Vol. 2, No. 4
Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020
Legislators seek answers to HSU finance questions From Dispatch Reports
State audits of Henderson State University’s finances have apparently raised more questions than they answered, prompting the state’s Legislative Audit Committee to issue subpoenas to past and present leaders for its next meeting. Committee members deferred action on on both Henderson’s 2017-2018 audit, as well as the 2018-2019 audit until its Feb 28 session, when they hope to speak to those they’ve subpoenaed: former President Glen Jones, former Vice President for Finance and Administration Brett Powell and longtime Board of Trustees chair Johnny Hudson. Other trustees and relevant officials will get more informal requests to attend. “We have worked diligently during the past months to close last fiscal year’s accounts, ad-
dress the deficit through operational changes to align expenses to available revenue, and create an entirely new and more transparent monthly accounting of revenue and expenditures,” Hudson Acting President Elaine Kneebone said in an email to students, faculty and staff on Friday, after the Little Rock meeting. “The university will cooperate fully to provide additional information as requested by the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee. I want you to be aware of this process and know that we are working diligently to obtain approval of our audits and move forward.” Henderson’s trustees
carry over and remain in school. Kneebone successfully enacted similar measures later. In the early fall, Henderson successfully borrowed $6 million from the state to address Jones Powell a cash flow crisis. The 2018-2019 voted in October to join the Araudit mentioned that the unikansas State University System versity was seeking to receive in an attempt to recover from an extension for repaying that HSU’s financial unraveling over loan. Trustees also agreed with the last two years. Kneebone’s proposal to cut more Last August, the university than $3 million from this year's estimated that it had amassed budget, mostly through pay cuts a $4 million deficit during the for all but the university’s lowest2018-2019 school year. Later, the paid employees. estimate grew to $4.9 million. Jones is expected to become a Jones resigned in July while pro- business faculty member in the posing to reduce drastically the fall of 2020 after taking a year’s amount of debt students could paid sabbatical granted by the
Board of Trustees. Observers think he would be more apt to respond to the legislative subpoena, as requested. But they’re not so sure about Powell, who left HSU last spring to become controller at Baylor University. He’s now assistant vice president and controller at the Waco, Texas school. ASU System officials attended Friday's meeting and tried to answer the committee's questions, but they weren't able to in all instances because they weren't at Henderson 44as financial problems developed. "People at Henderson created this mess and just walked away without any accountability," state Rep. Julie Mayberry, R-Hensley, told an Arkansas DemocratGazette reporter after Friday’s meeting. Mayberry made the motion to issue the subpoenas — an unusual move for the committee.
Master plan for schools submitted By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor
One of Arkadelphia’s oldest non-residential buildings vanished last week as a contractor hired by the city razed the building completed for $3,000 in 1884 (see inset, above) as the city’s first First Baptist Church. Originally, the 250-seat church “dwarfed the congregation,” as historian Ray Graade put it in a 2001 church history, but FBC outgrew the building by 1909, when they moved into the inaugural version of their current building. Longtime residents will remember the 7th and Caddo street building as Deaton’s Cleaners.
Local highway tax loss reported By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor
The Arkansas Highway Commission wants counties, cities and towns to be able to tell you precisely what could be missing in terms of funds for local road work if voters don’t continue a temporary half-center sales tax. Both County Judge Troy Tucker and City Manager Gary Brinkley were at a meeting of the Economic Development
Council of Clark County on Tuesday and mentioned the loss would be significant. Figures received by the Arkadelphia Alliance for Regional Economic Development and Area Chamber of Commerce spell out what would specifically be lost — nearly $850,000 for all of Clark County, including: • $507,958 for the county as a whole. • $249,704 for Arkadelphia. • $51,554 for Gurdon
• $16,850 for Amity • $14,800 for Caddo Valley • $3,426 for Okolona • $2,797 for Gum Springs • $2,144 for Whelen Springs The Highway Commission is holding 12 regional public meetings through April 2 to educate the public and solicit input about projects that could be funded by
Arkadelphia’s Board of Education submitted a six-year Master Plan to the state Department of Education last week that could put the city district in competition for state money to fund new schools next year. Eventually, though, a consultant told the board, he would advise adjusting the grades at the primary and elementary schools to better balance their populations. The consultant foresees making Perritt handle all students in grades K-1; Central would become the school for children in grades 1-2; and Peake would be for grades 4-5. Feb. 1 was the deadline for districts to submit a plan to be considered for up to 55% of money needed for necessary schools — and, yes, Arkadelphia’s board knows it still needs new schools. Board members agreed at a lunch meeting last Wednesday to proceed with their submission. Of course, 2019 was the year the board got to roll out the new Goza Middle School, which now bustles daily with 400-plus children in grades 6-8. But the school board is now ready to turn its attention to replacing Peake Elementary. That won’t happen, though, until the state Department of Transportation completes its widening of Pine Street to three lanes, adding sidewalks on both sides of the new wider street. Construction on that won’t begin until 2021, officials say. The new six-year Master Plan for the district was also discussed Tuesday night after a presentation by Charles Stein, one of the state’s leading consultants on school construction and financing. Stein’s presentation represented a public hearing that would allow the school district to finalize its plan by Feb. 1, which Stein described as a hard deadline for submitting plans calling for state funds to help fund new schools. The problem with Arkadelphia qualifying for state money to pay about half the cost of a school has been the fact that the city schools’ enrollment has plummeted over the last two decades — from 2,319 students in 2001 to 1,761 students today.
See Roads • Page 4
See Plan • Page 4
16 competing for Miss OBU crown By OBU News Bureau
Sixteen contestants will compete for the crown when OBU hosts the 53rd Miss Ouachita Baptist University Scholarship Pageant at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1, in Jones Performing Arts Center. åthe honor of representing Ouachita as Miss Arkansas, the winner will receive a $1,000 scholarship and an additional prize package. Throughout the year, Miss OBU’s responsibilities include volunteering for various organizations in Arkadelphia and Arkansas. “The most confident, service-oriented, well-
spoken, talented and intelligent young woman that best represents the morals and values of Ouachita will be a strong competitor at the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Competition in June,” said Melissa Carozza, campus director of this year’s pageant and a 1998 Ouachita alumna. The Miss OBU Pageant, which began in 1967, has yielded five Miss Arkansas winners, beginning with the first Miss OBU, Sharon Bale. More recently, 10 Ouachita women competed at Miss Arkansas 2019, with three placing in the Top Five, including the reigning
Miss OBU, Julie Williams. “Sarah Teed, the pageant’s new executive director, and I are excited to work with such an outstanding group of young women and be a part of a pageant that has such a long tradition of doing well in the Miss Arkansas competition,” Carozza said. The 16 students competing for the crown are: • Bawo Asagba, a junior musical theatre major from Murphy, Texas. See Crown • Page 4
Caroline Derby Arkadelphia contestant
2 News
Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020
Arkansas artist Justin T. Bryant’s exhibit, “Real and Imagined,” investigates the past and present imagery of African Americans. It’s on display through March 6 in the Rosemary Gossett Adams Gallery at Ouachita.
OBU hosting art exhibit By OBU News Bureu 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. Bryant also will present a free lecture on 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, Bryant said. His work relies on found objects, painting, drawing and video “to suggest a fugitive notion of blackness.” “Justin’s work is a stunning mix of black culture and history coupled with a personal perspective that offers a very poetic and exquisite narrative that is not always complete,” said Carey Roberson, assistant professor of visual arts. “It is that openness and the connections he makes between imagery and object that fully draw you in and make you think. He is an
absolutely tremendous talent, and we are so fortunate to have his work in our gallery space.” Bryant is a recent recipient of a Mid-America Arts Alliance Interchange Program Fellowship, “which is such a huge accomplishment; this fellowship is given to artist-led projects that seek to create a social impact on society,” Roberson said. Originally from Stuttgart, Bryant has been featured by the Zoe B. Art Center in Chicago, Ten Gallery in New Orleans, LookOut! Art Gallery at Michigan State University and Thea Arts Foundation in Little Rock. Bryant earned a bachelor’s degree in studio art from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 2012 and a Master of Fine Arts degree in studio art from Louisiana State University in 2018. He has taken courses at Penland School of Craft, Ox-box School of Art and Artists’ Residency and the Art Students League in New York, and he also was a participant at the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 2017.
Rosemary Gossett Adams Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. For more information, contact Carey Roberson at robersoncw@obu.edu or (501) 245-4655.
Ouachita to host guest flutist, pianist in concert By OBU News Bureau Ouachita Baptist University will host flutist Brittney Patterson and pianist Eun-Hee Park in a joint concert, free and open to the public, at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 in Mabee Fine Arts Center’s McBeth Recital Hall. “Patterson and Park bring a varied program featuring staples of the modern flute and piano repertoire such as the Chaminade and Clarke, as well as music from American, Soviet and Brazilian composers,” said Carlos Feller, visiting assistant professor of music. “We would like to invite the community to join us and look forward to an exciting concert.” Patterson and Park will perform“Sonata in D Major” by François Devienne, “Pastorale” by Germaine Tailleferre, “Allegro Rustico” by Sofia Gubaidulina, “The Great Train Race” by Ian Clarke, “Concertino in D Major, Op. 107” by Cécile Chaminade, “Canzone” by Samuel Barber and “Sonatina em Ré Maior” by Rada-
Park
Patterson
més Gnattali. Patterson is an experienced performer as well as an expert on musical history. She teaches flute and music history as assistant professor of music at the University of Montevallo in Alabama. She is also the principal flutist of the Memphis Repertory Orchestra, and she has performed with the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra and Memphis Symphony Orchestra. Patterson has been invited to present at conferences in Columbus, Miss.; Knoxville, Tenn.; and Washington, D.C. She is the co-founder of the Delta Blue Chamber Players and has been published in multiple music journals. Park has been praised by The New York
Concert Review and selected as BBC Music Magazine’s “Music U.S. Choice,” MusicWeb International’s “CD of the Month” and Naxos’ “Critics’ Choice.” She enjoys a diverse career as a soloist, chamber musician and educator. She’s currently assistant professor of music and head of the keyboard area at the University of Montevallo. Park has given numerous concerts throughout Brazil, Costa Rica, Italy, Japan, South Korea and the U.S. As a recording artist, she has also released albums through the labels of Naxos, Emeritus, MSR Classics, Navona Records and Capstone. For more information, contact Feller at fellerc@obu.edu or 870-245-4160.
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Arkadelphia Dispatch
The newly formed DeSoto Bluff Chapter of Quail Forever will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 at Arkadelphia’s USDA Service Center, 640 S. 6th St. The meeting is open to the public, especially those interested in preserving quail and their habitat. For more information, call Adam Cooper, 870-6134719, or Kelly Bufkin, 601-218-8940. >>> <<< Renowned international trumpeter Rex Richardson will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1 in Henderson State’s Arkansas Hall. Richardson will be backed by an all-star big band comprised of Arkansas musicians. Tickets are $10 and can be ordered online at https://rexrichardson-hsu.eventbrite.com. Richardson will also present a free trumpet clinic at 3 p.m. in Arkansas Hall. Richardson is a veteran of the renowned Rhythm & Brass chamber ensemble, jazz legend Joe Henderson’s Quintet, the Chicago Jazz Ensemble and the Brass Band of Battle Creek. He has also appeared with numerous celebrity artists. Richardson stays busy as a headline artist at international festivals and as a soloist with orchestras, jazz ensembles, brass bands and concert bands across the world. He is a professor of trumpet and jazz trumpet at Virginia Commonwealth University, and served as an international tutor in trumpet at England’s Royal Northern College of Music and at Austria’s JAM Music Lab University. >>> <<< Henderson State University’s Department of Social Sciences will present the Sidney S. McMath Pre-Law Conference at noon Feb. 4 in the Garrison Center’s Grand Ballroom. Brian Rosenthal, president of the Arkansas Bar Association, will be the keynote speaker. A native of Carthage, Mo., Rosenthal earned his law degree from the University of Missouri and is a member of Little Rock-based Rose Law Firm. The conference will feature a buffet luncheon. Tickets are $1 and may be purchased by calling 870-230-5230. A “mock law class” will follow in the Garrison Center Ross Room. The event is funded by the Sidney McMath Endowment for Pre-Law and Government. >>> <<< The Clark County Historical Association will host its regular monthly meeting at noon Tuesday, Feb 4 in Western Sizzlin’. The guest speaker will be Josh Williams, curator at the Old Washington State Park since 2009. Williams will be discussing his book, “Washington,” a pictorial history of the small town that was once one of the busiest towns in the Louisiana Purchase, serving as Arkansas’ Confederate capital during the Civil War. His book is part of Arcadia Publishing’s “Images of America” series. He will have books available for sale. The public is invited to attend. Those planning to buy lunch at the restaurant should arrive by 11:30 a.m. >>> <<< Clark County Democratic Women will hold its regular meeting at noon Wednesday, Feb. 5 at its headquarters at 109 6th St. Members are encouraged to bring a guest. Lunch is $3 for members and free for guests. Annual dues are $15 for full membership and $7 for associate membership. >>> <<< The Clark County Democratic Committee will now hold its regular monthly meetings on Tuesdays. Its first meeting reflecting the change will be at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 18 at its headquarters at 109 6th St. The guest speaker will be Circuit Judge Morgan “Chip” Welch, who is currently seeking a position on the Arkansas Supreme Court. Judge elections in Arkansas are nonpartisan. The public is invited to attend. >>> <<< 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 college students) and includes lunch on Saturday. For more information and to register by the Feb. 1 payment deadline, visit the link at thirdstreetbaptist.org. >>> <<< The 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 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 1984-1996, 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 19821988. She’s released more than 30 albums from 1978-2017. Tickets are $25 and on sale now through Eventbrite. >>> <<< 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 <<< The Arkadelphia Arts Center, 625 Main St., is hosting an exhibit through January titled Design by Nature, honoring the winter months by featuring creations constructed from natural elements such as grasses, crystals, moss, and much more supplied by Mother Nature. Gallery hours are 10 a.m.4 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays. The exhibit is sponsored by the nonprofit Caddo River Art Guild, 870-245-7982. >>> <<< 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 weekly on the lower level of Park Hill Baptist Church, 3163 Hollywood Road, with parking on the left rear. For information on that group’s meetings, call 870-230-2975 or 870-260-9277. >>> <<< 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. 870-4032019 • Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Park Hill Baptist Church. 870-230-1954 • Friday, noon, Clark County Library, 609 Caddo St., side door. 512750-2292 >>> <<< Narcotics Anonymous’ local Recovery World group meets at 7 p.m. on Mondays at the Sturgis Building at the corner of 9th and Caddo. The meetings are open to anyone interested in recovering from an addiction to legal and illegal drugs.
4 News/Sports
Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020
Arkadelphia Dispatch
HSU joins new conference to compete in Esports By HSU Sports Information Henderson State University will join the Georgia-based Peach Belt Conference to compete in Esports, better known as computer gaming, effective Feb. 1. Florida Southern.College (Lakeland, Fla.) will also join the conference as an associate member then, as the conference’s League of Legends regular season starts. “We are very excited to welcome Florida Southern and Henderson State to the Peach Belt,” commissioner David Brunk said. “These are two institutions who understand that Esports is a growing and vibrant movement in the college community. They have the vision of what Esports can bring to their campus in terms of recruitment and retention and know the value of joining a conference that has been a leader in this space.” Henderson State was the first Arkansas university to offer Esports scholarships. Located in Arkadelphia, HSU launched its program in the fall of 2018 and currently competes in six titles. The teams also compete in a dedicated space and have hosted their own intercollegiate events. "We're excited to be part of the Peach Belt Conference and compete against schools from across the nation in its esports division,” said John Price, Esports director and assistant professor or com-
The Peach Belt Conference offers Henderson students a unique opportunity to be part of a championship experience.”
--- John Price, Esports adviser
HSU students sat together in their online gaming room for a 2019 tournament. munication and theater arts at HSU. “The Peach Belt Conference offers Henderson students a unique opportunity to be part of a championship experience. The Reddies are prepared for the upcoming season and look forward to competition." The Peach Belt Conference was the first
NCAA conference at any level to establish an Esports championship that is treated the same as traditional sports offerings. The PBC was also the first to partner with Riot Games, publishers of League of Legends, the most popular Esports title in the world.
In 2019, the Peach Belt Conference’s Esports schools included Augusta (Ga.), Hawaii Pacific, Montevallo (Ala.) and Young Harris (Ga.). Many regular-season competitions are played online, with many of them live-streamed. The Peach Belt held its first live inperson championship event in 2018 and is entering the third season of competition in 2020. The 2020 Peach Belt Conference tournament will be held March 27-28 at Lander University in Greenwood, S.C.
Novice Reddie spirit camp set Henderson State's Spirit Squads will host a Little Reddies Spirit Camp from 8-11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 15 in the Dunn Recreation Center. The cost of the camp is $25, and participation is open to children in kindergarten through sixth grade. Attendees will be taught by members of the Henderson cheer and pom squads. Registration takes place online and payment will be taken the day of the camp. Visit Henderson’s https://hsusports.com/sports/cheerpom, click on the news release and find the registration link there.
Roads Continued from page 1
Julie Williams, a 2019 graduate of Ouachita, will take her final turn onstage at Saturday night’s pageant as Miss OBU 2019. Williams went on to claim second place in the Miss Arkansas pageant. She’s now working for U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman, R-Arkansas, in his Hot Springs office.
Crown Continued from page 1
• Caroline Derby, a freshman communications and media-multimedia journalism major from Arkadelphia. • Danielle Hall a senior musical theatre major from Prairie Grove. • Dani Imrie, a junior history and secondary education double major from Jonesboro. • Katie Kumpuris, a senior music major from Little Rock. • Raleigh Peterson, a senior musical theatre major from Branson, Mo. • Samantha Pipkin, a junior communications and media-multimedia journalism major from Waldo. • Autumn Romines, a senior musical theatre major from Cabot. • Catie Shirley, a senior biology major from Wylie, Texas. • Elizabeth Steely, a senior communications and media-multimedia journalism major from Conway. • Melody Stotts, a junior middle school education major from Jonesboro. • Maddi Terry, a sophomore kinesiology & leisure studies major from Boyd, Texas. • Sarah Tuller, a sophomore kinesiology & leisure studies major from Plano, Texas. • Laura Beth Warner, a senior Christian studies/Christian ministries major from Benton. • Erin Webster, a senior elementary education major from Alvin, Texas. • Rebekah Wendt, a freshman chemistry major from Haworth, Okla. The contestants will be judged in four categories: talent, social impact in evening wear, onstage question and private interview. As a result of changes in the Miss Arkansas and Miss America Scholarship Competition, Miss OBU candidates will not compete in a swimsuit category but rather a social impact category. “The swimsuit category has been replaced with the Social Impact in Evening Wear category, where the candidates will share their social impact initiative while displaying their sense of style, personality and presence in evening wear of their choice,” Carozza said. “In addition, the judges will ask the on-stage question directly to the contestants this year.” The competition also will pay tribute to Miss OBU 2019 Julie Williams, a 2019 Ouachita graduate from
Arkadelphia who now works for the Hot Springs’ office of U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman. “My time as Miss OBU was really a crowning moment of my Ouachita experience,” Williams said. “I viewed this title as a way to really love these wonderful people back. That is, the people who had invested so much into me. This is, first and foremost, a service outlet and a way to minister to those around you. I’m eternally grateful that I was given the opportunity to be Miss OBU.” In 2019, the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Pageant awarded $182,300 in scholarships, providing women the opportunity to further their education and professional goals. Along with their personal platforms, each Miss Arkansas contestant works with the Miss Arkansas Scholarship Foundation to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network. Williams was named second runner-up in Miss Arkansas 2019. She also received the Overall Social Impact in Evening Wear Award and preliminary Evening Gown Award. “I was allowed to represent Ouachita at Miss Arkansas this summer, and it was so much more successful than my family and I could have dreamed possible,” Williams said. “It was overwhelming to feel the support and prayer, surrounded by my Ouachita women and Ouachita families. Aside from this, it allowed me the chance to share my faith, values, convictions and some laughs and good times with those around me. I wouldn’t have traded a single bit of the experience for the whole world.” To begin the evening program, Miss Arkansas 2019 Darynne Dahlem first will perform the national anthem. Additional entertainment during the pageant will be provided by Williams; Sara Cate Lay, Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen 2019; Izzy Baughn, Miss Texarkana Twin Rivers 2020; Avery Jackson, Miss Natural State 2020; Taryn Bewley, Miss Greater Little Rock 2020; and members of the local DancePraize Dance Studio. Tickets for the pageant are $12 each for the general public and $7 each for current Ouachita students with a valid student ID. Tickets are available for purchase at the door or online at www.obu.edu/boxoffice. For more information, contact Carozza at carozzam@ obu.edu or 870-245-5558.
continuing the half-cent sales tax. The meetings consist of an open house session where attendees can view displays and visit with Arkansas Department of Transportation staff. A brief formal presentation follows on the current funding and condition of the state highway system as well as the impact that continuing the half-cent sales tax would have in preserving highways and building new ones. In early 2019, Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced his highway funding legislative package that resulted in Act 416 and a proposed Constitutional Amendment, House Joint Resolution 1018. Act 416 provides revenue from motor fuel taxes, electric and hybrid vehicle registration fees and casinos resulting in an estimated $95 million in new funding to ARDoT. If the constitutional amendment is approved by voters, it will provide an additional estimated $205 million annually to ARDoT and an estimated $43 million each
Plan Continued from page 1
But a new formula takes into consideration the age of a district’s schools, and Arkadelphia has two of the oldest schools in the state
to cities and counties. Citizens who want to learn more about the governor’s proposed highway program are encouraged to attend one of the regional public meetings. Each meeting will be identical in format and presentation material. Attendees will have an opportunity to ask questions directly to the five commissioners and ARDoT Director Scott E. Bennett. The closest meeting to Arkadelphia will be in Hot Springs on Feb. 20. Remaining meetings set for the southern half of the state will be at: • TEXARKANA, Thursday, Jan. 30, 5:30 p.m., Trinity Baptist Church, 3115 Trinity Boulevard • MENA, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 5:30 p.m., U of A Rich Mountain–Ouachita Center, 1100 College Drive • HOT SPRINGS, Thursday, Feb. 20, 5:30 p.m., Crossgate Church, 3100 E. Grand Avenue • MAUMELLE, Monday, March 9, 5:30 p.m., Jess Odom Community Center Gymnasium, 1100 Edgewood Drive • EL DORADO, Thursday, April 2, 5:30 p.m., El Dorado Municipal Auditorium, 100 W. 8th St. in Central Primary School, built in 1930, and Peake Elementary School, built in the 1940s. Immediate plans are to pursue funding first for a new Peake Elementary School, but those plans will probably remain on hold for at least a couple of years.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020
Sports/News 5
HSU, OBU split swim meet wins
By HSU Sports Information
Dispatch photos/Cassidy Witherspoon
Lavarrous Hughes puts up a hook shot enroute to Arkadelphia’s 55-47 win over Bauxite Friday. The Badgers, 12-0 in conference play, lead Class 4A’s Region 7 in official standings and are ranked third in all of Class 4A.
Sophomore Trinity McKenzie ignores her Bauxite defender Friday to score during the Badger girls’ 46-39 victory. Arkadelphia’s varsity girls are now 2-6 in conference play and 5-12 overall.
Henderson State's men's swim team defeated Ouachita Baptist, 114-91, on Friday evening in the teams' second matchup of the season, while the women's squad fell, 126.576.5, in a tightly contested dual meet at OBU. The Red Wave men won seven events and were led by Triston Little and Stephen Jones, who each took home first place in two individual races. Little touched the wall first in the 100-yard freestyle (10:06.09) and the 500-yard freestyle (4:51.37), while Jones claimed the top spot in the 200-yard IM (1:55) and the 200-yard backstroke (1:53.69). Yahor Pauliukovich took home the only other individual win for HSU in the 200-yard butterfly (1:59.09), and the Red Wave secured two relay wins in the 400-yard medley relay (3:31.84), which consisted of Till Steyer, Zach Hansen, Ty Gibbs and Jones, and the
400-yard freestyle relay (3:10.75), made up of Jason Seiner, Tim Holt, Ryan Brown and Steyer. On the women's side, Henderson earned five wins in the meet. Ceci Magnani topped the podium in the 1,000-yard freestyle (11:05.58), Elam Fulton took first in the 50yard freestyle (24.28), Isabelle Andrews touched the wall first in the 200yard butterfly (2:13.42) and Elza Kachliishvili won the 200-yard breaststroke (2:28.50) to round out the individual winners for the Red Wave. HSU also won the very first race of the day, the 400-yard medley relay (4:04.66), as the team of Amy Brandenburg, Kachliishvili, Andrews and Fulton out-paced the field by more than eight seconds. Henderson’s men's and women's swim teams return to the pool on Saturday, Feb. 1 when they host Oklahoma Baptist at 9 a.m. in the Wells Natatorium.
HSU announces dean’s list, honor roll From HSU reports Henderson State University last week announced the students making the Dean’s List and Honor Roll for the fall 2019 semester. To be named to the Dean’s List, a student must have achieved a 4.0 grade point average for the entire semester. To make the Honor Roll, a student must have achieved at least a 3.5 GPA. Students recognized from Clark County and nearby towns are: Amity Dean’s List Undergrad: Daniel C. Forsythe, Keasha A. Owens, Kierstin N. Pittman Dean’s List Grad: Jessica L. Porter, Brian S. Skinkle Honors Undergrad: Kallee L. Cowart, Dustin R. Forsythe, Jacob A. Ray, Zachary M. Schauf, Macy R. Skorcz, Suzanne R. Sorrells Arkadelphia Dean’s List Undergrad: Mary J. Adame, Matthew R. Bosley, Alexis N. Boyer, Tea N. Burgess, Bailey A. Dougan, Madison G. Lamb, Ruth C. Moyo, Lacarol R. Newborn, Francisca Nyarko, Mykiah R. Overstreet, Jenna L. Purifoy, Nicole Schranz, Alyssa Schweitzer, Breanna P. Shelby, Anthony J. Tademy, Sydney L. Thoeny, Katlin D. Williams Dean’s List Grad: Victoria L. Viera, Eric F. Adkins, Jamie R. Barnett, Mariah J. Bartlett, Kristin P. Brown, Blake A. Burkman, Bonnie D. Curlin, Austin D. Diggins, Rosalind M. Donson, Mary E. Farley, Nicole D. Freeman, Darla G. Givens, Alan P. Hall, Greg L. Holsworth, Devan L. Jester, Zydrunas Jurgutis, Milka M. Karanja, Kayla R. Langley, Evan J. Lassiter, Amanda L. Matthews, Brookes J. Mays, Clarissa M. Mays, Gina L. Milam, Payton N. Morris, Artemi I. Orekhov, Margaret M. Parker, Misha E. Parker, Turquoise S. Rhone, Brooke E. Roberson, Patrick F. Shepard, Cory A. Stitle, Claire E. Thomas, Dominique J. Walker, Zachary T. Walthall, Philip D. Warren, Emily A. Wetzlar, Caleb G. Whitlow, Katlynn N. Williams, Laci D. Williams, Tawana E. Williams, Kelsey A. Wood, Dawn M. Coffman Honors undergrad: Kacie E. Allen, Joseph R. Andrews, Colby R. Bagwell, Autumn D. Bailey, Brayden A. Bebee, Jamie L. Beer, Morgan Berry, Autumn B. Blankenship, Maddox T. Breashears, Magen C. Bright, Kyericka L. Brooks, Tiara M. Burgess, Brett C. Burks, Raegan E. Cannon, Steven E. Carter, Matthew G. Chapa, Savannah F. Childress, Caroline R. Cissell, Chloe E. Cline, Jacob F. Coon, Samantha M. Cox, Andrew T. Diehl, Moses Effah Akoto, Scott J. Holbrook, Oyshi
Hossain, Dyon B. Hunter, Robert F. Jacobs, Patricia L. Jordan, Kenzi A. Land, Alexzandria H. Leguin, Paige N. Lewis, Erykah L. Martin, Blanton C. Matthews, Rylee D. Maxwell, Te'Aira L. Ollison, Jenna B. Patterson, Turner G. Pentecost, Lori A. Rondeau, Amy N. Rowland, Samantha R. Shepherd, Carson A. Smith, Kasey L. Smith, Jun Young Song, Danny J. Spradlin, Mandy J. Stricklin, Ashlyn G. Taylor, Angelmaa E. Wempe, Rachel L. White, Jahishmah B. Whittie, Alia L. Williams Honors Grad: Clayton D. Alspaw, Ashleigh C. Erb, Dalton A. Guthrie, John M. McManus, Desree' T. Miller, Alexis N. Morton, Adrienne N. Prince, Amy M. Snodgrass, Wade L. Tubbs Bearden Dean’s List Undergrad: Blake D. Wood Bismarck Dean’s List Undergrad: Emily J. Cole, Jimmie J. Harper, Courtney P. Helton, Aaron M. Nelson, Hannah E. Smith Dean’s List Grad: Rodney N. Hardage, Sarah L. Keithley, Jaeny D. Micucci, John P. Stokes, Honors undergrad: Madelyn E. Burton, Samantha P. Fendley, Isaias M. Filipek, Serene A. Garcia, Sawyer A. Hardage, Kaitlin L. Henry, Cecilia G. Howell, Kaylee N. Jennings, Jordan B. Lancaster, Kaleb D. Naquin, Kalee R. Newsom, Anayelid Vasquez Honors Grad: Dianna L. Boothe, Amanda R. Friedl, Savanna R. Massey, Maverick W. Rudd, Kimberly D. Turner Bonnerdale Dean’s List Undergrad: Ruth Luna, Jett G. Tilley Dean’s List Grad: Bryan D. Dreier, Zane H. Henthorn Honors undergrad: Katelynn M. Erke, Christin N. Harris Caddo Gap Dean’s List Undergrad: Nicole L. Coffman Caddo Valley Dean’s List Undergrad: David Sanders Honors Undergrad: Raquel M. Baes Delight Dean’s List Undergrad: Jesslynn M. Cross, Seth H. Kirkham, Makayla D. Tolliver Dean’s List Grad: Misty G. Kimberlin, Traci L. Lancaster, Aaliyah S. Richardson Honors Undergrad: Summer N. Kennedy, Jayci A. Liggin, Kayla R. Wise Honors Grad: Zachery D. Harris Donaldson Dean’s List Undergrad: Michael E. Anderson, Cade M. Beckwith, Taylor D.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Doddridge, Walter R. White Dean’s List Grad: Chassity B. Brown, Lynette M. Smith, Honors Undergrad: Kassady L. Chandler, Megan M. Parish Friendship Honors Undergrad: Brittany D. Wright Glenwood Dean’s List Undergrad: Jordan A. Jones, Leonia J. Partain, Carson M. Smith, Gracen A. Smith, Jesus Soto Dean’s List Grad: Brandie R. Arnold, Steven W. Blair, Victoria R. Blair, Alicia N. Sapp, Garrett T. Whitley, Tiffany D. Wright, Johnny Zamorano Honors Undergrad: Ethan R. Angel, Michael A. Bright, Lyndsey E. Cogburn, Easton A. Cowart, Nathan R. Hellums, Ryan D. Hellums, Taylee K. Kaumans, Abraham Murguia, Blakley J. Pennington, Giovanni A. Valdez Gurdon Dean’s List Undergrad: Brier A. Clark, Tykeidra C. Jones, Jessica L. Young Dean’s List Grad: Robin A. Campbell, Elisha D. Cone, Makayla A. Harper, Sarah R. Overbey, Kimberly L. Riley Honors Undergrad: Rachel M. Ledbetter, Jasmin Leon, Cameron J. Mayhue, Olivia G. Moore, Devin R. Simpson, Stephen P. Whitson Kirby Dean’s List Undergrad: Zane G. Pedron Dean’s List Grad: Gunner R. Golden Honors Undergrad: Miranda P. Mack Mount Ida Dean’s List Undergrad: Bonnie K. Golden Honors Undergrad: Delainey R. Brown
Honors Grad: Lisha M. Taylor Mountain Pine Dean’s List Undergrad: Alan B. Robinette, Vanessa N. Shelton Honors Undergrad: Kelly N. Stiles Murfreesboro Dean’s List Grad: Allie M. Watson Honors Undergrad: Erin E. Davis, Baylie L. Deaver Norman Dean’s List Grad: Maddison S. Ellis Okolona Dean’s List Undergrad: Arianna C. Leeper Dean’s List Grad: Mikki T. Hastings Honors Undergrad: Gabriella K. Gonzales Honors Grad: Alyssa K. Blanton, Adam F. Hastings, Kyle F. Orsburn Pearcy Dean’s List Undergrad: Jonathan D. Crane, Amanda J. Manary, Laura Wynn Dean’s List Grad: Kasey D. Dickerson, Taylor M. Hornsby, Laura C. Westbrook Honors Undergrad: Felicia Cimuca, Quincy J. Hansen, Zoey E. Pierce, Brooke T. Powell, Shelby B. Powell, Julia G. Young Honors Grad: Paul C. Peret Royal Dean’s List Undergrad: Bryce C. Hanna Dean’s List Grad: Lori M. Lindsey, Lauren H. Lynch, Kendra V. Stramp Honors Undergrad: Veronica A. Hughes, Kennedi L. Kelley Sparkman Dean’s List Undergrad: Taylor L. Nix Dean’s List Grad: Sammie L. Bean, Emily R. Thomason, Whitney Whitaker Honors Undergrad: Clayton P. Robbins
6 Sports
Thursday, Jan. 30, 2020
Tigers falter in OT thriller
By OBU Sports Information
Ouachita Baptist’s Tigers and Southeastern Oklahoma’s Savage Storm went toe-to-toe in an overtime thriller last Thursday, but SEOSU overwhelmed OBU, winning 90-83. The Tigers took over in the second half on a 13-2 run that spanned three minutes, but Southeastern never went away. At 75-74 Kendarious Smith knocked down two free throws to give the Tigers a 77-74 lead. However, the Savage Storm drove down the court and Adam Dworsky banked in a 3-pointer with a tenth of a second left to send the game into overtime. In overtime, Southeastern took the momentum and rolled with it, taking the Tigers down in what was Ouachita's most explosive outing of the season. OBU jumped out to a 3-0 lead, but it quickly evaporated as Southeastern took control and led for the rest of the first half. Southeastern went on a four-minute, 7-0 run, but the Tigers closed the gap as the half ended. Trey Harris knocked down a buzzer beating 3-pointer to send the Tigers into halftime down 35-32.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Left-handed pitcher Brandon Matros, from Arkadelphia, will serve as a co-captain of HSU’s baseball
OBU opens baseball season in Tennessee
By OBU Sports Information Ouachita Baptist’s baseball season opens in Tennessee Friday as the Tigers gear up for another season under second-year head coach Luke Howard. Howard led the Tigers in 2019 to a 20-28 record (13-20 in the Great American Conference) and were picked 10th in the 2020 preseason poll. The Tigers are led by First-Team All-GAC third baseman Tyler Riebock and Second-Team pitcher Brandon Matros, a senior from Arkadelphia. Both were named captains for the 2020 season. The Tigers will travel to Jackson, Tenn., for a three-game matchup with Union University on Friday-Saturday, Jan. 31-Feb 1 -- the fifth straight opening day between the Tigers and the Bulldogs. A week later, Ouachita will host the OBU-HSU Invitational with a three-day series against the OBU photo/Dr. Wesley Kluck University of Central Oklahoma, Northwest MisOuachita Baptist University’s Allie Freeman (11) demonstrates his incredible leaping souri State University and Newman University ability, soaring over two taller Southeastern Oklahoma players in last Thursday’s over- from Feb. 7-9. This will be the fourth meeting time loss for OBU. Freeman led the Tigers with 21 points against Northwest Missouri Sate, who the Tigers Allie Freeman would three minutes energized ris scored 18 and Kendari- took down last year in an 8-6 victory. As for Censet the tone for the Tigers the home crowd. ous Smith contributed with tral Oklahoma and Newman, this will be the first time both schools have faced off against the Tigers. in the second half as he In the end, Southeast13. Conference play begins Feb. 14-15 as the Tigers tied it up at 35 on a deep ern's late momentum Kevin Buckingham led face the Wonder Boys of Arkansas Tech University three less than a minute in. proved to be too much for the Savage Storm with 23 Southeastern would regain Ouachita to overcome in points. Kayo Goncalves for the second straight conference opener. the lead, but about five overtime. added 22 of his own and The 2020 season schedule follows: minutes into the second half, the Tigers took off. Ouachita's 13-2 run over
Freeman led the Tigers with 21 points, shooting 5-8 from deep. Trey Har-
Adam Dworsky scored 19 and had the biggest bucket of the game.
By HSU Sports Information
slowly chip away to begin the second half and used a 3-pointer from Chris Owens at the 14:11 mark to cap a 13-6 run that gave the Reddies their first lead. The next seven minutes were a battle, as the lead changed hands twice and neither team was able to secure an advantage larger than four points. Raekwon Rogers led the way for HSU with 17 points and eight rebounds, while Owens added 11 points. Ten different players played double digit minutes in the win for HSU. The Savage Storm had three players play all 40 minutes, and their bench combined for just 13 total minutes played. SOSU's 63 points was their secondlowest offensive out-put of the season and their lowest scoring game in GAC play. HSU hits the road next week when they travel to face Southern Nazarene at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 30 in Bethany Okla.
Reddies rally in time for win
HSU’s Chris Parker unleashes another long shot Saturday. Parker was off his game, scoring just eight points --- a week after 24 points against Arkansas Tech.
Trailing by six points with under three minutes remaining on Saturday afternoon, Henderson State put on an 11-1 scoring spree to defeat No. 19 Southeastern Oklahoma State, 67-63, in the Duke Wells Center. The win snapped a six-game winning streak for the league's preseason favorite, kept the Reddies unbeaten at home this season, and moved HSU into a tie for first place in the conference standings with 10 GAC contests to go. For the second-straight game, the Reddies (14-4, 9-3) got off to a slow start offensively, particularly from behind the threepoint line, where they were 2-of-14 in the opening half. The cold shooting, and 20 points in the first 20 minutes from Southeastern's Kevin Buckingham, left Henderson trailing, 32-27, at the break. Henderson began to
(Home Games in Bold, DH=doubleheader)
DATE, TIME OPPONENT Jan. 31, 2 p.m., Union University Feb. 1, noon DH,Union University Feb. 7, 1 p.m., University of Central Oklahoma Feb. 8, 1 p.m., Northwest Missouri State University Feb. 9, 1 p.m., Newman University Feb. 14, 6 p.m., Arkansas Tech University Feb. 15, 1 p.m. DH, Arkansas Tech University Feb. 18, 2 p.m.. Ecclesia College Feb. 21, 2 p.m., University of Arkansas at Monticello Feb. 22, noon DH, University of Ark. at Monticello Feb. 25, 2 p.m., Hendrix College Feb. 28, 2 p.m., Southern Nazarene University Feb. 29, noon DH, Southern Nazarene University March 3, 2 p.m., University of Arkansas at Monticello March 6, 6 p.m., Oklahoma Baptist University March 7, noon DH, Oklahoma Baptist University March 10, 6 p.m., Delta State University March 13, 3 p.m., Southwestern Okla. State Univ. March 14, noon DH, Southwestern Okla. State Univ. March 17, 3 p.m., Henderson State University March 18, 3 p.m., Texas A&M-Texarkana March 20, 6 p.m., Northwestern Okla. State University March 21, noon DH, Northwestern Okla. State Univ. March 25, 6 p.m., Hendrix College March 27, 3 p.m., Southeastern Okla. State University March 28, 1 p.m. DH, Southeastern Okla. State Univ. March 31, 2 p.m., Ecclesia College April 3, 3 p.m., East Central Oklahoma April 4, noon DH, East Central Oklahoma April 7, 3 p.m., Southern Arkansas University April 10, 6 p.m., Harding University April 11, 3 p.m. DH, Harding University April 14, 3 p.m., Harding University April 17, 3 p.m., Southern Arkansas University April 18, noon DH, Southern Arkansas University April 24, 6 p.m., Henderson State University April 25, 1 p.m. DH, Henderson State University May 2-5, TBA, Great American Conf. Championship