EDITORIAL >> Cities invest in park space

Plans for a year-round shooting range outside Jacksonville and new baseball fields and a water park in Cabot are encouraging signs that cities are making investments in their communities as the economy begins to make its slow recovery. Jacksonville officials and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission have reached an agreement to build a $2.1 million firing range on 160 […]

TOP STORY >> Ex-PCSSD boss dies

Charles Hopson, 54, former superintendent of the Pulaski County Special School District, died Tuesday, according to an e-mail from Carole Smith, superintendent of the Portland (Oregon) School District. Hopson was serving as school-improvement officer for high schools at the Houston Independent School District. Details are incomplete, but he apparently died after an illness, according to Deborah Roush, PCSSD communications director. […]

TOP STORY >> Beebe district will build storm safe room

By JEFFREY SMITH Leader staff writer The Beebe School Board on Monday approved the price of $928,781 to build a storm safe room at Beebe Middle School in McRae. The shelter will be 4,200 square-feet. The district received $661,500 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to build the safe room that will be open for residents during severe weather. Delk […]

TOP STORY >> Life’s beautiful when you’re 100

By JEFFREY SMITH Leader staff writer Spring Creek Health and Rehab resident Vivian Buchanan turned 100 years old last Thursday in grand style — with a surprise birthday party in the dining hall. Residents and staff sang “Happy Birthday” as Buchanan blew out the candles on two cakes. She donned a tiara and a colorful boa. Cabot Mayor Bill Cypert […]

TOP STORY >> Cabot gets set for city’s 34th annual festival

By JOAN McCOY Leader staff writer With expected temperatures in the low 80s, a carnival, entertainment and 150 food and craft vendors, Cabotfest organizers are expecting the crowd at this weekend’s Cabotfest to surpass last year’s attendance of 25,000. This is the 34th year for the annual festival that started after the tornado of 1976 that destroyed most of the […]