Arkadelphia Dispatch - May 07, 2020

Vol. 2, No. 18

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Searcy coach hired to replace Eldridge Special to the Dispatch

Arkadelphia’s school board voted 6-0 Tuesday night to hire current Searcy High School Offensive Coordinator Trey Schucker as the next head football coach of the Arkadelphia Badgers.

Superintendent Karla Neathery, capping a search that began when former head coach J.R. Eldridge resigned in late March after accepting the head coaching job at North Little Rock High School, recommended Schucker’s hiring

APSD privatizes school lunches > Page 3 to the Arkadelphia Public School District Board of Education.

“We are very excited to welcome Coach Schucker to our community,” Neathery said.

“He possesses all of the qualities that our district was looking for in a leader for the Arkadelphia Badger football program.”

Schucker comes to Arkadelphia after helping

lead the Searcy Lions to the 6A State Championship in 2019. The championship season was Schucker’s fifth year with a Lion program that has seen 31 wins over the past three years.

Schucker’s offense helped lead Searcy to a 12-1 record in 2019 in a season that saw the Lions amass over 4,000 yards passing and over 2,000 yards rushing while setting a school record for points in a season. The last three

Schucker

See Coach • Page 6

Local virus positives hit new peak From Dispatch Reports

Clark County’s number of COVID-19 cases leaped by 19% this week, climbing to 32.

But the county still reports no deaths as a result of the pandemic. On a more positive note, the county now has 27 people formerly testing positive who are now classified as recoveries in the county-by-county statistics from the state Department of Health. Until late last week, the number of coronavirus positives had remained at 26 or 27 for several weeks before sea This is a week where state officials began testing the possibility of allowing the limited return of pleasures denied by the need to prevent the spread of the virus — an RV stay in a state park (starting Friday), a haircut (starting Wednesday) and many more.

Schools began scheduling graduations.

The next big test of balancing the virus threat with the notion of getting life back to normal will be the return of dining out next Monday, May 11. Restaurateurs face strict, state-imposed guidelines for social distancing, health screening and cleanliness as part of the process.

State officials will also soon allow indoor venues such as theaters, arenas, stadiums and auction houses to reopen on May 18.

Restrictions lifting

Local campuses to reopen in fall

Patrick Nelson, right, of Nelson’s West End Barber Shop, gives Dwyane Harvill a haircut early Wedneday at his Pine Street shop, finally operating after state officials agreed to lift the month-plus ban on barbering -- as long as precautions remain.

Meanwhile, the Deason family, above, from Little Rock enjoyed the Lake DeGray State Park for the first time over the weekend as state officials also began allowing RV camping in parks statewide. The Deason children, far right, especially enjoyed hanging out on the family’s travel hammocks.

From Dispatch Reports

Both Henderson State and Ouachita Baptist confirmed this week they intend to return to in-person classes on both campuses this fall as part of the COVID-19 recovery.

Even though it won’t be official until Jan. 1, HSU is already acting as a de facto member of the Arkansas State University System, which made the announcement on its behalf.

President Chuck Welch announced that all ASU System campuses would use guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and the Arkansas Department of Health to formulate plans to ensure maximum health and safety measures for students, faculty, staff and campus visitors. The plans include reopening residence halls.

“Our chancellors and their response teams have done a tremendous job guiding our employees and students through this difficult time,” Welch said. “Students have See Campus • Page 4

Gurdon superintendent hire down to 5 finalists

Gurdon woman among 20 pardons proposed by governor Special to the Dispatch

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced Monday his intention to pardon 20 felons in Arkansas prisons, including a Gurdon woman.

Tiffany Haynie Ware of Gurdon was convicted on a charge of delivery of a controlled substance in 2002. Further details of her case weren’t immediately available. A news release from the governor’s office noted the year of her conviction, that all terms of Ware’s sentence had been completed, and there have been no further criminal-law violations.

Local law enforcement expressed no objections to Ware’s pardon application.

The applicants expected to receive 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.

A news release from the governor’s office also noted that he intended to restore firearm rights to former inmates and commute one sentence. An additional 28 clemency requests were denied, and six had no action taken on them. These include requests from both inmates and non-inmates.

By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor The Gurdon School Board this week interviewed five finalists to replace longtime Superintendent Allen Blackwell, and school officials have indicated a hiring decision could come as early as this week.

Arkadelphia High School’s principal, Nikki Thomas, who was among three finalists for the Arkadelphia superintendent’s job last year, is one of the five finalists. Others are: • Tyler Broyles, chief of legal affairs and an asSee who’s graduating > Page 5 sistant elementary principal at the Bauxite School Thomas said Wednesday. “We District. have kids leaving for the mili• Gerald Hatley, astary at the end of May, and they sistant superintendent wanted to make sure they were for student services at part of it.”

Malvern, who grew up in The drive-thru commencement Gurdon.

• Charlotte Leon, one of See Grads • Page 4 nine assistant principals

Drive-thru for diplomas; AHS graduation plans set

By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor Arkadelphia High School got its plans for a drive-thru graduation approved by the state Department of Education on Tuesday — a first for local schools that principal Nikki Thomas said was the compromise choice of a mostly student committee.

“I’m just proud of our kids,”

at the massive Texas High School in Texarkana.

• Caroline Nail, principal at Sidney Deener Elementary School in Searcy.

Blackwell, Gurdon’s superintendent for 11 years, announced in April he was leaving to take the same job at the Rose Bud School District that serves the White County town of the same name, plus part of Faulkner and Cleburne counties. He said he was making the move to be closer to grandchildren.

Blackwell’s annual salary as Gurdon superintendent is $95,282, according to budget documents on the Gurdon district’s website.

Arkadelphia Superintendent Karla Neathery, hired last year, said Tuesday that she was aware that Thomas was a finalist for the Gurdon top job.

See Gurdon • Page 4

2 News

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Arkadelphia Dispatch

Second Baptist Church in Amity will host the Nashville-based Bobby Bowen Family Band in concert, offering old and new Christian country favorites, at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 31 at the church, 119 Elm St., Amity. Tickets to the concert are free, but the church is asking interested persons to reserve a seat via Eventbrite; search for the band’s name. Visit https://www.bobbybowen.com/ for more informaOne of the city’s new police pickups was on display at Tuesday evening’s meeting. tion on the group. >>> <<< Arkadelphia Bands had planned to host its first-ever Mattress Sale Fundraiser from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, April 18 at AHS, 401 High School Road, but that’s now 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.

By Bill Sutley two pickups, keeping the pickups part of >>> <<< the order but replacing the Chargers with Dispatch Editor the four Tahoe SUVs. Although ArkadelPatrolling police in Arkadelphia will Mena plans to stage its 45th annual Queen Wilhelmina Rod phia will get two fewer patrol vehicles, the soon have a new look, thanks to emergenRun on Aug. 28-29 as 200 street rods and hot rods descend on the anticipated cost saves the city $17,551, alcy action approved Tuesday night by the town. The two-day event features a street dance and three chance for lowing that money to be used when more city Board of Directors. police cars are ordered, possibly as early The board agreed unanimously to entrants to put their cars through their paces. For more information, as November 2020. shift gears and buy four SUVs, all policevisit https://www.queenwilhelminarodrun.com/.

“Next year, we will hopefully have equipped Chevrolet Tahoes, as well as two >>> <<< more options available,” Jackson said. more Dodge Ram pickups, at a total price The Spring Hazardous Household Waste event that was “By postponing other smaller projects, we of $72,616 for the pickups and $188,724 were able to keep our total expenditures for the SUVs. scheduled for May 16 has been canceled, as a result of COVID-19 under our budgeted amount. I appreciate Police had been planning to buy the precautions. The Southwest Central Regional Solid Waste Managetwo new pickups for its shift sergeants, but the board or directors for acting quickly ment District will continue with the Fall Household Hazardous Waste to secure vehicles in this volatile police their plans to buy six conventional police vehicle market.” sedans, all Dodge Chargers, fell through event on Oct. 17. The Southwest Central Regional Solid Waste City Director David Goodman noted when Ford, one of many car manufacturManagement District is the planning board that oversees solid waste that the SUVs would cost the city more in ers crippled by the COVID-19 pandemic, terms of gas mileage. Brinkley agreed, but management for Clark, Garland and Hot Spring Counties. In previous reneged on Arkadelphia’s cruiser order, he noted that the SUVs would retain far declining to specify when production years the district has hosted two annual Household Hazardous Waste more of their resale value. would resume. events to offer citizens of each county the opportunity to dispose of Arkadelphia won national attention “Our department needs suffered a hazardous waste that sanitation departments cannot pick up as part in 2010 when it added 10 hybrid Dodge huge setback when our police sedan order of routine trash pick-up. Expect more details closer to the event.

Charger patrol cars, thanks to a federal was canceled six months into the order grant that paid 15% of the $22,000-aprocess,” Police Chief Jason Jackson said >>> Ongoing <<< vehicle cost. The city bought six more in Wednesday. “Our only other option is poAlcoholics Anonymous holds two meetings a week in Arkadel2014. Since then, though, the city has had lice SUVs, and we were fortunate enough phia. The meetings are open to anyone interested in AA’s program to replace several of the $6,000 batteries to find four police SUVs in stock through that are at the heart of a hybrid, allowing an Arkansas police supplier.” of recovery. The Arkadelphia Group meets at 7 p.m. Tuesdays in the it to get 24-26 miles per gallon, compared Arkadelphians approved by a twoSturgis Building at North 9th and Caddo streets. For more information to far less for its gas-only vehicles. Brinthirds an extra penny of sales tax, effecon the Arkadelphia Group meetings, call 870-403-3001. The U-Turn kley noted Tuesday night that three of tive for five years, during a Sept. 17, 2019 those hybrid patrol vehicles currently beelection, largely based on city officials Group meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays on the front, upper level of Park ing used are in need of new batteries. ambitious plans to use the money for inHill Baptist Church, 3163 Hollywood Road. For information on that Like the regular gas Chargers the frastructure and catch-up needs. By 2019, group’s meetings, call 870-230-2975 or 870-260-9277. city had hoped to buy this year, the new about half of the city’s 16-vehicle patrol >>> <<< Tahoes will be “pursuit rated,” but the fleet was more than nine years old. new pickups will not. The ordered pickCity Manager Gary Brinkley said that Al-Anon meetings, designed to help family and friends affected ups, which will complete the four needed it’s considered a best practice for a city by alcohol, are held three days a week in the Arkadelphia area: to place a shift sergeant in each of them, Arkadelphia’s size to replace three patrol • Tuesday, 7 p.m., Sturgis Building, corner of 9th and Caddo. aren’t “pursuit rated,” but they’re helpvehicles a year, but other, more-urgent ful when police need to transport stolen needs have caused the city to forego such 870-403-2019 goods and other large items. Because the purchases in recent years.

• Thursday, 6:30 p.m., Park Hill Baptist Church. 870-230-1954 pickups have four doors, police will be The city Board of Directors’ action • Friday, noon, Clark County Library, 609 Caddo St., side door. able to use them also to transport crime on Tuesday canceled plans approved in November to purchase the six cruisers and suspects.

512-750-2292

City acts to add SUVs, pickups to patrol fleet

Board of Directors moves to fill Ward 4 vacancy From Dispatch Reports The city Board of Directors Tuesday declared a vacancy in Ward 4 and requested applications from qualified persons living in the central Arkadelphia ward to apply to be appointed to the board.

City Manager Gary Brinkley said he’s already receive two letters of interest from would-be directors. The board voted Tuesday to accept applications until 9 a.m. Monday, May 18. The city directors would review applications at their next-day meeting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 19 and could decide on a new board member, based on the qualifica-

tions of applicants, that evening.

The appointment would fill the no-pay position through the term ending on Dec. 31, 2022.

Applicants must be 21 or older, a registered voter and have lived in Ward 4 for at least 30 days.

The person chosen to represent Ward 4 would conclude the term begun by Joann Nelson, who died in February after a 14-year battle with leukemia. She had served Ward 4 for five years.

Ward 4 mostly covers Pine Street, most of Caddo Street and areas north of. Walnut Street, as well as O’Connell, Sylvia, Austin and Gresham streets.

In other action Tuesday, the

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city Board of Directors: • Approved Brinkley’s recommendation to appoint. Deidra Middleton to the city Planning Commission, which doubles as the city’s Board of Zoning Adjustments. Middleton, who works for Dawson Education Cooperative, also serves as the election coordinator for Clark County. As with service on other city boards and commissions, there’s no pay for her new role.

• Heard from Brinkley that the city Parks and Recreation Department would delay, for now, the reopening of the city See City • Page 3

A new Board of Directors member is being sought from Ward 4.

Arkadelphia Dispatch

News 3

Thursday, May 7, 2020

City schools move to private food service provider

By Bill Sutley Dispatch Editor Sixteen of the Arkadelphia school employees laid off by the state’s May 1 deadline for such action comprised most of the district’s food service staff, allowing the city Board of Education to privatize its school lunch program for 2020-2021.

The board voted 6-0 to approve the bid of Chartwells, a North Carolina-based company, to take over the program at the district’s five schools — a move that’s expected to save the public school district about $91,000.

Superintendent Karla Neathery, who’s made several costcutting moves, recommended Chartwells K12 after an informal

committee including staff and even some board members heard presentations from finalist companies via Zoom teleconferencing in recent days.

“Things have advanced quite a bit in terms of school lunches,” said longtime board member Jeff Root, who participated.

Chartwells’ parent company is the the British multinational Compass Group PLC, which observers believe to be the largest contract foodservice company in the world. Compass Group has operations in 45 countries and employs over 600,000 people.

It serves around 5.5 billion meals a year in a diverse range of settings, including offices and factories, schools, universities,

hospitals, major sports and cultural venues, mining camps, correctional facilities and offshore oil platforms.

Compass Group was formed in 1987, but its origins date to 1941. The Chartwells K12 website notes that the U.S. company serves more than 2 million meals a day to K-12 students as a result of more than 660 partnerships across the country.

Neathery had recommended the move to outsourcing as a cost-saving measure, and other school officials had noted older students’ requests for more variety in their dining options.

During the 2018-2019 school year, before Neathery was hired to start last July 1, Arkadelphia

Public Schools ended the year with its school lunch program in the red by $65,000, Neathery said. Chartwells’ contract gives it access to all the district’s child nutrition funds from the state, most of which originated in the U.S. Department of Agriculture, as well as money collected from students and their parents.

But the contract also calls for Chartwells to guarantee APSD a $26,000 return annually.

“They had more return for us,” Neathery said, comparing Chartwells to other finalists.

The ad hoc committee helping Neathery choose a company followed a state-provided rubric for judging the merits of each proposal from the finalist food

service vendors.

In other action, the school board accepted personnel recommendations from Neathery, including: • Intent-to-retire plans by Elizabeth Cox, food service manager at Peake Elementary, effective May 29.

• And resignations from Crystal Jones-Parillon, special education teacher at Central Primary School, effective May 29; Tami Green, instructional facilitator at Goza Middle School, effective June 30; Sarah Matlock, advanced placement and gifted and talented coordinator, effective June 5; and Wade Matlock, teacher-coach at Goza, effective June 5.

Area teens earn Seal of Biliteracy

AllCare Pharmacy recently purchased a new rescue boat for the Arkadelphia Fire Department to aid in their water rescue and search and recoveries. Pictured with the new boat are Fire Chief Jason Hunt, left, and Allcare founder Percy Malone. The boat’s a 2020 SouthFork 1856 CC Flat Rescue Boat with a Mercury 80 Jet 4sEFI engine with controls. The total cost was about $27,000. There is no story behind the gift as this was a request from Chief Hunt and the Arkadelphia Fire Department. AllCare Pharmacy encompasses 23 pharmacies across Arkansas with around 470 employees. The company, working mostly out of offices in downtown Arkadelphia, also provides retail pharmacy services, as well as pharmacy services to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and county jails. Fire Department personnel broke the boat in recently on a sunny day on the Ouachita River.

From Dispatch Reports Five high school students at Bismarck and four teens at Centerpoint in Amity were recognized May 1 for earning the state Seal of Biliteracy, demonstrating proficiency in English and one or more other languages by high school graduation.

Centerpoint named its students on Facebook: Laugry Recendiz, Cynthia San Juan, Ivan Santos and Gabriela Velazquez. The names of Bismarck’s honorees weren’t immediately available. This was Bismarck’s first year to have students earn the seal.

Those nine were all declared fluent in Spanish as well as English.

Adopted first by California in 2011, the Seal of Biliteracy is now recognized in 39 states and Washington D.C. The seal encourages students to pursue biliteracy, honors the skills

students attain, and can be evidence of skills attractive to future employers and college admissions offices.

Since the 2017 pilot year, 1,353 Arkansas students from 41 high schools around the state have attained this certification in 13 other languages: Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Gujarati, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese.

Students qualify for the seal by scoring well on at least a couple of more than a dozen tests related to foreign languages, including high marks on the ACT or ACT Aspire.

2020 street improvements approved History awards have local connections

Arkadelphia’s Board of Directors Tuesday approved city staff plans for having Vance Brothers, Inc., apply “slurry seal” resurfacing to several streets north of Pine Street and west of 16th Street. The targeted streets are noted in blue in the map at right. Kansas City-based Vance Brothers will be paid $3 per square yard for the project, which is estimated to cover 65,000-70,000 square yards. The contract approved by the board calls for the company to complete its work within 60 days and end before Sept. 25. Directors delayed action on the project in April, hoping that falling oil prices would allow the city to get a lower bid on the project, but Vance Brothers’ president responded that its estimate couldn’t be lowered.

A slurry seal involves creating a mixture of water, asphalt emulsion, aggregate (small, crushed rock) and additives and then applying it to an existing asphalt surface.

City Continued from page 2

reation Center because of the difficulty enforcing the state’s directive allowing for the reopening of fitness centers. “We eagerly await Phase 2 of the governor’s plan, which will probably allow us the ability to meet a more manageable standard,” Brinkley said.

One of the main problems involves the enforcement of required social distancing when sports such as

basketball and volleyball are involved.

• Heard from Brinkley that the city’s Aquatic Center was on track to reopen by the July 4 weekend, with the possibility of a “soft opening” a few days before that. The city took advantage of anticipated problems making its usual Memorial Day weekend opening because of the pandemic, allowing Parks and Recreation to complete several improvements.

• Heard from Brinkley an informal report on faltering revenue at the city’s airport as a result of

the coronavirus pandemic virtually shutting down aviation fuel sales there.

City sales average $25,298 a month, but it was down to $4,438 in April, repre-

senting an 82% drop. But the city was able to receive in April a $30,000 FAA grant to cover operations expenses affected by the pandemic.

Special to the Dispatch The Arkansas Historical Association recently recognized two individuals with Clark County connections for their contributions to preserving the state’s history.

Nelson Speer Rex Nelson of Little Rock received the Lifetime Achievement Award “for his tireless promotion of Arkansas history through his newspaper column and other means.” Nelson, a native of Arkadelphia, is a senior editor at the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette and had been the longtime radio play-by-play voice of Ouachita Baptist University’s Tiger football.

Lisa Speer of Arkadelphia received the Walter L. Brown County and Local Journal Award for Best Edited Document “100 Years Ago: Front-Page Stories from Arkadelphia’s Southern Standard” in the Clark County Historical Journal, published by the county’s historical association. Speer is university archivist at Ouachita.

Arkadelphia Dispatch 812 Clinton St., Suite B Arkadelphia, Ark. 71923 Editor: Bill Sutley ArkadelphiaDispatch@gmail.com

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The Arkadelphia Dispatch is published weekly by Nashville Leader, Inc., 119 N. Main St., Nashville, Ark. 71852.

4 News

Grads Continued from page 1

is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16 — the same date and time originally set for the event, which is usually held in the Wells Center at Henderson State University.

Graduates are asked to begin arriving at 9 a.m. that Saturday, when their cars or family cars will be set up to proceed in alphabetical order by graduates’ last names around the high school to a ceremonial platform under the overhang at the entrance to Badger Stadium. There, students will receive diplomas as family witness the event from the car and photos are taken.

The event will be aired on Facebook Live, but the school expects to release online a polished video of the ceremony within a week for friends and family unable to attend.

Throughout the event, students will be asked to practice social distancing, and school officials are imposing other precautions because of the continuing COVID-19 pandemic.

When students arrive in their cars at an assigned time, they will stop for a health screening at a Point A checkpoint staffed by two school nurses and the school resource officer. Students will be asked screening questions, and their temperatures will be taken before they can proceed to the staging area in front of the high school.

At about 10 a,.m., graduates will be directed to drive, in assigned order, around the high school and form a line of vehicles at a second checkpoint on the north side of the school.

A faculty member armed with a radio will be at that Point B checkpoint, telling the students when they can proceed to the Point C ceremonial stage at the entrance of the stadium.

When a graduate arrives at the stage, he or she will exit their vehicle and proceed to the stage. On or near the stage will be Thomas, Superintendent Karla Neathery, a diploma coordinator, a videographer and a still photographer. All will wear face masks and gloves.

Each graduate’s name will be announced via loudspeaker. Thomas knows family members in their nearby car will be tempted to react loudly, but she hopes some sense of decorum can be maintained.

“We hope that the students will do what they need to be doing to be respectful,” she said.

Weather could be the biggest potential issue since the current National Weather Service forecast for that morning calls for cloudy skies, possible scattered thunderstorms and a 50% chance of rain.

“We’re 50-50 now on the weather, and we’re praying,” Thomas said.

One reason that most out-of-car activity is planned at the stadium entrance is because of an overhang there to protect the stage. Thomas said she expects other shelter to be established near the stage.

All of the brief speeches that are normally part of commencement will be pre-recorded and presented as part of the online video.

Printed programs are still being prepared for the firstof-its-kind commencement.

“We’re still trying to make it special for them,” Thomas said.

Other high schools in the area are taking a variety of approaches. State officials have approved Gurdon High School’s plans to hold commencement at 7 p.m. on Friday, July 24 at the school’s Cape Auditorium.

Bismarck High has tentatively scheduled its graduation ceremony for 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 28 at the Hot Springs Convention Center after its seniors voted overwhelmingly to attempt to stage a traditional graduation.

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Local graduates from Ole Miss OXFORD, MISS. -- Brock Anderson Huerkamp of Arkadelphia, Ark., is among the more than 5,400 University of Mississippi graduation candidates who will be celebrated during a live, virtual celebratory event on May 9.

Huerkamp, who is a public policy leadership major, is a candidate for a Bachelor of Arts degree in the College of Liberal Arts.

A 2016 Arkadelphia High School graduate, Huerkamp was one of seven University of Mississippi freshmen inducted in 2017 into the Alpha Phi chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa, a prestigious national leadership honor society. He’s also been a member of the Honors College and the Lott Leadership Institute and an active volunteer and participant with several other campus groups.

UM leaders continue to evaluate plans to hold an inperson commencement at a later date. The virtual event will begin at noon and can be viewed at olemiss.edu.

The University of Mississippi, also known as Ole Miss, is the state's largest university, with 23,000-plus students and is ranked among the nation's fastest-growing schools.

Arkadelphia Dispatch

Gurdon Continued from page 1

“We would be incredibly sad if she were to leave us, but we would also be incredibly proud,” Neathery said. “She’s done a fantastic job at the high school, and this is a good opportunity.”

Thomas has a long history with the Arkadelphia public schools, serving as a teacher, principal or assistant principal in four out of the district’s five schools. After becoming AHS principal last fall, she most served a year as principal of Goza Middle School. Immediately before that, she was an assistant principal at Arkadelphia High School for a year.

For nine years before then, from 20082017, she was principal at Peake Elementary School — except for a brief period in 2015 when she filled in as interim principal at Perritt Primary School. Before that, from 1998-2007, she was a seventh- and eighth-grade social studies teacher at Goza.

Continued She also spent one year, 2007-2008, as a from page 1 district-wide curriculum coordinator at the Bismarck School District. made clear they are eager to return to campus and After serving as valedictorian at Arkadeltheir traditional classes. We want to move in that direcphia High School in 1990, Thomas earned tion carefully with a focus on keeping everyone as safe her undergraduate degree in education and healthy as possible.” from Ouachita Baptist University. She OBU President Ben Sells released a letter to faculty, earned a master’s in educational leadership staff and other stakeholders on Tuesday to “confirm that and an educational specialist degree later we plan to resume on-campus classes and residential life from Henderson State University. for fall 2020.”

During the past year, Thomas said, she’s He indicated OBU would also be minding precautions broadened her interest in administrative recommended by the CDC and the state Department of work as part of a new role as one of 17 Health. Sells said he’s appointed Dr. Wesley Kluck, who members of the statewide Arkansas Asserves as Ouachita’s university physician and vice presisociation of Secondary School Principals dent for student development, to lead a Health MoniBoard. “This really helps me learn what toring and Action Team that will develop protocols to prepare to return to campus safely – staff and faculty over other schools are doing,” she said.

At the high school, Thomas said she’s the summer and students in the fall. focused on establishing lines of commu“The team is already at work, engaging with campus nication to have more formal staff and leadership groups, academic schools, administrative student input into decision-making. Part departments and athletics leadership to think through necessary details for a variety of scenarios,” he said. “I am of that has been a strategic planning focus that Neathery initiated, she said. She’s confident we can adapt, as needed, to deliver Ouachita’s distinct education and experience and deliver on our mis- also worked with the former College of the Ouachitas in Malvern, now Arkansas State sion.”

Campus

University-Three Rivers, to allow more AHS students to pursue several new trade skills certifications starting next fall, when Arkadelphia plans to transport students back and forth to the two-year Malvern school.

Broyles, who has a law degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, said he first started work at Bauxite in a human Resources-legal affairs role.

Before arriving, he was a high school administrator and a middle school math teacher. Beyond his law degree, he earned his bachelor’s in business administration from HSU, a master’s in education from UALR, a master’s in educational leadership from HSU, and an Ed.S in educational leadership from HSU. A 2003 graduate of Dierks High School, he’s currently working on his doctorate in educational leadership at UALR. Before becoming assistant superintendent at Malvern in 2017, Hatley worked at Hot Springs High School, first as assistant principal and then as the principal for grades 9-10. He also earned a master’s in educational leadership at Henderson, as well as an EdS. In district-evel administration. His LinkedIn page notes he’s also been active in Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.

Before arriving at the Texarkana Independent School District in 2017, Leon worked as a language arts teacher at Foreman and Ashdown. She earned her bachelor’s in English from Texas A&M University-Texarkana and a master’s in teaching from the University of Monticello. She’s been working on a doctorate in educational leadership from TAMUTexarkana since 2016.

Nail became principal at Searcy’s Sidney Deener Elementary School after previously serving as principal at H.L. Lubker Elementary School in Bald Knob for three years. She’s also been assistant principal at Angie Grant Elementary School in Benton, principal at Magnet Cove Elementary School and, more recently, principal at Clinton Elementary School in Clinton.

Arkadelphia Dispatch

Thursday, May 7, 2020

~ AHS Class of 2020 ~

News 5

Angullo

Arnold

Batson

Beebe

Becker

Berry

Bonner

Buckley

Burson

Cain

H. Campbell

J. Campbell

Carter

B. Clark

C. Clark

Cochran

Coney

Cooper

Cornelius

Cotton

Crossley

Curtis

Daniels

A. Davis

C. Davis

Deloach

Dickey

Dixon

Eddy

Edwards

Faiq

Fitzgerald

H.Forthman W.Forthman

Gatlin

Golden

Goodrum

M.K. Green

M.F. Green

T.L. Green

Griffith

Gulley

A.N.Gutierrez

A.R.Gutierrez

Hale

Harris

K.Harrison

T.Harrison

Hawthorne

Hayes

C. Hughes

L. Hughes

Hunter

Jenkins

G.Johnson

K.Johnson

T. Johnson

A. Jones

J.L. Jones

J.E. Jones

Kirksey

Lawson

LeGuin

Lehmann

Lowry

Loy

Manning

Manrique

Mauldin

McClure

McDuffie

McKenzie

McLane

McMahen

McMurry

Miller

J.Mitchell

M. Mitchell

More

Morehead

Moreno

Moseley

Motl

Moyo

Newborn

Nowlin

Olmedo

Parnham

Perrin

Quarles

Reed

Reese

Riley

Rorie

Savage

Smith

Smyser

Solomon

Spittler

Sumler

D.Thompson

T.Thompson

C.R.Turner

C.D.Turner

M.J.Turner

Vinson

Ward

Warner

White

Whitten

Summerville

Witherspoon Woodson

C. Young

E. Young

Photos of four graduating seniors were unavailable: • Chandler Keith Langstaff • Arkilious Tyrece McDaniel • Addisen Alina Pollock • Kevin Tyler Wicks

Full names of graduating Arkadelphia High seniors Osbel Flores Angulo Somerset Lanraiel Arnold Callaway Arnold Blake Batson Josee Ray Bebee Logan Zane Becker DeVonte LaMarr Berry Anthony Lastot Bonner Teddy T. Sunshine Buckley Jozie Michayla Burson Mark Allen Cain Haden Chase Campbell Jayson Melvoy Campbell Alexander Niel Carter Brynn Elise Clark Charlie G. Clark Trinity Diane Cochran Dawson Walter Coney Haven Denee’ Cooper Caleb Ray Cornelius Lunden Aaron Cotton Stanley Dean Crossley Kristen Grace Curtis Jazmine Nicole Daniels Aaron Steven Davis Cindy Marie Davis Kaevon Anthony Deloach Garrett Wade Dickey Olivia Christine Dixon Caleb Adam Eddy Paige Mackenzie Edwards Aisha Faiq James Colton Fitzgerald

Hesley Christian Forthman Wyatt Dillon Forthman De’Airrus Di’ante Gatlin Logan Reece Golden Sawyer James Goodrum Madison Kelli Green McKinley Faith Green Tyler Lee Green Christian Blade Griffith Latron Deray Gulley Alexandria Renee Gutierrez Aryanna Nacole Gutierrez Darbeigh Nichole Hale Sha’nautica Aaronise Harris Kyren Stefane Harrison Trinity Khily’a Harrison Samuel Demur Hawthorne Patrick Timothy Hayes Cody Pierre Hughes Lavarrious Damaro Hughes Jalen Tyrese Hunter Aijah Brianna Jenkins Gunner Fitch Johnson Kevion Leone Johnson Terra Moon Johnson Adala T’ier Jones Jaslin LaShay Jones Justin Ericson Jones Sammy Trenton Kirksey Chandler Keith Langstaff Lorenzo Jermaine Lawson

Kristine Marie LeGuin HaidenE. Lehmann Lynli Caroline Lowry Haley Michelle Loy Ian Brooks Manning Jonathan Juan Manrique William Thomas Mauldin Kemoni Ayinde McClure Arkilious Tyrece McDaniel Dorothy M. Vivian McDuffie Tajhanna Johnna McKenzie Daniel Patrick McLane Mattison Lou McMahen Aiden Alexander McMurry Jantez Rochelle Miller Jaylen Nadire Mitchell Mercedes La’Kole Mitchell Hannah Kaitlyn More Macasha Santae Morehead Jasmin Moreno September Faith Moseley Sydney Marie Motl Yebo Foti Moyo Kelton Trawvon Newborn Reece Morris Nowlin Isabella Ines Olmedo Matthew Allen Parnham Eli Conly Perrin Addisen Alina Pollock Jayden Jaire Quarles Breanna Deasha Reed

Kameron Xaiver Reese Jasmine E. Cervantes Riley Reagan Taylor Rorie Ethan Michael Savage Samuel James Smith Charley Sierra Smyser Jaliyah Jynice Solomon Destiny A. Burleigh Spittler Terrell Lamont Sumler Terrell AlfonzoSummerville Destiny Elaine Thompson Tyler Martin Thompson Cannon Russell Turner Cole Daniel Turner Malcolm James Turner Kaitlin Genne Vinson Hannah Breanne Ward Rebekah Cardine Warner Diamond Deshae White Asa Staton Whitten Kevin Tyler Wicks Lucas Allen Witherspoon

Photos courtesy of AHS yearbook staff

6 Sports

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Research focusing on Lake DeGray vegetation Special to the Dispatch University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff researchers are using new submersible drone technology to help the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission re-establish vegetation needed to help fish flourish in DeGray Lake.

It’s all part of a project involving UAPB’s Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries staff where the department is continuing to make progress on a number of fronts that benefit the university’s partners and the Arkansas public.

As part of one ongoing initiative, Scott Jones, a small impoundment Extension specialist, and Jonathan Spurgeon, assistant professor of aquatic habitat restoration and management, have been poring over recent video footage they shot with a submersible drone in the depths of DeGray Lake.

Jones said the recording documents their attempts to get familiar with operating the new underwater drone technology. The video takes viewers on a journey from over the side of a boat, through surface waters and down to the lakebed.

“We travel through a plethora of aquatic plants and past obstacles such as submerged logs,” Jones said.

“Gliding over carpets of macro-algae, we encounter species such as black bass, suckers, catfish and turtles along the way.”

Surveillance of the lakebed is one component of an Arkansas Game and Fish Commission effort to reestablish aquatic vegetation in DeGray Lake, Jones said. Because UAPB recently established a line of research specifically addressing the habitat needs of fish, the AGFC is collaborating with Spurgeon’s research laboratory for assistance in re-establishing native aquatic plants as a way to benefit the lake’s fish populations and overall biodiversity.

Jones said DeGray Lake once had one of the strongest black bass fisheries in the state and also supported an abundant aquatic plant community.

By 2010, however, a combination of biotic (animal) and abiotic (weather) factors negatively influenced the ability of aquatic vegetation to survive and reproduce. The result was a near complete loss of submersed aquatic plants in the lake.

“At the same time, the quality of the black bass fishery declined to the point that anglers began requesting AGFC intervention regularly,” he said. “While it’s difficult to find empirical evidence that an abundance

Gurdon press to be put on display

By Sherry Kelley Gurdon Mayor

Lots of good things are going on in Gurdon.

The former Gurdon Times newspaper, the city’s longest-running business and one of the longest running in Arkansas, ceased publication on Aug. 1, 2018. The paper was published for 124 years.

Jamie Kindschuh, UAPB graduate student of aquaculture and fisheries, I twice had the pleasure pilots a submersible drone at DeGray Lake. of working as a reporter and photographer for the of aquatic plants was directly respon- challenges of planting vegetation. sible for a healthy black bass fishery The floating cages are not influenced Gurdon Times. Once with the late Clay Franklin as in DeGray Lake, numerous studies by water level fluctuation, allowing my editor and once with have shown that fisheries tend to them to effectively disperse plants respond strongly to the condition of regardless of weather conditions in a Wendy Ledbetter.

I spoke with Anita Cabe the aquatic plant community. Plants given year. last week. Through a grant provide multiple benefits including “The AGFC stocked the cages with from the Cabe Foundathe provision of important habitats coontail, an aquatic plant native to tion, the City of Gurdon for aquatic taxa.”

Arkansas that can spread by stem is receiving a beautiful Efforts to reestablish aquatic fragments,” he said. “As waves and vegetation in the lake commenced current flow through the cages, frag- antique printing press from the Gurdon Times. This in 2019. The project was initiated ments of coontail stems break away after James Arnold, owner of the and drift until they settle on the lake is a dandy piece of history Arkansas Bass Team Trail, who has bottom. Some of those stems should and quite an attractive specimen of a press. We lived near DeGray Lake his whole attach to the bottom and begin new are so grateful to the Cabe life, approached UAPB aquaculturecolonies of the plant.” fisheries staff to discuss his ideas on To ensure a steady stock of native Foundation and very much looking forward to displayways to enhance the lake’s black bass aquatic plants for the project, cooning it at the Gurdon Busifishery. Public, private and casual tail, American pondweed and eeldiscussions eventually turned into a grass are being grown in greenhouses ness Center on Main Street.

It was the wish of the late partnership between AGFC, UAPB at DeGray Lake. The greenhouses Norman Montgomery that and the U.S. Army Corps of Engicontain shallow pools of water in neers. which the aquatic plants are grown in the city acquire this unique antique machinery. You “It was determined that one of the small planter pots and trays. know that I will keep you primary goals for reestablishment of In 2019, coontail plants were native aquatic plants in DeGray Lake grown in the greenhouses until mawould be to enhance its overall ecoture, then transported by boat to the logical integrity and promote healthy floating plant cages, Jones said. The populations of recreationally-imporcages were loaded until completely tant fish species,” Jones said. full and allowed to disperse plants Special to the Dispatch At the start of the project, AGFC throughout the year.

Central Arkansas Deand UAPB personnel had to come up “When a cage started getting low velopment Council, better with a way to plant aquatic vegon plants, it was reloaded with fresh known as. CADC, plans etation considering the challenges coontail from the greenhouse,” he a massive giveaway of associated with a flood-control and said. “The floating cages were repower-generation reservoir. The moved in early winter for evaluation emergency food boxes this month, planning to deliver specific hydrological characteristics and maintenance.” make traditional planting techniques The UAPB team is currently evalu- 10,000 boxes of food and household essentials, each difficult because the ideal depth ating the success of project efforts 50-plus pounds, at 20 range for plants is very narrow and up to this point using the submerslocations in its 19-county shifts depending on the season and ible drone, as well as boat-mounted service area. year. sonar.

Arkadelphia’s emer“Reservoirs like DeGray Lake “The increase in abundance gency food distribution is regularly experience substantial of submerged aquatic plants will scheduled from 10 a.m.-2 water level fluctuation,” Jones said. increase the abundance of microbes “Aquatic plants in these reservoirs and both invertebrate and vertebrate p.m. Friday, May 22 at the city’s Recreation Center, can only survive in a narrow range of primary consumers, including sev2555 Twin Rivers Drive. water depths. It can be challenging eral species of baitfish, crawfish and A photo ID is required, for plants to survive both at greater snails,” Jones said. “In turn, this will and the distribution will depths when the lake rises during increase the populations of secondfollow income eligibility the wet spring season or when they ary predators such as black basses guidelines. The giveaway is become exposed when the lake level and crappie.” one box per eligible housedecreases during dry summer and Vegetation may also provide fall seasons.” anglers a more defined area to target hold, but participants may pick up a box for someone Spurgeon said the AGFC installed for fishing and increase catch rates. eight floating vegetation disperEncouraging the spread of abundant else by presenting their ID. The first-come, firstsion cages on navigation buoys in native aquatic plants could also help served distribution will DeGray Lake to account for the slow the spread of non-native plant

informed.

The Community Pantry of Gurdon will have its next food distribution on Monday, May 18. They are wonderful partners in our community, and we appreciate Velvet Gonzales and all involved. They have been extra busy lately.

I am looking forward to begin improving a couple of downtown facades on Main Street this month, thanks to a grant from The Ross Foundation.

The weather is getting just right.

I am also looking forward to marking the spot of the latest sighting of The Gurdon Light. A resident from Arkadelphia saw the light, in fact several lights, earlier this year. We are going to mark to spot on the trail next week. This will be the first of what I hope are many such locators on the trail. Maybe this weather and ground will dry and we can improve parking area for The Gurdon Light and install the signage.

We signed the cooperative land use agreement with the Ross Foundation in October of last year.

Emergency distribution of food planned here May 22

Coach Continued from page 1

quarterbacks to play for Schucker have also gone on to play in college.

Schucker hopes that his success at Searcy, combined with the success the current Badgers have seen in recent years, will mean continued success for the Badger program on the field, coupled with victories off the field as well.

“My goal is to develop young men to be successful contributors to the community when their football career is over,” Schucker said. “With regards to football, we hope to develop players to achieve their maximum ability during their time in our program. Offensively, we are going to spread the ball around and get the ball in space to our best players so we can score a lot of points. On defense, we’re going to run to the football and be the most physical team on the field. We want to create big plays and turnovers on defense.”

Schucker said he was attracted to the position because of the reputation of the Badger program and what he’s heard about Arkadelphia.

“What initially interested me in the job was the tradition that Arkadelphia has and the recent success the program has seen,” Schucker said. “Arkadelphia is a well-respected football program in the state of Arkansas and has great community and administration support. and they care about the program’s success.”

While Schucker was attracted to Arkadelphia because of support and tradition, Neathery grew to be more and more impressed with Schucker throughout the search process.

“Coach Schucker comes highly recommended by his previous district, and we are very confident that he will continue the excellence of Badger football,” Neathery said. “I believe that Coach Schucker is going to earn the trust of our community every day by his actions, by his words and by his deeds, and our football

Arkadelphia Dispatch

Trey Schucker holds Searcy’s 6A state championship trophy in 2019 after the final game of the season. players will benefit from his time in the Arkadelphia School District.”

Arkadelphia Athletic Director and head boys’ basketball coach Donald Williams has also been impressed in the short time he has gotten to know Schucker during the process.

“I’m excited about the enthusiasm that Coach Schucker has for the job and for getting started,” Williams said. “I think he’s a great young and upcoming coach who will have a great future, and I’m glad he’s starting that in Arkadelphia.”

Schucker’s contract calls for him to not only be head coach but also share athletic director duties with Williams. He will also serve as assistant wrestling coach, which Eldridge also did.

Under normal circumstances, Schucker would plan on meeting with the team and coaching staff in person to hit the ground running, but he also knows COVID-19 precautions call for different ways of getting started until restrictions are lifted.

“During this time, we are going to control the things we can control, and that is keeping consistent communication with our players,” Schucker said. “I want to call every player and have online meetings to begin creating relationships with the team. Eventually we will begin to have team practices, but I don’t want that to be the first time I have contact with the team.”

Schucker is a graduate of the University of Central Arkansas, playing as a Bear under former head coaches Steve Campbell and Clint Conque.

Schucker was in the quarterback room with current UCA head coach Nathan Brown. After graduating from UCA, Schucker served as an intern for the UCA Athletics Strength and Conditioning program.

Schucker comes from a family of educators as both of his parents are employed by the Searcy School District. His mother is an elementary teacher, and his father is the Searcy athletic director. Schucker lists his parents and football coaches as his biggest influences.

“Growing up, my dad was a football coach (in Morrilton), so I have always been around the game,” he said. It’s just a part of me. I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to play for (current UCA head coach) Nathan Brown at UCA and coach the past five years with Searcy head coach Mark Kelley. I credit my parents for shaping me into the person I am. They taught me work ethic and how to overcome adversity.”

The school board, meeting in person — socially distant from each other around a square of tables — for the first time in two months, discussed Neathery’s recommendation to select Schucker from a field of 21 candidates in an hour-long executive session. The meeting was also accessible via Zoom teleconferencing, and a couple of members on the seven-member board participated via that connection. But board member Kenneth Harris ran into technical problems reconnecting after the executive session, hence the 6-0 vote.

Although Schucker may not be able to meet many people face to face at first, he is excited for that time to come and to begin working with the program.

“I am very excited to meet the players, staff, students and community,” Schucker said. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to lead the Badgers. The 4A-7 is a highly competitive conference, and I love competition.”

occur via curbside, no-contact delivery. The boxes, including such items as toilet paper in addition to meats and vegetables, will be loaded into car trunks or the back of pickups while participants wait.

Participants are encouraged to make sure there’s plenty of room.

For information on other sites’ distribution details, visit cadc www. cadc.com/emergency-food.

For more information, call the CADC’s main office at 501-315-1121 in Benton.

What they say about Schucker ...

“Coach Schucker is an innovative young coach. He has a bright future and will be successful at Arkadelphia. He will be very involved in the community, and his players will be really excited to play for him. I’m excited for him to be able to get this job, but I’m excited for Arkadelphia that Trey will be their head football coach.”

- El Dorado Head Football Coach Steven Jones

“As a person, Coach Schucker is one of the best. He’s a great friend. Coach Schucker relates to kids as well as any coach I’ve ever been around. On the field, each year he was offensive coordinator, our team got better and achieved a lot of things that we had never achieved at Searcy. He will make a huge difference in the lives of a lot of kids.”

– Searcy Head Football Coach Mark Kelley

“Trey is very personable, and the kids really like him. He gets along well with parents and the community. He is a teacher-coach. He’s had this ambition to become a head coach, and I think he will dedicate himself fully to doing a great job.”

– Diane Barrett, Searcy superintendent

“I have loved watching Trey grow and evolve.

He’s definitely a team player. He’s extremely helpful around campus and gets involved. He’s just (an) all-around great guy who has a lot going for him. We’re all supportive of him moving up in the world to a head coaching position, and we’re excited about this for him, but we hate to lose him. The kids listen to him, and he commands a level of respect from the kids and they just love him. He’s going to do great things for Arkadelphia, and we’re going to be supporting him from Searcy.”

– Carrie Parsley, Southwest Middle principal, Searcy