Vol. 2, No. 8
Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020
Super site may be farmed until industry fit found By Bill Sutley
Dispatch Editor The Economic Council of Clark County will continue to market as a “super site” the 1,000-acre location in Gum Springs that had been the anticipated home of a $1.8 billion Sun Bio paper mill. Trade tensions between the U.S. and China have apparently caused Shandong Sun Paper to hold off on its plans to build on the site anytime soon. Stephen Bell, CEO and president of the Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance, said this week he’s not interested in cutting the 1,000-acre site into smaller parcels. Those are already available in the Clark County Industrial Park, which is just across Highway 67 from the super site. But Bell said he’s amenable to allowing the site to be leased for farming, and that’s what the EDCCC discussed at length in its monthly meeting Tuesday. Huneycutt Farms LLC has proposed to lease 529.37 acres for $25 an acre per year for a total of $13,305 per year. Todd Turner, the EDCCC’s law-
yer, said he would try to meet with the corporation’s principal, Ted Huneycutt, to fine-tune the contract and address some of the concerns voiced Tuesday by council members.Huneycutt has said he’s planning to plant cotton, corn and soybeans on the site. Bell said the super site has offered benefits since the Sun Paper project stalled: • The council owns one of the few 1,000 acre industrial sites in Arkansas. • The site can win approval of an environmental air permit, which is vital to attracting a large industry. • Past preparation indicates that a permit to withdraw water from the Ouachita River can be approved. • Engineering is complete for a rail spur to the site and for construction of a public transload facility. • Completed environmental and archeological studies on the property. Bell said he’s often asked whether the county will be able to get back the $10 million related to the See Site • Page 4
Stephen Bell, left, CEO and president of the Arkadelphia Alliance, looks over the former Sun Bio site earlier this month with Joe Bailey, center, and Danny Games of Entergy’s Business and Economic Development team.
School threat details emerge in court filing By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor An 18-year-old Arkadelphia woman who apparently was still a student at a local school was charged with a felony earlier this month after authorities determined she had made a written plan to pull off a school shooting at her school. Kaitlin Vinson, who lives on Golden Street, has been charged with terroristic threatening as a result of texts she sent offering details her plan. The charge is a Class D felony that can be punished by up to six years in prison, a fine up to $10,000 or both. Vinson currently has to wear an electronic monitor to allow authorities to track her.
Sgt. Dustin O’Brien, an investigator with the Arkadelphia Police Department, stated in an online Clark County Circuit Court affidavit that Vinson had texted another student to tell her hat she had bought a shotgun and planned to kill or injure several people at her school. Her written plan apparently included a list of people who would be allowed to live and details about how she planned to commit suicide after the school shooting. O’Brien interviewed Vinson on Feb. 5 at Arkadelphia police headquarters. “During the interview, Vinson disclosed that See Threat • Page 4
Hydrant colors to help firefighters go with flow
Nick Stover, a local auctioneer, prepares to auction off another item at Tuesday evening’s annual Fat Tuesday Fundraiser at First United Methodist Church. Church members and many non-members joined the festivities to help raise money to support the church’s food pantry, pay for a youth missions trip and Arms Around Arkadelphia projects. A cajun dinner was served for $7 while live jazz played in the church’s fellowship hall, above. In addition to Stover’s live auction, a silent auction also was available.
By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor If all goes as planned, Arkadelphia firefighters will soon have a colorcoded 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 last Tuesday, Feb. 8. Hunt told the city board 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 orangishyellow. • 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 See City • Page 4
Leukemia claims city Board of Directors member From Dispatch Reports
Joann Nelson, who served on Arkadelphia’s Board of Directors for five years, died this week, the city announced Monday on Facebook. “Joann had a deep love for the people she served in Arkadelphia,” Mayor Scott Byrd said. “I always looked forward to hearing her thoughts on issues as they were so insightful. She truly had a servant’s heart. She is beloved and missed.” No immediate details on funeral services were immediately available. No cause of death was announced,
but Nelson had apparently been battling leukemia for 14 years, according to a post on her Facebook page. For her birthday last Nov. 21, Nelson established an online birthday fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, setting a contribution goal of $200. Twice that, $410, was donated. “I've chosen this nonprofit because their mission means a lot to me, and I hope you'll consider contributing as a way to celebrate with me,” Nelson said in the fundraising announcement. “Every little bit will help me reach my goal.”
The society dedicates itself to finding a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, as well as improving the quality of life of patients and their families. The society funds blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.” Nelson had missed several meetings this year and in 2019 because of her failing health. Nelson represented Ward 4, which mostly covers Pine Street, most of Caddo See Nelson • Page 4
Badgers to face Monticello in regional tourney
Glenwood woman crowned Miss HSU
— Page 2
Joann Nelson
High-speed chase hits 125 mph — Page 3
— Page 5
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Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020
HSU photo/Steve Fellers
Miss HSU court, from left, fourth runner-up Aiyanna Bartley, second runner-up Teddi-Anne Hulke, Miss HSU Jordan Jones, first runner-up Dawn Coffman and third runner-up Peyton Davis.
Glenwood woman crowned Miss HSU From HSU Reports Jordan Jones, a freshman biology major from Glenwood, was crowned Miss HSU 2020 Sunday night and also won awards in the talent, evening gown and overall academic categories. Jones will now compete in Miss Arkansas pageant this summer. Members of her court are Dawn Coffman of Texarkana, Texas, first runner-up; Teddi-Anne Hulke, second runner-up; Peyton Davis, third runner-up; and Aiyanna Bartley, fourth runner-up. Ansleigh Patrick of Ashdown was crowned Miss Henderson State University Outstanding Teen 2020. Her runners-up were Aishani Singh of Hot Springs, first; Marisol Sela of Maumelle, second; Sasha Stamps of
Benton, third; and Avery Garner of Arkadelphia, fourth. Other Miss HSU award winners were: Dominique Walker – Spirit of Miss HSU • Dawn Coffman – Community Service • Teddi-Anne Hulke – People’s Choice • Keyuna Thrower – Miss Congeniality Other Outstanding Teen winners were: • Marisol Sela – Community Service • Avery Garner – People’s Choice • Avery Garner – Miss Congeniality • Ansleigh Patrick – Evening gown • Aishani Singh – Talent More than $15,000 in cash and prizes were awarded to the candidates.
OBU’s Durbins to present dual recital By OBU News Bureau Ouachita Baptist’s Geoffrey Durbin, visiting assistant professor of music, and Catherine Durbin, adjunct instructor of music, will perform in a faculty recital at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 3 in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. The Division of Music recital, free and open to the public, will feature pieces ranging from the Baroque era to the blues that combine brass instruments and voice. He will play trombone and euphonium, with her singing vocals. “We’re performing music that we love and which speaks to us, both individually and as a team, so it’s sure to be a very fun experience for our audience,” Geoffrey Durbin said. “We
enjoy the sound of voice with brass, a practice that dates to the 18th century with the music of Handel.” He joined Ouachita in 2017, specializing in low brass and musicology. He placed first in a 2013 international euphonium competition. Catherine Durbin joined OBU in 2018. Well-versed in musical theatre, opera, oratorios and contemporary concert pieces, Durbin received her Master of Music degree from the University of Memphis. While in Memphis, she performed Susanna in Mozart’s La Nozze de Figaro and participated in OperaMemphis’ opera choruses and festival scenes. For more information, contact Geoffrey Durbin at durbing@obu. edu or 870-245-4192.
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 Edwin 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.
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. 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.
HSU honors 5 alumni
Henderson State University honored five alumni Saturday, Feb. 15, 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 went to Simonson, Ruggles and Black. Taylor received the “H” Award, and the Young Alumni Award was presented to Hardison. Simonson (’51), 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, Ruggles Field, is named 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 adviser 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.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Sarah Huckabee Sanders, President Trump’s press secretary from 20172019, will speak at her alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University, at 7:30 p.m. Monday, March 2 in Jones Performing Arts Center. Sanders, a 2004 graduate who majored in political science with a minor in communications, served as president of OBU’s Student Senate. Sanders helped her father, Mike Huckabee, in his unsuccessful 1992 campaign for U.S. Senate, later assisting in his subsequent successful campaigns for governor. Sanders is speaking as part of Ouachita’s Birkett Williams Lecture Series. Seating is reserved, and tickets are now available to the general public for $10 each. Proceeds from the event 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. >>> <<< Arkadelphia Arts Center, 625 Main St., will host “In This Place,” an exhibit celebrating Women’s History Month, from March 3-19. The free exhibit features the work of three professional women photographers who explore notions of “place” through landscapes, constructed scenes and portraiture. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays. For more information, call 870-245-7982 >>> <<< John Crawford, professor emeritus of English at Henderson State University, will speak at the Clark County Historical Society’s monthly meeting at noon Tuesday, March 4 at Western Sizzlin’. His topic: “How An Arkansas Country Boy Became a Poet.” Visitors are welcome. >>> <<< 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 also won Dove Awards as Artist of the Year in five other years from 1982-1988. 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. >>> <<< The Ouachita Student Foundation will host a Fund Run 5K/Walk, open to anyone, starting at 8 a.m. March 14 on Ouachita’s campus. All proceeds go to fund OBU student scholarships. Register online at www.obu.edu/fundrun. Entry fees are $20 for adults, $15 for high school and college students, and $10 for middle-schoolers and younger. A T-shirts is included in the signup fee Entry fees go up $5 on race day. For more information, contact osf@obu.edu or 870-230-8974. >>> <<< 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 a Group Living parking lot. Sheridan-based Dorey Catering has been serving U.S. farm-raised catfish for more than 30 years. It 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. A bowl of your favorite chili, cornbread and a drink go for $5, plus a 45-cent transaction fee. To avoid the fee, mail a check into PDMCSC Development, P.O. Box 292, Arkadelphia, Ark. 71923. Indicate the number you want on the memo line and make the check for $5 times the numbers of tickets desired. >>> <<< Henderson State University will hold its spring 2020 Career Fair from 1-4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7. An intern showcase will run from 3-5 p.m. For more information, contact career@hsu.edu. >>> <<< Grammy Award-winner and Blues Hall of Fame honoree Bobby Rush will perform in concert on Friday, April 24 as part of the Fordyce on the Cottonbelt festival from April 19-25 in the town about an hour east of Arkadelphia. Festival details and more info on Rush’s concert will be available later at https://fordyceonthecottonbeltfestival.com. >>> <<< Glenwood’s annual Caddo River Festival will be Friday-Saturday, April 24-25 this year. For more information or to sign up as a vendor, visit https:// www.facebook.com/caddoriver.fest/. >>> Ongoing <<< Ouachita Baptist University’s Rosemary Adams Department of Visual Arts 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. “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 on the Arkadelphia Group meetings, 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 information on that group’s meetings, call 870-230-2975 or 870-2609277. >>> <<< Al-Anon meetings, designed to help family and friends affected by alcohol, are held three days a week in the Arkadelphia area: • Tuesday, 7 p.m., Sturgis Building, corner of 9th and Caddo. 870-403-2019 • Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Park Hill Baptist Church. 870-230-1954 • Friday, noon, Clark County Library, 609 Caddo St., side door. 512-750-2292
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Obituaries
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
James Gavin Nix Logging employee
James Gavin Nix, age 33, of Sparkman AR, passed away February 17, 2020. Gavin was born May 24, 1986 in Camden AR to James E. and Judy Nix. Gavin was an artist and self-taught guitarist who loved to entertain. He worked in logging for Ray White Lumber the past few years. Gavin, a follower of Jesus, attended the ARC of Paradise Church in Hot Springs for the past
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Thursday, Feb. 27, 2020
Rev. James T. Calhoun shows and any kind of meeting where he could 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.
four years. Gavin is survived by his parents; brother, Carl Bryan Nix of Hot Springs; grandmother, Mavis M Dunn of Camden; and many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and friends. Visitation for Gavin will be at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, February 22, 2020 in the Chapel of Ruggles Wilcox Funeral Home. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 a.m. with Brother Gary Jennings officiating. Interment will follow at Chapel Hill Cemetery in Sparkman.
OBU spring enrollment hits 8-year high By OBU News Bureau Spring 2020 enrollment for Ouachita Baptist University’s campus reached an eight-year high of 1,440 this spring — a 4.3% increase from spring 2019. This follows the third consecutive year of fall enrollment growth for the residential campus. Ouachita’s fall enrollment, posted in August 2019, was 1,506, a 1% increase from 1,492 in fall 2018.
“We’re pleased to see continued enrollment growth at Ouachita,” OBU President Ben Sells said. “Strong enrollment lends credibility to Ouachita’s recognition by Niche.com as ‘No. 1 Best Value’ among universities in Arkansas and is an affirmation of the dedication of our faculty and staff to the student experience.” The university attributes the enrollment gains to increasing
numbers of new students, including transfer students, and strong student retention. Ouachita, a 133-year-old private liberal arts university, offers classes in seven academic schools: business, Christian studies, education, fine arts, humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. For more information, visit www.obu.edu or call 800-DIAL-OBU.
Local student receives national recognition From Dispatch Reports
An Arkadelphia High School senior, Patrick T. Hayes, was recently notified that he’s finalist in the 65th annual National Merit Scholarship program, meaning he’s eligible to continue in the competition for about 7,600 scholarships, worth more than $31 million. Hayes, co-captain of Arkadelphia’s state champion Quiz Bowl team, was among 152 Arkansas high school seniors notified in September that they were semifinalists. More than 90% of the semifinalists were expected to become finalists, and about half of the finalists are expected to win National Merit Scholarships.
Patrick Hayes, left, stands with Arkadelphia High School principal Nikki Thomas after he was recognized by the Arkadelphia Board of Education at its Feb. 18 meeting. Hayes said recently that he planned to major in economics, and he has scholarship offers, but he hadn’t made a decision yet on where he would enroll.
High-speed chase leads to Gurdon man’s arrest From Dispatch Reports
A Gurdon man faces drug charges and more after leading Caddo Valley police on a 16-mile high-speed chase earlier this month. Andrew Clark Franklin, 29, was charged with two felonies — possession of a controlled substance and fleeing in a vehicle — and three misdemeanors — first-time DWI, refusal to submit to chemical testing and criminal mischief — after a Feb. 9 pre-dawn chase that reached speeds of 125 mph. Caddo Valley police officer T.J. Burnett was on patrol at about 2:28 a.m. when he first saw Franklin’s 2015 Toyota Tundra near the Fish Net restaurant on Highway 7 and estimated he was driving about 100 mph, a court affidavit states. Activating his radar, Burnett confirmed the speed at 96 mph. Franklin’s pickup kept going after Burnett activated his police car’s blue lights, reaching 125 mph before he took the on-ramp to Interstate 30. There, Burnett clocked him at 115 mph. Burnett said he pulled alongside him on I-30 to be able to better identify him, and Franklin’s truck exited
I-30, striking the passenger side of Burnett’s police car. The pickup continued onto Highway 26, finally pulling over by the time he got to Frazier Road southwest of Arkadelphia. Burnett said he took Franklin into custody, noticing an “overwhelmingly strong odor of intoxicants emitting from his person.” The affidavit noted that Burnett spoke to a passenger in the pickup, Chandler Collier, who said he pleaded for Franklin to let him out. Collier said Franklin told him he believed he could “lose the police.” After Burnett and a Clark County deputy searched the pickup, they found a prescription bottle with the label torn off and five half-orange circular pills that had U31 imprinted on them, believed to be amphetamine and dextroamphetamine, a Schedule II narcotic. Franklin said he had prescription for the pills. Franklin wouldn’t take a breath test or any other kind of sobriety test, Burnett said. Franklin is scheduled to appear in Clark County Circuit Court on March 3.
The National Merit Scholarship Corp. was established in 1955 to conduct the competition. The corporation is a not-for-profit organization that operates
without government assistance. Over 1.5 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2020 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2018 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test, which served as an initial screen of entrants. The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than 1% of U.S. high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. The number of semifinalists in a state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the national total of graduating seniors. Most of last year’s Arkansas finalists collected scholarships worth $2,500 or more.
Signs of spring abound in Gurdon By Sherry Kelley Gurdon Mayor Daylight Savings Time begins Sunday, March 8. It's that time of year. Trees, bushes and flowers are blooming. I'm always happy to see the seasons change. We started mowing this week. Spring cleanup and yard sales are on people's minds. The City of Gurdon can help with both. This week the Gurdon Chamber of Commerce, along with the city, decided to offer the prime Main Street location in front of the mural to those who would like to have a downtown location for a yard sale. There is plenty of traffic, and the space is visible to the public. All that is asked is that you notify the Gurdon Chamber of Commerce in advance and pay a $25 fee. Sounds like a pretty good deal and a great opportunity to have a successful sale. I'll have more precise information next week,
but I would imagine that you could contact Marina or Michelle at the Gurdon Chamber of Commerce, 353-2661. This week, a gentleman asked me about our citywide curbside pickup of household junk. We usually do this in the spring and sometimes in the fall, too. I told him that we have not scheduled it just yet, but he is welcome to place his junk at curbside and give me a call, 406-1396. We will be happy to pick it up. Hopefully, I will announce the date next week. Grants, grants, grants. It's getting close to deadline on some of the things I have been working on. I want to make sure that everyone knows that all of these grants are 100% funded. If awarded, the projects will be at no cost to the city. Wish us luck as we buckle down to get these completed and turned in on time.
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The Arkadelphia Dispatch 812 Clinton St., Suite B Arkadelphia, AR 71923 Phone: 870-617-7001 Editor: Bill Sutley email: arkadelphiadispatch@gmail.com The Arkadelphia Dispatch is published weekly by Nashville Leader, Inc., 119 N. Main, Nashville, AR 71852.
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Arkadelphia Dispatch
Affiliation with ACHE may help OBU grads
IT specialist at HSU joins ASU Three Rivers MALVERN — Arkansas State University Three Rivers has named Jacob Bland as its new associate vice chancellor for information technology. Bland has over 10 years of experience in higher education plus four years of for-profit IT. Bland, currently director of IT infrastructure at Henderson State, will assume the new position March 9 at the school formerly known as College of the Ouachitas. Bland has led several major IT projects and has also served as HSU’s IT trainer. Before HSU, he served as information security officer at Southern Bancorp. “He brings a wealth of experience to the college during an important time in our history,” ASUTR Chancellor Steve Rook said. Bland earned his B.S. from HSU in 2010. He is married to his college sweetheart, Delphie, and they have lived in Arkadelphia since 2006. In his free time, he enjoys building and flying unmanned aerial vehicles, better known as drones.
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 Morgan Lee, a soprano from Malvern, strikes a pose as she per- students,” said Tim Knight, dean of Ouachita’s Patforms a song from Verdi’s Falstaff at Henderson State’s President Concert on Saturday, Feb. 15. She was one of five soloists terson School of Natural Sciences. “This will affect selected to solo with the backing of an orchestra. a wide range of students seeking to become physicians, physical therapists, occupational therapists and physician assistants. By U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman The Clark County Mobile Office will be set up I’m confident we will send Since our congressional district is so large, dioutside the courthouse at 401 Clay St., starting at them the brightest and verse and rural, it’s often difficult for every resi8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 3. best-prepared students in dent to have easy access to the assistance that my No issue is insignificant, so please bring probthe region.” district offices provide. Voicing concerns, getting lems or issues you’re having with the federal While there is no guarhelp with a casework file, requesting a meeting or government, and my staff will do their best to antee of admission through the agreement, the admislocating other constituent services aren’t always help. Anything from a veterans affairs concern, to sion process will be simpliavailable in your local community. a problem with the IRS, to Social Security to any That’s why we’re bringing our offices to you! other problem is fair game, and we can help ensure fied for the ACHE Doctor From March 3-12, my staff will travel to every you have the best, most up-to-date information. To of Osteopathic Medicine and Master of Science in county in the Fourth District and host mobile offind out more about when a mobile office will be Biomedicine programs, fices. These pop-up offices come directly to your in your area, feel free to call my Hot Springs office as well as forthcoming local community so we can hear and help with any at (501) 609-9796 or visit my website at westerman. programs in occupational concerns you have. house.gov/about/events. therapy and physical therapy. As additional programs most are handled on an in-school Shepherd Molinari, who plays are brought to the ACHE basis, but Arkadelphia Public School trombone, and Burson were named campus, they will have the District policies apparently require to the All-State Jazz Band. Ninthopportunity to participate Continued the severity of this kind of expulsion graders Sam McAllister, Calvin to go before the Board of Education. Clardy and Seth Campbell made the from page 1 Neathery said the student’s parents Junior High All-State Jazz Band. she did in fact make the aforehad declined to have a hearing before In other action, the school board mentioned threats during a text the school board. unanimously accepted Neathery’s conversation with another student, When a school board member recommendation, after a brief closed Continued and that she did make a plan in writ- asked for more information, Desession, to accept three resignations from page 1 ing on how she would carry that out,” wayne Ward, the AHS student refrom the district’s bus driving ranks. O’Brien stated in the affidavit. source officer who was present at the Jasper Benton has resigned from the Shandong Sun Paper Prosecuting Attorney Dan Turner meeting, said the student had been driving a bus, effective May 30, while project. said Vinson was sent to an inpatient charged with a felony, terroristic continuing other duties with the “We never gave $10 counseling program rather than jail. threatening, as a result of “threatendistrict. Jimmy Minchew also will million to the Chinese,” he That’s still a possibility later, as her ing acts of violence at the school.” give up driving, effective June 30, said, his voice rising. case winds through the local circuit Neathery said she had met with while continuing other duties with Bell said the county and court. the student’s parents about what acthe district. other economic develop“We take these threats seriously,” tions could be taken beyond AHS to The surprise for the school board ment entities put together he said. “We can’t afford not to.” graduate from high school. was the resignation of longtime a $10 million incentive In a possibly related action, the In other action last Tuesday, the Transportation Coordinator Wayne package for Shandong city Board of Education accepted on school board applauded several AHS Hasley, effective Feb. 28. Neathery Sun Paper, but the county Tuesday, Feb. 18 Superintendent students who had made All-Region said she had only received Hasley’s hasn’t lost any money Karla Neathery’s recommendation or All-State Band. Bailey Biurson, resignation letter the day of the despite the deal not movto expel an Arkadelphia High School who plays the clarinet, and London meeting and hadn’t yet considered ing forward. Much of that student. Cotton, who plays the trumpet, made who would replace him as transportotal involved the county’s The student was never mentioned the All-Region First Band. Making tation coordinator. That person is purchase of the property. by name in the brief discussion. the second band were Lynli Lowresponsible for making sure all bus The EDCCC also still has Student disciplinary matters are ery, Sydney Motl, Madeline Morris, routes are staffed and running on in the bank its portion of a rarely discussed in the open portion Ddu;ranny Carl, Dylan Rich, Josh time, as well as overseeing mechani$16 million rail spur to the of the school board’s meeting, and Levar and Kalil Campbell. cal repairs and maintenance. site.
Congressman rolling out mobile offices
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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 last 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 me-
ters 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.
Bell said he’s meeting with representatives of the Crafton Tull engineering firm this week for its advice related to the county moving forward to get the
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Street and areas north of Walnut Street, as well as O’Connell, Sylvia, Austin and Gresham streets. The city Board of Direc-
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, 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 official 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. super site approved as a “select site” by Entergy Arkansas. And officials from Entergy’s Business and Economic Development Team toured the site earlier this month. Entergy certification as a “select site” signifies the site has all the necessary information industrial prospects or site selection consultants need to select a location. Bell said he was ready to move quickly toward Entergy certification, but he discovered recently there’s a pre-qualification requirement. “I’m not even on the list to be on the list,” he joked Tuesday. He said Entergy’s certification is often sought because of its thoroughness, attending to a long list of site criteria. “I feel like I’ve got all the pieces together and they don’t want me to rush through it,” he said. tors will issue a call soon asking any resident of Ward 4 to step forward if they’re interested in serving the remainder of Nelson’s term. Directors would then make a decision on appointing an interim board member based on the qualifications of interested persons.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Monticello win crucial for AHS By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor
The next three days — Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 2729 — will be crucial for the Arkadelphia Badgers (22-5, 10-2) if they want to remain in the running for a trip to the Class 4A State Tournament. The Regional 4A South Boys Tournament will be played the next three days at Crossett High School, and hometown support will be crucial for the Badgers to continue their winning ways First up will be Arkadelphia’s game against Monticello at 8:30 p.m. Thursday night. If you’re unable to make the trip, you can watch the livestream on arkadelphiabadgertv.com/broadcasts. The link will be posted on the Badger Athletics Facebook page on Thursday. If the Badgers win against Monticello, they’ll play the winner of the matchup between Malvern and Camden Fairview that was played
Wednesday night — after the Dispatch’s publishing deadline. If they lose, Arkadelphia’s impressive season will conclude. A first-game win will ensure that, even if they lose, they could end up in a consolation game and have a shot at moving up to the Class 4A state tournament starting the following week. Of course, the Badgers will certainly remember that two of their losses this season came against Malvern and Camden-Fairview. Arkadelphia’s 50-49 narrow loss to Camden-Fairview on Feb. 4 was followed 10 days later by Monticello’s 5741 drubbing of the Cardinals — the only common opponents where the Badgers and the Billies haven’t both come out on top. Statistically speaking, Monticello (20-6, 10-2) has a much better record than Arkadelphia in terms of continuing to play strong near a game’s end. The Badgers have averaged seven points in the
Nashville News-Leader photo/John Schirmer
Arkadelphia senior Sam Smith (24) , captain of the Badger squad, has helped back up other players all season, including Antoine Palmer, above, and and Lavorrious Hughes, right, during the AHS win over Bauxite on Saturday.
fourth quarter while the Billies have averaged 23 points in the same period. But Arkadelphia has a much better record winning away games at 13-2, while Monticello’s record on away games is 6-3.
Dispatch photo/Cassidy Witherspoon
Danny Mitchell Jr. begins a successful slide into home plate Saturday in HSU’s first of three wins against Arkansas Tech during a Clyde Berry Field weekend series sweep. HSU won 5-4, 7-5 and 11-1. Dispatch photo/ Bill Sutley
Dispatch photo/Cassidy Witherspoon
Probably the biggest challenge Arkadelphia will face is hearing enough support from fans willing to make the nearly five-hour round-trip to Crossett. For Monticello fans, it’s less than 40 miles to
Crossett. Malvern won the 4A-7 tournament it was hosting on Saturday night by beating Nashville, 71-69. Nashville came in as the conference runner-up. AHS was third.
HSU makes D2 regional Top 10 By HSU Sports Information
HSU senior Tanner Hamilton pulls down a rebound in the Reddies’ 91-72 win over Northwestern Oklahoma Stae Saturday at the Duke Wells Center.
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Henderson State's men's basketball team found its way into the first NCAA Regional Rankings this week when the Reddies were slotted No. 10 in the Central Region. The Reddies (17-7, 12-6) were one of four Great American Conference teams listed in the inaugural regional poll and were joined by No. 2 Southeastern Oklahoma State, No. 4 Southern Nazarene and No. 8 Oklahoma Baptist — all of which Henderson has beaten this year. With four games remaining in the regular season, HSU remains in the hunt for a Great American Conference title. The Reddies are one game back of conference leaders Southeastern Oklahoma State and Southern Nazarene, who are each 13-5 in league play, and a game in front of Oklahoma Baptist. Henderson will finish its conference schedule with home contests this week against Southwestern
Oklahoma State and Northwestern Oklahoma State before hitting the road for the most important road trip of the season next week in Oklahoma, where HSU will face both Southeastern Oklahoma State and East Central. The Reddies have not been to the NCAA DII Tournament since 200607 when they won the Gulf South West Division and advanced to the South Regional semifinals. Henderson made seven NCAA Tournament appearances in nine years from 1998 to 2007. Meanwhile, Henderson State's Thursday night doubleheader on the road at Southeastern Oklahoma State has been selected as the NCAA DII Basketball Showcase Game of the Week, it was announced on Tuesday. The pivotal late-season clash was added as a part of the NCAA's flex schedule, which looks to feature some of the best matchups in Divi-
sion II with conference tournament and national implications. The two contests, now set for 5:35 p.m. and 7:35 p.m. in Durant, Okla., will be aired on the Great American Conference YouTube channel, Southeastern Oklahoma State Sports Network, NCAA Division II, GAC, Henderson State and Southeastern Oklahoma State Athletics Facebook pages, the NCAA DII Twitter page at @NCAADII and through the Periscope app at @ NCAADII. The link to watch on the GAC's YouTube channel can be found at hsusports.com under the "Coverage Links" tab or on the 2019-20 Men's and Women's Basketball schedule pages. HSU currently has a four-game win streak, starting with its Feb. 13 victory over cross-town rival Ouachita Baptist. The Reddies averaged wins of more than 12 points over the four games.
Reddies stun No. 9 Delta State By HSU Sports Info.
Down 6-0 before recording its first hit, Henderson State staged a remarkable comeback on Tuesday night and scored eight unanswered runs to rally and stun No. 9 Delta State, 8-6, at Clyde Berry Field. Freshman Alec Lewis led seven Reddies
with hits in the win and finished 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI. Drake Salsman earned his first victory of the season out of the bullpen after pitching the eighth inning. The Statesmen seemingly broke the game open in the top of the fourth when they racked
up six singles and scored six runs, all with two outs in the inning, to take a commanding 6-0 lead. But HSU successfully fought back. HSU (5-9) returns to action Friday when it hosts Oklahoma Baptist at 6 p.m. in the opener of a three-game series.
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Arkadelphia Dispatch