Arkadelphia Dispatch - February 06, 2020

Vol. 2, No. 5

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020

Profs accused of making meth face new charges

By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor

Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Turner gave the two former Henderson State University professors accused of manufacturing methamphetamine on campus a surprise Monday when he upped the ante by adding two new charges Terry David Bateman, 45, and Bradley Allen Rowland, 40, were originally charged informally by Sheriff Jason Watson with manufacture of methamphetamine and use or possession of paraphernalia to manufacture methamphetamine when they were arrested Dec. 6.

On Monday, Turner announced formal charges, include two new ones: possession of penylpropanolamine with purpose

to manufacture methamphetamine and manufacturing a Schedule V controlled substance (phenylpropanolamine). Furthermore, Turner said the duo also would face enhanced penalties for manufacturing a controlled Bateman substance in a drug-free zone (on or within 1,000 feet of a public college or university).

The two men appeared separately in Clark County Circuit Court on Tuesday, along with their attorneys, to plead not

guilty to all charges. The men aren’t expected to appear in court again until April, when pretrial motions by their attorneys will be heard by Circuit Judge Blake Batson. A trial could follow as soon as Rowland later that month.

Bateman and Rowland were the subject of an investigation originating with HSU Chief of Police Johnny Campbell, which the sheriff’s office continued in cooperation with HSU, the Arkadelphia Police Department and

the Group Six Narcotics Task Force.

A court affidavit filed by Watson in December noted that the sheriff had first been contacted on Monday, Dec. 10, 2018 about suspicions related to the two professors. Acting President Elaine Kneebone was then working full-time as the university attorney and told Watson that colleagues of the two associate professors noted they “had exhibited drastic changes in their personal hygiene and weight loss,” the affidavit states.

Bateman and Rowland were also present in their lab, Reynolds Hall 304, late at night and early in the morning, acting “extremely guarded towards other faculty See Meth • Page 4

School board, teachers agree on sick leave

By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor

HSU photo/Michael Taylor

The city Board of Education voted Tuesday to accept a sick-leave proposal from a group of teachers leading personnel policy committees at each school.

For years, the Arkadelphia Public Schools paid teachers for their unused sick leave when they retired or, for some other reason, left the system.

But Superintendent Karla Neathery proposed this year, aiming to save money possible, that the unpaid sick leave roll back into the district’s general fund.

Last month, the city Board of Education approved 14 changes in its personnel policy manual, mainly to update its agreement with the recommendations of the Arkansas

Chris Taylor, left, hands specimens collected from deep within a Tennessee cave to Henderson State student Quincy Gragg during a 2019 expedition to explore and collect biological and chemical samples from a unique Tennessee cave. Taylor, an engineering graduate student at the University of Arkansas, joined the cave researchers at the invitation of his father, Michael Taylor, who’s also part of the project.

School Boards Association.

Donna Adkins, speaking on behalf of all the Personnel Policy Committees at each of the district’s five schools, told the school board that she had polled eight nearby school districts and that all allow for payment of unused sick leave.

But Adkins said the PPCs also realized that the school district was undergoing extreme belt-tightening to right its finances and avoid deficits.

As an alternative, the teachers proposed a compromise: • Offer none of the unpaid sick leave if a teacher leaves with less than 15 years service.

• At 15 years of service, See Leave • Page 4

HSU research heads to D.C.

Special to the Dispatch A student research team from Henderson State University has learned their project is one of just 60 projects from across the U.S. chosen for presentation at the Council on Undergraduate Research’s “Posters on the Hill” conference April 20-21 at the Capitol in Washington, D.C. The project, produced by the team of Kaylee Wheeless, Quincy Gragg, Cecily Rodriguez and Lauren Camp, offers an analysis of a unique cave system in Tennessee.

The cave appears to be one of just a couple known in which a biological system functions totally through use of chemicals from deep in the earth, with no dependence on photosynthesis, according to James Engman, professor of biology at Henderson.

“We have identified many unique bacterial species, some of which would traditionally only have been associated with black smokers, which are volcanic vents located in some of the deepest parts of the ocean,” Engman

Condemned house at 129 N. 5th St.

City board OKs condemnation

Members of the student research team are, from left, Kaylee Wheeless, Quincy Gragg (who graduated in December with a degree in biology), Cecily Rodriguez and Laura Camp. said. “Our study has implications for understanding the potential for life under the Martian surface.”

Mike Taylor, HSU professor of communications and an expert caver, has been a part of the project, helping collect material for Engman, as well as John Hardee, a professor of chemistry, who’s doing chemical analysis on some

of the samples to help find out more about the underground environment.

Taylor’s also documenting the exploration and research for an upcoming book, Hidden Nature: Wild Southern Caves, to be published in August

by Vanderbilt University Press. Taylor’s the author of two previous books on caves, Dark Life in 1998

and a 2000 coffee-table book, Caves: Exploring Hidden Realms.

The cave network, about 50 miles southeast of Nashville, is unnamed and the exact location isn’t public since it’s on private property. Previous explorers, who made Taylor aware of the cave, have so far mapped about 13 miles of passages in the cave.

By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor

Arkadelphia’s Board of Directors voted Tuesday to condemn a two-story house at 129 N. 5th St., tearing it down and billing the owner unless he comes up with a viable restoration plan within 30 days.

“This building is dilapidated, unsightly, unsafe, unsanitary, obnoxious and detrimental to the public welfare,” Thomas Free, the city’s code enforcement officer, told the city manager in a memo The owner of the house, David Freel of Bryant, was invited to attend Tuesday’s board meeting, but he was a no-show. The house has been vacant since October 2014.

“The front of the house is falling down and causing a hazard,” Free said in his condemnation resolution. “The foundation is rotted and the top story is falling down.”

City Manager Gary Brinkley said that the fact it’s a See Condemn • Page 4

Voting center concept offers voters flexibility

By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor

They used to be called “election precincts.”

Now, they’re voting centers.

For the second year in a row, Clark County will operate nine voting centers on Election Day, March 3, that will allow different ballots to be pulled up depending on where you live.

So, a Gurdon resident who works in Arkadel-

phia, or vice versa, can go to any of the nine voting centers in the county and be given the correct ballot for their home address. That’s handy if you have a busy day and want to vote earlier before the lines form closer to the 7 p.m. cutoff time. Polls still open at 7 a.m.

All early voting for the county will be handled from Tuesday, Feb. 18-March 2 at the Arkadelphia Recreation Center, 2555

Twin Rivers Drive. That voting center will be open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, as well as 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturdays. Early voting will cut off at 5 p.m. on the Monday before the election.

County Clerk Mona Vance said she would have someone available to call at her office See Vote • Page 5

2 News

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020

Miss OBU and her finalists are, from left, third runner-up Melody Stotts, second runner-up Danielle Hall, Miss OBU Caroline Derby, first runner-up Elizabeth Steely and fourth runner-up Katie Kumpuris.

Arkadelphia student crowned Miss Ouachita From Special Reports Caroline Derby of Arkadelphia was crowned Miss OBU 2020 Saturday night in the 53rd Miss Ouachita Baptist University Scholarship Pageant.

She will compete this summer in the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant, which is aligned with the Miss America organization.

Derby, crowned in Jones Performing Arts Center at OBU, was among 16 contestants competing for the crown. A freshman communications and media-multimedia journalism major, 2019 graduate of Arkadelphia High School is the daughter of Susan and Jay Derby.

Other finalists were: • First runner-up: Elizabeth Steely, a senior communications and mediamultimedia journalism major from Conway.

• Second runner-up: Danielle Hall a senior musical theatre major from Prairie Grove.

• Third runner-up: Melody Stotts, a junior middle school education major from Jonesboro.

• Fourth runner-up: Katie Kumpuris, a senior music major from Little Rock.

Along with the honor of representing Ouachita at Miss Arkansas, Derby received a $1,000 scholarship and an additional prize package.

Throughout the year, her responsibilities will include volunteering for organizations in Arkadelphia and Arkansas.

The Miss OBU Pageant, which began in 1967, has yielded five Miss Arkansas winners, beginning with the first Miss OBU, Sharon Bale. More recently, 10 Ouachita women competed at Miss Arkansas 2019, with three placing in the Top Five, including 2019’s Miss OBU, Julie Williams of Arkadelphia, who passed on her crown to Derby Saturday night.

The contestants were judged in four categories: talent, social impact in evening wear, onstage question and private interview.

Miss OBU candidates did not compete in a swimsuit category. That competition has been replaced in pre-Miss America pageants with the social impact category, which allowed candidates to share their social impact initiative while displaying their sense of style, personality and presence in evening wear.

The “Illusive Dream,” a 3.29 carat brown diamond found in October by Pat Choate.

Crater shines bright in 2019

By Waymon Cox MURFREESBORO — 2019 was a banner year for the Crater of Diamonds State Park, with visitors from Arkansas, 36 other states and one foreign country finding 491 diamonds during the year.

The total weight for all diamonds registered last year was 99.14 carats, 22 carats heavier than 2018. The 491 diamonds found in 2019 included 336 white gems, 73 brown and 82 yellow.

The average weight of diamonds found last year was around 20 points, or one-fifth of a carat. (Five carats equals one gram.) Though most were found by wet sifting, a method that involves sorting large quantities of gravel by size and weight, about one in every ten diamonds were found on top of the ground at the park, including many of the year’s largest finds.

Visitors found about a diamond a day in January and February 2019. As visitation picked up in March, so did the number of finds. By the first day of spring last year, 101 diamonds had been registered. But only one of these weighed more than one carat.

March was the busiest month for park visitation, as well as diamond finds, with 71 diamonds registered during the month.

The rate of diamond finds remained fairly steady through spring and early summer, and heavy summer rains also brought heavier diamonds. By the end of July, park visitors had found 297 diamonds, including ten weighing at least one carat. On July 24, a 36-yearold teacher from Hebron, Neb., Josh

Lanik, found the first two-carat-plus diamond of the year. Lanik found his 2.12 carat brandy-colored gem while surface searching near the West Drain of the park’s diamond search area. He named it the Lanik Family Diamond in honor of an unforgettable experience at Arkansas’ diamond site.

Three weeks later, Miranda Hollingshead, of Bogata, Texas, brought her family to the Crater of Diamonds after learning that the park is only a couple hours from her home. Hollingshead was sitting on the northeast side of the diamond search area on Aug. 16, watching a YouTube video about how to find diamonds, when she looked down and saw a 3.72 carat yellow diamond on top of the ground. Hollingshead, a fan of superheroes, named her gem the Caro Avenger.

To expose unsearched diamondbearing material and create new opportunities for finds, in early fall the park conducted a trenching project along the south end of the search area.

Shortly after the project wrapped up, longtime park visitors John and Pat Choate, of Jacksonville, registered their largest diamond yet. While searching on Canary Hill in the search area on Oct. 22, Pat Choate found a 3.29 carat brown diamond on the surface of the plowed field. She named her gem the Illusive Dream, calling it a dream come true after many years searching for diamonds.

By the end of last year, visitors had registered 18 diamonds weighing more than one carat at the park.

Arkadelphia Dispatch

School nurses will conduct body mass index and scoliosis screenings on all eighth-graders at Goza Middle School from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7, as now required by state law. BMI screening will record height and weight only. Students will be asked to remove their shoes, excess jewelry and coats.

With the scoliosis screening to detect early signs of spine curvature, shirts will be removed. The screening will be private, with only the student and nurse present behind a partition. Girls are encouraged to wear a bra, swimsuit top or tank top to allow more accurate observation of the back and spine structure. >>> <<< Henderson State University’s Wind Ensemble will perform a special concert at 7:30 p.m; Friday, Feb. 7 in the Arkansas Hall auditorium. The public is welcome to attend the free concert. The Wind Ensemble, under the direction of Shaun R. Popp, director of bands, will perform “Liberty Fanfare,”

by John Williams; “Southern Harmony,” by Donald Grantham; “Groovy Loops,”

by J. Scott McKenzie (John Webb, guest conductor); and “The Entry March of the Boyars,” by Johan Halvorsen. The concert can also be viewed online via Facebook Live at facebook.com/HSUBand. >>> <<< Ouachita Baptist University will host internationally acclaimed pianist Jinha Park in concert, free and open to the public, at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 7 in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. After making her public debut at 14, Park achieved a track record as a performer in America, Europe and Korea. She has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at Kumho Art Hall, Seoul Arts Center and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, and also has made appearances in Barcelona, Perugia and St. Petersburg. Park will perform “Sonata in A Major, Hob. XVI:43” by Joseph Haydn; “Ballade in F Minor, Op. 52,” by Frédéric Chopin; “Sonata in B Minor, S. 178,” by Franz Liszt; and “Mirage,” by Elisenda Fabregas. >>> <<< Henderson State’s Spirit Squads will host a Little Reddies Spirit Camp from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 in the Dunn Recreation Center. The cost of the camp is $25, and participation is open to children in kindergarten-grade 6. Camp attendees will receive instruction from the Henderson cheer and pom squads, a T-shirt, guest tickets to the Reddies’ basketball games that afternoon against Harding and will get an opportunity to perform at halftime of the women’s contest, which begins at 1 p.m. Registration takes place online and payment will be taken on the day of the camp. To register, Henderson’s cheer website, https://hsusports.com/sports/cheerpom, click on the news release and find the registration link there. For more information about the Little Reddies Spirit Camp or the Henderson State cheer and pom squads, contact head coach Ricki Rebollar at spiritsquads@hsu.edu. >>> <<< The Clark County Democratic Committee will now hold its regular monthly meetings on Tuesdays. Its first meeting reflecting the change will be at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18 at its headquarters at 109 6th St. The guest speaker will be Circuit Judge Morgan “Chip” Welch, who is seeking a position on the Arkansas Supreme Court. Judge elections in Arkansas are nonpartisan. The public is invited to attend. >>> <<< The Arkansas Department of Corrections will interview prospective correctional officers and food prep supervisors from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18 at the Arkadelphia Chamber of Commerce, 201 N. 26th St. Interested persons should bring their driver’s license, Social Security card, high school diploma or GED, banking information and a voided check. >>> <<< Third Street Baptist Church will host its annual women’s conference from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21 and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22.

Event speakers include Jennifer Watson, Christy Rodriguez and Jennifer Francis. Worship will be led by Robert and Brooke Ramsey. The conference is open to girls in sixth-grade up. Registration costs $30 ($25 for collesge students) and includes lunch on Saturday. For more information and to register by the Feb. 1 payment deadline, visit the link at thirdstreetbaptist.org. >>> <<< The Henderson State Spirits Squads will hold a recruitment clinic from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 22 in the Dunn Recreation Center. The cost of the clinic, open to 10th-12th graders and current college students, is $20. (A Henderson Spirits Squads T-shirt is $10 more.) Potential recruits for cheer will do stunting and tumbling exercises, while those interested in the pom squad will participate in dance technique and dance combo work. All participants will engage in jump lessons and will receive first-hand instruction from both collegiate coaches and athletes. Register online, and pay fees on the day of the clinic. To register, visit Henderson’s cheer website, https:// hsusports.com/sports/cheerpom, click on the news release for the clinic and find the registration link there. For more information, contact head coach Ricki Rebollar at spiritsquads@hsu.edu. >>> <<< The Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance and Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual banquet at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 5 in Henderson State University’s Garrison Center. Lee and Alicia DuCote, of Amazon Prime Video’s “Adventure and Romance with Lee and Alicia,” will be guest speakers. Individual tickets are $40, with sponsorships ranging from $350 to $1,000. For more information, contact Ashlee Vaughn at 870-246-1460 or ashlee@arkadelphiaalliance.com. >>> <<< A local group, Women of Prayer United will present Simply Sandi: An Intimate Night of Songs and Stories with Sandi Patty, at 7 p.m. Saturday March 7 at Trinity Temple Assembly of God, 3509 Pine St. From 19841996, Patty won or shared seven Grammy Awards. Patty was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2004. From 1982-1992, she received the GMA’s Dove Awards for Female Vocalist of the Year for 11 years straight. She’s released more than 30 albums from 1978-2017. Tickets are $25 and on sale now through Eventbrite. >>> <<< Baptist Health Medical Center of Arkadelphia will host a blood drive from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 8. Look for the Arkansas Blood Institute bloodmobile. To schedule an appointment, visit arkbi.org and click on Give Blood. All donors will get a free “Save the Humans” alien T-shirt. >>> <<< Group Living, Inc., is selling tickets for a 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 fundraising effort featuring Dorey’s fish/chicken plates. A meal — cooked on site — includes 4 pieces of catfish or chicken tenders, french fries, hush puppies, cole slaw, sauces and either lemonade, sweet tea or unsweetened tea. To buy the $12 tickets, call Group Living at 870-246-5849 and then pick them up at the nonprofit’s 700 Main St. office. Those with tickets will be able to drive through and pick up their meal using Clay Street to enter the main Group Living parking lot. Sheridan-based Dorey Catering, serving U.S. farmraised catfish for more than 30 years, was nominated in December for the People’s Choice Award in the 2020 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame. >>> <<< The Percy and Donna Malone Child Safety Center will hold its fifth annual Duck Derby Festival Saturday, April 4 in the parking lot of Ouachita Baptist’s Cliff Harris Stadium. The 2020 Duck Waddle 5K Race kicks off the event at 9 a.m. Runners will be chip-timed. The festival will also feature music, bounce houses, prizes for the many games and a chili cook-off. Deadline to enter is March 1. To enter, call 870-26-8632. To eat, go to the Buy Now link at https://www.pdmcsc.org/waddle.html.

Arkadelphia Dispatch

News 3

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020

Obituary DeGray Lake 5-year plan Rebecca Phillips for fisheries available

Rebecca Phillips was born March 5, 1943, in Gurdon, AR, to Sarah Brown Stephens and the late Barney Stephens.

Rebecca was a Christian and was a member of Second Baptist Church of Arkadelphia, AR. She was a 1961 graduate of Gurdon High School, and she graduated from the Baptist School of Nursing, becoming a practicing Registered Nurse.

Rebecca’s passion was gardening and being in the outdoors. She pursued her interest with vigor and became a Master Gardener.

Rebecca is survived by her 98-year-old mother, Sarah; sister, Pauletta Perryman of Lonoke; brother, Steve (Janice) Stephens of Arkadelphia; her hus-

band of 55 years, James R. “Jim” Phillips; sons Todd and wife Tracy of Landau, Germany (Henry, Martin Thomas, Kristian); Eric and wife Cindy of Arkadelphia (Owen, Colin); and Clif and wife Regina of Benton (Colton, Caiden).

A celebration of Rebecca’s life will be held at Rest Haven Cemetery, Arkadelphia, AR, at 1:30 PM on February 8th, 2020, officiated by Revs. Stan Parris and Louie Heard, under the direction of RugglesWilcox Funeral Home of Arkadelphia, AR. Following the service, there will be a family visitation at Second Baptist Church, Arkadelphia. Visit the online guestbook at www.ruggleswilcox.com

`Productivity’ slip costs HSU From Special Reports Henderson State University got official word Friday that its share of a $7.4 million increase for 2019-2020 would be cut $16,758 as a result of the school’s performance in terms of new productivity standards.

The productivity funding formula puts more emphasis on school "effectiveness," affordability, efficiency and research. "Effectiveness" includes the number of credentials awarded, the number of students reaching progression goals, the number of students passing gateway courses and the success of transfer students.

A Henderson State spokeswoman, Tina Hall, said the university received seven fewer points than the previous year of productivity funding for a change of 0.09%.

“There was no one category that represents those seven points but rather just a loss of one or two points across the categories,” Hall said.

“We will make adjustments during the 2021 budgeting cycle to offset the decline in funding.”

Hall said the school was also “working closely with the ASU System to identify ways to improve our performance.”

HSU began the process of merging with the Arkansas State University System in the fall — a process that won’t be completed until Jan. 1, 2021.

The $7.4 million boost for the state’s colleges and universities, approved by the General Assembly, represented a 1.2% increase from the previous year.

The state's schools were 1.5% more productive during the most recent three-year

period, according to the division.

Universities were more productive — 3.7% more than before — while Arkansas community colleges were 2.6% less productive.

That means $6.3 million was recommended for universities and $2.2 million for community colleges. Increases go only to schools with productivity increases.

Besides Henderson, the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith was the only other school with a productivity decreasing, costing it $227,568. Henderson’s overall state appropriation is $21.2 million, while UA-FS receives $23.9 million.

The University of Arkansas will get $2.3 million more, bringing its state funding to $133.3 million, Southern Arkansas University's productivity index grew the most of any school in the state, by 14.6%. That means it will get $1.2 million more, bringing its state funding to $18.6 million.

Among community colleges, 14 of the 22 schools will lose money from the state. According to the state’s formula, the largest loss will be at the University of Arkansas-Pulaski Technical College. After a 13.7% drop in productivity, the school will lose $224,791.

The formula, implemented in 2017, measures school performance against previous years, multiplies the difference by the school's base funding, capping gains and losses at 2%.

The coordinating board approved the recommended changes with little discussion Friday.

Banks CPA, PLLC Stephanie M. Banks, CPA 204 North 27th Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923-5309 Phone: (870) 245-3975 Fax: (870) 246-7149

By Randy Zellers Special to the Dispatch BISMARCK — Thanks in part to the input of anglers who participated in public workshops last year in Arkadelphia, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission recently completed its 2019 Fishery Management Plan for DeGray Lake.

The plan will help guide management decisions about the lake’s fish over the next five years.

Workshops were held June 20 and June 27 in Arkadelphia to enable more anglers to have their voices heard when biologists were crafting the plan.

“We had a good turnout with many anglers voicing concerns of some key things that we are working on,” said Brett Hobbs, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s district fisheries supervisor in Hot Springs. “We were also able to communicate the current biological status of the lake, the most recent sampling results, recent stocking numbers and particular challenges unique to the fishery.”

Hobbs said the two top desires from anglers were the reestablishment of aquatic vegetation in the lake and efforts to boost the number and size of largemouth bass.

Re-establishing aquat-

AGFC Black Bass Management officials reported Jan. 6 that it had confirmed patches of rooted coontail in several areas on the lower end of DeGray Lake. They were found close to floating coontail enclosures brought to the lake by fisheries researchers from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, who are helping AGFC re-establish aquatic vegetation in DeGray. Bass are known to “bury” in coontail.

ic vegetation has been a major focus of the AGFC for the last year.

The past year’s work using a new technique, recommended by an aquatic habitat restoration specialist with the Corps of Engineers, is showing some promise.

Native aquatic vegetation, primarily coontail, American pondweed and eelgrass, is being grown in nurseries and then being transported to floating cages at strategically placed locations in the lake. The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff played a key role in this effort by identifying locations where the floating cages have the greatest potential to have an impact.

“The hope is that

Brian Bean, a frequent tournament fisherman from Hot Springs, caught this 8.37 pound bass on Lake DeGray in 2017.

seeds and fragments from the native aquatic plants will spread through wave action to create new beds of vegetation throughout the lake,” Hobbs said.

“Researchers with UAPB’s Aquaculture and Fisheries Department have been able to find new beds of coontail during vegetation surveys conducted this winter. It’s still in the beginning stages of implementation, but we are seeing some promising results.”

The introduction of Florida largemouth bass to DeGray Lake to increase the chances for trophy-class fish also will continue, according to the plan’s final draft.

Between 2006-2013, the AGFC conducted a pilot study to stock 100 Florida largemouth bass fingerlings per acre in the Brushy Creek area of the lake for eight consecutive years. During later evaluations of bass genetics in the area, biologists saw a substantial increase in the proportion of bass with Florida genetics.

Additionally, growth analysis suggests bass in Brushy Creek are growing faster now than before Florida genetics were introduced.

Genetic samples taken from trophy bass caught by anglers shows that all recently caught fish over eight pounds contain at least some Florida bass genetics.

Interestingly, no trophy bass genetically tested has come back as a pure Florida largemouth, which indicates all trophy bass were spawned naturally in DeGray Lake. Results from this study have spurred the

commission to continue stocking DeGray Lake with Florida largemouth bass over the next five years.

The AGFC also is partnering with UAPB on another study that was a particular hot topic for anglers, the hybrid striped bass fishery and any possible conflicts that may arise from hybrid striped bass using the same habitat type as black bass in the fishery.

“We are still in the field research portion of that study,” Hobbs said.

“Once it is complete, we will evaluate the results and be able to make a decision based on science. With black bass being the most targeted species on DeGray and hybrids being the number two target species for anglers, we don’t want to rush into any decisions that could negatively affect the anglers who pursue either species.”

Hobbs said two of the public requests that likely cannot be fulfilled now are the creation of a new weigh-in facility and fishing pier at DeGray Lake.

“Due to current financial obligations, we probably won’t be able to pursue these amenities at DeGray within the next five years,” Hobbs said. “But we are keeping these facilities as future considerations if the agency is able to direct funding toward them.”

The final plan and other fisheries management plans for lakes throughout the state are available at www.agfc. com/scientific-reportsfisheries.

The Arkadelphia Dispatch 812 Clinton St., Suite B Arkadelphia, AR 71923 Phone: 870-617-7001 Editor: Bill Sutley Ads: Phoebe Huff email: arkadelphiadispatch@gmail.com The Arkadelphia Dispatch is published weekly by Nashville Leader, Inc., 119 N. Main, Nashville, AR 71852.

4 News

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020

Meth Continued from page 1

faculty and students who came into the laboratory,” questioning why they were there.

On Jan. 4, 2019, the sheriff requested Deputy Wes Sossamon and Roy Bethell, an agent of the Group Six Narcotics Task Force, to check out the lab, noting that “both have extensive experience in the investigation of clandestine drug laboratories.”

Both officers immediately noticed “there was an overwhelming odor recognized by both of those officers as that common to the controlled substance phenyl-2-propanone … used in the synthesis of amphetamines and-or methamphetamine.”

But the officers noticed nothing else beyond the presence of that controlled chemical to indicate meth was being formulated, the affidavit stated.

Nine months later, Henderson was forced to close Reynolds Science Center, one of the busiest academic buildings on campus, because of what was perceived to be a hazardous chemical spill, which produced fumes that could be detected throughout the building.

Watson and other officers responded and found some type of chemical spill had occurred in the same lab they checked earlier. Hazardous materials experts advised

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teachers would receive 50% of their saved days multiplied against half of the money paid to hire a substitute teacher.

Currently, that’s $75, so $37.50 would be the multiplier.

• At 20 years of service, teachers and other certified staff would receive 75% of the money representing their paid sick days mul-

HSU to evacuate and secure the building and lab.

Two state Crime Lab analysts were asked to check out the building on or about Nov. 8, and they found evidence of methamphetamine andor phenyl-2-propanone in six of 15 vials collected in the lab, concluding that “methamphetamine and phenyl-2-propanone had, in fact, been manufactured inside the university laboratory.”

After obtaining a search warrant, both professor’s offices were searched, and a locked metal safe in Bateman’s office was found to contain 190 glass vials containing visible residue. Two of the vials tested positive for meth. It was also noted “the safe emitted a strong odor consistent with that common to phenyl-2-propanone.”

On Nov. 11, while executing the search warrants on the professors’ offices, officers were told that three more flasks containing a solution were in a refrigerator in another lab.

Narcotics agents found that all three flasks tested positive for meth, totaling more than two grams of the drug.

It didn’t take long for media outlets such as the New York Times to discover that Rowland had been interviewed by a student reporter for the Oracle, Henderson’s student newspaper, in 2014, when he first arrived at Henderson. In the interview, Rowland was asked about the thenpopular AMC network show, Breaking Bad, which chronicles a high school chemistry teacher’s descent

tiplied against half of the daily rate for a substitute teacher.

• At 25 years of service or more, teachers would get 100% of the money representing their paid sick days multiplied against half of the daily rate for a substitute.

Adkins said the PPC leaders at each school had polled teachers, and this was the compromise that they preferred among other alternatives.

“In other words, reward the teacher for saving the district money by not call-

Condemn Continued from page 1

two-story building makes it more of a hazard to topple and end up in either Hardin Street to the left or 5th Street out front.

With Ouachita Baptist University’s campus just two blocks away, the street is a frequent place for foot traffic.

“It’s moved way up on the (condemnation) list because of safety concerns,” Brinkley told the board. “Before I bring it to you, it’s in bad shape.”

At-large director Roland Gosey was the only board member who didn’t vote in favor of condemnation. He voted “present.”

“I have a hard time tearing anyone’s building down,” Gosey said.

In the event of a condemnation teardown, the city will attach a lien to the property forbidding the owner from doing selling it or doing anything else until they reimburse the city for the cost of demolition. That’s about $4,000 for most houses, Brinkley said. But he estimated this larger house might cost $6,500 to demolish.

“This (property) has value because of

into meth manufacturing along with a former student.

Rowland remarked that he appreciated the scientific accuracy of the show, and the interview was published with a photo of Rowland and the words “Henderson’s Heisenberg” by the photo, referring to one nickname for Walter White, the lead character in Breaking Bad. Later, an unpublished portion of his interview revealed that Rowland referred to the show as virtually a recruiting tool.

The new charges mean the possibility of more jail time for the men.

The meth manufacturing charge is the most serious — a Class Y felony calling for anywhere from 10-40 years in prison or a life sentence. The second charge, using paraphernalia to manufacture methamphetamine, is a Class B felony, punishable by a five-20 year prison sentence and-or a fine up to $15,000.

The third charge, involving the possession of phenylpropanolamine to manufacture meth, is a Class D felony, punishable by imprisonment for five to 20 years and-or a fine not exceeding $15,000. The other new charge, involving the manufacture of a Schedule V controlled substance, is a Class D felony, which carries a prison term of not more than six years and-or a fine up to $10,000.

The enhanced penalty for manufacturing a controlled substance in a drug-free zone allows a jury to tack on an additional term of 20 years.

Both men resigned from Henderson last fall.

Arkadelphia Dispatch

Flu closes Gurdon schools for two days

By Sherry Kelley Gurdon Mayor The flu is a real concern for us this year, closing Gurdon schools last Friday and this Monday.

We must practice washing our hands, using hand sanitizer and avoid touching our face. If you are sick, stay away from others. I had the flu earlier this winter. The flu shot that I received in the fall of 2019 probably lessened the symptoms, but still I was down for most of a week. Take care.

The fabulous Gurdon Beehive Store downtown on Main Street is celebrating its oneyear anniversary on Monday, Feb. 17. There will be a huge anniversary sale, door prizes and great deals. Light refreshments will be served all day. This is going to be big.

The Gurdon Beehive Store is a flurry ing in sick,” Adkins said. rie Goodman said to the “You still have a chance to four PPC representatives of activity Monday be rewarded.” present Tuesday evening. through Friday. Most Adkins said she and “What’s happened is a of my favorite clothresult of where we are.” other veteran teachers ing is from the Gurdon In other action, the often save sick days mainly Beehive, and I always school board voted unanito guard against the need see friends every time mously to accept Neathfor them in the event of a ery’s recommendation after I shop. Taka and Daryl serious illness. take good care of their The school board passed a brief executive session customers. Gurdon the proposal unanimously, to accept the retirement is proud to have this plans of three personnel at but they cautioned that store. the end of the 2019-2020 they would have to reschool year: Leslie Wood, view the policy each year The fine folks at Cenmaintenance supervisor; to ensure it’s working as tral Arkansas DevelopHelene Stone, a paraprofes- ment Center’s Gurdon conceived.

“We don’t want to take sional at Central Primary Senior Adult Center anything away from you School; and Jana Kelly, a are hosting their guys,” board member Kar- speech-language patholoAnnual Fundraising

where it is,” Brinkley said.

In other action, the city tabled action on Brinkley’s recommendation to hire Turner, Rodgers, Manning and Plyler, a local accounting firm, to conduct an audit of the city’s books, as required by law. He said the firm does audits regularly for about 35 municipalities around Arkansas. But the city would have to pay up to $50,000 for the private audit. The Division of Legislative Audit in Little Rock doesn’t charge for its audits, but Brinkley said that the last time they were used, the audit took about 10 months, compared to three months the private audit would take.

“The private audit replaces the state audit,” he said. “It’s much more effective and quicker for us.”

The Board of Directors did vote unanimously to support Brinkley’s proposal to pay Athletic Field Services of Arkansas $53,072, plus $15,000 from an Arkadelphia Baseball Commission grant, to rehabilitate the six competition fields at the city’s Youth Sportsplex that would enable city crews to better maintain them. The improvements would involve spreading about 300 tons of special mixes designed to rebuild the surfaces and improve drainage.

gist at Central.

Chicken and Dressing Dinner on Sunday, Feb. 23, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m.

The price is $10, and the menu sounds great: chicken and dressing, cranberry sauce, green beans, corn, hot rolls, candied sweet potatoes, coconut cake, ice tea, coffee and water.

Dine in the beautiful center at 410 Main Street or carry out.

Your host, Royce Ann Barbaree said, “I’m hoping everyone will come out and support the senior center.” The CADC Gurdon Senior Adult Center is always the busiest places in town for lunch. Our local seniors really enjoy the services offered there.

Mark your calendars for April the 14th.

Lanna Clark tells me that’s the date for the “Lights in the Park” Relay For Life event at the Gurdon City Park.

Last year was beautiful, memorable and spiritual. All attendees enjoyed it and talked about it for days. The Gurdon Lake fishing pier and surrounding area was lit with luminaries, memorials and well wishes for those with cancer.

Once again the event is Tuesday, April 14 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. I will have more information on how you can get involved in upcoming issues of the Arkadelphia Dispatch.

USMCA: Signed, sealed, delivered

By U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman Special to the Dispatch Trade with international allies is the backbone of the American economy.

Importing and exporting goods and services not only sustains millions of American jobs, but it also provides the food we eat, the clothes we wear, the cars we drive and much more.

Two of our most important trading partners are our neighbors to the north and south, Canada and Mexico.

That’s why the United States, Mexico and Canada Agreement is such a boost for American manufacturing and agriculture.

President Trump officially signed USMCA on Jan. 29. Mexico has already ratified the agreement, and Canada is expected to formally approve it soon. The deal being finalized signals $68 billion in new economic growth, supporting 120,000 jobs in Arkansas alone and an estimated 2

million nationwide.

USMCA -- an updated version of what was formerly known as the North American Free Trade Agreement -- will boost a variety of industries across the U.S., including poultry, steel, dairy, wheat, textiles and many more. The deal also includes intellectual property safeguards, currency stability and environmental protections.

Getting USMCA across the finish line has been a bipartisan effort on all fronts, and I’m grateful to see this administration’s consistent support for American jobs and trade. Our economy is growing, and hardworking Americans are benefiting from new jobs and opportunities in their own communities. I look forward to continuing to advocate for Arkansas farmers and businesses in the nation’s capital as USMCA is put into place.

Arkadelphia Dispatch

Vote Continued from page 1

until 6 p.m. weekdays in case voting questions arise. (The county’s Quorum Court selected Vance, a former staffer in the county clerk’s office, to move into the top job on Jan. 1, after the previous county clerk, Rhonda Cole, announced last year she would retire before her term in office ended.)

The only contested race on the ballot for

Continue here from above

ballots will be for the Court of Appeals associate judge for District 04, Position 02.

Vying for that position are Emily White and Prosecuting Attorney Potter Barrett.

All local ballots will also have a place to vote for or against renewing the millage rate of the districts they live in. None of the area districts is proposing a millage increase.

Gurdon’s ballot features the county’s only really contested local race, between Andrew Goodwin and Rodney Hurst for Gurdon School Board Zone 10.

Of course, presidential candidates will be listed on the primary ballots. On the Republican ballot, President Trump faces GOP challenges from Bill Weld and Roque “Rocky” de la Fuente.

All 18 Democratic candidates will appear on the Democratic ballot, even though many of them have pulled out of the race.

Vance reminded voters that anyone can vote absentee now. Just call her office and request an application and the ballot will be sent to you. A week before the election, Feb. 25, is the last date to submit Feb. 25.

“We’re ready to roll,” Vance said.

Election Day voting centers are at Amity City Hall,121 E. Thompson; First Methodist Church at 107 N. 9th St. in Arkadelphia; St. Paul A.M.E Church, 1505 Caddo St., Arkadelphia; Arkadelphia Recreation Center, 2555 Twin Rivers Drive; Caddo Valley City Hall, 137 Malvern Road; Manchester Community Building, at 1216 Manchester RD in the Manchester community east of Arkadelphia; and Okolona City Hall, 307 Main St.

Tell them you read about it in the

Dispatch 870-617-7001

News 5

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020

residents living in west Arkadelphia isn’t actually contested after all. Greg Vardaman and Tracy Rider will appear on the Republican primary ballots as candidates for the District 5 justice of the peace slot on the county Quorum Court, but Vardaman said he had submitted a letter to Vance asking to withdraw from the race to avoid any interference with his job as deputy prosecuting attorney.

Vance said she was unable to change the ballot.

Rider manages the dental office of Dr. Scott Byrd, who happens to be serving as mayor now. Her husband, David Rider,

ran for the same Quorum Court seat in the last election, but longtime incumbent Brown Hardman defeated him. Tracy Rider said her husband now works for Sen. Tom Cotton and is on the road too much to serve, so she decided to step forward.

Other statewide races on the ballot are for Associate Justice Position 4 on the state Supreme Court. Barbara Womack Webb and Judge Morgan “Chip” Welch are candidates in that race that appears on all ballots. The other non-partisan race on all Continued below

6 Sports

Thursday, Feb. 6, 2020

Arkadelphia Dispatch

OBU loses cross-country signee to Oklahoma tragedy

By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor A Moore, Okla., high school crosscountry standout, scheduled to sign an athletic scholarship with Ouachita Baptist University on Wednesday, as part of National Signing Day, was killed in a fatal hit-and-run accident Monday afternoon.

The OBU-bound senior, Rachel Freeman, 17, died Monday after she and five of her cross-country teammates, running on a sidewalk near the Moore High School campus, were struck by a pickup driven by a man who now faces first-degree manslaughter and six counts of leaving the scene of an injury accident.

Authorities suspect the driver, Max Leroy Townsend, 57, had been drinking. He

was arrested just a few blocks away and a few minutes after the hit-and-run.

Townsend has been arrested several times since 1991. He’s been charged with child abuse multiple times, possession of stolen property and possession of a controlled substance.

A second student died Tuesday, and the four other runners have been hospitalized since the accident, some with broken legs and ankles All are expected to recover.

Police said the runners were hit at a high rate of speed despite the 25 mph speed limit.

"Ouachita grieves with the family of Rachel Freeman and all those involved in the tragedy in Moore, Okla.,” OBU said in a statement released Tuesday. “Rachel

had signed a letter of intent with other onlookers. to join our women’s cross Located halfway becountry team in the fall tween Oklahoma City and and already was felt to be a Norman, in what’s known member of the Tiger athletas Oklahoma’s tornado ics family. Our prayers are alley, 55,000-population with the Moore community Moore has become known as they navigate these diffor its resilience after ficult times.” surviving nine tornadoes Teammates considered between 1998 and 2015 Freeman an “elite runner.”

— three of them violent She was her team’s top runenough to claim lives and ner in 2017 and was ranked wreak significant damage.

Rachel Freeman third overall woman in Two of the most recent 2018 and 2019. tornadoes to strike Moore, About 100-150 classmates outside in 1999 and 2013, were rated F5 on the Moore High School witnessed the hit-and- Fujita scale, delivering winds of 200-300 run, and many rushed to give aid along mph.

Dispatch photos/Cassidy Witherspoon

Sam Smith (24, left), a forward and center for Arkadelphia,takes careful aim from the outside in the Badgers’ heartbreaking 50-49 loss to Camden-Fairview Tuesday night at the AHS gym. That drops their overall record to 20-4, but the Badgers remain 8-1 in conference play.

Earlier in the evening, junior Kailyn Rook-Sims (45, above), unleashes a shot from the corner in the Lady Badgers’ 64-58 loss to CamdenFairview, a non-conference foe. That brings their overall record to 6-13 and 3-6 in conference play. Both teams travel to Nashville Friday for games against the conference foe, starting at 5 p.m.

Hot start helps Henderson women beat Oklahoma Baptist SHAWNEE, Okla. — Henderson State blitzed Oklahoma Baptist from the opening tip on Saturday afternoon and never looked back, as the Reddies cruised to a 98-84 win at the Noble Complex.

Five players finished in double figures for HSU. Hailey Estes poured in 22 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for her 27th career double-double, Karrington Whaley had 17 points, Maci Mains finished with 15, Pink Jones chipped in 13 and Lani Snowden added 10.

It was all Reddies (14-6, 9-5) from the very start on the road. Henderson knocked down four-straight 3-pointers to begin the game, and cashed in on 10 of its first 15 shots from the floor, to seize a commanding 26-9 advantage at the five minute mark of the opening quarter. HSU cooled off down the stretch in the period, but held OKBU to 4-for-14 shooting to take a 30-16 lead after one.

Things continued to click for Henderson in the second. With HSU up 42-28, the Reddies hit the gas pedal offensively and closed the half on a 16-2 run behind nine points from Estes to power to their largest lead, 58-30.

Henderson outfielder wins GAC honors

OBU photo/Dr. Wesley Kluck

Robert Otero, a junior wrestler for OBU, prepares for a hard landing Saturday after a Maryville opponent make him lose his balance and footing. Maryville, in St. Louis, won nine of the 10 matches Saturday to cruise to the meet win.

Men’s tennis Tigers go 1-1 on opening weekend

Ouachita Baptist University’s men’s tennis team shook off a shaky start this past opening weekend against rival Delta State University, finishing with a 6-1 win over the University of Texas-Tyler.

Friday’s match began with Delta State sweep-

ing the doubles to take a 1-0 point lead going into the singles. The two Tiger victories came at No. 3 singles, with Dan Kaplun of OBU winning 6-3, 6-4 and at No. 6 singles, with Nair Adi winning 7-5, 6-4.

But on Saturday, the Tigers bounced back,

defeating regionally ranked Texas-Tyler, 6-1.

The match began with Ouachita winning all three doubles matches to take the doubles point and a 1-0 lead.

In singles, the first match finished was Kaplun with a convincing 6-0,6-1 victory.

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Following a strong opening weekend, Henderson State outfielder Kailey Reese was named GAC Player of the Week by the league office on Tuesday.

Reese's impressive play at the plate stood out in the first four games of the year.

The junior from Rio Vista, Texas hit .600 for Henderson at the Arkansas Tech Winter Invitational and finished with six hits, three RBIs, a double, a triple and four walks drawn. Reese was also an impressive 4-for-4 on stolen base attempts and scored five runs on the weekend for HSU. The honor for Reese is the first of her career. She becomes just the third Reddie in the last four seasons to win the GAC's Player of the Week award.