SPORTS STORY >> Beebe trying to replace big line

By RAY BENTON Leader sports editor A key focus for the Beebe Badgers’ spring football practice that wrapped this week was replacing nearly everyone on the offensive line from last year’s state semifinal team. Logan Yarbrough returns at center, and just about everyone on either side of him will be a newcomer. Reece Anders started a lot last year on […]

SPORTS STORY >> SH Bears breaking in all new backfield

By RAY BENTON Leader sports editor Sylvan Hills wrapped up its spring practice sessions with an intrasquad game on Wednesday, and head coach Jim Withrow was pleased with what he saw from a largely inexperienced team. “I think we have some talent there, we just need to clean it up,” said Withrow. “We’re young, but I like them. Some of […]

SPORTS STORY >> Cabot expects good team

By RAY BENTON Leader sports editor The Cabot football team closed spring football practice with a lively intrasquad scrimmage Thursday afternoon at Panther Stadium. After nine workouts, Cabot coach Mike Malham has high hopes for the 2015 season. “We got a lot accomplished,” said Malham. “You got 14 starters back and three or four more with substantial playing time, there’s […]

EDITORIAL >> Whit Davis gets cold shoulder

Whit Davis Lumber Plus is set to open a beautiful new hardware store on Brockington Road in Sherwood. But the city council is not happy about it. Jobs, sales-tax revenue, economic development, a family-owned local business, none of that matters for the aldermen. Instead they are fixated on the building’s architectural design and whether it abides by city code. They […]

EDITORIAL >> Class of 2015 says farewell

Area high schools have wrapped up graduation season, sending young people on to further their educations in college, technical-training programs and into adulthood. In all six high schools in The Leader’s coverage area, 1,481 seniors received diplomas and earned more than $18.2 million in scholarship offers. Cabot High School is the largest, and perhaps most academically successful, school in central […]

TOP STORY >> Sherwood church opens clinic

  Sylvan Hills United Methodist Church recently held a ribbon cutting with fellow chamber of commerce members on the first day its new free medical clinic opened. The clinic is the only one of its kind in the area. By SARAH CAMPBELL Leader staff writer Sylvan Hills United Methodist Church in Sherwood recently opened the city’s first free health clinic. […]

TOP STORY >> Dream vacation for sick boy

Members of Beebe Junior High School’s FBLA club pose with Blake Wilkerson, 5, of Austin last week after they presented him with a free trip to the Atlantis Water Park in the Bahamas. The FBLA members raised the $5,000 needed so that Blake, who has a heart murmur, and his family can go on vacation. By JEFFREY SMITH Leader staff […]

TOP STORY >> New LRAFB commander

By JEFFREY SMITH Leader staff writer Col. Charles Brown Jr. was officially put in charge of the 19th Airlift Wing during a change-of-command ceremony Wednesday at Little Rock Air Force Base. Brown replaces Col. Patrick Rhatigan, who retired after 24 years of service. Lt. Gen. Carlton Everhart II, commander of the 18th Air Force at Scott AFB, Ill., presided over […]