EDITORIAL >> Bill deserves senators’ vote

Arkansas’ senators are in the enviable position of voting on a hugely important bill in which their little state has less at stake than most other states. That means that they can vote on the “jobs and tax extenders bill,” as it is known, with little but the purest national interest at heart.The national interest pleads for a vote for […]

SPORTS EVENTS >>11-20-10

Coaches Call Us The Leader would like to hear from all coaches in all sports in our coverage area. Please e-mail results, statistics or information to leadersports.@arkansasleader.com or fax to  501-985-0026 or call 982-9421. SEMI-PRO FOOTBALL TEAM FORMING FOR NEXT YEAR The Arkansas Sabers are the newest team to join the semi-pro Alliance Football League, which has been in existence […]

SPORTS >> Life in baseball threw Valentine a few curveballs

IN SHORT: Former American League umpire is noted for being fired over efforts to unionize and has witnessed some of baseball’s most tragically memorable moments.By Todd TraubLeader sports editorNotoriety comes the hard way sometimes.No one knows that better than Bill Valentine.The former Arkansas Travelers general manager and chief operating officer, who spent close to six years as an American League […]

SPORTS >> Brown, defense carry Chevy Boys

IN SHORT: Gwatney gets error-free defense plus pitching in victory.By Jason KingLeader sportswriterJacksonville Gwatney Chevrolet’s performance against North Little Rock didn’t need to be flashy.The Chevy Boys played solid fundamental baseball on their way to a 5-1, junior American Legion victory over the Optimist Colts at Hickingbotham Field in Dupree Park on Tuesday.Xavier Brown was the winning pitcher for Gwatney […]

SPORTS >> Gwatney runs out of gas in loss

IN SHORT: Visiting North Little Rock overcomes 5-1 deficit to claim a victory at Dupree Park.By JASON KINGLeader sportswriterJacksonville got all it could in the first inning, but couldn’t make it last.Gwatney Chevrolet’s senior American Legion team watched a four-run lead evaporate, as North Little Rock rallied for a 7-5 victory at Dupree Park Tuesday.Gwatney starting pitcher Jesse Harbin took […]

SPORTS >> Middle school gets turf

IN SHORT: Construction is nearly complete on Jacksonville Middle School field house booster project.By TODD TRAUBLeader sports editorThe grass is fake but the benefits should be real at Jacksonville Middle School’s new fieldhouse.A community-wide effort came a step closer to completion last week with the installation of FieldTurf inside the fieldhouse.The artificial turf came from Little Rock’s War Memorial Stadium, […]

OBITUARIES >> 09-15-10

RUBY GOSHARuby Christine “Granny” Gosha, 84, of Jacksonville died Sept. 11. She was born Aug. 22, 1926, in Walnut Ridge to the late Jess Mitchell and Josie Maude Speck Fox. Mrs. Gosha dedicated her life to her family and worked for Franklin Electric. She was also a member of North Jack-sonville Baptist Church. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Gosha […]

EVENTS >> 06-19-10

MOTORCYCLISTS RALLYING FOR POW/MIA TODAYThe seventh annual POW/MIA Awareness Poker Run is from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. today. The motorcycle run will begin at the Jacksonville Museum of Military History and end at VFW Post 4548. The cost is $20 per rider or $30 per couple. A motorcycle show will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. at the […]

TOP STORY >> Lawyer pins hope on a new district

IN SHORT: Group will have a petition drive on Friday at Walmart.By NANCY DOCKTERLeader staff writerA petition being circulated around Jacksonville is the latest strategy of proponents for a school district in Jacksonville and north Pulaski County, independent of Pulaski County Special School District. Retired lawyer Ben Rice, who initiated the petition drive about a month ago, hopes a stack […]

TOP STORY >> Cabot outscores state average on Benchmark tests

IN SHORT: Lonoke and Beebe also do well on mandated examinations.By Rick KronLeader staff writerThe state education commissioner Tom Kimbrell was pleased that state scores on the annually mandated Benchmark test went up, but the Cabot School Superintendent Tony Thurman is probably more proud that his district blew by all the state averages.The annual testing measures students’ ability to accomplish […]