By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
The Jacksonville Red Devils have not played extremely well for four quarters yet this season, and this week they are traveling for the first time to take on a team that has so far exceeded expectations. Lake Hamilton starts just three seniors on offense and defense and many believed it would be a rebuilding year for the Wolves.
The Wolves have played like anything but underdogs so far. In week one they massacred JA Fair, then knocked off Class 7A Pine Bluff last Friday night. Their efforts have earned them as high as a No. 3 ranking in some publications. Lake Hamilton coach Jerry Clay is more pleased than anyone about his team’s success, but believes Jacksonville could present a level of speed his team hasn’t seen this year.
“As far as all over the field, I don’t know if anybody we’ve faced yet is like Jacksonville,” Clay said. “Pine Bluff though, they’ve got a lot of athletes, and our league has a lot of speed in it. So I think our kids know every year what they’re going to have to get ready for.” Contrastingly, Jacksonville hasn’t played a team yet that has done what Lake Hamilton will try to do. The Wolves spread the field, and run and pass well out of that formation. On the bright side, Jacksonville’s defense has practiced against the spread for two years.
Clay plans for his team to be able to throw the ball around a lot as it matures and learns his system. So far, they have thrown 13 passes against Fair and 18 against the Zebras. Clay has been pleased with the throwing and catching aspect of his passing game. He’s very comfortable with sophomore quarterback ??.
“He has done a good job so far,” Clay said. “He throws it well and handles pressure pretty well. He’s had to because we haven’t protected him real well.” Like Jacksonville, a small offensive line has caused some problems for the Wolves this season. The Red Devil will be the best matchup for Lake Hamilton in size that it’s enjoyed so far this year, but things still won’t be even.
“I think we could match up a little better up front this week, but they’ve still got a little size on us,” Clay said. “I’ve got two starters up front under 200 pounds, so we’re very small and very inexperienced up there. We’ve had some trouble protecting the quarterback, especially against Pine Bluff, but they’re working hard to get better. Pine Bluff just completely overmatched us at spots too. We’re not going to see many teams with the kind of size they had on the defensive line.”
Jacksonville too will enjoy not being at such a size disadvantage up front, but Whatley is still concerned about Lake Hamilton’s defense. “We’re going to have to recognize fronts,” Whatley said. “Assignments are going to be very important. They present a lot of problems with running people through on their stunts.”
The suspect pass blocking has forced the Wolves to run the ball too. They’ve run it about 65 percent of the time, and have been pretty successful with it. That means they’re not going to turn away from it. “We want to be able to run the ball too,” Clay said. “We’d like to be able to throw it a little more than we have so far, but we’re not going to shy away from something we can do pretty well.”
Jacksonville may run a little more than it has with addition of senior fullback Justin Sebourn into the lineup for the first time this year. “I don’t know how much he’s going to play right now,” Whatley said. “We’re a little concerned with his conditioning, but he’s the kind of kid that provides a lift. He makes plays on both sides of the ball.” Jacksonville improved on its throwing and catching from week one to week two, and have worked on some of the little things that Whatley believes has to get better.
“We’ve corrected some of the little bitty things like lengthening the routes that will make us better,” Whatley said.
The Devils and Wolves will kickoff in Pearcy at 7:00 Friday.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
SPORTS >>NP, Lonoke do battle
By RAY BENTON AND JASON KING
Leader sports staff
Lonoke will host North Pulaski for the meeting between the schools that started the series three years ago. Both teams have taken similar paths so far this season. Each team had very disappointing openers, then bounced back to play better in week two, but couldn’t get a win. Lonoke head coach Jeff Jones believes that this year’s Falcons possess more versatility than NP teams of the past. His major concern is with the ground attack from Bohannon’s bunch, a running game that racked up close to 300 yards against Jacksonville last week.
“They have a lot of size up front,” Jones said. “They are a strong running team with a lot of different looks. I think they have the potential to go all the way on any given play.” North Pulaski coach Tony Bohannon knows that Lonoke has a new coach and a new offensive scheme, but is focusing his attention on his own team.
“Right now I’m more worried about us than what other teams are going to do,” Bohannon said. “They’re good and they’re doing some new things over there with the spread. I think playing Jacksonville last week will help us this week against Lonoke. We just have to concentrate on not making things harder for ourselves than they have to be. We’ve had some big old boo boos in both games that have just hurt us too much.”
NP’s biggest mistakes this year have consisted of giving the ball away while sniffing the end zone. There have been several smaller, but equally costly mistakes that have thwarted Falcon drives this year too. “It’s a lot of little things really,” Bohannon said. Although the ‘Rabbits come into Friday’s home opener with a record of 0-2, Jones also says the his team’s performance in week two at Beebe was more solid than the opener at Hot Springs.
“I saw major improvements from game one to game two,” Jones said. “If we can continue to improve like that from week to week, we can be a very good football team. We’ve been good at times and bad at times, we just have to continue to work hard in practice and get more consistent with our fundamentals. We just have to be able to put it all together, and hopefully we can break through.”
The Jackrabbits may have been the victims of bad luck in the closing moments against Beebe, but their luck with the injury bug so far has been fair. The only major injury after two weeks is a broken foot for starting center Jason Smith. “It had been aggravating him for a while,” Jones said. “The Beebe game just topped it off. We have some bumps and bruises, but that is the only big one we have right now. We are still pretty healthy.”
North Pulaski enters the game hoping to continue progress from its second-half effort against Jacksonville. Everything worked better in the second half after giving up big points in the first half against the Red Devils. The defense stiffened up and the offense began executing. Some of that execution can be attributed to moving sophomore athlete Stanley Appleby from quarterback to tailback. Appleby broke a long run for a touchdown to get his team back into the game with Jacksonville.
Sophomore Michael Fleshman will take over most of the quarterback duties. He has performed well in junior varsity games, but will likely still share snaps with Appleby.
“He’s just got to get more comfortable out there,” Bohannon said. “He’s done pretty well in JV, but there’s a big difference in JV and varsity. He has to learn to keep himself under control, and he’s learning.”
Leader sports staff
Lonoke will host North Pulaski for the meeting between the schools that started the series three years ago. Both teams have taken similar paths so far this season. Each team had very disappointing openers, then bounced back to play better in week two, but couldn’t get a win. Lonoke head coach Jeff Jones believes that this year’s Falcons possess more versatility than NP teams of the past. His major concern is with the ground attack from Bohannon’s bunch, a running game that racked up close to 300 yards against Jacksonville last week.
“They have a lot of size up front,” Jones said. “They are a strong running team with a lot of different looks. I think they have the potential to go all the way on any given play.” North Pulaski coach Tony Bohannon knows that Lonoke has a new coach and a new offensive scheme, but is focusing his attention on his own team.
“Right now I’m more worried about us than what other teams are going to do,” Bohannon said. “They’re good and they’re doing some new things over there with the spread. I think playing Jacksonville last week will help us this week against Lonoke. We just have to concentrate on not making things harder for ourselves than they have to be. We’ve had some big old boo boos in both games that have just hurt us too much.”
NP’s biggest mistakes this year have consisted of giving the ball away while sniffing the end zone. There have been several smaller, but equally costly mistakes that have thwarted Falcon drives this year too. “It’s a lot of little things really,” Bohannon said. Although the ‘Rabbits come into Friday’s home opener with a record of 0-2, Jones also says the his team’s performance in week two at Beebe was more solid than the opener at Hot Springs.
“I saw major improvements from game one to game two,” Jones said. “If we can continue to improve like that from week to week, we can be a very good football team. We’ve been good at times and bad at times, we just have to continue to work hard in practice and get more consistent with our fundamentals. We just have to be able to put it all together, and hopefully we can break through.”
The Jackrabbits may have been the victims of bad luck in the closing moments against Beebe, but their luck with the injury bug so far has been fair. The only major injury after two weeks is a broken foot for starting center Jason Smith. “It had been aggravating him for a while,” Jones said. “The Beebe game just topped it off. We have some bumps and bruises, but that is the only big one we have right now. We are still pretty healthy.”
North Pulaski enters the game hoping to continue progress from its second-half effort against Jacksonville. Everything worked better in the second half after giving up big points in the first half against the Red Devils. The defense stiffened up and the offense began executing. Some of that execution can be attributed to moving sophomore athlete Stanley Appleby from quarterback to tailback. Appleby broke a long run for a touchdown to get his team back into the game with Jacksonville.
Sophomore Michael Fleshman will take over most of the quarterback duties. He has performed well in junior varsity games, but will likely still share snaps with Appleby.
“He’s just got to get more comfortable out there,” Bohannon said. “He’s done pretty well in JV, but there’s a big difference in JV and varsity. He has to learn to keep himself under control, and he’s learning.”
OBITUARIES >> 09-13-06
FRANCES MILSTEAD
Frances Anne Milstead, 69, of Little Rock, formerly of Memphis, passed away Sept. 8 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Little Rock. She was born Sept. 11, 1936 in Water Valley, Miss., to Odie Bruce and Mary Frances Vaughn Shuffield.
Following graduation from high school, she worked as an operating nurse in Water Valley. On June 2, 1956, she married Ray Milstead in Oxford, Miss. They moved to Memphis in 1958 and worked eight years for Holiday Press and two years for The Commercial Appeal as a book binder. She was a member of North Main Methodist Church in Water Valley.
She is survived by her husband, Ray Milstead; daughter, Maryanne Campbell of Little Rock; son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Elizabeth Milstead of Clinton, Miss.; three grandsons, Hunter Ray Campbell and Matthew and Jacob Milstead; two brothers, Odie Bruce Shuffield Jr. and Charles Allen Shuffield, and a sister, Linda Rae Shuffield, all of Water Valley, Miss.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at North Main Methodist Church in Water Valley with Bro. Harold Jaudon officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home of Jacksonville. Memorials may be made to North Main Methodist Church, Water Valley, Miss.
HERBERT DAVID ELLISON, SR.
Herbert David Ellison, Sr., 64, of Jacksonville died Sept. 8 in Little Rock.
He was born May 27, 1942 in Freeport, N.Y., to the late Chester A. and Nancy R. Brambach Ellison, Sr. He was also preceded in death by a son, Herbert David Ellison, Jr.; granddaughters, Sydney and Paige and great-grandson, Ethan.
Ellison served in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in France, where he met his beautiful wife of 43 years, Barbara. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Ellison of Jacksonville; three sons, Robert Mark Ellison and his wife Diane and Chad A. Ellison and his wife Becky Jean, all of Austin, and Timothy Andrew Ellison of Jacksonville; five daughters, Kim Denise Hardin of Cabot, Kelly Doreen Kulback and her husband Jess of Deering, N.H., Kristy Dorn Flynn and her husband Michael of Benton, Betty Jane Houston and her husband John Ashley of Austin, Barbara Jean Winters and her husband Glenn of Hillsbro N.H.; three brothers, Robert Ellison of Palm Coast, Fla., Peter Ellison and his wife Janis of Wantaugh, N.Y., and Chester Ellison and his wife Carla of New London, N.H.; a sister, Nancy Conlon of West Palm Beach, Fla.; 32 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
He was a loving and caring father and grandfather, who will be dearly missed.
A memorial service was held Sept. 11 at Grace Fellowship in Cabot. Funeral arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
IRENE BROCK
Irene Stacy Brock, 79, of Conway, died Friday, Sept. 8. She was born Jan. 23, 1927 to George Washington and Loula Stacy. She was of Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, James Lee Carmichael, Pat Mayo, Idis Deeter and Jim Brock; her father; and two sons, Donald Ray Carmichael and Frankie Lewis Mayo.
She is survived by her mother, Loula Stacy, age 102, of Pocahontas; her son, Larry Carmichael and wife Dianna of Wooster; two daughters, Rena Lee Outlaw and husband Tommy of Pine Bluff and Rebecca Lynn Milton and husband Gary of Springdale; nine grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. Funeral was Sept. 12 at West-brook Funeral Home at Beebe with burial in Grissard Cemetery.
LARRY JOHNSON, SR.
Larry Joe Johnson Sr., 59, formerly of Lonoke, died Sept. 8. He was born March 28, 1947 to the late Leo and Kathryn Johnson in Little Rock. He was a retired truck driver, owner/operator of 20 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter, Brandi Parker. Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Kathy Johnson; one son, Larry and his wife Sherry Johnson, Jr. of Butlerville; two daughters, Laura and husband Danny Lackie of Ward and Shannon Benton of Lonoke; and two step-daughters, Jennifer and husband Jim Glass of Conway and Keni Overton of Mabelvale; 12 grandchildren; two sisters, Charlotte Johnson of Calif. and Bobbie Wilson of Ariz.; one very special friend Tommy Murphy and many other friends and relatives. A funeral service was held Sept. 12 at Boyd Funeral Home Chapel in Lonoke with burial in Hester Cemetery.
PAULINE LEE
Pauline Cordell Lee, 81, of Beebe went to be with the Lord at 11:30 p.m. Sept. 9. She died at home surrounded by friends and loved ones. She was born Feb. 2, 1925 to Elmer “Bigger” and Gliddie Cordell in White County. She was a retired waitress. She worked for Buck Powers’ Restaurant in Beebe and later for Anderson’s Restaurant in Beebe. She last worked as the hostess at McDonald’s in Beebe.
She is survived by one sister, Verna Pemberton of Beebe and a host of friends and neighbors who dearly loved her. Funeral services will be held at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe at 2 p.m Wednesday. Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery. Her pallbearers will be Richard Featherston, Gary Scroggs, Jim Allen, Ryan Allen, Lee Cales, Bobby Ginder and Glen Pledger.
JERRY BUTLER
Jerry Melvin Butler, 66, passed from this world on Sept. 9. He was born July 29, 1940, in Hope, to Luther Harold and Grace Samantha Powell Butler. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Nena Resolme Butler; two sons, Frank Owen Butler and jerry Wayne Butler; and two grandchildren.
He was a machinist in Corpus Christi, Texas, before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1958. He become a tactical instructor in 1965, while stationed in San Diego, Calif. He was wounded three times in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart. He then enlisted in the Air Force in 1968 and served mostly with the Air Police before retiring in 1978.
He joined the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department in 1981 and served 12 years.
As a disabled veteran, he was a member of the DAV, VFW, American Legion, Air Police Security Association, Knights of Columbus as a 4th Degree and the Fil-Am Association.
He served his country, family and friends with love and honor. He is now on the eternal road trip, rockin’ with the King, and slingin’ with the Duke.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Jude Catholic Church in Jacksonville. There will be a Rosary at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Rest Hills Cemetery in Sherwood. Funeral arrangements are by Wood Funeral Home in Jacksonville.
Frances Anne Milstead, 69, of Little Rock, formerly of Memphis, passed away Sept. 8 at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Little Rock. She was born Sept. 11, 1936 in Water Valley, Miss., to Odie Bruce and Mary Frances Vaughn Shuffield.
Following graduation from high school, she worked as an operating nurse in Water Valley. On June 2, 1956, she married Ray Milstead in Oxford, Miss. They moved to Memphis in 1958 and worked eight years for Holiday Press and two years for The Commercial Appeal as a book binder. She was a member of North Main Methodist Church in Water Valley.
She is survived by her husband, Ray Milstead; daughter, Maryanne Campbell of Little Rock; son and daughter-in-law, Bill and Elizabeth Milstead of Clinton, Miss.; three grandsons, Hunter Ray Campbell and Matthew and Jacob Milstead; two brothers, Odie Bruce Shuffield Jr. and Charles Allen Shuffield, and a sister, Linda Rae Shuffield, all of Water Valley, Miss.
Memorial services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday at North Main Methodist Church in Water Valley with Bro. Harold Jaudon officiating. Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home of Jacksonville. Memorials may be made to North Main Methodist Church, Water Valley, Miss.
HERBERT DAVID ELLISON, SR.
Herbert David Ellison, Sr., 64, of Jacksonville died Sept. 8 in Little Rock.
He was born May 27, 1942 in Freeport, N.Y., to the late Chester A. and Nancy R. Brambach Ellison, Sr. He was also preceded in death by a son, Herbert David Ellison, Jr.; granddaughters, Sydney and Paige and great-grandson, Ethan.
Ellison served in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in France, where he met his beautiful wife of 43 years, Barbara. Survivors include his wife, Barbara Ellison of Jacksonville; three sons, Robert Mark Ellison and his wife Diane and Chad A. Ellison and his wife Becky Jean, all of Austin, and Timothy Andrew Ellison of Jacksonville; five daughters, Kim Denise Hardin of Cabot, Kelly Doreen Kulback and her husband Jess of Deering, N.H., Kristy Dorn Flynn and her husband Michael of Benton, Betty Jane Houston and her husband John Ashley of Austin, Barbara Jean Winters and her husband Glenn of Hillsbro N.H.; three brothers, Robert Ellison of Palm Coast, Fla., Peter Ellison and his wife Janis of Wantaugh, N.Y., and Chester Ellison and his wife Carla of New London, N.H.; a sister, Nancy Conlon of West Palm Beach, Fla.; 32 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.
He was a loving and caring father and grandfather, who will be dearly missed.
A memorial service was held Sept. 11 at Grace Fellowship in Cabot. Funeral arrangements were by Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
IRENE BROCK
Irene Stacy Brock, 79, of Conway, died Friday, Sept. 8. She was born Jan. 23, 1927 to George Washington and Loula Stacy. She was of Baptist faith.
She was preceded in death by her husbands, James Lee Carmichael, Pat Mayo, Idis Deeter and Jim Brock; her father; and two sons, Donald Ray Carmichael and Frankie Lewis Mayo.
She is survived by her mother, Loula Stacy, age 102, of Pocahontas; her son, Larry Carmichael and wife Dianna of Wooster; two daughters, Rena Lee Outlaw and husband Tommy of Pine Bluff and Rebecca Lynn Milton and husband Gary of Springdale; nine grandchildren, and 18 great-grandchildren. Funeral was Sept. 12 at West-brook Funeral Home at Beebe with burial in Grissard Cemetery.
LARRY JOHNSON, SR.
Larry Joe Johnson Sr., 59, formerly of Lonoke, died Sept. 8. He was born March 28, 1947 to the late Leo and Kathryn Johnson in Little Rock. He was a retired truck driver, owner/operator of 20 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents and granddaughter, Brandi Parker. Survivors include his wife of 24 years, Kathy Johnson; one son, Larry and his wife Sherry Johnson, Jr. of Butlerville; two daughters, Laura and husband Danny Lackie of Ward and Shannon Benton of Lonoke; and two step-daughters, Jennifer and husband Jim Glass of Conway and Keni Overton of Mabelvale; 12 grandchildren; two sisters, Charlotte Johnson of Calif. and Bobbie Wilson of Ariz.; one very special friend Tommy Murphy and many other friends and relatives. A funeral service was held Sept. 12 at Boyd Funeral Home Chapel in Lonoke with burial in Hester Cemetery.
PAULINE LEE
Pauline Cordell Lee, 81, of Beebe went to be with the Lord at 11:30 p.m. Sept. 9. She died at home surrounded by friends and loved ones. She was born Feb. 2, 1925 to Elmer “Bigger” and Gliddie Cordell in White County. She was a retired waitress. She worked for Buck Powers’ Restaurant in Beebe and later for Anderson’s Restaurant in Beebe. She last worked as the hostess at McDonald’s in Beebe.
She is survived by one sister, Verna Pemberton of Beebe and a host of friends and neighbors who dearly loved her. Funeral services will be held at Westbrook Funeral Home in Beebe at 2 p.m Wednesday. Burial will be in Antioch Cemetery. Her pallbearers will be Richard Featherston, Gary Scroggs, Jim Allen, Ryan Allen, Lee Cales, Bobby Ginder and Glen Pledger.
JERRY BUTLER
Jerry Melvin Butler, 66, passed from this world on Sept. 9. He was born July 29, 1940, in Hope, to Luther Harold and Grace Samantha Powell Butler. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Nena Resolme Butler; two sons, Frank Owen Butler and jerry Wayne Butler; and two grandchildren.
He was a machinist in Corpus Christi, Texas, before enlisting in the U.S. Marine Corps in 1958. He become a tactical instructor in 1965, while stationed in San Diego, Calif. He was wounded three times in Vietnam and was awarded the Purple Heart. He then enlisted in the Air Force in 1968 and served mostly with the Air Police before retiring in 1978.
He joined the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department in 1981 and served 12 years.
As a disabled veteran, he was a member of the DAV, VFW, American Legion, Air Police Security Association, Knights of Columbus as a 4th Degree and the Fil-Am Association.
He served his country, family and friends with love and honor. He is now on the eternal road trip, rockin’ with the King, and slingin’ with the Duke.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Jude Catholic Church in Jacksonville. There will be a Rosary at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Burial will be in Rest Hills Cemetery in Sherwood. Funeral arrangements are by Wood Funeral Home in Jacksonville.
EDITORIAL>>Docudrama downfall
By ERNIE DUMAS
Editorial writer for The Leader
Impartial media may have become an oxymoron, but even in this day of jaded and sly journalism ABC’s five-hour documentary, or “docudrama,” “The Path to 9/11” is a monumental embarrassment. More than that, it is an affront to the American people. At least for living Americans, Sept. 11, 2001, remains the most monstrous day in U.S. history, and most people expect a high degree of reverence for the event and the memory of it. It brought the country, even the warring political parties in Washington, together for a remarkable period back there and on Monday, five years and many bruising battles later, all sides in Washington strove for some evenhandedness, some harmony, even if the shallow armistice was only for a single day.
But “The Path to 9/11,” which ran for two nights, was a jarring reminder of how the deep divisions in the country have corrupted nearly every institution. ABC, once the solid bellwether of the electronic media but now the property of the right-wing Walt Disney Co., exploited the nation’s mourning to put across the message that the terrorist attacks and all the sorrows that have followed lay at the feet of former President Bill Clinton. Disney produced the film and used its media property to circulate it.
An election is approaching and the docudrama was supposed to recast people’s reflections on the past five years in a more favorable light to the Bush administration. Blame and the worthiness of the administration’s efforts to punish the enemy and combat terrorism are perfectly good questions for argument, but it is dishonest to deliver one side’s message subliminally in a documentary that purports to be almost truthful. (A disclaimer did acknowledge that some characters were “composites” and that times were “compressed for dramatic purposes,” as if 9/11 itself were not sufficiently dramatic.)
The script was written by a friend of Rush Limbaugh, who, along with a handful of Republicans, was given a chance to review it before the airing. The upshot of the film was that Clinton and his surrogates twice had a chance to kill Osama bin Laden, but they were all too cowardly or dumb to pull the trigger. These stories cropped up in the months after 9/11 — often on Limbaugh’s show — but the 9/11 Commission, headed by a Republican politician, ferreted out the truth of those situations. Although the film purports to be based on the report of the 9/11 Commission whole scenes, narratives and dialogue frequently fly in the face of the report.
Everyone in the Clinton administration, from the president down to the ambassador to Yemen, Barbara K. Bodine, and unnamed bureaucrats are characterized as spineless or ignorant. Some scenes contradict incontrovertible fact. Richard A. Clarke, the counterterrorist chief who pressed both administrations to act more forcefully against terrorists and who now is a terrorism consultant to ABC, said the film was fiction.
American Airlines Monday condemned the film because it insinuated that the airline had ignored a warning about Mohammed Atta, the 9/11 ringleader, when he tried to check in at the Boston airport on 9/11 but waved him onto the plane anyway.
The film insinuated that the airline was negligent and violated federal rules. But every particular about the scene was wrong: the airport, the airline and what happened. The real airline, U.S. Airways, was not negligent either, the 9/11 Commission said.
Asked about the documentary at Little Rock the other day, Clinton said simply: “I think they ought to tell the truth.” It is as simple as that. And the truth was frightening enough.
Editorial writer for The Leader
Impartial media may have become an oxymoron, but even in this day of jaded and sly journalism ABC’s five-hour documentary, or “docudrama,” “The Path to 9/11” is a monumental embarrassment. More than that, it is an affront to the American people. At least for living Americans, Sept. 11, 2001, remains the most monstrous day in U.S. history, and most people expect a high degree of reverence for the event and the memory of it. It brought the country, even the warring political parties in Washington, together for a remarkable period back there and on Monday, five years and many bruising battles later, all sides in Washington strove for some evenhandedness, some harmony, even if the shallow armistice was only for a single day.
But “The Path to 9/11,” which ran for two nights, was a jarring reminder of how the deep divisions in the country have corrupted nearly every institution. ABC, once the solid bellwether of the electronic media but now the property of the right-wing Walt Disney Co., exploited the nation’s mourning to put across the message that the terrorist attacks and all the sorrows that have followed lay at the feet of former President Bill Clinton. Disney produced the film and used its media property to circulate it.
An election is approaching and the docudrama was supposed to recast people’s reflections on the past five years in a more favorable light to the Bush administration. Blame and the worthiness of the administration’s efforts to punish the enemy and combat terrorism are perfectly good questions for argument, but it is dishonest to deliver one side’s message subliminally in a documentary that purports to be almost truthful. (A disclaimer did acknowledge that some characters were “composites” and that times were “compressed for dramatic purposes,” as if 9/11 itself were not sufficiently dramatic.)
The script was written by a friend of Rush Limbaugh, who, along with a handful of Republicans, was given a chance to review it before the airing. The upshot of the film was that Clinton and his surrogates twice had a chance to kill Osama bin Laden, but they were all too cowardly or dumb to pull the trigger. These stories cropped up in the months after 9/11 — often on Limbaugh’s show — but the 9/11 Commission, headed by a Republican politician, ferreted out the truth of those situations. Although the film purports to be based on the report of the 9/11 Commission whole scenes, narratives and dialogue frequently fly in the face of the report.
Everyone in the Clinton administration, from the president down to the ambassador to Yemen, Barbara K. Bodine, and unnamed bureaucrats are characterized as spineless or ignorant. Some scenes contradict incontrovertible fact. Richard A. Clarke, the counterterrorist chief who pressed both administrations to act more forcefully against terrorists and who now is a terrorism consultant to ABC, said the film was fiction.
American Airlines Monday condemned the film because it insinuated that the airline had ignored a warning about Mohammed Atta, the 9/11 ringleader, when he tried to check in at the Boston airport on 9/11 but waved him onto the plane anyway.
The film insinuated that the airline was negligent and violated federal rules. But every particular about the scene was wrong: the airport, the airline and what happened. The real airline, U.S. Airways, was not negligent either, the 9/11 Commission said.
Asked about the documentary at Little Rock the other day, Clinton said simply: “I think they ought to tell the truth.” It is as simple as that. And the truth was frightening enough.
FROM THE PUBLISHER >> Honoring heroes in a time of terrorism
Sgt. Synnora Guinn of the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department was decked out in her Scottish regalia and played “Amazing Grace” on her bag pipes at the end of a ceremony Monday honoring America’s heroes. She stood outside a wide door at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History while those at the ceremony stood and listened inside, candles flickering in the dimly lit room because some lights had gone out, but that made for an even more moving ceremony.
Some of the people closed their eyes and held back tears, and they may have imagined they were at the World Trade Center, where the sounds of Scottish bagpipes are heard at every memorial service. It had stopped raining just before the ceremony, which was moved inside because of the rain. The sun had set and candles flickered inside as Ms. Guinn’s mournful sounds filled the big room in front of her and the night air beyond her.
She stood outside the museum, not far from the tall veterans monument, and motorists must have heard Ms. Guinn’s bagpipes, which is now the instrument of choice when America mourns its dead. Kyla Horton sang “The Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America,” our second anthem, which is much easier to sing than the first and sounds better, too.
Current and past military commanders at Little Rock Air Force Base were in attendance, including Brig. Gen. Kip Self and retired Col. Roy Hart and Col. Bill Kehler.
The Kehlers’ son, First Lt. Timothy W. Kehler, who died during a training mission, was among those honored during a long roll call of local heroes. Those participating at the ceremony, like all Americans, were relieved there were no attacks on America on this Sept. 11. Al Qaeda is weakened, to be sure: It could not pull off a terrorist attack on the fifth anniversary of 9/11. All it could do was release a lousy video that threatened more attacks, but al Qaeda is on the run, probably low on funds and many of its followers dead or in custody.
Yet, the U.S. remains vulnerable, as we saw Tuesday, when fanatics tried to attack the U.S. Embassy in Damascus. Their bombs didn’t go off, and perhaps they were free-lance terrorists unaffiliated with bin Laden, but you get the feeling that these suicide bombers are not radical Islam’s best and brightest. But one day, it will take only an evil genius to get his hands on a nuclear device and set it off in the middle of a large city. Let us hope that terrible day will never come.
Some of the people closed their eyes and held back tears, and they may have imagined they were at the World Trade Center, where the sounds of Scottish bagpipes are heard at every memorial service. It had stopped raining just before the ceremony, which was moved inside because of the rain. The sun had set and candles flickered inside as Ms. Guinn’s mournful sounds filled the big room in front of her and the night air beyond her.
She stood outside the museum, not far from the tall veterans monument, and motorists must have heard Ms. Guinn’s bagpipes, which is now the instrument of choice when America mourns its dead. Kyla Horton sang “The Star Spangled Banner” and “God Bless America,” our second anthem, which is much easier to sing than the first and sounds better, too.
Current and past military commanders at Little Rock Air Force Base were in attendance, including Brig. Gen. Kip Self and retired Col. Roy Hart and Col. Bill Kehler.
The Kehlers’ son, First Lt. Timothy W. Kehler, who died during a training mission, was among those honored during a long roll call of local heroes. Those participating at the ceremony, like all Americans, were relieved there were no attacks on America on this Sept. 11. Al Qaeda is weakened, to be sure: It could not pull off a terrorist attack on the fifth anniversary of 9/11. All it could do was release a lousy video that threatened more attacks, but al Qaeda is on the run, probably low on funds and many of its followers dead or in custody.
Yet, the U.S. remains vulnerable, as we saw Tuesday, when fanatics tried to attack the U.S. Embassy in Damascus. Their bombs didn’t go off, and perhaps they were free-lance terrorists unaffiliated with bin Laden, but you get the feeling that these suicide bombers are not radical Islam’s best and brightest. But one day, it will take only an evil genius to get his hands on a nuclear device and set it off in the middle of a large city. Let us hope that terrible day will never come.
TOP STORY >>Colonel:U.S. must continue terror war
By SARA GREENE
Leader staff writer
If America withdraws its forces from Iraq too soon, there will be more attacks like those five years ago on 9/11, according to Col. Mike Ross, commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade, Arkansas Army National Guard, at Camp Robinson. “You can’t put a timeline on stabilizing Iraq. It’s mission oriented. The insurgency eventually will go away under the burden of its own oppression. You can only kill so many of your own people before the people say ‘enough is enough’ and stand up,” Ross said. “My personal opinion is the only way we will lose this war is to pull out prematurely. It is a battle of wills,” Ross said, addressing the Jacksonville Rotary Club Monday.
America has more at stake today than it did in World War II, Ross said. Leaving Iraq would give al Qaeda the psychological edge to continue attacking America and enlist allies, he said. In March 2004, the 39th Infantry Brigade arrived in Iraq and spent 13 months in the sand, training Iraqi forces, fighting insurgents and rebuilding both urban and rural infrastructure. Arkansas soldiers provided medical care, rebuilt schools and built water-treatment facilities around Fallujah and Taji.
“That’s how you win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. The little kids over there, they like electricity, they like televisions and air conditioning. We’re not going to change a lot of the mindset of the Iraqi people there today but we are changing the mindset of the future generations. They like having something to look forward to,” Ross told The Leader.
Before the U.S. arrived, hardly anyone in Iraq had electricity, much less a radio or television. Now electricity is available in most areas and many homes have a television satellite dish on the roof. Cars are becoming more common and Iraqis are learning to deal with traffic jams.
The soldiers of the 39th Infantry Brigade brought skills from their civilian jobs to help make a difference for Iraqis. Skills like welding, plumbing and electrical engineering are put to use. Upon returning from Iraq, Ross said he expected a 40 to 50 percent reenlistment rate. So far, it’s been closer to 80 percent.
The soldiers he talks to tell Ross their civilian jobs don’t seem as important as helping the people of Iraq. Besides Iraq, Arkansas soldiers have provided tornado and ice storm support within the state. Last year, more than 3,000 Arkansas soldiers went to the Gulf Coast after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Some 1,700 Guard troops are mobilized for overseas missions in support of the global war on terror, as well as stateside in support of Operation Jump Start, a support mission to the Department of Homeland Security and the Customs and Border Protection Service (CBP) to quell illegal immigration.
Leader staff writer
If America withdraws its forces from Iraq too soon, there will be more attacks like those five years ago on 9/11, according to Col. Mike Ross, commander of the 39th Infantry Brigade, Arkansas Army National Guard, at Camp Robinson. “You can’t put a timeline on stabilizing Iraq. It’s mission oriented. The insurgency eventually will go away under the burden of its own oppression. You can only kill so many of your own people before the people say ‘enough is enough’ and stand up,” Ross said. “My personal opinion is the only way we will lose this war is to pull out prematurely. It is a battle of wills,” Ross said, addressing the Jacksonville Rotary Club Monday.
America has more at stake today than it did in World War II, Ross said. Leaving Iraq would give al Qaeda the psychological edge to continue attacking America and enlist allies, he said. In March 2004, the 39th Infantry Brigade arrived in Iraq and spent 13 months in the sand, training Iraqi forces, fighting insurgents and rebuilding both urban and rural infrastructure. Arkansas soldiers provided medical care, rebuilt schools and built water-treatment facilities around Fallujah and Taji.
“That’s how you win the hearts and minds of the Iraqi people. The little kids over there, they like electricity, they like televisions and air conditioning. We’re not going to change a lot of the mindset of the Iraqi people there today but we are changing the mindset of the future generations. They like having something to look forward to,” Ross told The Leader.
Before the U.S. arrived, hardly anyone in Iraq had electricity, much less a radio or television. Now electricity is available in most areas and many homes have a television satellite dish on the roof. Cars are becoming more common and Iraqis are learning to deal with traffic jams.
The soldiers of the 39th Infantry Brigade brought skills from their civilian jobs to help make a difference for Iraqis. Skills like welding, plumbing and electrical engineering are put to use. Upon returning from Iraq, Ross said he expected a 40 to 50 percent reenlistment rate. So far, it’s been closer to 80 percent.
The soldiers he talks to tell Ross their civilian jobs don’t seem as important as helping the people of Iraq. Besides Iraq, Arkansas soldiers have provided tornado and ice storm support within the state. Last year, more than 3,000 Arkansas soldiers went to the Gulf Coast after hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Some 1,700 Guard troops are mobilized for overseas missions in support of the global war on terror, as well as stateside in support of Operation Jump Start, a support mission to the Department of Homeland Security and the Customs and Border Protection Service (CBP) to quell illegal immigration.
TOP STORY >>HUD probe sees widespread mismanagement
By PEG KENYON
Leader staff writer
The former director of the Jacksonville Housing Authority admitted to fraud in a report The Leader obtained from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The report outlines findings of a federal audit of the agency earlier this year. The Jacksonville Housing Authority, which oversees the Max Howell Place apartment complex and disbursement of rent vouchers, caught the attention of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Executive director Virginia Simmons resigned from her JHA post shortly after the audit. She had been executive director for 14 years. The report also said the agency had concerns over lack of security and a lack of response to what should have been emergency work orders. In mid-June the federal agency asked for contracts and work orders for more than $132,000 spent by the housing authority. HUD officials wanted to scrutinize all contracts and purchase orders and asked that they be pulled and available for June 28. On June 27, a JHA employee informed HUD that Simmons had directed her to create four contracts and to call contractors to come to the office and sign the contracts.
THE REVIEW
On the same day, Simmons “admitted to Mr. Jesse Westover, Public Housing director, Little Rock Field Office, that she had falsely reported program obligation under the FY 2003 Capital Fund Program on Sept. 15, 2005 in the amount of $132,788.11,” according to the HUD review document. HUD officials concluded that these actions were taken in an attempt on the part of the then JHA executive director to document evidence to support contracts had legitimately been entered into before the obligation end date of Sept. 16, 2005.
The review also alleges that the local housing authority “did not properly advertise for bids in excess of $25,000” or adequately keep documentation of solicitations. Those deficiencies may require further investigation, according to HUD officials. Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim, who received a copy of the HUD review, cites this as one of the two biggest issues facing the JHA. “They’re still investigating and there could be ramifications over this,” Swaim said. Mismanagement was a problem, he said. While looking over the work order log at JHA, the HUD review’s team noticed there were no work orders listed as being an “emergency.” The team found this unusually “rare” for a housing authority of this size.
The review claims that a work order denoting “‘tenant smells gas’” should have been listed as an emergency work order. The conclusion would be that the JHA should determine what should be classified as emergency work orders.
MEMBERS RESIGN
Coinciding with the HUD review, three members — Ferrell Gray, Robert Colford and Robert Whatley — of the JHA Board of Commissioners followed in Simmons’ footsteps and also resigned. A fourth member, Johnny Moory, had previously resigned due to an illness in the family. The sole remaining commissioner, Fred West, is now hospitalized, according to one of the employees at his State Farm Insurance firm.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, The Leader received the HUD document with the outcome of the review, which was conducted by Corey Grant, public housing revitalization specialist; Johnny Wooley, facilities management specialist; and Sandra King financial analyst. A letter to Mary Boyd, interim executive director for JHA, requested a written response detailing actions taken or planned to address “concerns” contained in the report.
Boyd was not available for comment because she had left to attend training from the state’s National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials organization, according to Barbara Boyd, deputy director at JHA. On Tuesday afternoon, Barbara Boyd said the HUD review was a surprise to her. “We haven’t seen this at all,” she said.
Boyd explained that she was also getting ready to leave for training at the state’s chapter of NAHRA. She said the review would be sent to the interim executive director of the JHA..
SPECIAL REQUEST
With the paperwork obtained through the FOI request is a letter to Mary Boyd, the interim director, requesting a written response detailing actions taken or planned to address “concerns” contained in the review. Those concerns focused on recaptured funds of $23,780 from a fiscal year 2001 program and $5,430 from a fiscal year 2002 program “due to poor program implementation,” according to the document’s summary.
It reads, “The JHA has had problems in the past in regards to documenting and reported to HUD the obligations and expenditures for their CFP (capital funding).” This led to more concerns by HUD dealing with obligations and expenditures for the fiscal year of 2003 because Simmons “waited until one day prior to the program obligations end date to report to funding obligations.…” The amount figure was listed as $132,788. 11. The document noted no disbursements on the obligations until four months later. The review referred to this action as being “odd due to the small amounts” disbursed on the large obligation amount.
Based on past concerns, Jesse Westover, director of the Office of Public Housing, at a June 19 meeting asked Simmons if the JHA had “documentation, executed contracts and/or purchase orders” regarding the $132,788.11. Simmons claimed all the funds reported on Sept. 15, 2005 were either under a contract and/or purchase orders. It was shortly after this that Simmons asked JHA employees for backdated contracts to be drawn up, according to the report.
DISCREPANCIES
In day-to-day operations of the JHA, a HUD review team pointed out possible flaws ranging from personnel policy having not been properly followed to a security officer allegedly seldom seen on the premises. “The security officer is paid a set salary bi-weekly whether he reviews background reports or not,” the document states. The security officer is “not” providing a weekly report of services performed and the review team noted seeing “several messages” between three to 10 days old” left for him by applicants, according to the document.
Employees reported that the security officer is only seen in the office when he signs his time sheets and picks up his paycheck. Additionally, the local housing authority accepts cash for rent payments. “Even though the money is deposited on a daily basis, there is no safeguard over cash nor is rent being collected in a safe secured area,” per HUD Handbook 7511.1, Chapter 3, Section 1. The review indicates that JHA’s personnel policy needs to be revised, adopted by the Board of Commissioners, and then “fully” implemented.
The review uncovered that a maintenance employee was suspended for 10 days without pay but the personnel policy allows for a maximum of seven days without pay. The JHA Board of Commissioners was made aware of the situation and the employee was able to return to work and was being paid for the time off, according to the review team. An independent audit report for 2005 contained one finding for the Housing Choice Voucher Program. The finding was, “Four of the 35 tenant files reviewed lacked adequate documentation.” A similar finding was discovered in 2004.
Leader staff writer
The former director of the Jacksonville Housing Authority admitted to fraud in a report The Leader obtained from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The report outlines findings of a federal audit of the agency earlier this year. The Jacksonville Housing Authority, which oversees the Max Howell Place apartment complex and disbursement of rent vouchers, caught the attention of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Executive director Virginia Simmons resigned from her JHA post shortly after the audit. She had been executive director for 14 years. The report also said the agency had concerns over lack of security and a lack of response to what should have been emergency work orders. In mid-June the federal agency asked for contracts and work orders for more than $132,000 spent by the housing authority. HUD officials wanted to scrutinize all contracts and purchase orders and asked that they be pulled and available for June 28. On June 27, a JHA employee informed HUD that Simmons had directed her to create four contracts and to call contractors to come to the office and sign the contracts.
THE REVIEW
On the same day, Simmons “admitted to Mr. Jesse Westover, Public Housing director, Little Rock Field Office, that she had falsely reported program obligation under the FY 2003 Capital Fund Program on Sept. 15, 2005 in the amount of $132,788.11,” according to the HUD review document. HUD officials concluded that these actions were taken in an attempt on the part of the then JHA executive director to document evidence to support contracts had legitimately been entered into before the obligation end date of Sept. 16, 2005.
The review also alleges that the local housing authority “did not properly advertise for bids in excess of $25,000” or adequately keep documentation of solicitations. Those deficiencies may require further investigation, according to HUD officials. Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim, who received a copy of the HUD review, cites this as one of the two biggest issues facing the JHA. “They’re still investigating and there could be ramifications over this,” Swaim said. Mismanagement was a problem, he said. While looking over the work order log at JHA, the HUD review’s team noticed there were no work orders listed as being an “emergency.” The team found this unusually “rare” for a housing authority of this size.
The review claims that a work order denoting “‘tenant smells gas’” should have been listed as an emergency work order. The conclusion would be that the JHA should determine what should be classified as emergency work orders.
MEMBERS RESIGN
Coinciding with the HUD review, three members — Ferrell Gray, Robert Colford and Robert Whatley — of the JHA Board of Commissioners followed in Simmons’ footsteps and also resigned. A fourth member, Johnny Moory, had previously resigned due to an illness in the family. The sole remaining commissioner, Fred West, is now hospitalized, according to one of the employees at his State Farm Insurance firm.
Under the Freedom of Information Act, The Leader received the HUD document with the outcome of the review, which was conducted by Corey Grant, public housing revitalization specialist; Johnny Wooley, facilities management specialist; and Sandra King financial analyst. A letter to Mary Boyd, interim executive director for JHA, requested a written response detailing actions taken or planned to address “concerns” contained in the report.
Boyd was not available for comment because she had left to attend training from the state’s National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials organization, according to Barbara Boyd, deputy director at JHA. On Tuesday afternoon, Barbara Boyd said the HUD review was a surprise to her. “We haven’t seen this at all,” she said.
Boyd explained that she was also getting ready to leave for training at the state’s chapter of NAHRA. She said the review would be sent to the interim executive director of the JHA..
SPECIAL REQUEST
With the paperwork obtained through the FOI request is a letter to Mary Boyd, the interim director, requesting a written response detailing actions taken or planned to address “concerns” contained in the review. Those concerns focused on recaptured funds of $23,780 from a fiscal year 2001 program and $5,430 from a fiscal year 2002 program “due to poor program implementation,” according to the document’s summary.
It reads, “The JHA has had problems in the past in regards to documenting and reported to HUD the obligations and expenditures for their CFP (capital funding).” This led to more concerns by HUD dealing with obligations and expenditures for the fiscal year of 2003 because Simmons “waited until one day prior to the program obligations end date to report to funding obligations.…” The amount figure was listed as $132,788. 11. The document noted no disbursements on the obligations until four months later. The review referred to this action as being “odd due to the small amounts” disbursed on the large obligation amount.
Based on past concerns, Jesse Westover, director of the Office of Public Housing, at a June 19 meeting asked Simmons if the JHA had “documentation, executed contracts and/or purchase orders” regarding the $132,788.11. Simmons claimed all the funds reported on Sept. 15, 2005 were either under a contract and/or purchase orders. It was shortly after this that Simmons asked JHA employees for backdated contracts to be drawn up, according to the report.
DISCREPANCIES
In day-to-day operations of the JHA, a HUD review team pointed out possible flaws ranging from personnel policy having not been properly followed to a security officer allegedly seldom seen on the premises. “The security officer is paid a set salary bi-weekly whether he reviews background reports or not,” the document states. The security officer is “not” providing a weekly report of services performed and the review team noted seeing “several messages” between three to 10 days old” left for him by applicants, according to the document.
Employees reported that the security officer is only seen in the office when he signs his time sheets and picks up his paycheck. Additionally, the local housing authority accepts cash for rent payments. “Even though the money is deposited on a daily basis, there is no safeguard over cash nor is rent being collected in a safe secured area,” per HUD Handbook 7511.1, Chapter 3, Section 1. The review indicates that JHA’s personnel policy needs to be revised, adopted by the Board of Commissioners, and then “fully” implemented.
The review uncovered that a maintenance employee was suspended for 10 days without pay but the personnel policy allows for a maximum of seven days without pay. The JHA Board of Commissioners was made aware of the situation and the employee was able to return to work and was being paid for the time off, according to the review team. An independent audit report for 2005 contained one finding for the Housing Choice Voucher Program. The finding was, “Four of the 35 tenant files reviewed lacked adequate documentation.” A similar finding was discovered in 2004.
TOP STORY >>Cabot count will kick off in November
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
Workers for a special census that will be underway by mid-November in Cabot could be headquartered in the old Community Bank building beside city hall that the city plans to buy. The special census will cost about $300,000 and is expected to bring in about that much in additional state revenue every year for the next three years until the regular census is completed in 2010. Metroplan estimates that the city’s population has grown 41.4 percent, from 15,261 to 21,575, since the Karen Davis, director of operations for the city, said she has been instructed by the U.S. Census Bureau to find 150 applicants to fill 50 to 60 positions.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation. The census should be completed in three to five weeks. Workers will be paid $9.75 to $10.75 an hour for mostly evening and weekend work.
Davis said although the hope is that all the applications will be in by Sept. 29 so testing can begin the first week of October, realistically some will probably be hired later.
Testing will be held in the city annex, but if the Census Bureau says the bank building meets its security requirements, it could be the headquarters for the counting. The city is leasing the bank building for $3,500 a month with the option of buying it after five or 10 years. The bank offered to sell the building to the city for $1.1 million.
Since the city has opted to lease it instead, the lease money will go toward the purchase price. If the city leases for five years the purchase price will be $890,000. After 10 years of leasing the purchase price would be $678,000. The council passed a resolution in June giving Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh and clerk-treasurer Marva Verker authority to negotiate the purchase of the building.
Stumbaugh told the council Monday night during a special council meeting that the city will begin leasing the building Oct. 1.
As part of the negotiations, the bank will continue to use about one-third of the building for up to 10 months while a new building is under construction on Main Street and will sublease the space at the old building from the city for $1,218 a month. Dickson Flake, who negotiated the deal between the bank and the city, told the council that Tracy French, the bank’s chief executive officer, should receive the credit for the city getting the building under market value.
“He’s really extended himself personally,” Flake said.
Stumbaugh also spoke briefly about the lease-to-own arrangement the city is entering into with the bank. “It’s almost like borrowing money with no interest,” he said. The bank building will eventually be used for city offices which will allow the police department to expand out of the basement at city hall. But Stumbaugh, who is running for Congress in the First District, told the council he doesn’t intend to move his office this year.
The new mayor will get the new office, he said. Verkler also said she doesn’t plan to move this year. The bank building will need to be remodeled before city workers move in, she said. Davis said applications to work on the census may be picked up at city hall in Cabot or downloaded from the city’s website at www.cabotar.gov. Davis said she is asking the Cabot Chamber of Commerce, local churches, ASU-Beebe and the unemployment office in Jacksonville to help get the word out that census workers are needed.
Leader staff writer
Workers for a special census that will be underway by mid-November in Cabot could be headquartered in the old Community Bank building beside city hall that the city plans to buy. The special census will cost about $300,000 and is expected to bring in about that much in additional state revenue every year for the next three years until the regular census is completed in 2010. Metroplan estimates that the city’s population has grown 41.4 percent, from 15,261 to 21,575, since the Karen Davis, director of operations for the city, said she has been instructed by the U.S. Census Bureau to find 150 applicants to fill 50 to 60 positions.
Applicants must be at least 18 years old with a valid driver’s license and access to reliable transportation. The census should be completed in three to five weeks. Workers will be paid $9.75 to $10.75 an hour for mostly evening and weekend work.
Davis said although the hope is that all the applications will be in by Sept. 29 so testing can begin the first week of October, realistically some will probably be hired later.
Testing will be held in the city annex, but if the Census Bureau says the bank building meets its security requirements, it could be the headquarters for the counting. The city is leasing the bank building for $3,500 a month with the option of buying it after five or 10 years. The bank offered to sell the building to the city for $1.1 million.
Since the city has opted to lease it instead, the lease money will go toward the purchase price. If the city leases for five years the purchase price will be $890,000. After 10 years of leasing the purchase price would be $678,000. The council passed a resolution in June giving Mayor Stubby Stumbaugh and clerk-treasurer Marva Verker authority to negotiate the purchase of the building.
Stumbaugh told the council Monday night during a special council meeting that the city will begin leasing the building Oct. 1.
As part of the negotiations, the bank will continue to use about one-third of the building for up to 10 months while a new building is under construction on Main Street and will sublease the space at the old building from the city for $1,218 a month. Dickson Flake, who negotiated the deal between the bank and the city, told the council that Tracy French, the bank’s chief executive officer, should receive the credit for the city getting the building under market value.
“He’s really extended himself personally,” Flake said.
Stumbaugh also spoke briefly about the lease-to-own arrangement the city is entering into with the bank. “It’s almost like borrowing money with no interest,” he said. The bank building will eventually be used for city offices which will allow the police department to expand out of the basement at city hall. But Stumbaugh, who is running for Congress in the First District, told the council he doesn’t intend to move his office this year.
The new mayor will get the new office, he said. Verkler also said she doesn’t plan to move this year. The bank building will need to be remodeled before city workers move in, she said. Davis said applications to work on the census may be picked up at city hall in Cabot or downloaded from the city’s website at www.cabotar.gov. Davis said she is asking the Cabot Chamber of Commerce, local churches, ASU-Beebe and the unemployment office in Jacksonville to help get the word out that census workers are needed.
TOP STORY >>Sales tax for jail is rejected by voters
By JOHN HOFHEIMER and RICK KRON
Leader staff writer
All of the Pulaski County mayors were for it. So were all the chiefs of police, chambers of commerce and police fraternal organizations. But the voters said no on Tuesday. With nearly all precincts reporting, 16,112 Pulaski County residents voted against the proposed quarter-cent sales tax, while 12,088 voted for it.
The quarter-cent sales tax, which would have raised about $17 million annually, was to be dedicated to building new Pulaski County jail facilities, fixing old ones and running them. Tax collections would have started in January, according to County Judge Floyd “Buddy” Villines. Two previous attempts to pass similar jail taxes failed. “I believe we have a lot of people roaming the streets that need to be in jail,” Villines said. “I’m really concerned. “It didn’t do well in North Little Rock, “said Villines. “There was a lot of voter uncertainty. It just wasn’t going to happen.”
The county spends about $16.8 million to fund jail operations, according to Villines, and each of the county’s eight municipalities chip in a percentage. Jacksonville kicks in $125,000 annually. The judge said that unless the cities kick in another $800,000 to $1 million next year, as they did this year, the county would have to reduce the number of jail beds from 880 to 800 from a recent level of 1,125.
Because of a late, but growing, anti-tax sentiment, Villines had projected at least 34,000 to 40,000 voters would be needed to pass the levy. As it turned out, fewer than 30,000 residents voted. Villines has said that the original capacity of the current detention center wasn’t enough to sustain projected inmate increases, even when it opened in 1994. “By the time we opened 800, we needed 1,300 to 1,400 beds,” he said. “We’ve been 10 years on the slide and have hit the wall.”
The quorum court, sheriff’s department, mayors and others will now have to look at alternative ways to add extra beds to the jail or find other ways of dealing with criminals. Asked if there were any other options, Villines said, “I don’t know of any. The task force looked. They didn’t find any. We’ll just finance the operation we have.”
Past recommendations have included reopening the warehouse work center, using private firms to house medium and low-risk inmates, generate revenue by assessments such as those added to county services, create a plea-bargain arrangement to “move prisoners through the system” faster and lobby the state to increase county funding for housing inmates until they are transferred to prison. Villines had pushed for this special election, which cost the county about $100,000.
In meetings this summer, Villines stressed the importance of holding a special election as soon as possible in order to avoid muddling the issue with the general elections in November. The infusion of new, dedicated money would have allowed the county to hold about 1,618 inmates once the entire building and repair plan was completed by 2008.
The current jail facility has been closed to all but violent offenders since before January and the County Detention Center, which must house all inmates in the county, has been reduced from 1,125 beds to 880 beds in the last year.
Leader staff writer
All of the Pulaski County mayors were for it. So were all the chiefs of police, chambers of commerce and police fraternal organizations. But the voters said no on Tuesday. With nearly all precincts reporting, 16,112 Pulaski County residents voted against the proposed quarter-cent sales tax, while 12,088 voted for it.
The quarter-cent sales tax, which would have raised about $17 million annually, was to be dedicated to building new Pulaski County jail facilities, fixing old ones and running them. Tax collections would have started in January, according to County Judge Floyd “Buddy” Villines. Two previous attempts to pass similar jail taxes failed. “I believe we have a lot of people roaming the streets that need to be in jail,” Villines said. “I’m really concerned. “It didn’t do well in North Little Rock, “said Villines. “There was a lot of voter uncertainty. It just wasn’t going to happen.”
The county spends about $16.8 million to fund jail operations, according to Villines, and each of the county’s eight municipalities chip in a percentage. Jacksonville kicks in $125,000 annually. The judge said that unless the cities kick in another $800,000 to $1 million next year, as they did this year, the county would have to reduce the number of jail beds from 880 to 800 from a recent level of 1,125.
Because of a late, but growing, anti-tax sentiment, Villines had projected at least 34,000 to 40,000 voters would be needed to pass the levy. As it turned out, fewer than 30,000 residents voted. Villines has said that the original capacity of the current detention center wasn’t enough to sustain projected inmate increases, even when it opened in 1994. “By the time we opened 800, we needed 1,300 to 1,400 beds,” he said. “We’ve been 10 years on the slide and have hit the wall.”
The quorum court, sheriff’s department, mayors and others will now have to look at alternative ways to add extra beds to the jail or find other ways of dealing with criminals. Asked if there were any other options, Villines said, “I don’t know of any. The task force looked. They didn’t find any. We’ll just finance the operation we have.”
Past recommendations have included reopening the warehouse work center, using private firms to house medium and low-risk inmates, generate revenue by assessments such as those added to county services, create a plea-bargain arrangement to “move prisoners through the system” faster and lobby the state to increase county funding for housing inmates until they are transferred to prison. Villines had pushed for this special election, which cost the county about $100,000.
In meetings this summer, Villines stressed the importance of holding a special election as soon as possible in order to avoid muddling the issue with the general elections in November. The infusion of new, dedicated money would have allowed the county to hold about 1,618 inmates once the entire building and repair plan was completed by 2008.
The current jail facility has been closed to all but violent offenders since before January and the County Detention Center, which must house all inmates in the county, has been reduced from 1,125 beds to 880 beds in the last year.
TOP STORY >>9/11 A day of remembrance
By PEG KENYON
Leader staff writer
Five years ago on Sept. 11, U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder (D-Ark.) and other congressmen gathered outside the House of Representatives, grieving after three commercial airliners captured by terrorists killed thousands of Americans on U.S. soil.
“We were just all standing around, and then someone two rows in front of me started singing ‘God Bless America,’” Snyder said Monday on the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
Snyder was the main speaker at the first Honor and Remembrance ceremony at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History.
Snyder said America will always remember the tragedies at the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington and a sparsely populated area in Pennsylvania.
“I think, five years out, we’re not ever going to forget the people lost that day,” Snyder told the crowd. “And we come together to remember them and to rededicate ourselves to a great America.” Snyder talked about ways to help America reach its potential. His plan includes Americans adopting a “can-do spirit” to bolster its moral authority and working on national and world economic problems, keeping a “strong, smart military” ready for war, and increasing cross-cultural understanding.
After referring to cross-cultural understanding, Snyder stressed that America has a “pretty dismal” track record when it comes to speaking and understanding foreign languages.
“It’s not some leftover touchy- feely thing of the 60s,” Snyder quipped. Snyder said the U.S. is facing a difficult challenge in the war on terror. “We need proper equipping of the Iraqi military, improving their court system, having jobs available to them and reconstructing Iraq,” Snyder told The Leader. “There’s been a lot of wasted money on construction over there.”
Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim welcomed the crowd on this “solemn, joyous occasion, if that’s possible.”
The joyous side to the event was dedicating a new flagpole donated by the Woodmen of the World. Area manager, Howard Harts, said 2,000 flagpoles have been donated so far. The solemn portion included the presentation of a black wreath with white calla lilies descending from one side and the playing of Taps. The ceremony included the reading of roll calls of area heroes from law enforcement, firefighters/emergency medical personnel, the U.S. military, the Arkansas National Guard and civilians.
The roll call of heroes started with Lt. Williams Shelley, and names kept on flowing as other officials stepped up to the microphone with more names of local heroes. Shelley is a member of the Jacksonville police force. He received the Medal of Valor in 2005. Each toll of a bell denoted those who received the recognition posthumously. After each of the five categories of heroes, a candle was lit to honor them.
After the event, Brig. Gen. Kip Self, commander at Little Rock Air Force Base, told The Leader he was at Fort Campbell, Ky., when he heard of the 9/11 terrorist attack five years ago. “We were shocked,” Self said. “There was this tremendous heartache for the loss….and two weeks later, I was heading to Afghanistan.”
Leader staff writer
Five years ago on Sept. 11, U.S. Rep. Vic Snyder (D-Ark.) and other congressmen gathered outside the House of Representatives, grieving after three commercial airliners captured by terrorists killed thousands of Americans on U.S. soil.
“We were just all standing around, and then someone two rows in front of me started singing ‘God Bless America,’” Snyder said Monday on the fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks.
Snyder was the main speaker at the first Honor and Remembrance ceremony at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History.
Snyder said America will always remember the tragedies at the World Trade Center towers in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington and a sparsely populated area in Pennsylvania.
“I think, five years out, we’re not ever going to forget the people lost that day,” Snyder told the crowd. “And we come together to remember them and to rededicate ourselves to a great America.” Snyder talked about ways to help America reach its potential. His plan includes Americans adopting a “can-do spirit” to bolster its moral authority and working on national and world economic problems, keeping a “strong, smart military” ready for war, and increasing cross-cultural understanding.
After referring to cross-cultural understanding, Snyder stressed that America has a “pretty dismal” track record when it comes to speaking and understanding foreign languages.
“It’s not some leftover touchy- feely thing of the 60s,” Snyder quipped. Snyder said the U.S. is facing a difficult challenge in the war on terror. “We need proper equipping of the Iraqi military, improving their court system, having jobs available to them and reconstructing Iraq,” Snyder told The Leader. “There’s been a lot of wasted money on construction over there.”
Jacksonville Mayor Tommy Swaim welcomed the crowd on this “solemn, joyous occasion, if that’s possible.”
The joyous side to the event was dedicating a new flagpole donated by the Woodmen of the World. Area manager, Howard Harts, said 2,000 flagpoles have been donated so far. The solemn portion included the presentation of a black wreath with white calla lilies descending from one side and the playing of Taps. The ceremony included the reading of roll calls of area heroes from law enforcement, firefighters/emergency medical personnel, the U.S. military, the Arkansas National Guard and civilians.
The roll call of heroes started with Lt. Williams Shelley, and names kept on flowing as other officials stepped up to the microphone with more names of local heroes. Shelley is a member of the Jacksonville police force. He received the Medal of Valor in 2005. Each toll of a bell denoted those who received the recognition posthumously. After each of the five categories of heroes, a candle was lit to honor them.
After the event, Brig. Gen. Kip Self, commander at Little Rock Air Force Base, told The Leader he was at Fort Campbell, Ky., when he heard of the 9/11 terrorist attack five years ago. “We were shocked,” Self said. “There was this tremendous heartache for the loss….and two weeks later, I was heading to Afghanistan.”
Saturday, September 09, 2006
SPORTS >>Panthers fall to defending champion Russellville
By JASON KING
Leader sports writer
When the Lady Panthers had momentum, they were brilliant. Without it, they were ineffective against defending state champions Russellville Thursday night at the Panther gymnasium. The Lady Cyclones took the match 3-1, with a strong third set from Cabot interrupting an otherwise dominating performance for Russellville.
Russellville took the first two sets 25-19 and 25-14 respectively, but the Lady Panthers stepped up in the third set, holding a narrow lead most of the distance to claim a 26-24 win after the Lady Cyclones threatened to steal the frame with a late rally.
Despite a strong showing in the third set, Cabot looked downright out of gas in the fourth and final set. Russellville used its slight depth advantage to easily seal the match with a 25-16 win in the final set.
The first half of the opening set was closely contested until the final moments, when Russellville quickly turned a narrow 19-17 advantage into a more comfortable 22-17 lead. The Lady Cyclones held Cabot to just two more points in the set to lead the match 1-0.
The second set was all Russellville. After rushing out to a 7-2 lead, the Cyclones kept Cabot on the defensive, allowing just four total team kills from the Lady Panthers in the frame. The kills were more decisive on Russellville’s side of the net with 10. Blocks from Morgan Young and Ashton Seidl were the only opposition from the Lady Panthers in the set.
The Lady Panthers undoubtedly played their best volleyball in the third set. Three early kills from junior Katie Mantione gave Cabot the early momentum, rushing them out to a 4-2 lead. The interval remained close throughout the frame, but the Lady Panthers kept the momentum in their favor.
After dominating most of the set, Cabot was strongly challenged by the Lady Cyclones in the late going. Russellville racked up five straight points to turn a 20-16 deficit into a 21-20 lead, but Cabot got help in closing the deal from an unlikely source.
With normal studs Kim Carter and Kelli Lowry a bit off the mark in the set, sophomore Tori Hendrix stepped up and rolled off two straight kills to edge out Russ-ellville for the 26-24 win. Hendrix had put on a clinic earlier in the evening during the JV contest, and carried that momentum into the varsity match when the Lady Panthers needed it the most.
After the opening moments of the fourth set, it became apparent that the frame was merely a formality for the Lady Cyclones, as the winded Lady Panthers struggled to recapture the glory of the previous set.
Once Russellville’s lead reached double digits in the frame, they coasted to the win to claim the conference-opening match for the 7A-Central division.
Mantione led Cabot with eight kills. Lowry finished with six kills and two aces. Hendrix had five kills, all of which came in the final two sets. Carter had three blocks in the match.
For Russellville, junior Megan Simpson led the team with eight kills and 11 blocks. Senior Candace Scott and junior Cody Brook-houser each finished with seven kills on the evening. The loss dropped Cabot’s record to 4-2 on the season.
Cabot’s next match will be at Conway next Tuesday in varsity/JV action.
Leader sports writer
When the Lady Panthers had momentum, they were brilliant. Without it, they were ineffective against defending state champions Russellville Thursday night at the Panther gymnasium. The Lady Cyclones took the match 3-1, with a strong third set from Cabot interrupting an otherwise dominating performance for Russellville.
Russellville took the first two sets 25-19 and 25-14 respectively, but the Lady Panthers stepped up in the third set, holding a narrow lead most of the distance to claim a 26-24 win after the Lady Cyclones threatened to steal the frame with a late rally.
Despite a strong showing in the third set, Cabot looked downright out of gas in the fourth and final set. Russellville used its slight depth advantage to easily seal the match with a 25-16 win in the final set.
The first half of the opening set was closely contested until the final moments, when Russellville quickly turned a narrow 19-17 advantage into a more comfortable 22-17 lead. The Lady Cyclones held Cabot to just two more points in the set to lead the match 1-0.
The second set was all Russellville. After rushing out to a 7-2 lead, the Cyclones kept Cabot on the defensive, allowing just four total team kills from the Lady Panthers in the frame. The kills were more decisive on Russellville’s side of the net with 10. Blocks from Morgan Young and Ashton Seidl were the only opposition from the Lady Panthers in the set.
The Lady Panthers undoubtedly played their best volleyball in the third set. Three early kills from junior Katie Mantione gave Cabot the early momentum, rushing them out to a 4-2 lead. The interval remained close throughout the frame, but the Lady Panthers kept the momentum in their favor.
After dominating most of the set, Cabot was strongly challenged by the Lady Cyclones in the late going. Russellville racked up five straight points to turn a 20-16 deficit into a 21-20 lead, but Cabot got help in closing the deal from an unlikely source.
With normal studs Kim Carter and Kelli Lowry a bit off the mark in the set, sophomore Tori Hendrix stepped up and rolled off two straight kills to edge out Russ-ellville for the 26-24 win. Hendrix had put on a clinic earlier in the evening during the JV contest, and carried that momentum into the varsity match when the Lady Panthers needed it the most.
After the opening moments of the fourth set, it became apparent that the frame was merely a formality for the Lady Cyclones, as the winded Lady Panthers struggled to recapture the glory of the previous set.
Once Russellville’s lead reached double digits in the frame, they coasted to the win to claim the conference-opening match for the 7A-Central division.
Mantione led Cabot with eight kills. Lowry finished with six kills and two aces. Hendrix had five kills, all of which came in the final two sets. Carter had three blocks in the match.
For Russellville, junior Megan Simpson led the team with eight kills and 11 blocks. Senior Candace Scott and junior Cody Brook-houser each finished with seven kills on the evening. The loss dropped Cabot’s record to 4-2 on the season.
Cabot’s next match will be at Conway next Tuesday in varsity/JV action.
SPORTS >>Another cardiac finish for Badgers
IN SHORT: Beebe gets by Lonoke 21-20 in a game eerily similar to the way it played out last season.
By JOHNNIE RAY LAKE
Special to the Leader
Beebe’s 21-20 win over Lonoke Friday night was so similar to last year’s win it’s eery. An 18yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jared Mathis to Robie Puckett on fourth down with less than two minutes left in the game lifted the Beebe Badgers over visiting Lonoke 21-20. Lonoke had a chance to seal the victory with an interception of Mathis with just under five minutes left in the game and Beebe at midfield. But on the very next play, Lonoke fumbled and Danny Miller recovered for the Badgers on their own 39.
Mathis then hit running back James Anderson for a 23-yard gain down to the Lonoke 43. Eight plays later on third and ten from the Lonoke 22, Mathis scrambled right to the 18. On fourth and 6, Mathis hit Robie Puckett over the middle for the deciding score.
Last year Lonoke took over on downs late in the game with the lead, but fumbled it away and gave up a late touchdown that lifted the Badgers to victory.
“Every game we play against Lonoke seems to come down the last play,” Beebe coach Cam Prock said.
The first quarter ended with Beebe up 7-0 on a 9-yard touchdown run by Robie Puckett. On the ensuing kickoff, Lonoke seemed to execute a triple reverse for a huge gain down to the Beebe 16-yard line. But a holding penalty brought it back to the Lonoke 44-yard line, and three plays later Alex Cash was intercepted and gave Beebe great field position at the Lonoke 25. Three plays later, Beebe returned the favor as Mathis was picked off by Alvin Farmer.
In the second quarter, an errant snap on a fourth down punt play led to a 12-yard punt which allowed Lonoke to begin their drive at midfield. On second down, Clarence Harris busted up the middle for a 40-yd gain down to the Beebe 1-yard line.
Wendall Scales ran it in on the next play, but Lonoke missed the first of two extra points which would come back to haunt them.
In the third quarter, with Beebe up one 7-6, Lonoke failed on fourth and 12 from the Beebe 28. On their first possession of the second half, Mathis fumbled on his own 45-yard line to give Lonoke good field position once again. Five plays later, Clarence Harris ran 30 yards down the left sideline for a score, and Cash ran in the two-point conversion to give Lonoke a seven point lead. With 1;24 left in the third quarter, Mathis ran in from nine yards out after reversing his direction on the left hash mark. The extra point tied the game going into the fourth 14-14.
On the second possession of the fourth quarter, Lonoke marched 76 yards on a nine-play drive capped by Cash scoring from six yards out with 6:10 left in the game. But once again, a missed extra point by Lonoke gave Beebe the opportunity to win as they scored and made the extra point for the victory.
Prock was pleased with the calmness of his quarterback in a pressure situation.
“Mathis showed poise and seemed relaxed,” Prock said.
Mathis finished with 289 yards, with 207 of those coming through the air. Beebe plays Villonia next week before heading into conference play.
By JOHNNIE RAY LAKE
Special to the Leader
Beebe’s 21-20 win over Lonoke Friday night was so similar to last year’s win it’s eery. An 18yard touchdown pass from quarterback Jared Mathis to Robie Puckett on fourth down with less than two minutes left in the game lifted the Beebe Badgers over visiting Lonoke 21-20. Lonoke had a chance to seal the victory with an interception of Mathis with just under five minutes left in the game and Beebe at midfield. But on the very next play, Lonoke fumbled and Danny Miller recovered for the Badgers on their own 39.
Mathis then hit running back James Anderson for a 23-yard gain down to the Lonoke 43. Eight plays later on third and ten from the Lonoke 22, Mathis scrambled right to the 18. On fourth and 6, Mathis hit Robie Puckett over the middle for the deciding score.
Last year Lonoke took over on downs late in the game with the lead, but fumbled it away and gave up a late touchdown that lifted the Badgers to victory.
“Every game we play against Lonoke seems to come down the last play,” Beebe coach Cam Prock said.
The first quarter ended with Beebe up 7-0 on a 9-yard touchdown run by Robie Puckett. On the ensuing kickoff, Lonoke seemed to execute a triple reverse for a huge gain down to the Beebe 16-yard line. But a holding penalty brought it back to the Lonoke 44-yard line, and three plays later Alex Cash was intercepted and gave Beebe great field position at the Lonoke 25. Three plays later, Beebe returned the favor as Mathis was picked off by Alvin Farmer.
In the second quarter, an errant snap on a fourth down punt play led to a 12-yard punt which allowed Lonoke to begin their drive at midfield. On second down, Clarence Harris busted up the middle for a 40-yd gain down to the Beebe 1-yard line.
Wendall Scales ran it in on the next play, but Lonoke missed the first of two extra points which would come back to haunt them.
In the third quarter, with Beebe up one 7-6, Lonoke failed on fourth and 12 from the Beebe 28. On their first possession of the second half, Mathis fumbled on his own 45-yard line to give Lonoke good field position once again. Five plays later, Clarence Harris ran 30 yards down the left sideline for a score, and Cash ran in the two-point conversion to give Lonoke a seven point lead. With 1;24 left in the third quarter, Mathis ran in from nine yards out after reversing his direction on the left hash mark. The extra point tied the game going into the fourth 14-14.
On the second possession of the fourth quarter, Lonoke marched 76 yards on a nine-play drive capped by Cash scoring from six yards out with 6:10 left in the game. But once again, a missed extra point by Lonoke gave Beebe the opportunity to win as they scored and made the extra point for the victory.
Prock was pleased with the calmness of his quarterback in a pressure situation.
“Mathis showed poise and seemed relaxed,” Prock said.
Mathis finished with 289 yards, with 207 of those coming through the air. Beebe plays Villonia next week before heading into conference play.
SPORTS >>Red Devils hold on
IN SHORT: Jacksonville defeated its city rival North Pulaski 37-18 Friday night at JHS’s Jan Crow Stadium.
By JASON KING
Leader staff writer
The Red Devils could do no wrong in the first half, scoring on all five possessions.
All the wrongdoings would come in the second half.
Jacksonville held off North Pulaski 37-18 at Jan Crow Stadium in Jacksonville Friday night, in a game that was supposed to be all Red Devils. It was for the first 24 minutes, but a key turnover by JHS and a long scoring run from NP quarterback-slash-tailback Stanley Appleby turned a Jacksonville blowout into a halfway competitive game by the fourth quarter.
The Falcons were actually knocking on the door again in the final minutes of the game, with first and goal at the Red Devil 2-yard line. A fumble from NP tailback Charles Baker was pounced on by Jacksonville outside-lineman Nick Wilson at the 6-yard line to cancel the scoring opportunity, allowing the ‘Devils to run out the clock on the ground with runs from Justin Akins and Lee Robinson.
For Jacksonville head coach Mark Whatley, the clock couldn’t have hit zero any sooner.
“In the first half, I felt like we played pretty good, we got some good plays out of our receivers,” Whatley said. “I’ll tell you this, in the second half, we just went out there and went through the motions on both sides of the football. You just can’t do that. North Pulaski went out there and fought their guts out the whole ball game. They never quit, never gave up, never died down. We’re going to have to get a lot better.”
The tide turned against Jack-sonville with 38 seconds left in the third quarter. The Red Devils had just moved into North Pulaski territory on the heels of a 20-yard pass from Daniel Hubbard to Marcus King. A personal foul penalty against North Pulaski added another 15 for the ‘Devils, putting the ball at the Falcons’ 31.
It looked like it would be another routine drive for Jacksonville, until the following play. Hubbard completed the pass to Terrell L’Herisse at the NP 20, but L’Herisse coughed it up on the left sideline. Falcons senior cornerback Alex Thomas scooped it up and took it back all the way for the score, putting the score at 37-18, which would end up as the final margin.
The Falcons nearly came away with a score in the final five minutes of the game. They took over at their own 34 with 9:59 remaining, and slowly moved downfield. NP went 64 yards in eight plays, putting the ball at the Red Devils 2-yard line with 4:52 left on the clock before the first Falcons turnover of the game called it off.
“We missed some tackles in the second half,” Whatley said. “But offensively, we didn’t go out there and put some things away like we should have. We turned the ball over and let them run it back all the way; that gives them a shot in the arm. You look up, and it’s an 18-point ballgame, and then you’ve got a fight on your hands.”
The first half was not near as dramatic for the Red Devils. Five possessions yielded five touchdowns for Jacksonville in the first two quarters. Hubbard had all day back in the pocket, completing 11 of 13 attempts for 244 yards and four touchdowns.
The first possession for Jacksonville took five plays and two minutes, finished off with a 16-yard run from Akins for the score. Manuel Alvidrez missed four out of five point-after attempts for the ‘Devils, preventing a mercy-rule situation on the Falcons, including the first attempt after Akins’ TD run.
The next drive resulted in a touchdown after only three plays for Jacksonville. Hubbard hit L’Herisse on the Falcons’ 40-yard line, and L’Herisse sprinted in from there for a 68-yard touchdown play to put the Red Devils up by 12. King snagged a 40-yard touchdown pass on the last play of the opening quarter to put the Red Devils up by 18. Alvidrez added his only PAT of the night to add one to the scoreboard.
The Falcons put an impressive drive together to start the second quarter. Jordan Anderson set NP up with good field position to start out the drive, returning Alvidrez’s kick to the Falcons’ 37-yard line. Appleby and company took over from there, going 63 yards in 12 plays and 5:57 for the first North Pulaski score of the night. The drive was capped off by a three yard run by Melvin Tenner up the middle for the score. Jeffery Bogard’s point-after attempt was wide right, keeping the score 19-6.
The Red Devils scored two more times before the half, the first TD off a 29-yard pass from Hubbard to Akins, and the second off an 11-yard pass to L’Herisse from Hubbard to give the ‘Devils a commanding 31-6 lead at halftime.
It would have been easy for the Falcons to lie down and die in the second half and wait for the mercy rule, but they did just the opposite. North Pulaski came out with fire in the last two quarters, taking a relaxed and eased Red Devils squad by complete surprise.
The Red Devils would strike first at the 5:27 mark of the third quarter with a 34-yard pass from Hubbard to Blake Mattison for the score. Mattison split NP defenders Bryan Thurman and Thomas in the end zone, and Hubbard hit him on the numbers right between the two. Though no one would have guessed it at the time, it would be the last score for Jacksonville in the entire contest.
The North Pulaski rally started with 1:10 left in the third. Appleby was moved to tailback, while Mich-ael Fleshman moved under center in his place. One handoff to Appleby was all it took, as the sophomore standout started out to his left, but cut back to his right as he crossed the line of scrimmage. Fleshman threw an incredible block at about the Jacksonville 38, and Appleby coasted the rest of the way in for a 66-yard TD run.
Jacksonville finished with 504 yards of total offense. 305 yards came in the first half, compared to 199 in the second.
Hubbard was 17 for 26 for 326 yards and five touchdowns. Akins rushed 11 times for 99 yards and a touchdown and had one catch for 29 yards and a score. L’Herisse made five receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
North Pulaski had 283 yards of total offense in the game. Appleby carried 10 times for 114 yards and a touchdown, and completed 3 of 5 pass attempts for 46 yards.
Jacksonville will travel to Lake Hamilton to face the Wolves next week, while North Pulaski heads to Lonoke.
By JASON KING
Leader staff writer
The Red Devils could do no wrong in the first half, scoring on all five possessions.
All the wrongdoings would come in the second half.
Jacksonville held off North Pulaski 37-18 at Jan Crow Stadium in Jacksonville Friday night, in a game that was supposed to be all Red Devils. It was for the first 24 minutes, but a key turnover by JHS and a long scoring run from NP quarterback-slash-tailback Stanley Appleby turned a Jacksonville blowout into a halfway competitive game by the fourth quarter.
The Falcons were actually knocking on the door again in the final minutes of the game, with first and goal at the Red Devil 2-yard line. A fumble from NP tailback Charles Baker was pounced on by Jacksonville outside-lineman Nick Wilson at the 6-yard line to cancel the scoring opportunity, allowing the ‘Devils to run out the clock on the ground with runs from Justin Akins and Lee Robinson.
For Jacksonville head coach Mark Whatley, the clock couldn’t have hit zero any sooner.
“In the first half, I felt like we played pretty good, we got some good plays out of our receivers,” Whatley said. “I’ll tell you this, in the second half, we just went out there and went through the motions on both sides of the football. You just can’t do that. North Pulaski went out there and fought their guts out the whole ball game. They never quit, never gave up, never died down. We’re going to have to get a lot better.”
The tide turned against Jack-sonville with 38 seconds left in the third quarter. The Red Devils had just moved into North Pulaski territory on the heels of a 20-yard pass from Daniel Hubbard to Marcus King. A personal foul penalty against North Pulaski added another 15 for the ‘Devils, putting the ball at the Falcons’ 31.
It looked like it would be another routine drive for Jacksonville, until the following play. Hubbard completed the pass to Terrell L’Herisse at the NP 20, but L’Herisse coughed it up on the left sideline. Falcons senior cornerback Alex Thomas scooped it up and took it back all the way for the score, putting the score at 37-18, which would end up as the final margin.
The Falcons nearly came away with a score in the final five minutes of the game. They took over at their own 34 with 9:59 remaining, and slowly moved downfield. NP went 64 yards in eight plays, putting the ball at the Red Devils 2-yard line with 4:52 left on the clock before the first Falcons turnover of the game called it off.
“We missed some tackles in the second half,” Whatley said. “But offensively, we didn’t go out there and put some things away like we should have. We turned the ball over and let them run it back all the way; that gives them a shot in the arm. You look up, and it’s an 18-point ballgame, and then you’ve got a fight on your hands.”
The first half was not near as dramatic for the Red Devils. Five possessions yielded five touchdowns for Jacksonville in the first two quarters. Hubbard had all day back in the pocket, completing 11 of 13 attempts for 244 yards and four touchdowns.
The first possession for Jacksonville took five plays and two minutes, finished off with a 16-yard run from Akins for the score. Manuel Alvidrez missed four out of five point-after attempts for the ‘Devils, preventing a mercy-rule situation on the Falcons, including the first attempt after Akins’ TD run.
The next drive resulted in a touchdown after only three plays for Jacksonville. Hubbard hit L’Herisse on the Falcons’ 40-yard line, and L’Herisse sprinted in from there for a 68-yard touchdown play to put the Red Devils up by 12. King snagged a 40-yard touchdown pass on the last play of the opening quarter to put the Red Devils up by 18. Alvidrez added his only PAT of the night to add one to the scoreboard.
The Falcons put an impressive drive together to start the second quarter. Jordan Anderson set NP up with good field position to start out the drive, returning Alvidrez’s kick to the Falcons’ 37-yard line. Appleby and company took over from there, going 63 yards in 12 plays and 5:57 for the first North Pulaski score of the night. The drive was capped off by a three yard run by Melvin Tenner up the middle for the score. Jeffery Bogard’s point-after attempt was wide right, keeping the score 19-6.
The Red Devils scored two more times before the half, the first TD off a 29-yard pass from Hubbard to Akins, and the second off an 11-yard pass to L’Herisse from Hubbard to give the ‘Devils a commanding 31-6 lead at halftime.
It would have been easy for the Falcons to lie down and die in the second half and wait for the mercy rule, but they did just the opposite. North Pulaski came out with fire in the last two quarters, taking a relaxed and eased Red Devils squad by complete surprise.
The Red Devils would strike first at the 5:27 mark of the third quarter with a 34-yard pass from Hubbard to Blake Mattison for the score. Mattison split NP defenders Bryan Thurman and Thomas in the end zone, and Hubbard hit him on the numbers right between the two. Though no one would have guessed it at the time, it would be the last score for Jacksonville in the entire contest.
The North Pulaski rally started with 1:10 left in the third. Appleby was moved to tailback, while Mich-ael Fleshman moved under center in his place. One handoff to Appleby was all it took, as the sophomore standout started out to his left, but cut back to his right as he crossed the line of scrimmage. Fleshman threw an incredible block at about the Jacksonville 38, and Appleby coasted the rest of the way in for a 66-yard TD run.
Jacksonville finished with 504 yards of total offense. 305 yards came in the first half, compared to 199 in the second.
Hubbard was 17 for 26 for 326 yards and five touchdowns. Akins rushed 11 times for 99 yards and a touchdown and had one catch for 29 yards and a score. L’Herisse made five receptions for 126 yards and two touchdowns.
North Pulaski had 283 yards of total offense in the game. Appleby carried 10 times for 114 yards and a touchdown, and completed 3 of 5 pass attempts for 46 yards.
Jacksonville will travel to Lake Hamilton to face the Wolves next week, while North Pulaski heads to Lonoke.
SPORTS >>Cabot rallies to beat Sylvan Hills
IN SHORT: The Panthers came from behind to knock off the Bears in a big non-conference battle.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Sylvan Hills didn’t give up 34 second-half points against Cabot Friday like they did in week one’s victory over Catholic, but they didn’t have a 28-point lead either. The Bears led 13-6 at the half, but two Cabot scores in the second half proved to be enough as the Panthers prevailed in their home opener 20-13 to improve to 2-0 on the season.
The Cabot offense didn’t pass as much as in week one, and did pass as well, but the Panther defense scored one touchdown and stopped every Sylvan Hills’ threat in the second half.
Cabot coach Mike Malham expressed great pride in his young defense.
“When you start four sophomores on defense you’re not supposed to play that good,” Malham said. “We got some kids that are growing up, smart kids that are learning and getting better. What’s great is that we came out in the second half and we decided Fuller and Davis an Clem and some of those guys we were trying to play both ways, we said no you guys are on offense, these kids are going to play defense. And they came out and did a great job. They kept ‘em out of the end zone in the second half.”
The Panthers and Bears were tied at 13 apiece until midway through the fourth quarter. Cabot’s winning drive started on its own 30, and went 13 plays in just under six minutes. The biggest play of the drive was on fourth down and five yards to go at the Sylvan Hills 33-yard line. Cabot was 0 for 5 passing on the night, but called a rollout to the right. Sylvan Hills got pressure on a stunt, but Cabot’s sophomore fullback Vince Aguilar led the rollout for extra blocking. The pass rush broke up the original pattern, and senior halfback Colin Fuller turned up field. Wade let the pass fly, barely clearing the outstretched arms of two Sylvan Hills defenders and landing on Fuller’s hands at the 14-yard line.
Three plays later, Aguilar rumbled in from five yards out to give Cabot its first lead with 5:59 remaining in the game.
The fourth-down pass was the only attempt in the second half and the only completion of six attempts in the game. Malham didn’t mind the lack of passing too much, especially as well as the running game worked.
“The passing game didn’t look near as good as it did at Jacksonville, but Jacksonville wasn’t ready for it,” Malham said. “They saw it on tape and we just did what we do best. If we’re going to win ballgames, we’re going to have to control the ball and do what we do best.”
Sylvan Hills got on the board first, converting a Cabot turnover on the game’s opening drive into six points.
On the second play of the game, Cabot quarterback Cory Wade threw the ball into tight coverage down the field.
Sylvan Hills defensive back Shod Neely made the interception at the Cabot 28-yard line.
Two runs by quarterback Hunter Miller and two by tailback T.J. Shelton combined for 32 yards to give the Bears first down at the Cabot 40. Things momentarily stalled from there. An incomplete pass, a two yard run and a fumble for no gain left the Bears with fourth and eight.
Cabot even covered well and got pressure on Miller, forcing the junior QB to scramble to the left on fourth down. The problem for Cabot, and the fortune for Sylvan Hills, was that Miller had nothing but fake green grass between him and the goal line as he scampered 38 yards for the score with 8:09 left in the first quarter. Cabot jumped on the PAT, so Sylvan Hills decided to go for two from the one-and-a-half yard line. Cabot snuffed the reverse to Jeff Henderson, leaving Sylvan Hills with a 6-0 lead.
The game then became a defensive struggle. The two teams traded the ball six times without a score.
A 46-yard punt by Cabot senior Colin Fuller pinned Sylvan Hills on its own 12 with 8:29 left in the half. After two Miller incompletions, senior Panther linebacker Raul Gault picked off his second pass in as many weeks and returned it 19 yards for the touchdown.
The extra point snap was mishandled by Fuller, leaving the game tied at 6-6 with 6:56 remaining in the second quarter.
The Bears took advantage of another Cabot turnover for their second score. Fuller’s troubles handling the ball continued when he dropped a Sylvan Hills’ punt on his own 20-yard line. The Bears recovered, and two plays later Shelton rumbled 20 yards up the middle for the touchdown. The extra point was good, giving Sylvan Hills a 13-6 lead with 4:13 left in the half that carried into intermission.
Sylvan Hills got one first down before punting to start the second half. Cabot put together a strong drive on its first possession. The Panthers went 65 yards in 10 plays with the help of a Sylvan Hills’ personal foul. Fuller capped the drive with a two yard plunge and Steve Lamb added the extra point to tie the game with 4:24 left in the third quarter.
Cabot’s constant pressure finally got to Miller on the Bears’ next drive, and the offensive line began trying to get a jump on the pass rush.
Two procedure penalties cost the Bears 10 yards. Cabot junior Chris Blundell and sophomore Kyle Deblock teamed up to sack Miller for a one yard loss to set up third and 21.
Miller had Henderson open and streaking down the right sideline on third down, but slightly overthrew his fastest receiver.
Cabot got the ball back at its own 33 after a nice punt by Miller, and drove the ball well until a crucial unsportsmanlike conduct penalty thwarted the drive.
The UC penalty was a dead-ball infraction, and coincided with an illegal procedure call, turning what would have been third and four into second and 27. Cabot went backwards two yards on the next two plays and punted back to Sylvan Hills.
Again the defense stepped up. After giving up a 26-yard completion to Henderson, Sylvan Hills threw three consecutive incomplete passes and had to punt again, setting up Cabot’s game-winning drive.
Sylvan Hills got the ball back and made it exciting. Three plays put the ball at the Bear 43. Miller then hit Shelton 28 yards downfield, but the play was called back for holding with just under four minutes left.
A six yard run by Shelton and a 10-yard scramble by Miller set up fourth and eight. Miller then hooked up with Shelton again right at the yard marker. The chain crew measurement showed the spot was short of the first down.
Cabot took over with 2:31 left and ran out the clock to preserve the victory.
Cabot finished with 283 total yards while Aguilar accounting for 119 of those on 31 carries.
Sylvan Hills finished with 202 total yards, and only 49 through the air.
The Bears will host North Little Rock next week while Cabot travels to Searcy.
By RAY BENTON
Leader sports editor
Sylvan Hills didn’t give up 34 second-half points against Cabot Friday like they did in week one’s victory over Catholic, but they didn’t have a 28-point lead either. The Bears led 13-6 at the half, but two Cabot scores in the second half proved to be enough as the Panthers prevailed in their home opener 20-13 to improve to 2-0 on the season.
The Cabot offense didn’t pass as much as in week one, and did pass as well, but the Panther defense scored one touchdown and stopped every Sylvan Hills’ threat in the second half.
Cabot coach Mike Malham expressed great pride in his young defense.
“When you start four sophomores on defense you’re not supposed to play that good,” Malham said. “We got some kids that are growing up, smart kids that are learning and getting better. What’s great is that we came out in the second half and we decided Fuller and Davis an Clem and some of those guys we were trying to play both ways, we said no you guys are on offense, these kids are going to play defense. And they came out and did a great job. They kept ‘em out of the end zone in the second half.”
The Panthers and Bears were tied at 13 apiece until midway through the fourth quarter. Cabot’s winning drive started on its own 30, and went 13 plays in just under six minutes. The biggest play of the drive was on fourth down and five yards to go at the Sylvan Hills 33-yard line. Cabot was 0 for 5 passing on the night, but called a rollout to the right. Sylvan Hills got pressure on a stunt, but Cabot’s sophomore fullback Vince Aguilar led the rollout for extra blocking. The pass rush broke up the original pattern, and senior halfback Colin Fuller turned up field. Wade let the pass fly, barely clearing the outstretched arms of two Sylvan Hills defenders and landing on Fuller’s hands at the 14-yard line.
Three plays later, Aguilar rumbled in from five yards out to give Cabot its first lead with 5:59 remaining in the game.
The fourth-down pass was the only attempt in the second half and the only completion of six attempts in the game. Malham didn’t mind the lack of passing too much, especially as well as the running game worked.
“The passing game didn’t look near as good as it did at Jacksonville, but Jacksonville wasn’t ready for it,” Malham said. “They saw it on tape and we just did what we do best. If we’re going to win ballgames, we’re going to have to control the ball and do what we do best.”
Sylvan Hills got on the board first, converting a Cabot turnover on the game’s opening drive into six points.
On the second play of the game, Cabot quarterback Cory Wade threw the ball into tight coverage down the field.
Sylvan Hills defensive back Shod Neely made the interception at the Cabot 28-yard line.
Two runs by quarterback Hunter Miller and two by tailback T.J. Shelton combined for 32 yards to give the Bears first down at the Cabot 40. Things momentarily stalled from there. An incomplete pass, a two yard run and a fumble for no gain left the Bears with fourth and eight.
Cabot even covered well and got pressure on Miller, forcing the junior QB to scramble to the left on fourth down. The problem for Cabot, and the fortune for Sylvan Hills, was that Miller had nothing but fake green grass between him and the goal line as he scampered 38 yards for the score with 8:09 left in the first quarter. Cabot jumped on the PAT, so Sylvan Hills decided to go for two from the one-and-a-half yard line. Cabot snuffed the reverse to Jeff Henderson, leaving Sylvan Hills with a 6-0 lead.
The game then became a defensive struggle. The two teams traded the ball six times without a score.
A 46-yard punt by Cabot senior Colin Fuller pinned Sylvan Hills on its own 12 with 8:29 left in the half. After two Miller incompletions, senior Panther linebacker Raul Gault picked off his second pass in as many weeks and returned it 19 yards for the touchdown.
The extra point snap was mishandled by Fuller, leaving the game tied at 6-6 with 6:56 remaining in the second quarter.
The Bears took advantage of another Cabot turnover for their second score. Fuller’s troubles handling the ball continued when he dropped a Sylvan Hills’ punt on his own 20-yard line. The Bears recovered, and two plays later Shelton rumbled 20 yards up the middle for the touchdown. The extra point was good, giving Sylvan Hills a 13-6 lead with 4:13 left in the half that carried into intermission.
Sylvan Hills got one first down before punting to start the second half. Cabot put together a strong drive on its first possession. The Panthers went 65 yards in 10 plays with the help of a Sylvan Hills’ personal foul. Fuller capped the drive with a two yard plunge and Steve Lamb added the extra point to tie the game with 4:24 left in the third quarter.
Cabot’s constant pressure finally got to Miller on the Bears’ next drive, and the offensive line began trying to get a jump on the pass rush.
Two procedure penalties cost the Bears 10 yards. Cabot junior Chris Blundell and sophomore Kyle Deblock teamed up to sack Miller for a one yard loss to set up third and 21.
Miller had Henderson open and streaking down the right sideline on third down, but slightly overthrew his fastest receiver.
Cabot got the ball back at its own 33 after a nice punt by Miller, and drove the ball well until a crucial unsportsmanlike conduct penalty thwarted the drive.
The UC penalty was a dead-ball infraction, and coincided with an illegal procedure call, turning what would have been third and four into second and 27. Cabot went backwards two yards on the next two plays and punted back to Sylvan Hills.
Again the defense stepped up. After giving up a 26-yard completion to Henderson, Sylvan Hills threw three consecutive incomplete passes and had to punt again, setting up Cabot’s game-winning drive.
Sylvan Hills got the ball back and made it exciting. Three plays put the ball at the Bear 43. Miller then hit Shelton 28 yards downfield, but the play was called back for holding with just under four minutes left.
A six yard run by Shelton and a 10-yard scramble by Miller set up fourth and eight. Miller then hooked up with Shelton again right at the yard marker. The chain crew measurement showed the spot was short of the first down.
Cabot took over with 2:31 left and ran out the clock to preserve the victory.
Cabot finished with 283 total yards while Aguilar accounting for 119 of those on 31 carries.
Sylvan Hills finished with 202 total yards, and only 49 through the air.
The Bears will host North Little Rock next week while Cabot travels to Searcy.
EDITORIALS>>Vote for tax, despite doubts
We wish in vain for the perfect tax proposal, one that addresses a need that everyone concurs is unavoidable with a remedy that everyone considers wise.
The county jail tax — a proposed one-fourth of 1 percent sales tax — is not such a proposal, but we nevertheless recommend that people vote for it Sept. 12 or in the early voting that has already begun. Our reasons are not simple.
The very earnest proponents of the tax and the diehard opponents make the question very easy — on the one hand, criminals are running amok because we have no place to put them or, on the other hand, profligate local governments want the taxpayers to bail them out again with another regressive tax. If both sides haven’t bombarded you yet, they will by Tuesday.
As with every tax proposal we have ever seen, such generalities do not do the question or the voters justice. The crisis in this instance is one that bothers everyone. Local jails, like the state penitentiaries, are all filled to the capacity allowed by law, and police agencies throughout the county are having to free suspects as soon as they are picked up because there is no place to put them.
The state is releasing hundreds of convicts ahead of their parole dates to free beds in the penitentiaries so that inmates from clogged county jails can go to prison to serve their sentences.
But the state cannot safely speed the release of convicts fast enough to be of much help to Pulaski County. Police agencies, like the victims of crime, are finding that solving a crime and making an arrest are meaningless.
The suspects are back on the streets the same day without even posting bond, as Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines has pointed out. So chaotic is the situation that a district judge has appointed a special prosecutor and special judge to try to lock up or fine the county sheriff because he helplessly will not lock up all the people that the judge’s court convicts, including drunks convicted of multiple driving violations.
After a period of a stable or declining crime rate, crime is sharply on the increase in Pulaski County, and without hard evidence you still must conclude that the constipated jail system is at least one cause.
A special jail tax would be down our list of remedies for this intolerable condition — ideally. Like Gov. Huckabee, we think the legislature should modify the sentencing laws that were passed the past 25 years so that there are alternatives — much, much cheaper alternatives — to long prison terms for people convicted of using illegal drugs and some other victimless or nonviolent crimes.
But fearing that they would be accused of being soft on crime, legislators will not vote for such legislation and Gov. Huckabee does not press the issue. Programs to avert crime in the first place are another remedy, and some of the money from the jail tax will go for those. It will be a small effort.
Here is another reservation: A tax of only one-eighth of a penny rather than one-fourth would be enough over time to address the simple crowding issue, though it would take longer to complete the physical jail improvements and get the expanded correctional operations going.
Jim Lynch, who was a member of the county public safety tax force that recommended the jail tax (and the only member not to vote for it), has computed revenues from the tax over the next 15 years, and it is fairly clear that after a few years the rising collections will begin to exceed the jail needs — that is, unless crime puts an ever-escalating burden on the system or hard times crimp the revenue growth.
But the only options now for voters are the fourth-of-a-cent tax or do nothing. That renders the question fairly clear for us. We don’t like the sales tax, but it is the only toll that will raise enough money in short order.
While a one-eighth percent tax would suffice over the long haul, the slightly higher tax (it would amount to $6.25 on the purchase of a $2,500 large-screen TV set) will send money back to the badly strapped cities of Jacksonville, Sherwood, North Little Rock, Little Rock and Maumelle.
If the tax passes, they will all halt their subsidies to the county jail and use the money every year for their own public safety needs: more police, prevention programs or whatever.
We do not begrudge the cities that extra relief nor will city residents.
The Arkansas Democrat Gazette, which almost uniformly opposes school and other local taxes, said the tax needed a cutoff date, say a couple of years out when the jail improvements are completed.
But the paper’s editor just does not understand the need. The tax is to run the jails, not just build them. Operating prisons is the big expense.
To build a large jail system only to shut it down for lack of operating money, which is part of the current problem, would be foolish indeed.
When each of us becomes a victim of crimes that could have been prevented by an efficient jail system, the little sales tax will become the perfect proposal.
Let us not wait for that day. Reservations about any tax are unavoidable, but they should not stampede us. Vote for the jail tax.
The county jail tax — a proposed one-fourth of 1 percent sales tax — is not such a proposal, but we nevertheless recommend that people vote for it Sept. 12 or in the early voting that has already begun. Our reasons are not simple.
The very earnest proponents of the tax and the diehard opponents make the question very easy — on the one hand, criminals are running amok because we have no place to put them or, on the other hand, profligate local governments want the taxpayers to bail them out again with another regressive tax. If both sides haven’t bombarded you yet, they will by Tuesday.
As with every tax proposal we have ever seen, such generalities do not do the question or the voters justice. The crisis in this instance is one that bothers everyone. Local jails, like the state penitentiaries, are all filled to the capacity allowed by law, and police agencies throughout the county are having to free suspects as soon as they are picked up because there is no place to put them.
The state is releasing hundreds of convicts ahead of their parole dates to free beds in the penitentiaries so that inmates from clogged county jails can go to prison to serve their sentences.
But the state cannot safely speed the release of convicts fast enough to be of much help to Pulaski County. Police agencies, like the victims of crime, are finding that solving a crime and making an arrest are meaningless.
The suspects are back on the streets the same day without even posting bond, as Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines has pointed out. So chaotic is the situation that a district judge has appointed a special prosecutor and special judge to try to lock up or fine the county sheriff because he helplessly will not lock up all the people that the judge’s court convicts, including drunks convicted of multiple driving violations.
After a period of a stable or declining crime rate, crime is sharply on the increase in Pulaski County, and without hard evidence you still must conclude that the constipated jail system is at least one cause.
A special jail tax would be down our list of remedies for this intolerable condition — ideally. Like Gov. Huckabee, we think the legislature should modify the sentencing laws that were passed the past 25 years so that there are alternatives — much, much cheaper alternatives — to long prison terms for people convicted of using illegal drugs and some other victimless or nonviolent crimes.
But fearing that they would be accused of being soft on crime, legislators will not vote for such legislation and Gov. Huckabee does not press the issue. Programs to avert crime in the first place are another remedy, and some of the money from the jail tax will go for those. It will be a small effort.
Here is another reservation: A tax of only one-eighth of a penny rather than one-fourth would be enough over time to address the simple crowding issue, though it would take longer to complete the physical jail improvements and get the expanded correctional operations going.
Jim Lynch, who was a member of the county public safety tax force that recommended the jail tax (and the only member not to vote for it), has computed revenues from the tax over the next 15 years, and it is fairly clear that after a few years the rising collections will begin to exceed the jail needs — that is, unless crime puts an ever-escalating burden on the system or hard times crimp the revenue growth.
But the only options now for voters are the fourth-of-a-cent tax or do nothing. That renders the question fairly clear for us. We don’t like the sales tax, but it is the only toll that will raise enough money in short order.
While a one-eighth percent tax would suffice over the long haul, the slightly higher tax (it would amount to $6.25 on the purchase of a $2,500 large-screen TV set) will send money back to the badly strapped cities of Jacksonville, Sherwood, North Little Rock, Little Rock and Maumelle.
If the tax passes, they will all halt their subsidies to the county jail and use the money every year for their own public safety needs: more police, prevention programs or whatever.
We do not begrudge the cities that extra relief nor will city residents.
The Arkansas Democrat Gazette, which almost uniformly opposes school and other local taxes, said the tax needed a cutoff date, say a couple of years out when the jail improvements are completed.
But the paper’s editor just does not understand the need. The tax is to run the jails, not just build them. Operating prisons is the big expense.
To build a large jail system only to shut it down for lack of operating money, which is part of the current problem, would be foolish indeed.
When each of us becomes a victim of crimes that could have been prevented by an efficient jail system, the little sales tax will become the perfect proposal.
Let us not wait for that day. Reservations about any tax are unavoidable, but they should not stampede us. Vote for the jail tax.
OBITUARIES >> 09-09-06
Howell Thompson
Howell M. Thompson, 84, of Cabot died Thursday, Sept. 7 in North Little Rock.
Howell was born on Nov. 28, 1921 to the late T. W. and Ree-sie Priest Thompson in Austin.
He served in the Coast Guard as a Seaman 1st Class from 1942 to 1945.
Howell was a member of First Baptist Church of Cabot for 42 years, where he was a deacon and served as Sunday School Director.
He was also a member of Cabot Masonic Lodge 319.
Howell served on the Bank of Cabot board of directors for 31 years, was the chairman for 10 years and chairman of the Bank Holding Company board for nine years.
Howell and his wife, Bobbie, owned Thompson’s Dollar Saver grocery store. They were the first store in Cabot to have a full-service meat market and carry a full line of produce and frozen foods.
The two were on the Chamber of Commerce where Howell was president in 1962.
Bobbie was awarded Out-standing Woman of the Year in 1967 and Howell the Outstanding Man of the Year in 1974.
Howell was also awarded Elder Statesman in 1975 and Ministerial Alliance Man of the Year.
He was Lonoke County Justice of the Peace, 1976-1990. Howell served as chairman of the board for the Arthritis Foundation in 1975 and chairman of the Lonoke County bicentennial in 1976.
In addition to his parents, Howell was preceded in death by his brother, Vernon Thompson of Austin and sister, Alby Ferguson of Forrest City.
He is survived by his wife, Bobbie Marie Thompson; two sons, John C. Thompson and his wife Beverly of Cabot, Tommy Thompson and his fiancé Diane Forbes of Morrilton; and a brother, James Thompson of Sherwood; four grandchildren, Stacy Bell of Wheaton, Ill., Wade Thompson of Maumelle, Brian Thompson of Cabot and Sarah Branscum of Arkadelphia; and one great-granddaughter, Natalie Bell of Wheaton, Ill.
Visitation will be held Saturday, at the Chapel of Cabot Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 at First Baptist Church in Cabot with Bro. Harold O’Brian and Bro. Del Medlin officiating.
Interment will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
The family requests any memorials made in honor of “DDad,” as he was affectionately known to his family, to be given to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Kameron Manning
Kameron Jamal Manning, 13 months, departed this life Sept. 5.
He is survived by his parents, LaKesha Danielle Hart of Sherwood and Gordon Owusu Manning of Beebe; grandparents, Renee Hartaway of Lonoke, An-thony and Angela Hart of Little Rock, and Dr. Stephen and Rose Manning of Beebe; one sister, Taylor Manning of Little Rock; a brother, Malik Manning of Conway; maternal great-grandparents, Geneva Smith and Curtis and Alma Hart, and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Kameron is preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Win-ston Man-ning, Paul K. Kwaah, and Elizabeth Pomaa.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Union Valley Baptist Church (Hwys. 70 and 15), with burial in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Arrangements are by Boyd Funeral Home, Lonoke.
James Besley Jr.
James “Jim” E. Besley Jr?., 77, of Jacksonville, died Sept. 5.
He was born Aug. 7, 1929 in Rome, N.Y., to the late James E. and Isabell Wilson Besley Sr. He was also preceded in death by an infant son, Robert Alan Besley.
Jim retired from the U.S. Air Force as a SMSGT after 28 years of service. He was a member of Masonic Jacinto Lodge #216 in Jacksonville, as well as a Shriner and a Methodist.
Survivors include his wife, Delma L. Besley; daughter, Sicily “Sissy” Ann Besley of Jacksonville; son, James “Jimmy” D. Besley and his wife, Krista, of Wooster; brother, Edwin D. Besley and his wife, Linda, of Dallas, Ga.; sister, Joan Bowden and her husband, Roy, of Ft. Lauderdale, Flo.; and grandchildren, Carolyn, Jehu, Anna, Silas and Lydia, all of Wooster.
Visitation is from 1 to 3 p.m. today at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home. Please sign the on-line guest book at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Virginia Godley
Virginia Fern (Austin) Godley, 75, of Spanaway, Wash., formerly of Jacksonville, passed away May 29 n Tacoma, Wash.
She was born Sept. 13, 1930 in Ovid, Mich., to the late Frank and Viola Sanders Austin. Her brother, Lyle Austin and her husband Kenneth James Godley also precede her in death.
She was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Jacksonville and was a retired store clerk.
Survivors include her sons, Rodney Kenneth Godley of Owos-so, Mich., Ronald David Godley of Lonoke and Jeffrey Ray Godley of Ward; daughters, Karen Kay Jeffries of Spanaway, Wash., and Kathy Godley Peel of Alexandria, Va.; brothers, Jerry, Duane and Dale Austin; sisters, Leona Lawback and Eva Roy; as well as 14 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at noon, Wednesday, Sept. 13 at the Church of the Nazarene in Jack-sonville with Rev. Ron Riddle officiating.
Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park.
Donations may be made to Jacksonville Senior Center, 100 Victory Circle, Jacksonville, Ark., 72076 or to the Church of the Nazarene, 1506 J.P. Wright Loop Road, Jacksonville, Ark., 72076.
Funeral arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Alma Hicks
Alma Joyce Hicks, 72, of Jacksonville, passed away Sept. 4 in Paron.
She was born Jan. 4, 1934 in Fairfield, Texas, to Charlie and Lillian Etheridge Rockey.
On Nov. 18, 1950, she married Harold Hicks in Lovington, N. M. They moved to Jacksonville where she was employed for over 10 years with Union Pacific Railroad Hospital in Little Rock.
She was preceded in death by her husband on Aug. 16, 2006. Mrs. Hicks was also preceded by her son, Larry and a brother, Billy Rockey. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Rhonda Hicks of Paron; daughter, Debbie Haulton of Harrison; daughter-in-law, Vanessa Hicks of Jacksonville; two sisters, Faye Anderson and May Lofton, both of Alvaredo, Texas; brother Charles Rockey of Canton, Texas; five grandchildren, Christopher and Tonya Hicks of Fayetteville, Kim and John Trublood of Harrison, Robert Haulton of St. Louis, Mo., Lesley Hicks of Jacksonville and Jeremy Hicks of Conway; two great-grandchildren, Silas Hicks and Tabor Trublood.
Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today at Walnut Bottoms Cemetery near Paron with Brother Royce Lowe officiating. The family would like to express their thanks and appreciation to her caregivers, Judy, Tonya, Ellen and Cressie.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Ellis Polk
Ellis F. Polk, 73, of McRae died Tuesday, Sept. 5.
A veteran of the Korean Conflict, Ellis was captured before his 18th birthday and was a POW for 30 months. He retired at 25 years from Midwest Video.
A Baptist, he loved going to church and working for the Lord until his illness forced him to stay away from crowds. He continued his work through witnessing to individuals.
He had a smile that no one could forget.
Ellis is survived by his wife, Maurine; two daughters, Donna Polk of McRae and Diana Arledge (Will) of Pine Bluff; one son, David Polk; three stepdaughters, Martha Long (Rick), Beverly Parker, and Helen Campbell (Mike); one stepson, John Webb (Angie); 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; four sisters, Lee Dillon of Up-ton, Wyo., Myrtle Smith (Leroy) of Eaton, Colo., Bertha Russell (David) of Brush, Colo., and Eula King of Searcy; two brothers, Glen Polk (Georgeann) of Beebe, Rubert Polk (Dovie) of Pangburn, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Robert and Flo-rence Sparrow Polk; and brother, James Polk.
Funeral will be held at 10 a.m. today at Westbrook Funeral Home with burial in Harmony Cemetery.
Lucille Cain
Lucille Martha Cain, 85, of Cabot died Friday, Sept. 8, 2006 in Jacksonville.
She was born May 22, 1921 to the late Matt and Irene Porter Long in Rushing.
She is survived by her husband, Joe Cain; four children, Wanda Lafferty of Jacksonville, Donnie Porter of Cotter, Elaine Cofer of Benton and Ron Cain of Austin, Texas; eight grandchildren, Dennis Lafferty, Keri Gray, David Porter, Dana Hogue, Kim Cofer, Jonathan Cain, Kelly Cain, and Regan Cain, and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the chapel of Cabot Funeral Home.
Interment will be held at 1 p.m. at Egner Cemetery in Salado.
Howell M. Thompson, 84, of Cabot died Thursday, Sept. 7 in North Little Rock.
Howell was born on Nov. 28, 1921 to the late T. W. and Ree-sie Priest Thompson in Austin.
He served in the Coast Guard as a Seaman 1st Class from 1942 to 1945.
Howell was a member of First Baptist Church of Cabot for 42 years, where he was a deacon and served as Sunday School Director.
He was also a member of Cabot Masonic Lodge 319.
Howell served on the Bank of Cabot board of directors for 31 years, was the chairman for 10 years and chairman of the Bank Holding Company board for nine years.
Howell and his wife, Bobbie, owned Thompson’s Dollar Saver grocery store. They were the first store in Cabot to have a full-service meat market and carry a full line of produce and frozen foods.
The two were on the Chamber of Commerce where Howell was president in 1962.
Bobbie was awarded Out-standing Woman of the Year in 1967 and Howell the Outstanding Man of the Year in 1974.
Howell was also awarded Elder Statesman in 1975 and Ministerial Alliance Man of the Year.
He was Lonoke County Justice of the Peace, 1976-1990. Howell served as chairman of the board for the Arthritis Foundation in 1975 and chairman of the Lonoke County bicentennial in 1976.
In addition to his parents, Howell was preceded in death by his brother, Vernon Thompson of Austin and sister, Alby Ferguson of Forrest City.
He is survived by his wife, Bobbie Marie Thompson; two sons, John C. Thompson and his wife Beverly of Cabot, Tommy Thompson and his fiancé Diane Forbes of Morrilton; and a brother, James Thompson of Sherwood; four grandchildren, Stacy Bell of Wheaton, Ill., Wade Thompson of Maumelle, Brian Thompson of Cabot and Sarah Branscum of Arkadelphia; and one great-granddaughter, Natalie Bell of Wheaton, Ill.
Visitation will be held Saturday, at the Chapel of Cabot Funeral Home from 6 to 8 p.m.
Funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10 at First Baptist Church in Cabot with Bro. Harold O’Brian and Bro. Del Medlin officiating.
Interment will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery.
The family requests any memorials made in honor of “DDad,” as he was affectionately known to his family, to be given to the charity of the donor’s choice.
Kameron Manning
Kameron Jamal Manning, 13 months, departed this life Sept. 5.
He is survived by his parents, LaKesha Danielle Hart of Sherwood and Gordon Owusu Manning of Beebe; grandparents, Renee Hartaway of Lonoke, An-thony and Angela Hart of Little Rock, and Dr. Stephen and Rose Manning of Beebe; one sister, Taylor Manning of Little Rock; a brother, Malik Manning of Conway; maternal great-grandparents, Geneva Smith and Curtis and Alma Hart, and a host of aunts, uncles and cousins.
Kameron is preceded in death by his great-grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Win-ston Man-ning, Paul K. Kwaah, and Elizabeth Pomaa.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Union Valley Baptist Church (Hwys. 70 and 15), with burial in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Arrangements are by Boyd Funeral Home, Lonoke.
James Besley Jr.
James “Jim” E. Besley Jr?., 77, of Jacksonville, died Sept. 5.
He was born Aug. 7, 1929 in Rome, N.Y., to the late James E. and Isabell Wilson Besley Sr. He was also preceded in death by an infant son, Robert Alan Besley.
Jim retired from the U.S. Air Force as a SMSGT after 28 years of service. He was a member of Masonic Jacinto Lodge #216 in Jacksonville, as well as a Shriner and a Methodist.
Survivors include his wife, Delma L. Besley; daughter, Sicily “Sissy” Ann Besley of Jacksonville; son, James “Jimmy” D. Besley and his wife, Krista, of Wooster; brother, Edwin D. Besley and his wife, Linda, of Dallas, Ga.; sister, Joan Bowden and her husband, Roy, of Ft. Lauderdale, Flo.; and grandchildren, Carolyn, Jehu, Anna, Silas and Lydia, all of Wooster.
Visitation is from 1 to 3 p.m. today at Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home. Please sign the on-line guest book at www.mooresjacksonvillefuneralhome.com.
Arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Virginia Godley
Virginia Fern (Austin) Godley, 75, of Spanaway, Wash., formerly of Jacksonville, passed away May 29 n Tacoma, Wash.
She was born Sept. 13, 1930 in Ovid, Mich., to the late Frank and Viola Sanders Austin. Her brother, Lyle Austin and her husband Kenneth James Godley also precede her in death.
She was a member of the Church of the Nazarene in Jacksonville and was a retired store clerk.
Survivors include her sons, Rodney Kenneth Godley of Owos-so, Mich., Ronald David Godley of Lonoke and Jeffrey Ray Godley of Ward; daughters, Karen Kay Jeffries of Spanaway, Wash., and Kathy Godley Peel of Alexandria, Va.; brothers, Jerry, Duane and Dale Austin; sisters, Leona Lawback and Eva Roy; as well as 14 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren.
A memorial service will be at noon, Wednesday, Sept. 13 at the Church of the Nazarene in Jack-sonville with Rev. Ron Riddle officiating.
Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Memorial Park.
Donations may be made to Jacksonville Senior Center, 100 Victory Circle, Jacksonville, Ark., 72076 or to the Church of the Nazarene, 1506 J.P. Wright Loop Road, Jacksonville, Ark., 72076.
Funeral arrangements are under direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Alma Hicks
Alma Joyce Hicks, 72, of Jacksonville, passed away Sept. 4 in Paron.
She was born Jan. 4, 1934 in Fairfield, Texas, to Charlie and Lillian Etheridge Rockey.
On Nov. 18, 1950, she married Harold Hicks in Lovington, N. M. They moved to Jacksonville where she was employed for over 10 years with Union Pacific Railroad Hospital in Little Rock.
She was preceded in death by her husband on Aug. 16, 2006. Mrs. Hicks was also preceded by her son, Larry and a brother, Billy Rockey. She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Charles and Rhonda Hicks of Paron; daughter, Debbie Haulton of Harrison; daughter-in-law, Vanessa Hicks of Jacksonville; two sisters, Faye Anderson and May Lofton, both of Alvaredo, Texas; brother Charles Rockey of Canton, Texas; five grandchildren, Christopher and Tonya Hicks of Fayetteville, Kim and John Trublood of Harrison, Robert Haulton of St. Louis, Mo., Lesley Hicks of Jacksonville and Jeremy Hicks of Conway; two great-grandchildren, Silas Hicks and Tabor Trublood.
Graveside services will be at 3 p.m. today at Walnut Bottoms Cemetery near Paron with Brother Royce Lowe officiating. The family would like to express their thanks and appreciation to her caregivers, Judy, Tonya, Ellen and Cressie.
Funeral arrangements are under the direction of Moore’s Jacksonville Funeral Home.
Ellis Polk
Ellis F. Polk, 73, of McRae died Tuesday, Sept. 5.
A veteran of the Korean Conflict, Ellis was captured before his 18th birthday and was a POW for 30 months. He retired at 25 years from Midwest Video.
A Baptist, he loved going to church and working for the Lord until his illness forced him to stay away from crowds. He continued his work through witnessing to individuals.
He had a smile that no one could forget.
Ellis is survived by his wife, Maurine; two daughters, Donna Polk of McRae and Diana Arledge (Will) of Pine Bluff; one son, David Polk; three stepdaughters, Martha Long (Rick), Beverly Parker, and Helen Campbell (Mike); one stepson, John Webb (Angie); 14 grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; four sisters, Lee Dillon of Up-ton, Wyo., Myrtle Smith (Leroy) of Eaton, Colo., Bertha Russell (David) of Brush, Colo., and Eula King of Searcy; two brothers, Glen Polk (Georgeann) of Beebe, Rubert Polk (Dovie) of Pangburn, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James Robert and Flo-rence Sparrow Polk; and brother, James Polk.
Funeral will be held at 10 a.m. today at Westbrook Funeral Home with burial in Harmony Cemetery.
Lucille Cain
Lucille Martha Cain, 85, of Cabot died Friday, Sept. 8, 2006 in Jacksonville.
She was born May 22, 1921 to the late Matt and Irene Porter Long in Rushing.
She is survived by her husband, Joe Cain; four children, Wanda Lafferty of Jacksonville, Donnie Porter of Cotter, Elaine Cofer of Benton and Ron Cain of Austin, Texas; eight grandchildren, Dennis Lafferty, Keri Gray, David Porter, Dana Hogue, Kim Cofer, Jonathan Cain, Kelly Cain, and Regan Cain, and eight great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday at the chapel of Cabot Funeral Home.
Interment will be held at 1 p.m. at Egner Cemetery in Salado.
TOP STORY>>Cabot man saves small boy from house fire
IN SHORT: Heroic neighbor rescues child from certain death in house fire.
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
A house fire took the life of a 77-year-old Cabot woman Wednesday, but firefighters say a 3-year-old boy was saved by a neighbor who went into the heat and smoke twice before he found the child.
Fire Chief Phil Robinson said Robert McKenzie, who lives on Highland Boulevard, off Willie Ray Drive, was alerted to the fire by Velma Metcalf, who later died, and her daughter, Jane Reynolds, who told him that Reynolds’ young son was still asleep in his mother’s bed. The two women had been able to get Reynolds’ 6- and 7-year-old daughters out, but not the little boy.
McKenzie’s first attempt to reach the little boy failed, because of the intense heat and smoke, Robinson said.
He came out for air, but went back in and found the boy by his cries, gave him to his mother, who had also gone back in to find him and pushed them both to safety. He then went in search of Metcalf, who had entered the house with her daughter.
He found her and tried to lead her out, but she pulled away. He couldn’t help more because he was “out of air and overheated,” Robinson said.
Metcalf was dead when firefighters found her. Robinson said there is really no way to know why Metcalf pulled away from McKenzie or even if she really did.
“It could have been that she was overcome by heat and smoke and collapsed,” he said. “That would have felt like she was pulling away. But if she did pull away, it could have been because she didn’t know they had found the baby and she wasn’leaving if he couldn’t.”
Robinson issued this statement Friday about the cause of the fire: “We have completed our preliminary origin and cause investigation and determined the area of origin to be a corner of an outside deck where it joins the house on two sides. With the evidence available, we are not able to narrow the cause down to a single probability. It is possible that a bag of charcoal stored in that area or an electric extension cord used to power an above-ground swimming pool pump caused the fire. We cannot eliminate either possibility. Unless further evidence presents itself, we must record the cause as undetermined.”
John Springer, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, helped with the investigation. Robinson said he first asked the State Police investigator to help, but he was tied up with a fire in Des Arc that killed two people.
The family lost all their belongings in the fire. Robinson said their neighbor, J.W. Palmer, 12 Pinnacle Point, is collecting donations.
The girls are virtually the same size. The 7-year-old wears a size seven dress, but all other clothing should be a size six for both. Their shoe sizes are 12 and one.
The sizes for the little boy are three for clothing and 8 for shoes.
By JOAN MCCOY
Leader staff writer
A house fire took the life of a 77-year-old Cabot woman Wednesday, but firefighters say a 3-year-old boy was saved by a neighbor who went into the heat and smoke twice before he found the child.
Fire Chief Phil Robinson said Robert McKenzie, who lives on Highland Boulevard, off Willie Ray Drive, was alerted to the fire by Velma Metcalf, who later died, and her daughter, Jane Reynolds, who told him that Reynolds’ young son was still asleep in his mother’s bed. The two women had been able to get Reynolds’ 6- and 7-year-old daughters out, but not the little boy.
McKenzie’s first attempt to reach the little boy failed, because of the intense heat and smoke, Robinson said.
He came out for air, but went back in and found the boy by his cries, gave him to his mother, who had also gone back in to find him and pushed them both to safety. He then went in search of Metcalf, who had entered the house with her daughter.
He found her and tried to lead her out, but she pulled away. He couldn’t help more because he was “out of air and overheated,” Robinson said.
Metcalf was dead when firefighters found her. Robinson said there is really no way to know why Metcalf pulled away from McKenzie or even if she really did.
“It could have been that she was overcome by heat and smoke and collapsed,” he said. “That would have felt like she was pulling away. But if she did pull away, it could have been because she didn’t know they had found the baby and she wasn’leaving if he couldn’t.”
Robinson issued this statement Friday about the cause of the fire: “We have completed our preliminary origin and cause investigation and determined the area of origin to be a corner of an outside deck where it joins the house on two sides. With the evidence available, we are not able to narrow the cause down to a single probability. It is possible that a bag of charcoal stored in that area or an electric extension cord used to power an above-ground swimming pool pump caused the fire. We cannot eliminate either possibility. Unless further evidence presents itself, we must record the cause as undetermined.”
John Springer, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, helped with the investigation. Robinson said he first asked the State Police investigator to help, but he was tied up with a fire in Des Arc that killed two people.
The family lost all their belongings in the fire. Robinson said their neighbor, J.W. Palmer, 12 Pinnacle Point, is collecting donations.
The girls are virtually the same size. The 7-year-old wears a size seven dress, but all other clothing should be a size six for both. Their shoe sizes are 12 and one.
The sizes for the little boy are three for clothing and 8 for shoes.
TOP STORY>>Trial set to start Nov. 8
IN SHORT: Lonoke judge wants Campbells and bondsmen tried together in corruption case.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Former Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell, his wife Kelly Campbell and two bail bondsmen will be tried together beginning Nov. 8 on a sprawling array of charges, Special Judge John Cole ruled Friday at Lonoke.
Defense attorneys, who had sought separate trials for each of the four defendants, expressed surprise at Cole’s ruling, believing that the judge had signaled repeatedly at the Aug. 25 hearing that a combined trial, maybe a month long, would be unwieldy or unmanageable.
He did leave the door cracked Friday, saying “I’m denying the motion for severance at this time.”
The state appointed Cole to hear the case after Circuit Judge Lance Hanshaw recused.
Cole also refused Friday to dismiss overriding charges alleging that Campbell was the mastermind of an ongoing criminal enterprise, that the other three were confederates and that the other 76 charges were committed as part of and proof of the criminal enterprise.
The state alleges that Campbell’s enterprise stole drugs and money, influenced inmates with drugs and sexual favors, conspired to manufacture methamphetamine, burgled homes and beat and intimidated witnesses between October 2002 and December 2005.
Kelly Campbell is alleged to have had sex with two inmates for a total of about 24 times, supplying them with alcohol, drugs and a cell phone, according to the charges, and with numerous counts of stealing drugs and other valuables with her husband. Bail bondsmen Larry Norwood and Bobby Junior Cox will be tried with the Campbells, according to the Cole’s ruling.
In the most serious of the charges, the former chief and the two bail bondsmen are accused of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamines as part of a complicated scheme to find a man who fled while on bond.
If the defendants are convicted of criminal-enterprise charges, some of the lesser charges would carry enhanced sentences and the sentences for criminal enterprise charges would be even greater.
Defense attorneys argued that the state failed by definition to meet the criminal enterprise statute requirement of involving at least three defendants and that they had committed at least two felony crimes of violence or for financial gain.
Arguing to dismiss the criminal- enterprise charge against Norwood, attorney Jeff Rosenzweig said that even if conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine were “a predicate criminal offense” involving three people, there was no second such offense, and thus, no criminal enterprise.
Most allegations are that the Campbells stole prescription drugs or other things of value from friends and neighbors—two people, not three, and certainly not involving Norwood.
In her arguments, McCastlain cited cases holding that not all enterprise members had to be “under the defendants’ supervision at the same moment nor in the conduct of the same underlying felony, but must merely be under the defendants’ supervision in the conduct of the same continuing enterprise.”
“The defense is trying to hold the state to a burden not required,” she responded to a similar argument made by Jay Campbell’s lawyer, Patrick Benca. “The motion (to quash) is premature,” said McCast-lain, who argued that the proper time for the judge to consider dismissing the criminal enterprise charges was not before the trial, but in a directed verdict after the state has put on its case.
Cole refused to quash the criminal-enterprise charges against any of the defendants, but declined to discuss his reasons.
Attorneys for both Campbells and for Cox piggybacked their arguments on Rosenzweig’s arguments on Norwood’s behalf.
Benca argued that McCastlain filed criminal-enterprise charges because her other cases were likely to be severed and she wanted them tried together. “Now she’s looking for crimes back to 2003,” he said.
Lonoke Mayor Thomas Privett’s misdemeanor theft-of-services charge and former police department dispatcher Amy Staley’s felony charges for having sex with inmates have been severed from the others.
Cole set the next pretrial hearing for 1 p.m. Sept. 21, and asked that any motion for change of venue be argued at that time.
By JOHN HOFHEIMER
Leader staff writer
Former Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell, his wife Kelly Campbell and two bail bondsmen will be tried together beginning Nov. 8 on a sprawling array of charges, Special Judge John Cole ruled Friday at Lonoke.
Defense attorneys, who had sought separate trials for each of the four defendants, expressed surprise at Cole’s ruling, believing that the judge had signaled repeatedly at the Aug. 25 hearing that a combined trial, maybe a month long, would be unwieldy or unmanageable.
He did leave the door cracked Friday, saying “I’m denying the motion for severance at this time.”
The state appointed Cole to hear the case after Circuit Judge Lance Hanshaw recused.
Cole also refused Friday to dismiss overriding charges alleging that Campbell was the mastermind of an ongoing criminal enterprise, that the other three were confederates and that the other 76 charges were committed as part of and proof of the criminal enterprise.
The state alleges that Campbell’s enterprise stole drugs and money, influenced inmates with drugs and sexual favors, conspired to manufacture methamphetamine, burgled homes and beat and intimidated witnesses between October 2002 and December 2005.
Kelly Campbell is alleged to have had sex with two inmates for a total of about 24 times, supplying them with alcohol, drugs and a cell phone, according to the charges, and with numerous counts of stealing drugs and other valuables with her husband. Bail bondsmen Larry Norwood and Bobby Junior Cox will be tried with the Campbells, according to the Cole’s ruling.
In the most serious of the charges, the former chief and the two bail bondsmen are accused of conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamines as part of a complicated scheme to find a man who fled while on bond.
If the defendants are convicted of criminal-enterprise charges, some of the lesser charges would carry enhanced sentences and the sentences for criminal enterprise charges would be even greater.
Defense attorneys argued that the state failed by definition to meet the criminal enterprise statute requirement of involving at least three defendants and that they had committed at least two felony crimes of violence or for financial gain.
Arguing to dismiss the criminal- enterprise charge against Norwood, attorney Jeff Rosenzweig said that even if conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine were “a predicate criminal offense” involving three people, there was no second such offense, and thus, no criminal enterprise.
Most allegations are that the Campbells stole prescription drugs or other things of value from friends and neighbors—two people, not three, and certainly not involving Norwood.
In her arguments, McCastlain cited cases holding that not all enterprise members had to be “under the defendants’ supervision at the same moment nor in the conduct of the same underlying felony, but must merely be under the defendants’ supervision in the conduct of the same continuing enterprise.”
“The defense is trying to hold the state to a burden not required,” she responded to a similar argument made by Jay Campbell’s lawyer, Patrick Benca. “The motion (to quash) is premature,” said McCast-lain, who argued that the proper time for the judge to consider dismissing the criminal enterprise charges was not before the trial, but in a directed verdict after the state has put on its case.
Cole refused to quash the criminal-enterprise charges against any of the defendants, but declined to discuss his reasons.
Attorneys for both Campbells and for Cox piggybacked their arguments on Rosenzweig’s arguments on Norwood’s behalf.
Benca argued that McCastlain filed criminal-enterprise charges because her other cases were likely to be severed and she wanted them tried together. “Now she’s looking for crimes back to 2003,” he said.
Lonoke Mayor Thomas Privett’s misdemeanor theft-of-services charge and former police department dispatcher Amy Staley’s felony charges for having sex with inmates have been severed from the others.
Cole set the next pretrial hearing for 1 p.m. Sept. 21, and asked that any motion for change of venue be argued at that time.
TOP STORY>>Repeat offenders seen crowding jail
By PEG KENYON
Leader staff writer
Two veteran law-enforcement authorities insist that without consequences of serving time behind bars, criminals will continue to break the law.
From 1,125 detainees who were housed at the Pulaski County Regional Detention facility several years ago, only 880 remain locked up because the county doesn’t have the money to keep all the beds open, according to John Rehrauer, spokesman for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, and Jacksonville Police Chief Robert Baker.
They’re hoping voters will approve a quarter-cent sales tax Tuesday to add beds to the jail and pay for other improvements.
About 97 percent of the time the jail is closed, which leads to frustration for countywide law-enforcement agencies.
Rehrauer recalled a recent rape in Maumelle, and police had to call the jail to see if there was space to detain the accused rapist.
Baker agrees with Rehrauer that it is frustrating for a “good group of police officers” to make solid arrests just to see the same people back out on the streets in no time flat.
“They just get a slap on the back of the hand,” he said.
Baker is the first to admit that statistics can be used to spin whatever issue goes before the public, but there were 86 more burglaries reported in 2005 than in 2004 for Jacksonville.
Between January and July, Jacksonville had 159 burglaries in 2004, while 258 were reported in 2005 during the same months.
In 2006, the number of burglaries for the same period was listed at 242, suggesting that criminals are out on the street.
If the measure passes, Jacksonville would receive a $125,000 windfall because an inter-local agreement between the city and county officials would end, resulting in huge savings for the county’s cities.
“That is our share…$125,000 a year,” Baker told The Leader. Plus, there is a handling fee when those arrested in Jacksonville are sent to the county jail.
Baker explained that the $125,000 would wind up in Jacksonville’s general funds. When asked if he wanted the windfall to benefit the police department, Baker said he’d rather see the city, as a whole, benefit from the savings.
Of the projected $18 million- plus tax revenue per year to be generated from the proposed sales/use tax hike, $750,000 will be used for prevention, intervention and treatment programs geared to get individuals to give up their drug/alcohol addictions and their criminal activities.
The remaining tax revenue generated by the proposed measure will also go to operating costs, new jail staff and repairs to the jail as well as reopening the work center facility.
Inmates can get their GED. Other programs focus on teaching detainees about life skills and providing an opportunity for de-tainees to ditch drugs.
“It’s mostly all done by volunteers right now,” Rehrauer said.
Rehrauer hopes more professionals will go to work at the jail if the public approves the sales tax increase. He believes this could help some detainees acquire skills to become productive citizens, but he knows other inmates will be unwilling to change no matter what.
“Quite honestly, sometimes they do it just to get out of their unit for awhile, but it’s valuable to try,” Rehrauer said.
In the past, Jacksonville operated an intermediate jail, which could house detainees up to 14 days. “We are currently a booking facility,” Baker told The Leader.
Individuals arrested in Jacksonville should be there only a few hours.
When asked why not revert to an intermediate jail facility, Baker replied, “It was very cost effective for us to go with the inter-local agreement.”
Baker also noted that to refurbish plumbing and electrical work, as well as to feed and provide medical treatment to de-tainees, is more expensive.
After listening to Baker’s reply, Rehrauer commented, “Nobody wants to get back in the jail business (locally).”
This week, hundreds of voters cast early ballots at Jacksonville City Hall, election officials said.
Most regular polling places will be open for the special election Tuesday.
Leader staff writer
Two veteran law-enforcement authorities insist that without consequences of serving time behind bars, criminals will continue to break the law.
From 1,125 detainees who were housed at the Pulaski County Regional Detention facility several years ago, only 880 remain locked up because the county doesn’t have the money to keep all the beds open, according to John Rehrauer, spokesman for the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, and Jacksonville Police Chief Robert Baker.
They’re hoping voters will approve a quarter-cent sales tax Tuesday to add beds to the jail and pay for other improvements.
About 97 percent of the time the jail is closed, which leads to frustration for countywide law-enforcement agencies.
Rehrauer recalled a recent rape in Maumelle, and police had to call the jail to see if there was space to detain the accused rapist.
Baker agrees with Rehrauer that it is frustrating for a “good group of police officers” to make solid arrests just to see the same people back out on the streets in no time flat.
“They just get a slap on the back of the hand,” he said.
Baker is the first to admit that statistics can be used to spin whatever issue goes before the public, but there were 86 more burglaries reported in 2005 than in 2004 for Jacksonville.
Between January and July, Jacksonville had 159 burglaries in 2004, while 258 were reported in 2005 during the same months.
In 2006, the number of burglaries for the same period was listed at 242, suggesting that criminals are out on the street.
If the measure passes, Jacksonville would receive a $125,000 windfall because an inter-local agreement between the city and county officials would end, resulting in huge savings for the county’s cities.
“That is our share…$125,000 a year,” Baker told The Leader. Plus, there is a handling fee when those arrested in Jacksonville are sent to the county jail.
Baker explained that the $125,000 would wind up in Jacksonville’s general funds. When asked if he wanted the windfall to benefit the police department, Baker said he’d rather see the city, as a whole, benefit from the savings.
Of the projected $18 million- plus tax revenue per year to be generated from the proposed sales/use tax hike, $750,000 will be used for prevention, intervention and treatment programs geared to get individuals to give up their drug/alcohol addictions and their criminal activities.
The remaining tax revenue generated by the proposed measure will also go to operating costs, new jail staff and repairs to the jail as well as reopening the work center facility.
Inmates can get their GED. Other programs focus on teaching detainees about life skills and providing an opportunity for de-tainees to ditch drugs.
“It’s mostly all done by volunteers right now,” Rehrauer said.
Rehrauer hopes more professionals will go to work at the jail if the public approves the sales tax increase. He believes this could help some detainees acquire skills to become productive citizens, but he knows other inmates will be unwilling to change no matter what.
“Quite honestly, sometimes they do it just to get out of their unit for awhile, but it’s valuable to try,” Rehrauer said.
In the past, Jacksonville operated an intermediate jail, which could house detainees up to 14 days. “We are currently a booking facility,” Baker told The Leader.
Individuals arrested in Jacksonville should be there only a few hours.
When asked why not revert to an intermediate jail facility, Baker replied, “It was very cost effective for us to go with the inter-local agreement.”
Baker also noted that to refurbish plumbing and electrical work, as well as to feed and provide medical treatment to de-tainees, is more expensive.
After listening to Baker’s reply, Rehrauer commented, “Nobody wants to get back in the jail business (locally).”
This week, hundreds of voters cast early ballots at Jacksonville City Hall, election officials said.
Most regular polling places will be open for the special election Tuesday.
TOP STORY>>Funding issue to be decided by electorate on Tuesday
IN SHORT: Sales tax increase to be used only for construction and operation of Pulaski County Jail.
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
Local and county officials say that the proposed quarter-percent sales and use tax on Tuesday’s special ballot will be used only for construction and operation of the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility.
The proposal, if approved, will increase the sales and use tax in Pulaski County by one-quarter of a cent on each dollar of goods or services purchased. This equals one cent on a $4 purchase; 25 cents on a $100 purchase; and is capped at a maximum of $6.25 on a purchase of $2,500 or more.
Jacksonville Police Chief Robert Baker and John Rehrauer, public information officer with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, said the tax will be collected on purchases in the first quarter of next year, but a significant amount would not be available until the second quarter of the year.
Ron Quillin, director of administrative services for Pulaski County Administration, explain-ed that the tax distribution is received a month after it is collected.
Therefore, revenue from the sales and use tax for the first three months of 2007, if started Jan. 1, would only show two months of collection come March.
“For the first quarter of the year, they will see two months of collections instead of three,” Quillin said.
If the proposal is passed next week, Rehrauer said they would immediately work to open the 250-bed work release center and have it open, hopefully, by the first of the year.
According to Rehrauer, the county would also begin a retaining effort for detention officers for the center immediately.
The work-release center would give a “temporary relief” to the detention facility, at least until it gets back up to the 1,125 beds the facility had before layoffs and cutbacks reduced the number of available beds to 800, Rehrauer said.
The tax revenue would reopen the 250-bed work release center, but to also pay for 196 new minimum- to medium-security beds and 292 new maximum-security beds.
The revenue from the tax will help cover those costs by allowing Pulaski County to repair current facilities, maintain and operate the detention facility for the next 10 to 15 years, and provide a minimum of $750,000 each year for prevention, intervention and treatment programs. Because of budget constraints, the detention facility has remained closed over 95 percent of the time.
The people being held right now, according to Baker and Rehrauer, are ones that are violent felons, people who have committed violent acts, such as shootings, rapes, beatings, etc., that did not make bond.
The cost of operating the jail has increased just like everything else these days, Rehrauer said.
Baker pointed out that non-violent felons don’t go to jail because of the facility being closed, while many violent offenders are released for lack of space.
“We want to ensure that there is room to lock up the violent felons when we can,” Baker said.
“What they have to do now when we get a violent felon is research who is currently in jail that is now eligible to be released, even though they would like to keep them,” Baker added. “It’s progressed to even worse than what it was when the jail was closed,” he said.
In 2003 and 2004, when the detention facility was at its maximum population of 1,125, it was closed 30 to 35 percent of the time, Rehrauer said.
In 2005, it was closed about 40 percent of the time. The facility is currently closed 95 percent of the time.
Baker explained that all the agencies that are involved in the group leadership meetings got together and concluded that “this was the best way we could do as far as a recourse of action in order to prevent the jail from being overcrowded then, so that it could hold a lot of felons and still be able to operate and function.”
“It’s frustrating to us because we can’t do what we know we need to do (because of no room in the jail),” Baker told The Leader. “What justice is there for the victims right now?
“How much of a service are we providing if we can’t keep people in jail?”
By HEATHER HARTSELL
Leader staff writer
Local and county officials say that the proposed quarter-percent sales and use tax on Tuesday’s special ballot will be used only for construction and operation of the Pulaski County Regional Detention Facility.
The proposal, if approved, will increase the sales and use tax in Pulaski County by one-quarter of a cent on each dollar of goods or services purchased. This equals one cent on a $4 purchase; 25 cents on a $100 purchase; and is capped at a maximum of $6.25 on a purchase of $2,500 or more.
Jacksonville Police Chief Robert Baker and John Rehrauer, public information officer with the Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, said the tax will be collected on purchases in the first quarter of next year, but a significant amount would not be available until the second quarter of the year.
Ron Quillin, director of administrative services for Pulaski County Administration, explain-ed that the tax distribution is received a month after it is collected.
Therefore, revenue from the sales and use tax for the first three months of 2007, if started Jan. 1, would only show two months of collection come March.
“For the first quarter of the year, they will see two months of collections instead of three,” Quillin said.
If the proposal is passed next week, Rehrauer said they would immediately work to open the 250-bed work release center and have it open, hopefully, by the first of the year.
According to Rehrauer, the county would also begin a retaining effort for detention officers for the center immediately.
The work-release center would give a “temporary relief” to the detention facility, at least until it gets back up to the 1,125 beds the facility had before layoffs and cutbacks reduced the number of available beds to 800, Rehrauer said.
The tax revenue would reopen the 250-bed work release center, but to also pay for 196 new minimum- to medium-security beds and 292 new maximum-security beds.
The revenue from the tax will help cover those costs by allowing Pulaski County to repair current facilities, maintain and operate the detention facility for the next 10 to 15 years, and provide a minimum of $750,000 each year for prevention, intervention and treatment programs. Because of budget constraints, the detention facility has remained closed over 95 percent of the time.
The people being held right now, according to Baker and Rehrauer, are ones that are violent felons, people who have committed violent acts, such as shootings, rapes, beatings, etc., that did not make bond.
The cost of operating the jail has increased just like everything else these days, Rehrauer said.
Baker pointed out that non-violent felons don’t go to jail because of the facility being closed, while many violent offenders are released for lack of space.
“We want to ensure that there is room to lock up the violent felons when we can,” Baker said.
“What they have to do now when we get a violent felon is research who is currently in jail that is now eligible to be released, even though they would like to keep them,” Baker added. “It’s progressed to even worse than what it was when the jail was closed,” he said.
In 2003 and 2004, when the detention facility was at its maximum population of 1,125, it was closed 30 to 35 percent of the time, Rehrauer said.
In 2005, it was closed about 40 percent of the time. The facility is currently closed 95 percent of the time.
Baker explained that all the agencies that are involved in the group leadership meetings got together and concluded that “this was the best way we could do as far as a recourse of action in order to prevent the jail from being overcrowded then, so that it could hold a lot of felons and still be able to operate and function.”
“It’s frustrating to us because we can’t do what we know we need to do (because of no room in the jail),” Baker told The Leader. “What justice is there for the victims right now?
“How much of a service are we providing if we can’t keep people in jail?”
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