Vol. 2, No. 24
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Controlled burn on S. 11th New members, zoning amendment Street Mon. brings crowd
Photo by Pete Tubbs Arkadelphia Fire Department members keep a purposeful fire at bay after a controlled burn was executed on Monday.
the neighborhood. 20 AFD firefighters practiced fire management at the vacant home owned by First Assembly of God as well as Fire Chief Jason Hunt, who organized the controlled training environment. Resi-
dents around the Cutler and 11th streets area were happy to see the vacant house removed yesterday evening. In addition to Arkadelphia Fire Department members being present, there was also a crowd of
30-40 people in attendance. The fire-fighters were also breaking in their turnout gear while members from Arkadelphia and the Caddo Valley Fire Department trained.
Pete Tubbs Interim Editor in Chief President of ASU Dr. Charles L. Welch announced last Wed. that Elaine Kneebone has been replaced as head of HSU. The new Interim Chancellor of Henderson State University, pending further approval, is Dr. Jim Borsig. Because of the complicated semester, the search committee that was appointed to hire a permanent chancellor was forced, with the use of Zoom meetings,
to look at candidates for an Interim Chancellor instead. According to Welch in his address to HSU last week, Dr. Borsig was introduced to him by “‘The Registry,’ which is recognized st the leading organization in higher education for assisting with the placement of interim administrators.” Dr. Borsig was previously president of Mississippi University for Women from 2012 to 2018. Before this, he served in several roles in the Mississippi Institutions
Service of Higher Learning which, according to Welch, “is the governing body for eight public universities.” Borsig will start his tenure at HSU in late July following “state approval of the Registry contracting process,” Welch wrote. “Upon approval, Dr. Borsig will receive a one-year employment contract with the understanding that we could extend to a second year by mutual agreement.” A salary of $230,000, “the lowest of the ten public
university CEOs in Arkansas,” according to Welch, will be allocated to Borsig. Welch elaborated that more information would be available soon, and he thanked Elaine Kneebone who was Acting President for one year. Welch stated, “Elaine excelled in a position to which she did not aspire and brought much needed stability to our university during one of the most difficult times in the history of Henderson.
Pete Tubbs Interim Editor in Chief Elaine Kneebone, Acting President of Henderson State University, sent an email to the campus community that stated that “seven student-athletes returning to campus for voluntary summer workout activities have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.
The email stated that a total of 135 student athletes were tested in all. The students that tested positive are in “quarantine until they complete Center for Disease Control and Prevention protocols,” Kneebone wrote. Each of the seven students were put in their individual rooms when they got to the campus on Sunday.
Kneebone wrote that the “head coaches, assistant coaches, and administrative staff who could possibly come into contact with student-athletes recieved no positive results.” The email encouraged staff and students of HSU to continue practicing social distancing and to wear masks to “mitigate virus
spread. Kneebone finished by saying that the university will soon “implement a daily screening questionnaire for students, faculty, and staff to assess wellness and provide assistance where needed.” Students experiencing COVID-19 sypmtoms were urged to ontact (870) 230-5102 for telephone screening.
By Julie Lacy City Comm. Director Arkadelphia Fire Department gets fired up with the First Assembly of God church. A Win-Win for our community as the urban blight went up in flames in
New Interim Chancellor of HSU
By Pete Tubbs Interim Editor in Chief On Tues. the City Council board of Arkadelphia reconvened in Town Hall. While a customary practice in recent months, the group did not wear facemasks. They did, however, remain six feet apart in accordance to social distancing norms. The first item on the docket was the third reading to amend the zoning ordinance which, like the first two times, unanimously passed. Next was the listing for a city building that was for sale, this also passed. The members, moving quickly, next voted to approve the new Water Sewer Committee members. The two were unanimously voted in. Julie Lacy and Shacresha Wilson were also introduced as the new Communications Director and Treasurer, respectively. Both women spoke and were extremely excited about their futures in the city. The city recently submitted a grant for reroofing the Depot building for the amount of $70,700 to cover some of the $214,185 cost to the AHPP. This was unanimously accepted. Approval was seeked for the donation of two runway lights to the Star City municipal airport was up next. It was explained that the equipment was forbidden
to be sold, so the Star City Municipal airport was the best choice to relocate the un-needed equipment. The group then announced that they would adjourn into a public hearing to amend the zoning ordinance. It was to speak of a tool called a special use permit that would allow for a business to be in a place that would benefit the town even when there isn’t a permit to support such move. Mayor Byrd suggested that the group talk it over with the public before adjourning, and that was agreed upon. The room then entered into a lengthy dialogue about what all went into this new amendment. It was decided that the issue will be brought up again the following meeting. The next major thing on the docket was talk about bids on Grandall Financing. There are currently three bids. Regions Bank had the highest bid of the three. The council talked the implications of this over, then agreed upon the regions bank offer. After these discussions, the council went into executive session to discuss a City Manager personell matter. Afterwards, the City Manager’s Report and Routine Business were conducted ending with Mayor Byrd’s adjournment.
Seven COVID cases at HSU
Photo by Pete Tubbs Shacresha Wilson (left) and Julie Lacy (right) were introduced as the new Treasurer and Communications Director, respectively, for the City of Arkadelphia.
Bateman and Rowland pretrials have begun By Ayanna Williams Crime Reporter Tentative Trial Dates Set For Former Henderson Professors Involved in Drug Scandal As of July 7, the pretrials for the case against Terry Bateman and Bradley Rowland have started, and the tentative trial dates are also being held soon . Bateman and Rowland are former professors in the science department at Henderson State University. However, the two defendants are now facing charges of the manufacture of controlled substances, as well as the use of drug paraphernalia. The investigation started in late 2018, when the current Acting President of Henderson State University Elaine Kneebone gave a statement about possible criminal activity affiliated
with Bateman and Rowland. During the start of the investigation in Jan. of 2019, there was no proof that any criminal activity had transpired at the time. However, in Oct. of that year, a chemical spill in Reynolds Hall on Henderson’s campus caused further investigation. In the next month, after students gave statements of suspicious activity, police officers executed a search and seizure warrant on the Bateman and Rowland’s personal offices. Officers discovered hidden flasks of substances that tested as methamphetamine, and written chemical formulas related to the synthesis of the controlled substance were found as well. The trial dates for both Bateman and Rowland are now set to be on July 20 at 9:00 a.m., as per Circuit Judge C.A. Blake Batson.
Photo courtesy of Arkansas Online Terry Bateman and Bradley Rowland shocked Arkadelphia last year when the news broke that they were allegedly experimenting with drugs in the Reynolds Science Building at Henderson State University.
2 News
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Celebrating America U.S. Rep. (R-Ark.) Bruce Westerman
When you think about the Fourth of July, you likely think about memories of grilling hamburgers and hot dogs, spending the afternoon on the lake, hosting a backyard barbeque with friends or watching fireworks. This year, I hope you also take time to think about all that the day represents and the incredible freedoms we enjoy in America. I’ve heard it said that when we talk about church,
we’re talking about the people that make up the church, not the actual building itself. I think the same is true of our country. America is beautiful – “from sea to shining sea” – but its true wonder is in the people who live here. I’m blessed to represent just a small portion of the men, women and children who make the United States the land of opportunity and freedom. When our Founding Fathers first declared independence from Great Britain, Thomas Jefferson said, “I
am well aware of the toil and blood and treasure it will cost us to maintain this declaration, and support and defend these states. Yet through all the gloom I see the rays of ravishing light and glory. I can see that the end is worth all the means. This is our day of deliverance.” His words still ring true today. America is not perfect, but we can celebrate how far we’ve come and all that lies ahead. May God bless America, today and every day!
cancel. The picnic is Piggott Cemetery Association’s biggest fundraiser. Fred Ort is president of the Association, and he’s not sure how the association will make up the lost funds, but he’s confident it will. Fred’s family moved to Piggott when he was 12, and he has attended every picnic since then. He’s 68 years old. In past years, the carnival would already be up and running and members of the association would be busy with final preparations. He said life feels a little empty and eerie at the moment. But the town’s leaders decided to go ahead with the fireworks show at 10 o’clock Saturday night. Most people watch from their own yards any way, and you can see the display from the outskirts of Piggott, population 3,700, so there won’t be a crowd in one place. I like Piggott’s spirit. The
businesses and churches have followed health guidelines to protect their residents. The school district canceled athletic programs and postponed graduation until late July. The cemetery association canceled the traditional picnic, its primary source of money and a source of pride for the city. In the midst of it all, they found a way to safely preserve a sliver of their tradition with the fireworks show. Saturday night, members of the fire department will light up the sky. The spirit of Piggott is the spirit of Arkansas, and the spirit of Arkansas is the spirit of American independence that we celebrate on July the 4th. We work together, whether it’s a global pandemic or the growing pains of our republic. At the end of the day, we light up our skies to show we’re still here, and we’re still strong.
The American Spirit in a Pandemic Gov. Asa Hutchinson LITTLE ROCK – This year, the Fourth of July will be quieter than any in our lifetime. That will be most obvious, perhaps, in small towns such as Piggott, where July 4th is the biggest event of the year. July 4th in Piggott is the kind of small-town family-friendly Independence Day celebration many of us remember. It is a homecoming, carnival, and political event rolled into one day that ends with fireworks. Many a politician has campaigned at the Piggott Fourth of July Picnic. I attended my first one in 1986, and I campaigned there when I was running for governor in 2014. But this year, the COVID-19 pandemic forced Piggott to cancel its picnic, carnival, beauty contest, and fried-chicken dinner for the first time since 1931. The fireworks show is the only tradition the city didn’t
Blackmon dead; apparent suicide AR State Police Texas law enforcement authorities notified Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division shortly after 6 PM tonight that Lavern Blackmon of Conway (Arkansas) is dead. Preliminarily authorities in Conroe, Texas believe Blackmon died from a self-inflected gunshot wound. Conroe, Texas is approximately 40 miles north of Houston. Police officers in Conroe found Blackmon in the 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche truck he apparently drove from Little Rock when he was last seen in Arkansas earlier this week. Blackmon reportedly kidnapped his ex-wife on June 29. Her body was found a short time later.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Upcoming Events >>> <<< Arkadelphia Bands had planned to host its first-ever Mattress Sale Fundraiser from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sat., April 18 at AHS, 401 High School Road, but that’s been postponed to Aug. 1. The fundraising sale will feature brands such as Simmons, Beautyrest, and more, with on-site mattresses priced up to 50% below retail. >>> <<< The Third Annual Comics Studies Society Conference will be hosted by Henderson State University from Aug. 5 to Aug. 9. The conference exists to bring together “scolars, artists, and other members of the international Comics Studies community” to discuss topics within the area of comics. Matthew J. Smith from Radford University and Randy Duncan from HSU are the organizers. Those interested can register at comicssociety.org. >>> <<< Mena plans to stage its 45 Annual Queen Wilhelmina Rod Run from Aug. 28-29 as street rods and hot rods descend on the town. The twoday event features a street dance and three chances for entrants to put their cars through their paces. For more information, visit https://www. queenwilhelminarodrun.com/. >>> <<< The Spring Hazardous Household Waste event that was scheduled for last Sat. was cancelled as a result of COVID-19 precautions. The Southwest Regional Solid Waste Management District will continue with the Fall Household Hazardous Waste event on Oct. 17. The Southwest Regional Solid Waste Management District is the planning board that oversees solid waste management for Clark, Garland, and Hot Spring Counties. In previous years, the district has hosted two annual Household Hazardous Waste events to offer citizens of each county the opportunity to dispose of hazardous waste that sanitation departments cannot pick up as part of routine trash pick-up. Expect more details closer to the event. Ongoing >>> <<< City Council meets every first and third Tues. of the month at 5:30 p.m. in Town Hall. >>> <<< Alcoholics Anonymous hosts 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. every Tues. in the Sturgis Building at North 9 and Caddo Streets. For more information on the Arkadelphia Group Meetings, call 870-403-3001. The U-Turn Group meets at 7 p.m. every Thurs. on the front, upper level of Park Hill Baptist Church, 3163 Hollywood Road. For information on that group’s meetings, call 870-2302975 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: - Tues. at 7 p.m., Sturgis Building, corner of 9 and Caddo. 870-403-2019 - Thurs. at 6:30 p.m., Park Hill Baptist Church. 870-403-2019 - Fri. at noon, Clark County Library, 609 Caddo St., side door. 512-750-2292
Arkadelphia Dispatch
News 3
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Gov. Hutchinson grants clemency Cities may start Gov. Asa Hutchinson
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson today announced his intent to grant 10 pardons and one commutation. An additional 35 clemency requests were denied and two had no action taken upon them. These include requests from both inmates and non-inmates. The applicants intended for pardons have completed all jail time, fulfilled all parole and probationary requirements and paid all fines related to their sentences. There is a 30-day waiting period to receive public feedback on the notices before final action is taken. Governor Hutchinson intends to grant pardons to the following people: Dale A. Beason (Las Vegas, NV): Theft of Property over $200 (C Felony) (CR 89-14), Residential Burglary (B Felony) and Theft of Property (C Felony) (CR 89-54), and Theft by Receiving (C Felony) and Felon in Possession of a Firearm (D Felony)(CR 92-171-1). This notice is issued based on the dates of conviction (1989 - Garland County, 1989 - Hot Spring County, and 1992 - Hot Spring County), the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further criminallaw violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application. Katie M. Bostian (Hot Springs): Failure to Appear (C Felony) (CR 2004-26) and Failure To Appear (Revocation) (C Felony) (CR 2004-26). This notice is issued based on the dates of conviction (2005 - Pope County and 2006 - Pope County),
the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further criminal-law violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application. Angela Dunn (Magnolia): Filing False Police Report (D Felony)(CR 2001-14) This notice is issued based on the date of conviction (2001 - Columbia County), the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further criminal-law violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application. Martha I. Eads Sells (Stuttgart): Possession of Methamphetamine (Sch. II) W/Intent to Deliver (Y Felony) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (C Felony) (CR 2005-00059). This notice is issued based on the date of conviction (2006 – Arkansas County), the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further criminal-law violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application. Gerald H. Funkhouse, Jr. (Fayetteville): Theft by Receiving (C Felony) (CR98-450). This notice is issued based on the date of convictions (1998 - Sebastian County), the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further criminal-law violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application. Sandra R. Liles (Batesville): Theft Of Property (C Felony) (CR-97-15). This notice is issued
based on the date of conviction (1998 - Izard County), the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further criminal-law violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application. Eddie J. Stratton (El Dorado): Battery (Felony)(CR 83-1). This notice is issued based on the date of conviction (1983 - Calhoun County), the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further criminal-law violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application. Charles A. Morman (Godfrey, IL): Possession Of a Handgun by a Minor (D Felony)(CR 97-448-2), Theft by Receiving (B Felony) (CR-97-448-2), Residential Burglary (B Felony) (CR 97-523-2), Theft of Property (B Felony) (CR 97523-2), Theft of Property (C Felony) (CR 97-523-2), and Theft of Property (C Felony) (CR 97-525-2). This notice is issued based on the date of conviction (1997 – Jefferson County), the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further felony criminal-law violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application. Kenneth E. Williams (North Little Rock): Theft of Property by Deception (Revocation (Felony)(CR 79-1549), Forgery 2nd degree 5 counts (Felony)(CR 80-1999), Forgery 5 counts (Felony)(CR 80-1838), Delivery of a Controlled Substance, 2 Counts (Y Felony) (CR 90-1505), Possession
of Controlled Substance with Intent (Y Felony) (CR 91-1542). This notice is issued based on the dates of conviction (1981 - Pulaski County and 1992 - Pulaski County), the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further criminal-law violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application. Timothy D. Withers (Hot Springs): Theft of Property (C Felony)(CR 94-133) and Theft of Property 2 counts (B Felony)(CR 94-65-1). This notice is issued based on the dates of conviction (1994 - Washington County and 1995 - Benton County), the fact that all terms of the applicant’s sentence have been completed and there have been no further criminal-law violations. There are no law enforcement objections to the application. Governor Hutchinson intends to grant a commutation of sentence to the following people: Rogelio Reyes (ADC #094046): Possession of Cocaine w/Intent to Deliver (Y Felony) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (C Felony) (1995-342) (Jury Trial). The Governor has given notice of his intent to commute the sentence of Rogelio Reyes, who was convicted in Sebastian County in 1996 for the above offenses, from a total Life and 360 months in the Department of Correction to making him immediately parole eligible. The Prosecuting Attorney has raised objections to applicant’s request.
Gurdon Mayor Sherry Kelley update Sherry Kelley Gurdon Mayor It was a safe and festive Fourth of July in Gurdon. All evening you could see many fireworks from your front porch. Some of them were nearly as big as those you would watch at Lake DeGray. It was amazing and quite a celebration. Are you watching the Governor’s Corona Virus
updates? In the past few weeks, the numbers have been high and the trend generally upward. So far this week it’s up and down. Due to these numbers and the Governor’s social distancing guidelines we have cancelled all scheduled events at The Market On Main. One family had planned for over a year to hold a double graduation party. It is with
regret that we will not be able to let them have thier celebration at the venue, but a bigger regret would be an outbreak in Gurdon. So far, Gurdon and Clark County have been doing pretty good virus wise. Let’s keep it that way. We are all waiting on a vaccine. Our sewer main replacement is nearly complete. Waiting for the weather to
clear and the soil to dry was the biggest challenge. Thank you to our understanding customers and to May Construction. It is good to have this job behind us. Some of the hottest weather of the year may be upon us this weekend. Take care of yourself and others and the pets, too.
Okolona man charged with theft, arson, and fleeing the scene of a crime Ayanna Williams Crime Reporter
On July 2, the Clark County police department served the arrest and bench warrant for Harry Post. Originally from Okolona, Post is being charged with arson and theft, as well as fleeing the scene of an accident. The incident first happened on June 1, when a 911 call was made by a woman
saying that Post had set her car on fire, and stated that he was on his way to set another house on fire. When authorities came to the location where he was said to be, there was only a gas container and a cell phone at the scene of the burning house, which turned out to belong to Post. Meanwhile, Post had gotten involved in a car wreck with a diesel truck, and
while someone stopped to check on the accident, Post stole the man’s vehicle and fled. After a pursuit including both Pike County and Clark County’s officers, Post was taken to the police department where he admitted to the charges in an interview.
Post had no contact orders served against him afterwards, and he appeared for the hearing of his plea and arraignment on July 7 in the Clark County Circuit Courtroom.
requiring masks Gov. Asa Hutchinson LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson announced cities across the state may implement an ordinance requring mandatory face coverings to help curb the spread of COVID-19 by signing Executive Order 20-41 on Friday. “This provides a local option for cities to give them more flexibility if they have a community in which they might have a surge in cases. This model ordinance, from the Municipal League, provides a consistency in approach across the state,” Governor Hutchinson said. Chairman of the Economic Recovery Task Force Steuart Walton added, “Governor Hutchinson’s balanced approach of giving cities the option to enact mask ordinances where most needed helps us protect the health of Arkansans and ensure the economy can continue to recover.” This executive order allows for: Local law enforcement and other city officials to
enforce the use of face coverings upon the business’ premises in accordance with public health guidelines. Local law enforcement and other city officials to act in a support capacity, through enforcement, to educate and encourage members of the public who decline to wear a face covering about the efficacy of wearing such coverings. Local law enforcement and other city officials to assist in enforcement through education of individuals who decline to comply with the face covering requirement of any local business that the individual must abide by the local business’ mandate or leave the premises. Municipal League General Counsel John Wilkerson said, “Consistency is incredibly important and that is why this model ordinance says that the city is going to require the usage of masks in accordance with the guidelines of the Department of Health.”
Trial date set for Jared Miller Ayanna Williams Crime Reporter The pretrial hearing has been held for Jared Miller as of July 7 in the Circuit Courtroom, and the trial date is set to be nearly two weeks later on July 20. Miller is facing a charge of aggravated robbery that happened in late 2019. Miller and an accomplice by the name of Garrett Buckholz were first spotted by locals in the Walmart parking lot. There were concerns since Miller and Buckholz wore masks that covered their faces. When officers arrived on the scene,
they found that not only did the two men have masks, but they were also armed with a pump shotgun and a pistol. After detaining Miller and Buckholz, they were taken to the police department where they both stated in an interview that they were planning on committing an armed robbery on an individual residing in Little Rock. Since then, there were pretrial hearings, but they have been reset to July 7, with the trial date being the week of July 20.
The dispatch can now be found at
www.hsuoracle.com Head over there for all of our news goodness and more -pete Arkadelphia Dispatch Editor: Pete Tubbs arkadelphiadispatch@gmail.com 870-230-5221 Calls will be returned. The Arkadelphia Dispatch is published weekly by Nashville Leader, Inc., 119 N. Main, Nashville, AR 71852.
4 News
Thursday, July 9, 2020
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Arkadelphia Lions Club starts Malik Riddle signs new year with new inductees with Reddies
Photo by Travis W. Burton Lion Don Roe shows the Lion Of The Year and also the Past President’s Plaque he received. Lion President Bill Mayo holds the gavel.
Travis W. Burton Lions Club Secretary During the Arkadelphia Lions Club’s Officer Induction for the new 2020-2021 Lion’s Year outgoing President Don Roe was announced as Lion Of The Year for the closing 2019-2020 Lion’s Year. Lion Dr. Claudia
Griffin (outgoing District Governor) inducted Lion Bill Mayo as the Arkadelphia Lions President for 2020-2021 that started July 1, 2020. Incoming District Governor Lion Ethan Dunbar also attended the ceremony. Other officers inducted for the 2020-2021 year are 1st Vice President:
Paul Shuffield; 2nd Vice President: David Narracong; 3rd Vice President: James Baugh; Secretary: Travis Burton; Treasurer: Dennis Williams; Lion Tamer: James Baugh; Tail Twister: Bill Goff; Directors: David Nar-
racong, Wm. Mertins and Anita Williams; Membership Chairperson: Nicole McGough; Club Service Chairperson: Mark Overturf; Program Coordinator: Don Roe; and Marketing and Communications: Nicole McGough.
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State’s men’s basketball program secured another high-profile addition for the 2020-21 season when Morehead State transfer Malik Riddle signed with the Reddies last week. “We are extremely excited to announce the signing of Malik Riddle,” head coach Jimmy Elgas said. “Malik comes to us highly regarded for his character and work ethic. These traits make him the perfect addition to our Henderson family. Finishing as the runner-up in Tennessee’s highly competitive Mr. Basketball race twice speaks to his talent level. Malik is a tough kid whose length and athleticism allows him to make plays on both ends of the court. Most importantly, we’ve added another high-character and hard-working young man to our program.” Explosive athlete and big guard who played in 59 games over the last two seasons for NCAA Division I Morehead State of the
Ohio Valley Conference (OVC), including 31 games this past year … Averaged 5.5 points per game as a sophomore for the Eagles and shot 37.1% from the floor in 18.5 minutes per game … Scored 17 points in 37 minutes against Samford, 13 points in 31 minutes against Tennessee Tech, and 13 points in 21 minutes against Southeast Missouri State … Poured in a careerhigh 21 points against Alice Lloyd … Played 11 minutes against No. 14 Syracuse and 15 minutes against UConn as a true freshman in 201819 … Played 13 minutes against Butler and 17 minutes against Missouri in 2019-20 … Averaged 25 points and 12 rebounds per game for Rossville Christian as high school senior in 2017-18 and scored more than 2000 career points … Was a two-time runner-up for Tennessee’s Mr. Basketball award.
Arkadelphia Senior Babe Ruth Team in first place Staff Reports Heading into the final week of the 2020 summer season, the Arkadelphia Senior Babe Ruth team sits in first place and will look to solidify a top seed in next week’s post-season tournament which will be held in Malvern. The Arkadelphia team participates in a five-team league with Malvern, Haskell-Harmony Grove, Ouachita and Bearden. The league was formed after the Covid-19 pandemic altered the regular summer schedule for American Legion and gives the teams an abbreviated season to play. “There were a few teams in our area who were planning to play when restrictions were lifted and we were able to form a league and give the young men somewhat of a season to play after their high school seasons were cut short by Covid-19,” said Arkadelphia Baseball Commission President Matt Johnson who
helped organize the league. Arkadelphia headed into this week’s slate of games with a 4-1 conference record with three games remaining. Arkadelphia traveled to Malvern on Tuesday and faces Ouachita at home on Wednesday at 6:00. The team will wrap up the regular season next week as they will host Haskell Harmony Grove in the regular season finale next Tuesday at the Arkadelphia Youth Sports Complex. Arkadelphia will also host a non-conference game vs. Sheridan Monday at the Youth Sports Complex as well. Games both nights start at 6:00. A highlight to this point in the season was a 3-1 win over perennial high school and American Legion power Sheridan two weeks ago at home. 2020 AHS graduate Jayden Quarles pitched seven innings of no-hit baseball and struck out 15 batters while walking none and giving up no runs. Rising sophomore Tripp Campbell
finished the last two innings on the mound, allowing only one run on no hits with two strikeouts and two walks completing the combined no-hitter. Ian Manning had a solid game behind the plate for Arkadelphia catching the no-hitter. Offensively for Arkadelphia, rising juniors Tate Goodrum and Ryan Harris each had two hits to lead the Arkadelphia offense which managed its three runs off of seven hits. Arkadelphia put together a clean defensive game with no errors on the nine balls Sheridan put in play. Goodrum had three putouts at second base, Carter Babb (LF) and Donovan Whitten (3B) each had to putouts while Harris, Campbell and first baseman Matthew Parnham also had one put out. Quarles and Parnham are two of four seniors who are playing somewhat of a “senior season” after losing the majority of the senior seasons of high school base-
ball. Ian Manning and Jace Posey are the other two seniors. Quarles has pitched and played third base and shortstop. Manning has pitched and played third base, shortstop and catcher
while Posey has pitched and played center field. Arkadelphia’s two Jr. Babe Ruth teams also wrap up their seasons this week with next week’s tournament being held in Arkadel-
phia next Thursday, Friday and Saturday at the Youth Sports Complex. The roster of the 2020 Arkadelphia Senior Babe Ruth team is as follows:
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Health and Opinions 5
Thursday, July 9, 2020
How “Back to the Future” holds up at 35 the lighthearted role, he was let go from the production. Luckily around this time Fox was granted permission to work on this film at night while he filmed his sitcom during the day. Fox’s availability for the role proved to be a godsend for production. He left this film being one of the brightest stars in the world. Alongside being an incredible financial success, critics were kind to the film as well. Roger Ebert gave the film three-and-a-half stars out of four and likened it to “It’s a Wonderful Life” saying “it’s about a character who begins with one view of his life and reality, and is allowed, through magical intervention, to discover another.” Mr. Ebert couldn’t have been more correct. While many saw the film as pure popcorn action at the time, it stands today as one of the most enduringly life affirming films to come out of the 1980’s. The movie, streaming on Netflix now, puts knowledge and the love of friends and family at the forefront of its themes. There are clear good and bad characters, for sure, but there are also good characters that do bad things and vice versa. Michael J. Fox’s Marty McFly is a more normal kid than usual for an 80’s fantasy adventure. He’s more of a loser than a cool kid, he gets in trouble a lot at school, and his best friend is a disgraced middle aged inventor. Marty’s mom is an alcoholic woman who yearns for her past, his father is a beaten down shell of a man who is indebted to his boss Biff, and his siblings aren’t shining examples of human beings either. Marty’s life is not perfect, but neither is he as a person. Marty is a “slacker” as his high school principal calls him. He’s consistently late for school, all he does is complain about what he doesn’t have, and he seemingly has no forward momentum. In reference to the other main character of the movie, Doc Brown doesn’t have much going for him either. He lives alone in a dilapidated mansion with his dog Einstein and throughout the film the audience learns that he’s spent much of his inheritance on inventions that have a precedent for not working. The dynamic between these two (Marty and Doc) is the heart and soul of this film, and the two sequels that follow it. Both are rudderless souls that need something to propel them into their future lives, and it just so happens that going back to the past was exactly what they needed. No matter how central and powerful these two characters are, there is an
assortment of outliers that only serve to deepen the impact of the film. Lea Thomson and Crispin Glover play Marty’s parents in both the present and past, and they’re both exquisitely memorable. Glover’s signature strange mannerisms fit his George McFly like a glove, and Thomson’s ability to freely move between charm, sadness, and spunk is ineffable. Another standout performance is Thomas F. Wilson as Biff. By all accounts a nice man in real life, Wilson makes the Biff character one of the most imminently hateable villains of the eighties. While the cast is resolutely spectacular, the craftsmanship of this movie from pre-production all the way through marketing is unassailable. Much has been said about the sheer genius of this film’s script, and it deserves all of the praise it can get. I’ve seen this film probably more than thirty times, and each time I find more and more details that lead into the rest of the movie. For instance, Marty’s uncle is in jail at the beginning of the film. When he goes back in time to the 1950’s and his uncle is a small child, his grandmother tells him that he loves being in his crib and just doesn’t want to leave. Aside from the characters, it’s these small jokes and details that act as callbacks for the eagle eyed viewer that makes each rewatch of this movie so enjoyable. It can not be overstated just how perfect the main two actors are in their roles. With anyone else in the shoes of Doc Brown and Marty, this movie doesn’t work nearly as well. Michael J. Fox is the charismatic and soulful center of this picture. The audience can comfortably view the crazy circumstances through his eyes, and that makes his journey more personal than if Marty was a stereotypical jock-hero. Lloyd can’t be counted out of his contributions, either. He’s the moralistic center of “Back to the Future.” Emmett Brown is never into anything for his personal gain. His sole purpose of making the time machine is for discovvery and the advancement of human knowledge. He isn’t all ones and zeroes, however. He truly cares for Marty, and the bond between the two of them serves as the lynchpin in all of the scientific mumbo jumbo that’s thrown at us over the course of the two hours of “BTTF.” Without Dc and Marty, there’d be nothing to root for. Aside from all of the praise I have given this classic so far, there were some things that definitely stood out upon rewatch. “Back to
AR. Department of Health the state as of June 16. In
density of cases. The Dispatch will post an updated version of this graph weekly according to what is available from the Department of Health and state officials.
By Pete Tubbs Interim Editor in Chief
The 1980’s was, for many people, a touchstone decade that featured countless films that will stay in the minds of viewers forever. Those ten years brought the world the “Lethal Weapon” franchise, “The Goonies,” “Die Hard,” the “Bill and Ted” films, and many others. The year 1985 itself was no exception. Along with the aforementioned “The Goonies,” works such as “The Color Purple,” “Witness,” the second “Rambo,” the fourth “Rocky,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Clue,” “House,” and “Return of the Living Dead” found themselves on the silver screen as well. Aside from all of these classics, though, one movie has perhaps stood the test of time better than all of them. After a tumultuous time trying to get it made in the early eighties, Robert Zemeckis’ “Back to the Future” rode onto the screen on July 3, 1985. The film, which stars Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd was an immediate smash hit. On a budget of $19 million, it grossed over $11 million in its first weekend and ended its five month run with over $381 million worldwide. To put it into today’s terms, $381 million is equal to $907 million in 2020 dollars. Adjusted for inflation, the 1985 film would be the 71 highest grossing film of all time domestically. This may not be surprising hearing it now, but considering all the hassle that Zemeckis and Co. went through getting “BTTF” made, it’s dang near a miracle. Most studios, including Disney, turned the film down. In the end, it was none other than Steven Spielberg that saved the production. While the production was off to the races after Spielberg stepped in, the problems were far from over for the cast and crew. One of the most famous notes on the pre-production is that Zemeckis and Bob Gale initially envisioned the time machine as a refrigerator. This obviously did not happen, however, after the duo was urged to find something else out of fear that children would start climbing into appliances. One of the other legends that has to do with early filming of the movie is the main role. While Michael J. Fox was one of the first considered, he could not commit to the part after not being let out of his contract with hit show “Family Ties.” This problem led to Eric Stoltz being cast in the main role. A significant portion of the film was shot with Stoltz as McFly, but when Zemeckis noticed that the actor was a bit too serious to play
Arkansas COVID-19 Update by Department of Health
According to the Arkansas Department of Health Administration in its COVID-19 update, a total of 292 deaths have occurred in
reference to ADH’s graph, there are a total of 24,253 cases with 6,127 active and 17,834 recovered. The counties are colored by light to dark in terms of
Photo courtesy of Universal Studios “Back to the Future” premiered on July 3, 1985 and proved to be quite a commodity for Universal.
the Future” is much darker than I had remembered. I’ve been watching this film virtually since birth. The innocence of childhood can sometimes blanket darker themes of art that would be more easily understood by people of an older age, and “Back to the Future” is a prime example of that. While I remember Biff as being a terrible person, I found it very disturbing when he attempts to rape Lea Thomson’s character near the end of the film. The eighties were a different time, and films such as “Animal House,” and “Revenge of the Nerds” represent some terribly aged movies that used sexual assault as comedy, but that’s not what “Back to the Future” does. The attack on Lorraine at the high school dance is a moment of near horror. The acting from Thomson and Wilson is too good for the scene not to be convincing. I watched this with some of my friends last week, and we audibly remarked upon how dark this “children’s” film got at this point. Biff certainly gets his comeuppance when Glover’s character knocks him out, but the distress and psychological scarring are
still there for Thomson’s character, and it’s a disturbing implication in the movie that is forgotten by many viewers. It may be silly to be reading into this actionadventure film too deeply, but it adds another layer of depth to one of the most expertly executed movies of the last half-century. The triumph of George over Wilson’s character of course leads to one of the best last thirty minutes to a movie of all time. Seriously, if you haven’t watched this in a while, do yourself a favor and catch it on Netflix. I don’t want to spoil the conclusion for those increasingly rare people who somehow haven’t seen this movie yet, but the end is simply transcendent. Seeing Doc run through the streets in celebration almost brings a tear to my eye ever time.
That’s what makes “Back to the Future” so special. It’s all about the triumph of human spirit over adversity and a hope for a better future. You can’t change your past like Doc and Marty, but you can change how you are to other people right now. “BTTF,” just as Ebert said, is remarkably like “It’s a Wonderful Life” in that it’s a fantasy that most adults have. Oftentimes it’s easy to become overwhelmed with thoughts of regret and anxiety over actions we wish we had not committed in the past. Through Doc, Marty, and Co., we as human beings can accept that all we have to do is trust in those around us to be good and when they’re not, try our best to put good in them. As Huey Lewis says, “That’s the Power of Love.”
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Thursday, July 9, 2020
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Washington Redskins to change name By Hannah Hodge Sports Reporter
In recent events across America that fall into the category of protest, riots, and marches, all of these actions of freedom of speech have one goal in common, a demand for change. A few days have passed when the NFL football team, the Washington Redskins have been put in the hot seat to change the name due to cultural appropriation. Although, before the demand of the name to be changed, the beginning history Redskins started in Boston, Massachusetts as the Braves in 1932 and changed to Redskins the following year. The reason why the name was changed is that the owner at the time, George Preston Marshall wanted to avoid confusion with the Boston Braves baseball team. Five years later in 1937, the team relocated to Washington, D.C., where they have been based since. The name change allowed Marshall to keep the American Indian imagery identified with the team and also acknowledged the team’s head coach, William “Lone Star” Dietz, who was purported to be of Sioux heritage. The team also had six players on the roster of American Indian descent.
Marshall selected the name “Redskins” to honor the players and head coach at this point in time and did not intend to degrade the American Indians. However Marshall’s mindset showed its true colors as things began to change from 1934 to 1946. There was an unspoken standard called the “gentleman’s agreement” in the NFL franchises that were against hiring African American players. This went on until the LA Rams became the first team in NFL history to go against this unofficial rule and added two African American players to their roster in 1946. However, one coach in particular did not favor this integration. For the next sixteen years after the NFL flourished with talented African American athletes, Marshall remained the last owner to not integrate. In 1960 the Redskins were the southernmost team besides the new Dallas Cowboys in this period, the NFL and Marshall’s racism seemed to be a great fit with the demographics of the fanbase. Marshall marketed the Redskins as the “South’s team,” and having a stigma that an all-white team was good for business, even though they hardly ever won.
Then, a well-known advocate for American Indian rights and who demands change to end the use of American Indian mascots and stereotypes by sports teams is Suzan Shown Harjo. In 1992, Harjo filed a
and has pressed on the issue ever since. An interesting fact about the Redskins logo is that the face is Blackfeet Chief, John “Two Guns” White Calf, who also appeared on the Buffalo nickel. More change was de-
Photo courtesy of Flickr The Washington Redskins NFL team have decided to change their name after decades of controversy over their racist moniker.
lawsuit with the US Patent and Trademark Office attempting to cancel the registration of the “Washington Redskins” trademark because it was offensive to American Indians. Although losing this battle, Harijo kept her stand
manded in 1962 when Secretary of the Interior Stewart Udall and Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy told Marshall that the federal government would revoke his lease on the D.C. Stadium unless he signed an African American player.
Now faced with being cut off his lease, Marshall drafted Syracuse legend and Heisman winner Ernie Davis in 1962. Although due to Marshall’s reputation he refused to play Davis and traded Davis to the Cleveland Browns for Bobby Mitchell who became the first African American for the Redskins and honored in the NFL Hall of Fame in 1983. In total the Redskins won the NFL championship games in 1937 and 1942 and made it to Super Bowls five times in the years; 1973, 1982, 1983, 1987, 1991. The Redskins won the Super Bowl three times in 1982, 1987, 1991. After that history lesson of Marshall’s racist past and the Redskins beginnings, in early June the monument to George Preston Marshall at the RFK stadium site was removed and references to George Preston Marshall. This includes the Redskins Ring of Honor and at FedEx field were removed in response to growing concerns about his tainted legacy. Also adding to changes being made by major sponsors such as Nike, FedEx, and PepsiCo that the sponsorship of the team should be terminated unless the name is changed. On July 2nd, FedEx notified the team that the name should
be changed, while Nike subsequently removed all Redskins merchandise from their website. Interestingly enough a similarity to Marshall can be found through the current owner of the Redskins Daniel Snyder. In 2013 in a USA Today interview, he famously commented on the following about the name being changed, “We’ll never change the name. It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps.” However now with a different mindset, Synder commented in a recent interview, “This process allows the team to take into account not only the proud tradition and history of the franchise but also input from our alumni, the organization, sponsors, the National Football League and the local community it is proud to represent on and off the field.” Throughout the racist past of the Redskins first owner and the history that lies beneath the name and logo, the next step for the Washington team is to choose an appropriate name and logo. Once fulfilled hopefully teams across the NFL and the world that also include Native American imagery for their logo or name to change to be more respectful to the culture.
New AAA standards in AR sports Looking forward By Hannah Hodge Sports Reporter
Each state across the world is updating and figuring out the best options for student-athletes to be able to participate in sports this upcoming fall and still maintain proper health precautions due to COVID-19. Recently the Arkansas Activities Association has updated the Phase 1 of the Return of Team Sports. In these guidelines, it lists the new standards for all sports activities and guidelines to follow during the pandemic. The website that answers specific questions and more information about the new standards can be found on the AAA website, https://www.aractivities.org/covid19. The beginning of the process for the guideline started in late March when the Secretary of Health in consultation with the Governor and the Arkansas Department of Health placed limitations on public gatherings. The requirements for gradually lifting these limitations will be through a phased approach for communitybased and school-sponsored teams. Each phase has a set of general requirements that will apply across all team sports with specific requirements based on the nature
of the contact required by the rules of the sport. These general requirements include, maintain minimum physical distancing of six feet between participants at all times, except when actively participating in the sports activity. Athletes, Coaches, and All Staff must be screened before any activity by asking the following questions and excluded if the answer is yes. These questions include, have had a fever of 100.4°F or greater in the last 2 days, have a cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat, or loss of taste or smell and have had contact with a person known to be infected with COVID-19 within theprevious 14 days. All Coaches and Staff must have temperature checked by a digital thermometer prior to entry, and those whose temperature is greater than 100.4°F must be excluded. Face coverings that completely cover the nose and mouth are required for everyone 10 years of age or older for indoor sports. As for athletes, face coverings are strongly encouraged when not actively participating in an outdoor sports activity. Face coverings or masks must be worn during indoor sports where a face covering is not inhibitory. For coaches and staff
face coverings must be worn at all times for indoor sports and are strongly encouraged for outdoor sports. The use of communal spas, showers, saunas, or other similar equipment is prohibited. Locker rooms may only be used for the storage of personal items. The social distancing of six feet must be maintained in the locker room. An alcoholbased hand sanitizer or adequate handwashing facilities must be provided for use by all attendees. For sports equipment, restrooms, lockers, water fountains, and other high touch surfaces they must be sanitized frequently during each event. You should avoid non-sport-related personal contact at all times. For games, competitions, tournaments, meets, and other athletic events held in a facility, the facility hosting the event must follow the current directive for large indoor or large outdoor venues. The goals of these recommendations are to allow for safe progression for an unacclimated, deconditioned athlete to start participating safely. These recommendations were developed to incorporate a gradual onset of exercise intensity, duration, and exposure to equipment and a gradual
onset of heat exposure and duration. This multifaceted approach strives to prevent musculoskeletal injury from the onset of unaccustomed exercise and protect against heat illness in the non-acclimated individual. The Department of Health has also placed a designed schedule for individual practice such as condition and training. This schedule also includes a maximum of five out of seven days each week for individual practice. No contact equipment can be worn during these practices. Through days 1 and 2 one session is allowed per day with a maximum of 1 hour in length. Next, days 3-5 one session per day with a maximum of 1.5 hours in length. On days 6-10 one session per day with a maximum of 2 hours in length and so on increasing by half an hour. This graduated acclimation period represents the minimum standard. Students that start practice after day one must start on day one and continue through the graduated acclimatization period. The effective date for the new standards began on June 1st, however, these do not include intercollegiate athletic team sports, only high school sports programs.
to hunting By Brian Bagwell Outdoors Editor Seams like summer snuck up on us this year. The pandemic started shutting things down in March, and rain coupled with cooler temperatures stalled the inevitable. As we enter July, the Arkansas heat and humidity have arrived. These are the days most would enjoy lounging by the pool or simply just enjoying the comfort of air conditioning. On the other hand, a lot of folks are looking forward to the next deer season. Arkansas residents purchased 220,587 hunting licenses in FY 2019, according to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Though this number is relatively low compared to a population of 3.018 million Arkansas residents. (Census.gov) Deer hunting remains one of the most popular seasons in the state. On a recent visit to our leased land, we noticed many trees that had blown over from recent storms. Trails and roads were blocked, and weeds and undergrowth were taking over. We loaded up the tractor and chain
saw and started clearing the path. Within a few hours, we were able to make access to all of our stands. Safety is a priority when hunting we check all of our stands annually, replacing any rotten boards or frayed straps. Falling from a tree stand accounts for most hunting accidents in the state. (AGFC.com) We also check all feeders and cameras for proper operation, replacing batteries and SD cards. Hunting can be a great way to spend time with family and friends or simply get away from the craziness of life. Being able to enjoy the outdoors has been a big part of my life. I have enjoyed teaching my children as my father taught me. Hunting in the state requires you to possess a valid hunting license. Anyone born on or after January 1, 1968, is required by law to complete a hunter education course. This course is offered throughout the year at various locations or can be taken on-line at www. agfc.com.