the new library.
Tammie Evans, the energetic young librarian, says the library has much to offer the community. Don’t be surprised to see her at the next chamber of commerce luncheon or at CabotFest, where she will invite everyone to the library to find out for themselves what it has to offer.
There are low shelves and bright colors everywhere: calypso blue, mandarin orange, electric lime green, daisy yellow and cayenne pepper red. Colorful furniture adds to the welcoming feel at the library. Stained wood brings warmth to the building.
The floors are made of cork, which requires less maintenance, is environmentally friendly and has a less intuitional look. It is good for walking and standing. It is easy on the feet and has sound-deadening qualities.
Four study rooms have glass fronts. Two meeting pods in the center are enclosed with glass walls and doors.
The architects left nothing out: The children’s section has storybook characters etched into the glass walls as a safety measure so people do not run into the glass while walking. The fenced-in outdoor children’s area has an amphitheater to host library programs. It has a figure-eight walking track and landscaped lawn space.
The community room can be used for meetings when the library is closed. It has a state-of-the-art audio and visual system.
“I think it is going to be a useful space,” Schelle said, modestly, about his masterpiece.
Drop in for a visit soon, and you’ll agree.
The new facility continues a trend we’ve noticed at other new libraries in the area, such as Jacksonville’s Esther D. Nixon library and the Hillary Rodham Clinton Children’s Library in Little Rock.
The colorful new library, designed by Robert Schelle of Cabot, is pleasing to the eye and invites visitors to broaden their minds. It’s a temple of learning, where patrons can borrow thousands of books, use dozens of computers and reach out beyond their world through the Internet and interactive games.
The library is centrally located and has more parking. It is easily accessible from the highway and within walking distance for some neighborhoods.
The new facility is a tribute to the city’s leadership and its forward-thinking residents who approved a $42 million bond issue for the library, along with a sports and aquatics complex, a new freeway interchange, sewer improvements and drainage work in the Highlands subdivision.
Cabot’s library is an architectural marvel and is part of the city’s master plan for the streetscape and drainage improvements. The building was gutted except for the roof and the outside walls. The old storefront glass partitions were taken out.
There’s much more at the new library, from meeting rooms to storytime for kids to genealogical records for the whole family. Students are also encouraged to do their homework and research at the new library.
Tammie Evans, the energetic young librarian, says the library has much to offer the community. Don’t be surprised to see her at the next chamber of commerce luncheon or at CabotFest, where she will invite everyone to the library to find out for themselves what it has to offer.
There are low shelves and bright colors everywhere: calypso blue, mandarin orange, electric lime green, daisy yellow and cayenne pepper red. Colorful furniture adds to the welcoming feel at the library. Stained wood brings warmth to the building.
The floors are made of cork, which requires less maintenance, is environmentally friendly and has a less intuitional look. It is good for walking and standing. It is easy on the feet and has sound-deadening qualities.
Four study rooms have glass fronts. Two meeting pods in the center are enclosed with glass walls and doors.
The architects left nothing out: The children’s section has storybook characters etched into the glass walls as a safety measure so people do not run into the glass while walking. The fenced-in outdoor children’s area has an amphitheater to host library programs. It has a figure-eight walking track and landscaped lawn space.
The community room can be used for meetings when the library is closed. It has a state-of-the-art audio and visual system.
“I think it is going to be a useful space,” Schelle said, modestly, about his masterpiece.
Drop in for a visit soon, and you’ll agree.
TOP STORY >> 45 years of service recognized
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Cabot Alderman Ann Gilliam was pleasantly surprised at Monday’s city council meeting with a citation presented by state Sen. Eddie Joe Williams (R-Cabot) recognizing her 45 years of public service. She’s been on the council seven years.
Williams, the former mayor of Cabot, told The Leader after the meeting, “I’ve had the privilege of working with her for many years, and she’s one of those people who changes the personality of Cabot. It doesn’t matter what she does. Whatever she sets her hands to, she does a great job.”
Gilliam, after receiving the citation, told The Leader she was born in the city and never left. She is so involved because “I enjoy doing things for other people.”
Williams added that she helps people who are less fortunate during the holidays and, although he doesn’t know how old Gilliam is, she’s “been here her whole life.”
He said, “I think she’s genuine…I can’t say enough good about her. She’s a precious lady and a good friend of mine, and I deeply respect her. She never asks for attention. She doesn’t want to be up front. She just wants to get the job done.”
In other business:
• Deborah Moore, director of the Lonoke/Prairie County Regional Library System, told the council, “I’d like to say that today, Aug. 17, officially changed the footprint of the Cabot library and the footprint for the city of Cabot. We opened this morning with people in line within 30 minutes. As of 15 minutes before we closed, we’d had 506 people come through our doors.”
The new $2.6 million Cabot Public Library opened Monday at its new location on Main Street. Moore thanked the council, voters and all others who supported the project.
Mayor Bill Cypert said she and her staff had done a “phenomenal job” in keeping the project on time and on budget despite some bad weather.
“Cabot is fast branding itself as a city of education…My dream, and it’s no secret, is that the whole area will become a center for adult education, kids’ education, and I think that’s something we can make happen over the next five to 10 years,” the mayor said.
• The council voted to save $50,546 a year by outsourcing payroll to Ellis, Tucker and Aldridge, LLP, and amended the personnel handbook to accommodate the change.
The mayor said the savings would help Cabot add another firefighter and a warrants clerk for the police department into its 2016 budget.
The new payroll process will affect the 139 people who received paychecks from the city and was thought of when officials learned Cabot’s payroll clerk would be retiring.
• The council passed a resolution adopting an access management plan for Hwy. 321. Alderman Doyle Tullos asked City Attorney Jim Taylor if it could be changed later.
Taylor said the plan had the blessing of the state Highway Department and was an effort to avoid, before development of that area, the cut-throughs that occurred in the downtown area.
Long answered that the plan could be amended if needed, but it would have to go back through the Planning Commission, state Highway Department, Metroplan — a process that would take at least a year. The council had looked at the plan and revised it previously, he noted.
• The council rezoned 114 Financial Drive from R-1 (single family) to C-2 (general commercial) with a special use to allow self-storage units.
Project manager Tim Lemons asked the council to adopt an emergency clause, making the rezoning effective immediately rather than 30 days from passage.
Lemons said the property has had a C-2 use for some time but had been annexed into the city as R-1. The closing of the sale is contingent on the rezoning being approved with the emergency clause this month, he explained.
The council did not pass the emergency clause after Alderman Ed Long said he was concerned too many of those were being requested for rezoning ordinances.
Alderman Rick Prentice questioned whether people knew about the typical process, which is to hold three readings before adopting an ordinance, although the council can suspend readings by a two-thirds vote. Emergency clauses also require yes votes from two-thirds of the council.
Lemons responded that more public education is needed, and the mayor agreed.
Lemons also said he always tells people about the rezoning process, but his firm is sometimes contacted after the selling timeline is set.
• The council rezoned 3980 S. First St. from R-1 to C-2 with a special use to allow self-storage units. That ordinance had been read three times.
• The council held the second reading of an ordinance rezoning 308 N. Madison from R-1 to O-1 (quiet commercial).
• The council held the second reading of an ordinance rezoning 707, 709 and 711 Campground Road from R-1 to O-1.
The council reappointed Dennis Hyland to the Planning Commission.
Leader staff writer
Cabot Alderman Ann Gilliam was pleasantly surprised at Monday’s city council meeting with a citation presented by state Sen. Eddie Joe Williams (R-Cabot) recognizing her 45 years of public service. She’s been on the council seven years.
Williams, the former mayor of Cabot, told The Leader after the meeting, “I’ve had the privilege of working with her for many years, and she’s one of those people who changes the personality of Cabot. It doesn’t matter what she does. Whatever she sets her hands to, she does a great job.”
Gilliam, after receiving the citation, told The Leader she was born in the city and never left. She is so involved because “I enjoy doing things for other people.”
Williams added that she helps people who are less fortunate during the holidays and, although he doesn’t know how old Gilliam is, she’s “been here her whole life.”
He said, “I think she’s genuine…I can’t say enough good about her. She’s a precious lady and a good friend of mine, and I deeply respect her. She never asks for attention. She doesn’t want to be up front. She just wants to get the job done.”
In other business:
• Deborah Moore, director of the Lonoke/Prairie County Regional Library System, told the council, “I’d like to say that today, Aug. 17, officially changed the footprint of the Cabot library and the footprint for the city of Cabot. We opened this morning with people in line within 30 minutes. As of 15 minutes before we closed, we’d had 506 people come through our doors.”
The new $2.6 million Cabot Public Library opened Monday at its new location on Main Street. Moore thanked the council, voters and all others who supported the project.
Mayor Bill Cypert said she and her staff had done a “phenomenal job” in keeping the project on time and on budget despite some bad weather.
“Cabot is fast branding itself as a city of education…My dream, and it’s no secret, is that the whole area will become a center for adult education, kids’ education, and I think that’s something we can make happen over the next five to 10 years,” the mayor said.
• The council voted to save $50,546 a year by outsourcing payroll to Ellis, Tucker and Aldridge, LLP, and amended the personnel handbook to accommodate the change.
The mayor said the savings would help Cabot add another firefighter and a warrants clerk for the police department into its 2016 budget.
The new payroll process will affect the 139 people who received paychecks from the city and was thought of when officials learned Cabot’s payroll clerk would be retiring.
• The council passed a resolution adopting an access management plan for Hwy. 321. Alderman Doyle Tullos asked City Attorney Jim Taylor if it could be changed later.
Taylor said the plan had the blessing of the state Highway Department and was an effort to avoid, before development of that area, the cut-throughs that occurred in the downtown area.
Long answered that the plan could be amended if needed, but it would have to go back through the Planning Commission, state Highway Department, Metroplan — a process that would take at least a year. The council had looked at the plan and revised it previously, he noted.
• The council rezoned 114 Financial Drive from R-1 (single family) to C-2 (general commercial) with a special use to allow self-storage units.
Project manager Tim Lemons asked the council to adopt an emergency clause, making the rezoning effective immediately rather than 30 days from passage.
Lemons said the property has had a C-2 use for some time but had been annexed into the city as R-1. The closing of the sale is contingent on the rezoning being approved with the emergency clause this month, he explained.
The council did not pass the emergency clause after Alderman Ed Long said he was concerned too many of those were being requested for rezoning ordinances.
Alderman Rick Prentice questioned whether people knew about the typical process, which is to hold three readings before adopting an ordinance, although the council can suspend readings by a two-thirds vote. Emergency clauses also require yes votes from two-thirds of the council.
Lemons responded that more public education is needed, and the mayor agreed.
Lemons also said he always tells people about the rezoning process, but his firm is sometimes contacted after the selling timeline is set.
• The council rezoned 3980 S. First St. from R-1 to C-2 with a special use to allow self-storage units. That ordinance had been read three times.
• The council held the second reading of an ordinance rezoning 308 N. Madison from R-1 to O-1 (quiet commercial).
• The council held the second reading of an ordinance rezoning 707, 709 and 711 Campground Road from R-1 to O-1.
The council reappointed Dennis Hyland to the Planning Commission.
TOP STORY >> Center feels more like home
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Lonoke Health and Rehab at 1501 Lincoln St. showed off its brand-new look Thursday with an open house.
More than 200 backpacks filled with school supplies were given away in 45 minutes. Door prizes were awarded, and visitors enjoyed refreshments, including desserts from Charlotte’s Eats and Sweets in Keo. Even Elvis stopped by.
The long-term care facility is licensed to house 80 residents, according to administrator Ashley Thomley. It serves 55 now.
“Our mission is to give better quality care to improve the lives of the elderly, to make it feel like home instead of feel like an institution or something like that, (for them) to still be treated as people instead of numbers,” she told The Leader.
Activities — bingo, bunco, other games and more — are offered several times a day and the staff’s goal is to allow the residents as much independence as possible while meeting their daily needs, Thomley continued.
Other services include physical, occupational and speech therapy.
All but four of the center’s rooms are semi-private and designed for two roommates, but any semi-private room could easily be converted into a private room if needed, she noted.
The facility also offers a state-of-the-art whirlpool bath and a beauty salon many residents enjoy, she continued. Many residents are Medicaid recipients, Thomley confirmed.
Ann Pratt, who has lived there for 21 years, said, “All these renovations just blow me away…This is very, very nice.”
She added that the Lonoke Health and Rehab staff is excellent.
Thomley said CNAs and LPNs are on duty 24 hours a day. RNs are there for eight-hour shifts. There are about 80 people on staff, but a full house would require 120.
The administrator noted, “We can do that. That’s not a problem.”
Resident Marsha Kendrick has lived there almost a year. She said, “(The remodel) makes it look like a resort room…If you’ve got to be in a place, this is the place to be. I enjoy being here. I think of it as home now.” She added that the staff is congenial and here to help the residents.
Leader staff writer
Lonoke Health and Rehab at 1501 Lincoln St. showed off its brand-new look Thursday with an open house.
More than 200 backpacks filled with school supplies were given away in 45 minutes. Door prizes were awarded, and visitors enjoyed refreshments, including desserts from Charlotte’s Eats and Sweets in Keo. Even Elvis stopped by.
The long-term care facility is licensed to house 80 residents, according to administrator Ashley Thomley. It serves 55 now.
“Our mission is to give better quality care to improve the lives of the elderly, to make it feel like home instead of feel like an institution or something like that, (for them) to still be treated as people instead of numbers,” she told The Leader.
Activities — bingo, bunco, other games and more — are offered several times a day and the staff’s goal is to allow the residents as much independence as possible while meeting their daily needs, Thomley continued.
Other services include physical, occupational and speech therapy.
All but four of the center’s rooms are semi-private and designed for two roommates, but any semi-private room could easily be converted into a private room if needed, she noted.
The facility also offers a state-of-the-art whirlpool bath and a beauty salon many residents enjoy, she continued. Many residents are Medicaid recipients, Thomley confirmed.
Ann Pratt, who has lived there for 21 years, said, “All these renovations just blow me away…This is very, very nice.”
She added that the Lonoke Health and Rehab staff is excellent.
Thomley said CNAs and LPNs are on duty 24 hours a day. RNs are there for eight-hour shifts. There are about 80 people on staff, but a full house would require 120.
The administrator noted, “We can do that. That’s not a problem.”
Resident Marsha Kendrick has lived there almost a year. She said, “(The remodel) makes it look like a resort room…If you’ve got to be in a place, this is the place to be. I enjoy being here. I think of it as home now.” She added that the staff is congenial and here to help the residents.
TOP STORY >> Base repairs water leak
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Arnold Drive Elementary students got a surprise on their first day of school – no drinking water.
A water main break on the base near the school early Saturday morning caused a precautionary boil-order to be issued by the state Health Department. It was sent to all base residents and the school, plus military family housing, the base exchange, commissary, lakeside shoppette, the family/recreational camp, 19th Medical Group (B1090), and child/youth centers (B1990 and B1992) on the base.
The boil order was lifted late Tuesday afternoon.
Derek Scott, with the Pulaski County Special School District, said he got the call about 20 minutes after the break was discovered.
“I hated to hear the news, but it was great that they called us so quickly,” he said. “I tip my hat to the men in blue for a job well done.”
The early warning allowed the district to turn off the school’s water fountains and get in touch with nutrition services to change the planned menu to sandwiches and other pre-cooked items.
“We also brought in 20 cases of bottled water for the students Monday and Tuesday,” Scott said. “I think they enjoyed that.”
According to Tech. Sgt. Jason Armstrong, the break occurred about 3:30 a.m. Saturday and about 650,000 gallons of water was lost, but no flooding or other damage occurred. “Our airmen were working on the break within 30 minutes of notification,” Armstrong said, adding that the water main break was caused by stress on the pipe from the rocky soil conditions in the area.
He said there were no reported illnesses from the water.
As part of the boil order issued by the health department, all affected customers were advised that the base or school water may have been unsafe for human consumption.
Water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes needed to be boiled briskly for one minute prior to use. All ice cubes needed to be discarded. It was recommended that only boiled or bottled water be used for making new ice. Before boiling, water customers were asked to flush their water lines by turning on faucets until water ran clear.
Other non-potable uses, such as bathing, showering and hand washing, didn’t require boiling.
Kerry Krell, with the state Health Department, said the boil order was issued as a precaution because of the drop in water pressure from the break.
“When we are notified of an incident like this, we document it, require the water provider to notify all customers and issue the boil order. The order stays in effect until the repairs are made and the water is tested,” Krell explained.
The health department lab came back with an all-clear report about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the order was lifted.
Base bioenvironmental officials said Tuesday afternoon that an adequate disinfectant level had been established throughout the distribution system and the satisfactory completion of a bacteriological survey showed the water was safe to drink.
Leader staff writer
Arnold Drive Elementary students got a surprise on their first day of school – no drinking water.
A water main break on the base near the school early Saturday morning caused a precautionary boil-order to be issued by the state Health Department. It was sent to all base residents and the school, plus military family housing, the base exchange, commissary, lakeside shoppette, the family/recreational camp, 19th Medical Group (B1090), and child/youth centers (B1990 and B1992) on the base.
The boil order was lifted late Tuesday afternoon.
Derek Scott, with the Pulaski County Special School District, said he got the call about 20 minutes after the break was discovered.
“I hated to hear the news, but it was great that they called us so quickly,” he said. “I tip my hat to the men in blue for a job well done.”
The early warning allowed the district to turn off the school’s water fountains and get in touch with nutrition services to change the planned menu to sandwiches and other pre-cooked items.
“We also brought in 20 cases of bottled water for the students Monday and Tuesday,” Scott said. “I think they enjoyed that.”
According to Tech. Sgt. Jason Armstrong, the break occurred about 3:30 a.m. Saturday and about 650,000 gallons of water was lost, but no flooding or other damage occurred. “Our airmen were working on the break within 30 minutes of notification,” Armstrong said, adding that the water main break was caused by stress on the pipe from the rocky soil conditions in the area.
He said there were no reported illnesses from the water.
As part of the boil order issued by the health department, all affected customers were advised that the base or school water may have been unsafe for human consumption.
Water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes needed to be boiled briskly for one minute prior to use. All ice cubes needed to be discarded. It was recommended that only boiled or bottled water be used for making new ice. Before boiling, water customers were asked to flush their water lines by turning on faucets until water ran clear.
Other non-potable uses, such as bathing, showering and hand washing, didn’t require boiling.
Kerry Krell, with the state Health Department, said the boil order was issued as a precaution because of the drop in water pressure from the break.
“When we are notified of an incident like this, we document it, require the water provider to notify all customers and issue the boil order. The order stays in effect until the repairs are made and the water is tested,” Krell explained.
The health department lab came back with an all-clear report about 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, and the order was lifted.
Base bioenvironmental officials said Tuesday afternoon that an adequate disinfectant level had been established throughout the distribution system and the satisfactory completion of a bacteriological survey showed the water was safe to drink.
Friday, August 14, 2015
SPORTS STORY >> LHS volleyball will be young, but talented and dedicated
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The Lonoke High School volleyball team has been practicing routinely since the early part of July in preparation for the upcoming season, which starts Aug. 24, and although the team still has plenty to continue to work on, head coach Laura Park is pleased with the work her team has put in thus far.
Lonoke has just two players returning that logged significant varsity minutes in 2014, but plenty of players returning that were on last year’s conference championship team, as well as a high number of talented sophomores that saw lots of success at the junior high level.
This year’s sophomores lost only one game last year as freshmen, and ended their 2014 season with a district tournament championship.
“I have 10 returning players from last year’s team,” said Park, “and then I have 10 10th graders, and they’ve been working really hard since the first week of July. We started practicing on July 6, and we’d been practicing twice a day until last week.
“We’ve been to three team camps and they competed real well. We’ve been trying to work on narrowing it down to a true varsity and true JV. My 10th grade group is really good, so I don’t know that there will be a true split this year.
“There may be some girls playing both ways. It just depends on how their day or their week is going. But they’ve been working really hard, and I’m very encouraged so far.”
The returning talent along with the gifted sophomore class has Park expecting a great year for her team, and the talent in each class has led to some competitive practices, according to the head coach.
“I think it’s going to be a great year,” Park said. “They get along really well, but there’s also a lot of competition between these 10th graders and the juniors and seniors because this 10th grade group, they’ve got a lot of talent.
“Granted, the 10th graders don’t have high school experience, but several of them have played club ball and they’ve played above their age division, so I think they’re going to be a good asset and everybody’s pushing each other, which is making us a better team.”
Seniors Jarrelyn McCall and Ashlyn Allen are the only two players that saw much playing time at the varsity level last fall. McCall started throughout the year. Allen started at times during the year, and both have been leaders on the court this summer and have done so in different ways.
“They’re both good leaders and both have pretty good work ethic,” Park said of those two. “Jarrelyn’s a very high energy person, so the kids tend to gravitate toward that. But Ashlyn, a lot of times she’s a little more compassionate. She wants to include the others and build them up, too.
“She’s been a great leader in that aspect, but on and off the court they’re both great kids. They’re both good athletes, and on and off the court they’re both good leaders.”
With the current talent in place, the Lady Rabbits expect to be contenders for the league crown again in 2015. They’ll start the process of trying to repeat as conference champs very soon. Their season starts Aug. 24 at Arkansas Baptist.
Lonoke will play Clinton in the Lady Rabbits’ home opener on Aug. 25 before the team takes part in the Spikefest Tournament on Aug. 29. The Lady Rabbits will then travel to Central Arkansas Christian on Aug. 27 before closing the month at Pulaski Robinson on the 31st.
“Our first match this year is a conference match,” Park said, “because we have nine teams in our conference, and we’re playing everybody twice, plus the district tournament. So we’re going to start right off the bat with conference play.
“Hopefully we’ll do as well as we did last year. We won conference last year, so I’m hoping we’ll do as well as we did last year in conference play.”
Leader sportswriter
The Lonoke High School volleyball team has been practicing routinely since the early part of July in preparation for the upcoming season, which starts Aug. 24, and although the team still has plenty to continue to work on, head coach Laura Park is pleased with the work her team has put in thus far.
Lonoke has just two players returning that logged significant varsity minutes in 2014, but plenty of players returning that were on last year’s conference championship team, as well as a high number of talented sophomores that saw lots of success at the junior high level.
This year’s sophomores lost only one game last year as freshmen, and ended their 2014 season with a district tournament championship.
“I have 10 returning players from last year’s team,” said Park, “and then I have 10 10th graders, and they’ve been working really hard since the first week of July. We started practicing on July 6, and we’d been practicing twice a day until last week.
“We’ve been to three team camps and they competed real well. We’ve been trying to work on narrowing it down to a true varsity and true JV. My 10th grade group is really good, so I don’t know that there will be a true split this year.
“There may be some girls playing both ways. It just depends on how their day or their week is going. But they’ve been working really hard, and I’m very encouraged so far.”
The returning talent along with the gifted sophomore class has Park expecting a great year for her team, and the talent in each class has led to some competitive practices, according to the head coach.
“I think it’s going to be a great year,” Park said. “They get along really well, but there’s also a lot of competition between these 10th graders and the juniors and seniors because this 10th grade group, they’ve got a lot of talent.
“Granted, the 10th graders don’t have high school experience, but several of them have played club ball and they’ve played above their age division, so I think they’re going to be a good asset and everybody’s pushing each other, which is making us a better team.”
Seniors Jarrelyn McCall and Ashlyn Allen are the only two players that saw much playing time at the varsity level last fall. McCall started throughout the year. Allen started at times during the year, and both have been leaders on the court this summer and have done so in different ways.
“They’re both good leaders and both have pretty good work ethic,” Park said of those two. “Jarrelyn’s a very high energy person, so the kids tend to gravitate toward that. But Ashlyn, a lot of times she’s a little more compassionate. She wants to include the others and build them up, too.
“She’s been a great leader in that aspect, but on and off the court they’re both great kids. They’re both good athletes, and on and off the court they’re both good leaders.”
With the current talent in place, the Lady Rabbits expect to be contenders for the league crown again in 2015. They’ll start the process of trying to repeat as conference champs very soon. Their season starts Aug. 24 at Arkansas Baptist.
Lonoke will play Clinton in the Lady Rabbits’ home opener on Aug. 25 before the team takes part in the Spikefest Tournament on Aug. 29. The Lady Rabbits will then travel to Central Arkansas Christian on Aug. 27 before closing the month at Pulaski Robinson on the 31st.
“Our first match this year is a conference match,” Park said, “because we have nine teams in our conference, and we’re playing everybody twice, plus the district tournament. So we’re going to start right off the bat with conference play.
“Hopefully we’ll do as well as we did last year. We won conference last year, so I’m hoping we’ll do as well as we did last year in conference play.”
SPORTS STORY >> Head Bear pleased with team’s effort
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The Sylvan Hills Bears broke out the pads this week, the second week of fall practice, and although the team still has plenty of work to do in order to get ready for the upcoming season, head coach Jim Withrow likes the progress his team has made this week.
“I’ll be honest with you, we’ve had some really good scrimmages,” said Withrow. “It’s been real physical at times. I’ve been pleased with the effort. Our deal is we’re young and we make mistakes. We’re still kind of growing.”
The Bears graduated 23 seniors in May. They’ve still got a good sized senior class this year, but a lot of underclassmen. Withrow said earlier in the week that his younger players, as a whole, have a lot of work to do, but the head Bear said those underclassmen have shown improvement through the week.
“I think they’ve improved a lot and made a lot of progress,” Withrow said. “Their attitudes have been great and that helps. When kids take to the coaching, it really helps as far as the maturation process.”
Due to Arkansas Activities Association rules, teams can’t have full-contact practices without first having five full fall practice sessions. The Bears got those required practices out of the way last week, and spent every practice this week in full pads, giving the coaching staff a better idea of where they’re at as a team, and how much work needs to be done in order to get to where they want to be by the start of the regular season.
“I think it helps,” Withrow said, “instead of putting the pads on one day and taking a week off like you do at team camps. To actually have them for a full week and have them here every day, just to kind of get an idea of where we’re going, it really, really helps.”
Withrow pointed out some individuals who stood out this week in practices.
“This week I thought Jonathan Hicks played well at linebacker,” Withrow said. “Hunter Phillips and Joe Craft also played well there. Ty Compton at tailback played really well. He’s been real physical.
“Brandon Bracely’s played well at the slot back, and then (Jordan) Washington has made some progress and he’s looked good. I think Jordan’s got a chance to be real good.”
Washington was a standout receiver for the Bears a season ago as a 10th grader, but transitioned to quarterback in the final two games of the 2014 season because of graduated All-State quarterback Tra Doss’ broken arm suffered in week eight. Washington will be the QB full time this season.
Withrow, though, also likes the other quarterbacks he has on his team, and said the two he’s worked the most at the position this week have looked good doing so.
“Along with Ryan Lumpkin, both of those two have played well at quarterback,” Withrow said, “very well.”
Lumpkin, a sophomore, will start at receiver this season. Withrow also gave Craft praise for his ability to play the QB position, but the All-Conference outside linebacker may move to slot back on offense. Either way, Withrow feels comfortable with either Lumpkin or Craft playing the QB position if needed.
“Lumpkin’s getting plenty of snaps,” Withrow said, “and being a sophomore we want to move them along as far as we can because once the season starts he won’t get as many opportunities to do that.
“To have a No. 2 (QB), I’m not really sure. It might be Lumpkin, but Joe’s a senior. So I don’t call either one of them a No. 2.”
Even though the team still has plenty of work to do on both sides of the ball, Withrow feels good about the work that’s been done in this second week of fall practices.
“We always have more work to do,” Withrow said. “We could be crisper and cleaner with what we do offensively, and we can play a whole lot better on defense as well. But I’m pleased with both sides of the ball.
“We look like we’re reading things better defensively, getting in spots better on defense. Offensively, we’re starting to look a little bit crisper. We’re beginning to get more physical up front. That’s the thing the offensive line has done to make progress this week.”
Withrow said the linemen have really benefitted from having a full week under the direction of line coach Denny Tipton.
“Coach Tipton’s had them for a full week, and that makes a big difference as opposed to three times a week,” Withrow said. “Being with coach Tipton all week, I believe he’s got them moving in the right direction and taking the right strides.
“These scrimmages the last few days have been really physical and I’m really, really impressed with how physical it’s been. That does not mean we’re where we need to be. We are not close to there. We’re getting there. But I am pleased with the progress.”
Leader sportswriter
The Sylvan Hills Bears broke out the pads this week, the second week of fall practice, and although the team still has plenty of work to do in order to get ready for the upcoming season, head coach Jim Withrow likes the progress his team has made this week.
“I’ll be honest with you, we’ve had some really good scrimmages,” said Withrow. “It’s been real physical at times. I’ve been pleased with the effort. Our deal is we’re young and we make mistakes. We’re still kind of growing.”
The Bears graduated 23 seniors in May. They’ve still got a good sized senior class this year, but a lot of underclassmen. Withrow said earlier in the week that his younger players, as a whole, have a lot of work to do, but the head Bear said those underclassmen have shown improvement through the week.
“I think they’ve improved a lot and made a lot of progress,” Withrow said. “Their attitudes have been great and that helps. When kids take to the coaching, it really helps as far as the maturation process.”
Due to Arkansas Activities Association rules, teams can’t have full-contact practices without first having five full fall practice sessions. The Bears got those required practices out of the way last week, and spent every practice this week in full pads, giving the coaching staff a better idea of where they’re at as a team, and how much work needs to be done in order to get to where they want to be by the start of the regular season.
“I think it helps,” Withrow said, “instead of putting the pads on one day and taking a week off like you do at team camps. To actually have them for a full week and have them here every day, just to kind of get an idea of where we’re going, it really, really helps.”
Withrow pointed out some individuals who stood out this week in practices.
“This week I thought Jonathan Hicks played well at linebacker,” Withrow said. “Hunter Phillips and Joe Craft also played well there. Ty Compton at tailback played really well. He’s been real physical.
“Brandon Bracely’s played well at the slot back, and then (Jordan) Washington has made some progress and he’s looked good. I think Jordan’s got a chance to be real good.”
Washington was a standout receiver for the Bears a season ago as a 10th grader, but transitioned to quarterback in the final two games of the 2014 season because of graduated All-State quarterback Tra Doss’ broken arm suffered in week eight. Washington will be the QB full time this season.
Withrow, though, also likes the other quarterbacks he has on his team, and said the two he’s worked the most at the position this week have looked good doing so.
“Along with Ryan Lumpkin, both of those two have played well at quarterback,” Withrow said, “very well.”
Lumpkin, a sophomore, will start at receiver this season. Withrow also gave Craft praise for his ability to play the QB position, but the All-Conference outside linebacker may move to slot back on offense. Either way, Withrow feels comfortable with either Lumpkin or Craft playing the QB position if needed.
“Lumpkin’s getting plenty of snaps,” Withrow said, “and being a sophomore we want to move them along as far as we can because once the season starts he won’t get as many opportunities to do that.
“To have a No. 2 (QB), I’m not really sure. It might be Lumpkin, but Joe’s a senior. So I don’t call either one of them a No. 2.”
Even though the team still has plenty of work to do on both sides of the ball, Withrow feels good about the work that’s been done in this second week of fall practices.
“We always have more work to do,” Withrow said. “We could be crisper and cleaner with what we do offensively, and we can play a whole lot better on defense as well. But I’m pleased with both sides of the ball.
“We look like we’re reading things better defensively, getting in spots better on defense. Offensively, we’re starting to look a little bit crisper. We’re beginning to get more physical up front. That’s the thing the offensive line has done to make progress this week.”
Withrow said the linemen have really benefitted from having a full week under the direction of line coach Denny Tipton.
“Coach Tipton’s had them for a full week, and that makes a big difference as opposed to three times a week,” Withrow said. “Being with coach Tipton all week, I believe he’s got them moving in the right direction and taking the right strides.
“These scrimmages the last few days have been really physical and I’m really, really impressed with how physical it’s been. That does not mean we’re where we need to be. We are not close to there. We’re getting there. But I am pleased with the progress.”
SPORTS STORY >> Badgers get pads cracking
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Beebe Badgers wrapped up their second week of preseason practice and their first in full pads on Friday. Head coach John Shannon felt like Friday’s practice could’ve been a little better, but was pleased overall with how his team responded to two-a-days and hitting for the first time since team camps wrapped up in mid-July.
“We went to three afternoon practices early in the week and have gone back to mornings the last two days,” said Shannon. “I thought this (Friday) morning was a little sluggish but overall it’s been a pretty good week.”
The Badgers scrimmaged for the first time last Saturday, and then again on Wednesday. Beebe has a three-year returning starter at fullback, the offense’s feature position, in senior Trip Smith. Smith carried for 1,906 yards as a sophomore, and ran for 1,643 as a junior despite missing the first three games of the season.
A big difference for him and the rest of the Badgers’ running backs is that this year’s group is running behind an almost completely new offensive line. It’s obvious just from looking that the new line is not as big as the line that opened all the big holes last season, but the fullback still believes he can break the 2,000-yard barrier this season behind all the newcomers.
“At team camps we were driving the ball down the field pretty well, even against the bigger teams like Conway,” said Smith. “Against our defense, our defense has been pretty stout and kept us in check. But I think we have a really talented defense. I think the offensive line has done a good job. I still see 2,000 yards.”
Shannon isn’t as critical of his offense, even in the two team scrimmages that Smith thought the defense won.
“Offensively I thought we looked really good,” Shannon said. “I thought we did alright on Saturday and I thought the offense looked really good on Wednesday. He (Smith) hasn’t broken the big runs against our guys like he did in some of the camp scrimmages, but we’ve moved the ball pretty well, especially on Wednesday.
“I think the defense’s success against us is two things. Number one I think we’re going to be pretty good over there. I feel like the secondary is going to be a key strength for us this year and we’re extremely pleased with both our inside linebackers.
“We have some new guys playing defensive line, but they’re strong kids and they’ve been looking pretty good there, too. The other thing is they know what to expect. We like to run the dive and the off tackle and they’re pretty good at guessing which one’s coming. So that gives them a little advantage.”
Leadership on the field is another key factor to a successful season, and Shannon believes this year’s team has that, especially where it’s most important – in the senior class.
“One of the things that made last year’s team so successful was the work ethic, and this year’s senior class is right along with last year’s group,” Shannon said. “We tell them all the time, we can fix your mistakes. We can’t fix your attitude and we can’t fix your effort. The senior class has brought great attitudes and great work ethic every day in practice. It’s a great group of kids to be around.”
Leader sports editor
The Beebe Badgers wrapped up their second week of preseason practice and their first in full pads on Friday. Head coach John Shannon felt like Friday’s practice could’ve been a little better, but was pleased overall with how his team responded to two-a-days and hitting for the first time since team camps wrapped up in mid-July.
“We went to three afternoon practices early in the week and have gone back to mornings the last two days,” said Shannon. “I thought this (Friday) morning was a little sluggish but overall it’s been a pretty good week.”
The Badgers scrimmaged for the first time last Saturday, and then again on Wednesday. Beebe has a three-year returning starter at fullback, the offense’s feature position, in senior Trip Smith. Smith carried for 1,906 yards as a sophomore, and ran for 1,643 as a junior despite missing the first three games of the season.
A big difference for him and the rest of the Badgers’ running backs is that this year’s group is running behind an almost completely new offensive line. It’s obvious just from looking that the new line is not as big as the line that opened all the big holes last season, but the fullback still believes he can break the 2,000-yard barrier this season behind all the newcomers.
“At team camps we were driving the ball down the field pretty well, even against the bigger teams like Conway,” said Smith. “Against our defense, our defense has been pretty stout and kept us in check. But I think we have a really talented defense. I think the offensive line has done a good job. I still see 2,000 yards.”
Shannon isn’t as critical of his offense, even in the two team scrimmages that Smith thought the defense won.
“Offensively I thought we looked really good,” Shannon said. “I thought we did alright on Saturday and I thought the offense looked really good on Wednesday. He (Smith) hasn’t broken the big runs against our guys like he did in some of the camp scrimmages, but we’ve moved the ball pretty well, especially on Wednesday.
“I think the defense’s success against us is two things. Number one I think we’re going to be pretty good over there. I feel like the secondary is going to be a key strength for us this year and we’re extremely pleased with both our inside linebackers.
“We have some new guys playing defensive line, but they’re strong kids and they’ve been looking pretty good there, too. The other thing is they know what to expect. We like to run the dive and the off tackle and they’re pretty good at guessing which one’s coming. So that gives them a little advantage.”
Leadership on the field is another key factor to a successful season, and Shannon believes this year’s team has that, especially where it’s most important – in the senior class.
“One of the things that made last year’s team so successful was the work ethic, and this year’s senior class is right along with last year’s group,” Shannon said. “We tell them all the time, we can fix your mistakes. We can’t fix your attitude and we can’t fix your effort. The senior class has brought great attitudes and great work ethic every day in practice. It’s a great group of kids to be around.”
SPORTS STORY >> Beebe ready for another run
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Excitement and expectations are high in and around the Beebe volleyball program as it prepares to begin the 2015 season, and there’s good reason for it. The Lady Badgers return starters in all six positions from last year’s 5A-Central Conference championship team. The team lost two seniors who contributed to that success, but with 20 players on this year’s roster and so many other returning contributors, there’s good reason to expect another strong run towards making it back-to-back league titles.
“It’s my fifth year and this is the biggest team we’ve had as far as number of players,” said head coach Ashley Camp. “We’re going to have some depth. We have a lot of different rotations we can go to depending on what we need or what we’re trying to do. And we have a lot of experience coming back with eight seniors.”
Running the show as setter and general floor leader is senior Sarah Clark. Clark also has one of the strongest service games on the team.
“She runs the offense very well,” Camp said of Clark. “She’s a good communicator and a good leader.”
Senior Jerra Malone led the team in kills last year as a junior. She returns as a strong left side hitter, while Gracie Rymel returns as the other big outside hitter. Rymel emerged as a key clog midway through last season. Adding to those two returning starters is senior Tori Lovelady, who has shown vast improvement as a hitter, and also a defensive specialist.
Paige Smith is the team’s libero while Destiny Nunez is a defensive specialist and adds another strong service game.
That service game has been a major focus during the summer offseason.
“That’s something we’ve worked very hard on improving,” Camp said. “We call it the game within the game. We want to try to take the other team out of the point before the ball ever gets back to the net.”
Junior Abby Smith will start at middle blocker after also becoming a major contributor as a sophomore last season. She is another player Camp believes will make an impact with her serve.
“She’s worked very hard on her jump serve and I see her stepping up and utilizing that in a way that can really help us,” Camp said.
Junior Kayla Green is another defensive specialist that adds depth to the squad, and sophomore Lani Wolfe provides another big middle blocker to join Smith.
Perhaps like no other game, volleyball requires lots of communication in the middle of the action, making team chemistry a must for success.
It’s also been a big focus in the offseason, and something the coach feels comfortable about as the season approaches.
“We’ve done some things to help team bonding and things like that,” Camp said. “They’re all very excited. Of course, they’re girls, so there are going to be little things here and there. But for the most part, these girls have been great about not bringing those things to the court.”
Last year saw Beebe win its first-ever conference championship despite starting the season as a major underdog to Pulaski Academy. The Lady Badgers lost a bitterly close match at home to the Lady Bruins early in the season, and answered that setback by winning all the rest of their conference matches, including defeating PA with relative ease on the road.
That success led to the team’s third playoff appearance, but that ended in a first-round loss to former conference rival Batesville, the four seed from the 5A-East.
The East Conference is the land of giants in 5A volleyball, and this year’s goal for the Lady Badgers is to become good enough to not only win another league title, but also compete with and defeat the state’s elite teams.
“We haven’t talked about that as a team, but it’s coming,” Camp said. “Everything so far has been about skill, skill, skill. But they’ve made comments about it. They know what level they need to be, and they’ll say things like, ‘we’re ready.’ They can see their improvement and they’re excited about the season.”
Leader sports editor
Excitement and expectations are high in and around the Beebe volleyball program as it prepares to begin the 2015 season, and there’s good reason for it. The Lady Badgers return starters in all six positions from last year’s 5A-Central Conference championship team. The team lost two seniors who contributed to that success, but with 20 players on this year’s roster and so many other returning contributors, there’s good reason to expect another strong run towards making it back-to-back league titles.
“It’s my fifth year and this is the biggest team we’ve had as far as number of players,” said head coach Ashley Camp. “We’re going to have some depth. We have a lot of different rotations we can go to depending on what we need or what we’re trying to do. And we have a lot of experience coming back with eight seniors.”
Running the show as setter and general floor leader is senior Sarah Clark. Clark also has one of the strongest service games on the team.
“She runs the offense very well,” Camp said of Clark. “She’s a good communicator and a good leader.”
Senior Jerra Malone led the team in kills last year as a junior. She returns as a strong left side hitter, while Gracie Rymel returns as the other big outside hitter. Rymel emerged as a key clog midway through last season. Adding to those two returning starters is senior Tori Lovelady, who has shown vast improvement as a hitter, and also a defensive specialist.
Paige Smith is the team’s libero while Destiny Nunez is a defensive specialist and adds another strong service game.
That service game has been a major focus during the summer offseason.
“That’s something we’ve worked very hard on improving,” Camp said. “We call it the game within the game. We want to try to take the other team out of the point before the ball ever gets back to the net.”
Junior Abby Smith will start at middle blocker after also becoming a major contributor as a sophomore last season. She is another player Camp believes will make an impact with her serve.
“She’s worked very hard on her jump serve and I see her stepping up and utilizing that in a way that can really help us,” Camp said.
Junior Kayla Green is another defensive specialist that adds depth to the squad, and sophomore Lani Wolfe provides another big middle blocker to join Smith.
Perhaps like no other game, volleyball requires lots of communication in the middle of the action, making team chemistry a must for success.
It’s also been a big focus in the offseason, and something the coach feels comfortable about as the season approaches.
“We’ve done some things to help team bonding and things like that,” Camp said. “They’re all very excited. Of course, they’re girls, so there are going to be little things here and there. But for the most part, these girls have been great about not bringing those things to the court.”
Last year saw Beebe win its first-ever conference championship despite starting the season as a major underdog to Pulaski Academy. The Lady Badgers lost a bitterly close match at home to the Lady Bruins early in the season, and answered that setback by winning all the rest of their conference matches, including defeating PA with relative ease on the road.
That success led to the team’s third playoff appearance, but that ended in a first-round loss to former conference rival Batesville, the four seed from the 5A-East.
The East Conference is the land of giants in 5A volleyball, and this year’s goal for the Lady Badgers is to become good enough to not only win another league title, but also compete with and defeat the state’s elite teams.
“We haven’t talked about that as a team, but it’s coming,” Camp said. “Everything so far has been about skill, skill, skill. But they’ve made comments about it. They know what level they need to be, and they’ll say things like, ‘we’re ready.’ They can see their improvement and they’re excited about the season.”
EDITORIAL >> Schools set to reopen
It’s back-to-school time!
But it’s more than just new clothes, notebook paper and a pack of pencils.
It’s about parents doing what is necessary to ensure their child gets the most out of the school year. An old philosopher once said children will not remember you for the material things you provided them, but for the feeling that you cherished them.
So you can cherish your child by keeping up with their education from the start of the school year.
First and foremost, this year is not last year.
Whether your child had a great year of learning or a horrible year last year, head into this school year knowing that it will be different. Make sure your child knows it will be different. Don’t carry over any negative attitudes. Everyone needs to look at the year with fresh and excited eyes.
Get to know the teachers, principals and other staff members.
For teachers, nothing is more disconcerting than a parent walking into the school in the middle of the year and not knowing the name of their child’s teacher. Get to know the teachers, whether it’s one or two like in kindergarten or seven or eight like middle school. Take the time to get to know the teachers, as they are your best allies and your best resources when it comes to making sure your child blooms in school. Your child’s success is possibly more important to them than to you.
And, parents, it’s the little things that will go a long way.
Greet every teacher with a smile and a handshake and let them know that you will do everything you can to make it a great year.
Communication is key.
Yes, that’s your child, but 99 percent of the time that wild story you are being told about what happened in school isn’t so. Teachers, as a rule, don’t lie. It serves them no purpose. If something sounds fishy or there are gaps missing in what your child is telling you, contact the teacher.
Set a positive tone (again, remember, it’s a brand new year) with teachers and administrators that education is important and you don’t mind if they call you when a problem or concern comes up and that you will do your best to handle it. Feel free to ask school staff for advice or assistance. They have probably seen it all.
School supplies are important. There always seems to be plenty at the beginning of the school year, but make sure Santa and the Easter Bunny bring additional supplies. Plus, school supplies should be a part of every birthday-present pile.
Above all, be there every night, if at all possible, to read with your child, to share in the happenings of the school day, to have your child “teach” you what they have learned and, in that way, they are locking in that knowledge.
Nelson Mandela said it best, “Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine, and that a child of farm workers can become the president of a nation.”
But it’s more than just new clothes, notebook paper and a pack of pencils.
It’s about parents doing what is necessary to ensure their child gets the most out of the school year. An old philosopher once said children will not remember you for the material things you provided them, but for the feeling that you cherished them.
So you can cherish your child by keeping up with their education from the start of the school year.
First and foremost, this year is not last year.
Whether your child had a great year of learning or a horrible year last year, head into this school year knowing that it will be different. Make sure your child knows it will be different. Don’t carry over any negative attitudes. Everyone needs to look at the year with fresh and excited eyes.
Get to know the teachers, principals and other staff members.
For teachers, nothing is more disconcerting than a parent walking into the school in the middle of the year and not knowing the name of their child’s teacher. Get to know the teachers, whether it’s one or two like in kindergarten or seven or eight like middle school. Take the time to get to know the teachers, as they are your best allies and your best resources when it comes to making sure your child blooms in school. Your child’s success is possibly more important to them than to you.
And, parents, it’s the little things that will go a long way.
Greet every teacher with a smile and a handshake and let them know that you will do everything you can to make it a great year.
Communication is key.
Yes, that’s your child, but 99 percent of the time that wild story you are being told about what happened in school isn’t so. Teachers, as a rule, don’t lie. It serves them no purpose. If something sounds fishy or there are gaps missing in what your child is telling you, contact the teacher.
Set a positive tone (again, remember, it’s a brand new year) with teachers and administrators that education is important and you don’t mind if they call you when a problem or concern comes up and that you will do your best to handle it. Feel free to ask school staff for advice or assistance. They have probably seen it all.
School supplies are important. There always seems to be plenty at the beginning of the school year, but make sure Santa and the Easter Bunny bring additional supplies. Plus, school supplies should be a part of every birthday-present pile.
Above all, be there every night, if at all possible, to read with your child, to share in the happenings of the school day, to have your child “teach” you what they have learned and, in that way, they are locking in that knowledge.
Nelson Mandela said it best, “Education is the great engine of personal development. It is through education that the daughter of a peasant can become a doctor, that a son of a mine worker can become the head of the mine, and that a child of farm workers can become the president of a nation.”
TOP STORY >> Two school bands become one
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| Jacksonville-North Pulaski High School Marching Band director Ben Light is ready for the challenge of blending two different high school marching styles into something unique this school year. |
Leader staff writer
Jacksonville-North Pulaski High School Marching Band director Ben Light is working hard with his assistants to make the city’s two different high school bands blend into one.
This school year, as part of the developing new school district, the Jacksonville High School and the North Pulaski High School marching bands were consolidated. Each had their own style.
The North Pulaski band was known for its corps style.
“It had a very strong tradition of being a competitive band. It had a lot of structure and discipline — militaristic,” Light said.
The Jacksonville band was the Juke Box Band.
“It was a historically black colleges and universities show band. It had a looser structure and was crowd pleasing with a high entertainment value,” Light said.
“We are pulling together the strongest qualities of both bands. North Pulaski’s polished musical excellence and Jacksonville’s high energy, high entertainment. It will be the best of both worlds. It will be a unique style; crisp, clean lines and a lot of fun to watch and listen to,” Light said.
The Jacksonville-North Pulaski Marching Band will have new colors, blue and silver. Light said he chose the opposite of red and gold, so no one’s school colors are left out.
The band directors are working to design a uniform. The first performance will be Friday, Sept. 4 during Jacksonville’s first football game.
Light will be teaching band at Jacksonville High School in the morning, at North Pulaski High School in the afternoon and at Jacksonville Middle School (on the old Northwood Middle School campus) later in the day.
Helping Light with the transition are high school band assistant Ashley Higginbotham and Robert Fellows at Jacksonville Middle School.
Light said the Pulaski County Special School District had been supportive in making the Jacksonville-North Pulaski band work.
The Jacksonville-North Pulaski band has 50 students, a significant decline from last year. Light said many North Pulaski High School students were lost to Sylvan Hills High School when the school district boundary lines were re-drawn. He was the North Pulaski band director and said its band had 75 students during the 2014-15 school year.
Light was unsure of Jacksonville’s band numbers but said that the school has also seen a decline in students.
However, he is optimistic. Jacksonville Middle School has over 200 band students, and 160 are sixth graders.
“The future is very bright; so many are starting out in the lower grade levels,” Light said.
This year, the Jacksonville-North Pulaski Marching Band’s show is “iBand.” Light said it is very technology-themed, like a live concert.
Band students will be learning and adding more music as the football season progresses.
The show has all original compositions. It has all new current pop music people will recognize from the radio.
Summer band camp was held two weeks ago. Light said it went very well. He was inspired that the Jacksonville and North Pulaski high school students came together so quickly. It gave the Jacksonville-North Pulaski Marching Band an identity.
North Pulaski High School 11th-grader Sarah Walker said, “At first, I thought it was going to be rough. But I made friends and hope the year goes smooth as planned and we don’t have any conflicts.”
Walker said the two different marching band styles will allow students to get themselves out there and perform at their best. She said they will learn new music that they know as teenagers.
“It’ll give us some ‘oomph’ as a new school district,” Walker said.
A Jacksonville Middle School band camp was held for the first time in many years. Light said there was a good turnout.
A band parents meeting will be held at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 17 in the Jacksonville Middle School band room (the Northwood campus)
The primary goals are to elect officers for the new school year, review and vote upon proposed changes to band booster by-laws and a new membership fee. The booster club is way for the community to support the band.
During October, several marching contests will be held on Saturdays. This is something new for former Jacksonville High School band students. The contests are open for the public to watch.
Jacksonville-North Pulaski Marching Band has a new website at www.JNPband.com. It also has a Facebook page.
TOP STORY >> Williams says job far from finished
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
State Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, the former Cabot mayor, will announce Saturday that he will seek a third term representing Dist. 29, which includes portions of Lonoke, Pulaski, Faulkner and White counties.
Williams, a Republican, said he would continue to put constituent issues first, helping district residents work their way through red tape in state government, often in areas of adoption, child neglect, senior care and “a whole array of issues.”
He said that, at any given time, he has eight or 10 files open.
“If I can help, I’m always standing at the ready,” he said.
“I promise common-sense solutions to issues that face the state of Arkansas,” Williams said.
Consolidation — restructuring state government — continues to be an important issue to him, he said this week.
“Currently there are well over 100 state agencies,” he said.
Williams said he would continue to try to cut waste in state government, which he estimated at “at least 10 percent.”
“We have $5 billion in general revenue that we control, with a potential savings of $500 million,” he said.
He said the state must challenge or circumvent an EPA rule aimed at curbing pollution, which he says could double people’s electric bills.
“We get about 47 percent of our energy from coal,” he said. He wants the General Assembly to write a plan to study the economic impact.
The former Cabot councilman and mayor said he has been consistent in his beliefs and work ethic from the time he was first elected to public office. After serving on the city council, he was elected mayor in 2007 and remained there until he was chosen to represent parts of Faulkner, Lonoke, Pulaski and White counties in the state Senate.
“I will continue to support family values, tax reduction and smaller government,” Williams said, adding that he is always looking for ways to cut taxes while balancing the needs of the state.
R.D. Hopper, a first-term Lonoke County justice of the peace and owner of Sonny’s Auto Salvage in Jacksonville, has announced he would challenge Williams in the March 1 Republican primary.
Williams says he’s not beholden to any special interest group, just the people of his district.
In the most recent session of the legislature, he chaired the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Senate Constitutional Issues Sub-committee and the Joint Committee on Constitutional Amendments. He also co-chaired the Intermodal Transportation and Commerce Task Force and was vice chairman of Joint Energy.
Williams was appointed to the city’s planning commission and served on the Cabot City Council for three terms before being elected as mayor. He has also served on the board of the Child Advocate Centers of Arkansas.
In 2014, Williams received the American Legion Blue Cap Award and, a year earlier, he received the Distinguished Legislator Award from Balanced Energy Arkansas and the Faces of Arkansas Award from the Arkansas State CASA Association.
He and his wife, the former DeLona Rudy, have four daughters and 10 grandchildren. He said he wants to do his part to make Arkansas the kind of place that is safe for his grandchildren.
Born in Sheridan, he retired after an almost 40-year career with Union Pacific Railroad, where he worked his way up from laborer to regional director of transportation. In that capacity, he managed daily operations for the eastern division, covering Illinois to Louisiana.
Leader staff writer
State Sen. Eddie Joe Williams, the former Cabot mayor, will announce Saturday that he will seek a third term representing Dist. 29, which includes portions of Lonoke, Pulaski, Faulkner and White counties.
Williams, a Republican, said he would continue to put constituent issues first, helping district residents work their way through red tape in state government, often in areas of adoption, child neglect, senior care and “a whole array of issues.”
He said that, at any given time, he has eight or 10 files open.
“If I can help, I’m always standing at the ready,” he said.
“I promise common-sense solutions to issues that face the state of Arkansas,” Williams said.
Consolidation — restructuring state government — continues to be an important issue to him, he said this week.
“Currently there are well over 100 state agencies,” he said.
Williams said he would continue to try to cut waste in state government, which he estimated at “at least 10 percent.”
“We have $5 billion in general revenue that we control, with a potential savings of $500 million,” he said.
He said the state must challenge or circumvent an EPA rule aimed at curbing pollution, which he says could double people’s electric bills.
“We get about 47 percent of our energy from coal,” he said. He wants the General Assembly to write a plan to study the economic impact.
The former Cabot councilman and mayor said he has been consistent in his beliefs and work ethic from the time he was first elected to public office. After serving on the city council, he was elected mayor in 2007 and remained there until he was chosen to represent parts of Faulkner, Lonoke, Pulaski and White counties in the state Senate.
“I will continue to support family values, tax reduction and smaller government,” Williams said, adding that he is always looking for ways to cut taxes while balancing the needs of the state.
R.D. Hopper, a first-term Lonoke County justice of the peace and owner of Sonny’s Auto Salvage in Jacksonville, has announced he would challenge Williams in the March 1 Republican primary.
Williams says he’s not beholden to any special interest group, just the people of his district.
In the most recent session of the legislature, he chaired the Senate State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee, the Senate Constitutional Issues Sub-committee and the Joint Committee on Constitutional Amendments. He also co-chaired the Intermodal Transportation and Commerce Task Force and was vice chairman of Joint Energy.
Williams was appointed to the city’s planning commission and served on the Cabot City Council for three terms before being elected as mayor. He has also served on the board of the Child Advocate Centers of Arkansas.
In 2014, Williams received the American Legion Blue Cap Award and, a year earlier, he received the Distinguished Legislator Award from Balanced Energy Arkansas and the Faces of Arkansas Award from the Arkansas State CASA Association.
He and his wife, the former DeLona Rudy, have four daughters and 10 grandchildren. He said he wants to do his part to make Arkansas the kind of place that is safe for his grandchildren.
Born in Sheridan, he retired after an almost 40-year career with Union Pacific Railroad, where he worked his way up from laborer to regional director of transportation. In that capacity, he managed daily operations for the eastern division, covering Illinois to Louisiana.
TOP STOIRY >> District passes another hurdle
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writers
U.S. Dist. Judge D. Price Marshall must sign off on the formal detachment agreement dividing assets, liabilities and responsibilities between the Pulaski County Special School District and the emerging Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District.
As anticipated, the state Board of Education unanimously approved that agreement Thursday. Negotiated by PCSSD Superintendent Jerry Guess, JNP Superintendent Tony Wood and their teams and state Education Com-missioner Johnny Key, all three men signed the agreement July 27, and it was approved by the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School Board Aug. 3.
“It’s a solid agreement,” Key told the state board. “Both districts can move forward during remainder of transition time. It brought some clarity in areas that needed clarity.”
“The spilt of the assets is appropriate,” Key said. “Both districts will be able to move forward, efficiently, if not without some difficulty.”
“This is like the separation of Siamese twins,” Key said. “I want to express my appreciation to Mr. Wood and, before him, Mr. Lester, and Dr. Guess and their teams.”
While Marshall has said he doesn’t want to manage the detachment of Jacksonville from PCSSD, he will check the agreement to be sure it complies with the efforts of the two school districts to achieve unitary status.
The detachment agreement has already been filed with the court, according to PCSSD attorney Allen Roberts, and the judge, who doesn’t like to let things linger, is likely to rule on it at the Aug. 20 desegregation status hearing.
Guess told the board that the commissioner’s assessment captured the hard work and time put into the agreement and “I think it gives a framework critical to detachment and to PCSSD afterward. I’m here to show my support for this.”
“I don’t have anything to add,” Wood told the board.
Detachment is not the only critical issue PCSSD is faced with. It is beginning its fifth year of the five-year takeover by the state for reasons of fiscal distress. As a result of that, the PCSSD school board was dissolved in 2011 and Guess was appointed “interim” superintendent with the state education commissioner acting as PCSSD’s one-man school board.
During that time, Tom Kimbrell, then Wood and now Key have held the position. Kimbrell was hired away to be superintendent of Bryant School District and Wood to be superintendent of Jacksonville-North Pulaski, a job he assumed July 1.
State School Board member Jay Barth noted that the end of the state’s five-year authority to run PCSSD was approaching and asked that the board be given a more comprehensive look at the district’s fiscal situation at the next review.
“I’d like to know where we are now and how we’re going to get there — out of fiscal distress — if we are going to get there,” he said.
Among the elements of the detachment agreement, the new district will pay PCSSD $10.8 million for school buildings and a bus terminal that will become the property of JNPSD.
Based on the projected enrollment in the JNP district, PCSSD has agreed to pay JNP 26 percent of the final two $20.8 million state desegregation payments, or $5,409,170 during the 2016-17 school year and another $5,409,170 — earmarked for facilities improvements — during the 2017-18 school year.
The community, district leaders, architects, engineers and fiscal agents as well as Education Department staff will work to determine the revenue needed to support facilities improvements. The amount of a new millage increase proposal will be based upon that.
Distribution of assets and liabilities will be determined on a “per student basis.” For instance, PCSSD bought 2,900 iPads during 2014-15 for about $1.5 million and will acquire additional iPads and Chromebooks for 2015-16. PCSSD will pay JNPSD $750,000 for its claim to any of that property.
On its first day of operation, JNP will receive an advance of $4.5 million on any and all monies due under this agreement. That will give the new district some operating money.
JNPSD is eligible for its share of any legal fund balance after the legislative audit has confirmed that amount.
PCSSD will non-renew employees assigned to JNPSD schools near the end of the 2015-16 school year. JNPSD’s staffing plan commits it to comply with the desegregation obligations in PCSSD’s Plan 2000.
Those non-renewed employees are eligible to apply for their jobs, often at a lower rate of pay and are not guaranteed a position.
The agreement also provides for the transfer and maintenance of student and employee records from PCSSD to JNPSD.
Leader senior staff writers
U.S. Dist. Judge D. Price Marshall must sign off on the formal detachment agreement dividing assets, liabilities and responsibilities between the Pulaski County Special School District and the emerging Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District.
As anticipated, the state Board of Education unanimously approved that agreement Thursday. Negotiated by PCSSD Superintendent Jerry Guess, JNP Superintendent Tony Wood and their teams and state Education Com-missioner Johnny Key, all three men signed the agreement July 27, and it was approved by the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School Board Aug. 3.
“It’s a solid agreement,” Key told the state board. “Both districts can move forward during remainder of transition time. It brought some clarity in areas that needed clarity.”
“The spilt of the assets is appropriate,” Key said. “Both districts will be able to move forward, efficiently, if not without some difficulty.”
“This is like the separation of Siamese twins,” Key said. “I want to express my appreciation to Mr. Wood and, before him, Mr. Lester, and Dr. Guess and their teams.”
While Marshall has said he doesn’t want to manage the detachment of Jacksonville from PCSSD, he will check the agreement to be sure it complies with the efforts of the two school districts to achieve unitary status.
The detachment agreement has already been filed with the court, according to PCSSD attorney Allen Roberts, and the judge, who doesn’t like to let things linger, is likely to rule on it at the Aug. 20 desegregation status hearing.
Guess told the board that the commissioner’s assessment captured the hard work and time put into the agreement and “I think it gives a framework critical to detachment and to PCSSD afterward. I’m here to show my support for this.”
“I don’t have anything to add,” Wood told the board.
Detachment is not the only critical issue PCSSD is faced with. It is beginning its fifth year of the five-year takeover by the state for reasons of fiscal distress. As a result of that, the PCSSD school board was dissolved in 2011 and Guess was appointed “interim” superintendent with the state education commissioner acting as PCSSD’s one-man school board.
During that time, Tom Kimbrell, then Wood and now Key have held the position. Kimbrell was hired away to be superintendent of Bryant School District and Wood to be superintendent of Jacksonville-North Pulaski, a job he assumed July 1.
State School Board member Jay Barth noted that the end of the state’s five-year authority to run PCSSD was approaching and asked that the board be given a more comprehensive look at the district’s fiscal situation at the next review.
“I’d like to know where we are now and how we’re going to get there — out of fiscal distress — if we are going to get there,” he said.
Among the elements of the detachment agreement, the new district will pay PCSSD $10.8 million for school buildings and a bus terminal that will become the property of JNPSD.
Based on the projected enrollment in the JNP district, PCSSD has agreed to pay JNP 26 percent of the final two $20.8 million state desegregation payments, or $5,409,170 during the 2016-17 school year and another $5,409,170 — earmarked for facilities improvements — during the 2017-18 school year.
The community, district leaders, architects, engineers and fiscal agents as well as Education Department staff will work to determine the revenue needed to support facilities improvements. The amount of a new millage increase proposal will be based upon that.
Distribution of assets and liabilities will be determined on a “per student basis.” For instance, PCSSD bought 2,900 iPads during 2014-15 for about $1.5 million and will acquire additional iPads and Chromebooks for 2015-16. PCSSD will pay JNPSD $750,000 for its claim to any of that property.
On its first day of operation, JNP will receive an advance of $4.5 million on any and all monies due under this agreement. That will give the new district some operating money.
JNPSD is eligible for its share of any legal fund balance after the legislative audit has confirmed that amount.
PCSSD will non-renew employees assigned to JNPSD schools near the end of the 2015-16 school year. JNPSD’s staffing plan commits it to comply with the desegregation obligations in PCSSD’s Plan 2000.
Those non-renewed employees are eligible to apply for their jobs, often at a lower rate of pay and are not guaranteed a position.
The agreement also provides for the transfer and maintenance of student and employee records from PCSSD to JNPSD.
Tuesday, August 11, 2015
EDITORIAL >> Former sergeant needs your help
Harold “Hutch” Hutchison — a local Mason and master sergeant retired from 24 years in the Air Force — was doing what he does, helping people, when tragedy struck.
A tree he and three other Masons were cutting down for someone in need fell on Hutch, paralyzing him from the waist down.
We couldn’t imagine the pain or the emotional agony he must be in, the great sense of loss felt by those whose injuries alter their lives forever.
But we can relate to the struggle of affording medical bills and fulfilling needs — like an awning to protect a wheelchair ramp at his house in Toneyville from the elements — that his family never thought Hutch would have.
We haven’t met MSgt. Hutchison, but his sister-in-law spoke of him fondly, describing Hutch as a family man and a Christian with a big heart who volunteered without seeking any kind of recognition for it.
His sister-in-law, Katrena Ziglar, set up a Centennial Bank account a few weeks ago, hoping people would use it to donate.
It is called the Harold Hutchison Donation Account, and the account number is 501505255. Please, anything you can spare would be much appreciated.
A tree he and three other Masons were cutting down for someone in need fell on Hutch, paralyzing him from the waist down.
We couldn’t imagine the pain or the emotional agony he must be in, the great sense of loss felt by those whose injuries alter their lives forever.
But we can relate to the struggle of affording medical bills and fulfilling needs — like an awning to protect a wheelchair ramp at his house in Toneyville from the elements — that his family never thought Hutch would have.
We haven’t met MSgt. Hutchison, but his sister-in-law spoke of him fondly, describing Hutch as a family man and a Christian with a big heart who volunteered without seeking any kind of recognition for it.
His sister-in-law, Katrena Ziglar, set up a Centennial Bank account a few weeks ago, hoping people would use it to donate.
It is called the Harold Hutchison Donation Account, and the account number is 501505255. Please, anything you can spare would be much appreciated.
EDITORIAL >> Metrotrends notes growth
Jacksonville was once the fastest-growing community in the area, but that was before its schools were entangled in an important, if debilitating, desegregation agreement.
Since that time, families inclined to live in the area, like Little Rock Air Force Base airmen, have headed farther up the highway, settling in Cabot, Ward and Austin where their children could attend Cabot District schools.
Meanwhile, lost in the hinterlands of the sprawling Pulaski County Special School District, Jacksonville got beat like a rented mule.
Jacksonville has actually lost population in recent years, but city leaders here are confident that the new Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District will turn the tide.
Cabot was the area success story earlier in this new millenium, with people fleeing integration and substandard schools in favor of new suburbs and new schools.
Jacksonville could only look on.
Now, however, while Cabot still continues to grow at a respectable rate — 10 percent between 2010 and 2015 — Austin and Ward to its north have grown the fastest.
Austin has grown by nearly 26 percent since 2010 and Ward by 16 percent. Bryant has grown by nearly 20 percent.
That’s according to Metroplan’s annual publication, Metro Trends Demographic Review and Outlook.
Of course, even with the phenomenal growth rate, Austin still has only 2,560 residents. While the growth rate was less in Cabot, it still added more residents over that period than the total number of people who live in Austin.
Although growth in Jacksonville has been flat between 2010 and 2015, with a population of 28,796, it’s still larger than Cabot.
For decades, Jacksonvillians have said, “Give us our own school district, and we’ll educate our children and build our town.”
The Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District, while it is already a legal entity, will choose its first elected school board in September and start educating children in the 2016-17 school year.
It will be the voters’ responsibility to tax themselves a bit so the new district can afford to begin replacing decrepit old buildings and to support the district any way they can.
Like a ship at sea, it will take a while to turn the new school district and community around. But, perhaps by the 2020 census, Jacksonville will begin to see growth again.
It took the city 30 years to get its own school district, and it may take a while longer to see the new district emerge as an engine for growth. But it will happen if you let it.
Since that time, families inclined to live in the area, like Little Rock Air Force Base airmen, have headed farther up the highway, settling in Cabot, Ward and Austin where their children could attend Cabot District schools.
Meanwhile, lost in the hinterlands of the sprawling Pulaski County Special School District, Jacksonville got beat like a rented mule.
Jacksonville has actually lost population in recent years, but city leaders here are confident that the new Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District will turn the tide.
Cabot was the area success story earlier in this new millenium, with people fleeing integration and substandard schools in favor of new suburbs and new schools.
Jacksonville could only look on.
Now, however, while Cabot still continues to grow at a respectable rate — 10 percent between 2010 and 2015 — Austin and Ward to its north have grown the fastest.
Austin has grown by nearly 26 percent since 2010 and Ward by 16 percent. Bryant has grown by nearly 20 percent.
That’s according to Metroplan’s annual publication, Metro Trends Demographic Review and Outlook.
Of course, even with the phenomenal growth rate, Austin still has only 2,560 residents. While the growth rate was less in Cabot, it still added more residents over that period than the total number of people who live in Austin.
Although growth in Jacksonville has been flat between 2010 and 2015, with a population of 28,796, it’s still larger than Cabot.
For decades, Jacksonvillians have said, “Give us our own school district, and we’ll educate our children and build our town.”
The Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District, while it is already a legal entity, will choose its first elected school board in September and start educating children in the 2016-17 school year.
It will be the voters’ responsibility to tax themselves a bit so the new district can afford to begin replacing decrepit old buildings and to support the district any way they can.
Like a ship at sea, it will take a while to turn the new school district and community around. But, perhaps by the 2020 census, Jacksonville will begin to see growth again.
It took the city 30 years to get its own school district, and it may take a while longer to see the new district emerge as an engine for growth. But it will happen if you let it.
TOP STORY >> Arrest made in heists
A Lonoke man was arrested Friday in connection with two gas-station robberies that occurred earlier in the day in Cabot.
Alan Gutekunst, 20, of Lonoke was charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of theft of property.
Police are working on locating the second suspect.
The first robbery occurred at 12:21 a.m. at Doublebee’s, 111 Bill Foster Memorial Highway.
A store clerk told officers a man walked into the store, placed a GameStop bag on the counter and demanded he put all the money in the bag. No weapon was involved.
The man left on foot and walked to the east side of the building. No vehicle was seen leaving the store.
A witness told police he saw two men in an early ’90s silver car parked in the back next to a wooden fence.
They wore ragged clothing.
The second robbery happened at 2:43 a.m. at the Shell gas station, 3185 S. Second St. The store clerk told police two white men entered the store with a white plastic bag.
The clerk recognized Gutekunst but did not know the other man. The other man was about 6 feet tall and wore a brown shirt and jeans.
When the two men went to the counter, they told the clerk to put the money in the bag.
The clerk told Gutekunst that he knew who he was, but Gutekunst did not respond.
The clerk said neither man threatened him or said they had a weapon.
The clerk said the robbers left in a silver Cadillac.
A witness stopped by the gas station for a soda just after the store had been robbed.
She told police she didn’t see the robbery, but saw the suspects’ car. It did not have a front passenger tire and was driving on the rim, she said.
The car was headed west over the Hwy. 5 overpass.
Gutekunst was arrested around 3:45 p.m. at Quality Petroleum, 11610 Maybelline Road in North Little Rock.
Alan Gutekunst, 20, of Lonoke was charged with two counts of robbery and two counts of theft of property.
Police are working on locating the second suspect.
The first robbery occurred at 12:21 a.m. at Doublebee’s, 111 Bill Foster Memorial Highway.
A store clerk told officers a man walked into the store, placed a GameStop bag on the counter and demanded he put all the money in the bag. No weapon was involved.
The man left on foot and walked to the east side of the building. No vehicle was seen leaving the store.
A witness told police he saw two men in an early ’90s silver car parked in the back next to a wooden fence.
They wore ragged clothing.
The second robbery happened at 2:43 a.m. at the Shell gas station, 3185 S. Second St. The store clerk told police two white men entered the store with a white plastic bag.
The clerk recognized Gutekunst but did not know the other man. The other man was about 6 feet tall and wore a brown shirt and jeans.
When the two men went to the counter, they told the clerk to put the money in the bag.
The clerk told Gutekunst that he knew who he was, but Gutekunst did not respond.
The clerk said neither man threatened him or said they had a weapon.
The clerk said the robbers left in a silver Cadillac.
A witness stopped by the gas station for a soda just after the store had been robbed.
She told police she didn’t see the robbery, but saw the suspects’ car. It did not have a front passenger tire and was driving on the rim, she said.
The car was headed west over the Hwy. 5 overpass.
Gutekunst was arrested around 3:45 p.m. at Quality Petroleum, 11610 Maybelline Road in North Little Rock.
TOP STORY >> Crafty startup has first class
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| Andrew Russell and Josie Pringle paint their wooden cutouts at Beyond the Canvas’ first class held Saturday in Sherwood. |
By SARAH CAMPBELL
Leader staff writer
Laughter and smiles abounded at the first-ever $35 Beyond the Canvas public painting class held Saturday evening in Sherwood.
Participants enjoyed painting wooden cutouts of the state, an owl, the University of Arkansas Hog, a “Gone Fishin” bobber and a fisherman.
They had two options, a blank canvas or one with a template “like a coloring book,” according to co-owner Heather Meadows.
Meadows, a detective in the city police department’s crimes against children unit, and artist Kristi Alberson founded the business.
They met through a “Wives Beyond the Badge” Facebook group for law enforcement spouses. Alberson is married to a police officer from a neighboring town.
She was making pieces at home to sell, but had become overwhelmed by the demand. When the two women discovered they both enjoyed painting and crafts, Alberson suggested a side venture, and the idea for Beyond the Canvas evolved from there.
“She’s the business sense. She doesn’t like big crowds. She doesn’t want to be in front of people, and she doesn’t instruct. She’s not crazy about instructing,” Meadows said of their partnership. “So she will do the hard work all day long. She just wants me to stand up there and talk to everybody and go through and help people.”
The police detective took art classes in school and is a certified instructor.
The business took about six weeks to set up, Meadows continued.
The two women have partnered with her friend, Mark Osborne of Southern Coating and Nameplate, for their space at 6200 Getty Drive off Landers Road.
Meadows said she and Alberson are looking at a 90-day trial period to see if Beyond the Canvas takes off before planning a big open house. The next class is at 5 p.m. Sept. 5, but they will be held every two weeks after that unless booked for an event.
With 14 participants in the first class, held on a day when temperatures climbed and mostly stayed in the 100s, the business seems to be well on its way to success.
One customer, Amy Brown, said, “It was a really fun experience, and, in the end, I was surprised at how cute my project turned out since I am not crafty at all. The tools they had actually made it easy. I liked that there was a template I could follow, yet I could customize it with a different pattern or color.”
Meadows said Beyond the Canvas would be available for private parties, like bachelorette parties, and have different themes each night — couples’ night, kids’ night, police appreciation and more. The business will travel if those booking have an appropriate space.
While the duo is sticking with wood cutouts for now, other crafts will be offered in the future. “We just want to see if anybody will start requesting and what kind of crowds we can get,” Meadows said, adding that holiday crafts are in her plans.
Their goal was to be more affordable than other art classes the police detective enjoys participating in and also to give patrons something that has a function in the home rather than the themed paintings she winds up with that don’t fit in.
Alberson said she began painting because she was home all day with a young child and needed a pastime. “You can only watch so much TV,” she joked.
Alberson started selling them after running out of room to display her pieces at her house. She enjoys painting because it’s “relaxing, creative. You walk away with something saying ‘Hey, I did that and it’s not too bad looking.’”
Beyond the Canvas also gives Alberson the opportunity to get out and have fun with other people, she said.
Meadows said she paints to unwind from her high-pressure job. “I have a lot of hard nights, and I just need to be able to relax…Painting and drawing were always something that gave me an out. It’s like my fun time, my down time where my brain stops thinking about everything else, and it just thinks about being creative and fun.”
She added that people who are interested in the classes should know, if money is an obstacle, the business hosts several contests for free entries on their Facebook page. Groups of five or more receive a discount, while 10 or more get in free.
Meadows said., “This is worth (your time). This is time where all you do is laugh. All you do is get creative.”
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