EDITORIAL>> Let Justice do its job

Congress picked a fine time to become unhinged over the Bush administration’s trampling upon the Constitution: when government agents are getting too close for comfort to the security of politicians. Americans are right to be cynical about this overblown constitutional crisis.House Speaker Dennis Hastert, the longest-serving Republican speaker in history we were reminded this week, is also the most partisan […]

TOP STORY>> Three republicans get recounts

BY JOHN HOFHEIMERLeader staff writerIN SHORT: Two Lonoke County JPs, apparently turned out of office in an intraparty feud, say they distrust the results of atroubled vote count and will have recounts, as will a Cabot alderman.At the petition of three Republican candidates, one of whom lost by a single vote, the Lonoke County Election Commis-sion has scheduled recounts in […]

TOP STORY>> Paper ballots used for runoff

BY JOHN HOFHEIMER and JOAN McCOYLeader staff writersIN SHORT: Pulaski, Lonoke and White counties will put aside electronic voting forJune 13 contest.Among the counties not depending on electronic touch-screen voting machines for the primary runoff election already underway are Pulaski, Lonoke and White, none of which reported heavy voting in the May 23 primary election.In the first week of early […]

TOP STORY>> Dead soldier from Beebe comes home

BY JOAN McCOYLeader staff writerIN SHORT: Bobby West is the second one to die from his hometown in recent combat.A second soldier from Beebe has been killed in the war on terror in less than a year.Army Spec. Bobby West, 23, was killed in Baghdad on Tuesday, when an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated while he was on foot patrol […]

TOP STORY>> Aldermen vote against Sherwood getting land

BY PAUL PETERSONLeader staff writerON SHORT: Jacksonville adopts resolution opposing property annexation to Sherwood and receives $25,000 in scholarship funds from Waste Management.The Jacksonville City Council voted unanimously Thursday to oppose proposed annexation of unincorporated land east of Bayou Meto, which serves as a “natural boundary” between the cities of Jacksonville and Sherwood, and as far north as one mile […]

TOP STORY>> Library site cleanup

BY SARA GREENELeader staff writerIN SHORT: Couple may have to spend $25,000 to remove gasoline tanks before construction can begin on Main Street in Jacksonville.It may end up costing Paul and Dee Shaeffer as much as $25,000 to clean up the site of their Texaco station on Main Street in Jacksonville before turning over the property they had sold to […]

TOP STORY>> Several races shaping up in Sherwood for November

BY JOHN HOFHEIMERLeader staff writerIN SHORT: With Bill Harmon retiring, voters will decide on whether Dan Stedman or Mike Presson should be the new mayor. There are also races on for aldermen and clerk-treasurer. The city will also begin its transition from two-year terms to four-year terms for aldermen this election.Come January, someone other than Bill Harmon will be Sherwood […]

OBITUARIES

Gary BoylesGary L. Boyles, 55, of Lonoke, went to be with the Lord Thursday, June 1 after a long battle with cancer. He was born March 23, 1951 in Little Rock. Gary was a dedicated employee of Remington Arms, Inc., in Lo-noke where he worked for 34 years making his way up to shift supervisor. He was a proud graduate […]

SPORTS>> Cabot splits with Catholic’s LR-ASO

BY JASON KINGLeader sports writerIN SHORT: The Cabot American Legion team won one and lost one to the Catholic High legion team Wednesday night.The Cabot AA Home Depot American Legion team won only one out of four games through the first part of the week. A visit to Stuttgart on Saturday saw Home Depot drop both ends of a doubleheader […]

SPORTS>> Determined baller achieves dream

BY RAY BENTON Leader sports editorIN SHORT: Jacksonville High graduate Airic Hughes turned down academic scholarships from major universities to realize his dream of playing college basketball. Hughes will play for Ecclesia.Things have been working out for Jacksonville’s Airic Hughes lately. He finally broke into the starting lineup for the Red Devil basketball team this year. He helped them to […]