SPORTS >> Old formation boosts Hornets by the Falcons

By JASON KINGLeader sports writerThe North Pulaski Falcons kept it close for one half before Oak Grove went back to its traditional offense to post a 27-7 victory at Bobby Tiner Stadium on Friday.The Hornets (1-1) spread the offense out in the first half, which resulted in a pair of miscues. But they went back to their tried-and-true wing T […]

SPORTS >> Hogs take rest, Red Wolves will be wanting one after ‘Huskers

By TODD TRAUBLeader sports editorArkansas and Arkansas State don’t play each other — and we all know they should — but the state’s major-college football programs at least walked the same side of the street last week.It is probably the last time this season they will have much in common.The grid-Hogs of Arkansas thumped Missouri State 48-10 in the season-opener […]

SPORTS >> Offenses dominate as Jackrabbits hold off Badgers

By RAY BENTONSpecial to The LeaderExciting match-ups that go down to the wire are the norm when the Lonoke Jackrabbits and Beebe Badgers hook up in Week 2 of each football season, and Friday night was no letdown.Lonoke held a slim margin throughout the second half and held off Beebe 40-30 at James B. Abraham Field.The first half saw four […]

SPORTS >> Red Devils grab win

By TODD TRAUBLeader sports editorJacksonville showed its good hands and seized a 31-21 victory over Vilonia in the home opener Friday night.The Red Devils got a strong rushing effort from Keith Mosby to hang onto their lead late in the game, and they recovered three onside kicks, with two leading to points, as they took a non-conference victory over the […]

SPORTS >> Panthers run over Bears

By JASON KINGLeader sports writerThe Cabot Panthers and Sylvan Hills Bears were headed in the same direction on Friday. Unfortunately for the Bears, that direction was into their own red zone.The Panthers dominated from kickoff to final buzzer in a 35-7, non-conference rout at Panther Stadium. Sylvan Hills (0-2) struggled with only 16 yards of offense in the first half […]

EDITORIAL >> Moving closer to real reform

The scope of the reaction to possible health-care changes should have been expected considering how many people in America have a relationship to the medical system. An active debate about government’s role in our lives is after all a bastion of our country’s democracy, as President Obama said in his address to Congress on Wednesday night. During his speech, the […]

EDITORIAL >> Listening to the president

The great presidential brainwashing has come and gone and we are left to contemplate whether it will produce a nation of automatons waiting on the state to take care of them, as Republicans and even some school leaders said was President Obama’s goal. As anyone who took the ample trouble of watching or reading the president’s talk to schoolchildren knows, […]

TOP STORY >> Beebe picks state head for schools

By JOAN MCCOYLeader staff writerGov. Mike Beebe announced Friday afternoon he is recommending Tom Kimbrell of Cabot for Arkansas education commissioner. He replaces Ken James, who resigned in July to head a private company that works with schools.The state Board of Education is expected to consider Kimbrell’s hiring at its meeting Monday morning. If the vote goes as expected, the […]

TOP STORY >> NAACP says district’s policies racist

By JOHN HOFHEIMERLeader senior staff writerIn a letter it sent Wednesday to school board president Tim Clark, the Jacksonville branch of the NAACP charged racial bias exists in the disciplining of Pulaski County School District teachers.In his letter, R.L. Aaron, chairman of legal redress for the group, charged that Clark “allowed (Teachers’ Union president Marty Nix) to blatantly direct comments […]

TOP STORY >> More food to become available

By JEFFREY SMITHLeader staff writerA food pantry in Beebe will be able to help more people thanks to a new energy-efficient, walk-in freezer.Fellowship Bible Church in Cabot helped Mannafest Blessings food pantry secure $6,500 through the Arkansas Rice Depot to purchase the eight-foot-by-10-foot freezer. The walk-in freezer replaces 12 home refrigerators Mannafest Blessings was using to keep fresh meats, vegetables, […]