Vol. 2, No. 9
Thursday, March 5, 2020
Legislators unhappy with HSU audit explanations By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor LITTLE ROCK — Members of the the Legislative Joint Auditing Committee grilled current and former Henderson State University officials Friday before deciding to take no action on the school’s 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 audits, which cite financial misstatements. The committee, after meeting nearly four hours, referred the audit review to the General Assembly’s Joint Performance Review in hopes of more information surfacing upon further investigation. The financial misstatements that became part of the official record reviewed by the committee’s auditing staff apparently cloaked a series of problems that resulted in a $5 million budget shortfall that forced HSU to get a $6 million loan from the state. HSU has also committed to join the Arkansas State University System, ef-
fective Jan. 1, 2021, and is working daily now with ASU System officials to right its financial ship. The budget issues discovered last June also led to President Glen Jones’ immediate resignation, just a matter of months after Brett Powell, vice president for finance and administration, resigned to take a new job as controller at Baylor Universiy. Both Jones and Powell showed up at Friday’s hearing as a result of subpoenas issued by the audit committee. Both Jones and Powell had been the subject of no-confidence votes by faculty, but Board of Trustees chairman Johnny Hudson of Little Rock said his board didn’t feel that represented the opinions of a faculty majority. At no point during the hearing did Reddie Media Group photo/Victoria Meyers the HSU officials blame each other for Facing heated questions from the Joint Legislative Committee Friday were, from mistakes that led to the faulty financial left, former HSU President Glen Jones, former trustee Brown Hardman (mostly See Audit • Page 4
hidden), trustee Eddie Arnold, former Vice President for Finance and Administration Brett Powell and Johnny Hudson, chair of HSU’s Board of Trustees.
New logo unveiled by board By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor
Dispatch photos/Bill Sutley
Ouachita Baptist University Ben Sells talks to the nearly 800 people in the audience of Jones Performing Arts Center Monday night after alumna Sarah Huckabee Sanders, former press secretary for President Trump, offers an answer to a question from Sells during her interview-like Birkett Williams lecture.
OBU welcomes alumna Sanders By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor Forget about how national reporters frequently yelled questions at Sarah Huckabee Sanders, President Trump’s press secretary from 2017-2019. Forget about her often contentious style in dealing with some reporters and her blind loyalty to the president’s “message,” even when facts didn’t support his latest tweet. Forget the possibility that her name often surfaces when talk turns to the 2022 Arkansas governor’s race. Sanders hasn’t forgotten all that, but she did get a break from West Wing chaos and questions such as those on Monday night when she visited her alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University, to answer questions submitted by
Arkadelphia’s Board of Directors Tuesday approved a new logo that will serve as the visual focus of the city’s efforts to reposition its “brand.” René Zimny, assistant director of visual arts at Ouachita Baptist University, offered a presentation on how he came up with the new logo, which can be adapted in certain, prescribed ways. His inspiration came from looking at the city’s shape on a map — how it resembled the letter “A.” He See Logo • Page 4
Sanders visits with her EEE social club “sisters” after Monday night’s lecture. students and winnowed down from 75-plus to about 20 by a class of senior communications students. OBU President Ben Sells then got to do the ques-
tioning during a sit-down interview before a crowd of nearly 800 people in See OBU • Page 4
Mayor Scott Byrd displays a T-shirt with the city’s new logo after Tuesday’s meeting..
Pediatrics Plus to formally announce $8 million facility From Dispatch Reports
Pediatrics Plus, a Conway-based company that offers therapy, preschool and other services for developmentally disabled children, will hold a groundbreaking for its next facility at 11 a.m. Monday, March 11 at 702 Hickory St.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson will be among the speakers at the public ceremony about two blocks west of the Elrod Center on Fifth Street. First Baptist Church is making parking available in its adjacent parking lot at 8th and Pine Streets.
Super Tuesday not so super in Clark County
By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor With little at stake on the local level, Clark County voters largely followed statewide trends in their breakdown of support for Super Tuesday’s presidential candidates. President Trump was the big winner, claiming 1,355 votes, or more than 97% of all votes cast in the Republican presidential primary, in complete but unofficial returns. For the Democrats, Sen. Joe Biden was the leading vote-getter in Clark County, with a complete but unofficial total of 947
votes, just shy of a plurality at nearly 49% of the vote. And Sen. Bernie Sanders was in second place with 330 votes, or 17%, falling far short of his margin statewide. And less of a margin existed locally in the difference between the Vermont senator and the No. 3 finisher, former New See Vote • Page 4
For about a year, Pediatrics Plus coowner Todd Denton has been discussing plans with Ouachita Baptist University President Ben Sells and others for building a new facility adjacent to See Facility • Page 4
This image was being used in materials promoting Monday’s groundbreaking.
Looking ahead ... Primary runoff: March 31 General election: Nov. 3
Senior Lunden Cotton, left, uses a Clark County NAACP voting registration drive at Arkadelphia High School Monday to get registered to vote.
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Thursday, March 5, 2020
Members of the Clark County Retired Teachers Association, including, seated, from left, Tommie Anderson, Kathryn Crawford, Barbara Newborn, standing, from left, Nellene Roberts, Peggy Wells and Charles Newborn recently met, bringing items to help women held in the Clark County Jail, per the request of Police Chief Jason Jackson. The previous month, CCRTA donated $250 to assist The Call program assisting adopted children.
AHS releases second nine-weeks honor roll All A’s 12th Grade: Cabb Batson, Brynn Clark, Aisha Faiq, James Fitzgerald, Madison Green, McKinley Green, Latron Gulley, Patrick Hayes, Sammy Kirksey, Lynli Lowry, Sydney Motl, Yebo Moyo, Cannon Turner and Cole Turner All A’s and B’s 12th Grade: Josee Bebee, Anthony Bonner, Jozie Burson, Haven Cooper, Caleb Cornelius, Lunden Cotton, Kristen Curtis, Garrett Dickey, Olivia Dixon, Hesley Forthman, Wyatt Forthman, De’airrus Gatlin, Sawyer Goodrum, Aryanna Gutierrez, Justin Jones, Lorenzo Lawson, Haley Loy, Ian Manning, Dorothy McDuffie, Aiden McMurry, Mercedes Mitchell, Hannah More, September Moseley, Eli Perrin, Jasmine Riley, Reagan Rorie, Charley Smyser, Tyler Thompson, Kaitlin Vinson, Diamond White, Asa Whitten and Tyler Woodson 3.000-plus* 12th Grade: Osbel Angulo, Somerset Arnold, Teddy Buckley, Jayson Campbell, Alex Carter, Jazmine Daniels, Aaron Davis, Logan Golden, Tyler Green, Alexandria Gutierrez, Darbeigh Hale, Sha’nautica Harris, Kyren Harrison, Trinity Harrison, Jalen Hunter, Aijah Jenkins, Gunner Johnson, Jaslin Jones, Kristine Leguin, Jonathan Manrique, Tajhanna McKenzie, Daniel McLane, Macasha Morehead, Jasmine Moreno,
Kelton Newborn, Reece Nowlin, Matthew Parnham, Jayden Quarles, Breanna Reed, Ethan Savage, Terrell Sumler, Destiny Thompson, Malcolm Turner, Rebekah Warner and Lucas Witherspoon All A’s 11th Grade: Caroline Bennington, Rachel Bosley, Maegan Cooper, GraceAnn Covington, Carson Craft, Danny Curl, Gracie Dunaway, Taylor Dunkelgod, Kennady Garrett, Cydney Holmes, Lily Kesterson, Haylee McClain, Shepherd Molinari, Madison Morris, Kerigan Overturf, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Dave Rohant, Katelyn Scott, Jenna Taylor and Roger Ward All A’s and B’s 11th Grade: Trey Bledsoe, Mauricio Cervantes, Victoria Cervantes, Kyla Elgas, John Fairchild, Jackson Forthman, Nayan Ghodela, Hayden Harris, Adrien Hickson, Rocky Hughes Jr., Joseph Jester, Olivia Lock, La’mya Luster, D’metria McDuffie, Tristan Mench, Mikayla Middleton, Colton Miller, Justin Miller, Hailey Nix, Latanya Price, Michael Rich, Andrew Rodgers, Braeden Thomas, Rebecca Thomas, Benjamin Tibbs, Ke’asia Tilson and Ashari Whitaker 3.000-plus* 11th Grade: Sara Allen, Desha Bivens, Indiyah Brown, HanSee AHS • Page 3
Mid-America ranked among nation’s top science museums HOT SPRINGS — Mid-America Science Museum was officially recognized Feb. 28 by the USA Today Top Ten Readers Choice Award as ranking No. 4 among the top ten best science museums in North America. Readers voted online for four weeks, ending Monday, Feb. 17. “We’re all very pleased that the community really showed their support for the museum,” said Diane LaFollette, executive director of Mid-America Science Museum. Twenty nominees for the science museum category were chosen by a panel of relevant experts, including a combination of USA Today editors, editors from 10Best.com as well as other contributors and media sources. A standalone travel media site, the 10Best Readers’ Choice Award is promoted across USA Today Travel Media Group’s digital and mobile products, as well as via social media. Other top ten winners
As Arkansas' first and only permanent outdoor dinosaur exhibit, the Oaklawn Foundation DinoTrek features 13 species of dinosaurs from the Jurassic, Triassic, and Cretaceous periods at the Mid-America Science Museum. included the Center of Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio, Tellus Science Museum in Cartersville, Ga., the Field Museum in Chicago, the Houston Museum of Natural Science, the Natural History Museum of Utah and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. “We’re proud to be among the top four in this 10Best category among cities that are much larger than Hot Springs,” said Donna
Jared, Mid-America’s development director. “I think what that tells us is that our museum has a huge following of visitors and guests who are outside of Hot Springs and who are fans of what Mid-America Science Museum has to offer.” For more on MidAmerica Science Museum, visit midamericamuseum.org, call 501-767-3461 or email info@midamericamuseum.org.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
The Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance and Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its annual banquet at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 5 in Henderson State University’s Garrison Center. Lee and Alicia DuCote, of Amazon Prime Video’s “Adventure and Romance with Lee and Alicia,” will be guest speakers. Individual tickets are $40, with sponsorships ranging from $350 to $1,000. For more information, contact Ashlee Vaughn at 870-246-1460 or ashlee@arkadelphiaalliance. com. >>> <<< A local group, Women of Prayer United will present Simply Sandi: An Intimate Night of Songs and Stories with Sandi Patty, at 7 p.m. Saturday March 7 at Trinity Temple Assembly of God, 3509 Pine St. From 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 1982-1988. She’s released more than 30 albums from 1978-2017. Tickets are $25 and on sale now through Eventbrite. >>> <<< Baptist Health Medical Center of Arkadelphia will host a blood drive from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday, March 8. Look for the Arkansas Blood Institute bloodmobile. To schedule an appointment, visit arkbi.org and click on Give Blood. All donors will get a free “Save the Humans” alien T-shirt. >>> <<< The Ouachita Student Foundation will host a Fund Run 5K/Walk, open to anyone, starting at 8 a.m. March 14 on Ouachita’s campus. All proceeds go to fund OBU student scholarships. Register online at www. obu.edu/fundrun. Entry fees are $20 for adults, $15 for high school and college students, and $10 for middle-schoolers and younger. A T-shirts is included in the signup fee Entry fees go up $5 on race day. For more information, contact osf@obu.edu or 870-230-8974. >>> <<< Group Living, Inc., is selling tickets for a 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 17 fundraising effort featuring Dorey’s fish-chicken plates. A meal — cooked on site — includes 4 pieces of catfish or chicken tenders, french fries, hush puppies, cole slaw, sauces and either lemonade, sweet tea or unsweetened tea. To buy the $12 tickets, call Group Living at 870246-5849 and then pick them up at the nonprofit’s 700 Main St. office. Those with tickets will be able to drive through and pick up their meal using Clay Street to enter a Group Living parking lot. Sheridan-based Dorey Catering has been serving U.S. farm-raised catfish for more than 30 years. It won this year’s People’s Choice Award in the 2020 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame. >>> <<< The Percy and Donna Malone Child Safety Center will hold its fifth annual Duck Derby Festival Saturday, April 4 in the parking lot of Ouachita Baptist’s Cliff Harris Stadium. The 2020 Duck Waddle 5K Race kicks off the event at 9 a.m. Runners will be chip-timed. The festival will also feature music, bounce houses, prizes for the many games and a chili cook-off. Deadline to enter is March 1. To enter, call 870-26-8632. To eat, go to the Buy Now link at https://www.pdmcsc.org/waddle.html. A bowl of your favorite chili, cornbread and a drink go for $5, plus a 45cent transaction fee. To avoid the fee, mail a check into PDMCSC Development, P.O. Box 292, Arkadelphia, Ark. 71923. Indicate the number you want on the memo line and make the check for $5 times the numbers of tickets desired. >>> <<< Henderson State University will hold its spring 2020 Career Fair from 1-4 p.m. on Tuesday, April 7. An intern showcase will run from 3-5 p.m. For more information, contact career@hsu.edu. >>> <<< Grammy Award-winner and Blues Hall of Fame honoree Bobby Rush will perform in concert on Friday, April 24 as part of the Fordyce on the Cottonbelt festival from April 19-25 in the town about an hour east of Arkadelphia. Festival details and more info on Rush’s concert will be available later at https://fordyceonthecottonbeltfestival.com. >>> <<< Glenwood's annual Caddo River Festival will be Friday-Saturday, April 24-25 this year. For more information or to sign up as a vendor, visit https://www.facebook.com/caddoriver.fest/. >>> Ongoing <<< Ouachita Baptist University’s Rosemary Adams Department of Visual Arts is hosting “Real and Imagined,” an exhibit by Arkansas artist Justin Tyler Bryant, through March 6. The exhibit displayed in the Rosemary Gossett Adams Gallery on the first floor of Moses-Provine Hall is free and open to the public. “Real and Imagined” investigates the past and present imagery of African Americans to reflect a multi-contextual narrative of poetry, personal narrative and history, according to Bryant. His work is a collection of found objects, painting, drawing and video “to suggest a fugitive notion of blackness.” Gallery hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays. >>> <<< Alcoholics Anonymous holds two meetings a week in Arkadelphia. The meetings are open to anyone interested in AA’s program of recovery. The Arkadelphia Group meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in the Sturgis Building at North 9th and Caddo streets. For more information on the Arkadelphia Group meetings, call 870-403-3001. The U-Turn Group meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays on the front, upper level of Park Hill Baptist Church, 3163 Hollywood Road. For information on that group’s meetings, call 870-230-2975 or 870-260-9277. >>> <<< 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.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Ex-HSU staffer new university VP in Arizona
Obituary Phillip Roberts
Phillip Roberts
Rock; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation was on Wednesday, March 4th, from 6-8 pm at Ruggles Wilcox Funeral Home. The service will be held at First United Methodist Church in Arkadelphia, AR, on Thursday, March 5, at 1:30 pm with Brother Bill Cato officiating. Interment will follow the service at Rest Haven Memorial Gardens. If desired, friends may make contributions to the Gillett United Methodist Church, 301 W. Leslie Ave., Gillett, AR 72055 or the Retired Teachers Association (CCRTA) 910 S. 21st St. Arkadelphia, AR 71923.
A former athletic director at Henderson State University, T. Kale Gober, recently joined Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Ariz., as vice president of advancement. Gober joins GCU after spending the past four years rebuilding the Division of Advancement at the University of Central Arkansas. Prior to UCA, he served as assistant athletic director for development at the University of Arkansas. He started his career
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Hannah Calhoon, Eric Cervantes, Kerrah Charles, Anna Cobb, Dazalyn Colvin, Anyah Evans, Logan Garner, Tanner Garner, Aniyah Gulley, Khilah Gulley, Kyler Hayes, Abigail Jones, Kalan Jones, Romeo McClure, Mary Morgan, Kelin Nelson, David Opiri, Donte’ Page, Kyler Phifer, Kailyn Rook-Sims, Zane Rosewell, Emma Taylor, Gabriella Wempe, Elgin Williams, Jr and Logan Wilson All A’s 10th Grade: Colby Adair, Jarrett Bell, Kennedy Campbell, Audrey Cordero, Taylor Echols, Mohammad Faiq, Tate Goodrum, Hayden Hardman, Colby Helms, James Jackson V, Tucker Johnson, Asia Joseph, Joshua LeVar, Lori Maxey, Sasha Maxey, Nancy Miller, Hannah Moss, Colin Phillips and Gracie Simpson All A’s and B’s 10th Grade: Spencer Allen, Ty Bearden, Ta’Seliya Blanchett, Brooklyn Buford, Baylee Burson, Cahleel Campbell, Courtlon Crow, James Daniell, Jaishon Davis, Breanna Edington, Mallery Gilbert, Erik Gomez, Te’shanna Gordon, Ryan Harris, Sierra Haynes, Terra Hembree, Ayden Hewitt, Katelyn Hunting, Latavia Johnson, Matyas Johnson, Collin Jones,
Major changes ahead for local HDC
Noah Kelly, Kendrick Knox, Landon Kuhn, Gabriel Langley, Peyton Lowery, Alexzander Loy, Kyle Matocha, Noah McAllister, Trinity McKenzie, Joshua Motl, Jasmine Newborn, Merrilee Parker, Matthew Porter, Kanen Rutledge, John Schaefer, Emily Smith, LaCoriyana Thomas, Lillian Trammell, Jhene Utley, Ollie Ware III and Jamelle Williams 3.000-plus* 10th Grade : Braylon Bailey, Derrion Beard, Savannah Beard-Miller, Mason Bledsoe, Kobey Buckley, Evan Burroughs, Ethan Campbell, Santos Cervantes, Colin Conroy, Kimberly Escobar, Emilee Fritts, Caroline Gables, Manadia Gardner, Colton Garner, William Gober, Natasha Gomez, Jameeka Green, Jason Haddox, Taylor Killackey, Shelby Krantz, Jakob Krein, Nazjay Lambert, Alissa McClure, Kayleigh McLane, Antoine Palmer Jr, Raiden Seale, Lilianna Simmons, Chloe Smith, Alex Turley and Deshyra White All A’s 9th Grade: Camryn Allison, Carter Babb, Manning Batson, Brooklynn Boyette, Bailey Boyles, Nathanael Campbell, Julia Carter, Calvin Clardy, Takylia Crawford, Anna Derby, Laila Dickerson, Olivia Fenocchi, Avery Garner, Makayla Gentry, Kevin Ghodela, Kirstin Hall, Cameron Jones, Julia Jones, Gray Manning, Mtenda Moyo, Madelyn Neel, Joy Opiri, Liyah Smith, Angelina Turner and Savannah Zeiler
Banks CPA, PLLC Stephanie M. Banks, CPA 204 North 27th Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923-5309 Phone: (870) 245-3975 Fax: (870) 246-7149
at his alma mater, Henderson State, where he served as director of athletics for three years.
Murfreesboro Diamond photo
Special to the Dispatch Workers at Arkadelphia Human Development Center and four other similar centers in the state could soon see a boost in Dean’s List from Clark pay — along with more stringent County and nearby are: job requirements. AMITY --- David Arkansas Department of HuBanda, Bobby Ray Hill; man Services officials said MonARKADELPHIA --day it’s the first restructuring Kayla M. Thompson; of the pay scale and minimum BONNERDALE --requirements for direct-care Kale Ethan Tilley (4.0); workers in 40 years. CADDO GAP --- AlexAlong with increased pay, andra Lee Jackson; workers will be able to earn GURDON --- Joshua professional certifications that Lane Moore, Edward match what’s expected at private Dillon Reece; MOUNT IDA --- Tan- facilities. “Today, we are taking a big ner Issac Hughbanks, step forward to make the HDCs Cody Darren Robertson, Elizabeth Nan Still, a more attractive and competitive place to work, reduce our Harold Jacob Stover, Thomas Jeffrey Wilson turnover and provide our clients with the stability in their care(4.0); givers that they deserve,” said NORMAN --- George Melissa Stone, director of DHS’s Andrew Cureton.
AHS
Gober speaks to GCU donors.
The Arkadelphia High School Quiz Bowl team competed in a tournament in Murfreesboro last Thursday. The team was the No. 1 seed after round robin play in the morning, going on to defeat Mena and Arkansas High (Texarkana) to reach the championship game. There, they lost to Centerpoint. Team members, from left, are, adviser Steve Patterson,, Danny Curl, Kerigan Overturf, Gage, Ward, Shepherd Molinari, Yebo Moyo, Sydney Motl, Josh Motl, Alex Jones, Anderson James, Cole Turner, Cabb Batson, Cannon Turner and adviser Beverly Slavens.
ATU fall Dean’s List includes Arkadelphian RUSSELLVILLE — Arkansas Tech University recently announced its Dean’s List for undergraduates on its Russellville campus for the fall 2019 semester. A student must earn a 3.5 grade point average or higher and complete at least 12 hours of coursework to make the Dean’s List. 1,971 Arkansas Tech students achieved that distinction during fall 2019. Included are 831 students who achieved a 4.0 GPA, a 3.6 percent increase over fall 2018. Those making the fall 2019 Arkansas Tech
Gober said his priority will be to further expand the culture of philanthropy at GCU through fundraising campaigns that enable the university to continue to invest in state-of-the-art classrooms, laboratories and student amenities while also impacting the surrounding community. Grand Canyon University is a for-profit private university and, based on enrollment, it’s the largest Christian university in the world with 70,000 students online and 20,000 on campus.
Special to the Dispatch
Educator
Phillip Roberts, age 73, of Arkadelphia passed away March 1, 2020. Phil was born October 14, 1946 to the late Albert James and Colene (France) Roberts in Little Rock, AR. He obtained his master’s degree from Henderson State University where he specialized in Elementary and Secondary Guidance and Counseling. His career was spent in education as a teacher, counselor, principal, and a school improvement supervisor for the Arkansas State Department of Education. Phil was an active member of the Arkadelphia First United Methodist Church and Retired Teachers Association. Phillip is survived by the love of his life, his wife of 50 years Nellene Runyan Roberts; his son, Chris Roberts of Bentonville; his brother, Mark and wife Debbie Roberts of Texarkana, TX; sister, Martha Roberts of Little
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Thursday, March 5, 2020
Division of Developmental Disabilities services. “We have struggled with attracting and keeping qualified caregivers. We hope these changes will go a long way to fix that.” The changes offer a “career ladder” for employees: • Each direct care employee must become a certified nursing assistant by December 2020. • The division will offer free CNA training to all current employees and will pay for any testing and certification fees. Direct-care employees will be required to take a CNA training program put on by DHS and pass a certification test. • The division’s previous fivetier pay grade plan for direct care staff will be upgraded and folded into three tiers, which DHS hopes will attract stronger supervisory applicants. • Direct-care base pay will go
All A’s and B’s 9th Grade: Logan Barnett, Christopher Campbell, Judsen Coon, Tifton Covington II, Megaenus Davis Jr, Brandon Dickey, Amaya Garrard, Hope Howerton, Lauren Jones, Isabel Martin-Tyler, Samuel McAllister, Andrew McGlone, Caitlyn McGough, Timothy Morgan, Skyler Mountz, Hailey O’Neal, Cassidy Parker, Kathleen Ramirez, Britzel Rivera, Emily Rivera, Connor Robbins, Madison Runyan, Dashawn Scott, Amya Snowden, Cheasni Thompson, Madison Trigg, Sydney Trigg, Aliyah Ware, Conner Welcher, Max Wilson and Taylor Woodson 3.000-plus* 9th Grade: Shamiha Alam, Alena Alcala, Marveon Berry, Ismal Cervantes, Stanley Cordero, Kayla Davis, Haley Heard, Phoenix Hewitt, Cheyenne Holmes, Aimee Jordan, Spencer LaFont, Aries Lambert, Jonathon McClain, Francisco Noriega, Alejandro Quintero, Nigel Robinson, Darrel Simpson Jr, Lamar Smith, Diamond Spittler, De’lion Summerville, Emily Talley, Haedyn Taylor, Conner Vance, Donovan Whitten, Kohner Wicks and Carson Wilson * A 3.000-plus grade-point average represents a B average, which means a student might have a “C” grade in one course, as long as they have an “A” grade in another course to balance it out.
from $22,000 to $26,000 per year. The base pay for supervisors will go from $26,000 to $32,405. • The division will also work with the Office of Personnel Management to modernize the pay grid for licensed practical nurses, a process that’s still ongoing. • Additionally, the base pay for non-direct care staff making minimum wage (maintenance, laundry, food prep technicians, etc.) will increase to $11 an hour as part of the statewide minimum wage increase that goes into effect on Jan. 1, 2021. These employees also will be offered an opportunity to enroll in CNA training at no charge to the employee. DHS officials said the cost of the changes will be offset by cost savings that are the result of efforts to improve efficiency by the division.
2 locals graduate at UALR LITTLE ROCK — The University of Arkansas at Little Rock recently announced its fall 2019 graduates, including two from Arkadelphia. More than 700 degrees were awarded at the fall 2019 graduates during a Dec. 14
ceremony at the Jack Stephens Center. John Greene of Arkadelphia graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy in Applied Science. Deanna Parker of Arkadelphia earned a Master of Arts in Higher Education.
Garner makes Dean’s List LITTLE ROCK — Cassandra Garner of Amity has been named to the Dean's List for the fall 2019 semester at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. More than 1,500 students were recognized for their superior aca-
demic performances at the end of the semester. To be on the Dean's List, UA Little Rock students must have completed at least nine credit hours and earned at least a 3.5 grade-point average.
The Arkadelphia Dispatch 812 Clinton St., Suite B Arkadelphia, AR 71923 Phone: 870-617-7001 Editor: Bill Sutley email: arkadelphiadispatch@gmail.com The Arkadelphia Dispatch is published weekly by Nashville Leader, Inc., 119 N. Main, Nashville, AR 71852.
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Thursday, March 5, 2020
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saw the Ouachita River as the right side of the letter, angling to a peak. On the left side, forming the other “leg” of the “A” is Interstate 30, while a navy blue cross-bar represents Pine Street, also known as Martin Luther King Boulevard. “These most iconic landmarks of Arkadelphia naturally form a rough `A’ shape,” he said He said he made the interstate green to reflect the area’s forests, parks and trails. The lighter blue on the right side represents not only the Ouachita River, but also DeGray Lake. “The navy blue conveys stability ad unity and also references our public schools and public service sector,” he told the board.
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people in Jones Performing Arts Center. Many paid $10 to be there; proceeds go to support scholarships. Sanders said that raising her three children, now 8, 7 and 5 — she’s the first working mother to serve as press secretary — helped prepare her for the challenge of dealing with some media demands. “You get real good at saying, `No,’” she said. “And you have to answer the same questions over and over.” That and many other comments drew laughs from the crowd — especially about 100 members of the EEE social club, OBU’s largest, sitting front and center and all wearing red, that turned out to see their “sister.” Sanders was an E at OBU, as well as Student Senate president, a position that often pitted her against OBU’s
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to OBU’s main campus in Arkadelphia. (OBU’s McBeth Recital Hall in Fine Arts Hall will serve as a rain site for the groundbreaking.) Pediatrics Plus gained a foothold in Arkadelphia on Oct. 29, 2018, when it moved into a temporary home in the lower level of Park Hill Baptist Church, 3163 Hollywood Road, using it during daytime hours on weekdays so as not to interfere with church activities. Denton, who grew up on a farm near Dalark, left the community 14 miles east of Arkadelphia after he got a basketball scholarship to attend OBU. He graduated with a business administration and finance degree in 1993 — simultaneously becoming OBU’s Top 12 all-time scoring leader on the basketball court. Denton and his wife, Amy, a physical therapist, bought Pediatrics Plus in 2002, when it was a home health therapy business serving about 16 clients, running it from their home office for a year before leasing 2,800 square feet of space in Conway for their first outpatient clinic. Mostly, at first, they provided therapy in homes and childcare centers. Since then, the company has grown rapidly, with nearly 600 employees now serving 3,000-plus clients in seven locations, including Russellville, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sherwood, Maumelle and, most recently, Frisco, Texas. They’ve
Zimny said that city leaders suggested dropping the city’s longtime tagline, “A Great Place to Call Home.” He said that would allow “for greater flexibility in the futre.” “Separating the tagline from the logo will allow the city to be nimble to respond to ew marketing goals and opportunities and to grow with the city’s evolving identity.” City Manager Gary Brinkley said that the city’s communication director, Keith Beason, would serve as the city’s “logo czar.” “It’s so unique ad so identifiable, we’re to going to morph this Ito a lot of things,” Brinkley said. The board adopted the new branding, including the logo, by unanimous vote. In other business, the board annexed 715 acres just to the west of Percy Malone Drive to prepare for the development of a new upscale housing development.
administration. She drew applause as she described how her biggest achievement as student government president was getting the administration to allow “open dorm”hours. The policy allows men and women to study and mingle in residence halls during certain hours, mostly in the evening, and under rules such as leaving doors open. Of course, Sanders had grown up in a political family as the youngest of three children of former Gov. Mike Huckabee, another Ouachita alumnus who entered the Governor’s Mansion at about the same time as she enrolled at OBU. A political science major and communications minor before she graduated in 2004, Sanders dropped the name of a few OBU faculty who helped her prepare for the pressures she encountered later. They included the late Bill Downs, a longtime communication professor, and her political sciences professors, including Doug Reed and Hall Bass. “The one thing I loved about Dr also expanded services as well, specializing in serving autistic children at some locations. According to one article on the company, Amy Denton serves as CEO In his Feb. 29 column in the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Arkadelphia native Rex Nelson described a recent meeting with Todd Denton, Sells and Southern Bankcorp executive Bill Wright, whose bank is financing the company’s development of its facility on a seven-acre site that’s been cleared of all houses in the last month. The $8 million Arkadelphia facility will apparently “mirror the one in Frisco,” according to Nelson’s column. But the company’s partnership with OBU will make the new 25,000-square foot facility here unique. Ouachita will soon become the first school in Arkansas to offer a master’s degree in applied behavior analysis, Sells told Nelson, senior editor of the ADG. Denton told him there's a shortage of board-certified behavior analysts, and Ouachita's program will help address that shortage. The company is now advertising to hire four such analysts on its website, pediatricsplus.com. Last week on its LinkedIn page, Pediatrics Plus announced that it was beginning a loan repayment program for a full master’s degree in applied behavior analysis, displaying OBU’s logo. A link to details and eligibility requirements wasn’t working Tuesday. Such programs are common in health care and usually fund the education of a prospective future employee, with the employee required to
Bass is that we would often disagree, but he made me defend what I thought I believed in,” she said. Reed, now political science chair, remembers Sanders well. “She was a great student,” he said after her appearance. “She had real leadership skills. Of course, by the time she got here, she was the governor’s daughter (and had worked in his campaigns). Passing out leaflets seems like a simplistic thing, but you learn about campaigns.” Sanders advised students to “soak it up” while at Ouachita. “This is the easiest life’s ever going to be,” she said. “Enjoy the ease of life. So many things are decided for you.” She also noted the importance of Ouachita, which she decided to attend even after being accepted to the University of Arkansas, which she initially planned to attend. “Ouachita is a really special place that shaped me and helped give me confidence,” she said. work for the company or at a certain facility for a certain amount of time or repay part of all of the education loan the company offered. According to county property records, it appears that Pediatrics Plus will be building on land that’s owned by OBU or a limited liability company it formed, Ouachita Properties Development Co., which will be leased to Pediatrics Plus. That’s because OBU officials have been the main drivers of the project in official settings such as city Board of Directors meetings, where OBU officials sought rezoning of the land and the closing of a dead-end street on the north end of 7th Street, where it ran into an area where OBU owns property on both sides of the street. The property is roughly bound by Eighth Street on the west, Hickory Street on the south, Ouachita on the north and Fifth Street on the east, although some OBU parking lots on Fifth Street will apparently remain untouched. Little Rock-based VCC Contractors, which built the Frisco, Texas center for Pediatrics Plus, is also the contractor for the Arkadelphia facility, working out of a former home on Hickory Street that’s owned by Ouachita. According to Nelson’s column, Pediatrics Plus will be the centerpiece of the seven-acre project. Sells told the ADG he hopes it will eventually include upscale apartments and extensive landscaping. Sells calls it Project Foresight, a name that’s also used in the incorporation statement of Ouachita Development Properties Co., LLC.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Gurdon’s cleaning up By Sherry Kelley Gurdon Mayor You can start placing your household junk at curbside for our Annual Springtime Cleanup. City workers will make the rounds to collect unbagged items and tree limbs. We will continue this through March. There’s no need to call for a pickup. If you have questions, call me at 406-1396. Many people in Gurdon are still sick with the flu. Help prevent the spread of germs: • Avoid close contact with people who are sick. • Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue then throw the tissue in the trash. • Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth. • Clean and disinfect
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porting, but Powell did say he lacked the cooperation of one staffer in his department in cracking
Vote
Continued from page 1 York Mayor Mike Bloomberg, with his total in Clark County at 282 votes, or 14.5%, less than 50 votes behind Sanders. The only Democratic candidate running for president receiving zero votes in Clark County was Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado. Following Bloomberg in the Democratic primary locally was Elizabeth Warren with nearly 8% of the votes cast at 150. But she received more than twice as many as Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, who won 3.5% of the Democratic vote in Clark County with 68 votes. Pete Buttigieg, former mayor of South Bend, Ind., was only 11 votes behind Klobuchar at 68 votes locally, or 57 votes. Only one contested local race was on the ballot, and only in Gurdon’s Zone 10, for its seat on the Gurdon School Board. Rodney Hurst led Andrew Goodwin by a whisperthin, three-vote margin of 40-37. That’s the one result that could possibly change because, county-wide, 10 provisional ballots were cast, meaning they weren’t
frequently touched objects and surfaces. • Stay home when you are sick except to get medical care. • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You can still get your flu shot; it could lessen the symptoms if you contract the Type A or B that is going around. I hope we don't have a problem with the coronavirus, but these protocols are helpful in many situations. Do you have a family tornado plan? You and all members of your household should know where you can take shelter in a matter of seconds and practice a tornado drill. March, April and May are some of our peak times for storms and tornadoes. down on students carrying large account balances from semester to semester. He indicated that Jones told him to “work with him” rather than accede to Powell’s request to move him out of his position as director of student accounts. counted because of some question about residency or something similar. If three or more of those ballots are from that school zone in Gurdon, that might change the outcome. Two veteran local auditors were checking figures Tuesday night to ensure the accuracy of the election count, but the votes still have to be audited again and certified before they become official results. There was one local race for justice of the peace on the ballot, but dental office administrator Tracy Rider coasted to an easy win after her opponent, attorney Greg Vardaman, publicly withdrew, citing the possibility of conflict with his responsibilities as a deputy prosecuting attorney. But both names remained on the ballot because of the timing of his withdrawal, and Rider amassed 143 votes to Vardaman’s 39. Rider, a visible force within the local Republican Party, will assume the District 5 seat now held by Brown Hardman, one of the final few Democrats remaining in Clark County government. Hardman opted not to seek re-election. Rider works for local dentist Scott Byrd, who now serves as Arkadelphia’s mayor.
Arkadelphia Dispatch
Tigers finish strong at major swim meet
Winners among Arkadelphia’s wrestling squad, which finished second in the 4A West District Tournament 2020 at Bauxite on Saturday, Feb. 22, are, from left, Reyna Rogers, who finished third in her weight class; sophomore Landon Kuhn, who finished first in his weight class; Ross Womack, who finished first in his weight class; senior Rickey Rogers, who finished first in his weight class; assistant coach J.R. Eldridge (better known as the Badgers’ head football coach); and head coach Casey Moreland. As a team, Arkadelphia finished at No. 6 in the state tournament on Feb. 28.
Reddies win weekend series with run-rule on No. 16 OKBU By HSU Sports Information
Henderson State blasted three home runs on Saturday and emphatically defeated No. 16 Oklahoma Baptist, 15-5, in just seven innings to win the series from the previously unbeaten Bison at Clyde Berry Field. Freshman Alec Lewis, a native of Arkadelphia, had the best game of his career for the Reddies and finished 2-for-4 with two home runs, five RBIs and two runs scored. Fellow freshman Kaden Argenbright, as well as sophomore Greyson Stevens, both also went 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs, while senior Joe Myers had three RBIs on a home run in the sixth inning. Oklahoma Baptist salvaged a win in the series by taking the second game of the doubleheader, 6-0. Starting pitcher Spencer Taack threw 4.1 innings in the first game victory for HSU and allowed three earned runs on four hits. Drake Salsman picked up his second win of the year in relief by pitching the final 2.1 innings and allowing no runs on just three hits. The Reddies (7-10, 4-5) trailed 3-2 in the fourth inning until Lewis hit his first home-run of the day over the fence in right field, which plated two runs and gave Henderson a 4-3 lead.
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Thursday, March 5, 2020
OKBU went back in front, 5-4, in the fifth when the Bison scored two runs on two hits and an error. The lead was short-lived as HSU put together its biggest inning of the game in the bottom half. A two-run double from Argenbright regained the lead for Henderson and two at-bats later it was Lewis who came through for the Reddies again, this time with a threerun shot, to catapult HSU in front, 9-5. Nothing came to fruition for the Bison after two hits in the sixth, and once again Henderson capitalized, as a double from Caleb Carr and a walk from Stevens set the table for Myers, who cleared the bases with a bomb to left center, which extended the Reddies' lead to 12-5. With the rout in full swing, Henderson finished things off in style in the bottom of the seventh thanks to an unearned run and a two-RBI double from Stevens, which gave the Reddies a 10-run lead and brought the runrule into effect against the nation's No. 16 ranked team. Oklahoma Baptist finished the game with 12 hits — two more than HSU — but stranded 11 base runners in the game compared to just two left stranded by the Reddies.
Lady Reddies snap ECU’s win streak
CLEVELAND, Miss. – The Ouachita Baptist Tigers had a strong showing at the season-ending New South Intercollegiate Swim Championships Feb. 19-22 as the women placed third and the men placed fourth. Coach Steven Bostick shared NSISC co-Head Coach of the Year honors for women's swimming with Phil Krause of West Florida. For the ladies, third place is the highest the team has finished Steven Bostick since coach Bostick joined OBU in 2015. Sydney Parker led the team in points with 52. Parker took sixth place in the 100-yard fly and back. She had the highest Ouachita finish on the day as she took second place in the 200-yard backstroke. Lilia Clark placed fourth in the 50 and 100-yard freestyle. Kaitlyn Montgomery placed fifth in the 200-yard backstroke. Anastasiia Ulianova finished her Ouachita swimming career with a sixth place in the 200 and 400-yard individual medley. Bostick had high praise for Ulianova and Alyssa Reece. "I was really proud of how the lady Tiger Sharks stepped up," Bostick said. "The first two nights, we took
a huge hit in points from relay DQs (disqualifications). Most teams might have folded up, but our girls kept fighting. Senior Anastasiia Ulianova finished her career strong, swimming three out of four best times and making two A finals. I would like to thank her and fellow senior Alyssa Reece for sticking with me the last four years. They will be missed." On the men's side of things, it was a fourth-place finish. Mitchell Lee led the men with 41 points. Lee placed sixth in the 100 breaststroke. He also took eighth in the 200 individual medley and 200 breast. Joe Ramsdell placed seventh in the 200 freestyle. Nolan Gerfers took eighth in the 100 breast, Sebastian Bustillo took eighth in the 200 fly, and Tray Armstrong took eighth in the mile. Bostick had high praise for seniors Lee and Mason Youngblood. "As a coach I could not have asked for a better swim meet,” Bostick said. "Our men came to battle every session. It seemed like every swim was a personal best. That was the goal all year — to get faster. Senior Mitchell Lee stepped up in a big way, scoring over 40 individual points. Fellow senior Mason Youngblood had the swim of the meet, cutting 10 seconds in his 200 backstroke. Both men will be tough to replace."
Ouachita’s Brian Brown (35) barely makes it to second base before the throw to the Southern Nazarene infielder on Friday, Feb. 28. OBU won two of the three games of that weekend series, defeating SNU, 10-4, on Friday, then winning the first game, 10-7 on Saturday before losing the final game, 7-1.
ADA, Okla. — Hot first-half shooting helped Henderson State build a big lead that it never relinquished Saturday as the Reddies snapped East Central’s five-game winning streak, 73-58, at the Kerr Activities Center. Henderson led, 21-15, after one quarter, thanks to 10 early points from Pink Jones. The Lady Reddies began to assert themselves in the second, where they held the Tigers to just 25% shooting and outscored them 22-13
to take a commanding 43-28 lead into the break. HSU shot 51.6% from the floor in the first 20 minutes and was 7 of 14 from 3-point range. Jones, a senior, was dominant in her final regular season game and finished with 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Fellow seniors Blu Jones and Hailey Estes added 11 points each to round out the double figure scorers for the Reddies.
Reddies finish sixth at Rattler Invitational
HSU’s Allie Bianchi, left, and Taylor Loeb tied for 13th in the Rattler Invitational.
SAN ANTONIO — Henderson State turned in a team score of 312 in the final round on Tuesday to take sixth place in an impressive field at the St. Mary's Rattler Invitational. HSU finished with a 54-hole score of 24-over 919 and was just seven strokes back of third. Karen Lee led the Reddies in the third and final 18 holes. Lee shot 3-over 75 with three birdies to tie for 20th overall at the event. Allie Bianchi and Taylor Loeb both tied for 13th individually. Bianchi shot 8-over 80 and Loeb shot 6-over 78 on Tuesday to finish 14-over par for the tournament. Loeb parred 39 holes over the two days which was the secondmost of any player in the field. Daphney Tilton had three birdies in the third round to fire a 7-over 79 and tie for 23rd, while Hannah Choi carded an 84 to tie for 33rd. Tilton was 2-under par on Par 5 holes for the tournament.
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Thursday, March 5, 2020
Arkadelphia Dispatch
HSU, OBU head to GAC Championships Reddies win in thriller OT
Tigers end regular season with loss to Southeastern
By HSU Sports Information ADA, Okla. — Henderson State erased a nine-point halftime deficit to East Central and withstood a game-tying 3-pointer at the end of regulation time to defeat the Tigers, 99-94, in overtime at the Kerr Activities Center. The victory before a crowd of 827 clinched the first 20-win season for the program since 2006-2007 and secured the No. 3 seed for the Reddies at the Great American Conference Tournament next week in Bartlesville, Okla. HSU will face No. 6 seed ArkansasMonticello at 2:15 p.m. this Senior Chris Parker moves the ball down the court under the watchful Friday, March 6. eye of Henderson head coach Jimmy Elgas in a recent game. Parker’s Henderson (20-8, 15-7) trailed 33-24 at the break and 24 points helped the Reddies win its final regular-season game at ECU. by as many as 12 in the secthe Reddies in the driver's seat two possessions until the final ond half but methodically cut with two makes to increase buzzer. the deficit down the stretch the lead to 79-76, but HenderParker scored all of his 24 despite red-hot shooting from son chose not to foul in the points in the second half and East Central, which hit 12 of final seconds, up by three overtime. Marshall finished its first 16 shots in the second points, an3d ECU made them with career highs in points period. pay as the Tigers' Zac Neely (19) and rebounds (8) off the Down 69-66 with about four hit a contested 3-pointer with bench, while both Lupardus minutes remaining, HSU used 0.6 seconds left to send the and Raekwon Rogers added four points from Chris Parker game into overtime. The bas15. After scoring 24 points and a huge 3-pointer from v] ket was Neely's first of the day. in the entire first half, HSU Chris Owens to spur a 7-0 run The miracle shot did not scored 20 points on 6-of-8 and surge to a 73-69 lead with phase the Reddies in the extra shooting in the five-minute 1:39 left in regulation. A free period. HSU scored the first overtime period. throw from Quawn Marshall six points in overtime to take Visit gacsportsnetwork.com made it a five-point advanan 85-79 advantage, and after for information on watching tage for Henderson at the 1:15 the Tigers’ first bucket cut the or listening to the HSU-UAM mark, but ECU would not go lead to four, Parker drained playoff game. The Boll Weevils away, and used three-straight his biggest shot of the day — a have proven to be one of the driving layups to trim the pull-up 3-pointer from the top Reddies’ toughest opponents deficit down to 77-76 with 11 of the key — to give Henderin the GAC this season, handseconds to go. son its largest lead, 88-81, with ing it two of its seven conferNeeding to foul, the Tigers two minutes to play. The shot ence losses. UAM defeated did and sent Anthony Luparproved to be the dagger for HSU in Monticello, 86-82, on dus to the line. Lupardus put ECU, which never got within Dec. 14, and the Reddies also
By OBU Sports Info. DURANT, Okla. -- Ouachita Baptist University dropped its regular season finale Saturday to Southeastern Oklahoma State, 91-77. Southeastern held control for most of the first half, but Ouachita came out halftime with determination. The Tigers came back and held a 66-65 lead in the final ten minutes, but Southeastern went on a run to capture a 14-point victory. Kendarious Smith led the Tigers with 18 points, Eric Brown contributed 15, and Trey Harris added 13. Kevin Buckingham led the Savage Storm with 31 points. Adam Dworsky tallied 21. OBU’s Isaiah Harper had a strong first half off the bench and put the Tigers up, 17-15, on a 3-pointer. Despite a Tiger lead halfway through the first half, the Savage Storm came back. Southeastern grew its lead to 42-26 with just over three minutes till half. The Tigers closed the first half on an 8-3 run to head into half down 45-34. The Tigers came out of the break with new energy. With just over 12 minutes left in the game, Southeastern held a 63-51 lead. Just three minutes later, the game was flipped. Kendarious Smith hit a 3-pointer to spark the Tigers’ run and make the
Arkadelphia freshman earns GAC recognition RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Henderson State outfielder Alec Lewis was named Great American Conference Player of the Week on Monday after break-out performances against Top-25 competition. The redshirt freshman from Arkadelphia played superbly for the Reddies last week against both No. 9 Delta State and No. 16 Oklahoma Baptist, finishing the four-game stretch with five hits, six RBIs, 12 total bases and a slugging percentage of 1.000 to help HSU go 3-1 in those contests. Lewis' best game came on Saturday in the seriesclincher against Oklahoma Baptist’s Bison. He finished 2-for-2 and hit the first two home-runs of his career to rack up five RBIs and four runs scored in a 15-5 run-rule victory over first-place OKBU. Since being inserted into the everyday lineup against Southern Arkansas, Lewis is batting a team-high .375 with nine hits in 24 plate appearances. Henderson is 6-2 since Lewis's first start on Feb. 19. The GAC weekly award is the first of Lewis's career and the first for a Reddie since March of 2019. A three-year letterman at Arkadelphia High
Take me out to the Youth Sports Complex
game 63-54. Smith capped the run on a layup to give the Tigers a 66-65 lead with just under nine minutes to go. Southeastern punched back to regain the lead. The Savage Storm started a run of its own to take its lead back out to double digits at 81-70. Despite the Tiger fight, Southeastern exploded down the stretch to run away with it. Ouachita rounded out its regular season at 12-15 and 9-13 in Great American Conference play while Southeastern Oklahoma State improved to 22-7 and 16-6 in conference. The Tigers' next matchup comes in the GAC Championships in Bartlesville, Okla., as they appear as the No. 8 seed and take on the No. 1 seed, Southern Nazarene’s Crimson Storm, at 5:45 p.m. Thursday, March 5. For the game livestream, visit gacsportsnetwork.com. Meanwhile, OBU’s Lady Tigers ended their season in Durant with a 76-55 loss to their Southeastern Oklahoma State counterparts. Maija Gertsone led the Lady Tigers with 12 points, and.Makayla Miller contributed 11. The Lady Tigers, with a thin roster of eight players, finished up Robert Dallimore’s first season as head coach at 4-24 and 1-21 in conference play.
Monticello knocks Badgers out, 60-49
Monticello’s dashed Arkadelphia’s (22-7, 10-2) dreams last Thursday of moving out of the 2020 Regional 4A South Boys Tournament and onto the state tournament. The Billies won, 60-49. Monticello went on to win over Camden Fairview, 55-42. But the Billies came up short Saturday, losing to tournament champion, Magnolia, 59-48, allowing the Panthers to move on at 24-0, 12-0.
School, Lewis was also a two-time all-conference selection. He was named all-district as a sophomore. He also was named all-conference while playing football during Arkadelphia’s 2017 state championship season. The son of Hank and Christie Lewis, he’s majoring in aviation at HSU.
Arkadelphia’s Youth Sports Complex should be swarming with activity this week and into the weekend as Southwest Sporting Goods’ annual Softball and Baseball Tournament continues. Play began Wednesday and will continue through Saturday. Teams from Arkadelphia, Foreman, Genoa, Hope,
Jessieville, Nashville and Parker’s Chapel are expected. Brackets are on the Parks and Recreation Facebook page. Fans should notice significant improvements completed by a contractor finishing a massive project that was funded by the five-year one-cent sales tax increase approved by city voters last fall.