EDITORIAL >> Prosecution gets slammed

Back in April 2007, when Lonoke County Prosecutor Lona McCastlain and her deputies charged former Lonoke Police Chief Jay Campbell with running a continuing criminal enterprise and propped her case up with a slew of seemingly unrelated criminal allegations, we thought she was overreaching.That’s not how the jury saw it and neither did special Judge John Cole.Campbell’s trial attorney, Patrick […]

TOP STORY >> Library has full schedule for November

Jacksonville’s Esther Dewitt Nixon Library has a number of events scheduled during November as temperatures become cooler and people start moving inside.Tyke Tales for the little ones, ages 3-5, will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays. Storytime for ages 6-8, called the Book Bunch, is held at 4:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Merry Moppets, for the littlest ones, 18 months to […]

TOP STORY >> Education center ceremony Monday

Little Rock Air Force Base and Jacksonville officials will hold a groundbreaking for the joint-education center on Monday.By JOHN HOFHEIMERLeader senior staff writerSite preparation has begun on the long-awaited $10.6 million Joint Education Center at Little Rock Air Force Base, with the official groundbreaking ceremony set for 9 a.m. Monday.For years, Jacksonville community leaders in conjunction with base brass, have […]

TOP STORY >> First charter school dedicated

Lighthouse Academy principal Nigena Livingston addresses students, staff and guests at Thursday’s dedication.By GARRICK FELDMANLeader executive editorParents, students, teachers and staff, along with community leaders, helped dedicate Jacksonville’s new charter school Thursday — the first new school built in the city in almost three decades.“Thank you, Jacksonville, for letting us move into our new home,” principal Nigena Livingston said during […]

TOP STORY >> Cabot’s Silver Screen now in 3D

Silver Screen Theater manager Joe Creamer (from left), concession worker Jera Self and projectionist Chris Rodriguez try out the movie house’s new 3D glasses. The theater showed its first 3D movie, “A Christmas Carol,” on Friday. Silver Screen theater has undergone renovations, including a new facade.By CHRISTY HENDRICKS Leader staff writerTheatergoers in Cabot got an early Christmas present Friday – […]

TOP STORY >> Holiday harvests: gleaners fill food-pantry needs

Volunteers participated in a gleaning in August at a pear orchard owned by Oscar and Marisue Jones of El Paso.By NANCY DOCKTERLeader staff writerEver-changing weather and economic conditions that make farming one of the most challenging occupations also result in huge volumes of food going to waste in this country every year.Weather extremes can cut into a farmer’s profits. Perfectly […]

SPORTS >> Marion squeaks by Jacksonville with late interception

Jacksonville defensive back Kenny Cummings tackles Marion running back DeKendrick Smith at Jan Crow Stadium.By JASON KINGLeader sportswriterMarion earned its No. 4 seed out of the 6A-East Conference the hard way, and got all it wanted from Jacksonville in the process in its 43-36 victory at Jan Crow Stadium on Thursday night.In fact, the Patriots were 12 yards and 28 […]

SPORTS >> Second-half rally lifts Cabot to title

Cabot defender Logan Spry grabs an end-zone interception to end Russellville’s first possession in Cabot’s victory that clinched the 7A-Central title on Thursday night.By TODD TRAUBLeader sports editorRUSSELLVILLE — The season didn’t start the way Michael James planned, but it could end up the way he hoped.Cabot’s senior fullback rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers held […]

SPORTS >> She’s got next

Jessica Jackson has received major-college scholarship offers without a minute of varsity experience.By TODD TRAUBLeader sports editorIt starts innocently enough.A young girl picks up a basketball and joins a team. She develops her game and then, as predictably as sunshine follows rain, the college recruiters eventually come calling.That’s how it happened for Jacksonville’s Jessica Jackson, but at a pace unheard […]

SPORTS >> Bears edge Badgers

Beebe’s Colby Taylor tries to dodge a tackle against Sylvan Hills on Thursday.By MIKE GARRITYSpecial to The LeaderAfter three quarters it became apparent the team that made the first big mistake was the one that was going to see its season end at Sylvan Hills’ Bill Blackwood Field on Thursday night.That big mistake came early in the fourth quarter, when […]