$3,000 donation for police dog

Businessmen help make downpayment for a new canine, help youth center.

Jacksonville recognized Brian and Ray Blevins and James Arel during Thursday’s city council meeting for donating money to purchase a new K-9 dog for the Jacksonville Police Department. Brian Blevins and his father, Ray, owners of the Game Store, and Arel of Tiger Insurance donated $3,000 for the police dog named Zoe in tribute to Ray’s service dog that passed […]

Druggists: We’re being shortchanged

As many as 390 pharmacies in Arkansas, mostly rural, are being squeezed and could close.

Unless the General Assembly approves a fix, Rick Pennington’s Lyons Drugs at Lonoke is among the many rural independent family-owned pharmacies that could go under, he said on Thursday. While Pennington said he’s in no immediate danger of going out of business, no pharmacy can provide drugs to its customers for more than the insurance reimbursement, and that’s exactly what […]

Newspaper’s anniversary

The Leader’s 31st anniversary is Sunday. Our newspaper’s first edition was published March 4, 1987, by its founders, Garrick and Eileen Feldman. Ronald Reagan was president and Bill Clinton was governor. Things have changed, but we remain a family-owned Arkansas newspaper dedicated to building this community and journalistic excellence. Our employees live in the communities we report on: Jacksonville, Cabot, […]

Deadline over for hopefuls

State representative won’t seek re-election so he can take care of ailing wife, but several area races are contested in May 22 primary.

The filing period has closed for candidates running as Democrats or Republicans for office in the primary election on May 22. Legislative races State Rep. Roger Lynch (R-Lonoke) is facing Christia Jones for District 14 in a Republican challenge, while Darlene Byrd is challenging Brian Evans, both Republicans, for state representative in District 43. Rep. Tim Lemons is not seeking […]

Bond set for hall of fame

Jacksonville engineer has helped build city and much of state since 1966.

Tommy Bond, the Jacksonville-based civil engineer who has planned many dozens of projects in the area, will be inducted in the Arkansas Construction Hall of Fame on April 19. Bond Consulting Engineers, 2601 T.P. White Drive, opened March 1, 1966. According to its website, its mission is “to provide professional engineering and surveying services for both the private and public […]

Police Reports – March 3, 2018

Jacksonville • Rusty Brooks, 36, of 1505 Graham Road was arrested on Feb. 25 and charged with residential burglary and first-degree terroristic threatening. Police were called at 2:39 a.m. to 1201 S. Hwy. 161, Lot 20 for a disturbance. When officers arrived Brooks was walking away from the home with his hands up, and he was taken into custody. The […]

Safe Haven banquet March 29 in Cabot

Lonoke County Safe Haven, which gives emergency shelter to domestic violence victims and their children, will hold its second annual banquet at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 29 at the Veterans Park Event Center, 508 N. Lincoln St. in Cabot. Cara Brookins, an advocate for domestic violence victims, will speak. “We are super excited to get to share her story with […]

Obituaries – March 3, 2018

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Robert Martin Robert Hardin Martin, 74, of Jacksonville died Feb. 26. He was born Aug. 20, 1943, in Conway to the late Charlie Columbus and Violet Maudie Sellers Martin. Mr. Martin worked for the Jacksonville Street Department, where he retired as a supervisor. In addition to his parents, Mr. Martin was preceded in death by a sister, Louise Peterson; brothers, […]

Early barrage gives Wolves win

Lake Hamilton starts hot from outside to end Jacksonville girls’ season.

WEST MEMPHIS – The two teams turned out to be pretty evenly matched, it’s just that one started a little sooner than the other one. The Lake Hamilton Lady Wolves put on a 3-point shooting clinic in the first quarter and a half before Jacksonville could get settled into the game. The result was a quick and large lead that […]

Young Panther swimmers fifth at 6A/7A meet

Several best times were posted by Cabot, Sylvan Hills girls finish top four.

The Cabot swim team enjoyed a solid Class 6A/7A state meet last Saturday in Bentonville. Neither the boys or girls teams won the event, but it was one of the strongest performances by the still growing Panther program. Both teams finished in the Top 5. The Lady Panthers scored 196.5 points and took fourth place out of 20 teams, while […]