By DEBORAH HORN
Leader staff writer
Nate Coulter uses words like “lawyering” in an engaging Southern drawl and in jest and talks about growing up in Nashville in Howard County. His words are punctuated with a smile. He’s disarming in a country boy kind of way, tall, lanky and perhaps those around him are fooled, but not for long — Coulter is Harvard educated, twice, and he’s a quick study.
Despite success as an attorney, he took down his shingle to take a job as Arkansas’ top librarian.
The Central Arkansas Library System, the state’s largest, is headquartered at the Main Library in downtown Little Rock. The system has an annual operating budget of about $17.5 million and more than 300 employees.
CALS is a public corporation created by inter-local agreement among Pulaski and Perry counties, and it has libraries in Jacksonville, Sherwood, Little Rock, Wrightsville, Maumelle and Perryville. It serves about 403,000, but through its Gateway Project, CALS serves another million patrons.
In 2015, there were more than 2 million visits to CALS libraries, and users checked out more than 2.7 million items.
Last December, the CALS Board of Directors named Coulter executive director. He succeeded the beloved and respected Bobby Roberts, who retired in March.
DOWNTOWN RESURGENCE
Coulter has one of the best views in all of downtown Little Rock, from his west and south facing, third-story windows a portion of the River Market is visible, the Historic Arkansas Museum’s grounds and buildings, the 300 Third Tower and more.
It’s one of the best views in downtown Little Rock, and before Coulter, it belonged to Roberts.
Perhaps Roberts is best known for his decision to build the Main Library in downtown Little Rock, which during the 1990s was not at all like the bustling area it is today.
There were more vacant buildings than occupied ones and more broken windows than not.
The area was scary during the day and even more so after dark. The River Market opened in 1996 to rumors of the possibility of a Clinton Presidential Library.
It was a slow start to the resurgence of downtown; nonetheless, Roberts wanted the library there.
He had doubters.
The decision to build in downtown Little Rock would earn Roberts accolades that extended to the farthest reaches of Pulaski and Perry counties for his vision and perseverance.
In 1997, he was named Librarian of the Year by Library Journal, in part because of his efforts to repeal a statewide cap on public library tax rates and to build the Central Arkansas Library System’s main branch.
That was the same year the downtown library opened.
Under Roberts’ watch, libraries were built, computers installed, e-books readied for download and patron numbers rose. He readied the CALS libraries for the 21st Century so finding the right person to replace him was daunting.
According to CALS board member Annette Herrington, “Many central Arkansas residents do not realize that CALS is nationally ranked as one of the top library systems in America. Bobby Roberts has been a visionary and the library board realized that he was a very tough act to follow.”
BIG SHOES TO FILL
Coulter’s not new to the party. He served on the CALS Board of Trustees for six years and their Foundation Board from 2013 until 2015. In all, he’s volunteered about 15 years of his life to its success.
Last year, he served as finance chair for the library system’s millage campaign.
It was successful and raised money for expansions at the Thompson, Dee Brown and Fletcher libraries, and a partial renovation of the Main Library.
Board member Frederick S. Ursery says Coulter was chosen for the job for a number of reasons, including his education and library service.
“He had been active with CALS in the past and had served on numerous committees. Therefore, he was thoroughly familiar with the organization and its people,” Ursery says.
Herrington says, “In Nate Coulter we found a unique candidate. Nate has national credentials, and he brings a fresh perspective to the entire organization.”
The board believed because he was familiar with central Arkansas and the library system’s unique mission Coulter could lead CALS in the tradition that Roberts established.
Coulter says, “Libraries are so much more than a reference desk. It’s more than bricks and mortar or digital content, libraries are valuable to a lot of people across the community.”
“In Nate, we really got the best of both worlds,” Herrington says.
Ursery says, “In his first six months on the job he has performed well and the board looks forward to a bright future with Nate at the helm of our organization.”
Herrington says, “Nate has already introduced podcasting of Radio CALS and a new ‘Primary Sources’ program that features accomplished, interesting Arkansans.”
As CALS executive director, Coulter oversees construction projects, the entire system’s operation, budget, fundraising and programming.
He says it’s a challenge he relishes.
Before Roberts retired, he introduced Coulter to Jackson-ville Mayor Gary Fletcher.
“Bobby Roberts did a tremendous job,” but Fletcher says he has faith in Coulter’s abilities.
“I look forward to working with him,” Fletcher says.
JACKSONVILLE GETS NEW LIBRARY
Actually, Coulter was on the CALS board that approved the new Jacksonville library that was built on Main Street in 2009, and he remembers attending a number of city council meetings prior to its construction.
Prior to construction he also talked with Cindy Powell, a librarian at Esther D. Nixon Library, about what they would like to see at the new facility.
Coulter says, “I remember she said they needed more desktop computers, more meeting rooms.”
Powell, too, remembers those meetings, and she describes Coulter as having a “great sense of humor and very approachable.”
When he took over as executive director, she says she was impressed that he contacted “all the staff, telling them, ‘I’m here.’” He welcomed their input on what worked and what didn’t, she says.
The Nixon Library opened with about 12,000 books, but now has five times that number, plus DVDs and other items.
LIBRARY KEY TO DEVELOPMENT
Fletcher envisions a renaissance of downtown Jacksonville with the library and the new high school serving as Main Street anchors.
The 13,500-square-foot Esther DeWitt Nixon library, at 703 W. Main St., is only about seven years old.
“It’s nice that the high school will be so close to the library,” Fletcher says.
The area along Main Street between the two institutions could be redeveloped with more restaurants and shops. Fletcher and others hope for the same kind of impetus the main library provided downtown Little Rock.
A proposed Jacksonville downtown revitalization might include more green areas like the arbor on the northeast corner of the library’s property.
“It’s inviting,” the mayor says, and helps create spaces people want to visit.
The mayor said that the library is like the town’s courthouse and a vital component of the area.
Coulter says he is pleased the Nixon Library is playing such an important role in Jacksonville, and he believes the new high school and library can be great partners.
“I think it’s a great opportunity,” Coulter says.
Powell says already the library is attracting teenagers with free WiFi and activities like an anime club, and she expects to see more teenagers in the library once the new high school opens.
She says to keep up in the fast-changing world, “Nate’s doing everything he can to spot trends and to keep CALS relevant.”
BIRTHING A LIBRARY
While studying the latest architectural drawings with excitement, Ginann Swindle, manager of the Amy Sanders Library, says she’s a big fan of Coulter’s.
She describes him as smart, focused and aware of the niches each CALS library fills in the communities they serve.
For instance, the Sherwood branch goes to great lengths to engage its patrons, through educational — and sometimes with just good old-fashioned fun — classes for kids and adults.
Computers are important to many of their patrons, Swindle says.
Coulter says individual libraries’ offerings are patron-driven and education throughout the system is big.
For instance, Sherwood has higher than expected usage because of Air Force Base personnel, and the library tries to serve their needs, he says.
Construction of a new Amy Sanders Library in Sherwood is one of the latest projects undertaken by CALS, and the construction will be overseen by Coulter.
Building a library isn’t an easy task. He describes the Sherwood library as “an outlier,” and says a new facility is long overdue.
But he believes the city supports the decision, because voters recently passed a millage increase. Funds for the new library are coming from about $6 million in bonds, which will be paid off by a 1.3-mill property tax.
Already the architectural plans are complete, the soil samples taken and the site survey is complete, and the construction manager should be on the payroll by the end of August, says Sherwood Mayor Virginia Hillman Young.
Coulter says building a library is like birthing an elephant. The gestation period for an elephant is about two years.
It has taken dozens and dozens of meetings to get the project to this point, and the mayor says the groundbreaking should happen by mid-September.
She also has high praise for Coulter and his approach and the interest he has shown during this process.
Amy Sanders, for whom the library is named, agrees and for her, it’s completion can’t come soon enough.
Herrington says, “Nate is deeply interested in budgeting CALS resources and completing current and planned construction projects. He’s set to ensure that the new Sanders Library will be the best library for the community that it can be.”
Young says moreover, the new CALS library “could set the tone for future buildings being built in Sherwood.”
Although not yet built, she adds, “We’re very proud of it.”
Coulter says, “The architect rendered a fabulous blueprint, as good as in any in our system.” It was designed by Taggart Architects of North Little Rock.
As libraries continue to evolve, Swindle says she’s optimistic about Coulter’s leadership.
“He gets it,” she says. He’s willing to listen to others, including library leaders around the country, as well the CALS staff—like the guy manning the reference desk.
“He is proactive and approachable…I see great things ahead for our library system under his leadership,” Swindle says.
ABOUT THE MAN
Coulter has two degrees from Harvard University at Cambridge, Mass., including an undergraduate degree in history and a law degree.
After clerking for U.S. District Judge G. Thomas Eisele and serving as assistant legal counsel to Bill Clinton when he was governor, Coulter practiced law in Arkansas for more than 25 years.
He was a partner with the law firms Wright, Lindsey & Jennings and with Wilson, Engstrom, Corum and Coulter, both in Little Rock.
During that time he was selected as a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates and served as chairman of the Arkansas Bar Association’s Board of Governors in 2005 and 2006. In 2012, he was appointed to the faculty of the University of Arkansas School of Law for two years as the law school’s first Distinguished Practitioner in Residence.
In 1993, Coulter was the Democratic nominee for lieutenant governor of Arkansas in a special election after Clinton was elected President.
Coulter was a charter member of Our House Shelter’s board and the Arkansas Access to Justice Commission, and now serves on the Downtown Little Rock Partnership Board and is a member of the Downtown Little Rock Rotary Club.
Coulter has three children, Caroline, Nathan and Tom, who all graduated from Little Rock Central High and have attended or are attending universities at North Carolina, Arkansas and Missouri.
Friday, August 19, 2016
TOP STORY >> Census shows mixed results
By DEBORAH HORN
Leader staff writer
The population news presented at the Lonoke County Quorum Court during its Thursday meeting was mixed. Lonoke County’s overall population grew less than 1 percent from 2010 to 2015, and two of its four cities saw declines.
According to an Aug. 2 Metroplan report, Austin experienced the greatest percentage in growth, up 33.9 from 2010 through 2015, while Cabot grew by 2,111 residents during the same period. Cabot was listed as one of central Arkansas’ top cities experiencing an increase.
Austin grew by 691 people.
JP Henry Lang, a lifelong Cabot resident, said he’s seen the city’s population go from less than 2,000 in 1965 to its present population of about 25,887.
He said he wasn’t surprised by the Metroplan report. In fact, he said he predicts the growth will continue because of the proximity of the Air Force base at Jacksonville, and he said many Cabot residents work in Little Rock and North Little Rock.
“It’s a nice area,” he said.
Ward came in second in percentage growth, up by 20.9 percent or by 852 residents, while Lonoke’s population rose by only .8 percent, or by 32 people.
JP Bill Ryker of Lonoke is pleased and encouraged with his city’s growth.
Although small, he said it reverses past trends. In 2009, Lonoke had about 4,677 residents, but the population dropped until 2010 when it bottomed at 4,253 residents.
It’s now at 4,277.
Carlisle’s population fell by 16 and England’s by 53.
He said he hopes the new I-40 interchange and programs like Kick Start Lonoke will foster more growth.
Overall, Lonoke County grew by .9 percent during 2010 and 2015, and at a slower rate than between 1990 and 2010. The northern portion of the county is growing at a faster pace than the southern half, which remains an agricultural area, Ryker said.
Lonoke County Treasurer Patti Weathers presented the information from Metroplan to the justices of the peace.
LIBRARY USAGE INCREASING
Deborah Swayne Moore, Lonoke County Library System director, reported that most of its numbers increased since 2015. So far this year, she said circulation is up 30 percent over the same period last year.
She said the system’s four libraries are issuing more cards and renewing old ones at record rates so far this year. That number is up 50 percent over the same period in 2015, she said.
Also, she said 12,229 patrons participated in their 2016 Summer Reading Program at the Cabot Public Library, and that overall computer usage and total library visits climbed higher with each quarter in 2015.
For example, during the first quarter of 2015, about 38,112 visited the county’s libraries, while that number rose to 46,656 during the last quarter. Computer usage by patrons during the same period went from 6,623 to 7,649 log-ons.
The system has libraries in Lonoke, Carlisle, Cabot and England.
“The role of the library is changing, and we’re trying to let people know where we are and what services we offer,” Moore said. In particular, she said they are trying to engage more elementary age children through school field trips and other programs.
Moore also requested and received $25,000 from the quorum court to develop a five-year strategic plan for the library system that will run through 2022. The current plan expires at the end of 2017.
“We just started the process last week,” she said. It will include looking at various statistics such as “population growth and population trends, and where people live versus where they work and how that influences library usage.”
“It will not be a cookie-cutter plan, but we will look at the needs of each library,” she said.
“We want it to be unbiased,” so they will hire an outside firm to oversee the research and develop a comprehensive plan, Moore said.
GOVERNOR TO FILL VACANCY
The quorum court decided to begin the process of filling the vacancy left by JP Matt Sanders, who moved out of the county earlier this summer.
Resolution 2016-10 will allow Gov. Asa Hutchinson to appoint a replacement to fill the District 12 seat through the end of the year.
In November, Lonoke County voters will decide who will fill the seat for the next two years.
In other business:
JPs unanimously approved $10,000 for ammo and weapons for the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office.
JP Tim Odom was absent from the meeting Thursday.
The next Lonoke County Quorum Court meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Lonoke County Courthouse Annex at 210 N. Center St.
Leader staff writer
The population news presented at the Lonoke County Quorum Court during its Thursday meeting was mixed. Lonoke County’s overall population grew less than 1 percent from 2010 to 2015, and two of its four cities saw declines.
According to an Aug. 2 Metroplan report, Austin experienced the greatest percentage in growth, up 33.9 from 2010 through 2015, while Cabot grew by 2,111 residents during the same period. Cabot was listed as one of central Arkansas’ top cities experiencing an increase.
Austin grew by 691 people.
JP Henry Lang, a lifelong Cabot resident, said he’s seen the city’s population go from less than 2,000 in 1965 to its present population of about 25,887.
He said he wasn’t surprised by the Metroplan report. In fact, he said he predicts the growth will continue because of the proximity of the Air Force base at Jacksonville, and he said many Cabot residents work in Little Rock and North Little Rock.
“It’s a nice area,” he said.
Ward came in second in percentage growth, up by 20.9 percent or by 852 residents, while Lonoke’s population rose by only .8 percent, or by 32 people.
JP Bill Ryker of Lonoke is pleased and encouraged with his city’s growth.
Although small, he said it reverses past trends. In 2009, Lonoke had about 4,677 residents, but the population dropped until 2010 when it bottomed at 4,253 residents.
It’s now at 4,277.
Carlisle’s population fell by 16 and England’s by 53.
He said he hopes the new I-40 interchange and programs like Kick Start Lonoke will foster more growth.
Overall, Lonoke County grew by .9 percent during 2010 and 2015, and at a slower rate than between 1990 and 2010. The northern portion of the county is growing at a faster pace than the southern half, which remains an agricultural area, Ryker said.
Lonoke County Treasurer Patti Weathers presented the information from Metroplan to the justices of the peace.
LIBRARY USAGE INCREASING
Deborah Swayne Moore, Lonoke County Library System director, reported that most of its numbers increased since 2015. So far this year, she said circulation is up 30 percent over the same period last year.
She said the system’s four libraries are issuing more cards and renewing old ones at record rates so far this year. That number is up 50 percent over the same period in 2015, she said.
Also, she said 12,229 patrons participated in their 2016 Summer Reading Program at the Cabot Public Library, and that overall computer usage and total library visits climbed higher with each quarter in 2015.
For example, during the first quarter of 2015, about 38,112 visited the county’s libraries, while that number rose to 46,656 during the last quarter. Computer usage by patrons during the same period went from 6,623 to 7,649 log-ons.
The system has libraries in Lonoke, Carlisle, Cabot and England.
“The role of the library is changing, and we’re trying to let people know where we are and what services we offer,” Moore said. In particular, she said they are trying to engage more elementary age children through school field trips and other programs.
Moore also requested and received $25,000 from the quorum court to develop a five-year strategic plan for the library system that will run through 2022. The current plan expires at the end of 2017.
“We just started the process last week,” she said. It will include looking at various statistics such as “population growth and population trends, and where people live versus where they work and how that influences library usage.”
“It will not be a cookie-cutter plan, but we will look at the needs of each library,” she said.
“We want it to be unbiased,” so they will hire an outside firm to oversee the research and develop a comprehensive plan, Moore said.
GOVERNOR TO FILL VACANCY
The quorum court decided to begin the process of filling the vacancy left by JP Matt Sanders, who moved out of the county earlier this summer.
Resolution 2016-10 will allow Gov. Asa Hutchinson to appoint a replacement to fill the District 12 seat through the end of the year.
In November, Lonoke County voters will decide who will fill the seat for the next two years.
In other business:
JPs unanimously approved $10,000 for ammo and weapons for the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office.
JP Tim Odom was absent from the meeting Thursday.
The next Lonoke County Quorum Court meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Lonoke County Courthouse Annex at 210 N. Center St.
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
EDITORIAL >> Couple leave lasting mark
There’s so much bad news these days, it’s nice to report something heartwarming for a change. Trustees of the Ethel Hope (Kirk) Carter Trust announced last week the final distribution of the trust worth more than $633,000, which will benefit a Beebe church and cemetery, a church in Cleburne County and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.
Carter was a Beebe High School graduate, attended Williams College in Walnut Ridge and received her degree from Eastern Michigan College. Carter, along with her husband, Emitt, taught in Michigan public schools. When they retired, they moved to Heber Springs, and after her husband’s death, Mrs. Carter moved back to the Beebe area.
Her love for children and her desire for all children to receive a good education prompted Mrs. Carter to bequeath several gifts to local charities, according to Norma Kirk and Kathy Roe, the trustees.
The trust recipients are:
$211, 553 to Union Valley Church in Beebe. Her wishes were that these funds be used in the children’s program of the church and for scholarships for deserving graduating seniors entering the education field.
$211,553 to Tumbling Shoals Baptist Church. She and her husband helped establish this church, and the funds will be used for mission work. An equipped and fenced playground, dedicated to the Carters, has been built adjacent to the church to help keep its children safe along the busy highway.
$211,553 to Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation. The Carters’ only child, Jimmy, was a patient there during his childhood. These funds will be used to help keep children at grade-level while they are in the hospital.
A gift was also made to Stoney Point Cemetery Trust Perpetual Care Fund for upkeep and maintenance of the cemetery where Mrs. Carter’s parents and other family members are buried. The rest of the estate was distributed to relatives.
While they were alive, the Carters made their mark on their community as educators. Their generous trust leaves a permanent legacy after their passing.
Carter was a Beebe High School graduate, attended Williams College in Walnut Ridge and received her degree from Eastern Michigan College. Carter, along with her husband, Emitt, taught in Michigan public schools. When they retired, they moved to Heber Springs, and after her husband’s death, Mrs. Carter moved back to the Beebe area.
Her love for children and her desire for all children to receive a good education prompted Mrs. Carter to bequeath several gifts to local charities, according to Norma Kirk and Kathy Roe, the trustees.
The trust recipients are:
$211, 553 to Union Valley Church in Beebe. Her wishes were that these funds be used in the children’s program of the church and for scholarships for deserving graduating seniors entering the education field.
$211,553 to Tumbling Shoals Baptist Church. She and her husband helped establish this church, and the funds will be used for mission work. An equipped and fenced playground, dedicated to the Carters, has been built adjacent to the church to help keep its children safe along the busy highway.
$211,553 to Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation. The Carters’ only child, Jimmy, was a patient there during his childhood. These funds will be used to help keep children at grade-level while they are in the hospital.
A gift was also made to Stoney Point Cemetery Trust Perpetual Care Fund for upkeep and maintenance of the cemetery where Mrs. Carter’s parents and other family members are buried. The rest of the estate was distributed to relatives.
While they were alive, the Carters made their mark on their community as educators. Their generous trust leaves a permanent legacy after their passing.
EDITORIAL >> Henderson honors Mom
We salute our two outstanding Olympians in Rio de Janeiro, gold-medal winner Jeff Henderson of McAlmont and Lexi Weeks, Cabot’s own pole vaulter who did not make it to the finals this week but who will likely return to future Olympics in the years ahead.
Henderson achieved his dream of becoming an Olympic champion Saturday when he won the men’s long jump. He burst onto the international scene after coming under 1984 Olympic champion Al Joyner’s tutelage three years ago, and we have followed his career ever since.
Henderson won the Olympic long jump by one centimeter Saturday over South African silver medalist Luvo Manyonga. He also beat defending Olympic champion Greg Rutherford of Great Britain, who took bronze, and Arkansas Razorback NCAA champion Jarrion Lawson.
After his victory, Henderson paid tribute to his supporters and ailing mother, and gave us permission to print it here, word for word.
“This journey has been a long one but well worth it. I can’t say thank you enough to all of my family and friends for the ongoing support. Thank you for walking, running, jumping, and praying with me as I defied the odds and brought home the Gold.
“I have to thank you Dad, Laverne Henderson, for always pushing me and giving me that extra amount to get over any obstacles that may have been in my way. I have to thank my brothers and sisters Junior Henderson, Andrea Henderson-Johnson, Shana Henderson, Shawnelle Henderson, Kristina Henderson, Dominique Tillman and Bryan Bare Tillman for all of the long and inspirational conversations – not only during this great time but any and every time I needed them.
“Thank you and I love you. And to the woman, the Queen, the mother that birthed me, Debra Henderson, regardless of what doctors have said, I know without a doubt that you cheered, rooted, gave me your all, and sent special requests and prayers to the Most High for this to be possible.
“Momma, I told you I was going to bring you and the family the Gold home and I did it. Thank you for loving me and instilling the drive to never give up. I love you, Momma.
“And to all of my family and friends, once again, thank you, thank you, thank you, and thank you for all the support. I love you all.”
Henderson achieved his dream of becoming an Olympic champion Saturday when he won the men’s long jump. He burst onto the international scene after coming under 1984 Olympic champion Al Joyner’s tutelage three years ago, and we have followed his career ever since.
Henderson won the Olympic long jump by one centimeter Saturday over South African silver medalist Luvo Manyonga. He also beat defending Olympic champion Greg Rutherford of Great Britain, who took bronze, and Arkansas Razorback NCAA champion Jarrion Lawson.
After his victory, Henderson paid tribute to his supporters and ailing mother, and gave us permission to print it here, word for word.
“This journey has been a long one but well worth it. I can’t say thank you enough to all of my family and friends for the ongoing support. Thank you for walking, running, jumping, and praying with me as I defied the odds and brought home the Gold.
“I have to thank you Dad, Laverne Henderson, for always pushing me and giving me that extra amount to get over any obstacles that may have been in my way. I have to thank my brothers and sisters Junior Henderson, Andrea Henderson-Johnson, Shana Henderson, Shawnelle Henderson, Kristina Henderson, Dominique Tillman and Bryan Bare Tillman for all of the long and inspirational conversations – not only during this great time but any and every time I needed them.
“Thank you and I love you. And to the woman, the Queen, the mother that birthed me, Debra Henderson, regardless of what doctors have said, I know without a doubt that you cheered, rooted, gave me your all, and sent special requests and prayers to the Most High for this to be possible.
“Momma, I told you I was going to bring you and the family the Gold home and I did it. Thank you for loving me and instilling the drive to never give up. I love you, Momma.
“And to all of my family and friends, once again, thank you, thank you, thank you, and thank you for all the support. I love you all.”
TOP STORY >> Council candidates file for election
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
The deadline for city council candidates filing for the November election is Friday.
BEEBE
For Ward 1, Position 1: Lee McLane is running for a seat on the council. She is the editor and publisher of The Beebe News. Alderman David Pruitt is undecided in seeking re-election. Pruitt pleaded guilty on Aug. 2 in White County Circuit Court to a misdemeanor charge of violating state election law for voting twice during the primary election.
Ward 2, Position 2: Alderman Linda Anthony is seeking re-election.
Ward 2, Position 1: Derrek Goff is running for city council. Alderman Becky Short is not seeking re-election. Goff is a Cabot High School social studies teacher.
Ward 2, Position 2: Alderman Tracy Lightfoot is seeking re-election. He is challenged by Donald Lewis.
Ward 3, Position 1: Alderman Matt Dugger is seeking re-election. He is being challenged by Joe Morgan.
Ward 3, Position 2: Alderman Dale Bass is seeking re-election.
CABOT
Cabot aldermen seeking re-election are Kevin Davis, Ward 1, Position 1; Doug Warner, Ward 2, Position 1; Jon Moore, Ward 2, Position 2; Rick Prentice, Ward 3, Position 2; Ann Gilliam, Ward 4, Position 1, and Ron Waymack, Ward 4 Position 2.
Alderman Doyle Tullos is seeking re-election for Ward 3, Position 1. He is being challenged by Norma Naquin who is the Cabot Public Works office manager, planning coordinator and building official.
WARD
Seeking re-election are Aldermen William Moon, Ward 1, Position 1; James Weir, Ward 1, Position 2; Gary Matheny, Ward 2, Position 1; Jeff Shaver, Ward 2, Position 2; Ron Bissett, Ward 3, Position 1, and Don Howard, Ward 3, Position 2.
AUSTIN
Seeking re-election for Austin City Council are Alder-men Matthew Sheets, Ward 1, Position 6; Phillip Whiting, Ward 2, Position 2; Rusty Eisenhower, Ward 3, Position 1 and Randy Ryan, Ward 3, Position 4.
LONOKE
Seeking re-election are Aldermen Michael Florence, Position 7 and Koy Butler, Position 8.
Leader staff writer
The deadline for city council candidates filing for the November election is Friday.
BEEBE
For Ward 1, Position 1: Lee McLane is running for a seat on the council. She is the editor and publisher of The Beebe News. Alderman David Pruitt is undecided in seeking re-election. Pruitt pleaded guilty on Aug. 2 in White County Circuit Court to a misdemeanor charge of violating state election law for voting twice during the primary election.
Ward 2, Position 2: Alderman Linda Anthony is seeking re-election.
Ward 2, Position 1: Derrek Goff is running for city council. Alderman Becky Short is not seeking re-election. Goff is a Cabot High School social studies teacher.
Ward 2, Position 2: Alderman Tracy Lightfoot is seeking re-election. He is challenged by Donald Lewis.
Ward 3, Position 1: Alderman Matt Dugger is seeking re-election. He is being challenged by Joe Morgan.
Ward 3, Position 2: Alderman Dale Bass is seeking re-election.
CABOT
Cabot aldermen seeking re-election are Kevin Davis, Ward 1, Position 1; Doug Warner, Ward 2, Position 1; Jon Moore, Ward 2, Position 2; Rick Prentice, Ward 3, Position 2; Ann Gilliam, Ward 4, Position 1, and Ron Waymack, Ward 4 Position 2.
Alderman Doyle Tullos is seeking re-election for Ward 3, Position 1. He is being challenged by Norma Naquin who is the Cabot Public Works office manager, planning coordinator and building official.
WARD
Seeking re-election are Aldermen William Moon, Ward 1, Position 1; James Weir, Ward 1, Position 2; Gary Matheny, Ward 2, Position 1; Jeff Shaver, Ward 2, Position 2; Ron Bissett, Ward 3, Position 1, and Don Howard, Ward 3, Position 2.
AUSTIN
Seeking re-election for Austin City Council are Alder-men Matthew Sheets, Ward 1, Position 6; Phillip Whiting, Ward 2, Position 2; Rusty Eisenhower, Ward 3, Position 1 and Randy Ryan, Ward 3, Position 4.
LONOKE
Seeking re-election are Aldermen Michael Florence, Position 7 and Koy Butler, Position 8.
TOP STORY >> District pushes reading
By DEBORAH HORN
Leader staff writer
It’s hard to miss the buzz around Jacksonville—it’s not just the start of a new school year, but Monday was the first day of a new school district.
Jacksonville City Council Alderman Tara L. Smith says the excitement about the opening of the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District is obvious wherever she goes.
“It’s just a different feeling, and I can feel this community coming together in a new way,” she says.
But Smith says the district “desperately” needs AR Kids Read volunteers.
“I’m encouraging people to sign up for the program,” she says.
Smith’s more than just talk. For the past two years, she’s served as an AR Kids Read volunteer at Tolleson and Pinewood elementary schools, working with third grade students.
Each year, she worked with two students for 30 minutes once a week, and she’s signing up for a third year.
“We mostly read for fun,” she says. Most of the time, the student selects a book from the school’s library and reads it out loud to Smith, but occasionally she will help the student with spelling words or on math problems, if requested by the teacher.
Smith says, “I love to do this…When they see me coming, their little eyes light up and it’s so rewarding.”
Phyllis Stewart, Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District’s chief of staff, says the district staff is talking with AR Kids Read and looking forward to a partnership with the program.
Matthew DeSalvo, the program’s community relations director says the AR Kids Read program “recruits, trains, and mobilizes reading tutors from various sectors of the community to work with struggling readers in first, second and third grades.”
Stewart says, “The importance of reading in education is foundational, and the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District recognizes that sometimes our students need additional help. We have employed a reading specialist for each of our six elementary schools.”
She also believes that volunteers can provide students with additional reading practice that many need.
“It’s vital to our students’ development, especially those who are not at grade-level reading. Just having that mentor, that adult, helps them feel important to school, their family and their community,” Stewart says about the program.
DeSalvo says, “As Jacksonville transitions to a brand new school district, the program is part of their new reading initiative.”
DeSalvo says “AR Kids Read is entering its fourth full year serving Pulaski County elementary schools,” and during this time, it has experienced tremendous growth.
In early 2012, the program began in eight schools and recruited tutors from 13 partner organizations. Now, it works with 48 schools around the state and has more than 75 partner organizations.
“AR Kids Read is a great way to bridge the gap between the community and the schools, and allows community members to serve students who need help improving their reading skills,” DeSalvo says.
Smith says, “These students are the future leaders of our community, and we need to start them out on the right foot.”
In addition, she says more than just taking pride in the new Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, she encourages people to get involved in AR Kids Read.
Smith says, “It’s a meaningful way to support the district and rally around its students.
Tutoring dates and times will be posted on the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District website Aug. 31, and anyone interested in volunteering for AR Kids Read can sign up then.
Leader staff writer
It’s hard to miss the buzz around Jacksonville—it’s not just the start of a new school year, but Monday was the first day of a new school district.
Jacksonville City Council Alderman Tara L. Smith says the excitement about the opening of the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District is obvious wherever she goes.
“It’s just a different feeling, and I can feel this community coming together in a new way,” she says.
But Smith says the district “desperately” needs AR Kids Read volunteers.
“I’m encouraging people to sign up for the program,” she says.
Smith’s more than just talk. For the past two years, she’s served as an AR Kids Read volunteer at Tolleson and Pinewood elementary schools, working with third grade students.
Each year, she worked with two students for 30 minutes once a week, and she’s signing up for a third year.
“We mostly read for fun,” she says. Most of the time, the student selects a book from the school’s library and reads it out loud to Smith, but occasionally she will help the student with spelling words or on math problems, if requested by the teacher.
Smith says, “I love to do this…When they see me coming, their little eyes light up and it’s so rewarding.”
Phyllis Stewart, Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District’s chief of staff, says the district staff is talking with AR Kids Read and looking forward to a partnership with the program.
Matthew DeSalvo, the program’s community relations director says the AR Kids Read program “recruits, trains, and mobilizes reading tutors from various sectors of the community to work with struggling readers in first, second and third grades.”
Stewart says, “The importance of reading in education is foundational, and the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District recognizes that sometimes our students need additional help. We have employed a reading specialist for each of our six elementary schools.”
She also believes that volunteers can provide students with additional reading practice that many need.
“It’s vital to our students’ development, especially those who are not at grade-level reading. Just having that mentor, that adult, helps them feel important to school, their family and their community,” Stewart says about the program.
DeSalvo says, “As Jacksonville transitions to a brand new school district, the program is part of their new reading initiative.”
DeSalvo says “AR Kids Read is entering its fourth full year serving Pulaski County elementary schools,” and during this time, it has experienced tremendous growth.
In early 2012, the program began in eight schools and recruited tutors from 13 partner organizations. Now, it works with 48 schools around the state and has more than 75 partner organizations.
“AR Kids Read is a great way to bridge the gap between the community and the schools, and allows community members to serve students who need help improving their reading skills,” DeSalvo says.
Smith says, “These students are the future leaders of our community, and we need to start them out on the right foot.”
In addition, she says more than just taking pride in the new Jacksonville North Pulaski School District, she encourages people to get involved in AR Kids Read.
Smith says, “It’s a meaningful way to support the district and rally around its students.
Tutoring dates and times will be posted on the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District website Aug. 31, and anyone interested in volunteering for AR Kids Read can sign up then.
TOP STORY >> Record rain in August
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
With record rains hitting the area Tuesday, this August is on its way to becoming one of the 10 wettest Augusts in history.
Through Tuesday evening, Little Rock Air Force Base, according to the National Weather Service, had seen 5.59 inches of rain for the month, making it the 12th wettest since base records began in 1956 – and there are still two weeks to go in the month.
The wettest August for the base occurred in 1966 when the area was bombarded by 8.95 inches of rain.
The heavy rains have caused localized flooding on Hwy. 67/167, hydroplaning vehicles, and some power outages.
Little Rock, with 6.41 inches of rain, including almost two inches Tuesday, is the 15th wettest August on record since 1874, but the area only needs 0.37 of an inch more rain to break into the top ten.
North Little Rock, which has been keeping its own records since 1975 has this August as its fifth wettest so far at 6.27 inches.
The average August rainfall is less than two inches and hits the area over a five or six day period. But so far it has rained 12 out of the first 16 days of the month.
The wet August follows a wet July.
With 7.37 inches of rain, this July was the 11th wettest on record, more than three inches above the average amount for the month.
July also ran about three degrees higher than normal with an average high temperature of 95.3 degrees, the high July average in four years and the 10th warmest on record.
The average low temperature for July at 76.3 degrees was also about three degrees above normal, the highest low temperature average since 1998 and the second warmest month of all time in terms of average low temperature.
Seven records were broken for warmest low temperature during July and one day, July 22, it hit a high of 105 degrees, tying the record set back in 1943.
Besides the rain and the heat, July brought some all-time high winds to central Arkansas. On July 14, a wind gust of 68 mph blew trough Little Rock Adams Field, setting a new wind gust record for the month of July.
The forecast for the rest of August calls for heat, humidity and rain including a 50 percent chance of precipitation through Sunday.
For the year, central Arkansas is close to 10 inches above normal average of rainfall.
The near-constant rainfall through August has played havoc with area sports activities, but Sherwood’s first Community Wellness Expo on Saturday was deemed a success. Chamber director Marcia Cook said the expo saw lots of visitors.
“There was a completely full room of a nice variety of vendors, and we had strong attendance from the public. We heard lots of valuable information, saw some demonstrations, got health screenings, and even participated in some fitness activities,” Cook said.
Leader staff writer
With record rains hitting the area Tuesday, this August is on its way to becoming one of the 10 wettest Augusts in history.
Through Tuesday evening, Little Rock Air Force Base, according to the National Weather Service, had seen 5.59 inches of rain for the month, making it the 12th wettest since base records began in 1956 – and there are still two weeks to go in the month.
The wettest August for the base occurred in 1966 when the area was bombarded by 8.95 inches of rain.
The heavy rains have caused localized flooding on Hwy. 67/167, hydroplaning vehicles, and some power outages.
Little Rock, with 6.41 inches of rain, including almost two inches Tuesday, is the 15th wettest August on record since 1874, but the area only needs 0.37 of an inch more rain to break into the top ten.
North Little Rock, which has been keeping its own records since 1975 has this August as its fifth wettest so far at 6.27 inches.
The average August rainfall is less than two inches and hits the area over a five or six day period. But so far it has rained 12 out of the first 16 days of the month.
The wet August follows a wet July.
With 7.37 inches of rain, this July was the 11th wettest on record, more than three inches above the average amount for the month.
July also ran about three degrees higher than normal with an average high temperature of 95.3 degrees, the high July average in four years and the 10th warmest on record.
The average low temperature for July at 76.3 degrees was also about three degrees above normal, the highest low temperature average since 1998 and the second warmest month of all time in terms of average low temperature.
Seven records were broken for warmest low temperature during July and one day, July 22, it hit a high of 105 degrees, tying the record set back in 1943.
Besides the rain and the heat, July brought some all-time high winds to central Arkansas. On July 14, a wind gust of 68 mph blew trough Little Rock Adams Field, setting a new wind gust record for the month of July.
The forecast for the rest of August calls for heat, humidity and rain including a 50 percent chance of precipitation through Sunday.
For the year, central Arkansas is close to 10 inches above normal average of rainfall.
The near-constant rainfall through August has played havoc with area sports activities, but Sherwood’s first Community Wellness Expo on Saturday was deemed a success. Chamber director Marcia Cook said the expo saw lots of visitors.
“There was a completely full room of a nice variety of vendors, and we had strong attendance from the public. We heard lots of valuable information, saw some demonstrations, got health screenings, and even participated in some fitness activities,” Cook said.
SPORTS STORY >> Lawson dispute is total rubbish
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Razorback fans can be weird, and that was never more evident than in the way many of them cried foul for Jarrion Lawson’s losing jump in the Olympic long jump competition last Saturday. By rule, Lawson’s final jump wasn’t good enough to earn a medal, much less a gold. The replay made it abundantly clear that he dragged his hand in the sand far behind where his feet landed.
So there was no controversy, except in the minds of Lawson, Hog fans and much of Arkansas media.
What makes it weird in this case is that Lawson is a Texan who happens to go to college at the University of Arkansas, while the man who beat him is a native Arkansan.
It’s as if attending college at Fayetteville makes one more of an Arkansan than being from Arkansas. People don’t readily admit it, but many sports fans identify so much with their favorite teams, they feel as if the athletes’ accomplishments are their own. So much so, that when a guy who plays for their favorite team is up against their neighbor, they root for their team.
Jeff Henderson grew up in McAlmont and graduated from Sylvan Hills in 2007.
His standardized test scores weren’t high enough in high school to qualify for a scholarship to the SEC schools that were recruiting him, but he’s a proud Arkansan and has always represented the Natural State in a way that should make everyone else proud as well.
Lawson complained that he thought his jump should’ve counted from where his feet landed, which appeared to be a few centimeters beyond Henderson’s gold-medal distance. But that’s not how the long jump has ever been measured.
It’s measured by the nearest mark left in the sand to the front edge of the jump board, and Lawson’s hand drag made a clear depression in the pit well behind his feet.
Later in another interview, Lawson said he didn’t think he dragged his hand.
Whatever.
Henderson, 27, expressed regret for his friend and competitor, saying, “That happens in the long jump when the hand goes back. I’m sad that it happened to him, but he’s a great competitor. He’ll come back.”
The other thing Razorback fans, and most of the Arkansas media, doesn’t seem to remember, or possibly even know, is that Henderson also had a jump that, from start to finish, would have beaten his own Gold medal jump.
Earlier in the competition, Henderson’s best jump was launched from far behind the blue fault line. NBC was showing close-ups of each jumpers foot as it hit the launch board, and giving precise measurements in centimeters of how far from the blue line each jump launched from.
Henderson’s third jump was from so far behind the blue line, it was not even on the white board, and NBC’s technology couldn’t measure it. It was a terrible mistake on Henderson’s part, but he didn’t argue for a rule change that measured jumps from launch point to landing. He knew what the rules were, and he accepted that he’d made a mistake.
Lawson’s jump just happened to occur on the final jump of the competition and he and his coach protested the measurement.
There is no controversy except in the minds of Razorback fans and Arkansas media.
Maybe someday, with the technology NBC used in its coverage, the long jump could be measured from wherever the athlete launches, but he’d still have to execute properly, and not drag his hand.
Leader sports editor
Razorback fans can be weird, and that was never more evident than in the way many of them cried foul for Jarrion Lawson’s losing jump in the Olympic long jump competition last Saturday. By rule, Lawson’s final jump wasn’t good enough to earn a medal, much less a gold. The replay made it abundantly clear that he dragged his hand in the sand far behind where his feet landed.
So there was no controversy, except in the minds of Lawson, Hog fans and much of Arkansas media.
What makes it weird in this case is that Lawson is a Texan who happens to go to college at the University of Arkansas, while the man who beat him is a native Arkansan.
It’s as if attending college at Fayetteville makes one more of an Arkansan than being from Arkansas. People don’t readily admit it, but many sports fans identify so much with their favorite teams, they feel as if the athletes’ accomplishments are their own. So much so, that when a guy who plays for their favorite team is up against their neighbor, they root for their team.
Jeff Henderson grew up in McAlmont and graduated from Sylvan Hills in 2007.
His standardized test scores weren’t high enough in high school to qualify for a scholarship to the SEC schools that were recruiting him, but he’s a proud Arkansan and has always represented the Natural State in a way that should make everyone else proud as well.
Lawson complained that he thought his jump should’ve counted from where his feet landed, which appeared to be a few centimeters beyond Henderson’s gold-medal distance. But that’s not how the long jump has ever been measured.
It’s measured by the nearest mark left in the sand to the front edge of the jump board, and Lawson’s hand drag made a clear depression in the pit well behind his feet.
Later in another interview, Lawson said he didn’t think he dragged his hand.
Whatever.
Henderson, 27, expressed regret for his friend and competitor, saying, “That happens in the long jump when the hand goes back. I’m sad that it happened to him, but he’s a great competitor. He’ll come back.”
The other thing Razorback fans, and most of the Arkansas media, doesn’t seem to remember, or possibly even know, is that Henderson also had a jump that, from start to finish, would have beaten his own Gold medal jump.
Earlier in the competition, Henderson’s best jump was launched from far behind the blue fault line. NBC was showing close-ups of each jumpers foot as it hit the launch board, and giving precise measurements in centimeters of how far from the blue line each jump launched from.
Henderson’s third jump was from so far behind the blue line, it was not even on the white board, and NBC’s technology couldn’t measure it. It was a terrible mistake on Henderson’s part, but he didn’t argue for a rule change that measured jumps from launch point to landing. He knew what the rules were, and he accepted that he’d made a mistake.
Lawson’s jump just happened to occur on the final jump of the competition and he and his coach protested the measurement.
There is no controversy except in the minds of Razorback fans and Arkansas media.
Maybe someday, with the technology NBC used in its coverage, the long jump could be measured from wherever the athlete launches, but he’d still have to execute properly, and not drag his hand.
SPORTS STORY >> Weeks just short at Rio
By RAY BENTON Leader sports editor
This year has been a dream year for Lexi Weeks, and it finally ended Tuesday morning in Rio de Janeiro. That’s when Weeks failed to qualify for Friday’s finals in the women’s Olympic pole vault competition.
Weeks advanced past the first three heights in the qualifying round. A height of 4.6 meters meant an automatic qualification, and it turned out that 4.55 meters was good enough to advance. The top 12 out of 38 competitors go on to compete for Olympic medals Friday evening.
But that’s the height that Weeks failed to clear in three tries. She went out at 4.45 meters, which was still better than 15 other competitors, but not as high as she has gone in the past.
Weeks cleared 4.7 meters to finish third at the U.S. Trials behind legendary vaulter Jenn Suhr and former Razorback Sandi Morris. That height beat her previous personal best by five inches, and shocked the nation when it made her the youngest American pole-vaulter to ever qualify for the Olympics.
But Tuesday wasn’t her day. She skipped the opening height of 4.15 meters, and entered at 4.3. She cleared that height easily on her first try, but missed on her first attempt at 4.45. Her second attempt was another easy jump, clearing the bar by a large margin.
Weeks’ first attempt at 4.55 saw her get plenty of height, but fail to get the depth necessary to propel over the bar.
Something went wrong on her second attempt and she bailed on the jump before even rising to the bar. Her third attempt was similar to the first, and the dreams of an Olympic medal were over.
It was still a remarkable year for the 2015 Cabot High School graduate. She went to compete for the University of Arkansas track team where she set several SEC and national records.
She won the SEC Indoor and Outdoor conference championships, and went on to win the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor national championships as well, becoming the first freshman in NCAA history to do any of that.
Then came the U.S. Trials in Eugene, Ore. Weeks wasn’t a favorite to make the Olympic squad. Her personal best was barely over 15 feet, and there were three competitors that had cleared 16 feet. One of them, however, failed to duplicate that height, while Weeks cleared the personal best 4.7 meters (15-feet, 5-inches).
She had the opportunity to keep going and try to improve on that height, but elected to shut it down since she had already made the Olympic team.
Seven competitors in Rio on Tuesday met the automatic qualifying height. Nine more cleared 4.55, but only five move on to the finals for clearing the height on their first attempt. Seven more, including Weeks, cleared 4.45. Officially, her final position was 19th out of 38.
The other two Americans both qualified. Ekaterini Stefanidi of Greece qualified first for clearing the automatic height on her first attempt. Suhr was second while Germany’s Lisa Ryzih, Great Britain’s Holly Bradshaw, Cuba’s Yarisley Silva, New Zealand’s Eliza McCartney and Germany’s Martina Strutz all cleared 4.6 meters.
Canada’s Kelsie Ahbe, Morris, Alana Boyd of Australia, Slovenia’s Tina Sutej and Switzerland’s Nicole Buchler are the other finalists.
The biggest shock of the event was European silver medalist Femke Pluim of The Netherlands failed to qualify.
This year has been a dream year for Lexi Weeks, and it finally ended Tuesday morning in Rio de Janeiro. That’s when Weeks failed to qualify for Friday’s finals in the women’s Olympic pole vault competition.
Weeks advanced past the first three heights in the qualifying round. A height of 4.6 meters meant an automatic qualification, and it turned out that 4.55 meters was good enough to advance. The top 12 out of 38 competitors go on to compete for Olympic medals Friday evening.
But that’s the height that Weeks failed to clear in three tries. She went out at 4.45 meters, which was still better than 15 other competitors, but not as high as she has gone in the past.
Weeks cleared 4.7 meters to finish third at the U.S. Trials behind legendary vaulter Jenn Suhr and former Razorback Sandi Morris. That height beat her previous personal best by five inches, and shocked the nation when it made her the youngest American pole-vaulter to ever qualify for the Olympics.
But Tuesday wasn’t her day. She skipped the opening height of 4.15 meters, and entered at 4.3. She cleared that height easily on her first try, but missed on her first attempt at 4.45. Her second attempt was another easy jump, clearing the bar by a large margin.
Weeks’ first attempt at 4.55 saw her get plenty of height, but fail to get the depth necessary to propel over the bar.
Something went wrong on her second attempt and she bailed on the jump before even rising to the bar. Her third attempt was similar to the first, and the dreams of an Olympic medal were over.
It was still a remarkable year for the 2015 Cabot High School graduate. She went to compete for the University of Arkansas track team where she set several SEC and national records.
She won the SEC Indoor and Outdoor conference championships, and went on to win the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor national championships as well, becoming the first freshman in NCAA history to do any of that.
Then came the U.S. Trials in Eugene, Ore. Weeks wasn’t a favorite to make the Olympic squad. Her personal best was barely over 15 feet, and there were three competitors that had cleared 16 feet. One of them, however, failed to duplicate that height, while Weeks cleared the personal best 4.7 meters (15-feet, 5-inches).
She had the opportunity to keep going and try to improve on that height, but elected to shut it down since she had already made the Olympic team.
Seven competitors in Rio on Tuesday met the automatic qualifying height. Nine more cleared 4.55, but only five move on to the finals for clearing the height on their first attempt. Seven more, including Weeks, cleared 4.45. Officially, her final position was 19th out of 38.
The other two Americans both qualified. Ekaterini Stefanidi of Greece qualified first for clearing the automatic height on her first attempt. Suhr was second while Germany’s Lisa Ryzih, Great Britain’s Holly Bradshaw, Cuba’s Yarisley Silva, New Zealand’s Eliza McCartney and Germany’s Martina Strutz all cleared 4.6 meters.
Canada’s Kelsie Ahbe, Morris, Alana Boyd of Australia, Slovenia’s Tina Sutej and Switzerland’s Nicole Buchler are the other finalists.
The biggest shock of the event was European silver medalist Femke Pluim of The Netherlands failed to qualify.
SPORTS STORY >> Henderson brings home Gold
By RAY BENTONLeader sports editor
Olympic Gold had been the goal for three years, and Jeff Henderson was one jump away from letting it slip away Saturday evening in Rio de Janeiro. But Henderson, a McAlmont native and U.S. champion, did what champions do. He breathed deep, visualized the winning jump and executed it, beating South Africa’s Luvo Manyonga by one centimeter with a leap of 8.38 meters, and becoming the first American men’s long jump champion since 2004.
There was a long delay between the previous jump and Henderson’s final one, so he added a little something to his usual pre-jump routine. He stood with his back straight, eyes closed, and twirled his hands forward as he visualized landing somewhere beyond 8.37 meters.
He then crouched and rocked back and forth three times; tapping his right foot on the ground twice each time as he moved his right leg back and forth in front and behind him. On his forward leans, he’d shake the tension out through the tips of the fingers, before finally leaning way back and taking off towards the pit and Olympic glory.
He appeared to know he had beaten Manyonga’s distance, even if only by a centimeter. When he saw the distance officially posted, he sprinted about 100 meters in celebration before calming down to watch the last two jumpers of the evening. And there, even more drama took place.
NCAA champion and Arkansas Razorback Jarrion Lawson’s feet appeared to land a few inches beyond Henderson’s mark, but officials spotted what replay confirmed. Lawson dragged his hand in the sand almost two feet behind where his feet landed. Long jump rules are to measure the nearest distance from the launch stripe that any part of the body touches down in the sand.
When Lawson saw his official distance posted, he and his coach protested the spot, but to no avail.
Henderson’s coach, the famed 1984 Olympic triple jump champion Al Joyner, employed some special motivational tactics for Henderson at the Olympics. He gave his long jumper his own Gold medal, and told him not to give it back until he had his own.
Henderson, ever confident despite his very quiet demeanor, gave it back before the finals.
The relationship with Joyner helped propel Henderson onto the international scene. Joyner noticed him as an independent in an event in Albuquerque, N.M., in 2013, and thought he saw something special.
Henderson won the U.S. championships in 2014, and the Pan Am Games in 2015. He had a disappointing World Championships after the Pan Am Games, but the goal was always the Olympics.
He became an Olympic favorite after winning an unprecedented U.S. Trials in July, beating out six other competitors who all jumped far enough to have won Olympic Gold in 2012.
At Rio, Henderson didn’t match his jump at trials, which was 8.6 meters, but didn’t need to. He took the lead with his very first jump of 8.20 meters, but failed to improve on that with three successive jumps.
Meanwhile, the lead changed hands five times as Lawson, defending Olympic champion Greg Rutherford and Manyonga traded it back and forth.
Henderson was in fourth place as he prepared for his fifth jump. With it, he moved into bronze position by tying Lawson’s mark of 8.22. Since Henderson had the earliest next-best jump of the two, he would’ve received bronze if nothing else changed.
Manyonga overtook Rutherford’s leading mark of 8.28 with a jump of 8.32 on his fifth jump, then extended that lead with an 8.37 on his final jump.
All he could do was watch as Henderson beat that mark.
Henderson’s Gold medal was number 999 in Olympic history for the United States team. The women’s 4x400-meter relay swim team won number 1,000 about a half hour later.
Henderson’s long jumping career could be over. At 27 years old, he has only been a part-time jumper this year, splitting jump training with visiting NFL camps as a potential wide receiver. He is also an elite sprinter, finishing with the fifth-fastest time in the U.S. Indoor 60-meter championship this year, and has had a lifelong dream of being a professional football player.
Henderson received two callbacks from the Kansas City Chiefs for private workouts this year, and has told The Leader before the Olympics that he will likely report again sometime after Rio.
Olympic Gold had been the goal for three years, and Jeff Henderson was one jump away from letting it slip away Saturday evening in Rio de Janeiro. But Henderson, a McAlmont native and U.S. champion, did what champions do. He breathed deep, visualized the winning jump and executed it, beating South Africa’s Luvo Manyonga by one centimeter with a leap of 8.38 meters, and becoming the first American men’s long jump champion since 2004.
There was a long delay between the previous jump and Henderson’s final one, so he added a little something to his usual pre-jump routine. He stood with his back straight, eyes closed, and twirled his hands forward as he visualized landing somewhere beyond 8.37 meters.
He then crouched and rocked back and forth three times; tapping his right foot on the ground twice each time as he moved his right leg back and forth in front and behind him. On his forward leans, he’d shake the tension out through the tips of the fingers, before finally leaning way back and taking off towards the pit and Olympic glory.
He appeared to know he had beaten Manyonga’s distance, even if only by a centimeter. When he saw the distance officially posted, he sprinted about 100 meters in celebration before calming down to watch the last two jumpers of the evening. And there, even more drama took place.
NCAA champion and Arkansas Razorback Jarrion Lawson’s feet appeared to land a few inches beyond Henderson’s mark, but officials spotted what replay confirmed. Lawson dragged his hand in the sand almost two feet behind where his feet landed. Long jump rules are to measure the nearest distance from the launch stripe that any part of the body touches down in the sand.
When Lawson saw his official distance posted, he and his coach protested the spot, but to no avail.
Henderson’s coach, the famed 1984 Olympic triple jump champion Al Joyner, employed some special motivational tactics for Henderson at the Olympics. He gave his long jumper his own Gold medal, and told him not to give it back until he had his own.
Henderson, ever confident despite his very quiet demeanor, gave it back before the finals.
The relationship with Joyner helped propel Henderson onto the international scene. Joyner noticed him as an independent in an event in Albuquerque, N.M., in 2013, and thought he saw something special.
Henderson won the U.S. championships in 2014, and the Pan Am Games in 2015. He had a disappointing World Championships after the Pan Am Games, but the goal was always the Olympics.
He became an Olympic favorite after winning an unprecedented U.S. Trials in July, beating out six other competitors who all jumped far enough to have won Olympic Gold in 2012.
At Rio, Henderson didn’t match his jump at trials, which was 8.6 meters, but didn’t need to. He took the lead with his very first jump of 8.20 meters, but failed to improve on that with three successive jumps.
Meanwhile, the lead changed hands five times as Lawson, defending Olympic champion Greg Rutherford and Manyonga traded it back and forth.
Henderson was in fourth place as he prepared for his fifth jump. With it, he moved into bronze position by tying Lawson’s mark of 8.22. Since Henderson had the earliest next-best jump of the two, he would’ve received bronze if nothing else changed.
Manyonga overtook Rutherford’s leading mark of 8.28 with a jump of 8.32 on his fifth jump, then extended that lead with an 8.37 on his final jump.
All he could do was watch as Henderson beat that mark.
Henderson’s Gold medal was number 999 in Olympic history for the United States team. The women’s 4x400-meter relay swim team won number 1,000 about a half hour later.
Henderson’s long jumping career could be over. At 27 years old, he has only been a part-time jumper this year, splitting jump training with visiting NFL camps as a potential wide receiver. He is also an elite sprinter, finishing with the fifth-fastest time in the U.S. Indoor 60-meter championship this year, and has had a lifelong dream of being a professional football player.
Henderson received two callbacks from the Kansas City Chiefs for private workouts this year, and has told The Leader before the Olympics that he will likely report again sometime after Rio.
Friday, August 12, 2016
TOP STORY >> From cotton fields to Pacific in WWII
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Cabot resident Logan Hutson recently reflected on his time in the military at the end of the Second World War as a gunner’s mate on the battleship USS Iowa, a tank commander during the Korean War and a bit about life in rural Arkansas. He served 29 years in the military.
Hutson, 88, was born in Morrilton on Oct. 1, 1927. He grew up in Center Ridge in Conway County. His father was a cotton farmer and his mother was a homemaker. Hutson had three brothers and one sister.
“I started school when I was 5 years old in a little two-story building in the country. We had no electricity. It was a Masonic lodge, a public school and a church east of Center Ridge,” Hutson said.
During the Great Depression, Hutson started working as a farmhand in the cotton fields when he was 7 years old. He worked 10 hours a day for five years and earned 75 cents a day.
Hutson, a retired minister, recalled when he first heard about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
“I was 14 in Cleveland in Conway County visiting an aunt and uncle. They had electricity on the main highway then, that was only place that had it, a little country store had a radio and we got news that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. I didn’t even know where Pearl Harbor was,” he said.
His family moved to England in 1942 and he graduated from Humnoke High School in 1945.
“I worked until I reached 17 and joined the Navy in 1945. I told Dad I was tired of working in the cotton fields. ‘If you sign the papers I’ll join the Navy.’ I was going to be drafted, and I didn’t want to be in the Army, so I volunteered for the Navy,” he said.
As World War II was ending, Hutson was sent to San Diego, Calif., for basic training. It was the first time he had been out of the state.
“The first night they played ‘Taps,’ I was all alone and thought I made a big mistake,” he said.
Hutson was a turret gunner on the USS Iowa battleship. The ship would fire at surface and anti-aircraft targets.
“We were scheduled to invade the Japanese homeland in November 1945. President Harry Truman had ordered the dropping of the atomic bomb on Aug. 6 on Hiroshima and on Aug. 9 on Nagasaki,” Hutson said.
“That’s when it convinced the Japanese to surrender. They were preparing for a million casualties if we had to invade the mainland. They had guns stored in caves along the coastline, and we got Japanese guns by the thousands out of the caves. Truman was highly criticized for using a nuclear weapon, but there is no telling how many million lives he saved, both Japanese and American. I think he did the right thing,” Hutson said.
Japan surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay near Yokosuka, Japan. The ship came home and the USS New Jersey took over as flagship of the occupation. The USS Iowa was later assigned to relieve the USS New Jersey in January 1946.
“We were training after the war ended because we had to be ready at all times. We practiced anti-aircraft with planes pulling sleeves through the air, and we would fire at the sleeve,” Hutson said.
“I went to Tokyo one time and the B-29s had just obliterated it. They were just repairing the train station. In Yokohama there wasn’t a building standing. There was just one single smoke stack, and how it survived all the B-29 bombings I don’t know,” Hutson said.
He later became a gunner mount captain. He was in charge of 10 men inside the gun mount.
He spoke of a typhoon the USS Iowa encountered near Okinawa, Japan.
“We rode it out for three days and three nights. The winds clocked at 148 mph. It twisted our wind instruments off. It tore all our lifeboats up. The gun shields around the anti-aircraft guns were battered around it. It took them six months to repair the damage,” Hutson said.
Hutson was discharged from the Navy in September 1948 after three years of service.
Hutson joined the Army Reserve in 1950. He liked the Navy, but the Army unit held drills locally in England and retained his rank.
His unit was called up to active duty five months into the Korean War. But Hutson’s prior service in World War II prevented him from going to Korea. Hutson spent his time stateside.
He was transferred from a gunner’s mate to an electronic technician. Hutson maintained all the electronic equipment, intercoms and shortwave radios in the trucks, tanks and Jeeps.
Hutson moved up in rank from sergeant to sergeant first class. His job as an electronics technician did not qualify to be sergeant first class. The Army made him a tank commander. He had a crew of five. They were at the Mojave Desert for live-fire training of 75 mm, 50-caliber and 30-caliber guns. They had night and day firings.
“We didn’t have computers back then. I had estimated the range to my target visually and give the gunner the range,” Hutson said.
The Army was using his unit for replacements in the Korean War. Hutson got out of the Army two years later in 1952.
Hutson went to work on electronics after he left the military and worked for Young’s Department Store in Carlisle from 1952 to 1954.
“I was in charge of television repair and installation, radios and appliances,” he said.
In 1954, he went to work for Orgill Brothers wholesale in Little Rock for three years. They were a hardware store chain based in Memphis that carried Admiral appliances. He completed his television repair training and became a television technician with Orgill until 1957.
Hutson said ministry was on his mind for many years.
“I loved electronics, but I was not satisfied with it. I answered the call,” he said.
Hutson went into ministry full-time entering a Baptist seminary in Little Rock in 1957 and finishing five years later in 1962. He has been a minister for 60 years. His first church was North Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church, where he had been a member.
He then led the Macedonia Baptist Church in Humnoke from 1965 to 1978. Hutson moved to Cabot in July 1978 and was pastor of Faith Baptist Church when it was a small mission on Pin Oak Street for 13 years to 1991. The last church Huston led was at Cedar Creek Baptist Church in Springfield in Faulkner County from 2002 to his retirement in July 2013. Hutson oversees weddings and funerals and will fill in at the pulpit when a church pastor is on vacation.
Hutson returned to serving in the military in 1963 joining the Navy Reserve to finish his military retirement. He was in charge of a nuclear submarine repair unit. Drill was held at Camp Robinson in Little Rock. He retired in 1987.
Hutson met his wife, Mary, when he came back to England in 1948. They met at Landmark Baptist Church. They married on Dec. 23, 1950. They have been together for 66 years. They have one daughter, Barbara, and two sons, Ronnie and Daniel. Their son Edward passed away. They have seven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
Leader staff writer
Cabot resident Logan Hutson recently reflected on his time in the military at the end of the Second World War as a gunner’s mate on the battleship USS Iowa, a tank commander during the Korean War and a bit about life in rural Arkansas. He served 29 years in the military.
Hutson, 88, was born in Morrilton on Oct. 1, 1927. He grew up in Center Ridge in Conway County. His father was a cotton farmer and his mother was a homemaker. Hutson had three brothers and one sister.
“I started school when I was 5 years old in a little two-story building in the country. We had no electricity. It was a Masonic lodge, a public school and a church east of Center Ridge,” Hutson said.
During the Great Depression, Hutson started working as a farmhand in the cotton fields when he was 7 years old. He worked 10 hours a day for five years and earned 75 cents a day.
Hutson, a retired minister, recalled when he first heard about the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941.
“I was 14 in Cleveland in Conway County visiting an aunt and uncle. They had electricity on the main highway then, that was only place that had it, a little country store had a radio and we got news that Pearl Harbor had been bombed. I didn’t even know where Pearl Harbor was,” he said.
His family moved to England in 1942 and he graduated from Humnoke High School in 1945.
“I worked until I reached 17 and joined the Navy in 1945. I told Dad I was tired of working in the cotton fields. ‘If you sign the papers I’ll join the Navy.’ I was going to be drafted, and I didn’t want to be in the Army, so I volunteered for the Navy,” he said.
As World War II was ending, Hutson was sent to San Diego, Calif., for basic training. It was the first time he had been out of the state.
“The first night they played ‘Taps,’ I was all alone and thought I made a big mistake,” he said.
Hutson was a turret gunner on the USS Iowa battleship. The ship would fire at surface and anti-aircraft targets.
“We were scheduled to invade the Japanese homeland in November 1945. President Harry Truman had ordered the dropping of the atomic bomb on Aug. 6 on Hiroshima and on Aug. 9 on Nagasaki,” Hutson said.
“That’s when it convinced the Japanese to surrender. They were preparing for a million casualties if we had to invade the mainland. They had guns stored in caves along the coastline, and we got Japanese guns by the thousands out of the caves. Truman was highly criticized for using a nuclear weapon, but there is no telling how many million lives he saved, both Japanese and American. I think he did the right thing,” Hutson said.
Japan surrendered on Sept. 2, 1945, on the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay near Yokosuka, Japan. The ship came home and the USS New Jersey took over as flagship of the occupation. The USS Iowa was later assigned to relieve the USS New Jersey in January 1946.
“We were training after the war ended because we had to be ready at all times. We practiced anti-aircraft with planes pulling sleeves through the air, and we would fire at the sleeve,” Hutson said.
“I went to Tokyo one time and the B-29s had just obliterated it. They were just repairing the train station. In Yokohama there wasn’t a building standing. There was just one single smoke stack, and how it survived all the B-29 bombings I don’t know,” Hutson said.
He later became a gunner mount captain. He was in charge of 10 men inside the gun mount.
He spoke of a typhoon the USS Iowa encountered near Okinawa, Japan.
“We rode it out for three days and three nights. The winds clocked at 148 mph. It twisted our wind instruments off. It tore all our lifeboats up. The gun shields around the anti-aircraft guns were battered around it. It took them six months to repair the damage,” Hutson said.
Hutson was discharged from the Navy in September 1948 after three years of service.
Hutson joined the Army Reserve in 1950. He liked the Navy, but the Army unit held drills locally in England and retained his rank.
His unit was called up to active duty five months into the Korean War. But Hutson’s prior service in World War II prevented him from going to Korea. Hutson spent his time stateside.
He was transferred from a gunner’s mate to an electronic technician. Hutson maintained all the electronic equipment, intercoms and shortwave radios in the trucks, tanks and Jeeps.
Hutson moved up in rank from sergeant to sergeant first class. His job as an electronics technician did not qualify to be sergeant first class. The Army made him a tank commander. He had a crew of five. They were at the Mojave Desert for live-fire training of 75 mm, 50-caliber and 30-caliber guns. They had night and day firings.
“We didn’t have computers back then. I had estimated the range to my target visually and give the gunner the range,” Hutson said.
The Army was using his unit for replacements in the Korean War. Hutson got out of the Army two years later in 1952.
Hutson went to work on electronics after he left the military and worked for Young’s Department Store in Carlisle from 1952 to 1954.
“I was in charge of television repair and installation, radios and appliances,” he said.
In 1954, he went to work for Orgill Brothers wholesale in Little Rock for three years. They were a hardware store chain based in Memphis that carried Admiral appliances. He completed his television repair training and became a television technician with Orgill until 1957.
Hutson said ministry was on his mind for many years.
“I loved electronics, but I was not satisfied with it. I answered the call,” he said.
Hutson went into ministry full-time entering a Baptist seminary in Little Rock in 1957 and finishing five years later in 1962. He has been a minister for 60 years. His first church was North Little Rock Missionary Baptist Church, where he had been a member.
He then led the Macedonia Baptist Church in Humnoke from 1965 to 1978. Hutson moved to Cabot in July 1978 and was pastor of Faith Baptist Church when it was a small mission on Pin Oak Street for 13 years to 1991. The last church Huston led was at Cedar Creek Baptist Church in Springfield in Faulkner County from 2002 to his retirement in July 2013. Hutson oversees weddings and funerals and will fill in at the pulpit when a church pastor is on vacation.
Hutson returned to serving in the military in 1963 joining the Navy Reserve to finish his military retirement. He was in charge of a nuclear submarine repair unit. Drill was held at Camp Robinson in Little Rock. He retired in 1987.
Hutson met his wife, Mary, when he came back to England in 1948. They met at Landmark Baptist Church. They married on Dec. 23, 1950. They have been together for 66 years. They have one daughter, Barbara, and two sons, Ronnie and Daniel. Their son Edward passed away. They have seven grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.
TOP STORY >> New district is looking to Monday start
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
More than 30 years after Jacksonville-area residents first began working toward a school district of their own, the fledgling Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District doors will open for the first time Monday morning for an estimated 3,840 students, according to Bryan Duffie, assistant superintendent for support services.
Lunch is MaxStix with marinara sauce, Romaine salad with veggies and ranch dressing, peaches and milk for students big and small.
Before selling the buildings to JNPSD for about $10.8 million, the Pulaski County Special School District stripped and waxed floors as needed and sanded and refinished gymnasium floors.
PCSSD Superintendent Jerry Guess has supported the Jacksonville detachment and has helped many residents realize the dream.
GOOD SHAPE
“I believe we’re in really good shape,” Duffie said Thursday. “There are always things to do—small repairs.” But he said he doesn’t know of any major repairs.
“Teachers, custodians, principals and maintenance staff, are tending to last minute, final touches,” he said.
There are still a few final hires needed, Duffie said, but Superintendent Tony Wood has hired some as substitutes who are likely to be confirmed at the September board meeting.
KELLY ENTERPRISES
The district also has an arrangement with Kelly Enterprises to supply substitute teachers, custodians and other workers as needed.
Duffie said staff members, including teachers, community volunteers and volunteers from Little Rock Air Force Base and local churches chipped in to help ready the buildings.
Duffie said some rooms or areas may still need painting, but most painting is done.
Teachers have been coming in since early July to work on their rooms.
“I’m not aware of any major plumbing problems,” Duffie said Thursday. “We replaced a water heater today.”
The cafeterias are ready to go and Sysco foods has already made deliveries.
“Cafeterias are ready to go. Sysco did deliveries today and some food service employees will be working this weekend,” he said.
WALK-THROUGHS
Principals did walk-throughs at their schools Friday, making sure everything is ready.
The bus drivers met Thursday morning, discussing safety procedures and were due to have run their routes.
Duffie said the routes might have to be fine-tuned.
“For the most part, teachers have books and computers in the right rooms.
The drivers are excited, and see an opportunity for something new for Jacksonville.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Technology director Kevin Martin has been working on laptops and desktop computers for teachers, working on the computer networks and making sure Wi-Fi is up and running.
“Not every building is fully functional on that,” Duffie said.
“That’s through the state network,” he said. A fiber network needs to be expanded.
“The bus fleet’s in good shape and the mechanics have been working. Every bus passed state inspection.”
There are still some business accounts that need to be set up and the principals have begun building their budgets.
Duffie said it would be a while until all students are enrolled, noting that the 3,840 enrollment number was from around Aug. 1.
On the individual school pages on the JNPSD website, the principals spoke about the upcoming year.
YOUNG MINDS GREAT THINGS
“We are creating an academic climate for young minds to do great things,” said Jacksonville High School Principal LaGail Biggs. “We are providing opportunities for all students to prepare for their future.”
Middle school Principal Mike Hudgeons said, “It is our mission to provide the students entrusted to us with the best effort we can give and the best educational opportunities we can provide.”
The middle school is in academic distress and will work to improve, he said.
ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS
The theme this year at Arnold Drive Elementary is “Be a Superhero,” according to Principal Janice Walker. “We will encourage students to be H—Helpers of a school and community, E—Enthusiastic about learning, R—Respectful of others and O—On-Task learning and modeling good citizenship.”
“Active participation by parents, grandparents and other family members is the number one indicator of a child’s school success,” according to Bayou Meto Elementary Principal Gary Beck.
He encouraged families to become involved in the PTO, to become a tutor or a volunteer and to work with the child’s teacher.
ENTHUSIASM ENERGIZING
“The enthusiasm around the building is energizing, and we look forward to this educational journey with you and your child,” said Warren Dupree Principal Jamie Reed.
Pinewood Elementary Principal Karen Norton said her team is “dedicated to building strong, positive relationships with all members of our school community to ensure that all of our students reach their full potential.”
Taylor Principal Myeisha Haywood said her team “is committed to providing all students an equitable and quality instructional program focused on reading, language arts, math, science and social studies while infusing the arts into daily instruction.”
Tolleson Principal Angela Steward said her teachers and staff are excited about beginning a new journey with our families and students as part of the new Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District.
Leader senior staff writer
More than 30 years after Jacksonville-area residents first began working toward a school district of their own, the fledgling Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District doors will open for the first time Monday morning for an estimated 3,840 students, according to Bryan Duffie, assistant superintendent for support services.
Lunch is MaxStix with marinara sauce, Romaine salad with veggies and ranch dressing, peaches and milk for students big and small.
Before selling the buildings to JNPSD for about $10.8 million, the Pulaski County Special School District stripped and waxed floors as needed and sanded and refinished gymnasium floors.
PCSSD Superintendent Jerry Guess has supported the Jacksonville detachment and has helped many residents realize the dream.
GOOD SHAPE
“I believe we’re in really good shape,” Duffie said Thursday. “There are always things to do—small repairs.” But he said he doesn’t know of any major repairs.
“Teachers, custodians, principals and maintenance staff, are tending to last minute, final touches,” he said.
There are still a few final hires needed, Duffie said, but Superintendent Tony Wood has hired some as substitutes who are likely to be confirmed at the September board meeting.
KELLY ENTERPRISES
The district also has an arrangement with Kelly Enterprises to supply substitute teachers, custodians and other workers as needed.
Duffie said staff members, including teachers, community volunteers and volunteers from Little Rock Air Force Base and local churches chipped in to help ready the buildings.
Duffie said some rooms or areas may still need painting, but most painting is done.
Teachers have been coming in since early July to work on their rooms.
“I’m not aware of any major plumbing problems,” Duffie said Thursday. “We replaced a water heater today.”
The cafeterias are ready to go and Sysco foods has already made deliveries.
“Cafeterias are ready to go. Sysco did deliveries today and some food service employees will be working this weekend,” he said.
WALK-THROUGHS
Principals did walk-throughs at their schools Friday, making sure everything is ready.
The bus drivers met Thursday morning, discussing safety procedures and were due to have run their routes.
Duffie said the routes might have to be fine-tuned.
“For the most part, teachers have books and computers in the right rooms.
The drivers are excited, and see an opportunity for something new for Jacksonville.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Technology director Kevin Martin has been working on laptops and desktop computers for teachers, working on the computer networks and making sure Wi-Fi is up and running.
“Not every building is fully functional on that,” Duffie said.
“That’s through the state network,” he said. A fiber network needs to be expanded.
“The bus fleet’s in good shape and the mechanics have been working. Every bus passed state inspection.”
There are still some business accounts that need to be set up and the principals have begun building their budgets.
Duffie said it would be a while until all students are enrolled, noting that the 3,840 enrollment number was from around Aug. 1.
On the individual school pages on the JNPSD website, the principals spoke about the upcoming year.
YOUNG MINDS GREAT THINGS
“We are creating an academic climate for young minds to do great things,” said Jacksonville High School Principal LaGail Biggs. “We are providing opportunities for all students to prepare for their future.”
Middle school Principal Mike Hudgeons said, “It is our mission to provide the students entrusted to us with the best effort we can give and the best educational opportunities we can provide.”
The middle school is in academic distress and will work to improve, he said.
ELEMENTARY PRINCIPALS
The theme this year at Arnold Drive Elementary is “Be a Superhero,” according to Principal Janice Walker. “We will encourage students to be H—Helpers of a school and community, E—Enthusiastic about learning, R—Respectful of others and O—On-Task learning and modeling good citizenship.”
“Active participation by parents, grandparents and other family members is the number one indicator of a child’s school success,” according to Bayou Meto Elementary Principal Gary Beck.
He encouraged families to become involved in the PTO, to become a tutor or a volunteer and to work with the child’s teacher.
ENTHUSIASM ENERGIZING
“The enthusiasm around the building is energizing, and we look forward to this educational journey with you and your child,” said Warren Dupree Principal Jamie Reed.
Pinewood Elementary Principal Karen Norton said her team is “dedicated to building strong, positive relationships with all members of our school community to ensure that all of our students reach their full potential.”
Taylor Principal Myeisha Haywood said her team “is committed to providing all students an equitable and quality instructional program focused on reading, language arts, math, science and social studies while infusing the arts into daily instruction.”
Tolleson Principal Angela Steward said her teachers and staff are excited about beginning a new journey with our families and students as part of the new Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District.
TOP STORY >> Couple’s largesse is worth $634,000
Trustees of the Ethel Hope (Kirk) Carter Trust announced this week the final distribution of the trust worth more than $633,000, which will benefit a Beebe church and cemetery, a church in Cleburne County and Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.
Carter was a Beebe High School graduate, attended Williams College in Walnut Ridge and received her degree from Eastern Michigan College.
Carter, along with her husband, Emitt, taught in Michigan public schools. When they retired, they moved to Heber Springs, and after her husband’s death, Mrs. Carter moved back to the Beebe area.
Her love for children and her desire for all children to receive a good education prompted Mrs. Carter to bequeath several gifts to local charities, according to Norma Kirk and Kathy Roe, the trustees.
The trust recipients are:
$211, 553 to Union Valley Church in Beebe. Her wishes were that these funds be used in the children’s program of the church and for scholarships for deserving graduating seniors entering the education field.
$211,553 to Tumbling Shoals Baptist Church. She and her husband helped establish this church, and the funds will be used for mission work. An equipped and fenced playground, dedicated to the Carters, has been built adjacent to the church to help keep its children safe along the busy highway.
$211,553 to Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation. The Carters’ only child, Jimmy, was a patient there during his childhood.
These funds will be used to help keep children at grade-level while they are in the hospital.
A gift was made to Stoney Point Cemetery Trust Perpetual Care Fund for upkeep and maintenance of the cemetery where Mrs. Carter’s parents and other family members are buried.
The remainder of the trust was bequeathed to designated members of both the Kirk and Carter families.
Carter was a Beebe High School graduate, attended Williams College in Walnut Ridge and received her degree from Eastern Michigan College.
Carter, along with her husband, Emitt, taught in Michigan public schools. When they retired, they moved to Heber Springs, and after her husband’s death, Mrs. Carter moved back to the Beebe area.
Her love for children and her desire for all children to receive a good education prompted Mrs. Carter to bequeath several gifts to local charities, according to Norma Kirk and Kathy Roe, the trustees.
The trust recipients are:
$211, 553 to Union Valley Church in Beebe. Her wishes were that these funds be used in the children’s program of the church and for scholarships for deserving graduating seniors entering the education field.
$211,553 to Tumbling Shoals Baptist Church. She and her husband helped establish this church, and the funds will be used for mission work. An equipped and fenced playground, dedicated to the Carters, has been built adjacent to the church to help keep its children safe along the busy highway.
$211,553 to Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation. The Carters’ only child, Jimmy, was a patient there during his childhood.
These funds will be used to help keep children at grade-level while they are in the hospital.
A gift was made to Stoney Point Cemetery Trust Perpetual Care Fund for upkeep and maintenance of the cemetery where Mrs. Carter’s parents and other family members are buried.
The remainder of the trust was bequeathed to designated members of both the Kirk and Carter families.
EDITORIAL >> Judge says no to transfer
It didn’t take long for U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. to rule against the state Board of Education, which last month approved the transfer of a Jacksonville High School student to Cabot in violation of the existing desegregation agreement.
The Board of Education, for no stated purpose, suddenly changed from its practice of turning down school transfer appeals to suddenly granting one for the Dulaney family, saying they wanted to do what was best for the family.
We don’t dispute that, but suspect what they wanted to do was to challenge the Jacksonville district’s independence as it begins the new school year after a 30-year struggle to break from the Pulaski County Special School District.
The family’s attorney and the state argued that they were not bound by a provision in the desegregation settlement agreement that Judge Marshall signed off on previously. Interestingly, the board felt bound by that agreement through lunch at the July board meeting, but without comment reversed itself after lunch.
Marshall made his decision Monday after hearing arguments for about three hours, and Tuesday Marshall issued a written order overturning the state board’s action and thus putting aside that board’s action that allowed “K. Dulaney,” as the student was identified in court, to attend the Cabot Freshman Academy, outside her school district of residence, putting an end to the state board’s effort to make an end run around that 2014 settlement agreement.
That agreement allows JNPSD and the Pulaski County Special School District to waive the otherwise applicable school choice transfer provisions.
Under Marshall’s order, it appears that those two districts may claim exemption to school choice transfers at least through the 2018-2019 school year.
The PCSSD brief noted that both districts were among those listed on the Arkansas Department of Education’s website as claiming an exemption from participating in school choice.
Districts under court supervision for desegregation purposes are exempt. This gives the new district a little breathing room as it works toward meeting the needs of its students rather than lawyers who are trying to sock it to the burgeoning district.
PCSSD, JNPSD and the Joshua Intervenors argued that the state board exceeded its authority; Marshall’s order validated that interpretation.
Lawyers for the state and for the Dulaneys also argued that state court, not Marshall’s court, was the proper venue for the school districts’ appeal.
Scott Richardson, who was a chief deputy attorney general who helped craft the desegregation settlement in 2014, is now an attorney for JNPSD.
He and attorney Patrick Wilson filed suit against the Board of Education on July 28, seeking an injunction against the board granting such student appeals.
Richardson argued that the new district would lose badly needed revenue if students from the new, untested district could transfer at will to white flight districts like Cabot.
The state and Dulaney also sought intervenor status in the matter, but in refusing, Marshall ruled that the family’s interests were represented by the state’s lawyers.
The state board argued that the operative factor should be what’s best for the student. Let us praise Judge Marshall for allowing Jacksonville- North Pulaski to move forward without interference from the state board.
After at least 30 years, with supporters steadfastly pushing through, over and around obstacles, their efforts will be rewarded Monday when the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District welcomes students to its first day of classroom instruction.
Starting with nothing but permission to detach from PCSSD, a deal to buy the buildings within the boundaries and great dedication, expertise and leadership, the new district has jumped through an amazing number of hoops, and without a roadmap.
With former interim Superintendent Bobby Lester, an appointed school board and then an elected school board and Superintendent Tony Wood, the district has met every challenge.
Wood was commissioner of the state Board of Education until a new governor replaced him with Johnny Key, the inexperienced and perhaps unqualified former legislator, but that made the highly qualified Wood free to help guide JNPSD toward independence.
This bunch and many others have brought us to the brink of a new district.
The future’s so bright, we’re gonna need shades.
The Board of Education, for no stated purpose, suddenly changed from its practice of turning down school transfer appeals to suddenly granting one for the Dulaney family, saying they wanted to do what was best for the family.
We don’t dispute that, but suspect what they wanted to do was to challenge the Jacksonville district’s independence as it begins the new school year after a 30-year struggle to break from the Pulaski County Special School District.
The family’s attorney and the state argued that they were not bound by a provision in the desegregation settlement agreement that Judge Marshall signed off on previously. Interestingly, the board felt bound by that agreement through lunch at the July board meeting, but without comment reversed itself after lunch.
Marshall made his decision Monday after hearing arguments for about three hours, and Tuesday Marshall issued a written order overturning the state board’s action and thus putting aside that board’s action that allowed “K. Dulaney,” as the student was identified in court, to attend the Cabot Freshman Academy, outside her school district of residence, putting an end to the state board’s effort to make an end run around that 2014 settlement agreement.
That agreement allows JNPSD and the Pulaski County Special School District to waive the otherwise applicable school choice transfer provisions.
Under Marshall’s order, it appears that those two districts may claim exemption to school choice transfers at least through the 2018-2019 school year.
The PCSSD brief noted that both districts were among those listed on the Arkansas Department of Education’s website as claiming an exemption from participating in school choice.
Districts under court supervision for desegregation purposes are exempt. This gives the new district a little breathing room as it works toward meeting the needs of its students rather than lawyers who are trying to sock it to the burgeoning district.
PCSSD, JNPSD and the Joshua Intervenors argued that the state board exceeded its authority; Marshall’s order validated that interpretation.
Lawyers for the state and for the Dulaneys also argued that state court, not Marshall’s court, was the proper venue for the school districts’ appeal.
Scott Richardson, who was a chief deputy attorney general who helped craft the desegregation settlement in 2014, is now an attorney for JNPSD.
He and attorney Patrick Wilson filed suit against the Board of Education on July 28, seeking an injunction against the board granting such student appeals.
Richardson argued that the new district would lose badly needed revenue if students from the new, untested district could transfer at will to white flight districts like Cabot.
The state and Dulaney also sought intervenor status in the matter, but in refusing, Marshall ruled that the family’s interests were represented by the state’s lawyers.
The state board argued that the operative factor should be what’s best for the student. Let us praise Judge Marshall for allowing Jacksonville- North Pulaski to move forward without interference from the state board.
After at least 30 years, with supporters steadfastly pushing through, over and around obstacles, their efforts will be rewarded Monday when the Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District welcomes students to its first day of classroom instruction.
Starting with nothing but permission to detach from PCSSD, a deal to buy the buildings within the boundaries and great dedication, expertise and leadership, the new district has jumped through an amazing number of hoops, and without a roadmap.
With former interim Superintendent Bobby Lester, an appointed school board and then an elected school board and Superintendent Tony Wood, the district has met every challenge.
Wood was commissioner of the state Board of Education until a new governor replaced him with Johnny Key, the inexperienced and perhaps unqualified former legislator, but that made the highly qualified Wood free to help guide JNPSD toward independence.
This bunch and many others have brought us to the brink of a new district.
The future’s so bright, we’re gonna need shades.
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot boys win tourney
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
The Cabot High School boys’ golf team played its first match of the season on Aug. 4, and won the North Little Rock Charging Wildcat Invitational with a low score of 301, outpointing second-place NLR by three strokes at The Greens at North Hills golf course in Sherwood.
Sophomore Logan Stephens was the Panthers’ and the match’s lowest scorer, finishing with a 72. Brendon Morton of Bryant finished two strikes behind the Cabot medalist, finishing with a score of 74.
Six different other competitors finished with a score of 75, and two of those scores belonged to Cabot players. Senior Jordan Lott and freshman Caleb Miller each shot a 75 and sophomore teammate Blaine Calhoon also finished with an under-80 score, shooting a 79.
Cabot does have three seniors on its boys’ team, but the bulk of the team is underclassmen, including one junior, six sophomores and one ninth grader.
Lott, Trey Tonnessen and Hayes Barger are the three seniors for the Panthers. Lott returns the most varsity experience of those three, and Tonnessen and Barger will be among those competing for one of the five spots on the varsity team.
Despite the youth on the Panthers, Cabot coach Ronnie Tollett expects this group to be highly competitive this season.
“Our boys will be very competitive,” said Tollett. “If they continue to improve and put it all together they’ll be very competitive.”
Eight schools were represented in boys’ play at the NLR Invitational, with seven of those schools having enough players to qualify for the team scores. Bryant finished third behind Cabot and North Little Rock with 306 team points. Benton was fourth with a score of 308, and Little Rock Catholic rounded out the top five with a score of 321.
Sylvan Hills also competed in the event, and although the Bears didn’t finish in the top five of the team scores, they had two players finish in the low 80s. Nathan Martin shot an 81 to lead the SHHS boys, and teammate Ethan Williamson finished two strikes behind him with a score of 83.
Nine different schools were represented in the girls’ competition at the NLR Invitational, but only two of those schools had enough players to qualify for team scores, one of which was Cabot. Little Rock Christian won the girls’ competition with a low score of 297, while the Lady Panthers finished with a team score of 340.
Lauren Loeb of Mount St. Mary Academy was the only player representing her school, but she won the match with a low score of 80. She finished three strokes ahead of second-place Alexis Montgomery of Maumelle, who finished with a score of 83.
Freshman Hannah Heflin was Cabot’s lowest scorer at the match, finishing with a score of 108.
Lady Panther sophomore Ashley DeSalvo had the second-lowest score for CHS, finishing with a 112 score, and junior Cloe Ann Doyle rounded out the top three for the Cabot girls, finishing with a score of 120.
Like the Cabot boys, the Cabot girls’ team mostly consists of underclassmen with one senior and one junior, seven sophomores and three freshmen.
The Lady Panthers may be inexperienced, but Tollett says the CHS girls continue to improve and will only get better with the experience they gain through the course of the season.
“It was their first tournament, and most of them it was the first time they’d ever played in a tournament,” Tollett said. “We’re only optimistic that they’re going to get a lot better, because a lot of them are just starting out. They’re very young and we’re optimistic that they’re going to improve a lot as the year goes on.”
The Cabot boys’ and girls’ teams will play their next match Thursday at the Red Apple Inn and Country Club in Heber Springs and start time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
Leader sportswriter
The Cabot High School boys’ golf team played its first match of the season on Aug. 4, and won the North Little Rock Charging Wildcat Invitational with a low score of 301, outpointing second-place NLR by three strokes at The Greens at North Hills golf course in Sherwood.
Sophomore Logan Stephens was the Panthers’ and the match’s lowest scorer, finishing with a 72. Brendon Morton of Bryant finished two strikes behind the Cabot medalist, finishing with a score of 74.
Six different other competitors finished with a score of 75, and two of those scores belonged to Cabot players. Senior Jordan Lott and freshman Caleb Miller each shot a 75 and sophomore teammate Blaine Calhoon also finished with an under-80 score, shooting a 79.
Cabot does have three seniors on its boys’ team, but the bulk of the team is underclassmen, including one junior, six sophomores and one ninth grader.
Lott, Trey Tonnessen and Hayes Barger are the three seniors for the Panthers. Lott returns the most varsity experience of those three, and Tonnessen and Barger will be among those competing for one of the five spots on the varsity team.
Despite the youth on the Panthers, Cabot coach Ronnie Tollett expects this group to be highly competitive this season.
“Our boys will be very competitive,” said Tollett. “If they continue to improve and put it all together they’ll be very competitive.”
Eight schools were represented in boys’ play at the NLR Invitational, with seven of those schools having enough players to qualify for the team scores. Bryant finished third behind Cabot and North Little Rock with 306 team points. Benton was fourth with a score of 308, and Little Rock Catholic rounded out the top five with a score of 321.
Sylvan Hills also competed in the event, and although the Bears didn’t finish in the top five of the team scores, they had two players finish in the low 80s. Nathan Martin shot an 81 to lead the SHHS boys, and teammate Ethan Williamson finished two strikes behind him with a score of 83.
Nine different schools were represented in the girls’ competition at the NLR Invitational, but only two of those schools had enough players to qualify for team scores, one of which was Cabot. Little Rock Christian won the girls’ competition with a low score of 297, while the Lady Panthers finished with a team score of 340.
Lauren Loeb of Mount St. Mary Academy was the only player representing her school, but she won the match with a low score of 80. She finished three strokes ahead of second-place Alexis Montgomery of Maumelle, who finished with a score of 83.
Freshman Hannah Heflin was Cabot’s lowest scorer at the match, finishing with a score of 108.
Lady Panther sophomore Ashley DeSalvo had the second-lowest score for CHS, finishing with a 112 score, and junior Cloe Ann Doyle rounded out the top three for the Cabot girls, finishing with a score of 120.
Like the Cabot boys, the Cabot girls’ team mostly consists of underclassmen with one senior and one junior, seven sophomores and three freshmen.
The Lady Panthers may be inexperienced, but Tollett says the CHS girls continue to improve and will only get better with the experience they gain through the course of the season.
“It was their first tournament, and most of them it was the first time they’d ever played in a tournament,” Tollett said. “We’re only optimistic that they’re going to get a lot better, because a lot of them are just starting out. They’re very young and we’re optimistic that they’re going to improve a lot as the year goes on.”
The Cabot boys’ and girls’ teams will play their next match Thursday at the Red Apple Inn and Country Club in Heber Springs and start time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
SPORTS STORY >> Titans cross country buys in
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
Jacksonville High School cross country coach Hank Hawk hasn’t had very much time to work with his runners that’ll be competing this fall, but one thing that Hawk said has been a big positive in the time he’s had with them is that the Titan runners have bought in to what the program’s hoping to accomplish this year.
A lot of soccer players have joined the cross country team this year, which has helped boost the numbers up some.
“I’ve got four or five boys and I will probably have a girls’ team for the very first time this year,” said Hawk, “thanks to coach (Donny) Lantrip; the soccer coach. We are teaming up and kind of using this as an offseason soccer/cross country team, and for right now it’s working out pretty good.
“It’s nice to have girls out there running. There are some volleyball girls – they’re so busy with volleyball, but I know they’re distance runners for track, and I know that if I can get them to run on their own and then compete with us on the weekends in the meets, that’ll just help us even more.”
As for the boys, Hawk said he thinks the soccer players he’s had running this summer have even surprised themselves with how well they’re handling the distances and workouts, and added that they’re starting to look at the program as more than just an offseason for soccer.
“Right now the soccer guys that are coming out running, I think they’ve surprised themselves as far as how well they’re handling the distances and the workouts,” Hawk said. “They’re buying into it. They’re asking questions about how a meet runs, and they’ve gone out and talked to friends that have done it in the past.
“I can see their interests are not just getting in better shape for soccer, but wanting to compete as a team and personally in a cross country meet.”
Hawk added, though, that the success his runners have will be based on the work they put in prior to races, meaning they need to continue to work at it on their own time in addition to their routine team workouts.
“You’ve got to run,” Hawk said. “On the weekend, get up and go run. You get out of it what you put in. Unfortunately, the words cross country scare a lot of people off. When you say cross country people think, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t want to run across the world,’ when it’s only a 3.1 mile race. It’s a 5K.
“If I can ever get them to a cross country meet – they’re just a neat atmosphere; all the teams around there, the comradery between the teams, the competition between you and the guy next to you, the competition between you and yourself, trying to get a better time – the parents and fans lining the course to cheer everybody on.
“As a coach, it’s neat to see the lightbulb go on when they get there, and you’re riding in the back of the bus (after) and they’re talking about passing this one guy and I wasn’t going to let him pass me, you know, going on and on about what happened during the race. They’re worn out, but they’re not thinking about that. They’re thinking about the next race.”
Another reason Hawk would like to see more runners in the cross country program is the fact that college scholarships are available for cross country runners, and many girls’ cross country scholarships are going unused because of the lack of participation.
“I tell these girls, there are actual scholarships that universities are not using for girls’ cross country,” Hawk said. “There’s money out there for these girls if they’ll come out and run this sport.” The first cross country meet of the season for Jacksonville will be early next month.
Leader sportswriter
Jacksonville High School cross country coach Hank Hawk hasn’t had very much time to work with his runners that’ll be competing this fall, but one thing that Hawk said has been a big positive in the time he’s had with them is that the Titan runners have bought in to what the program’s hoping to accomplish this year.
A lot of soccer players have joined the cross country team this year, which has helped boost the numbers up some.
“I’ve got four or five boys and I will probably have a girls’ team for the very first time this year,” said Hawk, “thanks to coach (Donny) Lantrip; the soccer coach. We are teaming up and kind of using this as an offseason soccer/cross country team, and for right now it’s working out pretty good.
“It’s nice to have girls out there running. There are some volleyball girls – they’re so busy with volleyball, but I know they’re distance runners for track, and I know that if I can get them to run on their own and then compete with us on the weekends in the meets, that’ll just help us even more.”
As for the boys, Hawk said he thinks the soccer players he’s had running this summer have even surprised themselves with how well they’re handling the distances and workouts, and added that they’re starting to look at the program as more than just an offseason for soccer.
“Right now the soccer guys that are coming out running, I think they’ve surprised themselves as far as how well they’re handling the distances and the workouts,” Hawk said. “They’re buying into it. They’re asking questions about how a meet runs, and they’ve gone out and talked to friends that have done it in the past.
“I can see their interests are not just getting in better shape for soccer, but wanting to compete as a team and personally in a cross country meet.”
Hawk added, though, that the success his runners have will be based on the work they put in prior to races, meaning they need to continue to work at it on their own time in addition to their routine team workouts.
“You’ve got to run,” Hawk said. “On the weekend, get up and go run. You get out of it what you put in. Unfortunately, the words cross country scare a lot of people off. When you say cross country people think, ‘Oh my gosh, I don’t want to run across the world,’ when it’s only a 3.1 mile race. It’s a 5K.
“If I can ever get them to a cross country meet – they’re just a neat atmosphere; all the teams around there, the comradery between the teams, the competition between you and the guy next to you, the competition between you and yourself, trying to get a better time – the parents and fans lining the course to cheer everybody on.
“As a coach, it’s neat to see the lightbulb go on when they get there, and you’re riding in the back of the bus (after) and they’re talking about passing this one guy and I wasn’t going to let him pass me, you know, going on and on about what happened during the race. They’re worn out, but they’re not thinking about that. They’re thinking about the next race.”
Another reason Hawk would like to see more runners in the cross country program is the fact that college scholarships are available for cross country runners, and many girls’ cross country scholarships are going unused because of the lack of participation.
“I tell these girls, there are actual scholarships that universities are not using for girls’ cross country,” Hawk said. “There’s money out there for these girls if they’ll come out and run this sport.” The first cross country meet of the season for Jacksonville will be early next month.
SPORTS STORY >> Lexi Weeks enjoying the Rio Games
By NATE ALLEN
Special to The Leader
FAYETTEVILLE – From what he’s heard, Arkansas head women’s coach Lance Harter in Fayetteville reports that Razorback freshman pole vaulter Lexi Weeks of Cabot enjoys the Olympic Games locale in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil more than her vault coach does.
Razorbacks women’s vault coach Bryan Compton, coaching both Weeks and UA graduate vaulter Sandi Morris at the Games, though not as part of the U.S. staff, and Razorbacks women’s sprints coach Chris Johnson, also not officially on the U.S. staff but there to coach just graduated sprinter Taylor Ellis-Watson, 4x400 relay, and UA graduate Chrishuna Williams (800-meters), apparently are lodged in a hotel not even up to fleabag standards.
“Chris said, ‘We are in a hotel you wouldn’t have your dog stay in, but they wouldn’t give us our money back,’” Harter, staying put with his reigning SEC champion cross country team reporting for training, said Wednesday night.
As for the 15 current and former Razorbacks men and women athletes representing six countries in the Olympic Games and housed in their countries’ various Olympic Games, “everybody is fine,” Harter said.
Asked specifically about Weeks, Harter said, “She’s in great spirits. She’s there and her sister (Tori Weeks, Lexi’s twin and also a UA freshman All-American vaulter) and mom and dad fly out Saturday and get there Sunday. Her prelim trial is Tuesday and as far as I know she had a fantastic experience on the opening ceremonies.”
Regardless how Lexi (the 2016 NCAA Indoor and NCAA Outdoor champion qualifying third, clearing a personal record 15-5 at the U.S. Olympic Trials) and current world leader Morris (an American outdoor record 16-2) fare in the Games they start competing in Tuesday trying to advance to the Friday, Aug. 19 final, they already have an Olympic memory to frame for life.
“All the U.S., Jamaican and Trinidad athletes that are Arkansas alums got together on the floor of the opening ceremonies and took a picture,” Harter said. “The only one that didn’t get to go was Dom (Dominique Scott represents her native South Africa in the 10,000 meters after graduating the UA with NCAA Outdoor 5,000- and 10,000-meter titles in June for Harter’s first-ever NCAA Outdoor championship team) because she was on the other side of the presentation. She was stuck over there and she said they were yelling at me but she had to stay on her side and was bummed by that.”
Until the U.S. Olympic Trials, Lexi had never vaulted without Tori competing, too, but said she’s gained a big sister with Morris, the 2015 UA grad and 2016 USA Indoor champion and World Indoor runner-up, there to guide her while competing with her.
“The first time I go to the Olympics will be the first time I am out of the country,” Lexi said while training in Fayetteville after the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. “It’s surreal to me. It’s crazy, this whole thing. I am thankful that Sandi is going to be there to do it with me because she has been overseas and competed in big meets, Diamond League (the international professional league) meets and World Championships. So she kind of knows the ropes. I am so thankful that she is going to be there to help me through it.”
Lexi said she constantly tells Morris of her appreciation.
“I told her the Trials was my first big meet like that,” Weeks said. “And I told her I would be a lost puppy without her because I am so new to it all, especially something like the Olympics. She hasn’t done that but she has been to huge World Championship meets before and I am sure she knows what’s going on and I am so thankful I will have her there with me to help me go through it all.”
Though training under Compton with the Weeks sisters and other UA vaulters, Morris said she really didn’t know Lexi well until training just with each for the U.S. Trials and becoming U.S. teammates.
“Over the last few weeks Lexi and I have really gotten a lot stronger bond,” Morris said while training in Fayetteville between the U.S. Trials and the Olympic Games. “During the year we trained with a bunch of girls. And we’re really far apart in age (24 and 19). I’ve graduated and she was just a freshman. So I didn’t really know her on a personal level. But over the last few weeks we’ve spent a lot of time together, just me and her training out here with coach Compton and traveling together. We’ve developed a bond and I think it’s really good for both of us.”
Morris explained the mutual benefits.
“We push each other,” Morris said. “I think it’s good for me to be there with her, because she hasn’t competed overseas yet. So I think me being a seasoned athlete overseas will help her a lot when we get to Rio. But then also her being there for me is going to help me a lot. Because even after having experience competing overseas a few times, it can be daunting being out there all by yourself. But this time around I’ll have Lexi there for me and coach Compton’s going to be there. So it’ll be great.”
Special to The Leader
FAYETTEVILLE – From what he’s heard, Arkansas head women’s coach Lance Harter in Fayetteville reports that Razorback freshman pole vaulter Lexi Weeks of Cabot enjoys the Olympic Games locale in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil more than her vault coach does.
Razorbacks women’s vault coach Bryan Compton, coaching both Weeks and UA graduate vaulter Sandi Morris at the Games, though not as part of the U.S. staff, and Razorbacks women’s sprints coach Chris Johnson, also not officially on the U.S. staff but there to coach just graduated sprinter Taylor Ellis-Watson, 4x400 relay, and UA graduate Chrishuna Williams (800-meters), apparently are lodged in a hotel not even up to fleabag standards.
“Chris said, ‘We are in a hotel you wouldn’t have your dog stay in, but they wouldn’t give us our money back,’” Harter, staying put with his reigning SEC champion cross country team reporting for training, said Wednesday night.
As for the 15 current and former Razorbacks men and women athletes representing six countries in the Olympic Games and housed in their countries’ various Olympic Games, “everybody is fine,” Harter said.
Asked specifically about Weeks, Harter said, “She’s in great spirits. She’s there and her sister (Tori Weeks, Lexi’s twin and also a UA freshman All-American vaulter) and mom and dad fly out Saturday and get there Sunday. Her prelim trial is Tuesday and as far as I know she had a fantastic experience on the opening ceremonies.”
Regardless how Lexi (the 2016 NCAA Indoor and NCAA Outdoor champion qualifying third, clearing a personal record 15-5 at the U.S. Olympic Trials) and current world leader Morris (an American outdoor record 16-2) fare in the Games they start competing in Tuesday trying to advance to the Friday, Aug. 19 final, they already have an Olympic memory to frame for life.
“All the U.S., Jamaican and Trinidad athletes that are Arkansas alums got together on the floor of the opening ceremonies and took a picture,” Harter said. “The only one that didn’t get to go was Dom (Dominique Scott represents her native South Africa in the 10,000 meters after graduating the UA with NCAA Outdoor 5,000- and 10,000-meter titles in June for Harter’s first-ever NCAA Outdoor championship team) because she was on the other side of the presentation. She was stuck over there and she said they were yelling at me but she had to stay on her side and was bummed by that.”
Until the U.S. Olympic Trials, Lexi had never vaulted without Tori competing, too, but said she’s gained a big sister with Morris, the 2015 UA grad and 2016 USA Indoor champion and World Indoor runner-up, there to guide her while competing with her.
“The first time I go to the Olympics will be the first time I am out of the country,” Lexi said while training in Fayetteville after the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore. “It’s surreal to me. It’s crazy, this whole thing. I am thankful that Sandi is going to be there to do it with me because she has been overseas and competed in big meets, Diamond League (the international professional league) meets and World Championships. So she kind of knows the ropes. I am so thankful that she is going to be there to help me through it.”
Lexi said she constantly tells Morris of her appreciation.
“I told her the Trials was my first big meet like that,” Weeks said. “And I told her I would be a lost puppy without her because I am so new to it all, especially something like the Olympics. She hasn’t done that but she has been to huge World Championship meets before and I am sure she knows what’s going on and I am so thankful I will have her there with me to help me go through it all.”
Though training under Compton with the Weeks sisters and other UA vaulters, Morris said she really didn’t know Lexi well until training just with each for the U.S. Trials and becoming U.S. teammates.
“Over the last few weeks Lexi and I have really gotten a lot stronger bond,” Morris said while training in Fayetteville between the U.S. Trials and the Olympic Games. “During the year we trained with a bunch of girls. And we’re really far apart in age (24 and 19). I’ve graduated and she was just a freshman. So I didn’t really know her on a personal level. But over the last few weeks we’ve spent a lot of time together, just me and her training out here with coach Compton and traveling together. We’ve developed a bond and I think it’s really good for both of us.”
Morris explained the mutual benefits.
“We push each other,” Morris said. “I think it’s good for me to be there with her, because she hasn’t competed overseas yet. So I think me being a seasoned athlete overseas will help her a lot when we get to Rio. But then also her being there for me is going to help me a lot. Because even after having experience competing overseas a few times, it can be daunting being out there all by yourself. But this time around I’ll have Lexi there for me and coach Compton’s going to be there. So it’ll be great.”
Tuesday, August 09, 2016
EDITORIAL >> Base impact is still strong
Little Rock Air Force Base’s economic impact was down $300 million last year, according to a just-released military report.
The report showed 2015 economic impact at $631 million, $121 million indirectly. In 2014, it was $959 million, $146 million indirectly.
Last year, the base directly spent $510 million on payroll and expenditures in central Arkansas, according to numbers provided by the 19th Comptroller Squadron. An additional $121 million was credited to the base indirectly. Economists call the effect a multiplier: Every dollar spent in the community keeps recirculating to everyone’s benefit. As Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman reminds us, one person’s spending is another’s income.
The air base is the fourth largest employer in the state.
Why the drop in the base’s economic impact? Last year, we saw the effect of the so-called sequester trickling down to every base community: People were temporarily laid off and many activities were suspended. As a belt-tightening measure, the Air Force has eliminated most air shows, including the one in Jacksonville, although there will be a military expo Sept. 17 at the air base with displays of airplanes and military hardware.
Well, 2014 was a bit unusual as the budget included one big-ticket item: The new runway, valued at about $108 million, was budgeted in 2014 but construction continues till next year, benefiting local contractors and their suppliers. “Money will be spent in the local area throughout the construction,” Mayor Gary Fletcher told us last week.
With dozens of construction projects, close to 70 planes and more than 4,300 military members assigned to the base, the drop baffled the mayor. In 2014, 5,225 active military jobs were listed in the report. In 2015, it fell to 4,338. Part of the reason is smaller crews are needed as the base transitions to more automated C-130Js. A decade ago, the base’s 5,919 active duty personnel collected $274 million in pay.
According to the 2015 report, the base has a total annual payroll of $287 million and spent $174 million on health, construction and supplies. Add in $49.9 million in salaries and expenditures for the Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing, and the direct impact is $510 million.
The comptrollers estimated that in 2015 the base was also indirectly responsible for 2,835 jobs with a total payroll of $121 million. Add that in and the base was responsible for infusing $631 million into the local communities in 2015.
That figure is still higher than it was a decade ago, when it stood at $600 million. But the drop in military personnel inevitably will reduce the economic impact on our communities.
Here’s hoping the next administration will continue to invest in our magnificent air base. Back in the 1990s, the Clinton administration directed $100 million worth of improvement projects to our air base — new headquarter buildings, air-traffic-control tower, fitness center, new fiber-optic cables and so much more, including the new generation of C-130Js worth billions of dollars.
The C-130Js have changed the way our military delivers cargo and personnel. They’re faster and leaner and more dependable in hot spots, requiring smaller runaways and allowing for quick landings and departures.
Only a handful of C-130s were being made in the 1990s, and their future was in doubt. There were those who wanted to kill the program. Then, in 1996, the Clinton administration announced at the old officers club that production would proceed after all.
We were present at their creation and watched them grow on our flightline. The 19th Airlift Wing now has a full complement of 28 C-130Js, and the 314th Airlift Wing has received 13 with two more on the way. Those new planes are worth $3.4 billion. Talk about a lasting economic impact.
We would be remiss if we did not mention former Rep. Vic Snyder (D-Ark.), who not only helped shepherd through the C-130Js a generation ago, but also arranged to fund an air-traffic-control tower and the new runway now under construction.
President Clinton did not forget his home state when he was in the White House. The next administration should only do so well. Another $100 million investment in Little Rock Air Force Base will go a long way — from Jacksonville, Cabot, Sherwood, Ward, Austin, Beebe and Lonoke and halfway around the world and back.
The report showed 2015 economic impact at $631 million, $121 million indirectly. In 2014, it was $959 million, $146 million indirectly.
Last year, the base directly spent $510 million on payroll and expenditures in central Arkansas, according to numbers provided by the 19th Comptroller Squadron. An additional $121 million was credited to the base indirectly. Economists call the effect a multiplier: Every dollar spent in the community keeps recirculating to everyone’s benefit. As Nobel Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman reminds us, one person’s spending is another’s income.
The air base is the fourth largest employer in the state.
Why the drop in the base’s economic impact? Last year, we saw the effect of the so-called sequester trickling down to every base community: People were temporarily laid off and many activities were suspended. As a belt-tightening measure, the Air Force has eliminated most air shows, including the one in Jacksonville, although there will be a military expo Sept. 17 at the air base with displays of airplanes and military hardware.
Well, 2014 was a bit unusual as the budget included one big-ticket item: The new runway, valued at about $108 million, was budgeted in 2014 but construction continues till next year, benefiting local contractors and their suppliers. “Money will be spent in the local area throughout the construction,” Mayor Gary Fletcher told us last week.
With dozens of construction projects, close to 70 planes and more than 4,300 military members assigned to the base, the drop baffled the mayor. In 2014, 5,225 active military jobs were listed in the report. In 2015, it fell to 4,338. Part of the reason is smaller crews are needed as the base transitions to more automated C-130Js. A decade ago, the base’s 5,919 active duty personnel collected $274 million in pay.
According to the 2015 report, the base has a total annual payroll of $287 million and spent $174 million on health, construction and supplies. Add in $49.9 million in salaries and expenditures for the Air National Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing, and the direct impact is $510 million.
The comptrollers estimated that in 2015 the base was also indirectly responsible for 2,835 jobs with a total payroll of $121 million. Add that in and the base was responsible for infusing $631 million into the local communities in 2015.
That figure is still higher than it was a decade ago, when it stood at $600 million. But the drop in military personnel inevitably will reduce the economic impact on our communities.
Here’s hoping the next administration will continue to invest in our magnificent air base. Back in the 1990s, the Clinton administration directed $100 million worth of improvement projects to our air base — new headquarter buildings, air-traffic-control tower, fitness center, new fiber-optic cables and so much more, including the new generation of C-130Js worth billions of dollars.
The C-130Js have changed the way our military delivers cargo and personnel. They’re faster and leaner and more dependable in hot spots, requiring smaller runaways and allowing for quick landings and departures.
Only a handful of C-130s were being made in the 1990s, and their future was in doubt. There were those who wanted to kill the program. Then, in 1996, the Clinton administration announced at the old officers club that production would proceed after all.
We were present at their creation and watched them grow on our flightline. The 19th Airlift Wing now has a full complement of 28 C-130Js, and the 314th Airlift Wing has received 13 with two more on the way. Those new planes are worth $3.4 billion. Talk about a lasting economic impact.
We would be remiss if we did not mention former Rep. Vic Snyder (D-Ark.), who not only helped shepherd through the C-130Js a generation ago, but also arranged to fund an air-traffic-control tower and the new runway now under construction.
President Clinton did not forget his home state when he was in the White House. The next administration should only do so well. Another $100 million investment in Little Rock Air Force Base will go a long way — from Jacksonville, Cabot, Sherwood, Ward, Austin, Beebe and Lonoke and halfway around the world and back.
TOP STORY >> Beebe student goes abroad
Shawna Smith of Beebe spent three weeks in Thailand this summer helping animals and learning hands-on what it’s like to be a veterinarian.
Traveling with the Boston-based Loop Abroad, the 21-year-old, was part of a small team that volunteered at a dog shelter and then spent a week working at wan elephant sanctuary.
Smith is a senior at Lyon College majoring in biology.
“The knowledge and experience I have learned and gained have been life changing. The chance to spend time with elephants up close and personal has given me a deeper respect for these majestic beasts,” she said.
The veterinary-service program brings students to Thailand for two weeks to volunteer alongside a staff veterinarian. For one week, students volunteer at the Animal Rescue Kingdom dog shelter in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The shelter is home to over 100 dogs that have been rescued after being abandoned, beaten or abused. Any dogs that aren’t adopted will be cared for by the shelter for their whole lives.
While they learned what it’s like to be a veterinarian, students made a difference in the lives of these dogs. By providing checkups and cleanings, diagnosing and treating ear and eye problems, taking and testing blood, administering vaccines, cleaning and treating wounds, and helping with sterilization surgeries, the students were able to help support the health and well-being of these dogs.
The group also spent one week at the Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand to work hands-on with the animals and learn about animal rescue and conservation on a larger scale. The Elephant Nature Park is home to more than 40 elephants that have been rescued from trekking, logging or forced-breeding programs. Many of them have been abused and suffer from chronic injuries.
At the Elephant Nature Park, they are cared for by volunteers from all over the world. Students were able to feed, bathe and care for elephants, as well as learn about their diagnoses, alongside an elephant vet. The Elephant Nature Park is also home to more than 400 dogs and 100 cats, as well as rabbits and water buffalo, and is sustained in huge part by the work of weekly volunteers like Smith.
Loop Abroad has programs for students and young adults age 14 to 30, and offers financial aid and fundraising help to make their trips accessible to the greatest number of students.
Traveling with the Boston-based Loop Abroad, the 21-year-old, was part of a small team that volunteered at a dog shelter and then spent a week working at wan elephant sanctuary.
Smith is a senior at Lyon College majoring in biology.
“The knowledge and experience I have learned and gained have been life changing. The chance to spend time with elephants up close and personal has given me a deeper respect for these majestic beasts,” she said.
The veterinary-service program brings students to Thailand for two weeks to volunteer alongside a staff veterinarian. For one week, students volunteer at the Animal Rescue Kingdom dog shelter in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
The shelter is home to over 100 dogs that have been rescued after being abandoned, beaten or abused. Any dogs that aren’t adopted will be cared for by the shelter for their whole lives.
While they learned what it’s like to be a veterinarian, students made a difference in the lives of these dogs. By providing checkups and cleanings, diagnosing and treating ear and eye problems, taking and testing blood, administering vaccines, cleaning and treating wounds, and helping with sterilization surgeries, the students were able to help support the health and well-being of these dogs.
The group also spent one week at the Elephant Nature Park in northern Thailand to work hands-on with the animals and learn about animal rescue and conservation on a larger scale. The Elephant Nature Park is home to more than 40 elephants that have been rescued from trekking, logging or forced-breeding programs. Many of them have been abused and suffer from chronic injuries.
At the Elephant Nature Park, they are cared for by volunteers from all over the world. Students were able to feed, bathe and care for elephants, as well as learn about their diagnoses, alongside an elephant vet. The Elephant Nature Park is also home to more than 400 dogs and 100 cats, as well as rabbits and water buffalo, and is sustained in huge part by the work of weekly volunteers like Smith.
Loop Abroad has programs for students and young adults age 14 to 30, and offers financial aid and fundraising help to make their trips accessible to the greatest number of students.
TOP STORY >> New minister eager to serve
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
The Jacksonville First United Methodist Church has a new pastor. Rev. Nathan Kilbourne has been at the church for three weeks listening to the needs of the congregation and the community.
Kilbourne, 31, was born in Chattanooga, Tenn., and grew up in Johnson City, Tenn.
He went to Emory in Atlanta and Henry College in Virginia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in religion and psychology. He earned a master’s of divinity degree at Duke University in North Carolina in 2009.
Kilbourne’s father, grandfather, brother and an uncle are members of the United Methodist Church clergy. He said God called him into ministry while a college student.
While at Duke, he met his wife, Lynn. She is a pastor at North Little Rock First United Methodist Church. They have been married for seven years. They have a 20-month-old daughter, Eleanor.
Kilbourne moved to Arkansas in 2009. He served churches in west Little Rock and most recently was minister at the Vilonia United Methodist Church for three years. He was there when the city was hit by a second tornado in three years in 2014.
“I learned there are really good people in the world. When the tornado was on the ground there were people already waiting to come into the community and help. It restored a lot of faith in humanity. We were inundated for months with people willing to lend a hand. I learned how strong a community can be. People never gave up hope. The church building was destroyed, but the church’s hope was not. Center Point Freewill Baptist Church opened their doors for us. We then met in a little trailer on the site until the building was rebuilt. It was amazing to watch people come together to care for one other,” Kilbourne said.
Kilbourne is still learning about the Jacksonville community and the church.
“My hopes and dreams are for our church to become a vital part of the community’s continued growth. We want to be a church that helps the new school system. We’ve been talking about ways to do that. Last weekend we were at (former) North Pulaski High School weed-eating, trying to get it cleaned up for the middle school students. This church believes this is our community, and they want to see it thrive. As people of faith, we believe that we are called to love our neighbor and for our community to do its best,” Kilbourne said.
“For those on the edge of the community who don’t have a lot, that struggle, we want to help build them up. For those who don’t know that God loves them, we want to share that message. For those who don’t have a place, we want to be a home where they can come, grow their faith and know they are cared for and loved. God wants to make even this community a sign of goodness in our world,” he said.
Kilbourne said a dream for the congregation is for it to be known for the good things it does in God’s name. The church has a feeding ministry on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
He wants Jacksonville known for the good things that are happening with the school district and its growth and that the church plays a part in helping to make that happen.
Leader staff writer
The Jacksonville First United Methodist Church has a new pastor. Rev. Nathan Kilbourne has been at the church for three weeks listening to the needs of the congregation and the community.
Kilbourne, 31, was born in Chattanooga, Tenn., and grew up in Johnson City, Tenn.
He went to Emory in Atlanta and Henry College in Virginia, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in religion and psychology. He earned a master’s of divinity degree at Duke University in North Carolina in 2009.
Kilbourne’s father, grandfather, brother and an uncle are members of the United Methodist Church clergy. He said God called him into ministry while a college student.
While at Duke, he met his wife, Lynn. She is a pastor at North Little Rock First United Methodist Church. They have been married for seven years. They have a 20-month-old daughter, Eleanor.
Kilbourne moved to Arkansas in 2009. He served churches in west Little Rock and most recently was minister at the Vilonia United Methodist Church for three years. He was there when the city was hit by a second tornado in three years in 2014.
“I learned there are really good people in the world. When the tornado was on the ground there were people already waiting to come into the community and help. It restored a lot of faith in humanity. We were inundated for months with people willing to lend a hand. I learned how strong a community can be. People never gave up hope. The church building was destroyed, but the church’s hope was not. Center Point Freewill Baptist Church opened their doors for us. We then met in a little trailer on the site until the building was rebuilt. It was amazing to watch people come together to care for one other,” Kilbourne said.
Kilbourne is still learning about the Jacksonville community and the church.
“My hopes and dreams are for our church to become a vital part of the community’s continued growth. We want to be a church that helps the new school system. We’ve been talking about ways to do that. Last weekend we were at (former) North Pulaski High School weed-eating, trying to get it cleaned up for the middle school students. This church believes this is our community, and they want to see it thrive. As people of faith, we believe that we are called to love our neighbor and for our community to do its best,” Kilbourne said.
“For those on the edge of the community who don’t have a lot, that struggle, we want to help build them up. For those who don’t know that God loves them, we want to share that message. For those who don’t have a place, we want to be a home where they can come, grow their faith and know they are cared for and loved. God wants to make even this community a sign of goodness in our world,” he said.
Kilbourne said a dream for the congregation is for it to be known for the good things it does in God’s name. The church has a feeding ministry on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
He wants Jacksonville known for the good things that are happening with the school district and its growth and that the church plays a part in helping to make that happen.
TOP STORY >> Trump seen as quitting
By GARRICK FELDMAN
Leader executive editor
Prominent Republicans are pressing Donald Trump to abandon his run for the presidency and let Michael Pence, his running mate, take over the top spot as the GOP standard bearer falls further behind Hillary Clinton with just 90 days to go till the election.
Trump has dropped at least 10 points in the polls since the party conventions as most Americans, including 50 Republican national-security experts, question his qualifications to lead our nation.
On Monday, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced she will not endorse Trump. She joins dozens of other Republican leaders, including Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who oppose their party’s nominee.
Trump has fallen so far behind, the authoritative 538 polling website gives Hillary Clinton an 83 percent chance of victory — and he is seen as dragging down Senate and House candidates in the fall.
But beyond the disastrous polling for Trump, knowledgeable Republicans realize he is unfit to serve because of his temperament, ignorance of the issues, questionable business dealings, not to mention his close ties to the Kremlin and the Russian criminal underworld.
Some 50 prominent former national security experts who served under both Presidents Bush issued a warning Monday that electing Trump would put our nation at risk. They said “he would be the most reckless president in American history.”
The signers, who include Michael V. Hayden, former director of the C.I.A. and the National Security Agency, and John D. Negroponte, the first director of national intelligence and deputy secretary of state, said Trump “lacks the character, values and experience” to be president. Their letter said he “would put at risk our country’s national security and well-being.”
Other signatories include Robert B. Zoellick, another former deputy secretary of state, United States trade representative and president of the World Bank. Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff, two former secretaries of Homeland Security, also signed the statement.
The signatories say Trump has “demonstrated repeatedly that he has little understanding” of the nation’s “vital national interests, its complex diplomatic challenges, its indispensable alliances and the democratic values….Mr. Trump has shown no interest in educating himself.”
They said they could not vote for Trump, although some of them now support Clinton. One of the signers told The New York Times they all “agree Trump is not qualified and would be dangerous.”
These national-security experts, who know Trump is the most pro-Russian candidate since the Second World War, were alarmed when he asked the Russians to hack Clinton’s emails. Trump’s close ties to Vladimir Putin raises suspicions not only among these experts but all Americans who remember the Cold War.
“He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood,” the letter continued. “He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. All of these are dangerous qualities in an individual who aspires to be president and commander in chief, with command of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.”
Talk about out of control: On Tuesday, Trump told his followers that if Clinton wins and picks her own judges, “Nothing you can do, folks.”
The crowd booed. “Although the Second Amendment people — maybe there is,” the presidential candidate said, hinting that sometimes you have to choose between ballots and bullets. It’s the kind of threat Putin would understand.
Former CIA Director Michael Morell, who last week endorsed Clinton, calls Trump an “unwitting agent” of Russia, not only because Trump and Putin have formed a mutual-admiration society, but also because Trump’s advisers are close to the Kremlin and have made millions off business investments and consulting in eastern Europe.
This Russian connection may be why Trump won’t release his tax returns.
Retired Gen. Michael Flynn, a national-security adviser to Trump, sat with Putin at an anniversary dinner for Russia Today, a crude propaganda TV channel run by the Kremlin.
Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign manager, has been a paid adviser to tyrants around the world, including former Ukrainian dictator Victor Yanukovich, who fled to Russia after he was overthrown in 2002; Carter Page, Trump’s foreign-policy adviser, is a major investor in Gazprom, the Russian energy giant. Frank Mermoud is another adviser with business interests in Ukraine and Russia.
Trump’s advisers deleted a reference in the Republican platform that called for arming Ukraine against Russian aggression. Trump thinks Putin has no ambitions toward Ukraine, unaware that Russia grabbed Crimea that was once part of Ukraine.
Trump can read the polls and could drop out at any time, unless the Kremlin tells their unwitting agent to stay the course.
Leader executive editor
Prominent Republicans are pressing Donald Trump to abandon his run for the presidency and let Michael Pence, his running mate, take over the top spot as the GOP standard bearer falls further behind Hillary Clinton with just 90 days to go till the election.
Trump has dropped at least 10 points in the polls since the party conventions as most Americans, including 50 Republican national-security experts, question his qualifications to lead our nation.
On Monday, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced she will not endorse Trump. She joins dozens of other Republican leaders, including Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.), who oppose their party’s nominee.
Trump has fallen so far behind, the authoritative 538 polling website gives Hillary Clinton an 83 percent chance of victory — and he is seen as dragging down Senate and House candidates in the fall.
But beyond the disastrous polling for Trump, knowledgeable Republicans realize he is unfit to serve because of his temperament, ignorance of the issues, questionable business dealings, not to mention his close ties to the Kremlin and the Russian criminal underworld.
Some 50 prominent former national security experts who served under both Presidents Bush issued a warning Monday that electing Trump would put our nation at risk. They said “he would be the most reckless president in American history.”
The signers, who include Michael V. Hayden, former director of the C.I.A. and the National Security Agency, and John D. Negroponte, the first director of national intelligence and deputy secretary of state, said Trump “lacks the character, values and experience” to be president. Their letter said he “would put at risk our country’s national security and well-being.”
Other signatories include Robert B. Zoellick, another former deputy secretary of state, United States trade representative and president of the World Bank. Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff, two former secretaries of Homeland Security, also signed the statement.
The signatories say Trump has “demonstrated repeatedly that he has little understanding” of the nation’s “vital national interests, its complex diplomatic challenges, its indispensable alliances and the democratic values….Mr. Trump has shown no interest in educating himself.”
They said they could not vote for Trump, although some of them now support Clinton. One of the signers told The New York Times they all “agree Trump is not qualified and would be dangerous.”
These national-security experts, who know Trump is the most pro-Russian candidate since the Second World War, were alarmed when he asked the Russians to hack Clinton’s emails. Trump’s close ties to Vladimir Putin raises suspicions not only among these experts but all Americans who remember the Cold War.
“He is unable or unwilling to separate truth from falsehood,” the letter continued. “He does not encourage conflicting views. He lacks self-control and acts impetuously. He cannot tolerate personal criticism. He has alarmed our closest allies with his erratic behavior. All of these are dangerous qualities in an individual who aspires to be president and commander in chief, with command of the U.S. nuclear arsenal.”
Talk about out of control: On Tuesday, Trump told his followers that if Clinton wins and picks her own judges, “Nothing you can do, folks.”
The crowd booed. “Although the Second Amendment people — maybe there is,” the presidential candidate said, hinting that sometimes you have to choose between ballots and bullets. It’s the kind of threat Putin would understand.
Former CIA Director Michael Morell, who last week endorsed Clinton, calls Trump an “unwitting agent” of Russia, not only because Trump and Putin have formed a mutual-admiration society, but also because Trump’s advisers are close to the Kremlin and have made millions off business investments and consulting in eastern Europe.
This Russian connection may be why Trump won’t release his tax returns.
Retired Gen. Michael Flynn, a national-security adviser to Trump, sat with Putin at an anniversary dinner for Russia Today, a crude propaganda TV channel run by the Kremlin.
Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign manager, has been a paid adviser to tyrants around the world, including former Ukrainian dictator Victor Yanukovich, who fled to Russia after he was overthrown in 2002; Carter Page, Trump’s foreign-policy adviser, is a major investor in Gazprom, the Russian energy giant. Frank Mermoud is another adviser with business interests in Ukraine and Russia.
Trump’s advisers deleted a reference in the Republican platform that called for arming Ukraine against Russian aggression. Trump thinks Putin has no ambitions toward Ukraine, unaware that Russia grabbed Crimea that was once part of Ukraine.
Trump can read the polls and could drop out at any time, unless the Kremlin tells their unwitting agent to stay the course.
TOP STORY >> Kickoff for new district
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
“If we can build children now, we won’t have to repair them as adults,” motivational speaker Keith Brown told teachers, staff and administrators of the new Jacksonville school district in a two-hour high-energy pump-you-up session Monday morning to kick off the birth of the district.
“Here at JNPSD we want to set high standards. We want young people to come in as students and leave as scholars. We don’t want them to shout ‘Pig Sooie’ as a fan, we want them to shout it because they are attending that university,” a pumped up Brown declared.
The dancing, singing, standing, cheering event ended with Brown getting 10 district members, including deputy superintendents Jeremy Owohand Bryan Duffie lifting Superintendent Tony Wood high in the sky as a metaphor for how the district will rise above all the other districts in the area and state.
Brown, from Atlanta, Ga., was a special education student growing up and now calls himself a specialty speaker and one who believes you can move from the impossible to the possible. Brown told the audience that 30, 20, 10 years ago that many thought the day of a new district was impossible “but here we are showing how it is possible.”
Brown told the crowd that all students are at various levels of at-risk and that every one of them are also gifted and talented in their own way.
He said the district team was there at McArthur Assembly of God Church to celebrate their independence after more than 30 years of effort. “Moses carried a staff — you are a team, not a staff, remember that.”
“We want our scholars to keep their face in books and not on Facebook, we want them to choose reading over ringtones, textbooks over texting and instead of bling, bring focus on that graduation ring.”
Each school was introduced to cheers, as was central office and all other departments such as transportation, nutrition, security, maintenance, technology and nurses.
Teachers were told that Jacksonville will be one of about 70 school districts in the state to offer free breakfast and lunch to every student.
“Kids are going to benefit like never before,” Brown exclaimed, “We are going to be so good that parents are going to want to be with their kids to be in your classroom.”
“We will no longer have students looking at a sentence before they can write one. We are going to cultivate, motivate and nurture,” Brown shouted out as one of his many upbeat phrases.
“We will go from remedial to remarkable.”
Admitting that he might be stepping on a few toes, he made some strong points. First he said that poverty was not a disability. “If you are in poverty you have two options: Either make it better or make it better.”
Brown also said teachers needed to look at color. “I’m not a proud man who is black, I’m a proud black man,” and pointing to a female teacher, “and you are a proud white woman.”
“Seeing color is not racist,” Brown said. “Love the skin you are in.” He added that teachers needed to see students as they are. Brown also emphasized there was no such thing as black English or white English only standard American English, which everyone needed to know to communicate effectively.”
Before having the district members lift the superintendent, he told the teachers to “laugh with math, have an alliance with science, be a buddy with social studies and have a heart.”
School board member Jim Moore said this is the first time a gathering like this has been held for all teachers in Jacksonville.
Leader staff writer
“If we can build children now, we won’t have to repair them as adults,” motivational speaker Keith Brown told teachers, staff and administrators of the new Jacksonville school district in a two-hour high-energy pump-you-up session Monday morning to kick off the birth of the district.
“Here at JNPSD we want to set high standards. We want young people to come in as students and leave as scholars. We don’t want them to shout ‘Pig Sooie’ as a fan, we want them to shout it because they are attending that university,” a pumped up Brown declared.
The dancing, singing, standing, cheering event ended with Brown getting 10 district members, including deputy superintendents Jeremy Owohand Bryan Duffie lifting Superintendent Tony Wood high in the sky as a metaphor for how the district will rise above all the other districts in the area and state.
Brown, from Atlanta, Ga., was a special education student growing up and now calls himself a specialty speaker and one who believes you can move from the impossible to the possible. Brown told the audience that 30, 20, 10 years ago that many thought the day of a new district was impossible “but here we are showing how it is possible.”
Brown told the crowd that all students are at various levels of at-risk and that every one of them are also gifted and talented in their own way.
He said the district team was there at McArthur Assembly of God Church to celebrate their independence after more than 30 years of effort. “Moses carried a staff — you are a team, not a staff, remember that.”
“We want our scholars to keep their face in books and not on Facebook, we want them to choose reading over ringtones, textbooks over texting and instead of bling, bring focus on that graduation ring.”
Each school was introduced to cheers, as was central office and all other departments such as transportation, nutrition, security, maintenance, technology and nurses.
Teachers were told that Jacksonville will be one of about 70 school districts in the state to offer free breakfast and lunch to every student.
“Kids are going to benefit like never before,” Brown exclaimed, “We are going to be so good that parents are going to want to be with their kids to be in your classroom.”
“We will no longer have students looking at a sentence before they can write one. We are going to cultivate, motivate and nurture,” Brown shouted out as one of his many upbeat phrases.
“We will go from remedial to remarkable.”
Admitting that he might be stepping on a few toes, he made some strong points. First he said that poverty was not a disability. “If you are in poverty you have two options: Either make it better or make it better.”
Brown also said teachers needed to look at color. “I’m not a proud man who is black, I’m a proud black man,” and pointing to a female teacher, “and you are a proud white woman.”
“Seeing color is not racist,” Brown said. “Love the skin you are in.” He added that teachers needed to see students as they are. Brown also emphasized there was no such thing as black English or white English only standard American English, which everyone needed to know to communicate effectively.”
Before having the district members lift the superintendent, he told the teachers to “laugh with math, have an alliance with science, be a buddy with social studies and have a heart.”
School board member Jim Moore said this is the first time a gathering like this has been held for all teachers in Jacksonville.
SPORTS STORY >> Defense dominant in Bear scrimmage
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Sylvan Hills football went full tilt scrimmage in a 6 a.m. practice Tuesday, and the defense was impressive. The offense was without starting quarterback Jordan Washington, just as a safety precaution, so that played into the defense’s dominance. Bears’ head coach and offensive coordinator Jim Withrow mixed praise for his defense with disappointment in his offense.
“That was probably the best scrimmage our defense has had since I’ve been here,” said Withrow after practice. “As far as enthusiasm and aggressiveness, and hitting somebody, that’s probably the best I’ve ever seen it.
“Jordan wasn’t out there and that was part of it, but we made some mistakes on offense we shouldn’t be making. That was disappointing. We got better at the end when we went goal line, but we have to be better than that. We have to be.”
One key problem for the offense was getting the snap. There were some bad snaps, dropped snaps, and miscues on the snap count. The defense forced several fumbles and covered some of the snap fumbles.
Inside linebacker Eric Givens was all over the field. He broke through the line of scrimmage on a running play and knocked the handoff out of quarterback Ryan Lumpkin’s hand before he could make the exchange with running back Jamar Porter. On another occasion, Givens dropped back into coverage and picked off an out pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.
Safeties Darius Wadell and Cameron Flippo were solid in coverage as well.
Lumpkin completed one long pass to Jamar Lane, who added another 20 yards after the carry. From the 10-yard line, he hit Peyton Terry for a touchdown on a fade to the back left corner of the end zone.
The Bears did goal line drills at the end of the scrimmage, and the offense found some success running the ball up the middle. Porter and Deion Youngblood each scored touchdowns breaking tackles between the hash marks.
The junior varsity squads took a third of the snaps in scrimmage, and running back Malik Bean proved difficult to bring down on a couple of touchdown runs. Bean broke three tackles before breaking loose for a 50-yard scoring run. He later fought through a series of tacklers to turn a short yardage situation into about a 15-yard gain on another play.
After two more weeks of practice, Sylvan Hills’ annual Blue-White game will be Aug. 19, and the Bears will scrimmage at Greenbrier on Aug. 22.
Leader sports editor
Sylvan Hills football went full tilt scrimmage in a 6 a.m. practice Tuesday, and the defense was impressive. The offense was without starting quarterback Jordan Washington, just as a safety precaution, so that played into the defense’s dominance. Bears’ head coach and offensive coordinator Jim Withrow mixed praise for his defense with disappointment in his offense.
“That was probably the best scrimmage our defense has had since I’ve been here,” said Withrow after practice. “As far as enthusiasm and aggressiveness, and hitting somebody, that’s probably the best I’ve ever seen it.
“Jordan wasn’t out there and that was part of it, but we made some mistakes on offense we shouldn’t be making. That was disappointing. We got better at the end when we went goal line, but we have to be better than that. We have to be.”
One key problem for the offense was getting the snap. There were some bad snaps, dropped snaps, and miscues on the snap count. The defense forced several fumbles and covered some of the snap fumbles.
Inside linebacker Eric Givens was all over the field. He broke through the line of scrimmage on a running play and knocked the handoff out of quarterback Ryan Lumpkin’s hand before he could make the exchange with running back Jamar Porter. On another occasion, Givens dropped back into coverage and picked off an out pass and returned it 35 yards for a touchdown.
Safeties Darius Wadell and Cameron Flippo were solid in coverage as well.
Lumpkin completed one long pass to Jamar Lane, who added another 20 yards after the carry. From the 10-yard line, he hit Peyton Terry for a touchdown on a fade to the back left corner of the end zone.
The Bears did goal line drills at the end of the scrimmage, and the offense found some success running the ball up the middle. Porter and Deion Youngblood each scored touchdowns breaking tackles between the hash marks.
The junior varsity squads took a third of the snaps in scrimmage, and running back Malik Bean proved difficult to bring down on a couple of touchdown runs. Bean broke three tackles before breaking loose for a 50-yard scoring run. He later fought through a series of tacklers to turn a short yardage situation into about a 15-yard gain on another play.
After two more weeks of practice, Sylvan Hills’ annual Blue-White game will be Aug. 19, and the Bears will scrimmage at Greenbrier on Aug. 22.
SPORTS STORY >> Titan volleyball gets enthusiam from new coach
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
A lot has changed for Jacksonville athletics since the advent of the new school district. With change comes an adjustment period, but one group that is used to change may be finding some stability.
The Lady Titan volleyball team will have its fourth head coach in as many years, but Savannah Jacoby has designs on ending that, as she takes over in her first head-coaching position and leads the program in its first year of district independence.
Jacoby was previously the assistant coach at Mills for one year. Before that she was a club coach in Hot Springs and Little Rock. As a high school star in Texas, she went on to play two years of college volleyball at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia before suffering a career ending back injury her sophomore season.
She transferred her enthusiasm for the game to coaching, and is aiming to build a strong and competitive program at Jacksonville.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to become a head coach my second year of teaching,” said Jacoby. “I was told about the opening and encouraged to apply. I didn’t even expect to get an interview, but I got one. I didn’t expect to be offered the job, but I was offered. It happened so fast. I was hesitant, but I prayed about it. My family was so supportive, telling me, ‘this is what you’ve always wanted, so why not do it’. And I’m so thankful that I did. I really think I have a very special group of girls.”
Jacoby held tryouts two weeks before the end of last school year, and has implemented a rigorous offseason schedule that the players have embraced.
After the dead period, June was mostly voluntary workouts, but that changed in July.
“We really hit the ground running with two-a-days,” Jacoby said. “We had 10 practices in a week, morning and evening. Everyone was there, every single time, and they haven’t complained about it. They’re ready to go, ready to play. They are so hungry for success and want to build a program here. I was so hoping to have a group of girls that would want to learn and work hard, and I’m so thankful that I have that.”
While players are adjusting to another new coach, Jacoby is adjusting as well. Club players are usually very experienced players with goals of playing in college. Jacksonville has a few that have played club volleyball, but most others didn’t start until middle school or later, and only play school ball.
“It’s definitely a different challenge, but it’s great to have these girls that are so eager to learn. I have a passion for this game, to share my knowledge and hopefully get some of these girls to fall in love with the game I fell in love with.”
While the team may be short on experience, it has its upside.
“I would definitely say it’s an athletic team,” Jacoby said. “There are some really good athletes out there. I don’t know how many of them have played together, but they are very talented and very coachable, and that’s also very important.”
Jacoby didn’t know much about what Jacksonville had coming back this year. She coached against them twice last season, but that team had several seniors. She decided not knowing was better.
“I didn’t look at a roster from last year because I didn’t want to know any of that,” Jacoby said. “I wanted to start with a clean slate and find the players I thought I could work with.”
The high school team has 23 players, with 10 on the varsity squad and 13 on JV.
“I’m especially excited about the athletes on the varsity team,” Jacoby said. “There’s a lot of potential there, and as hard as they are working, I think they can do something special and start laying the foundation for a successful program.”
The entire high school staff is new. Jacoby is joined on the varsity staff by assistant coach Jamie Briggs. Erica Harrod heads the ninth-grade team and Carmela Moore will help with that group.
“It’s also such a blessing to have the opportunity to hire my own assistants because I know it’s not usually that way,” Jacoby said. “This was a rare opportunity here with the new district. Coach (Jerry Wilson) let me be in on the interview process and have some say in that, and I’m very excited about our new staff as well.”
Jacksonville’s first match is Aug. 22 at Greenbrier. The first home game is Aug. 23 against Episcopal.
Leader sports editor
A lot has changed for Jacksonville athletics since the advent of the new school district. With change comes an adjustment period, but one group that is used to change may be finding some stability.
The Lady Titan volleyball team will have its fourth head coach in as many years, but Savannah Jacoby has designs on ending that, as she takes over in her first head-coaching position and leads the program in its first year of district independence.
Jacoby was previously the assistant coach at Mills for one year. Before that she was a club coach in Hot Springs and Little Rock. As a high school star in Texas, she went on to play two years of college volleyball at Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia before suffering a career ending back injury her sophomore season.
She transferred her enthusiasm for the game to coaching, and is aiming to build a strong and competitive program at Jacksonville.
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to become a head coach my second year of teaching,” said Jacoby. “I was told about the opening and encouraged to apply. I didn’t even expect to get an interview, but I got one. I didn’t expect to be offered the job, but I was offered. It happened so fast. I was hesitant, but I prayed about it. My family was so supportive, telling me, ‘this is what you’ve always wanted, so why not do it’. And I’m so thankful that I did. I really think I have a very special group of girls.”
Jacoby held tryouts two weeks before the end of last school year, and has implemented a rigorous offseason schedule that the players have embraced.
After the dead period, June was mostly voluntary workouts, but that changed in July.
“We really hit the ground running with two-a-days,” Jacoby said. “We had 10 practices in a week, morning and evening. Everyone was there, every single time, and they haven’t complained about it. They’re ready to go, ready to play. They are so hungry for success and want to build a program here. I was so hoping to have a group of girls that would want to learn and work hard, and I’m so thankful that I have that.”
While players are adjusting to another new coach, Jacoby is adjusting as well. Club players are usually very experienced players with goals of playing in college. Jacksonville has a few that have played club volleyball, but most others didn’t start until middle school or later, and only play school ball.
“It’s definitely a different challenge, but it’s great to have these girls that are so eager to learn. I have a passion for this game, to share my knowledge and hopefully get some of these girls to fall in love with the game I fell in love with.”
While the team may be short on experience, it has its upside.
“I would definitely say it’s an athletic team,” Jacoby said. “There are some really good athletes out there. I don’t know how many of them have played together, but they are very talented and very coachable, and that’s also very important.”
Jacoby didn’t know much about what Jacksonville had coming back this year. She coached against them twice last season, but that team had several seniors. She decided not knowing was better.
“I didn’t look at a roster from last year because I didn’t want to know any of that,” Jacoby said. “I wanted to start with a clean slate and find the players I thought I could work with.”
The high school team has 23 players, with 10 on the varsity squad and 13 on JV.
“I’m especially excited about the athletes on the varsity team,” Jacoby said. “There’s a lot of potential there, and as hard as they are working, I think they can do something special and start laying the foundation for a successful program.”
The entire high school staff is new. Jacoby is joined on the varsity staff by assistant coach Jamie Briggs. Erica Harrod heads the ninth-grade team and Carmela Moore will help with that group.
“It’s also such a blessing to have the opportunity to hire my own assistants because I know it’s not usually that way,” Jacoby said. “This was a rare opportunity here with the new district. Coach (Jerry Wilson) let me be in on the interview process and have some say in that, and I’m very excited about our new staff as well.”
Jacksonville’s first match is Aug. 22 at Greenbrier. The first home game is Aug. 23 against Episcopal.
SPORTS STORY >> Henderson after history
By RAY BENTONLeader sports editor
Al Joyner, the 1984 Olympic triple jump champion and coach of U.S. long jump champion Jeff Henderson, is expecting greatness to emerge this weekend in the men’s long jump at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He also thinks his pupil, Henderson, a native of McAlmont, will be atop the podium when medals are handed out.
The preliminary round begins Friday morning, with finals set for Saturday afternoon.
Henderson already won an historic U.S. championship and Olympic trials last month, and is among the favorites in a very strong field to win Olympic Gold.
“Jeff has always been an extremely good worker with tremendous ability to focus,” Joyner told The Leader from his home in California on Monday. “But I’ve never seen him so focused. I go down there tomorrow, and I’ve been talking with him. It’s clear to me, he has not finished what he set out to do. That Olympic gold medal has been on his mind for three years, and he’s determined now to go get it.”
The American field of long jumpers is stronger than ever before, as evidenced by the results of this year’s trials in Eugene Ore. It was the first time three competitors cleared 28 feet in the same competition, with Henderson’s 28-2 1/4 topping them all. But that’s not all. The top seven finishers jumped distances that would’ve won the Olympic gold medal in 2012.
“That right there is the statistic that tells you how strong the American jumpers are right now,” Joyner said from his home in California on Monday. “That is an amazing stat. Seven guys jumped far enough to win gold four years ago, and four of them had to stay home. I think these guys are going to push each other into realms never before seen, and I think Jeff is the most talented one of the group.”
Greg Rutherford of Great Britain is the defending Olympic champion. He won as the hometown crowd favorite in London in 2012 with a jump of 27-feet, 2 3/4 inches.
The world record is one of the oldest at 25 years old, set by Mike Powell in the 1991 world championships at 29-feet, 4 1/4 inches that year in Tokyo.
Joyner not only believes that record is in danger, but thinks something previously unheard of could happen.
“I would not be surprised if we saw 30 feet,” Joyner said. “The British jumper is a great jumper and there are a few others around in other counties, but the American team is something special. I think they definitely have it in them to go 1-2-3.
Henderson has a connection with both teammates. He and trials runner up Jarrion Lawson will both be representing Arkansas. Lawson’s hometown is Texarkana, Texas, but he was the NCAA long jump champion for the Arkansas Razorbacks this year.
Joyner competed in college for Arkansas State, and is familiar with the strength of the Razorback program.
“Arkansas has a legendary track program and everybody wants to go to Arkansas to be among the best,” Joyner said. “But to be best, you got to be from there. Jeff is Arkansas. He’s the real deal.”
Mike Hartfield is a current teammate of Henderson with Joyner’s jump club. Hartfield finished fourth in the trials, but third-place finisher Marquise Dendy suffered an injury and will not compete in the Olympics.
Joyner says that’s going to be an advantage for Henderson and Hartfield.
“I think it will help them relax,” Joyner said. “They’ll be out there jumping with their training partner, so it’ll be like practice. I think it will definitely help take some of the pressure off.”
Like the week of the trials, Henderson declined to be interviewed so he could maintain focus on jumping only, but as an Olympic champion himself, Joyner shed some light on what Henderson experienced during opening ceremonies Friday evening.
“I tried to prepare him for that, told him to relax because he would be on his feet a long time,” Joyner said. “Beyond that, though, that opening ceremony is really the final thing that says, ‘this is not a dream anymore.’ This is it. It is here and now. It also brings home the point that you’re not just there for yourself anymore either. You have a deeper understanding of what that American flag means to you, and gives you a strong sense of that; I’m about to do something that’s bigger than myself. It really impacts you in that way, and I thank God I live in the USA.”
Joyner was not only a champion athlete, he also coached a champion in his late wife Florence Griffith-Joyner, who still holds the women’s 200-meter world record she set in 1988. Joyner has said before that Henderson is the same type of elite athlete that his wife was, and he reiterated that on Monday.
“I’m flying down there tomorrow and we’re going to start preparation,” Joyner said. “The last person I put on that podium was a legend. By the time it’s all said and done, the second one I put up there might have done something legendary, too.”
Al Joyner, the 1984 Olympic triple jump champion and coach of U.S. long jump champion Jeff Henderson, is expecting greatness to emerge this weekend in the men’s long jump at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. He also thinks his pupil, Henderson, a native of McAlmont, will be atop the podium when medals are handed out.
The preliminary round begins Friday morning, with finals set for Saturday afternoon.
Henderson already won an historic U.S. championship and Olympic trials last month, and is among the favorites in a very strong field to win Olympic Gold.
“Jeff has always been an extremely good worker with tremendous ability to focus,” Joyner told The Leader from his home in California on Monday. “But I’ve never seen him so focused. I go down there tomorrow, and I’ve been talking with him. It’s clear to me, he has not finished what he set out to do. That Olympic gold medal has been on his mind for three years, and he’s determined now to go get it.”
The American field of long jumpers is stronger than ever before, as evidenced by the results of this year’s trials in Eugene Ore. It was the first time three competitors cleared 28 feet in the same competition, with Henderson’s 28-2 1/4 topping them all. But that’s not all. The top seven finishers jumped distances that would’ve won the Olympic gold medal in 2012.
“That right there is the statistic that tells you how strong the American jumpers are right now,” Joyner said from his home in California on Monday. “That is an amazing stat. Seven guys jumped far enough to win gold four years ago, and four of them had to stay home. I think these guys are going to push each other into realms never before seen, and I think Jeff is the most talented one of the group.”
Greg Rutherford of Great Britain is the defending Olympic champion. He won as the hometown crowd favorite in London in 2012 with a jump of 27-feet, 2 3/4 inches.
The world record is one of the oldest at 25 years old, set by Mike Powell in the 1991 world championships at 29-feet, 4 1/4 inches that year in Tokyo.
Joyner not only believes that record is in danger, but thinks something previously unheard of could happen.
“I would not be surprised if we saw 30 feet,” Joyner said. “The British jumper is a great jumper and there are a few others around in other counties, but the American team is something special. I think they definitely have it in them to go 1-2-3.
Henderson has a connection with both teammates. He and trials runner up Jarrion Lawson will both be representing Arkansas. Lawson’s hometown is Texarkana, Texas, but he was the NCAA long jump champion for the Arkansas Razorbacks this year.
Joyner competed in college for Arkansas State, and is familiar with the strength of the Razorback program.
“Arkansas has a legendary track program and everybody wants to go to Arkansas to be among the best,” Joyner said. “But to be best, you got to be from there. Jeff is Arkansas. He’s the real deal.”
Mike Hartfield is a current teammate of Henderson with Joyner’s jump club. Hartfield finished fourth in the trials, but third-place finisher Marquise Dendy suffered an injury and will not compete in the Olympics.
Joyner says that’s going to be an advantage for Henderson and Hartfield.
“I think it will help them relax,” Joyner said. “They’ll be out there jumping with their training partner, so it’ll be like practice. I think it will definitely help take some of the pressure off.”
Like the week of the trials, Henderson declined to be interviewed so he could maintain focus on jumping only, but as an Olympic champion himself, Joyner shed some light on what Henderson experienced during opening ceremonies Friday evening.
“I tried to prepare him for that, told him to relax because he would be on his feet a long time,” Joyner said. “Beyond that, though, that opening ceremony is really the final thing that says, ‘this is not a dream anymore.’ This is it. It is here and now. It also brings home the point that you’re not just there for yourself anymore either. You have a deeper understanding of what that American flag means to you, and gives you a strong sense of that; I’m about to do something that’s bigger than myself. It really impacts you in that way, and I thank God I live in the USA.”
Joyner was not only a champion athlete, he also coached a champion in his late wife Florence Griffith-Joyner, who still holds the women’s 200-meter world record she set in 1988. Joyner has said before that Henderson is the same type of elite athlete that his wife was, and he reiterated that on Monday.
“I’m flying down there tomorrow and we’re going to start preparation,” Joyner said. “The last person I put on that podium was a legend. By the time it’s all said and done, the second one I put up there might have done something legendary, too.”
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