By DEBORAH HORN
Leader staff writer
So far, it has been a summer of unprecedented violence, but local law-enforcement officers and other government officials are standing with their brothers and sisters in blue—and mourning those who paid the ultimate price in the line of duty.
It was nearly two weeks ago that millions watched in horror as events near Dallas’ Daly Plaza unfolded. A shooter took aim at the Dallas police officers who were protecting Black Lives Matters protesters.
Even as a hail of bullets rained down that Thursday night, officers ushered protectors and others to safety—there were reports of heroism, like officers surrounding and shielding one civilian, who had already taken a bullet to her leg, from taking even more gunfire.
They managed to get Shetamia Taylor into a car while under direct fire and to a nearby hospital.
It was reported that the police cars rolled in again and again into emergency bays that night, running on rims and riddled with bullet holes. By the time the sun rose Friday morning, five Dallas officers were dead and another nine were wounded. The shooter lay dead in a parking garage.
In a few short hours on July 7, the department lost Dallas police Cpl. Lorne Ahrens, Officer Michael Krol, Sgt. Michael Smith, Officer Patrick Zamarripa, and DART (Dallas Area Rapid Transit) Officer Brent Thompson.
Before the Dallas Police Department and the country could finish paying their respects to the officers, Baton Rouge Police Department officers came under fire on July 17.
There, three officers were killed and another three were wounded. Like in Dallas, the shooter had a military background and was killed by officers.
The dead Baton Rouge Police Department officers included Montrell Jackson, Brad Garafola and Matthew Gerald.
PULASKI COUNTY
In light of the murder of the Dallas area police officers, Sheriff Doc Holladay stated, “On behalf of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Office and the citizens of Pulaski County, we offer our sincere condolences to the Dallas Area Rapid Transit Police Department and the Dallas Police Department in the loss of their officers. These officers gave their lives doing what they were called to do and we as a community must support their families and those of law enforcement officers throughout this great nation.”
JACKSONVILLE
Mayor Gary Fletcher said he is in constant contact with the city’s Chief of Police Kenny Boyd.
“It’s a dangerous job and I am concerned about our officers’ safety and their mental mindset, as well as that of their families. This was a lawless event done in the name of justice. We have to remember to honor the heroes and not glorify the bad guys,” Fletcher said.
The Jacksonville police chief released this statement to the community:
“First and foremost, our hearts and prayers go out to the Baton Rouge Police Department and the East Baton Rouge Sheriff’s Department. The Law Enforcement Family has taken a big hit these past few weeks.
“The Jacksonville Police Department has been overwhelmed with support from our community. The phone calls, comments, and just genuine display of kindness that we have received from the citizens of Jacksonville have been tremendous.
The Jacksonville Police Department has internally increased our outreach for our officers along with their families utilizing several resources. I will not discuss any changes that we have or have not made to protocol for the safety of our officers.
“We are on heightened alert and will continue to provide our citizens with the protection and service that they are accustomed to and that they deserve. Please continue to keep the first responders across this nation in your thoughts and prayers. I encourage any citizen of Jacksonville to please contact me if they should have any questions regarding the officers or Jacksonville Police Department.”
CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT
The Jacksonville Police Department offers many programs throughout the year that encourages residents to be involved and get to know the officers. The Citizen Police Academy is one of those opportunities to learn firsthand the day-to-day operations of the Police Department.
The eight-week program showcases the different aspects of law enforcement including community policing, criminal investigations, patrol duties, use of force and more.
Anyone interested in applying for the program must be able to pass a background check, have no felony convictions, have no misdemeanor convictions for one year and live or work within the Jacksonville city limits.
For more information, call JPD Officer J. Boyd at 501- 982-3191.
The Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce is hosting a civilian Active Shooter Seminar from 8 a.m. until noon Tuesday. For more information, call 501-982-1511.
CITIZEN POLICE
“The Jacksonville Citizens Police Alumni is praying everyday for the families of the fallen Dallas, Baton Rouge and other fallen police officers. We are standing by the Jacksonville Police Department and their families. We believe we have the best officers in the world,” a spokesman for the group said.
SHERWOOD
A Sherwood Police Department spokesman said, “It’s sad that it happened and we just hope that nothing else happens. Our prayers and thoughts go out the families of those officers and all the people effected by those incidents.”
The Sherwood Police Department has a variety of outreach programs, including one designed for kids, that can be found on its website, wwwsherwoodpolice.org. For more information, call Keith Wilson at 501-833-3568.
LONOKE
Lonoke Police Chief Patrick Mulligan said, “It saddens all of us in Lonoke and raises our awareness of how dangerous our jobs can be. It’s unfortunate it happened and those officers are on our minds, in our hearts and in our prayers.”
Around the department, Mulligan said his officers are talking about the recent events and that their families are deeply concerned. He has a son who works at the Sherwood Police Department and a second son that serves on the Cabot Police Department.
Still, he said, “We’re here to serve and represent the citizens and treat them well. We have a job to do but at the end of the day, we want to go home.”
For now and in light of recent events, the Lonoke Police Department has suspended its Ride Along Program.
LONOKE COUNTY
Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley said, “There are no words that can express our grief. Our country’s law enforcement officers are being targeted and ambushed. We are a family, and we have to be vigilant and work together.”
In Lonoke County, Staley said there have been no credible threats and the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office will “continue to do its job to the best of our ability every single day.”
The Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office offers a ride- along program for county residents who are interested. However, all applicants must pass a background and meet other requirements before acceptance to the program.
AUSTIN
Austin Mayor Bernie Chamberlain said, “It’s heartbreaking and it’s devastating and everyone in the Austin city government and at the Austin Police Department feel the loss.”
Austin Police Chief James Kulesa said, “When something happens like the recent events, it impacts officers anywhere. There are no words to describe these tragedies.”
WARD
Ward Mayor Mayor Art Brooke said the entire community is saddened by the tragedies in Dallas and Baton Rouge.
Tuesday, July 19, 2016
TOP STORY >> New era starting at 314th
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader senior staff writer
Col. Daniel A. DeVoe assumed command of the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base on Monday, with Maj. Gen. James B. Hecker officiating.
DeVoe replaces Col. James D. Dryjanski, who will serve as director of operations at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.
Hecker, commander of the 19th Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, said that DeVoe, a master navigator, started in maintenance and was first assigned to Little Rock Air Force Base in October 1999 as a student to qualify on the C-130, “never dreaming he might return some day as commander.”
“It’s wonderful to return to Little Rock,” DeVoe told the assembled airmen. “It’s a dream come true, taking command of such a distinguished organization.”
“Today is really all about you,” he told the airmen. “You are the foundation of C-130 tactical airlift, and the work we do together is as important as at any time in our history. There is no other place I’d rather be than here leading the historic 314th.”
DeVoe, who becomes the 60th commander of the 314th, had three consecutive assignments at Little Rock.
Between April 2003 and July 2005. He was senior evaluator navigator for the 50th Airlift Squadron, then deputy flight chief of the 463rd Airlift Group weapons and tactics, and in November 2004 he was promoted to flight commander.
He comes back to Little Rock from a stint as vice commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia.
After multiple maintenance positions and undergraduate navigator training, he held numerous flying assignments as a C-130 Adverse Weather Aerial Delivery System navigator, instructor, evaluator, Prime Nuclear Airlift Force navigator and C-130 weapons officer.
He logged more than 430 combat hours supporting operations in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria and served as the commander of the 570th Global Mobility Squadron, where he led a contingency-response squadron tasked to provide air base opening forces in both hostile and permissive environments.
He has served as an operations planner at U.S. Central Command as deputy executive officer, then as executive officer to the deputy commander.
DeVoe has a master’s degree from Harvard Kennedy School of Government in the Executive Education Program in Driving Government Perfor-mance and was an Air Force Fellow, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard.
Dryjanski, a command pilot with more than 3,900 flight hours in Air Force transports executing worldwide air mobility missions, commanded the 387th Air Expeditionary Group in Southwest Asia.
He has instructed at the National War College, teaching courses on leadership, national security and strategy to senior military, government and international officers.
He and his wife, Celeste, have been nominated for the Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley Award, recognizing the wing commander and spouse team whose contributions to the nation, Air Force and local community best exemplify the highest ideals and positive leadership of a military couple serving in a key Air Force position.
Hecker praised Dryjanski for creative leadership and problem solving. At the wing’s most recent readiness inspection, it received an overall rating of effective, with highly effective rating in the areas critical to mission readiness.
“These operators and maintainers are the best, and I’m proud of the unit and team success,” he said.
Under Dryjanski’s command, 2,300 C-130 crewmen from 47 countries, graduated from training at Little Rock with a 99 percent graduation rate.
“Jim has done a great job,” Hecker said.
The 314th Airlift Wing is transitioning to an all-C-130J wing with 13 Js and two more on the way.
Leader senior staff writer
Col. Daniel A. DeVoe assumed command of the 314th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base on Monday, with Maj. Gen. James B. Hecker officiating.
DeVoe replaces Col. James D. Dryjanski, who will serve as director of operations at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois.
Hecker, commander of the 19th Air Force, Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Texas, said that DeVoe, a master navigator, started in maintenance and was first assigned to Little Rock Air Force Base in October 1999 as a student to qualify on the C-130, “never dreaming he might return some day as commander.”
“It’s wonderful to return to Little Rock,” DeVoe told the assembled airmen. “It’s a dream come true, taking command of such a distinguished organization.”
“Today is really all about you,” he told the airmen. “You are the foundation of C-130 tactical airlift, and the work we do together is as important as at any time in our history. There is no other place I’d rather be than here leading the historic 314th.”
DeVoe, who becomes the 60th commander of the 314th, had three consecutive assignments at Little Rock.
Between April 2003 and July 2005. He was senior evaluator navigator for the 50th Airlift Squadron, then deputy flight chief of the 463rd Airlift Group weapons and tactics, and in November 2004 he was promoted to flight commander.
He comes back to Little Rock from a stint as vice commander of the 386th Air Expeditionary Wing, Southwest Asia.
After multiple maintenance positions and undergraduate navigator training, he held numerous flying assignments as a C-130 Adverse Weather Aerial Delivery System navigator, instructor, evaluator, Prime Nuclear Airlift Force navigator and C-130 weapons officer.
He logged more than 430 combat hours supporting operations in the Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria and served as the commander of the 570th Global Mobility Squadron, where he led a contingency-response squadron tasked to provide air base opening forces in both hostile and permissive environments.
He has served as an operations planner at U.S. Central Command as deputy executive officer, then as executive officer to the deputy commander.
DeVoe has a master’s degree from Harvard Kennedy School of Government in the Executive Education Program in Driving Government Perfor-mance and was an Air Force Fellow, Weatherhead Center for International Affairs at Harvard.
Dryjanski, a command pilot with more than 3,900 flight hours in Air Force transports executing worldwide air mobility missions, commanded the 387th Air Expeditionary Group in Southwest Asia.
He has instructed at the National War College, teaching courses on leadership, national security and strategy to senior military, government and international officers.
He and his wife, Celeste, have been nominated for the Gen. and Mrs. Jerome F. O’Malley Award, recognizing the wing commander and spouse team whose contributions to the nation, Air Force and local community best exemplify the highest ideals and positive leadership of a military couple serving in a key Air Force position.
Hecker praised Dryjanski for creative leadership and problem solving. At the wing’s most recent readiness inspection, it received an overall rating of effective, with highly effective rating in the areas critical to mission readiness.
“These operators and maintainers are the best, and I’m proud of the unit and team success,” he said.
Under Dryjanski’s command, 2,300 C-130 crewmen from 47 countries, graduated from training at Little Rock with a 99 percent graduation rate.
“Jim has done a great job,” Hecker said.
The 314th Airlift Wing is transitioning to an all-C-130J wing with 13 Js and two more on the way.
SPORTS STORY >> Defensive players stand out in third Cabot 7-on-7 meet
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
Cabot hosted its third of five 7-on-7 meets Monday afternoon at Panther Stadium, and the hosts continued to make plays on the offensive side of the ball, but some Panther defensive players also stood out.
None of the six teams competing Monday played perfectly, which can be expected this early in the 100 degree summer heat, but plays were made and some players on the Cabot defensive side of the ball have emerged as potential playmakers heading into fall practice next month.
“The kid that’s really sticking out to me is the Nickell kid (Spencer Nickell) at weak-side end,” said Cabot defensive coordinator Randy Black. “He’s doing a pretty good job. It’s a brand new position for him. He was a D-back last year – great kid, does everything you tell him to do, he’s working and he’s learning.”
Nickell had a nice highlight toward the end of the day, snagging an interception on J.A. Fair’s second-to-last offensive drive. Black has also been pleased with what he’s seen from his starting linebackers.
“The starting linebackers are solid,” Black said, “(Justin) Nabors and (Easton) Seidl. They’re real smart and, of course, Seidl is a three-year starter.”
Nabors, who broke his collarbone in the first game of the season last year against Conway, grabbed three interceptions Monday. Since the Panther coaching staff moved some defensive backs from a year ago to the front seven, these 7-on-7 meets are a good way for the Cabot defensive backs to show what they can do in coverage.
“We’ve got Kale Eddington back from last year, which is solid,” Black said. “Of course, we lost (Connor) Daigle during spring ball (to injury). We’re hoping he’ll be back in time for conference play. (Austin) Swackhammer, who played a lot last year, he’s doing good.
“The spot that we’re really trying to fill is our free safety spot. Evan Hooper, we’re really looking at him hard there. He hasn’t played in the last couple of years, but he’s got some skills.
“The 7-on-7 thing is basically where you’re working on fundamentals, because we see so much passing during the year. I’m pleased with the outcome so far.”
Cabot’s offense looked pretty crisp as well. Quarterback Jarrod Barnes continues to look more and more comfortable in what will be his third year as the starter. He made several nice passes, and his receivers, in turn, made several nice catches.
Barnes’ favorite target Monday was senior running back Austin Morse.
Morse was just one of several Cabot skill players, though, that contributed to the Panther offense’s success.
Lonoke coach Doug Bost thought his team showed a lot of progress at last week’s 7-on-7 meet, but the Jackrabbits didn’t have the same effort and energy at Monday’s meet, according to the head Jackrabbit.
“We came out here last week and I thought we looked great,” said Bost, “and today, we were kind of just going through the motions today. So no, I wasn’t happy with the effort.
“Did we do some good things, yeah, we did. But we’re not where we need to be, and we didn’t have the same energy and effort that we had out here last week.”
Most of Lonoke’s highlights Monday were on the offensive side of the ball. The Jackrabbits didn’t score on their first two drives against Cabot, but found the end zone on the third drive with a Logan Dozier pass to Isaac Toney on a 20-yard pass near the left hash mark.
Dozier then found Braidon Bryant in the back corner of the end zone for the 2-point conversion. Against Fair, Dozier connected with Bryant for a 30-yard score on the first Jackrabbit drive, and Bryant again caught the 2-point conversion.
The next big play for Lonoke was a Daniel Seigrist catch and run for a touchdown. Seigrist caught Dozier’s pass near the sideline, and outran the War Eagle secondary about 15 yards to the end zone. Again, Bryant caught the 2-point try.
The fourth of five 7-on-7 meets at Cabot High School will be today at 4 p.m.
Leader sportswriter
Cabot hosted its third of five 7-on-7 meets Monday afternoon at Panther Stadium, and the hosts continued to make plays on the offensive side of the ball, but some Panther defensive players also stood out.
None of the six teams competing Monday played perfectly, which can be expected this early in the 100 degree summer heat, but plays were made and some players on the Cabot defensive side of the ball have emerged as potential playmakers heading into fall practice next month.
“The kid that’s really sticking out to me is the Nickell kid (Spencer Nickell) at weak-side end,” said Cabot defensive coordinator Randy Black. “He’s doing a pretty good job. It’s a brand new position for him. He was a D-back last year – great kid, does everything you tell him to do, he’s working and he’s learning.”
Nickell had a nice highlight toward the end of the day, snagging an interception on J.A. Fair’s second-to-last offensive drive. Black has also been pleased with what he’s seen from his starting linebackers.
“The starting linebackers are solid,” Black said, “(Justin) Nabors and (Easton) Seidl. They’re real smart and, of course, Seidl is a three-year starter.”
Nabors, who broke his collarbone in the first game of the season last year against Conway, grabbed three interceptions Monday. Since the Panther coaching staff moved some defensive backs from a year ago to the front seven, these 7-on-7 meets are a good way for the Cabot defensive backs to show what they can do in coverage.
“We’ve got Kale Eddington back from last year, which is solid,” Black said. “Of course, we lost (Connor) Daigle during spring ball (to injury). We’re hoping he’ll be back in time for conference play. (Austin) Swackhammer, who played a lot last year, he’s doing good.
“The spot that we’re really trying to fill is our free safety spot. Evan Hooper, we’re really looking at him hard there. He hasn’t played in the last couple of years, but he’s got some skills.
“The 7-on-7 thing is basically where you’re working on fundamentals, because we see so much passing during the year. I’m pleased with the outcome so far.”
Cabot’s offense looked pretty crisp as well. Quarterback Jarrod Barnes continues to look more and more comfortable in what will be his third year as the starter. He made several nice passes, and his receivers, in turn, made several nice catches.
Barnes’ favorite target Monday was senior running back Austin Morse.
Morse was just one of several Cabot skill players, though, that contributed to the Panther offense’s success.
Lonoke coach Doug Bost thought his team showed a lot of progress at last week’s 7-on-7 meet, but the Jackrabbits didn’t have the same effort and energy at Monday’s meet, according to the head Jackrabbit.
“We came out here last week and I thought we looked great,” said Bost, “and today, we were kind of just going through the motions today. So no, I wasn’t happy with the effort.
“Did we do some good things, yeah, we did. But we’re not where we need to be, and we didn’t have the same energy and effort that we had out here last week.”
Most of Lonoke’s highlights Monday were on the offensive side of the ball. The Jackrabbits didn’t score on their first two drives against Cabot, but found the end zone on the third drive with a Logan Dozier pass to Isaac Toney on a 20-yard pass near the left hash mark.
Dozier then found Braidon Bryant in the back corner of the end zone for the 2-point conversion. Against Fair, Dozier connected with Bryant for a 30-yard score on the first Jackrabbit drive, and Bryant again caught the 2-point conversion.
The next big play for Lonoke was a Daniel Seigrist catch and run for a touchdown. Seigrist caught Dozier’s pass near the sideline, and outran the War Eagle secondary about 15 yards to the end zone. Again, Bryant caught the 2-point try.
The fourth of five 7-on-7 meets at Cabot High School will be today at 4 p.m.
SPORTS STORY >> Youthful Badgers learning
By RAY BENTON Leader sports editor
The Beebe football team has had a work-like summer, going through several team camps at Conway High School as well as its typical “Fast Badger” workout program.
The main quest for the Badgers since the end of last season has been replacing a large senior class, including the entire starting offensive backfield.
Priority number one for coach John Shannon’s base Dead-T offense is finding a way to replace 5,000-yard rusher Trip Smith, who graduated in May.
“I’m not really sure how you replace a guy like that,” said Shannon. “I’ve never had to do that before. We’re working a bunch of different kids in the backfield. Instead of one guy getting the ball all the time, it’ll probably be a whole bunch of different guys. Right now we have six working in the backfield, two at fullback and four different halfbacks. You don’t usually just replace a guy that ran for 5,000 yards and not miss a beat. Those guys don’t come around every year.”
In Beebe’s offense especially, a strong offensive line can make an average back very effective, and that is a place that the Badgers have some experience. Beebe will return four starters from last year’s offensive line, plus another that got considerable playing time. That leaves two positions to be filled by newcomers.
Last year’s freshmen team went 9-1 and brings a lot of athleticism to the varsity program this year, but inexperience has shown this summer. Shannon says the team’s offseason program has increased strength, especially in the numerous sophomores, but results at team camps have been mixed.
“At times we’ve looked pretty good and other times we look like we’re really young,” Shannon said. “The camps in June, I felt like we looked pretty good offensively. Then we went back over there last Wednesday and started making mental mistakes. We started off pretty well, but didn’t finish off very well at all.”
The Conway camps are a unique format in which each end of the field features one defense going against several teams’ offenses rotating each play. Shannon, who is also Beebe’s offensive coordinator, spends most of his time with the offense during camps, but says the camps have been good for his young players.
“Defenses are at a disadvantage anyway because they’re going against so many different offenses so fast,” Shannon said. “We’ve had times when we got caught in the wrong coverage because we didn’t recognize the formation. Eventually they’re going to get better and be all right in that aspect. The biggest thing is with being so young, we’re trying to get people strong enough and physical enough to get in there and play hard-nosed. It’s just a growing up process.”
Beebe has 52 players going through summer workouts, and 26 are sophomores.
The Beebe football team has had a work-like summer, going through several team camps at Conway High School as well as its typical “Fast Badger” workout program.
The main quest for the Badgers since the end of last season has been replacing a large senior class, including the entire starting offensive backfield.
Priority number one for coach John Shannon’s base Dead-T offense is finding a way to replace 5,000-yard rusher Trip Smith, who graduated in May.
“I’m not really sure how you replace a guy like that,” said Shannon. “I’ve never had to do that before. We’re working a bunch of different kids in the backfield. Instead of one guy getting the ball all the time, it’ll probably be a whole bunch of different guys. Right now we have six working in the backfield, two at fullback and four different halfbacks. You don’t usually just replace a guy that ran for 5,000 yards and not miss a beat. Those guys don’t come around every year.”
In Beebe’s offense especially, a strong offensive line can make an average back very effective, and that is a place that the Badgers have some experience. Beebe will return four starters from last year’s offensive line, plus another that got considerable playing time. That leaves two positions to be filled by newcomers.
Last year’s freshmen team went 9-1 and brings a lot of athleticism to the varsity program this year, but inexperience has shown this summer. Shannon says the team’s offseason program has increased strength, especially in the numerous sophomores, but results at team camps have been mixed.
“At times we’ve looked pretty good and other times we look like we’re really young,” Shannon said. “The camps in June, I felt like we looked pretty good offensively. Then we went back over there last Wednesday and started making mental mistakes. We started off pretty well, but didn’t finish off very well at all.”
The Conway camps are a unique format in which each end of the field features one defense going against several teams’ offenses rotating each play. Shannon, who is also Beebe’s offensive coordinator, spends most of his time with the offense during camps, but says the camps have been good for his young players.
“Defenses are at a disadvantage anyway because they’re going against so many different offenses so fast,” Shannon said. “We’ve had times when we got caught in the wrong coverage because we didn’t recognize the formation. Eventually they’re going to get better and be all right in that aspect. The biggest thing is with being so young, we’re trying to get people strong enough and physical enough to get in there and play hard-nosed. It’s just a growing up process.”
Beebe has 52 players going through summer workouts, and 26 are sophomores.
SPORTS STORY >> Jacksonville Seniors finish
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Conway’s Senior American Legion coaches repeatedly protested to Jacksonville’s batting order, pitch counts and pitcher availability, but they couldn’t do much about the actual Jacksonville players in the batter’s box Sunday during the American Legion Senior State Tournament at Hendrix University.
The Senior Chevy Boys racked up 14 base hits, drew 11 walks and took a pair of HBPs to hammer the tournament hosts 16-6 and advance to the round of eight in the two-weekend event.
Things went awry after that for the Chevy Boys. On Monday, the team suffered a season-ending, 12-6 loss to Little Rock.
New, strict pitch counts were a major issue for almost every team, and it caught up with Jacksonville on Monday, as did a terrible defensive effort.
“In a normal year, I’d throw my best pitcher who hadn’t pitched since Friday,” said Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham. “But I lost him (Brandon Hawkins), I lost Brandon (Hickingbotham) and I lost (Mike) Havard. They have to wait five days. I put (Caleb) McMunn out there, and he did OK, but when he hit his limit, we didn’t have anything left.”
Even with the pitching problems, if not for Jacksonville’s seven errors, it could’ve been a different game.
“If we’d just played a little bit of defense, we still could’ve maybe have kept going,” Bob Hickingbotham said.
In Monday’s win, Conway disputed Jacksonville’s batting order twice, and challenged a pitching change on another occasion. When complaints from the visiting dugout changed focus from Jacksonville to the umpires, assistant coach Greg Bowman was thrown out of the park, and threatened with arrest when he tried to re-enter. He left without further incident.
Both teams went down in order in the first inning, and Conway got on the board first in the top of the second. It was an unearned run off starting pitcher Brandon Hickingbotham. Cleanup hitter Christian Hamilton reached on an error at shortstop to start the inning. He advanced to second on the mistake, and to third on a groundout to second base. He then scored on a passed ball, but Jacksonville didn’t stay behind long.
The Chevy Boys took the lead in the bottom of the second with four runs. Hickingbotham drew a leadoff walk and Jordan Wickersham singled to center field. After two pop-ups, Trent Toney hit a two-RBI single to right field, and moved to second on the throw home. Caleb Smith singled to left field and leadoff hitter Tyson Flowers walked to load the bases. Mike Havard drove a two-RBI single to center field for the 4-1 lead.
Conway’s first major protest came at the start of the third inning. Nine-hole hitter Bo Harmon hit a double to the fence in left field, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple on the 7-6-5 relay.
Conway did not like the call and protested vehemently. The next two batters grounded out to end the inning, but not the arguing.
Conway accused Jacksonville of batting out of order in its half of the third, but to no avail. With two outs, Kameron Whitmore doubled down the third base line, and scored on a single by Toney, giving Jacksonville a 5-1 lead.
Conway started the fourth inning with three consecutive base hits, but was only able to produce one run.
Jacksonville did not score in the fourth or fifth innings, and found itself trailing 6-5 by the time it came to bat in the bottom of the sixth. Conway then questioned a potential pitching change when Wickersham started warming up in the bullpen.
Jacksonville responded by scoring five runs in the sixth. Toney, Smith and Flowers drew back-to-back-to-back, one-out walks to load the bases. Havard, Caleb McMunn and Hickingbotham then hit three-consecutive singles for a 9-6 Jacksonville lead. Whitmore later singled to left field to drive in the final run of the inning.
Despite the protest, Wickersham took the mound in the seventh inning. He gave up a single and a walk to start the inning, but picked off the runner at first and followed up with back-to-back strikeouts.
Jacksonville scored one run in the seventh on a walk by Flowers and an RBI double by McMunn. Wickersham walked one in the top of the eighth, but allowed no hits or runs.
Jacksonville ended the game early with five runs in the eighth.
Conway changed pitchers for the fourth time, and hit Wickersham to start the inning. He came all the way around the bases on two wild pitches and a passed ball before Caden Sample flew out to left field. Whitmore and Toney then walked, and after another batting order dispute, Smith surprised the Conway infield by laying down a bunt for a base hit.
Flowers walked to drive in Whitmore. Havard hit into a 4-6 fielder’s choice that also scored Toney. McMunn then singled to drive in Smith and Flowers and end the game on the 10-after-7-mercy rule.
Havard finished with five RBIs, going 2 for 6 at the plate. McMunn went 3 for 5 with a walk and four RBIs. Toney went 3 for 5 with a walk and three RBIs. Whitmore and Smith got two hits apiece. Flowers didn’t get a hit, but did his job as a leadoff by drawing four walks in six plate appearances.
Hickingbotham gave up 10 hits in six innings of work, but only four earned runs. He only had one strikeout, but it came at a crucial time, shutting down a bases-loaded rally against Harmon, who had lined a double on his last at-bat.
Wickersham gave up one hit in his two innings on the mound, striking out three and walking two.
Jacksonville opened the tournament with an 8-5 victory over Benton on Friday. On Saturday, Paragould’s Layne Ditto went off the rails at UCA. Jacksonville had swept a doubleheader against Paragould earlier this season, but Ditto hit for the cycle, including a home run off the top of the scoreboard in the 11-1 victory. Ditto’s homer was one of three by the Glen Sain GMC squad.
Leader sports editor
Conway’s Senior American Legion coaches repeatedly protested to Jacksonville’s batting order, pitch counts and pitcher availability, but they couldn’t do much about the actual Jacksonville players in the batter’s box Sunday during the American Legion Senior State Tournament at Hendrix University.
The Senior Chevy Boys racked up 14 base hits, drew 11 walks and took a pair of HBPs to hammer the tournament hosts 16-6 and advance to the round of eight in the two-weekend event.
Things went awry after that for the Chevy Boys. On Monday, the team suffered a season-ending, 12-6 loss to Little Rock.
New, strict pitch counts were a major issue for almost every team, and it caught up with Jacksonville on Monday, as did a terrible defensive effort.
“In a normal year, I’d throw my best pitcher who hadn’t pitched since Friday,” said Jacksonville coach Bob Hickingbotham. “But I lost him (Brandon Hawkins), I lost Brandon (Hickingbotham) and I lost (Mike) Havard. They have to wait five days. I put (Caleb) McMunn out there, and he did OK, but when he hit his limit, we didn’t have anything left.”
Even with the pitching problems, if not for Jacksonville’s seven errors, it could’ve been a different game.
“If we’d just played a little bit of defense, we still could’ve maybe have kept going,” Bob Hickingbotham said.
In Monday’s win, Conway disputed Jacksonville’s batting order twice, and challenged a pitching change on another occasion. When complaints from the visiting dugout changed focus from Jacksonville to the umpires, assistant coach Greg Bowman was thrown out of the park, and threatened with arrest when he tried to re-enter. He left without further incident.
Both teams went down in order in the first inning, and Conway got on the board first in the top of the second. It was an unearned run off starting pitcher Brandon Hickingbotham. Cleanup hitter Christian Hamilton reached on an error at shortstop to start the inning. He advanced to second on the mistake, and to third on a groundout to second base. He then scored on a passed ball, but Jacksonville didn’t stay behind long.
The Chevy Boys took the lead in the bottom of the second with four runs. Hickingbotham drew a leadoff walk and Jordan Wickersham singled to center field. After two pop-ups, Trent Toney hit a two-RBI single to right field, and moved to second on the throw home. Caleb Smith singled to left field and leadoff hitter Tyson Flowers walked to load the bases. Mike Havard drove a two-RBI single to center field for the 4-1 lead.
Conway’s first major protest came at the start of the third inning. Nine-hole hitter Bo Harmon hit a double to the fence in left field, but was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple on the 7-6-5 relay.
Conway did not like the call and protested vehemently. The next two batters grounded out to end the inning, but not the arguing.
Conway accused Jacksonville of batting out of order in its half of the third, but to no avail. With two outs, Kameron Whitmore doubled down the third base line, and scored on a single by Toney, giving Jacksonville a 5-1 lead.
Conway started the fourth inning with three consecutive base hits, but was only able to produce one run.
Jacksonville did not score in the fourth or fifth innings, and found itself trailing 6-5 by the time it came to bat in the bottom of the sixth. Conway then questioned a potential pitching change when Wickersham started warming up in the bullpen.
Jacksonville responded by scoring five runs in the sixth. Toney, Smith and Flowers drew back-to-back-to-back, one-out walks to load the bases. Havard, Caleb McMunn and Hickingbotham then hit three-consecutive singles for a 9-6 Jacksonville lead. Whitmore later singled to left field to drive in the final run of the inning.
Despite the protest, Wickersham took the mound in the seventh inning. He gave up a single and a walk to start the inning, but picked off the runner at first and followed up with back-to-back strikeouts.
Jacksonville scored one run in the seventh on a walk by Flowers and an RBI double by McMunn. Wickersham walked one in the top of the eighth, but allowed no hits or runs.
Jacksonville ended the game early with five runs in the eighth.
Conway changed pitchers for the fourth time, and hit Wickersham to start the inning. He came all the way around the bases on two wild pitches and a passed ball before Caden Sample flew out to left field. Whitmore and Toney then walked, and after another batting order dispute, Smith surprised the Conway infield by laying down a bunt for a base hit.
Flowers walked to drive in Whitmore. Havard hit into a 4-6 fielder’s choice that also scored Toney. McMunn then singled to drive in Smith and Flowers and end the game on the 10-after-7-mercy rule.
Havard finished with five RBIs, going 2 for 6 at the plate. McMunn went 3 for 5 with a walk and four RBIs. Toney went 3 for 5 with a walk and three RBIs. Whitmore and Smith got two hits apiece. Flowers didn’t get a hit, but did his job as a leadoff by drawing four walks in six plate appearances.
Hickingbotham gave up 10 hits in six innings of work, but only four earned runs. He only had one strikeout, but it came at a crucial time, shutting down a bases-loaded rally against Harmon, who had lined a double on his last at-bat.
Wickersham gave up one hit in his two innings on the mound, striking out three and walking two.
Jacksonville opened the tournament with an 8-5 victory over Benton on Friday. On Saturday, Paragould’s Layne Ditto went off the rails at UCA. Jacksonville had swept a doubleheader against Paragould earlier this season, but Ditto hit for the cycle, including a home run off the top of the scoreboard in the 11-1 victory. Ditto’s homer was one of three by the Glen Sain GMC squad.
SPORTS STORY >> Gwatney makes state
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Junior American Legion baseball team qualified for the state tournament with a top-four finish in the District 3-4 combo tournament in Cabot.
The Chevy Boys earned a first-round bye by finishing second in the regular season in District 3, and opened the tournament with 12-10 marathon win over Cabot in the second round.
Jacksonville led that game 9-0 in the fifth inning and got a runner thrown out at home with no outs. A new and strict American Legion pitch-count limit then forced Jacksonville coach Chuck Winer to pull pitcher Jayden Loving with a no-hitter going through four innings, and Cabot almost pulled off a dramatic comeback.
Cabot’s first four runs came with no hits. Three walks, a sacrifice grounder and a two-run error pulled the Centennial Bank squad to within 9-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Cabot got its first hit of the game in the sixth when Brian Tillery singled to center field. The second hit came two batters later when Michael Crumbly hit a two-RBI double to left. A walk and another Jacksonville error and a sacrifice fly by Geno Germer brought another run in and made the score 9-6.
Jacksonville scored three runs in the top of the seventh, starting with a one-out triple by Axton Ramick, who later scored on a wild pitch. A hit batter and two Cabot errors brought in Gwatney Chevrolet’s final two runs.
Tillery hit a two-RBI double with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. He stole second base, and scored on a wild throw while trying to steal third. Two more walks was followed by a double steal and a sac fly by Peyton Williams, but pitcher Foster Rash got a groundout to third and a strikeout to end the rally and game.
Tillery and Crumbly both reached base on all five of their at-bats. Tillery walked twice, was hit once, doubled, singled and scored three runs. Crumbly walked three times, was hit once and doubled in the sixth inning.
Jonathan Smith only had one hit for Jacksonville, but it was a bases-loaded triple in the third inning that gave the Chevy Boys a 7-0 lead. Ramick and Loving had two apiece to lead Gwatney.
Jacksonville then lost its quarterfinal game 6-0 to White Hall to drop to the loser’s bracket. There they fell behind 3-0 in the first inning, but came back for a 11-3 victory over District 4 runner-up Monticello on Sunday.
Jacksonville got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Quentin Stallard hit a bases-loaded double to pull the Chevy Boys to within one run. Joe Cummings hit a sac fly deep to right field to bring in Isaiah Cain and tie the game. Ramick then singled to drive in Stallard and put Gwatney up 4-3.
In the fourth inning, nine-hole hitter Braelyn Preston hit a leadoff single to left field, followed by a walk by Jonathan Smith. Cain put down a sacrifice bunt, but placed it well enough to turn it into a single to load the bases. A pitch hit Loving to score Preston, and Stallard singled for his third RBI of the game and left the bases full.
Cummings was then hit for another RBI and Stallard capped the inning by scoring on a wild pitch that made the score 9-3.
Ramick was then hit by pitch and still no outs in the fourth, but a new pitcher put the next three Jacksonville batters down in order. He did the same thing in the fifth inning, but Jacksonville got rolling again in the sixth. Stallard started it off with a double down the line in right field.
Caden Sample caught a break with a high bouncer for an infield single that left runners on the corners.
Sample got caught in a rundown on a pickoff move and Stallard scored during it. Sample ended up safe at second, and made it to third on an errant throw. He then scored on a balk to set the final margin.
Stallard went 3 for 4 with three RBIs.
Jacksonville, short on pitching, dropped its semifinal game to Prairie Grove on Monday, 13-1. The Chevy Boys will open play in the state tournament at 4 p.m. Friday at UALR.
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Junior American Legion baseball team qualified for the state tournament with a top-four finish in the District 3-4 combo tournament in Cabot.
The Chevy Boys earned a first-round bye by finishing second in the regular season in District 3, and opened the tournament with 12-10 marathon win over Cabot in the second round.
Jacksonville led that game 9-0 in the fifth inning and got a runner thrown out at home with no outs. A new and strict American Legion pitch-count limit then forced Jacksonville coach Chuck Winer to pull pitcher Jayden Loving with a no-hitter going through four innings, and Cabot almost pulled off a dramatic comeback.
Cabot’s first four runs came with no hits. Three walks, a sacrifice grounder and a two-run error pulled the Centennial Bank squad to within 9-4 in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Cabot got its first hit of the game in the sixth when Brian Tillery singled to center field. The second hit came two batters later when Michael Crumbly hit a two-RBI double to left. A walk and another Jacksonville error and a sacrifice fly by Geno Germer brought another run in and made the score 9-6.
Jacksonville scored three runs in the top of the seventh, starting with a one-out triple by Axton Ramick, who later scored on a wild pitch. A hit batter and two Cabot errors brought in Gwatney Chevrolet’s final two runs.
Tillery hit a two-RBI double with no outs in the bottom of the seventh. He stole second base, and scored on a wild throw while trying to steal third. Two more walks was followed by a double steal and a sac fly by Peyton Williams, but pitcher Foster Rash got a groundout to third and a strikeout to end the rally and game.
Tillery and Crumbly both reached base on all five of their at-bats. Tillery walked twice, was hit once, doubled, singled and scored three runs. Crumbly walked three times, was hit once and doubled in the sixth inning.
Jonathan Smith only had one hit for Jacksonville, but it was a bases-loaded triple in the third inning that gave the Chevy Boys a 7-0 lead. Ramick and Loving had two apiece to lead Gwatney.
Jacksonville then lost its quarterfinal game 6-0 to White Hall to drop to the loser’s bracket. There they fell behind 3-0 in the first inning, but came back for a 11-3 victory over District 4 runner-up Monticello on Sunday.
Jacksonville got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the third when Quentin Stallard hit a bases-loaded double to pull the Chevy Boys to within one run. Joe Cummings hit a sac fly deep to right field to bring in Isaiah Cain and tie the game. Ramick then singled to drive in Stallard and put Gwatney up 4-3.
In the fourth inning, nine-hole hitter Braelyn Preston hit a leadoff single to left field, followed by a walk by Jonathan Smith. Cain put down a sacrifice bunt, but placed it well enough to turn it into a single to load the bases. A pitch hit Loving to score Preston, and Stallard singled for his third RBI of the game and left the bases full.
Cummings was then hit for another RBI and Stallard capped the inning by scoring on a wild pitch that made the score 9-3.
Ramick was then hit by pitch and still no outs in the fourth, but a new pitcher put the next three Jacksonville batters down in order. He did the same thing in the fifth inning, but Jacksonville got rolling again in the sixth. Stallard started it off with a double down the line in right field.
Caden Sample caught a break with a high bouncer for an infield single that left runners on the corners.
Sample got caught in a rundown on a pickoff move and Stallard scored during it. Sample ended up safe at second, and made it to third on an errant throw. He then scored on a balk to set the final margin.
Stallard went 3 for 4 with three RBIs.
Jacksonville, short on pitching, dropped its semifinal game to Prairie Grove on Monday, 13-1. The Chevy Boys will open play in the state tournament at 4 p.m. Friday at UALR.
Friday, July 15, 2016
SPORTS STORY >> Panther playmakers answering questions
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
Cabot High School hosted its second 7-on-7 meet of the summer Wednesday at Panther Stadium, and showed signs of promise on both sides of the ball, as did the other local schools competing.
The same five schools that competed in last week’s 7-on-7 meet at Panther Stadium were back Wednesday – Cabot, Lonoke, Des Arc, Hazen and Rose Bud, but J.A. Fair joined the action Wednesday as the sixth team.
Cabot entered the summer missing some returning starters because of injuries, but the Panthers showed Wednesday they still have plenty of guys that can make plays, starting with quarterback and University of Arkansas commit Jarrod Barnes.
“Jarrod, he’s looking good out there,” said Cabot coach Mike Malham. “He’s a three-year starter at quarterback, and just watching him throw the ball – man, he can throw it. He’s more confident, he anticipates better and he’s doing a good job.”
The very athletic Barnes, who’s expected to be used as a slot receiver at Arkansas, split out and played receiver at times throughout Wednesday’s meet, and gave a preview of what Razorback fans can expect to see once he’s at the next level.
“He asked to go out there and play receiver, because that’s where he’s going to play next year at Arkansas,” Malham said, “and you can just watch him go up and get a ball, if it’s around there he’s going to get it.”
Barnes made multiple acrobatic catches Wednesday and was perhaps even more impressive in space, turning routine catches into big-yard gains because of his speed and agility.
Barnes made his share of plays throughout the meet, but Malham was also pleased with what he saw from several other Panther skill players, including fellow seniors Austin Morse and Collin Thames, junior tight end John Weins and one or two in the Panthers’ sophomore class.
“Offensively, we’ve got some kids that are catching the ball pretty good,” Malham said. “If we can throw it and catch, we can open that avenue up a little bit more.”
Cabot also got a quarterback transfer that threw with the team for the first time Wednesday in junior Layton Morris. Morris transferred from Prattville, Ala., a Class 7A school known well for its football tradition.
With it being his first day throwing for the Panthers, Morris is in the earliest stages of getting accustomed to the plays and routes the Cabot receivers run, but the junior transfer, who lived in Cabot before making the move to Alabama, showed good mechanics and threw some good balls Wednesday.
“He doesn’t have a bad throwing action,” Malham said of Morris. “Of course, that’s what they do in Prattville. They’re a spread (team) and all that. He was a sophomore and played with the JV, you know. But this is the first day we’ve seen him, so it’s hard to tell.”
Lonoke’s offense looked very crisp once it got into game play Wednesday. The Jackrabbits played Des Arc in their first of two games, and senior quarterback Logan Dozier threw touchdown passes on the first two Jackrabbit drives.
The first Dozier TD toss was to Will Miller inside 10 yards, and the second was to Isaac Toney on a 40-yard pass in between the hash marks on the first play of that drive. Lonoke’s most noticeable improvement from last week’s 7-on-7 meet was the number of turnovers.
“When we were here Monday, I think we threw six or seven interceptions,” said Lonoke coach Doug Bost. “Today we cut it down to one, and the decision-making was a whole lot better. I think it slowed down more for them today, and the receivers bailed them out with some real good catches. So I’m real pleased, overall.”
Daniel Seigrist, one of Lonoke’s more versatile players, also saw time at quarterback. Most of his throws against Des Arc were underneath routes, but the junior slasher completed 8 of 8 passes for two scores, the last one a 31-yarder to Dalton Smith.
“He’s kind of a slash for us,” Bost said of Seigrist. “He’s a quarterback, a wide receiver. He’s playing corner but he can also play safety, and he’ll probably be on a lot of special teams. So he’s doing everything for us.”
In the second game against Cabot, Lonoke sophomore Braidon Bryant made several plays at receiver. Bryant played quarterback in junior high. He got injured early last season and had to sit out the rest of the year, but showed promise at receiver and is expected to contribute heavily at receiver and in the secondary as well this upcoming season.
Defensively, Lonoke made some plays as well. Senior corner Kameron Cole had the defensive highlight against Cabot, snagging an interception on the first Panther drive of that game. The Jackrabbits return no starters in the secondary, so facing as much stiff competition as possible leading up to fall practice is something Bost welcomes for his youthful defense.
“We had four team camps in June,” Bost said, “and went against some real good competition. We had Pine Bluff a couple of times and North Little Rock down there, but we need this 7-on-7, too, and this was our second time coming. We have three more to come, to brush up on passing as well as the secondary stuff, too.
“We don’t return any starters in the secondary, so we need all this we can get.”
Leader sportswriter
Cabot High School hosted its second 7-on-7 meet of the summer Wednesday at Panther Stadium, and showed signs of promise on both sides of the ball, as did the other local schools competing.
The same five schools that competed in last week’s 7-on-7 meet at Panther Stadium were back Wednesday – Cabot, Lonoke, Des Arc, Hazen and Rose Bud, but J.A. Fair joined the action Wednesday as the sixth team.
Cabot entered the summer missing some returning starters because of injuries, but the Panthers showed Wednesday they still have plenty of guys that can make plays, starting with quarterback and University of Arkansas commit Jarrod Barnes.
“Jarrod, he’s looking good out there,” said Cabot coach Mike Malham. “He’s a three-year starter at quarterback, and just watching him throw the ball – man, he can throw it. He’s more confident, he anticipates better and he’s doing a good job.”
The very athletic Barnes, who’s expected to be used as a slot receiver at Arkansas, split out and played receiver at times throughout Wednesday’s meet, and gave a preview of what Razorback fans can expect to see once he’s at the next level.
“He asked to go out there and play receiver, because that’s where he’s going to play next year at Arkansas,” Malham said, “and you can just watch him go up and get a ball, if it’s around there he’s going to get it.”
Barnes made multiple acrobatic catches Wednesday and was perhaps even more impressive in space, turning routine catches into big-yard gains because of his speed and agility.
Barnes made his share of plays throughout the meet, but Malham was also pleased with what he saw from several other Panther skill players, including fellow seniors Austin Morse and Collin Thames, junior tight end John Weins and one or two in the Panthers’ sophomore class.
“Offensively, we’ve got some kids that are catching the ball pretty good,” Malham said. “If we can throw it and catch, we can open that avenue up a little bit more.”
Cabot also got a quarterback transfer that threw with the team for the first time Wednesday in junior Layton Morris. Morris transferred from Prattville, Ala., a Class 7A school known well for its football tradition.
With it being his first day throwing for the Panthers, Morris is in the earliest stages of getting accustomed to the plays and routes the Cabot receivers run, but the junior transfer, who lived in Cabot before making the move to Alabama, showed good mechanics and threw some good balls Wednesday.
“He doesn’t have a bad throwing action,” Malham said of Morris. “Of course, that’s what they do in Prattville. They’re a spread (team) and all that. He was a sophomore and played with the JV, you know. But this is the first day we’ve seen him, so it’s hard to tell.”
Lonoke’s offense looked very crisp once it got into game play Wednesday. The Jackrabbits played Des Arc in their first of two games, and senior quarterback Logan Dozier threw touchdown passes on the first two Jackrabbit drives.
The first Dozier TD toss was to Will Miller inside 10 yards, and the second was to Isaac Toney on a 40-yard pass in between the hash marks on the first play of that drive. Lonoke’s most noticeable improvement from last week’s 7-on-7 meet was the number of turnovers.
“When we were here Monday, I think we threw six or seven interceptions,” said Lonoke coach Doug Bost. “Today we cut it down to one, and the decision-making was a whole lot better. I think it slowed down more for them today, and the receivers bailed them out with some real good catches. So I’m real pleased, overall.”
Daniel Seigrist, one of Lonoke’s more versatile players, also saw time at quarterback. Most of his throws against Des Arc were underneath routes, but the junior slasher completed 8 of 8 passes for two scores, the last one a 31-yarder to Dalton Smith.
“He’s kind of a slash for us,” Bost said of Seigrist. “He’s a quarterback, a wide receiver. He’s playing corner but he can also play safety, and he’ll probably be on a lot of special teams. So he’s doing everything for us.”
In the second game against Cabot, Lonoke sophomore Braidon Bryant made several plays at receiver. Bryant played quarterback in junior high. He got injured early last season and had to sit out the rest of the year, but showed promise at receiver and is expected to contribute heavily at receiver and in the secondary as well this upcoming season.
Defensively, Lonoke made some plays as well. Senior corner Kameron Cole had the defensive highlight against Cabot, snagging an interception on the first Panther drive of that game. The Jackrabbits return no starters in the secondary, so facing as much stiff competition as possible leading up to fall practice is something Bost welcomes for his youthful defense.
“We had four team camps in June,” Bost said, “and went against some real good competition. We had Pine Bluff a couple of times and North Little Rock down there, but we need this 7-on-7, too, and this was our second time coming. We have three more to come, to brush up on passing as well as the secondary stuff, too.
“We don’t return any starters in the secondary, so we need all this we can get.”
SPORTS STORY >> Sprinkle shines since crossroad
By NATE ALLEN
Special to The Leader
HOOVER, Ala. – Coach Bret Bielema realized early in his first season at Arkansas that he inherited a redshirt freshman tight end Jeremy Sprinkle was too skinny and too disinclined academically to perform to his potential.
But now as a fifth-year senior, Sprinkle is officially under consideration to win the same Mackey award that former Razorback Hunter Henry won last year as the best tight end in the country. Academically, Sprinkle is a two-time SEC Honor roll student, and now plays as a graduate student since earning a degree in sports management.
For that turnaround, Bielema credits Sprinkle, strength coach Ben Herbert, tight end coach Barry Lunney and perhaps reprising the old TV show “Father Knows Best.”
“I remember the crossroad his sophomore year when he wasn’t doing what I wanted him to do in the classroom, off the field, A to Z,” Bielema said during Arkansas’ session of this week’s SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala. “So I did the simple thing. I called his dad. We sat down with his dad and talked with dad about where he (Jeremy) wanted to be, if he wanted to do it. From that point forward he’s been a different guy.”
The Bobby Petrino regime signed Sprinkle out of White Hall knowing it would take considerable time in the weight room to convert Sprinkle from too spindly for even a basketball small forward into an SEC tight end.
Even after the 2012 fall he mostly spent in the weight room while redshirting during John L. Smith’s 4-8 season as interim coach, Sprinkle barely exceeded 200 pounds.
“I look at Jeremy Sprinkle,” Bielema mused. “When I got there he was 6-6, 205 pounds. If he turned sideways, you couldn’t see him. He was skinny as skinny gets. Now he’s a 6-6, 250-pound man that’s ready to make his mark in tight end play on our team, and in this conference, and in this country. He can be a Mackey Award winner. He’s got that much talent.”
Sprinkle’s seasons reflect annual improvement. As a 2013 redshirt freshman reserve he caught 4 passes for 68 yards, including a 44-yarder from Brandon Allen against Mississippi State, and played on special teams.
In 2014 Sprinkle became Arkansas’ best all-round player on special teams. He played on all of them while making a team-leading nine special teams tackles and caught seven passes for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Last year Sprinkle and Henry blossomed together. Henry, 51 catches for 739 yards and three touchdowns, likely wouldn’t have had those kind of Mackey Award winning stats without Sprinkle subbing to keep him fresh. Better still, their combined presence in multiple tight end sets created havoc. Defenses scrambled to cover two tight ends both over 6-5 with receivers speed and soft hands who blocked like tackles.
It worked both ways. Henry’s presence no doubt helped free Sprinkle for his career best 27 catches for 389 yards and a SEC tight ends leading six touchdown catches including three in one game against Mississippi State.
“Just having both of us out there last year made mismatches for the defenses and it gave us both opportunities,” Sprinkle said. “I was able to learn things from him last year to work on my game and apply what I learned.”
It’s often been said replacing Henry as the No. 1 tight end won’t be nearly so difficult as replacing Sprinkle as the 1A tight end equally dangerous.
There is no lack for candidates but much lack of backup experience. Junior special-teamer Anthony Antwine, Jack Kraus, the third-year sophomore from Bentonville lettering last season but coming off knee surgery, and 2015 redshirt freshmen Will Gragg of Dumas, Cheyenne O’Grady of Fayetteville and Austin Cantrell of Roland, Okla., compete as do a couple of redshirt freshman converts from the defensive line, Jamario Bell of Junction City and Jake Hall of Springdale Har-Ber.
“Last year we were a two tight end team and really based around a 12-man personnel team,” Sprinkle said. “I feel like over the summer it’s going to be who can provide the most versatility. The more things you can do on the football field gives you a better chance to play. Honestly, it’s more of the coach’s job to figure that out, but some people have stepped up over the summer and I’m sure that someone during fall camp will emerge. Someone just will have to emerge.”
Special to The Leader
HOOVER, Ala. – Coach Bret Bielema realized early in his first season at Arkansas that he inherited a redshirt freshman tight end Jeremy Sprinkle was too skinny and too disinclined academically to perform to his potential.
But now as a fifth-year senior, Sprinkle is officially under consideration to win the same Mackey award that former Razorback Hunter Henry won last year as the best tight end in the country. Academically, Sprinkle is a two-time SEC Honor roll student, and now plays as a graduate student since earning a degree in sports management.
For that turnaround, Bielema credits Sprinkle, strength coach Ben Herbert, tight end coach Barry Lunney and perhaps reprising the old TV show “Father Knows Best.”
“I remember the crossroad his sophomore year when he wasn’t doing what I wanted him to do in the classroom, off the field, A to Z,” Bielema said during Arkansas’ session of this week’s SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala. “So I did the simple thing. I called his dad. We sat down with his dad and talked with dad about where he (Jeremy) wanted to be, if he wanted to do it. From that point forward he’s been a different guy.”
The Bobby Petrino regime signed Sprinkle out of White Hall knowing it would take considerable time in the weight room to convert Sprinkle from too spindly for even a basketball small forward into an SEC tight end.
Even after the 2012 fall he mostly spent in the weight room while redshirting during John L. Smith’s 4-8 season as interim coach, Sprinkle barely exceeded 200 pounds.
“I look at Jeremy Sprinkle,” Bielema mused. “When I got there he was 6-6, 205 pounds. If he turned sideways, you couldn’t see him. He was skinny as skinny gets. Now he’s a 6-6, 250-pound man that’s ready to make his mark in tight end play on our team, and in this conference, and in this country. He can be a Mackey Award winner. He’s got that much talent.”
Sprinkle’s seasons reflect annual improvement. As a 2013 redshirt freshman reserve he caught 4 passes for 68 yards, including a 44-yarder from Brandon Allen against Mississippi State, and played on special teams.
In 2014 Sprinkle became Arkansas’ best all-round player on special teams. He played on all of them while making a team-leading nine special teams tackles and caught seven passes for 84 yards and a touchdown.
Last year Sprinkle and Henry blossomed together. Henry, 51 catches for 739 yards and three touchdowns, likely wouldn’t have had those kind of Mackey Award winning stats without Sprinkle subbing to keep him fresh. Better still, their combined presence in multiple tight end sets created havoc. Defenses scrambled to cover two tight ends both over 6-5 with receivers speed and soft hands who blocked like tackles.
It worked both ways. Henry’s presence no doubt helped free Sprinkle for his career best 27 catches for 389 yards and a SEC tight ends leading six touchdown catches including three in one game against Mississippi State.
“Just having both of us out there last year made mismatches for the defenses and it gave us both opportunities,” Sprinkle said. “I was able to learn things from him last year to work on my game and apply what I learned.”
It’s often been said replacing Henry as the No. 1 tight end won’t be nearly so difficult as replacing Sprinkle as the 1A tight end equally dangerous.
There is no lack for candidates but much lack of backup experience. Junior special-teamer Anthony Antwine, Jack Kraus, the third-year sophomore from Bentonville lettering last season but coming off knee surgery, and 2015 redshirt freshmen Will Gragg of Dumas, Cheyenne O’Grady of Fayetteville and Austin Cantrell of Roland, Okla., compete as do a couple of redshirt freshman converts from the defensive line, Jamario Bell of Junction City and Jake Hall of Springdale Har-Ber.
“Last year we were a two tight end team and really based around a 12-man personnel team,” Sprinkle said. “I feel like over the summer it’s going to be who can provide the most versatility. The more things you can do on the football field gives you a better chance to play. Honestly, it’s more of the coach’s job to figure that out, but some people have stepped up over the summer and I’m sure that someone during fall camp will emerge. Someone just will have to emerge.”
SPORTS STORY >> Cabot gets early lead, defeats AA Black Sox
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Cabot AA American Legion team picked up another solid win on Tuesday, bouncing back from a terrible Monday outing to beat the Bryant AA Black Sox 7-3 at the Cabot Sportsplex.
Cabot pitcher Koleton Eastham sat Bryant down in order in the top of the first inning, and the Centennial Bank squad scored the game’s first two runs in the bottom half of the frame.
Leadoff hitter Brian Tillery drew a leadoff walk and stole second base. Eastham singled to drive him in before the next two batters popped up to first base and struck out. Eastham also stole second, and scored when Nick Belden singled to left field to give Cabot a 2-0 lead.
Bryant pulled within 2-1 in the second inning on back-to-back two-out singles, but Cabot got the run back in its half of the inning.
Geno Germer was hit by a pitch with one out. With two outs, Blake Buffalo hit a grounder to third base that was missed, allowing Germer to score on the error and giving Centennial Bank a 3-1 lead.
Belden retired the side in order again in the third inning, and Cabot extended its lead.
This time, Eastham drew the leadoff walk and Gavin Tillery singled to put runners on the corners. Belden hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Eastham and got Gavin Tillery thrown out at second base. Michael Crumbly then singled to score Belden, giving Centennial Bank a 5-1 advantage.
That’s how the score stayed until the sixth inning. Belden allowed just one base runner in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Black Sox scored two unearned runs in the top of the sixth.
A leadoff single was followed by a fly out to center field. Another base hit and a walk loaded the bases for Bryant. Cabot then committed back-to-back infield errors to allow the two runners to score.
But Centennial got them back and set the final margin in the bottom of the same inning. Buffalo drew a one-out walk. With two outs, Eastham and Easton Seidl hit consecutive RBI doubles to make the score 7-3. During the next at-bat, Seidl was caught stealing third to end the inning.
Gavin Tillery pitched the top of the seventh and the ball never got past the pitcher’s mound. He struck out the first batter, and then fielded a pop-up and a dribbling grounder back to the bump for a 1-3 final out and the save.
Eastham threw six solid innings, giving up one earned run on five base hits, seven strikeouts and one walk.
The Cabot AA team (11-11) is off this weekend while the Cabot Junior team hosts the District 3 tournament at the Sportsplex and the Cabot City Park on Ritchie Road.
The Cabot Junior team won its regular-season finale on Wednesday, beating North Little Rock 13-3 at Burns Park. The Junior Centennial squad trailed 3-1 after three innings, but exploded for 12 runs in the fourth and ended the game early on the sportsmanship rule.
Caleb Wilson and Kevin Lenahan each had two RBIs to lead all players in that category. No one had multiple hits.
Brian Tillery, Germer, Buffalo and Jack Broyles also drove in one run apiece.
The Junior team began play in the District 3 tournament on Friday. Jacksonville and Beebe also had teams in that tournament. Look for complete stories on all three Junior teams in Wednesday’s Leader.
Leader sports editor
The Cabot AA American Legion team picked up another solid win on Tuesday, bouncing back from a terrible Monday outing to beat the Bryant AA Black Sox 7-3 at the Cabot Sportsplex.
Cabot pitcher Koleton Eastham sat Bryant down in order in the top of the first inning, and the Centennial Bank squad scored the game’s first two runs in the bottom half of the frame.
Leadoff hitter Brian Tillery drew a leadoff walk and stole second base. Eastham singled to drive him in before the next two batters popped up to first base and struck out. Eastham also stole second, and scored when Nick Belden singled to left field to give Cabot a 2-0 lead.
Bryant pulled within 2-1 in the second inning on back-to-back two-out singles, but Cabot got the run back in its half of the inning.
Geno Germer was hit by a pitch with one out. With two outs, Blake Buffalo hit a grounder to third base that was missed, allowing Germer to score on the error and giving Centennial Bank a 3-1 lead.
Belden retired the side in order again in the third inning, and Cabot extended its lead.
This time, Eastham drew the leadoff walk and Gavin Tillery singled to put runners on the corners. Belden hit into a fielder’s choice that scored Eastham and got Gavin Tillery thrown out at second base. Michael Crumbly then singled to score Belden, giving Centennial Bank a 5-1 advantage.
That’s how the score stayed until the sixth inning. Belden allowed just one base runner in the fourth and fifth innings, but the Black Sox scored two unearned runs in the top of the sixth.
A leadoff single was followed by a fly out to center field. Another base hit and a walk loaded the bases for Bryant. Cabot then committed back-to-back infield errors to allow the two runners to score.
But Centennial got them back and set the final margin in the bottom of the same inning. Buffalo drew a one-out walk. With two outs, Eastham and Easton Seidl hit consecutive RBI doubles to make the score 7-3. During the next at-bat, Seidl was caught stealing third to end the inning.
Gavin Tillery pitched the top of the seventh and the ball never got past the pitcher’s mound. He struck out the first batter, and then fielded a pop-up and a dribbling grounder back to the bump for a 1-3 final out and the save.
Eastham threw six solid innings, giving up one earned run on five base hits, seven strikeouts and one walk.
The Cabot AA team (11-11) is off this weekend while the Cabot Junior team hosts the District 3 tournament at the Sportsplex and the Cabot City Park on Ritchie Road.
The Cabot Junior team won its regular-season finale on Wednesday, beating North Little Rock 13-3 at Burns Park. The Junior Centennial squad trailed 3-1 after three innings, but exploded for 12 runs in the fourth and ended the game early on the sportsmanship rule.
Caleb Wilson and Kevin Lenahan each had two RBIs to lead all players in that category. No one had multiple hits.
Brian Tillery, Germer, Buffalo and Jack Broyles also drove in one run apiece.
The Junior team began play in the District 3 tournament on Friday. Jacksonville and Beebe also had teams in that tournament. Look for complete stories on all three Junior teams in Wednesday’s Leader.
EDITORIAL >> District readies for its first year
Thirty days and counting until the doors of Jacksonville-North Pulaski School District open for the first time—an amazing timeline and trajectory since U.S. District Judge D. Price Marshall approved a desegregation settlement agreement in early 2014 that allowed for the new district.
The local election approving a standalone district passed with 95 percent of the vote that September, and suddenly, two years later, it’s almost time to buy school supplies.
The district has a roadmap for the way forward. A crew will remove asbestos from the former middle school, and demolition will begin by the beginning of August.
That’s the future site of the new Jacksonville High School. Architects are beginning to draw it up in earnest and expect to have prospective plans and cost estimates in time for the October board meeting.
Simultaneously, they will be working on plans for a new elementary school on Little Rock Air Force Base to replace both Arnold Drive and Tolleson elementaries. The new elementary school should open in August 2018, the new high school in August 2019.
While most districts the size of JNPSD had to replace maybe 10 or 15 percent of staff, the new district has had to fill every single slot, from superintendent to custodian—about 450.
Despite dire predictions and rumors, at last count, the district had only 17 teachers and other licensed jobs to fill and a handful of bus drivers and custodians, Superintendent Tony Wood said Friday.
The elementary school-supply lists can be found at the district website, www.jnpsd.org, or retailers large and small, including Walmart and Kroger.
There’s still a lot to be done—the school calendar on the website shows only school board meetings and the beginning of the school year, but if the new district was a new house, that would be one of many punch-list items.
The road-trip bus needs a Trojan logo, but all 78 buses have the district name on the side.
“Now we’re starting to look at isolated details of being prepared to welcome kids back in (four) weeks,” he said.
“There are just a lot of moving parts,” Wood said, including creation of logistically sound bus routes, separation of property—books, computers, desks, for instance—from PCSSD, financial transfers and the sale of school and support buildings by PCSSD to the new district.
To all you kindergarten and elementary school parents, it’s time to start shopping for the needed school supplies at many of your local grocers and big box stores. Enjoy the rest of your summer.
The local election approving a standalone district passed with 95 percent of the vote that September, and suddenly, two years later, it’s almost time to buy school supplies.
The district has a roadmap for the way forward. A crew will remove asbestos from the former middle school, and demolition will begin by the beginning of August.
That’s the future site of the new Jacksonville High School. Architects are beginning to draw it up in earnest and expect to have prospective plans and cost estimates in time for the October board meeting.
Simultaneously, they will be working on plans for a new elementary school on Little Rock Air Force Base to replace both Arnold Drive and Tolleson elementaries. The new elementary school should open in August 2018, the new high school in August 2019.
While most districts the size of JNPSD had to replace maybe 10 or 15 percent of staff, the new district has had to fill every single slot, from superintendent to custodian—about 450.
Despite dire predictions and rumors, at last count, the district had only 17 teachers and other licensed jobs to fill and a handful of bus drivers and custodians, Superintendent Tony Wood said Friday.
The elementary school-supply lists can be found at the district website, www.jnpsd.org, or retailers large and small, including Walmart and Kroger.
There’s still a lot to be done—the school calendar on the website shows only school board meetings and the beginning of the school year, but if the new district was a new house, that would be one of many punch-list items.
The road-trip bus needs a Trojan logo, but all 78 buses have the district name on the side.
“Now we’re starting to look at isolated details of being prepared to welcome kids back in (four) weeks,” he said.
“There are just a lot of moving parts,” Wood said, including creation of logistically sound bus routes, separation of property—books, computers, desks, for instance—from PCSSD, financial transfers and the sale of school and support buildings by PCSSD to the new district.
To all you kindergarten and elementary school parents, it’s time to start shopping for the needed school supplies at many of your local grocers and big box stores. Enjoy the rest of your summer.
EDITORIAL >> Another act of terrorism
It’s becoming an almost weekly routine for us. Commenting on the latest terrorist attack: San Bernardino, Charleston, S.C., Orlando, Dallas, where 10 days ago a sniper shot and killed five police officers. Exactly a week later, at least 84 revelers enjoying the Bastille Day fireworks in France were run down and killed by a maniac in a rented 20-ton truck.
The victims of Thursday night’s terrorism in Nice included Sean Copeland, 51, and his 11-year-old son Brodie from Texas who were vacationing in Europe with their families. Brodie’s mother and brother and sister survived. Brodie played youth baseball. A picture shows him holding a baseball and a trophy and reminds you of every 11-year-old who has played baseball.
At least 10 children perished in the attack and as many as 50 youngsters and 152 others are wounded. “Nobody in the way stood a chance,” one eyewitness said.
The terrorist was identified as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, 31, a delivery-truck driver born in Tunisia. We don’t know yet if he was affiliated with ISIS or acting alone. He was a Moslem, but according to a cousin of Bouhlel’s wife, ‘Bouhlel was not religious. He did not go to the mosque, he did not pray, he did not observe Ramadan.”
What’s worse, “He drank alcohol, ate pork and took drugs. This is all forbidden under Islam. He was not a Muslim, he was a s***. He beat his wife, my cousin, he was a nasty piece of work.”
His neighbors feared him and kept their children away. But how do you predict when a borderline personality goes over the edge and decides to become a mass murderer? France will put thousands more police officers on the street and watch potential troublemakers more closely and perhaps barricade more streets near public events. See the entrance to Little Rock Air Force Base.
The victims of Thursday night’s terrorism in Nice included Sean Copeland, 51, and his 11-year-old son Brodie from Texas who were vacationing in Europe with their families. Brodie’s mother and brother and sister survived. Brodie played youth baseball. A picture shows him holding a baseball and a trophy and reminds you of every 11-year-old who has played baseball.
At least 10 children perished in the attack and as many as 50 youngsters and 152 others are wounded. “Nobody in the way stood a chance,” one eyewitness said.
The terrorist was identified as Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, 31, a delivery-truck driver born in Tunisia. We don’t know yet if he was affiliated with ISIS or acting alone. He was a Moslem, but according to a cousin of Bouhlel’s wife, ‘Bouhlel was not religious. He did not go to the mosque, he did not pray, he did not observe Ramadan.”
What’s worse, “He drank alcohol, ate pork and took drugs. This is all forbidden under Islam. He was not a Muslim, he was a s***. He beat his wife, my cousin, he was a nasty piece of work.”
His neighbors feared him and kept their children away. But how do you predict when a borderline personality goes over the edge and decides to become a mass murderer? France will put thousands more police officers on the street and watch potential troublemakers more closely and perhaps barricade more streets near public events. See the entrance to Little Rock Air Force Base.
TOP STORY >> Birds raise spirits for residents
By JEFFREY SMITH
Leader staff writer
Chickens are helping to raise the spirits of residents living at nursing homes and rehab centers as therapy birds.
Marian Wade, who lives near Cabot, raises 35 chickens at her home. She has brought about eight of them to Woodland Hills Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Jacksonville and to Spring Creek Health and Rehab in Cabot for an hour one day every other week for the past year. Wade does this voluntarily.
Wade had chickens when she grew up and then started raising them again.
She said her chickens have helped her and her son with anxiety. She said that is when she realized her chickens could help others.
Last week at Woodland Hills Wade brought her chickens for a visit. Residents who wanted to see the chickens could go out to the courtyard. Some cradled the chickens and talked to them calmly as the birds relaxed and went to sleep. The chickens are accustomed to being held by Wade.
A few of the chickens hunted and pecked, scratching at the flowerbeds looking for bugs.
After handling the chickens Wade provided the residents with hand sanitizer.
“Chicken therapy is different for everybody. Some like to watch the chickens and others like to hold the chickens,” Wade said.
Woodland Hills activities director Tyler Foster said, “It gives them a sense of nostalgia. It takes them back to their younger years. A lot of the residents were raised on farms.”
“The seniors open up and start talking about their memories. It puts a lot of smiles on their faces. They are usually waiting on me when I get here,” Wade said.
Wade brings a variety of sizes and colors of chickens. Residents have given names to some of the chickens.
“I was raised on a farm. I remember chickens and they grew big,” resident DeQuita Burrow said.
“I think they are sweet little things,” Carol McCollough said.
Leader staff writer
Chickens are helping to raise the spirits of residents living at nursing homes and rehab centers as therapy birds.
Marian Wade, who lives near Cabot, raises 35 chickens at her home. She has brought about eight of them to Woodland Hills Healthcare and Rehabilitation in Jacksonville and to Spring Creek Health and Rehab in Cabot for an hour one day every other week for the past year. Wade does this voluntarily.
Wade had chickens when she grew up and then started raising them again.
She said her chickens have helped her and her son with anxiety. She said that is when she realized her chickens could help others.
Last week at Woodland Hills Wade brought her chickens for a visit. Residents who wanted to see the chickens could go out to the courtyard. Some cradled the chickens and talked to them calmly as the birds relaxed and went to sleep. The chickens are accustomed to being held by Wade.
A few of the chickens hunted and pecked, scratching at the flowerbeds looking for bugs.
After handling the chickens Wade provided the residents with hand sanitizer.
“Chicken therapy is different for everybody. Some like to watch the chickens and others like to hold the chickens,” Wade said.
Woodland Hills activities director Tyler Foster said, “It gives them a sense of nostalgia. It takes them back to their younger years. A lot of the residents were raised on farms.”
“The seniors open up and start talking about their memories. It puts a lot of smiles on their faces. They are usually waiting on me when I get here,” Wade said.
Wade brings a variety of sizes and colors of chickens. Residents have given names to some of the chickens.
“I was raised on a farm. I remember chickens and they grew big,” resident DeQuita Burrow said.
“I think they are sweet little things,” Carol McCollough said.
TOP STORY >> Power is still out for many in area
Storms ripped through Arkansas Thursday evening, causing power outages for more than 100,000 residents.
Most of the outages from Thursday night’s storm were in Saline County, according to an email from Tori Moss, communications coordinator at First Electric Cooperative.
First Electric’s Jacksonville district, which includes portions of Lonoke, Prairie, northern Pulaski and White counties, also experienced storm-related outages that affected approximately 1,690 members.
Crews were able to restore service to most cooperative members by late evening.
Entergy Arkansas reports outages peaking at 138,216 around 9 p.m. Thursday, but by 2 p.m. Friday that number had dropped to 67,000, according to a press release on the company’s website.
An additional 1,200 workers are being brought in from sister Entergy utilities, other utility companies and contractors to help restore power to those still without.
Most of the outages from Thursday night’s storm were in Saline County, according to an email from Tori Moss, communications coordinator at First Electric Cooperative.
First Electric’s Jacksonville district, which includes portions of Lonoke, Prairie, northern Pulaski and White counties, also experienced storm-related outages that affected approximately 1,690 members.
Crews were able to restore service to most cooperative members by late evening.
Entergy Arkansas reports outages peaking at 138,216 around 9 p.m. Thursday, but by 2 p.m. Friday that number had dropped to 67,000, according to a press release on the company’s website.
An additional 1,200 workers are being brought in from sister Entergy utilities, other utility companies and contractors to help restore power to those still without.
TOP STORY >> Realtors in state endorse Johnson
The Arkansas Realtors Political Action Committee has endorsed Rep. Bob Johnson (D-Jacksonville) for re-election and gave him a $500 contribution.
The decision to contribute to the campaign was made by the ARPAC trustees with input from local Realtors in the candidate’s district and after discussion of the candidates qualifications and views on various issues relating to current real estate and small business issues in Arkansas.
“It is critical that Realtors form a working relationship with our legislators for two reasons,” said ARPAC chairman Doyle Yates. “First, Realtors want to protect the property rights of private property owners. Second, since the real estate industry is a key component in the economy, Realtors want to make sure that home buying and selling is unfettered by unneeded regulation and legislation or overburdened with additional costs for seller and buyers.
“We look forward to working with Rep. Bob Johnson in the state legislature.”
Johnson faces Patrick Thomas, a Jacksonville Republican, in November, for the Dist. 42 seat.
The decision to contribute to the campaign was made by the ARPAC trustees with input from local Realtors in the candidate’s district and after discussion of the candidates qualifications and views on various issues relating to current real estate and small business issues in Arkansas.
“It is critical that Realtors form a working relationship with our legislators for two reasons,” said ARPAC chairman Doyle Yates. “First, Realtors want to protect the property rights of private property owners. Second, since the real estate industry is a key component in the economy, Realtors want to make sure that home buying and selling is unfettered by unneeded regulation and legislation or overburdened with additional costs for seller and buyers.
“We look forward to working with Rep. Bob Johnson in the state legislature.”
Johnson faces Patrick Thomas, a Jacksonville Republican, in November, for the Dist. 42 seat.
Tuesday, July 12, 2016
TOP STORY >> The sweet taste of success
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| In addition to raising sweet corn, Chester “Chet” Esau and his wife, Carol, raised five children and have 14 grandchildren. The Wade Knox Children’s Advocacy Center in Lonoke is again selling their corn for a fundraiser. |
Leader staff writer
It’s hard to imagine but farming didn’t come easy to Chester “Chet” Esau because now his name is nearly synonymous with Arkansas sweet corn, and during corn-picking season, people drive for hours just to grab a few bags of the Esau’s “Incredible” sweet corn for themselves and their friends.
Like the Bradley County Pink Tomato, which is FedEx-ed all around the state and the country, Esau’s sweet corn also has its roots in Southeast Arkansas and is almost as famous.
But that wasn’t always true.
Before moving to Dumas, where Esau leads the Three Rivers Mennonite Congregation church, Esau struggled as a farmer, first in Louisiana and then later in Arkansas.
BUY LOCALLY TO SUPPORT A GOOD CAUSE
For the past five years, folks have lined up at the Wade Knox Children’s Advocacy Center in Lonoke to buy a bag or two of Esau’s Incredible Sweet Corn.
It’s not surprising.
Karen James, Wade Knox Children’s Advocacy Center director, says about the first year they sold Esau’s corn, “We did it as a fluke. It started with a volunteer (J.B. Ketchum), who had the idea to just see if it would work,”
James doesn’t remember how many bags of corn, stuffed full with 72 ears, they sold that first year, but now they reserve 1,000 bags a season—that’s about 72,000 ears—to sell at $25 a bag, unless it’s shucked, then the price goes up to $35.
Esau says, “We’re happy with our relationship with them and we support their cause because they are working with children that need help.”
But Esau, who is 67, says because of recent storms, the Incredible variety is in short supply. But their new “Bi-Color Triple Sweet” variety is available and he promises, “You will not be disappointed.”
The popularity of the corn “has grown over the years,” and these days, James says, “It’s our largest fundraiser.”
She says for her organization and the people who buy the corn, “It’s a good fit.”
“The corn is the best and picked the morning we pick it up, and she adds it’s hand-graded, there are no worms, and the ears are full of complete kennels from base to tip.
It’s not too late to order Esau’s Sweet Corn at $25 a bag unshucked through the Wade Knox Children’s Advocacy Center at 1835 Southwest Front Street, Lonoke. The two remaining dates are July 15 and July 22, both Fridays.
Call 1.501-676-2552 to order.
DISASTROUS RESULTS
Esau is now semi-retired. He was born in 1949, grew up on a dairy farm near DeRidder, La., so it’s not surprising that farming’s in his blood but while still a teenager, he felt God’s calling to the ministry in his heart.
In 1972, he married Carol Johnson and as a Holdeman Mennonite (also known as the Church of God in Christ, Mennonite) minister, he was expected to feed his family. The church doesn’t pay their ministers and they’re expected to work a day job.
During the 1970s and 1980s in Louisiana, Esau worked hard, but like Job in the Bible, who suffered and survived numerous disasters, it seemed each year, God stepped in.
Esau tried growing soybeans, but lost 400 acres to too many nematodes and too little rain — not to mention losing a small fortune.
He didn’t do any better with milk cows.
“To make a long story short and a sad story less sad, I’ll just say that four years after we started, we closed the dairy,” Esau says.
He planted peaches, but cold, wet weather and disease ruined the fruits of his labor. Although he had some luck with 10 acres of sweet corn, it seemed God threw up a roadblock at Esau’s every turn of the tractor.
In order to feed his young kids, he sold the vegetables that he grew at a small roadside stand and built wooden mobile home steps that he sold to Lowe’s Companies, Inc., but still he says, “We were poor…No ice cream, no soda pop and no extras at all.”
The family always hoped the next year would be better but it wasn’t.
A CHANGE OF SCENERY
Then in 1990, the opportunity to lead a church in Dumas opened up and Esau jumped at the chance to start a congregation in Arkansas.
Looking back, both Carol and Chester Esau agree that if they had succeeded in DeRidder, they might not have decided to move to Dumas.
“…No matter what we tried, it didn’t work,” Esau says. On the other hand, he adds, “If we had been comfortable there, I doubt we would have left.”
So with a prayer on their lips and hope in their hearts, Esau and his wife packed up their belongings and their five kids, the oldest was then 16, and drove an old GMC pickup truck—Esau remembers seeing the road below through a hole in the floorboard and says there were wires sticking out of the truck’s tires’ tread—to Arkansas.
He says the couple had faith that the old truck would make the trip, and it did.
In order to put food on the table when first arriving in Dumas, Esau did dirt work and planted a few acres of a variety of sweet corn named “Incredible,” which had done well for him in Louisiana. And for many, the name says it all.
The couple nurtured, harvested and readied the 20 acres of corn for sale, and back then, he was up early to take his corn to farmers’ markets.
Esau says, “It was a struggle. We worked daylight to dark.”
It was a slow grow at first but Esau persisted.
He says, “It was very difficult the first four or five years, but the thing that encouraged us was that the market was good.”
FAST FORWARD A FEW YEARS
By 2000, Esau’s sweet corn was becoming a known and sought after commodity. His business thrived on word-of-mouth and a big sign on U.S. Highway 65 South, and his original few acres slowly grew into 160 acres. Now, on a good year, Esau produces about 30,000 bags of corn—that’s about 2.16 million ears.
And no more early mornings to area markets, these days folks line up along the dirt road leading to his farm to pick up their pre-ordered corn.
Wanda Bateman of Pine Bluff is a big Esau corn fan and says the quality is topnotch.
“You can’t find a better ear of corn anywhere,” she says.
CORN BUSINESS
Each year, Esau plants corn at 30 day intervals so that he’s harvesting corn from June until late July.
That’s about 40 days and nights of hard harvest work, he says. Although most growers pack 60 ears into a bushel, Esau crowds an extra 12 ears for $18 but still that doesn’t explain why people would drive from every corner of Arkansas, from Texas, Mississippi, Missouri, Illinois or Louisiana just to put Esau’s corn on their Sunday table.
Pine Bluff Produce Shed owner Jerry Tomboli says Esau’s sweet corn keeps his customers coming back until mid-summer.
“It sells well and goes fast,” he says.
Daniel Newswanger, owner of Newswanger’s Produce & Garden Center north of Dumas sells as many as 30 bags a day at his store on U.S. Highway 65 near Dumas.
Terri Roberts of North Little Rock is also a big fan and says she can’t wait until the sweet corn is ready for harvest.
“It’s amazing…It’s so juicy and sweet,” she says.
Southeast Arkansas has proved a great fit for the Esau family. Of course, it was hard to leave Louisiana, but Esau says, “Arkansas has been good to us. We have a fulfilling life here.”
During the quarter century or so that Chester and Carol Esau have been living in southeast Arkansas, the Three Rivers Mennonite Congregation church he helped start and pastors has grown to about 140 baptized members. A few years ago, the congregation built a new church and school.
As well, the Esau children are grown up and Chester and Carol Esau now have 14 grandchildren.
And in addition to all that, Esau turned a few acres of “Incredible” corn into a recognizable Arkansas brand.
TOP STORY >> Water safety skills prove life saver
By STAFF SGT. REGINA EDWARDS
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
“HELP!”
“That scream was even more chilling than the water my friend and I were in,” he said.
It was June 25, a normal Saturday of kayaking at the Ouachita River Whitewater Park for Air Force Senior Airman Colton Lien, 19th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordinance disposal technician, and his friends, when they witnessed a woman fall out of her inner tube into the middle of the river.
“She was with a group of people in approximately 10 tubes,” he said. “All the tubes were tied together, so the river continued to carry them downstream after she fell.”
Lien, who is also a certified canoe instructor, knew that something needed to be done immediately. The woman fell into a suck hole, which is like a whirlpool in the river.
Once a swimmer becomes stuck in a suck hole, it is extremely dangerous to be in and difficult to swim out. He and his friends paddled their kayaks toward the fallen woman as they alerted others they passed to get help.
Once they reached her, they noticed that she was spinning. She would go underwater for five to 20-second intervals.
Lien, his friends and another paddler who came to help tried for minutes to grab her with a rope, catch her with their paddles and reach for her from the kayaks, but nothing worked.
Eventually, the woman became unconscious.
“I was nervous, but I didn’t want to panic,” Lien said. “Plans A, B, nor C worked. We were about to attempt plan D with hopes that we didn’t have to attempt plan E, which was jumping in there myself and getting her.”
Lien surfed closer to the woman and finally, he bumped her body out of the whirlpool with his kayak. He grabbed her and pulled her body beside a large canoe that one of the paddlers was in.
Though there was a small sigh of relief, she was still unconscious.
After moments of deliberation, Lien paddled the woman to shore as one person held her body and two others gave her breaths (because they were unable to do CPR compressions in the water).
“It felt like forever getting back to the bank, but I think it was actually 10 minutes,” Lien said. “Reaching the bank was the easy part. When we got there, I checked for a pulse; there was none. Other people came to help with giving the woman chest compressions. Within about 15 seconds, she regained consciousness and her pulse.”
Lien stayed with the woman for an additional 15 minutes as she recovered.
When the paramedics arrived, they took the woman and continued care. Lien walked away from the crowd for a few minutes to take in what just happened.
“I don’t feel like a hero,” he said. “We did what needed to be done. It was definitely a team effort. We didn’t have time to panic because she didn’t have time for us to panic. We had to move and move fast.”
Lien credits his training as an EOD technician to his fast reaction to the emergency situation. EOD members focus on the protection of personnel and property, with emphasis on personnel first.
He leaned on his water- safety knowledge and training to quickly assess the situation and lead the others to making the right decisions that ultimately saved a woman’s life.
He has used the publicity from this experience to share the basic water safety tips.
“Even if you are a good swimmer, wear a life jacket in deep water, and don’t paddle alone. Those tips could be the difference between life and death,” he said.
19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
“HELP!”
“That scream was even more chilling than the water my friend and I were in,” he said.
It was June 25, a normal Saturday of kayaking at the Ouachita River Whitewater Park for Air Force Senior Airman Colton Lien, 19th Civil Engineer Squadron explosive ordinance disposal technician, and his friends, when they witnessed a woman fall out of her inner tube into the middle of the river.
“She was with a group of people in approximately 10 tubes,” he said. “All the tubes were tied together, so the river continued to carry them downstream after she fell.”
Lien, who is also a certified canoe instructor, knew that something needed to be done immediately. The woman fell into a suck hole, which is like a whirlpool in the river.
Once a swimmer becomes stuck in a suck hole, it is extremely dangerous to be in and difficult to swim out. He and his friends paddled their kayaks toward the fallen woman as they alerted others they passed to get help.
Once they reached her, they noticed that she was spinning. She would go underwater for five to 20-second intervals.
Lien, his friends and another paddler who came to help tried for minutes to grab her with a rope, catch her with their paddles and reach for her from the kayaks, but nothing worked.
Eventually, the woman became unconscious.
“I was nervous, but I didn’t want to panic,” Lien said. “Plans A, B, nor C worked. We were about to attempt plan D with hopes that we didn’t have to attempt plan E, which was jumping in there myself and getting her.”
Lien surfed closer to the woman and finally, he bumped her body out of the whirlpool with his kayak. He grabbed her and pulled her body beside a large canoe that one of the paddlers was in.
Though there was a small sigh of relief, she was still unconscious.
After moments of deliberation, Lien paddled the woman to shore as one person held her body and two others gave her breaths (because they were unable to do CPR compressions in the water).
“It felt like forever getting back to the bank, but I think it was actually 10 minutes,” Lien said. “Reaching the bank was the easy part. When we got there, I checked for a pulse; there was none. Other people came to help with giving the woman chest compressions. Within about 15 seconds, she regained consciousness and her pulse.”
Lien stayed with the woman for an additional 15 minutes as she recovered.
When the paramedics arrived, they took the woman and continued care. Lien walked away from the crowd for a few minutes to take in what just happened.
“I don’t feel like a hero,” he said. “We did what needed to be done. It was definitely a team effort. We didn’t have time to panic because she didn’t have time for us to panic. We had to move and move fast.”
Lien credits his training as an EOD technician to his fast reaction to the emergency situation. EOD members focus on the protection of personnel and property, with emphasis on personnel first.
He leaned on his water- safety knowledge and training to quickly assess the situation and lead the others to making the right decisions that ultimately saved a woman’s life.
He has used the publicity from this experience to share the basic water safety tips.
“Even if you are a good swimmer, wear a life jacket in deep water, and don’t paddle alone. Those tips could be the difference between life and death,” he said.
TOP STORY >> Results on ACT scores fall flat
By RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
Most high school juniors in the area and across the state aren’t ready for college based on scores of the recently released ACT readiness test.
The test given to students statewide is an indicator of their ability to succeed in math, English, reading and science at the college level.
Unlike other states where only students who are pursuing college take the test, Arkansas requires all juniors to take the test, which tends to lower the overall scores.
Based on the test, 80 to 90 percent of Jacksonville juniors, now seniors, are not college ready.
Even Cabot, which usually produces good test scores at the elementary and middle school level, had less than 50 percent of its students test ready for college, yet still beat the state average in all four test sections: math, reading English and science.
“Certainly, we are not content with our students’ levels of performance on this year’s ACT, but we are not totally surprised. Any time students face a new assessment system, we anticipate a drop in performance,” said Dr. Tony Thurman, superintendent of Cabot schools.
“This implementation dip is often followed by an upward trend after the first year or two. As students become more familiar with the assessment system, their performance typically improves. If you look back at the first few years of Benchmark and End of Course assessment results, you see this same trend,” the superintendent said.
“Additionally, the state’s curriculum frameworks have been revised and it takes some time for teachers to fully understand how to effectively teach all that the standards require,” Thurman explained.
Dr. John Tackett, deputy superintendent for Pulaski County Special School District, said it’s a good thing having all students take the test. “We need to make students more aware of the ACT, college and scholarships,” he said.
But he added that the disadvantage is that many students were taking the test for the first time. “Students can start taking the test in the second semester of their sophomore year, and retake at least six other times before graduation,” Tackett said.
“So those students coming into high school thinking about college usually have taken it at least once before their junior year,” Tackett explained
Students, overall, scored worse in math and best in reading.
Lisa Academy North students scored the best in the area with 41 percent making the “college ready” cut in math, 91 percent made the cut in English and 68 percent in reading.
North Pulaski High School had the worst percentage on the math portion of the test with just 9.5 percent scoring as “college ready.”
Jacksonville High School was right behind with only 9.9 percent meeting the standards. Jacksonville also had the lowest English score with only 25.3 percent scoring well enough for college. Next on the bottom came North Pulaski with 39.2 percent making the grade.
When it comes to reading, only 12.3 percent of Jacksonville seniors can read well enough to make it through college, according to the statewide test. Next lowest was Lighthouse Charter’s Flightline Upper Academy where only 23.8 percent scored well enough on the reading test.
Dr. Belinda Shook, head of the Beebe schools, echoed Tackett and Thurman’s thoughts.
“When we started testing all students, we knew the scores were likely to be lowered. If you will notice, we tested 199 students. When we compare our scores where we have tested all our students in Arkansas, to states that test only the upper-level students, it is not a fair comparison.”
“As far as the state goes, I am pleased with how Beebe’s students did in comparison to the state scores. Overall, our scores are remaining fairly consistent. We are working on some new ideas in our district that I believe will boost our scores,” Shook said.
The Cabot superintendent added, “When we administered the Benchmark Exams, and even the PARCC assessments last year, educators, parents and teachers knew the exams were developed specifically to assess the state’s curriculum frameworks. The ACT is based on the ACT College and Career Ready Skills, not the Arkansas frameworks.”
Thurman continued, “Unlike the PARCC assessment, the questions are not developed directly from the state standards. Our students will become more familiar with the type of ACT questioning in the coming years. We also believe that participating in the ACT Aspire assessments will help to prepare our students to face the ACT during their junior year of high school.
All the superintendents said teachers and administrators were committed to preparing students to be successful on the exam.
Tackett said PCSSD students are making solid strides with “Enginuity,” the on-line program the district is using to help students perform better on tests.
“The program is available to students 24/7,” said Tackett, adding that the on-line program is just one way the district is working to make students better prepared for college.
Most Arkansas colleges require students to score a 19 across the board for students to be unconditionally enrolled.
Here are the ACT results for area schools:
LONOKE
At Lonoke, 138 juniors took the test in April in math. The average score was 18.2, meaning 21 percent of students met the test expectations. In English the average score was 18.4, meaning 53.6 percent scored proficient or better on that section of the test, and in the reading portion the average score was 19.1 and just 30.4 percent scored at or above expectations.
In science the average score was 18.9 with 20.3 percent of the students meeting test expectations. Just 11.6 percent of Lonoke juniors meet the readiness bar on all four test sections.
ENGLAND
Fifty-three students took the test, scoring 16.6 on the math section, meaning just 10.3 percent passed the test with “college ready” scores. The average score on the English section was 17 and 43.1 percent did well on the test and in reading the average score was 17.9 with 24.1 percent of the students meeting expectations.
Juniors had an average score of 17.3 in science, meaning 10.3 percent scored proficient or better. Only 5.2 percent scored high enough on all four tests to show their college readiness.
CARLISLE
The high school had 53 of its juniors take the test. They had an average math score of 18.2 with 24.5 percent scoring well in that section, in English the average score was 17.1 with 39.6 percent scoring proficient or better; and in reading the average score was 17.7 with just 28.3 percent showing they were “college ready.”
Carlisle students had an average score of 18.6 in science, meaning about 21 percent scored proficient or better. Overall, 17 percent of the students scored “ready” on all four test sections.
CABOT
In Cabot, 689 juniors took the test. The juniors had an average math score of 19.7 meaning 29.8 percent scored well on that section. The average score in English was 19.5 with 59.8 of the students making the test cut while the average reading score was 20.6 and 40.1 percent tested “college ready.”
Cabot juniors had an average score of 22.4 in science, which meant that 34 percent scored well on the test. The overall composite score for Cabot juniors was 20.8.
SYLVAN HILLS
The school gave the test to 239 juniors. In math the score was 18.0 and just 17.2 percent scored “college ready.” In English the score was 17.0 and 42.7 percent of the students made the cut and in reading the score was 18.4 with 25.5 percent hitting college-level scores.
The juniors had an average score of 18.2 in science, meaning 14.2 percent were proficient or better on the test. Overall, 5.9 percent of those tested scored college ready on all four test sections.
NORTH PULASKI
The Falcons had only 74 juniors there to take the test. That group scored an average of 16.7 on the math portion, meaning only 9.9 percent were college ready. In English 39.2 percent scored proficient or better on the test and the average score was 17.
Slightly more than 32 percent scored as “college ready” on the reading portion and the juniors had an average test score of 18.9. On the science test, the average score was 18.4, meaning 18.9 percent made the appropriate grade on the test.
Overall, just 8.1 percent of North Pulaski juniors scored “college-ready” on all four sections of the test.
JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville tested 162 juniors. In math the average score was 16.6 and only 9.9 percent scored proficient or better on the test. In English the average score was 14.7 with 25.3 percent of the students “college ready.” In reading just 12.3 percent made the cut on the test and the average score was 12.3 percent.
In science, the average score was 16.9 with about 7 percent of the students scoring well enough on the test. Overall, just 3.1 percent of the juniors scored well on all four sections of the test.
LISA ACADEMY NORTH
At Lisa Academy 22 juniors took the test and had an average math score of 21,4 meaning 40.9 percent scored as “college ready.” In English the ACT score was 24.4 and 90.9 percent made the cut on the test. In reading the average score was 24.1 which meant 68.1 percent scored well.
On the science portion of the ACT test, students had an average score of 21.0, meaning 31.8 percent scored proficient or better on the test. Almost 23 percent of the juniors scored well on all sections of the test.
FLIGHTLINE UPPER ACADEMY
Sixty-six students took the ACT and had an average math score of 17.5, meaning 18.2 percent were “college ready.” In English, the average score was also 17.5 but that meant 40.9 percent did well and for reading the average score was 18.2 which showed 25.8 percent of the students were college ready.
In science the average ACT test score was 18.0, meaning 16.7 percent of the students scored well on the test. Overall, 10.6 percent scored “College ready” on all four test sections.
BEEBE
There were 199 juniors who took the test. On the math portion they had an average score of 19.5 meaning 34.7 percent scored well on the test. In English the average score was 19.2 and 58.8 percent of the students scored “college ready,” and in reading the ACT average score was 20.1 which meant 42.7 percent did well.
Beebe juniors had an average score of 20.0 on the science test with 31.7 percent meeting expectations on the test. Overall, 19.6 percent hit the mark on all four test sections.
SEARCY
Searcy tested 259 juniors. That group had an average math score of 21 which means 44.4 percent of the students did well on the test. In English the average score was 21.2, meaning 66.4 percent scored proficient or better and in reading it was an average score of 21.6 with 49.4 percent doing well.
The students had an average science score of 21.5, meaning almost 44 percent hit the “college ready” mark on the exam. Overall, 29 percent of the juniors scored well on all four sections.
Leader staff writer
Most high school juniors in the area and across the state aren’t ready for college based on scores of the recently released ACT readiness test.
The test given to students statewide is an indicator of their ability to succeed in math, English, reading and science at the college level.
Unlike other states where only students who are pursuing college take the test, Arkansas requires all juniors to take the test, which tends to lower the overall scores.
Based on the test, 80 to 90 percent of Jacksonville juniors, now seniors, are not college ready.
Even Cabot, which usually produces good test scores at the elementary and middle school level, had less than 50 percent of its students test ready for college, yet still beat the state average in all four test sections: math, reading English and science.
“Certainly, we are not content with our students’ levels of performance on this year’s ACT, but we are not totally surprised. Any time students face a new assessment system, we anticipate a drop in performance,” said Dr. Tony Thurman, superintendent of Cabot schools.
“This implementation dip is often followed by an upward trend after the first year or two. As students become more familiar with the assessment system, their performance typically improves. If you look back at the first few years of Benchmark and End of Course assessment results, you see this same trend,” the superintendent said.
“Additionally, the state’s curriculum frameworks have been revised and it takes some time for teachers to fully understand how to effectively teach all that the standards require,” Thurman explained.
Dr. John Tackett, deputy superintendent for Pulaski County Special School District, said it’s a good thing having all students take the test. “We need to make students more aware of the ACT, college and scholarships,” he said.
But he added that the disadvantage is that many students were taking the test for the first time. “Students can start taking the test in the second semester of their sophomore year, and retake at least six other times before graduation,” Tackett said.
“So those students coming into high school thinking about college usually have taken it at least once before their junior year,” Tackett explained
Students, overall, scored worse in math and best in reading.
Lisa Academy North students scored the best in the area with 41 percent making the “college ready” cut in math, 91 percent made the cut in English and 68 percent in reading.
North Pulaski High School had the worst percentage on the math portion of the test with just 9.5 percent scoring as “college ready.”
Jacksonville High School was right behind with only 9.9 percent meeting the standards. Jacksonville also had the lowest English score with only 25.3 percent scoring well enough for college. Next on the bottom came North Pulaski with 39.2 percent making the grade.
When it comes to reading, only 12.3 percent of Jacksonville seniors can read well enough to make it through college, according to the statewide test. Next lowest was Lighthouse Charter’s Flightline Upper Academy where only 23.8 percent scored well enough on the reading test.
Dr. Belinda Shook, head of the Beebe schools, echoed Tackett and Thurman’s thoughts.
“When we started testing all students, we knew the scores were likely to be lowered. If you will notice, we tested 199 students. When we compare our scores where we have tested all our students in Arkansas, to states that test only the upper-level students, it is not a fair comparison.”
“As far as the state goes, I am pleased with how Beebe’s students did in comparison to the state scores. Overall, our scores are remaining fairly consistent. We are working on some new ideas in our district that I believe will boost our scores,” Shook said.
The Cabot superintendent added, “When we administered the Benchmark Exams, and even the PARCC assessments last year, educators, parents and teachers knew the exams were developed specifically to assess the state’s curriculum frameworks. The ACT is based on the ACT College and Career Ready Skills, not the Arkansas frameworks.”
Thurman continued, “Unlike the PARCC assessment, the questions are not developed directly from the state standards. Our students will become more familiar with the type of ACT questioning in the coming years. We also believe that participating in the ACT Aspire assessments will help to prepare our students to face the ACT during their junior year of high school.
All the superintendents said teachers and administrators were committed to preparing students to be successful on the exam.
Tackett said PCSSD students are making solid strides with “Enginuity,” the on-line program the district is using to help students perform better on tests.
“The program is available to students 24/7,” said Tackett, adding that the on-line program is just one way the district is working to make students better prepared for college.
Most Arkansas colleges require students to score a 19 across the board for students to be unconditionally enrolled.
Here are the ACT results for area schools:
LONOKE
At Lonoke, 138 juniors took the test in April in math. The average score was 18.2, meaning 21 percent of students met the test expectations. In English the average score was 18.4, meaning 53.6 percent scored proficient or better on that section of the test, and in the reading portion the average score was 19.1 and just 30.4 percent scored at or above expectations.
In science the average score was 18.9 with 20.3 percent of the students meeting test expectations. Just 11.6 percent of Lonoke juniors meet the readiness bar on all four test sections.
ENGLAND
Fifty-three students took the test, scoring 16.6 on the math section, meaning just 10.3 percent passed the test with “college ready” scores. The average score on the English section was 17 and 43.1 percent did well on the test and in reading the average score was 17.9 with 24.1 percent of the students meeting expectations.
Juniors had an average score of 17.3 in science, meaning 10.3 percent scored proficient or better. Only 5.2 percent scored high enough on all four tests to show their college readiness.
CARLISLE
The high school had 53 of its juniors take the test. They had an average math score of 18.2 with 24.5 percent scoring well in that section, in English the average score was 17.1 with 39.6 percent scoring proficient or better; and in reading the average score was 17.7 with just 28.3 percent showing they were “college ready.”
Carlisle students had an average score of 18.6 in science, meaning about 21 percent scored proficient or better. Overall, 17 percent of the students scored “ready” on all four test sections.
CABOT
In Cabot, 689 juniors took the test. The juniors had an average math score of 19.7 meaning 29.8 percent scored well on that section. The average score in English was 19.5 with 59.8 of the students making the test cut while the average reading score was 20.6 and 40.1 percent tested “college ready.”
Cabot juniors had an average score of 22.4 in science, which meant that 34 percent scored well on the test. The overall composite score for Cabot juniors was 20.8.
SYLVAN HILLS
The school gave the test to 239 juniors. In math the score was 18.0 and just 17.2 percent scored “college ready.” In English the score was 17.0 and 42.7 percent of the students made the cut and in reading the score was 18.4 with 25.5 percent hitting college-level scores.
The juniors had an average score of 18.2 in science, meaning 14.2 percent were proficient or better on the test. Overall, 5.9 percent of those tested scored college ready on all four test sections.
NORTH PULASKI
The Falcons had only 74 juniors there to take the test. That group scored an average of 16.7 on the math portion, meaning only 9.9 percent were college ready. In English 39.2 percent scored proficient or better on the test and the average score was 17.
Slightly more than 32 percent scored as “college ready” on the reading portion and the juniors had an average test score of 18.9. On the science test, the average score was 18.4, meaning 18.9 percent made the appropriate grade on the test.
Overall, just 8.1 percent of North Pulaski juniors scored “college-ready” on all four sections of the test.
JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville tested 162 juniors. In math the average score was 16.6 and only 9.9 percent scored proficient or better on the test. In English the average score was 14.7 with 25.3 percent of the students “college ready.” In reading just 12.3 percent made the cut on the test and the average score was 12.3 percent.
In science, the average score was 16.9 with about 7 percent of the students scoring well enough on the test. Overall, just 3.1 percent of the juniors scored well on all four sections of the test.
LISA ACADEMY NORTH
At Lisa Academy 22 juniors took the test and had an average math score of 21,4 meaning 40.9 percent scored as “college ready.” In English the ACT score was 24.4 and 90.9 percent made the cut on the test. In reading the average score was 24.1 which meant 68.1 percent scored well.
On the science portion of the ACT test, students had an average score of 21.0, meaning 31.8 percent scored proficient or better on the test. Almost 23 percent of the juniors scored well on all sections of the test.
FLIGHTLINE UPPER ACADEMY
Sixty-six students took the ACT and had an average math score of 17.5, meaning 18.2 percent were “college ready.” In English, the average score was also 17.5 but that meant 40.9 percent did well and for reading the average score was 18.2 which showed 25.8 percent of the students were college ready.
In science the average ACT test score was 18.0, meaning 16.7 percent of the students scored well on the test. Overall, 10.6 percent scored “College ready” on all four test sections.
BEEBE
There were 199 juniors who took the test. On the math portion they had an average score of 19.5 meaning 34.7 percent scored well on the test. In English the average score was 19.2 and 58.8 percent of the students scored “college ready,” and in reading the ACT average score was 20.1 which meant 42.7 percent did well.
Beebe juniors had an average score of 20.0 on the science test with 31.7 percent meeting expectations on the test. Overall, 19.6 percent hit the mark on all four test sections.
SEARCY
Searcy tested 259 juniors. That group had an average math score of 21 which means 44.4 percent of the students did well on the test. In English the average score was 21.2, meaning 66.4 percent scored proficient or better and in reading it was an average score of 21.6 with 49.4 percent doing well.
The students had an average science score of 21.5, meaning almost 44 percent hit the “college ready” mark on the exam. Overall, 29 percent of the juniors scored well on all four sections.
EDITORIAL >> Planes worth $3.4 billion
Gen. Carlton D. Everhart II, commander of Air Mobility Command, flew last month from the Lockheed Martin plant in Marietta, Ga., and delivered the last of 28 C-130Js assigned to the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base.
The 314th Airlift Wing, which trains C-130 crews worldwide, has 13 C-130Js, with two more scheduled for delivery soon, bringing their total to 43 at LRAFB. The base price for a C-130J, without options, is about $80 million, the general said. That’s about $3.4 billion worth of new airplanes — a significant investment in our community.
These planes are faster, require smaller crews and need far less landing space than the older C-130Js. We watched the development of the Js some two decades ago. For a while, it looked as if the Air Force would lose its enthusiasm for the Js — Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.) thought they were a boondoggle — but the Clinton administration threw its support behind the C-130Js and the decision to continue the program was announced at Little Rock Air Force Base.
The Reserves and Air National Guard at LRAFB will continue to fly the older H models. Everhart, who spent several years as a junior officer at LRAFB, said that after more than a decade, the Air Force will relaunch a program to retrofit those legacy airframes with avionics modernization program kits.
Phase II would upgrade the cockpit from analog to digital, with headsup displays on transparent screens, making it nearly indistinguishable from the cockpit of the C-130J. It would begin after the completion of Phase I.
The upgrade will allow them to continue flying after 2020 in domestic and foreign air space from which they would be otherwise barred.
Some of those planes are almost 50 years old. That’s why they’re called the workhorse of the Air Force. They should fly for another 20 years.
Here’s hoping the Air Force will continue funding the modernization program and send us more C-130Js when they become available. They’re the right plane for a younger generation.
The 314th Airlift Wing, which trains C-130 crews worldwide, has 13 C-130Js, with two more scheduled for delivery soon, bringing their total to 43 at LRAFB. The base price for a C-130J, without options, is about $80 million, the general said. That’s about $3.4 billion worth of new airplanes — a significant investment in our community.
These planes are faster, require smaller crews and need far less landing space than the older C-130Js. We watched the development of the Js some two decades ago. For a while, it looked as if the Air Force would lose its enthusiasm for the Js — Sen. John McCain (R.-Ariz.) thought they were a boondoggle — but the Clinton administration threw its support behind the C-130Js and the decision to continue the program was announced at Little Rock Air Force Base.
The Reserves and Air National Guard at LRAFB will continue to fly the older H models. Everhart, who spent several years as a junior officer at LRAFB, said that after more than a decade, the Air Force will relaunch a program to retrofit those legacy airframes with avionics modernization program kits.
Phase II would upgrade the cockpit from analog to digital, with headsup displays on transparent screens, making it nearly indistinguishable from the cockpit of the C-130J. It would begin after the completion of Phase I.
The upgrade will allow them to continue flying after 2020 in domestic and foreign air space from which they would be otherwise barred.
Some of those planes are almost 50 years old. That’s why they’re called the workhorse of the Air Force. They should fly for another 20 years.
Here’s hoping the Air Force will continue funding the modernization program and send us more C-130Js when they become available. They’re the right plane for a younger generation.
EDITORIAL >> Keep guns from kids!
The Beebe police have delayed releasing information about the shooting death of an 18-month-old infant Friday morning, probably by one of the children who were left alone to watch the baby while their parents were away.
The police may have missed an opportunity to warn parents to keep guns away from the reach of children and instead are waiting for a state Crime Lab report before they release more information as rumors spread through the community about how the senseless tragedy cost the life of an innocent child.
A similar tragedy occurred in a mobile home in July 2013 in South Bend outside Jacksonville, where a 3-year-old boy died in a neighbor’s trailer after accidentally shooting himself with a loaded, unsecured handgun that turned out to be stolen.
Med-flight emergency medical personnel pronounced the boy dead at the scene. He had one gunshot wound.
Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley said at the time, it was a tragic accident that could have been avoided if the owner would have stored the weapon properly.
According to the sheriff’s office, the gun owner was in the bathroom next to the master bedroom. His wife, who was hearing impaired and was changing her shirt with the child in the room, saw the boy pick up a 9mm Glock semi-automatic handgun on the nightstand.
She screamed, but it was too late. The boy pulled the trigger.
The gun owner said he kept it there for protection. The couple had no children.
The sheriff’s office ran the serial number of the gun and found it was reported stolen from Little Rock in 2008. The owner told investigators he purchased the gun from a co-worker three or four years earlier.
Staley said then, “You’ve got to make sure your guns are secure. Have them secured in a holster and with trigger locks. Be vigilant even if you don’t have small children around at the home. Be smart with firearms.”
You can’t repeat these warnings often enough. We live in violent times. Responsible gun ownership calls for extra precautions whether at home or on the road. People who should know better shouldn’t keep guns around the house that a child could find and shoot.
Those adults should be barred from owning weapons for life. Because all lives matter.
The police may have missed an opportunity to warn parents to keep guns away from the reach of children and instead are waiting for a state Crime Lab report before they release more information as rumors spread through the community about how the senseless tragedy cost the life of an innocent child.
A similar tragedy occurred in a mobile home in July 2013 in South Bend outside Jacksonville, where a 3-year-old boy died in a neighbor’s trailer after accidentally shooting himself with a loaded, unsecured handgun that turned out to be stolen.
Med-flight emergency medical personnel pronounced the boy dead at the scene. He had one gunshot wound.
Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley said at the time, it was a tragic accident that could have been avoided if the owner would have stored the weapon properly.
According to the sheriff’s office, the gun owner was in the bathroom next to the master bedroom. His wife, who was hearing impaired and was changing her shirt with the child in the room, saw the boy pick up a 9mm Glock semi-automatic handgun on the nightstand.
She screamed, but it was too late. The boy pulled the trigger.
The gun owner said he kept it there for protection. The couple had no children.
The sheriff’s office ran the serial number of the gun and found it was reported stolen from Little Rock in 2008. The owner told investigators he purchased the gun from a co-worker three or four years earlier.
Staley said then, “You’ve got to make sure your guns are secure. Have them secured in a holster and with trigger locks. Be vigilant even if you don’t have small children around at the home. Be smart with firearms.”
You can’t repeat these warnings often enough. We live in violent times. Responsible gun ownership calls for extra precautions whether at home or on the road. People who should know better shouldn’t keep guns around the house that a child could find and shoot.
Those adults should be barred from owning weapons for life. Because all lives matter.
SPORTS STORY >> Jacksonville youth dazzles at shooting event
By GRAHAM POWELL
Leader sportswriter
Jacksonville trap shooter Ryan Bowen has been a standout with a shotgun for most of his life, but at last month’s Arkansas State Trapshooting Tournament that took place at the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation Shooting Sports Complex, Bowen did something not even he had done before.
In the singles competition that took place June 25, Bowen was the lone participant in the sub-junior division to shoot two perfect rounds of 100, claiming first place in that competition.
The next day, June 26, Bowen hit 97 out of 100 targets in the doubles competition to claim first place in that category, and he finished second in the handicap round by blasting 96 out of 100 targets. With his stellar showing in all three categories, Bowen won the prestigious high all-around award to leave the tournament with handfuls of hardware.
Collecting trapshooting hardware isn’t anything new for the soon to be Jacksonville High School sophomore, but hitting 200-straight targets is. He was one of the handful there, out of the around 500 participants, to hit 200 targets in a row at the competition, and was just one of two in his age range to do it, and the only one from central Arkansas.
“That was actually my first time,” said Bowen. “I’ve shot numerous 100s (100 out of 100). I’ve shot 199 out of 200, but that was the first time I had ever shot 200.”
The singles competition consisted of two rounds of 100 targets. The trap shooters compete five at a time on one field, taking turns after each shot, so staying patient and maintaining focus is necessary to be successful. Bowen said he averages 98 out of 100 targets, but he said the fact that it was a meaningful tournament aided him in maintaining his focus through both lengthy singles rounds.
“That’s one of the key things is to keep your focus,” Bowen said. “It was a big deal. I was going for, and still am, to make the All-American team. So winning that, I would get points to be on the All-American team. So I really needed to win to be able to get points to make that accomplishment.”
It goes without saying Bowen, 15, is no novice when it comes to shooting. The first time he andhis father, Tom, had a good indication that he’d be pretty good at trap shooting was when Ryan was just 5 years old.
“Me and my dad one day, I wanted to go squirrel hunting,” Ryan said. “It was hot outside, but I wanted to go. So we went squirrel hunting. We didn’t kill anything, but we came back and my cousin had a one-arm skeet thrower. You just pull it back and you pull the string, and it threw the target.
“I had a .410 shotgun – I believe it’s a Remington .410. So we went over there and we shot, and my dad, he wanted to demonstrate to me how to do it. I pulled the string, he shot at it and he missed. And he did that again, and he missed. He said, ‘I’ll tell you what, it’s hot out here, we’ll just shoot till you miss.’ And I ended up shooting 18 targets straight at 5 years old, and then I missed my 19th.”
Bowen was a natural.
“Well, ever since that day, yeah,” said Tom Bowen. “I knew there was something to it, and I wasn’t (originally) going to go over there and do it. He was like, ‘let’s go over there and do it.’ I was like, ‘man, it’s too hard, dude.’ There ain’t no way. And he kept on, and I was like, alright, it ain’t gonna hurt nothing. We’ll go try it and give it a whirl.
“Yeah, it blew me away. About that first three or four, I was like, well, beginner’s luck. But he just kept on doing it, with a .410, no less.”
Bowen’s first shooting competitions came when he was 9 years old at the nearby 4H club. While there, he came across the Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program, which is sponsored by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The AYSSP is the program that features high school events, but participants can join once they reach sixth grade.
Bowen joined AYSSP as soon as he was able, and did the same with the Amateur Trap Association (ATA) and Academics, Integrity and Marksmanship (AIM) programs, which are the programs associated with the Arkansas State Shooting Tournament that took place last month.
The benefits of getting involved in ATA and AIM are getting the opportunity to compete more than would be available through just AYSSP.
“We wanted to compete more and shoot more, so we went on to ATA and AIM,” Ryan Bowen said.
Getting to 200 targets in a row has been a steady climb for Bowen. His first year of competitions, at age 12, he remembers it being a big deal hitting 25 targets in a row. And, of course, he only got better and better with time and practice.
He eclipsed the 50 and 75 targets in a row mark in the same day, and during the 2014-15 shooting season, he hit 100 targets in a row for the first time in ATA competition.
Bowen competed in the ATA’s Missouri State Shooting Tournament in late May, and he hit 199 out of 200 targets in that singles competition, and finished sixth overall out of close to 600 people, and that includes all ages.
This shooting season alone, which takes place from Sept. 1, 2015 through Aug. 31, Bowen has competed in over 20 ATA competitions across the state and surrounding area, and said he doesn’t plan on quitting anytime soon.
“I hope I can do it for the rest of my life,” Bowen said. “I do plan on going to college, and hopefully, I can go to a college that has a shooting team so I’ll be able to do it while I’m in school, you know. But I definitely don’t want to stop.”
Bowen’s next shooting competition will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the AGFC Shooting Sports Complex in the Southwestern Zone Shoot, which will feature shooters from eight states.
At last year’s Southwestern Zone Shoot, Bowen was the only one in his division, out of all eight states competing, to hit all 100 targets in the singles round.
As far as what Bowen said he enjoyed most about the sport, he said it was about a lot more than just going out and shooting.
“I like hanging out with all my friends and family,” Bowen said with a smile, “getting here and having a good time. Because it really and truly is a good time to come out here. For other people that aren’t into the sport, it might just look like you’re just sitting around, talking and shooting guns, but it really is just fun for all age groups.”
There’s one other thing Bowen added.
“And definitely, winning’s a bonus.”
Leader sportswriter
Jacksonville trap shooter Ryan Bowen has been a standout with a shotgun for most of his life, but at last month’s Arkansas State Trapshooting Tournament that took place at the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation Shooting Sports Complex, Bowen did something not even he had done before.
In the singles competition that took place June 25, Bowen was the lone participant in the sub-junior division to shoot two perfect rounds of 100, claiming first place in that competition.
The next day, June 26, Bowen hit 97 out of 100 targets in the doubles competition to claim first place in that category, and he finished second in the handicap round by blasting 96 out of 100 targets. With his stellar showing in all three categories, Bowen won the prestigious high all-around award to leave the tournament with handfuls of hardware.
Collecting trapshooting hardware isn’t anything new for the soon to be Jacksonville High School sophomore, but hitting 200-straight targets is. He was one of the handful there, out of the around 500 participants, to hit 200 targets in a row at the competition, and was just one of two in his age range to do it, and the only one from central Arkansas.
“That was actually my first time,” said Bowen. “I’ve shot numerous 100s (100 out of 100). I’ve shot 199 out of 200, but that was the first time I had ever shot 200.”
The singles competition consisted of two rounds of 100 targets. The trap shooters compete five at a time on one field, taking turns after each shot, so staying patient and maintaining focus is necessary to be successful. Bowen said he averages 98 out of 100 targets, but he said the fact that it was a meaningful tournament aided him in maintaining his focus through both lengthy singles rounds.
“That’s one of the key things is to keep your focus,” Bowen said. “It was a big deal. I was going for, and still am, to make the All-American team. So winning that, I would get points to be on the All-American team. So I really needed to win to be able to get points to make that accomplishment.”
It goes without saying Bowen, 15, is no novice when it comes to shooting. The first time he andhis father, Tom, had a good indication that he’d be pretty good at trap shooting was when Ryan was just 5 years old.
“Me and my dad one day, I wanted to go squirrel hunting,” Ryan said. “It was hot outside, but I wanted to go. So we went squirrel hunting. We didn’t kill anything, but we came back and my cousin had a one-arm skeet thrower. You just pull it back and you pull the string, and it threw the target.
“I had a .410 shotgun – I believe it’s a Remington .410. So we went over there and we shot, and my dad, he wanted to demonstrate to me how to do it. I pulled the string, he shot at it and he missed. And he did that again, and he missed. He said, ‘I’ll tell you what, it’s hot out here, we’ll just shoot till you miss.’ And I ended up shooting 18 targets straight at 5 years old, and then I missed my 19th.”
Bowen was a natural.
“Well, ever since that day, yeah,” said Tom Bowen. “I knew there was something to it, and I wasn’t (originally) going to go over there and do it. He was like, ‘let’s go over there and do it.’ I was like, ‘man, it’s too hard, dude.’ There ain’t no way. And he kept on, and I was like, alright, it ain’t gonna hurt nothing. We’ll go try it and give it a whirl.
“Yeah, it blew me away. About that first three or four, I was like, well, beginner’s luck. But he just kept on doing it, with a .410, no less.”
Bowen’s first shooting competitions came when he was 9 years old at the nearby 4H club. While there, he came across the Arkansas Youth Shooting Sports Program, which is sponsored by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. The AYSSP is the program that features high school events, but participants can join once they reach sixth grade.
Bowen joined AYSSP as soon as he was able, and did the same with the Amateur Trap Association (ATA) and Academics, Integrity and Marksmanship (AIM) programs, which are the programs associated with the Arkansas State Shooting Tournament that took place last month.
The benefits of getting involved in ATA and AIM are getting the opportunity to compete more than would be available through just AYSSP.
“We wanted to compete more and shoot more, so we went on to ATA and AIM,” Ryan Bowen said.
Getting to 200 targets in a row has been a steady climb for Bowen. His first year of competitions, at age 12, he remembers it being a big deal hitting 25 targets in a row. And, of course, he only got better and better with time and practice.
He eclipsed the 50 and 75 targets in a row mark in the same day, and during the 2014-15 shooting season, he hit 100 targets in a row for the first time in ATA competition.
Bowen competed in the ATA’s Missouri State Shooting Tournament in late May, and he hit 199 out of 200 targets in that singles competition, and finished sixth overall out of close to 600 people, and that includes all ages.
This shooting season alone, which takes place from Sept. 1, 2015 through Aug. 31, Bowen has competed in over 20 ATA competitions across the state and surrounding area, and said he doesn’t plan on quitting anytime soon.
“I hope I can do it for the rest of my life,” Bowen said. “I do plan on going to college, and hopefully, I can go to a college that has a shooting team so I’ll be able to do it while I’m in school, you know. But I definitely don’t want to stop.”
Bowen’s next shooting competition will be Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the AGFC Shooting Sports Complex in the Southwestern Zone Shoot, which will feature shooters from eight states.
At last year’s Southwestern Zone Shoot, Bowen was the only one in his division, out of all eight states competing, to hit all 100 targets in the singles round.
As far as what Bowen said he enjoyed most about the sport, he said it was about a lot more than just going out and shooting.
“I like hanging out with all my friends and family,” Bowen said with a smile, “getting here and having a good time. Because it really and truly is a good time to come out here. For other people that aren’t into the sport, it might just look like you’re just sitting around, talking and shooting guns, but it really is just fun for all age groups.”
There’s one other thing Bowen added.
“And definitely, winning’s a bonus.”
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