Vol. 2, No. 7
Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020
Hydrant colors to help firefighters find best water source By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor If all goes as planned, Arkadelphia firefighters will soon have a color-coded fire hydrant system to help them find the hydrants able to push out the most water more quickly when it’s really needed. “The colors are going to denote the flow rate of each hydrant,” Fire Chief Jason Hunt told the city Board of Directors Tuesday evening. Hunt told the city board Tuesday evening that firefighters would soon begin painting red all of the fire hydrants in
the city. Then, after that base coat of paint is done, the city will continue to use red for any hydrants that push out less than 500 gallons per minute. Beyond that, the following system would be used: • Hydrants capable of pumping out 500-999 gallons of water per minute will be painted orangish-yellow. • Hydrants capable of pumping out 1,000-1,499 gallons of water per minute will be painted green. • And the most helpful hydrants, those that pump more than 1,500 gallons of water per
minute when they’re wide open, will be painted blue. While this is being done, Hunt said, the city’s fire department would be creating a map that would be helpful to check while en route to a fire to see where the most useful nearby hydrants are located. In other business, the city Board of Directors approved a contract prepared by city attorney Ed McCorkle that would consolidate the Gum Springs Water Utility into the Arkadelphia Water and Sewer System. That’s been in the works for almost a year to the day earlier
than Tuesday’s meeting. The Gum Springs Council approved its part of the contract a Feb. 11 meeting. David Green, director of the city’s Water and Sewer System, said that the city would add about 400 customers in Gum Springs and Curtis once the project is completed. Arkadelphia obtained approval from the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission for a loan-grant of nearly $2.77 million that’s being used to swap out faulty lines in the new service area, replace most water meters and take care of other tasks. As part of this, the ANRC
would forgive a $24,000 loan that the city had with ANRC. That resulted in Arkadelphia taking out a loan of up to $2 million, with an anticipated payback term of 30 ears at a rate of 3% interest a year. Brinkley said the loan would eventually “pay for itself” in terms of “economies of scale” Arkadelphia would enjoy as a result of adding 400 customeers. The Board of Directors also voted 7-0 to empower City Manager Gary Brinkley sign all documents related to the loan when it closes. A related resolution was also approved 7-0 by the board.
Student expelled from AHS By Bill Sutley
terflies are the spirits of ancestors returning to visit. Mexican authorities believe that the activists got killed because they were under threat from those who do illegal logging and plant clandestine avocado farms. “It’s not quite as wild, wild west as the news is making it out to be,” Fowler told the Rotarians. A former Bureau of Land Management firefighter, the Idaho native makes it clear that she’s not opposed to legal logging that
Dispatch Editor Without fanfare or much discussion, the city Board of Education accepted Superintendent Karla Neathery’s recommendation to expel an Arkadelphia High School student. Student disciplinary matters are rarely discussed in the open portion of the school board’s meeting, and most are handled on an inschool basis, but Arkadelphia Public School District policies apparently require the severity of this kind of expulsion to go before the Board of Education. Neathery said the student’s parents had declined to have a hearing before the school board. When a school board member asked more information, Dewayne Ward, the AHS student resource officer, said the student had been charged with a felony, terroristic threatening, as a result of “threatening acts of violence at the school.” Neathery said she had met with the student’s parents about what actions he could take beyond AHS to graduate from high school. In other action, the school board applauded several AHS students who had made All-Region or AllState Band. Bailey Biurson, who plays the clarinet, and London Cotton, who plays the trumpet, made the AllRegion First Band. Making the second band were Lynli Lowery, Sydney Motl, Madeline Morris, Danny Carl, Dylan Rich, Josh Levar and Kalil Campbell all made the All-Region Second Band. Shepherd Molinari, who plays trombone, and Burson were named to the All-State Jazz Band. Ninthgraders Sam McAllister, Calvin Clardy and Seth Campbell made the Junior High All-State Jazz Band. In other action, the school board unanimously accepted Neathery’s recommendation, after a brief closed session, to accept three resignations from the district’s bus driving ranks. Jasper Benton has resigned from driving a bus, effective May 30, while continuing other duties with the
See Monarch • Page 4
See Board • Page 4
A monarch butterfly feeds on a type of milkweed known informally as butterfly milkweed, that’s found throughout Arkansas.
Monarch:
By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor If there’s one lesson that Leslie Fowler has learned in standing up for the tiny monarch butterfly, it’s that Arkansans need to let go of some of their fastidiousness about overgrown fields and pastures. Those are just the kind of habitats — preferably started with carefully chosen Arkansas natives (plants, that is) — that monarchs need to continue their recovery from near extinction. Not everything needs to be mowed and edged, Fowler said. “I’m challenging Arkansans to change their idea of beauty,” she said. “If (habitat creation is) done right, it’s not ‘snake-y,’ and you can have something blooming year round.” Fowler, now paid by the private nonprofit Quail Forever to be Arkansas’ monarch and pollinator coordinator, used to do the same thing on behalf of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Both entities are part of a partnership dedicated to preserving the state as a popular stopover for monarchs on the way back from making their 3,000-mile trek from Mexico. In May of 2019, the AGFC reported that, for the first time in 12 years, eastern monarch populations had risen significantly —
Conservationists seek to save butterfly; how to help
producing what the World Wildlife Fund in Mexico said were the best numbers since 2007, up 144% from 2018. “We had a great year last year,” Fowler told the Arkadelphia Rotary Club Friday. “But one year does not save a species.” Increasingly, Fowler and her fellow conservationists have persuaded state highway commissions and even golf courses — they call it Monarchs in the Rough — to let a part of their acreage grow wild and free, to better produce the necessary milkweed that monarchs eat to recover from their long trek and survive before leaving the state. (Milkweed works for the monarch because it can be toxic for some of the butterfly’s natural predators.) She’s looking for more people with land, both public and private, to allow patches of Arkansas natives, including the state’s many variations of milkweed to grow wild — the better to attract monarchs and give them a place to hang around and replenish themselves during their long migration — longer than just about any other species.. The conservation world was rocked in late January and earlier this month when the bodies of two environmental activists volunteering at the El Rosario sanctuary near Ocampo, Michoacán were
Leslie Fowler, Arkansas’ monarch and pollinator coordinator for QuailForever, talks to the Arkadelphia Rotary Club Friday. found, apparent victims of violence. That sanctuary is part of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve enshrined as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2008. It’s where the oyamel fir trees grow at more than 9,500 feet above sea level — covered by thousands of monarchs each year. Perhaps it’s because the butterflies arrive in late October after flying south for the winter. And because that arrival date is when the locals celebrate Dia de los Muertos, or the Day of the Dead, many there believe the brilliant orange but-
New Miss HSU to be crowned Sunday From Special Reports
Eight Henderson State University students will compete for the title of Miss HSU 2020 at 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23 in Arkansas Hall. The competition encompasses five areas: interview, social impact statement, talent, on-stage question and evening gown. HSU’s pageant is a preliminary event for Miss Arkansas, affiliated with the Miss American pageant. The evening will also include the Miss HSU Outstanding Teen Pageant with five contestants. Competing for Miss HSU are: • Keyuna Thrower, a sophomore entrepre-
neurship major from Hot Springs. • Teddi-Ann Hulke, a sophomore vocal music education major from Cabot. • Perin Creek, a sophomore health and physical education major from Redwater, Texas. • Jordan Jones, a freshman biology major from Glenwood. • Dominique Walker, a clinical mental health counseling major from Blytheville. • Dawn Coffman, a graduate student from Texarkana, Texas, majoring in clinical mental health and school counseling. • Peyton Davis, a sophomore hospitality tourism and event planning major from Cabot.
• Aiyanna Bartley, a junior biochemistry, pre-med major from Washington, D.C. Outstanding teen contestants are Marisol Sela of Maumelle, Aishani Singh of Hot Springs, Avery Garner of Arkadelphia, Sasha Stamps of Benton and Ansleigh Patrick of Ashdown. Admission is $10 at the door, and $5 for children ages 6-12. Admission is free for children 5 and younger, students with valid HSU ID and visiting pageant winners or runners-up. Ricki Rebollar, spirit coordinator for Henderson athletics and alumni relations, will serve as competition host.
Miss HSU 2019 Megan Skartvedt and Miss HSU’s Outstanding Teen 2019 Phoebe Grace Johnson.
2 News
Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020
Arkadelphia Dispatch
HSU honors 5 alumni
Henderson State University honored five alumni Saturday at its annual alumni awards banquet at Garrison Center. Honorees were, from left, Dallas Hardison, Don Ruggles, Eugene Simonson, Kinney Black and R.J. Taylor II. Distinguished Alumni awards were presented to Simonson, Ruggles and Black. Taylor received the “H” Award, and the Young Alumni Award was presented to Hardison. Simonson (’51), now of Huntsville, Ala., and his sister donated $525,000 in 2005 to help build HSU’s Simonson Biological Field Station at DeGray Lake. Ruggles (’58) worked 25 years with a large Swiss pharmaceutical company before starting his own helicopter company and LifeNet of Texarkana. He and his wife, Mary, are major contributors to Reddie Athletics. Henderson’s first artificial turf football field is named Ruggles Field in recognition of their generosity. Ruggles was recently inducted into the Arkansas Aviation Hall of Fame. Black (’72) of Malvern served in the Army for 28 years before retiring as a colonel. Then he served as a financial advisor with Edward Jones for 15 years. Taylor (’13), a former Reddie football standout, currently is an advisor at Edward Jones Investments in Atlanta. Hardison (’15), a former Reddie quarterback, went to work at Walmart’s home office soon after graduating with a marketing degree, and he has rapidly risen through the ranks. He is currently a portfolio manager for the company.
OBU to host professional singer By OBU News Bureau Ouachita Baptist University will host professional singer and actor Robert Edwin for a lecture and performance at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, March 5 in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. The event is part of Ouachita’s Birkett Williams Endowed Lecture Series and is free and open to the public. In the lecture titled “Is Music Really a Universal Language?,” Edwin will discuss his career in the performing arts as a renowned voice teacher, professional singer and actor. Edwin also will perform as part of the lecture. “Robert is such a refreshingly creative individual whose Edwin experiences in the world of music are rich and widely varied,” said Jon Secrest, Addie Mae Maddox Professor of Music. “He has instructed literally dozens of Broadway performers and adjudicated vocal competitions all over the country. I know the community will be enriched so much by his lecture-recital.” Edwin, 73, a professional actor and singer since 1965, has sung Bach cantatas in church cathedrals and rock songs in New York City’s Greenwich Village, and he toured extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad. His TV and radio credits include several NBC Christmas specials and commercials for everything from politicians to hot dogs.
He also has served as an adjunct voice instructor for the University of Michigan, as a master teacher for the National Association of Teachers of Singing Summer Intern Program and presently is on the Editorial Board of Australian Voice. Some of Edwin’s notable students include Bianca Ryan, season one winner of America’s Got Talent; Ian Eisendrath, music supervisor and director of Come From Away on Broadway; and contemporary Christian recording artist and songwriter Paul Baloche. Edwin is associate editor of the NATS Journal of Singing, a frequent faculty member of the Voice Foundation’s Annual Symposium: Care of the Professional Voice and a member of the American Academy of Teachers of Singing. Ouachita’s School of Fine Arts, Division of Music and Vocal Studies Program will host this Birkett Williams lecture. Ouachita’s Birkett Williams Lecture Series was established in 1977 through a gift from its late namesake, a 1910 Ouachita graduate. His lectures aimed to extend the concepts of a liberal arts education beyond the classroom by bringing renowned scholars and public figures to Ouachita’s campus. For more information, contact Secrest at secrestj@obu.edu or (870) 245-5134.
Alumna to sing, discuss NYC scene By OBU News Bureau Ouachita Baptist University will host New York performer-producer Samantha Rhea Parrish, a 2010 alumna, in a guest artist recital, free and open to the public at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb, 25, in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. Following graduation from Ouachita, Parish went on the road with the Missoula Children’s Theatre’s national tours of The Frog Prince and The Little Mermaid and Dallas Children’s Theater’s The True Story of the Three Little Pigs. Currently based in Queens, Parrish has performed and produced new musical theatre works in venues throughout the city, including Public Theatre, Greenroom 42, The West End, The Metropolitan Room and The Duplex. “Sammy is a vivacious performer, with a voice that is capably flexible and able to perform numerous styles of music,” said Parrish Jon Secrest, Addie Mae Maddox Professor of Music and Parrish’s former voice teacher. “Her personality is infectious, making her the ideal choice for a program that will primarily be aimed at pleasing the student population here but thoroughly enjoyable for any music lover.” Parrish will perform “Rolling in the Deep” by Adele and Paul Epworth, “Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters” by Elton John and Bernie Taupin, “Fool That I Am” by Etta James and Floyd Hunt, Cole Porter’s “So In Love” from Kiss Me Kate, Lindsay Mendez’s “Pretty Funny” from Dogfight, “Let Me Be Your Star” by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman for the 2012-2013
NBC series Smash and three songs from Island Song, all by Sam Carner and Derek Gregor, “I’ll Take It All,” “So Far From Pennsylvania” and “TMI.” “I hope I can bring a fresh perspective of what the world of musical theatre looks like in New York City right now,” Parrish said. “So many doors are opening up for all kinds of performers. There’s space being made for new voices … Ouachita means so much to me, and to be asked back to perform is such an honor.” In addition to writing and directing her most recent work, Finsta, which premiered at Alchemical Theatre in April 2019, Parrish is passionate about arts education and runs two free musical theatre programs to foster a culture of musical theatre for those who lack access to the arts in public education. She partners with the Schubert Foundation and works with Musical Theatre International and Broadway Jr. “I think Ouachita gave me a place to become grounded,” Parrish said. “I was able to perform in roles that the outer theatre world may not have considered me for, but Ouachita allowed me to explore range, be confident in my ability and go forward unapologetically. It also kept me well-rounded in all aspects of theatre — of education, of technical theatre and of directing. Those skills have kept me employed since graduation. And finally, I was able to be grounded in who I was as a person.” Parrish’s pianist will be Phyllis Walker, OBU staff accompanist.
Competition challenges student singers Ouachita Baptist will host the 22nd annual Mary Shambarger Competition for Singers from 2-5 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 25 in McBeth Recital Hall, featuring arias from opera and oratorio. OBU’S Division of Music hosts the competition, free and open to the public, in honor of Mary Shambarger, professor emerita of music at Ouachita. Shambarger was an OBU voice instructor for 32 years. Jon Secrest, Addie Mae Maddox Professor of Music and coordinator of
Ouachita’s vocal studies program, said the most significant aspects of the competition are “its prestige, the level of performing that occurs and the artistic growth that results from concentrated practice and preparation.” Winners receive cash prizes ranging from $50 to $500 for their performances. “The level of artistry on display is often thrilling,” Secrest said. Judges award prizes to the top four performances and one honorable mention.
The next Arkansas Highway Commission regional meeting, designed to educate the public and solicit input on projects that could be funded by continuing a temporary half-cent sales tax, will be at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20 at Crossgate Church, 3100 E. Grand Ave., Hot Springs. The meeting will begin with an open house session where attendees can view displays and visit with Arkansas Department of Transportation staffers. This will be followed by a brief formal presentation on the funding and condition of state highways, as well as the impact that continuing the half-cent sales tax could have in funding preservation and capital projects. Attendees will be able to ask questions directly to commissioners and ArDoT Director Scott E. Bennett. >>> <<< Henderson State University Theatre will present the Arkansas premiere of Alabama Story from Feb. 20-28 in its Arkansas Hall Studio Theatre. Six performances of the play that premiered nationally in 2015 are scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 20-22, Monday Feb. 24 and Thursday-Friday, Feb. 27-28. A reception will follow the opening performance. The Kenneth Jones play is based on a real-life incident in 1959, when The Rabbits’ Wedding, a children’s book, was prohibited from widespread circulation in Alabama libraries because of segregationist protests led by one of the state’s White Citizens Council. The HSU Theatre Box Office in Arkansas Hall is open for advance ticket sales from 1-4 p.m. weekdays. All seats are reserved. Admission is $10 or free with an HSU student ID. For more information or reservations, call 230-5291, or e-mail theatre@hsu.edu. >>> <<< Ouachita Baptist University’s Division of Music will host Emily Johnson in her senior recital, free and open to the public, at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21 in McBeth Recital Hall. Johnson, a senior musical theatre major from Benton, will perform Frank Loesser’s “A Bushel and a Peck” from Guys and Dolls, Moliére’s “Act 4, Scene 5” from Tartuffe, Adam Gwon’s “Calm” from Ordinary Days, Paul Gordon’s “Graduation Day” from Daddy Long Legs, Lanford Wilson’s “Act 1” from Talley’s Folly and Gary Barlow’s “All That Matters” from Finding Neverland. >>> <<< 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 as young as sixth-graders. Registration costs $30 ($25 for collesge students) and includes lunch on Saturday. For more information and to register, visit the link at thirdstreetbaptist.org. >>> <<< The Henderson State Spirit Squads will hold a recruitment clinic from 8 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 22 in the Dunn Recreation Center. The cost of the clinic, which is open to 10th-12th graders and current college students, is $20. (A Henderson Spirit Squads T-shirt can be purchased for $10.) All participants will also receive free entry to the Reddies' home basketball games against Northwestern Oklahoma State at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. Potential cheer recruits will perform stunts 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 receive firsthand instruction from both collegiate coaches and athletes. Registration takes place online, and fees will be paid the day of the clinic. To register, visit HSU’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. >>> <<< Arkadelphia’s First United Methodist Church will host its annual Fat Tuesday Fundraiser on Tuesday, Feb. 25. A cajun dinner will be available from 5-6 p.m. for $7 a plate, dine-in or take-out. Live jazz will be playing in the church’s fellowship hall at the same time. A silent auction will be held from 5-6:15 p.m., followed by a live auction starting at 6:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event will support the church’s food pantry, youth mission trip and Arms Around Arkadelphia projects. >>> <<< Sarah Huckabee Sanders, President Trump’s press secretary from 2017-2019, will speak at her alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University, at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 2 in Jones Performing Arts Center. The daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee, also an OBU alumnus, graduated in 2004 as a political science major with a minor in communications, also serving as president of OBU’s Student Senate. Sanders is speaking as part of Ouachita’s Birkett Williams Lecture Series. Seating is reserved, and $10 tickets are now available to the public. Proceeds will support student scholarships. Tickets can be purchased online at obu.edu/boxoffice or from the Jones Performing Arts Center box office in person (1-5 p.m. weekdays) or by phone at (870) 245-5555. >>> <<< 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’s Garrison Center. Lee and Alicia DuCote, of Amazon Prime Video’s “Adventure and Romance with Lee and Alicia,” will be guest speakers. Tickets are $40, with sponsorships ranging from $350-$1,000. For more information, contact Ashlee Vaughn at 870-246-1460 or ashlee@arkadelphiaalliance.com. >>> Ongoing <<< Ouachita Baptist University is hosting “Real and Imagined,” an exhibit by Arkansas artist Justin Tyler Bryant, through March 6. The exhibit displayed in the Rosemary Gossett Adams Gallery on the first floor of Moses-Provine Hall is free and open to the public. Bryant also will present a free lecture at 11:15 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21 in MosesProvine 206, and a reception will follow in the gallery. “Real and Imagined” investigates the past and present imagery of African Americans to reflect a multi-contextual narrative of poetry, personal narrative and history, according to Bryant. His work is a collection of found objects, painting, drawing and video “to suggest a fugitive notion of blackness.” Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. >>> <<< Alcoholics Anonymous holds two meetings a week in Arkadelphia. The meetings are open to anyone interested in AA’s program of recovery. The Arkadelphia Group meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in the Sturgis Building at North 9th and Caddo streets. For more information, call 870-403-3001. The U-Turn Group meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays on the front, upper level of Park Hill Baptist Church, 3163 Hollywood Road. For more information, call 870-230-2975 or 870-260-9277.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Pact helps OBU students transition into health occupations grad school
James T. Calhoun Pastor, mayor, businessman
Reverend James Travis Calhoun, age 72, of Arkadelphia, passed from this life on Tuesday, February 11, 2020 at home, surrounded by his family. He was born October 25, 1947 in Monticello, Arkansas, the eldest child of James Shelby and Oleta Scott Calhoun. Bro. Calhoun was saved, baptized, surrendered to preach and was ordained at Holly Springs Missionary Baptist Church, in Star City, Arkansas. He was a graduate of Star City High School, attended UA Monticello and was a graduate of the Missionary Baptist Seminary in Little Rock. He pastored the following Missionary Baptist Churches in Arkansas: Mt. Tabor in Ola, Oakdale in Lonoke, and Mt. Pleasant in Cabot. He pastored Baring Cross in Arkadelphia for almost 20 years before becoming the Promotional Director of the Arkansas State Mission Project (ASMP) in 2004. In this position, he and his wife, Linda, traveled across the state of Arkansas to promote state missions. Bro. Calhoun dedicated his life to serving God through the American Baptist Association (ABA). He held the positions of ABA President, Vice President, Parliamentarian, and Chairman of the Standing Missionary Committee. He was also the Treasurer of the Arkansas State Association. Bro. Calhoun was very active in his community. His family owned and operated Mary and Martha’s Florist in Arkadelphia for 20-plus years. He strongly believed that Arkadelphia was “a great place to call home.” He served on the Arkadelphia City Board of Directors for 18 years (2001-2019) and was the Mayor of Arkadelphia from 2015-2019 until he resigned due to his deteriorating health. He loved participating in the Arkansas Municipal League and served on the Arkansas Municipal League’s Large First-Class Cities Advisory Council and was a Certified City Official. He also served as president of the Arkadelphia High School Band Boosters, president of the Arkadelphia Kiwanis Club and the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Florist Association. He was known by many names: James, James Travis, Bro. Calhoun, Bro. C, Preacher, and Mayor, but to his family he was Dad and Pop C. Dad loved people, family reunions, potlucks, the St. Louis Cardinals, the Razorbacks, carpentry, American Pickers, presenting proclamations, talking on the phone, banana pudding, game shows and any kind of meeting where he could
News 3
Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020
Rev. James T. Calhoun
Obituary visit with people. He was passionate about supporting the Lord’s churches, missions, missionaries and pastors. Dementia may have shortened his life, but he has received his Heavenly reward and is at home with his Lord and Savior for all eternity! James was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Jean, and a granddaughter, Shelby Elizabeth Calhoun. He will be greatly missed by his wife of 52 years, Linda Bolen Calhoun, his constant partner in ministry; his three children, Jamie (Emily) Calhoun of Noblesville, Indiana, Becky (Scott) Freeman of Arkadelphia, and Courtney (Ben) Barras of Arkadelphia; and his brother, Jerry Mack (Becky) Calhoun of Star City. He was the very proud of his grandchildren Matthew James Calhoun, Celeste Schultheiss, Rob Travis Calhoun, Tyler Freeman, Tucker James Freeman, Levi James Barras, and Milly Barras. He loved all of his extended Calhoun, Scott, and Bolen family members. Services were held Saturday, February 15, 2020 at 11:00 at Baring Cross Missionary Baptist Church in Arkadelphia. Ron Canard, Verlon Wood, Rick Evans, Eddie Sutton, Ronnie Hardin and Tyler Freeman officiated. Interment followed at Rest Haven Cemetery, Arkadelphia. Visitation was held on Friday, February 14, 2020 from 6-8 pm at Baring Cross Missionary Baptist Church. Services are entrusted to RugglesWilcox Funeral Home, Arkadelphia. Pallbearers were members of the Clark County Sheriff’s Department, Arkadelphia Police Department and Arkadelphia Fire Department. Honorary pallbearers were past and present Arkadelphia city officials and employees. Memorials may be made to the Arkansas State Mission Project, c/o First Baptist Church, PO Box 129, Cave City, AR. 72521 or the Missionary Baptist Seminary, 5224 Stagecoach Road, Little Rock, AR. 72204. Visit the online guestbook at www. ruggleswilcox.com.
By OBU News Bureau Ouachita Baptist University recently signed an affiliation agreement with the Arkansas Colleges of Health Education in Fort Smith, streamlining ACHE admissions for Ouachita’s highest academic performers. “We’re excited about the opportunity that the agreement with ACHE will provide for Ouachita students,” said Tim Knight, dean of Ouachita’s Patterson School of Natural Sciences. “This will affect a wide range of students seeking to become physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists and physician assistants. I’m confident we will send them the brightest and best-prepared students in the region.” While there is no guarantee of admission through the agreement, the admission process will be simplified for the ACHE Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Science in Biomedicine programs, as well as forthcoming programs in occupational therapy and physical therapy. As additional programs are brought to the ACHE campus, they will have the opportunity to participate in the agreement as well. “Qualified Ouachita students will enter the streamlined ACHE admission process at the interview phase,” said Ruth Plymale, Ouachita associate professor of biology and holder of the J.D. Patterson Chair of Biology. “Ouachita students and alumni are incredibly impressive in person,
ACHE President Brian Kim, left, and OBU Vice President for Academic Affairs Stan Poole sign an affiliation agreement recently on behalf of their institutions. The partnership will streamline ACHE admission for Ouachita’s top academic performers. and we are thrilled that they will have the opportunity to showcase their abilities and interests through this accelerated application process.” ACHE President Brian Kim welcomed four Ouachita representatives to the ACHE campus for a tour, meeting of key ACHE stakeholders and the signing of the agreement. ACHE is a private, nonprofit institution in Fort Smith. ACHE’s
first college, the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine, welcomed its inaugural class of 150 osteopathic medical students in August 2017. Construction is now complete on a new 66,000 square foot facility that will be the home to physical therapy, occupational therapy and physician assistant degree programs. Learn more about ACHE at www.acheedu. org.
Morgan Lee, a soprano from Malvern, strikes a pose as she performs “Batti, batti o bel MasettoSul fil d’un soffio etesio” from Verdi’s Falstaff at Henderson State University’s President Concert Saturday. She was one of five soloists selected to solo with the backing of an orchestra as the result of a November 2019 competition.
OBU offers counseling conference By OBU News Bureau Ouachita Baptist will host the 10th annual Conference on Issues in Christian Counseling on Friday, Feb. 28, in its Walker Conference Center. The conference is open to mental health professionals, social workers, pastors, spouses of participants and current full-time students. Two tracks are available — a counseling track and a pastoral track . Registration and more information can be found at www.obu.edu/christianstudies/counselingconference/. Or call Patricia Fowler at 870-245-5599. or fowlerp@obu.edu.
Gurdon celebrates Beehive’s first anniversary By Sherry Kelley Gurdon Mayor We celebrated a happy first anniversary at Gurdon’s Beehive Thrift Store on Main Street Monday. It was a joyous occasion that was well attended. Shoppers, Group Living Inc. friends from Arkadelphia and well-wishers enjoyed mingling while snacking on lunch and cake. Sales people stayed busy with customers. Gurdon is so grateful to have this downtown store.
If you like pancakes, and who doesn't, mark your calendars for the Cabe Crew For A Cure Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser from 7-10 a.m. Saturday, April 4. Your destination for hot delicious pancakes covered in butter and syrup will be the Gurdon Community Pantry. There will be an opportunity for photos with Disney characters and a silent auction featuring art from local students. This sounds like a great time helping the Cabe Crew
raise money for the American Cancer Society. I claim an early spring. My mom has four species of daffodils blooming in her yard. The birds are active, I saw a bumblebee, and the pear trees are budding. Let's all think about spring cleaning. Our Annual Springtime Curbside Pick Up of household junk will be coming up soon. This Sunday, Feb. 23 features the CADC Gurdon
Senior Adult Center's Annual Fundraising Chicken and Dressing Dinner from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The price is $10, and the menu looks great. Visit the center at 410 Main St. The Low Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic will be Feb. 27-28 at Gurdon City Hall. Dogs are only $75, and cats are $50. Those fees include a rabies vaccination. Call Brandi at 870-406-0415 if you’re interested.
4 News
Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020
Arkadelphia Dispatch
OBU sophomore wins piano competition By OBU News Bureau Anna Weyenberg, a sophomore from McKinney, Texas, won first place in Ouachita Baptist University’s 2020 Virginia Queen Piano Competition on Feb. 7. “I decided to visit the nursing home that my great grandma lives in the weekend before the competition and played the piece for her,” said Weyenberg, a double major in piano performance and communications and media-strategic communications. “To my surprise, as I played the piece, she started singing along, even though she
had a stroke years ago and lost a good portion of her motor skills and speech. After playing for her, I tried to channel that experience into my practice, and I think it made all the difference.” Weyenberg received a $500 cash prize for her performance of “Etude for the Left Hand Alone Op. 735, No. 1” by Carl Czerny and “Liebestraum, No. 3 in A Flat Major” by Franz Liszt. Second went to Melissa Lee, a junior music major from Singapore, who received a $300 cash prize. She performed “Pajaro Triste from Impresiones Intimas” by Federico Mompou and
“Valse Romantique” by Claude Debussy. Sam Youmans, a sophomore music industry major from Siloam Springs, Weyenberg placed third and received a $150 cash prize. Youmans performed “Concerto in F Minor, BWV 1056 III. Presto” by Johann Sebastian Bach and “Preludio Luminosidad de Agua” by Adolfo Mejia. Sean Carney, a senior music and Spanish double major from Little Rock, received honorable
mention and a $50 cash prize. Carney performed “Preludio in F minor” by Rafael Landestoy and “Preludio Op. 3 No. 2 in C# minor” by Sergei Rachmaninoff. All four are students of Mary Chung, assistant professor of music. For the first time, high school students were invited to compete in a classical category. Top winners were, Debora Cojan of Little Rock, first place; Cadence Barnett of Hot Springs, second; and Abby Weyenberg of McKinney, Texas, third. Garrett Weyenberg of McKinney, Texas, received an award in the hymn category.
Jinha Park, chair of the piano department at Kirov Academy in Washington D.C. and the winner of both international and national piano competitions, served as the judge of the competition. Chung and Cai Lei, Ouachita professor of music, judged the high school competition. Queen, a former professor of music at Ouachita, endowed the competition 40-plus years ago to encourage piano students to continue to grow in their studies of the instrument. For more information, contact Chung at chungm@obu.edu or (870) 245-5132.
Ouachita announces Dean’s List, President’s List fall recognition
Caddo pottery artifacts on display at HSU’s Caddo Center.
Research station receives grants for Indian artifacts interpretation Native American artifacts on display at Henderson State University will soon be enhanced by innovative interpretive materials made possible by two grants. The Arkansas Archeological Survey’s Henderson State University Research Station received two small grants to develop interpretation for the Caddo Center, which houses the Joint Educational Consortium’s Hodges Collection of Native American Artifacts. The collection was moved to open curation in the renovated Caddo Center on campus in 2019. A media mini-grant awarded by the Arkansas Humanities Council this spring and a small grant from the Arkansas Archeological Society’s Bill Jordan Public Education Fund will be used to create innovative interpretive materials in several
different media, from printed brochures to digital imaging and web pages, and to consult with representatives from the Caddo Nation of Oklahoma. Henderson’s Caddo Center provides an educational resource featuring Caddo Indian history in the Arkadelphia area for university students, faculty, staff, and the community. The center is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. Admission is free. This project is supported in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Humanities. For more information, contact Dr. Mary Beth Trubitt at trubitm@hsu.edu or 870-230-5510.
Ouachita Baptist University has named more than 300 students to its fall 2019 President’s List, plus 409 students to its fall 2019 Dean’s List. To be named to the President’s List, a student must compile a 4.0 grade point average and be classified as a full-time student (12 academic hours minimum) and have no incomplete or failing grade for the semester. The Dean’s List requires at least a 3.5 GPA. These Arkadelphia-area students, listed by hometown, were named to the President’s List and Dean’s List: Arkadelphia – President’s List: Sam Coventry, Caroline Derby, Mattie Motl, Allie Harris, Brandon Matros, Johnathan Miles, Taylor Savage, Susanna Schleiff, Abby Turner; Dean’s List: Preston Crowder, Erica Dixon, Kinnon Dodson, Jared Garner, Nicholas Gerber, Logan Huneycutt, Landen Irby, Ryan
Tech releases fall Dean’s List RUSSELLVILLE — Arkansas Tech University recently announced its Dean’s List for undergraduate students on its Russellville campus for the fall 2019 semester. A student must achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher and complete at least 12 hours of coursework to make the Dean’s List. A total of 1,971 Tech students achieved that distinction during fall 2019. Included in the fall 2019 Dean’s List are 831 students who achieved a 4.0 grade point average, 3.6% more than fall 2018. Those making the fall 2019 Arkansas Tech University Dean’s List from Clark County and nearby areas are: AMITY --- David Banda, Bobby Ray Hill;
A trillion trees for a better tomorrow By U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman
If you’ve ever spent time around me, you’ll know it’s no secret that I love talking about trees. I still remember conversations with my Sunday school teacher, Mr. Culpepper, a WWII veteran and member of the first forestry class at the University of Arkansas at Monticello. He’s the one who ignited my love of forestry, and I’ve been thinking about him a lot lately as I’ve written the Trillion Trees Act. What Mr. Culpepper – or anyone who remembers their eighth-grade biology class – would tell you is that trees are some of the most powerful carbon capture devices we have. Every day, countless billions of plant cells in trees across the world are pulling carbon
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doesn’t threaten monarch habitats. “I’m both a tree-cutter and a tree-hugger,” she said. If all goes well, Fowler and her fellow researchers will continue to see a higher number of monarchs in Arkansas, arriving in late March, about a month from now. Beyond growing habitats helpful
from the atmosphere, storing that carbon in wood and releasing oxygen back into the air we breathe. This incredible cycle is why I introduced the Trillion Trees Act. It’s an ambitious goal: plant 1 trillion trees globally by 2050. But it’s entirely doable. The bill has three parts: • Plant more trees in urban areas and on marginal agriculture land domestically while offering technical support and assistance for other countries to maximize forest growth internationally and reverse deforestation. • Grow more wood in existing forests and make them more resilient to insects, diseases and catastrophic wildfires. • Store more carbon by to monarchs, Fowler said ordinary citizens can help researchers by reporting when and where they see monarchs. To find out more about it, visit arkansasmonarchs.org. Or, if you’re comfortable with technology, download the free iNaturalist app to your smartphone and navigate to the Arkansas Monarch Mapping Project page. Volunteers are asked to record the date and time of the observation and the location, preferably with GPS coordinates. A photo is helpful but not required.
incentivizing innovative building practices with a sustainable building tax credit. President Trump already endorsed this idea in the 2020 State of the Union Address, and I believe this is a bipartisan concept that could be signed into law this year. In Arkansas, we have a thriving timber industry, and our state can be a model for the rest of the country on how sustainable forestry works. We’re
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district. Jimmy Minchew also will give up driving, effective June 30, while continuing other duties with the district. The surprise for the school board was the resignation of longtime
Motl, Stephany Quintero, Madison Rawls, Emilee Roberson, Brock Shuffield, Denis Sullins, Alexis Summerford, Madeline Wallace, Drew Webb, Josh Wallace Bismarck – President’s List: Travis Hankins; Dean’s List: Markie Campbell, Allyson Oliver Bonnerdale – Dean’s List: Corbin Bostian Donaldson – President’s List: Karigan Beckwith, Dylan Clayton; Dean’s List: Mikayla Buck Glenwood – President’s List: Tristyn Campbell; Dean’s List: Wesley Hamilton, Haddon Smead, Cammie York Mount Ida – President’s List: Bailey Martin; Dean’s List: Caleb Woodfield, Paige Wright Murfreesboro – President’s List: Lexie Baxter, Jordan Gills Sparkman – Dean’s List: Sidney Pigott, Katie White
already seeing the benefits, as Walmart recently announced they’ll be building a new corporate campus completely out of wood products, sourced right here in the Natural State. This isn’t the bill that does everything, but it’s the bill that does the most. I look forward to training future generations in forest management and showing how trees can be a powerful force for good in our environment.
Transportation Coordinator Wayne Hasley, effective Feb. 28. Neathery said she had only received Hasley’s resignation letter Tuesday and hadn’t considered who would replace him as transportation coordinator, who’s responsible for making sure all bus routes are staffed and running on time, as well as overseeing mechanical issues.
Banks CPA, PLLC Stephanie M. Banks, CPA 204 North 27th Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923-5309 Phone: (870) 245-3975 Fax: (870) 246-7149
ARKADELPHIA --- Kayla M. Thompson; BONNERDALE --- Kale Ethan Tilley (4.0); CADDO GAP --- Alexandra Lee Jackson; GURDON --- Joshua Lane Moore, Edward Dillon Reece; MOUNT IDA --- Tanner Issac Hughbanks, Cody Darren Robertson, Elizabeth Nan Still, Harold Jacob Stover, Thomas Jeffrey Wilson (4.0); MOUNTAIN PINE --- Kelsie Ta-Mara Walker, Callie Jo Wright; NORMAN --- George Andrew Cureton; SPARKMAN --- Sarah Nichole McMullen.
Credit union offers $1,0000 scholarships HOT SPRINGS — Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union has begun accepting scholarship applications for two $1,000 college scholarships from graduating high school seniors who are either a member of Diamond Lakes or have a close family member in the credit union. Applicants will submit the following materials: • The 2020 Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union Scholarship Application form, available through high school guidance counselors, at local branches or online at: DiamondLakesFCU.org. • Two letters of reference, a personal reference from a non-family member and an academic reference from a teacher or administrator, both dated after June 1, 2019. • An official copy of their high school transcript. • A personal essay. Application materials should be sent to Diamond Lakes 2020 Scholarship, 306 Ouachita Ave., 71901. All application materials must be postmarked by March 31. Though scholarship recipients must either be a member of Diamond Lakes or have an immediate family member who belongs to the credit union, there is no minimum length of membership required to apply. Winning applicants will be notified Friday, May 1. Diamond Lakes Federal Credit Union has awarded $6,000 in scholarships since 2018.
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.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Reddies humble Harding
Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020
HSU overwhelms OBU on Tiger turf By HSU Sports Information
By HSU Sports Information
Henderson State outscored Harding by 21 points in the second half to erase a double-digit halftime deficit and defeat the Bisons 88-79 on Saturday at the Duke Wells Center. Raekwon Rogers played perhaps his best game of the season for the Reddies (17-7, 12-6) and finished with a career-high 27 points — 21 of which came in the second half — in just 19 total minutes of action. The junior from Little Rock led five players in double figures for HSU and was a perfect 11-for-11 at the free throw line. HSU endured a disastrous opening half — their worst shooting half of the season — and watched the Bisons hit 10 3-pointers in the first 20 minutes to take a 43-31 advantage into the break. Harding's lead grew to as many as 14 points with 16:28 remaining in the game. Down 51-37, HSU used seven straight points from Rogers to fuel a 12-3 spurt that trimmed the deficit to 54-49, but the Bisons responded with three straight 3-pointers to regain a 63-52 lead with 10:38 left. Although the Reddies' first comeback attempt was stymied, there was no stopping their second rally. Facing a doubledigit deficit once again, Henderson went to work and got eight more points from Rogers, along with a 3-pointer from Quawn Marshall, to storm back. HSU shot 58.6% from the floor in the second half after hitting on just 8-of37 looks in the first 20 minutes. Henderson outscored the Bisons 26-15 on points off turnovers and 44-11 in bench points.
Sports 5
Henderson’s Rel Johnson, a senior from Louisville, executes the perfect fadeaway jumper against Ouachita, simultaneously fending off OBU’s Isaiah Harper in the Reddies’ 82-72 win over the Tigers last Thursday, Feb. 13.
Leading by two points with 3:40 to go in a rivalry game dogfight, Henderson State closed the game on a 13-5 run to pull away and defeat Ouachita Baptist, 82-72, on Thursday night at Bill Vining Arena. The Reddies opened up a 15-5 lead in the first eight minutes after OBU shot 2-of-12 from the floor. HSU led by double figures for most of the first half HSU shot 51.9% in the first 20 minutes but was just 4-for-12 at the free throw line. A 7-0 run to open the second half allowed the Reddies to retake a 10-point lead, 44-34, but OBU came roaring back once again and used a 1912 spurt to close the deficit to 56-53 with just under 11 minutes remaining. It was a slugfest in the final 10 minutes, as Henderson could not pull away, and the Tigers could not eclipse the Reddies' lead.
With 3:40 to play and up 69-67, HSU finally found the run that put the game away. Three free throws from Rel Johnson made it 72-67 and, after a bucket from Ouachita trimmed it to three, Raekwon Rogers knocked down two more to restore a five-point lead, 74-69. Good defense from the Reddies forced a miss from the desperate Tigers on the next trip down and it was Rogers who cashed in on the other end once again, when he snagged an offensive rebound and dunked to put Henderson ahead 76-69 with 1:16 left. Rogers led the way with 15 points and 10 rebounds — all in the second half. Four other Reddies finished in double figures as Henderson shot 49.2% from the floor and held OBU to 37.7% shooting. HSU out-rebounded Ouachita, 43-36, in the win and out-scored the Tigers 38-24 in the paint.
GAC honors Rogers RUSSELLVILLE — Following a dominant week of play, Henderson State forward Raekwon Rogers was named GAC Player of the Week, the league office announced Monday. Rogers offered Henderson near-perfect plsay to help pick up two wins and stay in the hunt for a GAC title. The junior from Little Rock averaged 21 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in the two victories, played just 17.5 minutes per game, and shot a sizzling 92.3%. The GAC weekly honor is the first of Rogers' career. He is shooting 61.7% from the field this season and has scored in double figures in 10-straight contests.
Whaley wins second nod
RUSSELLVILLE — After strong performances in two big wins, Henderson State forward Karrington Whaley was named GAC Player of the Week a second time, the league office announced Monday. Whaley, from Springdale, dominated over rival OBU and GAC-leader Harding. The junior averaged 17 points, 12 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game and was 15-for17 from the floor (88.2%). In the 90-67 road win over the Lady Tigers, Whaley pulled down a career-high 15 rebounds to go with her 14 points. Against first-place Harding, she poured in 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds and had five blocked shots to help HSU snap the Lady Bisons' nine-game winning streak, 88-79.
HSU’s women’s golf team are, from left, coach Forrest Schultz, Kathleen Escobar, Hannah Choi, Taylor Loeb, Allie Bianchi, Daphaney Tilton and Karen Lee.
HSU golfers win Mobile invitational
MOBILE, Ala. — Henderson State dominated the third round of play to break away and win the Spring Hill Badger Invitational Tuesday morning. The Reddies turned in the best team score for a single round in the Magnolia Grove Crossings Golf Course event with a 294 for the final 18 holes. HSU out-paced runnerup Shorter University by 29 strokes. Four Reddies were in the Top-10 overall for the tournament. Hannah Choi earned the best result of her career and tied for individual runner-up after shooting even-par 72 on Tuesday. Fellow freshman Allie Bianchi was fourth and shot 1-over 73. Karen Lee and Daphney Tilton also secured Top-10 finishes. Lee tied for sixth and shot 2-over 74 in the final round while Tilton tied for ninth and shot 3-over 75.
6 Sports
Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020
Go see Badgers scrap in Malvern
From Dispatch Reports One question posed by Arkadelphia’s semifinals appearance on Thursday, Feb. 20 in the 2020 7-4A District Basketball Tournament in Malvern, the site of the 4A-South bracket, is whether third time’s the charm for the Badgers or Nashville’s Scrappers. Arkadelphia easily handled Nashville on Jan. 14, winning by 10 points, 64-54, in a game at the AHS gym. But the tables turned on Feb. 7, when the Scrappers won a tight contest, 64-63, in Nashville. Arkadelphia squares off against Nashville at 5:30 p.m. in Malvern High School’s gym, 525 E. Highland Ave. The winner of the Arkadelphia-Nashville game on Tuesday night will advance to the finals, playing the winner of the MalvernBauxite game that’s after the Arkadelphia-Nashville game Thursday night, starting at 8:30 p.m. That finals game will be at 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22 in Malvern.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
AHS soccer ready to kick off From Dispatch Reports Arkadelphia’s boys and girls varsity soccer teams will start playing soon. All of the Badgers’ home games are played on AllCare Field in Badger Stadium, adjacent to the high school, 401 High School Drive. Steve Patterson, a longtime English teacher at Arkadelphia High School, leads the boys, while Mike Adams coaches the girls team. In most instances, the girls squad plays its home games at 5 or 5:30 p.m., followed by the boys games at 7 p.m. Changes to the following schedule will be announced on the Badger Athletics Facebook page. G/B indicates it’s a girls varsity game followed by a boys varsity game. SCHEDULE Feb. 28, 5 p.m., Lake Hamilton (Boys Only) at Arkadelphia (scrimmage) March 3, 4:30 p.m., Hot Springs (Boys Only) at Arkadelphia March 5, 5 p.m., Malvern at Arkadelphia (G/B) March 9, 5 p.m., Arkadelphia (G/B) at Conway Christian, 500 E German Ln, Conway, March 17, 5 p.m., Warren at Arkadelphia (G/B) March 19, 6 p.m., Centerpoint at Arkadelphia (G/B) March 31, 5:30 p.m., Nashville at Arkadelphia (G/B) April 2, 5:30 p.m., Arkadelphia (G/B) at DeQueen, 1803 W Coulter Dr, De Queen April 3, Batesville tournament (Girls Only) April 6, 5 p.m., Arkadelphia (G/B) at Joe T. Robinson, 21501 AR-10, Little Rock April 9, 5 p.m., Arkadelphia (G/B) at Central Arkansas Christian Schools, 1 Windsong Dr, North Little Rock April 13, 5:30 p.m., Bauxite at Arkadelphia (G/B) April 16, 5:30 p.m., Pulaski Academy at Arkadelphia (G/B) April 20, 5 p.m., Arkadelphia (G/B) at Malvern, 525 E Highland Ave, Malvern April 23, 5:30 p.m., Hope at Arkadelphia (G/B) April 27, 5 p.m., Mena at Arkadelphia (G/B) May 1, District Tournament, Joe T Robinson High School, 21501 AR-10, Little Rock, May 14, State Tournament, Joe T Robinson High School
Dispatch photo/Bill Sutley
Arkadelphia’s Lavarrious Hughes. a senior, smiles as he goes up for a basket against Mena on Friday, Feb. 14 at the AHS gym. The Badgers easily handled Mena, 56-43. Arkadelphia’s Lady Badgers lost Tuesday to Bauxite, 49-41, apparently ending their 6-17 season, including a 3-9 conference record. Arkadelphia’s varsity boys are 22-5 overall and 10-2 in conference play
Arkadelphia comes into the 7-4A tournament as second seed behind only Malvern’s Leopards, who gave the Badgers one of their two losing conference games, 86-76, on Jan. 31 in Malvern.
Wrestling team takes second at district meet From Dispatch Reports Arkadelphia finished second in the 4A West District Tournament 2020 at Bauxite on Saturday. Senior Rickey Rogers, sophomore Landon Kuhn and sophomore Ross Womack were among the first-place winners in their weight classes.
Coach Casey Moreland oversees the Arkadelphia team, assisted by coach J.R. Eldridge, better known as the Badgers’ head football coach. Reyna Rogers and Noah McAllister were among several team members placing in either second or third place in their weight classes.
Arkadelphia High’s boys swim team’s 4x50 medley relay team -- Colston McKinney, from left, Colin Conroy, Patrick Hayes and Josh Motl -- finished second in their race, helping the overall boys team finish second among four schools at the 4A-1 South Conference Meet hosted by AHS Saturday at Henderson State’s pool. Magnolia won the meet, leading Arkadelphia by six points, 331-225. But the other teams, CamdenFairview and Bauxite, followed with 93 and 57 respectively.
Nashville News-Leader photo/John Schirmer
Arkadelphia’s ninth-grade Junior Badgers had a strong season, finishing second among their counterparts in the conference last week. Members of the team are, from left, Allen Buckley, Marques Browning, Carter Babb, A.J. Lambert, Latonneio Hughes, Marveon Berry, Chris Gray, Spencer Lafont, Tripp Campbell, Dashawn Scott and James Elgas, a seventh-grader who made the team. Not pictured are players Cameron Jones, Jakobi Scott, Jakyri Scott, M.J. Davis and Karlus Williams, as well as coaches John Ware and Jasper Benton.
Seventh-grader James Elgas focuses as he emerges from a tangle of Nashville Scrappers Friday, Feb. 7 to shoot. Elgas was a strong enough player that coaches let him try out for, and he made the ninth-grade team. Such skills run in the family; his father is Jimmy Elgas, Henderson State’s head men’s basketball coach, and his older sister, Kyla Elgas, plays for the Lady Badgers.