SPORTS >>Falcons close with two big wins, slide into third place

IN SHORT: The North Pulaski boys beat Wynne and Paragould this week to finish third in the 5A-East standings.By RAY BENTONLeader sports editor season strong, getting two big wins over Wynne and Paragould to close out the season 15-10 overall and 9-5 in conference play. The Falcons beat Wynne 68-45 at home, then knocked off Paragould 88-63 Thursday in Greene […]

SPORTS >>Red Devils outlast Bombers

IN SHORT: Jacksonville pulled out a 78-75 win in double overtime Tuesday night in the Devils’ Den.By RAY BENTONLeader sports editorWhether it’s the state’s top team, or a team that’s 10 games under .500, it’s never uneventful at Jacksonville’s Devils’ Den. The Red Devils got another heartpounding victory Tuesday night, a 78-75 double-overtime thriller against Mountain Home.The Bombers had beaten […]

SPORTS >>Cabot ladies hammer Cyclones

IN SHORT: The Lady Panthers destroyed Russellville Tuesday in their regular-season finale.By JASON KINGLeader sportswriterThe Cabot teams ended the regular season with a conference split at Russellville on Tuesday night. The boys came up short in the second half after keeping it close through the first two quarters, but the girls stayed in the hunt for the East No. 2 […]

EVENTS>>Winter 2007

The Jacksonville Dog Park Club will hold its first meeting of the year at 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Jacksonville Community Center.2007 will be a big year for dogs and their owners in Jacksonville. They will get to see the opening of the Jacksonville Dog Park in Dupree Park.Those interested in being part of this celebration are invited to come […]

OBITUARIES >> 02-24-07

Dennis MartindillDennis J. Martindill, 58, of Jacksonville died Feb. 22. He was born March 14, 1948 in California to the late Clark and Ruby King Martindill. He had been a resident of Jacksonville for the past 40 years and was a businessman. He was also a member of Highways and Hedges Ministry of Jacksonville.He is survived by a daughter, Denise […]

EDITORIALS>>Funding our schools

Gov. Beebe and legislative leaders agreed this week on a school budget for the next two years and to compliment themselves for having done it nobly. The governor said the product would raise public education above and beyond the level of adequate that is required by the Constitution. House Speaker Benny Petrus Jr. said this legislature would go down in […]

EDITORIALS>>Huckabee wore out plane

Gov. Beebe wants the legislature to appropriate $4 million from the state surplus to buy a new jet plane for the State Police or else fix the one that former Gov. Mike Huckabee grounded. Lawmakers have little practical choice but to go along, but it should take the chance to lay down a few ground rules to halt the abuses […]

EDITORIALS>>Another ruse for local funds

The ever ingenious and disingenuous state Sen. Bob Johnson of Bigelow has come up with another ruse to skirt the state Constitution’s ban on local and special legislation. Johnson may indeed have found a way that will let the courts wink at legislators’ pork-barrel projects. Gov. Beebe finds this one acceptable, which should be no surprise since it will give […]

TOP STORY >>Pryor sees U.S. spiritual strength

By HEATHER HARTSELLLeader staff writerSen. Mark Pryor and Rep. Vic Snyder joined Little Rock Air Force Base commanders and airmen, and other distinguished visitors at LRAFB Friday morning for the annual National Prayer Breakfast.Pryor, the keynote speaker for the event, addressed the 300-strong audience, saying it was an honor for him to participate in an event that brings people of […]

TOP STORY >>Cabot mayor calls summit a success

IN SHORT: Necessary road work will cost Cabot $200 million, officials told.By JOAN MCCOYLeader staff writerCabot Mayor Eddie Joe Williams is calling his Friday traffic summit a phenomenal success. The turnout of 50 or so local leaders, as well as elected officials from the state and federal level, along with state highway officials, was better than he expected. Dan Flowers, […]