TOP STORY > >Family puts emphasis on education

By GARRICK FELDMANLeader executive editorRandy Carney of Jacksonville, who graduated from North Pulaski High School in 2004, has earned a master of science degree in materials science and engineering from Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He will graduate next week after submitting his thesis, “Probing Nanoparticles and their Assemblies with Analytical Ultracentrifugation.”Carney, 23, joined Prof. Francesco Stellacci’s project at MIT, studying […]

EDITORIAL >>Students take charge

Since it’s election time and seniors have graduated, here’s an idea—let’s have an early PCSSD school board election, vote all the incumbents out and replace them with the outstanding seniors who showed us the ugly side of Jacksonville High School back in April.Led by senior Nick Stevens, the students recently made an excellent, albeit sad, presentation to the board, called […]

EDITORIAL >>State’s budget finds healing

Will the new national health-care law be good for Arkansas? If your concerns are about the state budget, the answer is yes.We have thought since each house of Congress passed a version of health reform that the final law was nearly certain to be a bonanza for Arkansas. Some 400,000 people will get health insurance at negligible cost to themselves […]

TOP STORY > >Early voting set to start for run-offs

By JOHN HOFHEIMERLeader senior staff writerWith early voting in the Arkansas primary runoff elections starting Tuesday, a third televised debate between Sen. Blanche Lincoln and Lt. Gov. Bill Halter for the Democratic nomination for the seat she currently holds remains uncertain.Lincoln received 45 percent of the votes in the May 18 primary, Halter 42 percent, with D.C. Morrison receiving 13 […]

SPORTS>>Jacksonville’s catcher is lone all-state choice

By TODD TRAUBLeader sports editorJacksonville baseball coach Larry Burrows would have liked to see more of his players named to the all-state roster.But, Burrows said, the Red Devils only have themselves to blame.Junior catcher Patrick Castle-berry was the lone all-stater selected from the 6A-East champion Red Devils. Castleberry was a worthy choice, hitting .430 with nine home runs and 54 […]

SPORTS>>Big numbers boost Devils

By JASON KINGLeader sportswriterImproved numbers and size have led to improved efforts and hopes for the Jacksonville Red Devils.The Red Devils showed up 64 players strong for their two weeks of spring football practice following a solid offseason. The final numbers will depend on final, second-semester grades and the players’ commitment to summer conditioning, but coach Mark Whatley has liked […]

SPORTS>>Interesting chapter to Reed

By TODD TRAUBLeader sports editorI had my whole column written, then I had to tear it up because I was reminded, even at this advanced stage in my career, there are two sides to a story.When I heard Arkansas State freshman guard Brandon Reed was asking out of his scholarship, and that his father may have been behind his decision, […]

SPORTS>>Pitcher Evans Panthers’ postseason pick

By TODD TRAUBLeader sports editorMatt Evans certainly made opponents earn their runs this season.The Cabot senior pitcher was the Panthers’ lone all-state selection after going 8-2 and posting a 1.40 ERA against a challenging slate of 7A-Central opponents. Evans’ ERA places him in Cabot’s all-time top three, and he added a .397 batting average as the team’s leadoff or No. […]

SPORTS>>Cabot’s spring features quarterback duel

By TODD TRAUBLeader sports editorIf Cabot football coach Mike Malham could take his three quarterbacks into a lab and stitch them into one, he might have just what he is looking for.As it is, Malham is still fairly pleased with the three candidates trying to replace departed senior Seth Bloomberg in Cabot’s Dead T offense this spring.“We’ve been working three […]