TOP STORY >> Cabot’s new health unit fully funded

By JOAN McCOYLeader staff writerThe new health department building in Cabot is now fully funded with construction expected to begin in early June.The Arkansas Department of Health announced Thursday that an additional $324,911 had been authorized to add to the $450,000 already set aside for the facility. It will be built in downtown Cabot on the corner of First and […]

TOP STORY >> Surveys show golf course idea is expensive

By RICK KRONLeader staff writerAt last week’s city council workshop on making North Hills Country Club a viable golf course again, Sherwood Parks and Recreation director Sonny Janssen said he wasn’t sure how much revenue would be generated from greens fees, cart rentals or purchases at the snack bar.But perhaps he does have an idea.In 2007, three different studies were […]

TOP STORY >> Lottery decides who gets into charter school

By CHRISTY HENDRICKSLeader staff writerApproximately 250 people attended the first Jacksonville Lighthouse Charter School lottery at the community center Thursday evening. The lottery determined who would get into the new school this fall.There were 344 spots available, but 611 applicants. Children whose names were not drawn to fill those slots were later drawn and placed on a waiting list. The […]

TOP STORY >> Districts grapple with new funds

By JOHN HOFHEIMERLeader senior staff writerWhile the Pulaski County Special School District’s $12.4 million share of the State Fiscal Stabilization Program stimulus funds could legally be used toward construction of the new school at Maumelle or perhaps Sylvan Hills, district officials hinted broadly Friday that they’d like it used for remodeling or repairing schools in each of the seven attendance […]

EDITORIAL >> State lags behind EPA

In the least surprising development in memory, the federal Environmental Protection Agency said last week that industrially generated carbon dioxide, the kind that is pumped from electricity generating plants like those in Arkansas, is polluting the earth and endangering public health and the welfare of everyone on it. It was an unmistakable signal to the power industry and to the […]

SPORTS >> Lanier takes tough-luck loss to Searcy

By JASON KINGLeader sportswriterThe rematch ended with the same result as their first meeting, as the Lady Lions of Searcy squeaked by the Lady Red Devils of Jacksonville with a 1-0 win on Tuesday at Searcy.The opposing pitchers on Tuesday put up similar numbers. Jacksonville junior hurler Jessica Lanier finished with five strikeouts and gave up two hits, while Searcy […]

SPORTS >> Falcons narrow coaching search

By JASON KINGLeader sportswriterNorth Pulaski High School is close to having a new varsity football coach. The position, which is also tied to a math teaching position, received a number of applications, but only 12 of the applicants had the proper credentials. Those 12 were narrowed down to three initially, and North Pulaski principal Tracy Allen told The Leader that […]

SPORTS >> Early run holds up for Lady Panther

By JASON KINGLeader sportswriterIt was the hardest possible way to earn a win, but it proved effective for a defensively stout Cabot team on Thursday. The Lady Panthers (18-6, 10-4 conf.) picked up one run in the opening inning and held on for a 1-0 win over Van Buren at Conrade Sports Complex to all but capture the No. 4 […]

SPORTS >> Bears complete unbeaten run through league

By JASON KINGLeader sportswriterBeebe hung with Hillside for one game, but the bottom fell out in the nightcap.Sylvan Hills ended its 5A-Southeast Conference season with 4-1 and 16-2 wins over the Badgers on Tuesday night at Gillam Fields. University of Arkansas signee D.J. Baxendale earned the win for the Bears in Game 1 before Nathan Eller pitched a one-hitter in […]

SPORTS >> Panthers rally for win

By KELLY FENTONLeader sports editorCabot coach Jay Fitch admitted he was still smarting from an extremely difficult loss to Bryant 48 hours earlier. So the last thing he needed was a 3-0 deficit right out of the chutes on Thursday.But a couple of errors in the first inning put Cabot in an early hole against Van Buren at Brian Wade […]