SPORTS >>Fledgling Southside concerns Jackrabbits

By JASON KINGLeader sportswriterTwo losses to start the season had the ’Rabbit faithful concerned over the 2007 season, but Lonoke has recovered from its early struggles to win the last three games, including the first two 4A-2 Conference games over Heber Springs and Bald Knob. This week, the Jackrabbits will travel to Batesville to take on the Southside Southerners.The Southerners […]

SPORTS >>Youthful Wildcats improving for Cabot

By RAY BENTON Leader sports staffThe Cabot Panthers stay on the road this week in 7A-Central play when they travel to North Little Rock. The Charging Wildcats are a young team that has suffered several close setbacks so far this season. Most recently, the Wildcats dropped a disappointing 10-7 decision to Conway to fall to 0-2 in conference play. They […]

SPORTS >>Rivalry takes back seat Friday

By RAY BENTON & JASON KINGLeader sports staffJacksonville should go on the road more often. In their last four games, the Red Devils are 3-0 on the road and 0-1 at home. They’ve outscored their opponents 106-10 in those three wins, and were beaten 36-0 in the home game.They’ll have to find a way to remedy those home woes this […]

EDITORIALS>>Cabot keeps growing

 To the editor:We went for a Sunday afternoon drive to Cabot today.  Did a little Sunday evening shopping too.And we have some bad news for old-time Jacksonville residents who are used to Jacksonville having more residents than little Cabot.  We hope it’s not news to Jacksonville’s  mayor and city council, but it sure looks like the Cabot area is well […]

EDITORIALS>>Courts must preserve FOI

It does not take a rotten court precedent long to bear poison fruit. You will remember the astonishing decision of the Arkansas Supreme Court this summer that said a public official’s misuse of his public time and equipment to conduct his private affairs could be kept secret. Ron Quillen — a former Pulaski County comptroller who last week received a […]

OBITUARIES >> 10-03-07

Kenneth HubbardKenneth Harold Hubbard, 77, of Jacksonville died Sept. 28.He was born Oct. 13, 1929 in Liggett, Ky., to Laura King Hubbard and the late Chester Hubbard. Hubbard served in the Air Force for 21 years and in Vietnam during the war. He was a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars post in Jacksonville and enjoyed hunting and […]

TOP STORY >>New law changes sales-tax method

By JOAN MCCOYLeader staff writerA new law that goes into effect Jan. 1 will change the way tax is collected on building material. The tax will be collected where the supplies are delivered, not where they are sold.For Cabot, that means the city will lose its 2 percent sales tax on lumber and other building materials delivered, for example, to […]

TOP STORY >>Mixup causes confusion for clerks

Leader staff reportA law that mistakenly could allow teenagers to wed has created widespread confusion among Arkansas’ counties, with clerks uncertain when or if they can issue marriage licenses to minors.The law passed this year inadvertently allows young women under 18 to marry with parental consent if they aren’t pregnant. In most counties, clerks are leaving it up to judges […]

TOP STORY >>Cabot man sentenced to 23 years

By JOAN MCCOYLeader staff writerA Cabot man was found guilty Friday in Lonoke County Circuit Court of rape and sexual assault of a child and sentenced to a long prison term.Kenneth Lemaster, 29, was charged with rape in 2006, after his 5-year-old victim exhibited behavior consistent with sexual abuse and then later told a counselor that she had been abused.The […]

TOP STORY >>PCSSD recruits students in area

By JOHN HOFHEIMERLeader senior staff writerAs regular television watchers probably know by now, the Pulaski County Special School District has taken the initiative to slow the steady decline in the number of students attending, and Jacksonville residents are invited to visit local schools next week. “Come see what we’re doing,” is the theme for the Zone 6 schools in Jacksonville […]