EDITORIAL >> Let’s welcome Col. Rhatigan

Col. Patrick Rhatigan will succeed Col. Brian Robinson as commander of the 19th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base in a change-of-command ceremony on July 9. Robinson, who has been the 19th AW commander for 18 months, was recently selected for promotion to brigadier general and will become the vice commander of Air Mobility Command’s 618th Air and […]

TOP STORY >> City prepares for big party in Dupree Park

By RICK KRON Leader staff writer There will be plenty of entertainment at the inaugural FestiVille at Dupree Park next weekend, just not a big name. Kevin House, the parks and recreation director, said his department worked more than a month on a contract to bring a big name, but kept having issues with the management company. “The idea behind […]

TOP STORY >> Getting to know your legislators

By RICK KRON Leader staff writer Rep. Douglas House (R- North Little Rock) was the first of the state’s 100 representatives to become a video star. “It just worked out that we got hold of him first,” said a legislative spokeswoman. As part of an ongoing effort to increase communication between members and constituents, the Arkansas House of Representatives is releasing […]

TOP STORY >> Search for new JHS principal

By SARAH CAMPBELL Leader staff writer Jacksonville High School Principal Henry Anderson is leaving the troubled Pulaski County Special School District to serve as principal at McClellan High School in Little Rock. When he was hired in 2011, Anderson was the fourth principal at JHS in about two years. His base salary at the Little Rock high school will be […]

SPORTS STORY >> AA Colts win one, lose one at Sheridan

By RAY BENTON Leader sports editor If any team showed more disparity between game one and two of the Wood Bat Classic than North Little Rock’s AA team, it was North Little Rock’s opponent on Thursday, the second night of the event. The Colts beat the Little Rock Diamondbacks 9-6 with a great performance at the plate by the entire […]

SPORTS STORY >> Centennial Bank slips past Benton

By GRAHAM POWELL Leader sports writer Benton’s Everett Buick-GMC junior American Legion team gave the Cabot White Centennial Bank junior team all it could handle in both games of Tuesday’s doubleheader matchup at the Cabot Baseball Complex, but the Centennial Bank squad won both games – narrowly. Cabot (12-3) held a late charge by Benton in the first part of […]

SPORTS STORY >> Jacksonville jumps out, beats vipers

By RAY BENTON Leader sports editor The Gwatney Chevrolet senior American Legion team improved to 4-0 Thursday with a 6-2 win over the Little Rock Vipers in the first round of the People’s Bank Wood Bat Classic in Sheridan. The Chevy Boys got a gem on the mound from pitcher Jared Wilson, who gave up just three hits in seven […]

SPORTS STORY >> Teams loosen up late at BHS

By GRAHAM POWELL Leader sportswriter It was a hot afternoon, but Cabot, Jacksonville, Beebe, Hazen and Des Arc all put in serious work during Wednesday’s 7-on-7 scrimmages at Bro Erwin Stadium on the Beebe High School campus. All five teams that participated in Wednesday’s event have participated in at least one 7-on-7 tournament this summer. Each team got off to […]

SPORTS STORY >> Cabot seniors swinging away

By RAY BENTON Leader sports editor Cabot’s senior American Legion team may consider using wood bats all summer. In the Centennial Bank team’s opening game of the People’s Bank Wood Bat Classic in Sheridan, the Panthers got 22 base hits in a 21-13 win over Pine Bluff-Relyance Bank. In the second game on Thursday, Cabot beat the host team 7-5 […]