Vol. 2, No. 13
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Clark a state COVID-19 hotspot
By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor
Clark County has been identified as one of two COVID-19 hotspots in Arkansas, a Baptist Medical Center Arkadelphia physician said Thursday as the number of local cases soared to 26, 60% higher than a week earlier. “I think that’s the the two areas that have surprised us,” hospitalist Dr. Kristen Brandon said, identifying Heber Springs as the other hotspot. “The incidence is higher per capita if you look at the state as a whole.” Brandon said the staff at BMC-Arkadelphia continues to prepare for any further uptick in cases. “We’re definitely in a big stage of preparation,” she said. Keeping in regular communication with local physicians has been a big part of that effort, she said. The hospital would likely request help at the hospital from local physicians rather than import medical
help from outside the county if the situation worsens, she said. “We’re being very cautious,” she said. “We’re prepared to take care of a wide array of things.” Like other hospitals in Arkansas and nationally, Baptist Health Medical Center has delayed some elective surgeries — but not, so far, labor and delivery. Brandon, a board-certified pediatrician and internist, estimated that seven to nine successful deliveries have occurred in the past week. One major change for deliveries though is that Baptist, like other systems nationwide, has drastically reduced the number of visitors allowed in their hospitals. One visitor is allowed for a birth, while hospitals are loosening the no-visitors rule only in end-of-life situations, where family wants to say farewell to a loved one. The hospital’s emergency room has continued to be busy with other crises unrelated to the current worldwide pandemic. But it has changed everyday practices
for first responders. Jason Hunt, Arkadelphia’s fire chief, said the hospital’s paramedics continue to work closely with firefighters in responding to 911 medical calls, but ambulance personnel are taking the lead more often when no lifesaving effort is necessary before they arrive. “I really want to give props to the ambulance service personnel who are on the front lines,” he said. To this point, there have been “no known deaths” related to COVID-19 at the local hospital, Brandon said. The state Health Department’s COVID-19 total of 26 people infected locally compares with 15 a week earlier, and Clark County’s leading the southern half of the state. Nearby Garland County has 33 cases of persons testing positive for the coronavirus, but its population of 98,926 far exceeds that of Clark County’s 22,385. Saline, the sixth-largest county in the state
(population 118,009), was reporting 16 cases as of Thursday. A team of researchers at the University of Chicago has mapped confirmed COVID-19 infections per county, adjusting for population, and found significant clusters in parts of Georgia, Arkansas and Mississippi, among other areas, the magazine Scientific American reported Thursday, April 2. No further details related to Arkansas clusters were immediately available. County Judge Troy Tucker said local officials have discussed the possibility of a local curfew, but he said he didn’t think such drastic action was being seriously considered as long as residents continue to honor the 6-foot social distancing recommendation. Tucker said local officials have been following closely the recommendations of Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who has resisted See Virus • Page 4
Limits put on outdoors area use From Dispatch Reports Gov Asa Hutchinson’s decision Thursday to close the Buffalo National River as a coronavirus crisis precaution follows by a week the temporary shutdown of the Ouachita National Forest and other campgrounds "for the safety of visitors and staff.” Modifying her earlier announcement that state parks would remain open, the state’s secretary of the Arkansas Department of Dispatch photo/Bill Sutley Parks, Heritage and TourKevin Tate, left, a local volunteer firefighter, took advantage of a slow period during Wednesday’s drive-thru COVID-19 testing at ism, Stacy Hurst, Friday Ouachita Baptist University’s Cliff Harris Stadium to take a photo of, from right, OBU nurse Molly Wallace, local nurse practitioner Lori limited the use of campSmith and Ddr. Noland Hagood, a local physician. They were among 30-40 local volunteers who helped with the drive. grounds to RVs with selfcontained bathrooms. Some campgrounds were due to reopen Wednesday, April 1, and the decisions simply mean Special to the Dispatch arrive. designated as senior hour, recommended for they won’t reopen yet. Three weeks have passed since Gov. Asa • Slim and Shorty’s has temporarily disolder customers. Overall, the decisions limit Hutchinson issued an order forcing all of the continued its curbside pickup, but the Clinton • Brookshire’s is open daily from 8 a.m.-8 parks mostly to day use, state’s restaurants and bars to shut down dinStreet restaurant is handling bulk orders for 10 p.m. Senior citizens are encouraged to shop and the Buffalo River deciing rooms and offer to-go and deliveries only. people or or more, preferring 24-hour notice. during : sion, which will devastate The directive, Hutchinson said then, will last 870-245-2365 or 870-403-2887. Miscellaneous the local economy there, "until further notice." Any bar or restaurant • Java Primo Coffee House Cafe and More is • Walgreen’s is open from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. were designed to limit situwith an alcohol license from Alcohol and Bevopen from 7:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Wednesday through Monday and 8 a.m.- 9 ations — such as meeting erage Control may sell corked or sealed bottles Saturday and 7:30 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sunday. 870- p.m. on Tuesdays. Pharmacy customers have someone on a trail — where of wine with to-go or delivery options. 230-1337. access to a drive-thru window. social distancing is impracHere’s information on some Arkadelphia • Tasty Hibachi is open from 11 a.m.-2:30 • Gamestop is open daily from noon- 8 p.m., tical. eateries open for take-out orders, plus more: p.m. and 4 p.m.-8:45 p.m. Monday through but in-store shopping is discouraged. Online A complete list of cloRestaurants Saturday. 870-617-7063. purchases can be made if inventory is in stock sures, more information • El Parian, a Tex-Mex restaurant at 202 N. • Pizza Hut is open daily from 10:30 a.m.-10 and will be brought outside once processed. and updates are available 10th St., is serving customers through its drive- p.m., offering takeout and a new contactless Clerks there are also accepting gift cards and on the websites of the thru from 11 a.m.-8:30 p.m. daily. The best way delivery option. Food can be paid for online, credit cards and will meet customers at the Ouachita National Forto place an order for pickup at its drive-thru over the phone or with cash. 870-246-5895 door to make those purchases. 870-403-0252. est, http://www.fs.usda. window is by calling 870-245-2546. • Domino’s is open for takeout, delivery • DeGray Lake Lodge is closed (although gov/ouachita, or the Ozark• Allen’s BBQ is open from 10:30 a.m.-8 and contactless delivery from 10 a.m.–midtakeout from its Shoreline Restaurant is availSt. Francis National Forests p.m. Monday through Saturday. It has an outnight Monday through Thursday and Sunable), but six trails near there are open to the at http://www.fs.usda.gov/ side window, or call in orders at 870-403-0331. day, or 10 a.m.-1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturpublic for day use. osfnf/. Updates can also • Fat Boys Fine Food and Catering is open days.870-246-3131 The Dispatch welcomes additions to this list be found at the Ouachita from 11 a.m.- 7:30 p.m. Monday through Grocery stores -- far from comprehensive -- for future National Forest Facebook Saturday. Call in orders at 870-246-6552. Food • Walmart is open daily from 7 a.m.-8:30 re-publication. Send information to will be brought out if you call again when you p.m. The first hour of opening on Tuesdays is ArkadelphiaDispatch@gmail.com. See Parks • Page 4
Local eateries cater to hungry cabin fever sufferers
Throng bids farewell to AHS coach By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor
More than 100 J.R. Eldridge fans kept their social distance Tuesday, but they still managed to give the Arkadelphia coach and his family a raucous, metaphoric hug good-bye in the form of a hastily arranged parade. In all, about 60 honking vehicles, led by an Arkadelphia police car and fire truck, rolled by his home on Mockingbird Lane at about 6 p.m. after gathering in a packed nearby church parking lot. Eldridge, 42, head football coach at 518-student Arkadelphia High School since 2011, started work Wednesday morning as head football coach at 2,611-student North Little Rock High School, the state’s fourth-largest secondary school. “North Little Rock is, in my mind, one of the best jobs in the state,” Eldridge said after the farewell procession departed. “We felt like it was a great opportunity.”
2017, 2018 state championship rings The North Little Rock School School Board voted 6-1 Monday night to hire Eldridge, recommended by Superintendent Bobby Acklin, who interviewed 10 finalists on March 12 — one day before the coronavirus shut down his district’s schools. Eldridge will face the chance — and challenge — to build on the success enjoyed by Jamie Mitchell, who put the Charging Wildcats in the Class 7A state
championship game the last four years, defeating Bentonville in 2017 to give NLR its first title since 1972. Mitchell, who went 8-5 in 2019, losing the 7A title to Bryant for the second year in a row, moved on Feb. 27 to become head coach of Shades Valley High School in the Birmingham suburb of Irondale, Ala. (The largest of 14 high schools in the sprawling Jefferson County School District, 1,338-student SVHS counts six current or former NFL players among its notable alumni on Wikipedia.) Eldridge’s salary wasn’t announced at Monday night’s NLR School Board meeting, but public records show Mitchell was earning $89,497 a year, and the former Arkadelphia coach will likely earn more because he has about four more years coaching experience than Mitchell. Eldridge, 82-34 as Badger head coach, earned $79,535 at Arkadelphia See Coach • Page 5
Coach J.R. Eldridge, right, and his son, Max, wave to the parade of about 60 cars Tuesday.
2 News
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Despite many coronavirus-related closures, Ouachita Baptist University has opted to continue plans in virtual fashion for its spring Tiger Serve Day on Saturday, April 4. Staff members and student leaders of OBU’s Elrod Center for Family and Community are asking the Ouachita community to think creatively about how to perform acts of service that respect social distancing. Ideas are available by calling 870-245-5320. Participants are asked to share photos by social media. >>> <<< The Percy and Donna Malone Child Safety Center has announced it’s postpoining its fifth annual Duck Derby Festival, which had been schedled for Saturday, April 4. Stay turned via Facebook (and here) on when the event is rescheduled. >>> <<< Henderson State University will hold its spring 2020 Career Fair from 1-4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7. An intern showcase will run from 3-5 p.m. For more information, contact career@hsu.edu. Dispatch photo/Bill Sutley >>> <<< Sunny skies lured Maequvia Baker, left, and Alicia Roberts, both of Arkadelphia, out Amity Trade Days, the 54-acre outdoor market at the site of the for a bike ride on Feaster Traiil on Tuesday. They’re among dozens of walkers, runold lumber mill in Amity, will be held April 10-12, featuring one of the ners and bicylists who have been enjoying the trail as the weather warms up on dry days. The best places for entering the trail are from parking areas on 26th Street and state’s largest monthly outdoor vintage flea markets. The market runs, 15th Sreeet. rain or shine, in three huge open-air buildings where vendors from several states gather. Beyond items for sale, there’s live music on Saturdays and a wide range of food on all three days.. Other dates for the market this year are May 8-10, June 5-7, July 10-12, Aug. 7-9, Sept. 11-13, Oct. 9-11, Nov. 6-8 and Dec. 11-13. Special to the Dispatch >>> <<< A team from HenArkadelphia Bands will host its first-ever Mattress Sale Fundderson State University raiser from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at AHS, 401 High School won first place in the Road. The fundraising sale will feature brands such as Simmons, 17th annual Arkansas Beautyrest and more, with on-site mattresses priced up to 50% below Undergraduate Mathretail. ematics Competition >>> <<< held Feb. 29 on the Perritt Primary School, 1900 Walnut St., will host the Arkadelphia Henderson campus. Ten teams from ArPublic School District’s Kindergarten Spring Roundup from 8 a.m.-6 kansas Tech University, p.m. Wednesday, April 22 at the school gym. Students entering kinderJohn Brown University, garten in Arkadelphia schools next fall need to attend with their parents Ouachita Baptist Unior guardians. Applications for kindergarten will be available before then versity, University of the in the Perritt office. Parents will be assigned slots for attendance at the Ozarks and Henderson roundup and should bring a copy of the child’s official birth certificate, worked for three hours Social Security card, immunization record and a record of a current to solve 10 challenging HSU team members are, from left, Bryan Neal, Greg mathematics problems well-child visit since May 1, 2019. For more information, call 870-403Jordan, Eric Carter and Dallas Crumley. without the aid of tech3583. nology. time chair of Henderand Eric Carter. >>> <<< “We have fielded a son’s Department of “I cannot express Grammy Award-winner and Blues Hall of Fame honoree Bobby team almost every year Mathematics, Computer how excited I am for Rush will perform in concert on Friday, April 24 as part of the Fordyce of the competition, and Science, and Statistics. these young men,” Eoff on the Cottonbelt festival from April 19-25 in the town about an hour this is our first time to Team members are said. “They are all so earn the top spot,” said Bryan Neal, Dallas smart and a joy to work east of Arkadelphia. Festival details and more info on Rush’s concert will be available later at https://fordyceonthecottonbeltfestival.com. Carolyn Eoff, longCrumley, Greg Jordan, with.” >>> <<< Glenwood's annual Caddo River Festival will be Friday-Saturday, April 24-25 this year. For more information or to sign up as a vendor, visit https://www.facebook.com/caddoriver.fest/. >>> <<< Mena plans to stage its 45th annual Queen Wilhelmina Rod Run on Aug. 28-29 as 200 street rods and hot rods descend on the town. The two-day event features a street dance and three chance for entrants to put their cars through their paces. For more information, visit https://www.queenwilhelminarodrun.com/. >>> Ongoing <<< Garvan Woodlands Gardens in Hot Springs remains open most days, but hours have been temporarily shortened to be from noon-6 p.m. as a result of staffing limitations related to the coronavirus pandemic. Outdoor spaces, brimming with tulips, and restrooms are open, but the Chipmunk Cafe is take-out only. Payments by credit card or Clay Mobley, from right, winner of the 22nd annual Mary Shambarger Competition for exact cash are requested for admissions. That’s free for members, $15 Singers, poses with Bonnie Gentry (second place), Logan Dooley (third place), Hanfor adults (13 and up), $5 for children ages 4-12; and free for children nah Anderson (fourth place) and Hannah Gothard (honorable mention) following the Feb. 25 competition. ages 3-younger. Golf carts may be rented for $15. Parking is free. Temporarily closed to the public are: • Anthony Chapel and Chapel Complex (Millsap Brides Hall, Evans Grooms Quarters) By OBU News Bureau required to ensure our confidence • Welcome Center and Gift Shop Clay Mobley, a senior music indus- as performers in this competition is • Bonsai Learning Center try major from Wylie, Texas, won first the same kind of preparation we will Golf cart tours are closed until further notice. place in Ouachita Baptist University’s need to provide to all aspects of our For more information, visit garvangardens.org/ or call 501-26222nd annual Mary Shambarger Com- performance careers,” Mobley said. 9300. petition for Singers in late February. “I believe that experience and ex>>> <<< The Feb. 25 competition featured periences like that build confidence in arias from opera and oratorio. students and allow us to find success Alcoholics Anonymous holds two meetings a week in Arkadel“Mary Shambarger has played in our respective careers.” phia. The meetings are open to anyone interested in AA’s program of such an integral part in the success of Second place and $300 went to recovery. The Arkadelphia Group meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in the Stour music program, and to be named Bonnie Gentry, a senior musical urgis Building at North 9th and Caddo streets. For more information on the winner of the competition named theatre major from Arlington, Texas, the Arkadelphia Group meetings, call 870-403-3001. The U-Turn Group after her has been such an honor,” also a student of Secrest. Gentry said Mobley, a three-time participant. performed Mozart’s “Voi, che sapete” meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays on the front, upper level of Park Hill Baptist Church, 3163 Hollywood Road. For information on that group’s meetAlong with earning first place, from Le nozze di Figaro. Mobley received $500 for his perThird place and $200 was award- ings, call 870-230-2975 or 870-260-9277. formance of Douglas Moore’s “I Got ed to Logan Dooley, a senior musical >>> <<< Ram Goliath!” from The Devil and theatre major from Allen, Texas, also Al-Anon meetings, designed to help family and friends affected Daniel Webster. Mobley is a student a Secrest student. Dooley performed by alcohol, are held three days a week in the Arkadelphia area: of Jon Secrest, Addie Mae Maddox Gaetano Donizetti’s “Bella siccome • Tuesday, 7 p.m., Sturgis Building, corner of 9th and Caddo. Professor of Music. un angelo” from Don Pasquale. OBU 870-403-2019 Mobley also finished first at the collaborative pianist Phyllis Walker • Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Park Hill Baptist Church. 870-230-1954 20th anniversary of the competition worked with Mobley, Gentry and • Friday, noon, Clark County Library, 609 Caddo St., side door. in 2018, which featured art songs. “The amount of preparation 512-750-2292 See Sing • Page 3
HSU math team wins
Competition pays off for singers
Arkadelphia Dispatch
News 3
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Man accused of raping juvenile 5 times over 2 weeks Special to the Dispatch A Gurdon man faces five counts of rape for “sexual intercourse or deviant sexual activity” by force with a minor girl during early February or late January. James W. Luke, 42, of 306 Meadowbrook Drive, faces up to 40 years in prison on each of the Class 5 felony counts that followed a meeting of the victim with forensic inter-
viewer Stephanie Hrabal at the Percy and Donna Malone Child Safety Center in Arkadelphia. Luke remains in the Clark County Detention Facility. An affidavit by Clark County Sheriff’s Investigator Sherry Cleek, who reviews sex-related crimes for both the sheriff’s office and the Arkadelphia Police, said the juvenile victim said she was forced to
Obituary
perform oral sex in one assault, while another involved what’s commonly called a “sex toy.” The other incidents involved apparent penetration of the victim’s vagina. The juvenile female victim told investigators that each of the five attacks occurred within two weeks leading up to Feb. 12, when the victim was first interviewed and Luke was arrested.
Luke waived formal arraignment on Tuesday through a motion by his public defender attorney, Janice Williams, who stated in a court filing the he pleaded innocent to all five charges. Circuit Judge Blake Batson approved a no-contact order March 27 forbidding Luke from coming within 100 yards of the rape victim, the Gurdon school she attends
or another Gurdon address where she lives. No future court date has been assigned to the case. Many hearings and court appearances are being juggled by the circuit court, working with the prosecuting attorney and public defenders, as a result of the coronavirus order against gatherings of 10 or more people.
Sandy Prault, retired cook
Survivors are her daughter, Laurie (Roberto) Salazar of Okolona; three sons, Deano (Sarah) Prault of Sandy Prault, age 70, of Okolona, Randy Prault of Okolona, passed away Thurs- Bismarck and Billy Prault day, March 26, 2020 at her of Hot Springs; numerous home. grandchildren and greatShe was born grandchildren; and October 14, 1949 one sister, Gay Mcto William Dean Clure of Colorado. and Gloria RubyDue to the recent may Workman recommendations of Dalby. the Arkansas DeSandy was a partment of Health retired cook. She and CDC, friends loved spending and family were time with her famencouraged to watch ily and her dog, the live memorial Gizmo. service on the RugShe was preced- Sandy Prault gles-Wilcox Funeral ed in death by her Home Facebook parents; her husband, Dean page, www.ruggleswilcox. Louis Prault; two daughters, com, at 2:00 PM Wednesday, Tracee Forgino and Bobbie April 1, 2020. Arrangements JoAnn Prault; and her sister, are by Ruggles-Wilcox FuLana Rae Booy. neral Home.
Dispatch photo/Bill Sutley
A road grader makes a sharp turn Tuesday in rural Clark County as its driver spreads rock for the shoulder of Highway 53, which is undergoing resurfacing and other improvements that the state Department of Transportation hopes may allow more log trucks to be rerouted outside of Arkadelphia.
Explaining federal CARES Act By U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman As the U.S. grapples with containing COVID-19, Congress has been working to provide emergency funding for research, relief efforts, small businesses, unemployed workers and more. Phase III of the funding plan, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act, passed the House and Senate the week of March 22. It’s not a perfect bill, but the CARES Act goes a long way in aiding those most affected by COVID-19. First, its rural health care inclusions. The CARES Act provides more than $140 billion to support our health system, including $100 billion of direct relief to hospitals and health care providers and $16 billion to the Strategic National Stockpile. Explaining the CARES Act These funds can immediately be used to cover costs and purchase Personal Protective Equipment and other lifesaving medical supplies. The CARES Act eliminates red tape for providers and beneficiaries in rural areas and creates and expands various telehealth programs, especially in underserved areas. The CARES Act also directly supports patients suffering from COVID-19, waiving cost sharing for individuals seeking diagnostic tests. In addition to these health provisions, the CARES Act specifically allocates $150 billion to state and local governments to help them combat the COVID-19 pandemic. The CARES Act creates a new Coronavirus Relief Fund from which money will be sent directly to states. This is in addition to roughly $274 billion in funding for specific ele-
Sing Continued from page 2
Dooley. Fourth place and $100 was awarded to Hannah Anderson, a senior musical theatre major from Austin, Texas, and student of Glenda Secrest, Ouachita professor of music. Anderson performed Camille Saint-Saëns’ “Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix” from Samson et Dalila. Honorable mention and $50 was awarded to Hannah Gothard, a senior musical theatre major from Cleveland, Texas. Gothard performed Aaron Cop-
land’s “Laurie’s Song” from The Tender Land. She is a student of Jon Secrest. Susan Monroe served as collaborative pianist for Anderson and Gothard. The Mary Shambarger Competition for Singers was created as an opportunity for Ouachita students to expand their musical repertoire while gaining experience performing and auditioning in a professional setting. The competition honors Shambarger, professor emerita of music at Ouachita and a voice instructor there for 32 years. For more information, contact Jon Secrest at secrestj@obu.edu or (870) 245-5134.
ments of state and local governments’ responses to the pandemic and economic crisis, and supplemental funding for joint state-federal programs like unemployment compensation and Medicaid. Small businesses also benefit from the CARES Act. The legislation creates a “Paycheck Protection Program” for small businesses, self-employed individuals, and “gig economy” workers, offering $350 billion in forgivable loans to businesses that maintain staff. Additionally, it increases the maximum loan amount for Small Business Administration Express loans, which require less documentation and paperwork to process. These provisions and many others are a big step forward in providing emergency assistance to Americans. I’m continuing to receive input from constituents, businesses and others around the state as we fight this virus on all fronts. We are all in this together.
Gurdon closes City Park to combat coronavirus By Sherry Kelley Gurdon Mayor
After seeing dozens of kids playing basketball together at the Gurdon City Park, City Marshal Don Childres recommended that we close the city park until further notice. Our governmental guidelines say to avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people. Gurdon wants to do its part to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Now is not the time to be complacent. We must all do our part to combat this pandemic. The park will be closed until further notice. Our springtime curbside pick up of household junk is winding down. It was successful, and we thank everyone who participated. If you still have a few more items or yours have not yet been picked up, please let us know. We will be happy to come and load it up. I saw the Gurdon School buses delivering lunches this week. We are glad to have this service, thank you to everyone involved.
The Arkadelphia Dispatch 812 Clinton St., Suite B Arkadelphia, AR 71923 Phone: 870-617-7001 Editor: Bill Sutley email: arkadelphiadispatch@gmail.com The Arkadelphia Dispatch is published weekly by Nashville Leader, Inc., 119 N. Main, Nashville, AR 71852.
Lake Ouachita areas repaved Asphalt paving should continue through April 8 at Lake Ouachita’s Brady Mountain and Stephens Park areas, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says. Brady Mountain campground could reopen as early as Wednesday, April 1. But its boat ramp and parking lot will take another two weeks. The boat ramp and other nearby amenities, including the fish cleaning station, pavilion, swimming beach and overnight parking, will be closed. Visitors are encouraged to use the boat ramp near Brady Mountain marina. For more information, call 501-767-2101.
4 News
Thursday, April 2, 2020
University of Arkansas research focuses on prediction models Special to the Dispatch Data science professor Justin Zhan is collaborating with University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences professors David Ussery and Xuming Zhang to develop accurate predictions of genomic variation trends of coronavirus. Their work will help public officials monitor the outbreak and adapt to changes. It could also provide valuable information for the design of vaccines. "To control and prevent COVID-19, public officials need highly robust models for predicting how and where the virus will spread," Zhan said. "This project will assist that effort and lead
to better detection and prevention strategies. We think it could have colossal social and economic impacts." Zhan's research focuses on big data, blockchain technologies, information assurance and biomedical informatics. Ussery and Zhang will provide expertise in the areas of bioinformatics, microbiology and immunology. A blockchain is a growing list of records, called blocks, that are linked using cryptography. Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous block, a timestamp, and transaction data generally represented as a Merkle tree.
Virus Continued from page 1
sisted imposing a stay-at-home order, which most other states have ordered. Statewide, the number of COVID-19 cases rose to 643— far lower than the 1,000 previously projected by this date. Two more peopled died Thursday, both with underlying medical conditions unrelated to COVID-19. Little Rock moved early to impose an overnight curfew to help enforce the limit of groups of 10 or more gathering, but few other Arkansas cities have followed suit. An overnight curfew has been imposed in Howard County, which had one of the lowest rates of COVID-19 incidence, at 1-4 cases. On Thursday, other nearby counties with only 1-4 cases were Pike, Hempstead, Nevada and Grant. (Neighboring Hot Spring County jumped to five Thursday afternoon.) No cases had been reported in Dallas, Ouachita, Calhoun, Montgomery and Lafayette counties. Two of the largestpopulation South Arkansas counties, Union and Miller, had nine and seven cases respectively as of Thursday. Clark County is among many across the state suffering economically, particularly in ways that affect the poor more acutely. The local office of the state Department of Human Services said it was being swamped by requests for Medicaid and the state’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, better known as SNAP and, to older residents, “food stamps.” “Our applications have tripled,” said Celeste Sorrells, county administrator at the DHS office on south 11th Street. “We’re probably taking 20 to 30 applications more each day.” On Wednesday, about 55 persons rolled through a drive-thru COVID-19 test-
Parks Continued from page 1
site at http://www.facebook.com/ouachitanf, and Ozark-St. Francis National Forest at http://www.facebook.com/ozarkstfrancis/. Reservation holders will be notified via email and text messages of any changes affecting their reservation. Visitors will receive a full refund for their reservation," the ONF said in a news release. "By closing campsites and group recreation sites, the USDA Forest Service is taking necessary measures to safeguard the health of employees and the public. The health and safety of employees and the nearby
Arkadelphia Mayor Scott Byrd, a local dentist, was among the health care volunteer provider volunteers. ing center held outside Ouachita Baptist University’s Cliff Harris Stadium. Local nurses, physicians and other health care professionals volunteered to help with the drive, which is one of several being organized by Natural State Laboratories, which told local officials that local participants should get results back by Monday. Baptist Health continues to operate a longer-term drive-thru service for coronavirus testing at its Caddo Valley office on 10 Montgomery Drive. Potential COVID-19 carriers are advised to call 870245-2198 in advance before arriving at the office. The local hospital how has plenty of personal protective equipment on hand, Brandon said. “We’re getting allocations, but we’re making sure to be very conservative,” she said. “We haven’t had to compromise on that.” Tate Chanlor, director of the county’s local Office of Emergency Management, said Wednesday that he hopes to receive a new shipment of PPE soon that he will share with local first responders, including those working with little or no pay as volunteer firefighters.
communities is always our top priority at the USDA Forest Service," it said. "Visitors are primarily responsible for their own safety. Keep in mind, trails and roads may be open for use, but please recreate responsibly and follow public health guidelines regarding social distancing while you recreate in National Forests," the release said. "Law enforcement and search and rescue operations may be limited due to COVID-19 issues. High risk activities such as rock climbing or motorized activities that increase your chance of injury or distress should be avoided," the release said. All restrooms are closed in the Ouachita National Forest. Recreation areas temporarily shutting down,
including the Albert Pike Day Use Area, Charlton Campground, Charlton Group Campground, Crystal Campground, Little Missouri Falls Day Use Area, Camp Clearfork, Lake Sylvia Campground, South Fourche Campground, Bear Creek Equestrian Campground, Bard Springs Campground, Shady Lake Campground, Shady Lake Group Campground, Billy Creek Campground, Cedar Lake Campground, Cedar Lake Horse Camp, Winding Stair Backpacker Camp and the Mena Visitor Information Station.
Banks CPA, PLLC Stephanie M. Banks, CPA 204 North 27th Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923-5309 Phone: (870) 245-3975 Fax: (870) 246-7149
Arkadelphia Dispatch Gary L. Jackson, left, works with Eddie Graham on May 21, 2015 to build a wheelchair ramp, one of dozens he made as part of the annual Arms Around Arkadelphia efforts. Jackson, 71, died Wednesday after a long battle with cancer. Known to many as general manager for Dan Cook’s office supplies, he later worked for Pirelli Cable Manufacturing. A memorial service will be held later at First United Methodist Church, where he led the ramp-building team. Welch Funeral Home is handling arrangements. Survivors include his wife of 31 years, Cindy Pasman Jackson, and three sons, including Arkadelphia Police Chief Jason Jackson.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Thursday, April 2, 2020
Creating a culture
News 5
Eldridge invested in players
By Caleb Byrd Special to the Dispatch It’s the end of an era for Arkadelphia Badger football. J.R. Eldridge left the high school this week to become the head football coach at North Little Rock. It’s an upward move for Eldridge. You can’t fault him for leaving for what is likely a higher-paying job at a larger, higher-classification school. Yet, you can thank him for all he has poured into this town as head football coach over the past eight years. In addition to the two state championships he brought back to Clark County, he invested deeply in the lives of hundreds of this town’s youth and created a hardworking and successful football culture that will live on. When Eldridge took over the football program in 2011, it was a sleeping giant. The school had good athletes and a passionate and supportive community, yet it had lacked any real success since the great John Outlaw stepped down in 1993. Eldridge quickly got to work, turning athletes into football players and boys into men. In 2011, the Badgers won just four games. The next year, those four wins turned into nine, and the following year Eldridge led Arkadelphia to a 12-1 record and a conference championship. By then, everyone in the state knew Arkadelphia was back and a force to be reckoned with. There were a few factors that played into Eldridge’s success at Arkadelphia. The first of these was his coaching staff. Throughout his time at Arkadelphia, Eldridge sought to have the best coaching staff in the conference. He realized that running a successful football program is not a one-man show, but rather it’s best done through a team effort. He trusted his assistant coaches to make decisions when the game was on the line, and he always gave his assistant coaches credit in victory. He made his assistants feel valued, fighting for them before the school board, and his assistants repaid the favor on the football field. Eldridge’s second key to success was his focus on fundamentals. Over the past few years, Arkadelphia has dominated a few teams that were frankly more athletic and naturally gifted than the Badgers. This was due to Eldridge’s focus on the details of
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Eldridge talks to players during his 2012 season.
Coach summarizes philosophy in 2012
the game: form tackling, proper blocking and crisp route running, just to name a few. Eldridge began this focus as he coached his future players in seventh grade. He continued it as they sat under him for three years on the varsity team. Almost every time the Badgers took the field over the past eight years, a spectator would be able to say they were the better-coached team. That boils down to fundamentals. The final key to Eldridge’s success was energy and effort. He truly installed the “VVR” — vicious, violent, relentless — mentality into his football teams. He emphasized swarming the football on defense, tackling and blocking with the most force possible for a teenage body and giving total effort on every play — emphases that paid dividends for the Badgers. His players bought into the idea that, if they played as hard as they could, the coaching staff would put them in a position to win games. The 2018 Arkadelphia team in particular showed this mentality, battling back from an 0-5 start to win 10 games in a row and a
High, where he also served as assistant wrestling coach. Football will be his sole focus with the Charging Wildcats. Eldridge is well aware he will face tougher competition in Class 7A. “The similarity is that you still want to make a difference in the lives of players and people you come in contact with,” he said. “And, of course, you still want to win.” One of Eldridge’s more vocal supporters during his tenure at AHS has been Blake Bell, a local Edward Jones representative, school board member and president of the Arkadelphia Football Club. “He made the team a program,” Bell wrote on Facebook Tuesday. "He made the town a fan base.” One part of Eldridge’s coaching philosophy that he’s emphasized from almost the start is that his players should be “vicious, violent and relentless” — a combination of goals that’s often misinterpreted. But he believes so much in them that the initials VVR are a prominent part of his players’ 2018 state championship ring. Eldridge led Arkadelphia to two consecutive Class 4A state championship victories, over Warren in 2017 and over Joe T. Robinson in 2018. Last season, the Badgers went 11-2 and earned a share of the 7-4A Conference title with Robinson and Nashville. Their two losses were to Nashville at home and at Crossett in the Class 4A quarterfinals. Arkadelphia won nine or more games during six of Eldridge's nine seasons at Arkadelphia. The Badgers also won or shared a conference championship three times. Arkadelphia was 35-8 over the past three seasons, including a 14-1 record in 2017 that led to the school's first state title since 1987. Arkadelphia started 0-5 in 2018 before pivoting to win its next 10 games to win a second consecutive Class 4A state title against conference rival Joe T. Robinson.
state championship. Not only has Eldridge provided hope and excitement to the town through his on-field efforts, but he has poured his heart into the next generation of men who will lead this town. Having interviewed Eldridge more than 50 times over the last four years, I can personally attest to his character and the care he demonstrated for every young man who put on the blue and white uniform. I never witnessed him berate a player on the field. I never witnessed him speak poorly of one of his players. But I did witness him consistently encourage, build up and teach his players — not only in the game of football, but also in the game of life. In August, a new head coach will lead the Badgers onto the football field. He will win games. He will continue to mentor Arkadelphia’s young men. He will experience success. I am confident of this because he will be standing upon the shoulders of a giant named J.R. Eldridge. Thank you, J.R., for all you have given to Arkadelphia. We wish you the best of luck in the future. Caleb Byrd, a graduating senior at Ouachita Baptist University, interviewed Eldridge weekly for four years as host of The J.R. Eldridge Show. Episodes may be found on the APSD-TV channel on YouTube.
In most discussions of his success at AHS, Eldridge shares credit with his assistant coaches and coordinators. During the next few weeks, without even knowing yet whether coronavirus will make spring practices an impossibility, he will be working to learn more about his North Little Rock staff and how they managed a varsity roster of 90 players — twice what he usually fielded at Arkadelphia. “I am so thankful for all of the great coaches that I have been able work with to help create great learning experiences for our players,” Eldridge said in a farewell posted on Facebook. He said Tuesday he would also miss keeping up with former players who’ve gone to enjoy success both on and off the field. “People are what makes a place,” he said. “I feel like I’ve grown up with a lot of these young men. I’ll miss seeing that happen.” In his Facebook farewell, Eldridge said he would long remember the classes of 2012-2020 that he coached. “(I) will have great memories with each group to look back on,” he wrote. “To the Arkadelphia community, thank you for your support in so many ways. We have had some great times on the road and at home.” Before being hired by Arkadelphia, the Fayetteville native served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator for 10 years at Ouachita Baptist University, where he earned his undergraduate degree. “J.R. and I met in Arkadelphia, married in Arkadelphia and began raising three boys in Arkadelphia,” his wife, Audrey Eldridge wrote on Facebook Tuesday. “To say Arkadelphia will always have a place in our hearts is the biggest understatement of the almost two decades we have been here.” Audrey Dingler, who’s worked five years as a school nurse for Arkadelphias, will finish the school year in Arkadelphia. The Arkadelphia Public School District this week began advertising for Eldridge’s replacement. School officials hope to make a hire by June.
Editor’s Note: Long before Arkadelphia savored state championships in 2017 and 2018, J.R Eldridge tasted initial success in only his second season as a head high school football coach, capping a 9-2 season in 2012 with a 7-4A Conference title and earning Conference Coach of the Year recognition. In a Nov. 14, 2012 article posted on the Arkadelphia Public Schools’ website, the district’s communications director offered an interview that summarized elements of Eldridge’s coaching philosophy that endured for years. Here’s an excerpt:
By Sean Ruggles A mark of any effective leader is the ability to champion a philosophy that the group’s members will take to heart. Behind every successful business, campaign or team is a message that not only guides day-to-day decisions but also creates an identity: “Forward” ... “Real change” ... “Just do it.” J.R. Eldridge is writing his own page in the book of effective slogans: “VVR.” Initially, the abbreviation was a message used internally, but the slogan went viral after Eldridge delivered a charge to Arkadelphia High School at this year’s homecoming pep rally, where he encouraged everyone present to know their role and pursue their goals with “VVR.” Vicious. Violent. Relentless. According to Eldridge, these words drive not only the Badger football program, but also the daily lives of anyone who buys into the philosophy. The slogan caught on and, before long, was on posters, windows of local businesses and being chanted from the stands. “VVR is about attacking your responsibilities,” Eldridge said. “It doesn’t matter if you are a football player, band member, science teacher or engineer. We all have a job to do. This applies just as much to my players getting homework done as it does them fulfilling their duties on the field.” Football is a physical, contact sport. And with that said, the VVR philosophy can be easily misunderstood, but Eldridge offered a denotative explanation for the slogan and encouraged everyone to put it to use in their daily lives. “VVR is not playing dirty,” he said. “VVR is enveloped by the rules of the game. If it were a dirty mentality, then it would be counterproductive.” The VVR philosophy builds upon the three words’ definitions, and flows in order to describe the Badgers’ 1. Intentions (vicious), 2. Actions (violent), 3. Determination (relentless). continued to grow. “To me, the community buying into our message is awesome,” Eldridge said. “The community being involved now is a testament to how much our players believe in this philosophy. The message has led to success.”
A steady stream of about 60 vehicles rolled slowly by the Eldridges’ Mockingbird Lake home on Tuesday evening as coach, center above, waved and his wife, Audrey, recorded video. (That’s his son, Max, 11, on the right. Brothers Jack, 13, and Tripp, 5, were also present.) Among the cutest well-wishers, left,were the Speights children, from left, Max, Hank, Sydnee and June. Cannon Turner, bottom left, the Badgers’ starting quarterback for the last four years, was also present for the impromptu parade, sporting a semiMohawk haircut that will probably vanish when he joins the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado this August. Dispatch photos/ Bill Sutley