EDITORIAL >> Ex-police chief: I can do better

To the editor: I first considered running for mayor in January 2014 when our faithful employee benefits were drastically reduced. Some of these cuts range from a 2 to 4 percent reduction in their salaries. While I appreciate the fact that we didn’t lose any employees to layoffs, I still feel the real reason behind the cuts were due to […]

EDITORIAL >> New district is approved

It’s finally happening — Jacksonville is getting its own school district. Voters on Tuesday overwhelmingly supported breaking away from the Pulaski County Special School District, which has not built a new school in the city in about 30 years and barely maintained the basic upkeep of the old ones either. A drawn-out desegregation lawsuit, poor test results, dire financial problems, […]

TOP STORY >> County fair opens today

The Lonoke County Fair starts today and continues through Saturday at the fairgrounds near Hwy. 89 in Lonoke. Admission is $2 for adults, $1 for children and free for kids 6 and under. The carnival is open from noon to 11 p.m. Armbands for unlimited rides are available for 6 to 11 p.m. today, 1 to 5 p.m. Friday and […]

TOP STORY >> Charge in baby’s death

John Bargar, 35, was charged on Sept. 4 with negligent homicide in the death of a baby girl. According to the court affidavit, first responders were called at 1:52 a.m. Jan. 4 to 1406 S. First St. in Cabot because 2-month-old Annabell Strohm was not breathing. Emergency personnel began first aid until MEMS arrived and transported the child to North […]

TOP STORY >> Historic vote establishes new district

By GARRICK FELDMAN Leader editor-in-chief Jacksonville voters Tuesday overwhelmingly approved forming a new school district, and organizers began making plans to ask the state Education Department to let local residents run their own district in a few weeks and elect a new board next September. The final vote was 3,767-218, or 95 percent, in favor of the new district. “Jacksonville […]

SPORTS STORY >> JHS tries to leave last week behind

By RAY BENTON  Leader sports editor First order of business this week for the Jacksonville football team was to put last week behind it. The Red Devils went to Benton and took a 66-0 thumping from the Class 6A Panthers, and now stay on the road for a 7 p.m. kickoff at Little Rock Christian Academy on Friday. Jacksonville coaches […]

SPORTS STORY >> Bears ready to open their new field against Newport

By GRAHAM POWELL Leader sportswriter Sylvan Hills couldn’t have asked for a bigger game to play in its home opener Friday at 7 p.m. The 2-0 Bears will play host to 2-0 Newport of Class 4A in the final nonconference game of the regular season on the brand new turf surface at Bill Blackwood Field. Friday’s matchup between the Bears […]

SPORTS STORY >> McClellan plays host to Lonoke

By GRAHAM POWELL  Leader sportswriter After getting a big win over rival Beebe of Class 5A last week, the Lonoke Jackrabbits will look to take down another 5A team Friday when they travel to Little Rock McClellan for the final nonconference game of the regular season. Kickoff is at 7 p.m. Lonoke (1-1) has had little trouble against McClellan (0-2) […]

SPORTS STORY >> Panthers go on field trip

By RAY BENTON Leader sports editor The Cabot Panthers play a dangerous game on Friday. They travel to Class 5A J.A. Fair for a 7 p.m. game against a team that has won one football game in the last four years. It’s not dangerous because Cabot may lose. Cabot can’t lose this game. It’s dangerous because it would be a […]