TOP STORY >> New faces on city councils

By RICK KRON Leader staff writer Even though two incumbents retained their seats Tuesday, the Jacksonville City Council will still have three new faces, with one starting as early as the next council meeting. There’ll be a new sheriff in Lonoke County and he’s coming from Ward, and a Cabot alderman who had actually dropped out of the race was […]

EDITORIAL >> Mitt Romney swept away

“I just wasn’t made for these times.” — Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney graciously conceded late Tuesday night. He realized a week ago that he could not win as President Obama kept gaining ground after Hurricane Sandy ravaged New York and New Jersey. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who was the keynote speaker at […]

SPORTS STORY >> Mt. Ida a hard draw for Bison in opener

By GRAHAM POWELL Leader sportswriter After last week’s 30-14 win over England in the regular-season finale, the Carlisle Bison won a share of the 2A-6 conference championship, their third conference title in a row. Hazen (7-3, 6-1), the 2A-6 co-champs, is still the No. 1 seed out of the conference due to its 16-14 upset win over the Bison in […]

SPORTS STORY >> Bears face high-flying Panthers

By JASON KING Leader sportswriter Luck is a good thing to have on your side when it comes to trying to secure a playoff seed, especially when it comes to a conference as unpredictable as the 5A Central. Sylvan Hills got a little luck when McClellan upset Little Rock Christian Academy in week 10 of the regular season. But the […]

SPORTS STORY >> Old foes meet in playoffs yet again

By JASON KING Leader sportswriter Some teams just can’t seem to avoid each other. Such is the case with Lonoke and its Class 4A first-round playoff opponent Warren this week. The Jackrabbits and Lumberjacks have faced off five times in the postseason since 2004. Lonoke won the most recent meeting between the two teams back in 2009 on its way […]

SPORTS STORY >> Devil Dogs score points

By RAY BENTON  Leader sports editor Jacksonville enters its first-round playoff game at Morrilton on a two-game losing streak. After starting the conference schedule with five consecutive wins, the Red Devils lost in the final minute to Mills in week nine and fell 51-7 to Pulaski Academy in their final regular-season game. That dropped the Devils to third place and […]

SPORTS STORY >> Devils, Falcons impressive at first jamboree

By RAY BENTON Leader sports editor The Jacksonville and North Pulaski boys basketball teams opened the exhibition portion of the season on Saturday in the annual Jacksonville Jamboree. The all-day affair saw seven teams face off for one half against two other teams. Jacksonville divided into two groups, varsity and junior varsity. Jacksonville and North Pulaski each played one half […]

SPORTS STORY >> Hornets’ passing attack is Cabot’s concern

By RAY BENTON  Leader sports editor The Cabot Panthers try to continue their turnaround this week when they head to Bryant for the first round of the class 7A playoffs. The Panthers were on the brink of collapse earlier this season when they dropped to 2-3 in league play with back-to-back losses to Little Rock Central and West Memphis, two […]