SPORTS STORY >> Lions grind out win over Beebe

By JASON KING Leader sportswriter Athleticism carried the night – eventually. Little Rock McClellan struggled to put away a feisty Beebe team through three quarters before taking over in the final eight minutes for a 47-32 victory over the Badgers in the championship game of the Badger Christmas Classic basketball tournament at Badger Sports Arena on Monday. The Lions (6-5) […]

SPORTS STORY >> Cabot gets some luck, gets a win

By JASON KING Leader sportswriter Cabot needed a little bit of luck, and a steady shooting hand from Nick Thomas from the free-throw line in the closing seconds, as the Panthers rallied to overtake Brookland 44-43 in the third-place game of the Badger Christmas Classic at Badger Sports Arena on Monday. The Panthers (5-6) struggled from the floor most of […]

SPORTS STORY >> North Pulaski goes 1-1, NLR girls lose one

By RAY BENTON Leader sports editor Several local basketball teams were scheduled to take part in holiday tournaments around the state, but weather stopped some from being able to get to their respective events. The Cabot and Jacksonville girls and Sylvan Hills boys were unable to make it to their events. Cabot was in the Mansfield Rotary Club Classic in […]

SPORTS STORY >> Wildcats win Coke Classic

By RAY BENTON Leader sports editor The North Little Rock boys continue to stake their claim to being the best team in Arkansas. The latest achievement was winning the prestigious Coca Cola Classic tournament at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith. The Wildcats broke the century mark for the first time this season in the championship game, hammering Springdale High School […]

SPORTS STORY >> Lady Badgers win final

By RAY BENTON Leader sports editor Harding Academy controlled the early action, but Beebe won the game and the championship of the Badger Christmas Classic 43-39 Monday at Badger Arena. The Lady Badgers fell behind 15-7 in the first quarter while struggling to find an answer for Harding Academy’s matchup zone. Figuring it out largely came down to the dribble […]

EDITORIAL >> A seasonal message

“Then he looked up at his disciples and said: Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. “But when you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and […]

EDITORIAL >> When TV goes out

It was 2,500 years or so ago that Greek philosopher Socrates was said to have uttered the words that I try to live by: An unexamined life is not worth living. If you think about it, few people change because someone criticizes them. They change when they see flaws in themselves that don’t seem too difficult to repair. My most […]

TOP STORY >> Only one holdover as Staley moves in

By JOAN McCOY Leader staff writer John Staley, Lonoke County’s new sheriff, is replacing all but one of the top employees in his office. The only person he is keeping in an administrative position is Lt. Jim Kulesa who has experience in running a jail as well as drug enforcement and public information. Staley named Mike Kindall in early December […]

TOP STORY >> 2012: Of schools, water, highways, politics, military….

This is the second in a series looking back at the front page headlines of the Leader. From May through August, the news was dominated by articles about area schools, water projects, the North Belt and Little Rock Air Force Base. MAY  • Jacksonville closer to its own district — Pulaski County Special School District officials want to continue desegregation […]

TOP STORY >> Power back for almost everyone

By JEFFREY SMITH and SARAH CAMPBELL Leader staff writers Electricity is back on for almost everyone in the area after thousands of people were without power when nearly a foot of snow and some ice felled hundreds of trees and branches last week. There were fewer than a dozen local Entergy and First Electric Cooperative customers still in the dark […]