THE ATKINS CHRONICLE • WEDNESDAY, March 18, 2015
State!
by Marcus Kilburn
Few events capture the
essence of Arkansas and its
people like the annual state high
school basketball tournament
finals. For one
long weekend
in early March
young and
old, rich and
poor, country folks and
city slickers
converge in a
single location
for “state”,
as in “We’re going to state”. It’s
every team’s goal to make it to the
finals, yet only a precious few do. Seven classifications, boys and
girls, translates to a maximum of
28 schools ranging in size from
a student body of thousands
to a couple of hundred. This
year “state” was held at Bank of
Ozarks Arena in Hot Springs. The marquee matchup was the
boy’s 7A final pitting North Little
Rock (NLR) against Bentonville. Along with 6,499 other people
in an arena designed for 6,000, I
attended the game.
Tipoff was scheduled for
11:00 a.m. and by 10:00 a.m.
every seat was taken and 500 or
so dedicated fans were literally
left standing. A good percentage were there to cheer on their
favorite team but the majority,
myself included, trekked to Hot
Springs to watch first-hand possibly the best high school basketball player ever from Arkansas,
Bentonville’s Malik Monk. Like
Corliss Williamson and Joe
Johnson, Monk became legend
in 9th grade due to his freakish
athleticism. The legend continued to grow his 10th grade year
as his competitive spirit came to
match his physical abilities. At
the beginning of his junior and
current year college basketball
scouting services had Monk
among the top ten players in
the country. Within minutes of
tipoff, Monk showed that all the
hype was well deserved. The first quarter of the NLRBentonville game was beyond
a shadow of a doubt the best
quarter of high school basketball
I’ve ever seen. Both teams were
flying up and down the court
with what can only be described
as controlled chaos. Every shot
was contested, every rebound
was hard fought, and four or five
kids were diving on the hardwood scrambling for any loose
balls. Even though an incredible
amount of points were scored,
the teams were playing very good
defense. And sandwiched in
between were jaw-dropping plays
by Monk and North Little Rock
senior KeVaughn Allen. Allen is
Arkansas’s top senior prospect
and made an oral commitment
to play college basketball for
the University of Florida. Mere
words simply cannot do justice
to a couple of the plays by Monk
and Allen in that first quarter,
including Monk’s explosive
tomahawk dunk reminiscent of a
Power Lines
•3
Michael Jordon move, and Allen’s
two hand slam that first went
under the outstretched arm of 6’
10” Bentonville center Ben Smith
before being “flushed”.
The first quarter ended with
the score North Little Rock 27,
Bentonville 23. North Little
Rock’s stifling defense lead to
several Bentonville turnovers
and easy baskets. Bentonville
countered with Monk and the
outside shooting of Smith. During the intermission between
the first and second quarters
players, coaches, and fans all had
a chance to catch their collective
breathes. As entertaining as the
first quarter had been, it would
be impossible for either team
to maintain such an incredible
pace, which if continued, would
have resulted in a combined
score of almost 200 points. It
was also apparent North Little
Rock had much more team talent
than Bentonville and stopping
Malik Monk was top priority. The second half started and both
teams slowed the pace. Which
isn’t to say the action became
boring but that it was a notch or
two less than break-neck speed. With the action slowed a wee bit,
it was easy to see North Little
Rock’s game plan to control
Malik Monk.
Monk literally couldn’t turn
around without a North Little
Rock defender in his face even if
the ball was 90 feet away. NLR
rotated three players to guard
Monk, always keeping a fresh set
of legs in the game. Monk was
pushed, grabbed, held, shoved,
poked, and generally harassed
the entire game. The NLR players were going to get away with
as much physical contact as the
referees would allow, which is not
uncommon in basketball when
dealing with an extraordinary
opponent. I recall hearing stories
of much the same taking place
night after night when opponents
were attempting to corral my
uncle J.P. Lovelady back in the
day. It doesn’t make it right, but
good players understand it and
deal with it by simply playing
just that much harder, which
is the exact way Malik Monk
responded.
Bentonville lead at the half by
39-37 and at the end of the third
quarter 53-49. The game was
tied 57-57 with 3:29 left to play. For all his heroics and effort, it
was Monk that made a couple of
bad passes that led to turnovers
and NLR points that essentially
resulted in North Little Rock’s
win. Monk finished with 25
points and KeVaughn Allen
28. Allen was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, and
deservedly so. It was a game
where the players left everything
on the floor and sad that either
team had to lose. Admission to
the game was $8.00, and it’s the
best $8.00 I’ve ever spent. I’m
already looking forward to ‘state’
next year. And did I mention the
popcorn was pretty good too?
• By Bob Allen
 
Whistling past the graveyard
“Whistling past the graveyard” is an old expression used
to exemplify willful ignorance;
more specifically, trying to
remain cheerful in the presence
of a known threat. Its use here
applies to
those in
denial about
the risks of
global warming and the
concomitant
changes in
climate.
Denial
ranges from
simple willful ignorance up to
and including malicious lying
about both the current reality
and future risks. The simplest
denial is to not participate in
society by not being informed
about important issues which
affect us all. Another level is
those who try their best to find
a justification for their denial.
Websites abound for those
folks. There are numerous sites
designed to appear to be promoting free enterprise or unfettered
capitalism but are actually front
groups.
Those promoting active
denial are essentially all guided
by the fossil fuel industry. The
Heartland Institute has created a
school curriculum that employs
numerous half-truths to promote
the notion that there is a real
scientific controversy.
Frank Luntz has advised
members of the Republican Party
that denial should take the form
of pointing repeatedly to a lack
of scientific certainty. In reality
there is very little uncertainty
and essentially no controversy.
Denial ranges from sublime to
the ridiculous, for example witness Senator Inhofe’s snowball
show on the senate floor recently.
He brought a snowball into the
senate chamber to make that
point that it was cold outside,
hence global warming is a hoax.
The absolutely worst form
of denial is that which comes
through taxpayer funding. The
Miami Herald recently reported
that the Florida State’s DEP
[Department of Environmental
Protection] officials have been
ordered not to use the term
“climate change” or “global
warming” in any official communications, emails, or reports.
This is according to “former DEP
employees, consultants, volunteers and records obtained by the
Florida Center for Investigative
Reporting.”
Of course Governor Scott of
Florida denies any such order.
He was noncommittal when
asked if the DEP plans for or even
believes in global warming. He
also refused to say whether he
personally believes global warming is a problem.
In 2012, the Republican
dominated legislature in North
Carolina passed a law to the
effect that state scientists could
only use data from the year 1900
forward to project sea level rise
and then only extrapolate out
linearly. The scientists have been
denied the use of the best data
and computer modeling.
At the national level, the
republican led House of Representatives recently passed
an amendment to a Defense
Department funding bill: None
of the funds authorized to be
appropriated or otherwise made
available by this Act may be used
to implement the U.S. Global
Change Research Program
National Climate Assessment,
the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change’s Fifth Assessment Report, the United Nation’s
Agenda 21 sustainable development plan, or the May 2013 Technical Update of the Social Cost
of Carbon for Regulatory Impact
Analysis Under Executive Order
“Facts don’t cease to exist
because they are ignored” —
Aldous Huxley
Bob Allen, Ph.D., is a retired
professor of chemistry at Arkansas Tech University. Bob of the
Ozarks: http://ozarker.org.
MEMORIES
35 Years Ago
(From Files of March 19, 1980)
Atkins native John Burnett of
Rogers made it official this week
when he filed for the office of
state land commissioner. He had
announced in January that he
would be a candidate for the position.
Prosecuting Attorney Alex G.
Streett of Russellville confirmed
Saturday that he was investigating allegations of multiple killings
at two Russellville nursing homes
in 1976. He said his investigation
centers on a man who worked at
the nursing homes at the time.
Members of the Atkins Junior
and Senior High School bands
competed last week in Region II
Solo and Ensemble Contest. “This
group brought back 24 medals
which is the largest total since I
have been a director here,” director Bill Clement said. Receiving
medals this year are: Lynn Neumann, three; March Chappell,
Annette Marsh, Jeff Deal and
Tina Petty, two; Lisa Smith, Ann
Aston, Eugene Bourland, Tammy
Lunningham, Beth Neumann,
Eric Cole, Andrew Godbey, Jason
Jones, Rhonda McDonald, Jophelia Fletcher, Michele Sorrels, Paula
Kilburn and Larry Roberts, one.
Ronald “Duke” Bewley was
elected to the High School Board
at last Tuesday’s election by defeating Robert E. Bennett. The unofficial tally was 327 to 82.
Karen Alexander was named
first team All District and one of
the five members of the District
4-AA all star basketball team.
Mark Campbell, Anita Pratt,
Carrie Rainey and Butch Smith
received honorable mention when
the All-District teams were picked.
All are seniors at Atkins High
School.
50 Years Ago
(From Files of March 17, 1965)
A large crowd attended Atkins
High School’s first science fair
Thursday night of last week. The
exhibits were erected in the science room for judging and viewing
by the public. Winners are now eligible for entry in the regional fair
Friday, March 26, at Hendrix College. Mrs. Arthur Scheible, science
instructor at AHS, supervised the
fair. She said she was well pleased
with the number and caliber of
the exhibits “considering it was
the students’ first.” Junior division
winners were: Earth Science—
David Griffin, first; Kenneth
Anderson, second; Dow Dollar and
Bobby Ennis, third. Medical Sciences—Rickey Duvall, third, (No
first or second place winners were
selected.) Electronics—Douglas
Boren, third. Zoology—Chuck
Remphrey, first; Gary Duvall,
second; Larry Duvall, third.
Chemistry—Robert Bradley, first.
Botany—James Housley, first; Bill
Jackson, second. Physics—George
Bailey, Jr., first; Mike Kindrick,
second. Senior division winners
were: Botany—Janet Sorrels, first;
David Murdoch, second; Marilyn
Haney, third. Zoology—John Hol-
State Capitol Week in Review
from Sen.-elect Greg Standridge
The legislature passed an
act that enables small schools
to seek a waiver from the state
Education
Department
when they are
in jeopardy of
being consolidated because
their enrollment
has fallen below
350 students.
Act 377
allows school districts to seek a
waiver if they are not on probationary status for being in fiscal
or academic distress.
The threshold of 350 students was put in effect in a special session of 2004 dedicated
to education. Act 60 of 2004
requires districts to be consolidated if their enrollment falls
below 350 for two consecutive
years. It has had a far-reaching
effect on Arkansas public education; in 2003 there were 308
school districts in Arkansas and
today there are 237.
Also, the House approved
HB 1495, which allows local
school boards to vote on
whether to place advertising on
school buses. Revenue from the
advertising could only be used
for transportation purposes.
HB 1495 was sent to the Senate
Education Committee.
Both chambers approved
HB 1489 to reduce payment
of unemployment benefits
from 25 to 20 weeks. It would
also reduce payments by an
estimated $20 per week by
changing the way benefits are
calculated.
A few years ago the fund
into which unemployment taxes
are paid was in a $360 million
deficit, and the state unemployment fund had to borrow from
the federal government. That
triggered higher unemployment
taxes for businesses.
Last October, the state
fund became solvent again,
saving Arkansas businesses an
estimated $87 per employee
in lower taxes and avoiding a
scheduled increase of $32 per
employee. A spokesman for the
business community estimated
that paying off the debt last
October will save Arkansas
employers $119 million on their
unemployment taxes in 2015.
HB 1432, to allow people
with a concealed carry permit to
bring a firearm to polling places,
was approved by the House and
referred to the Senate Judiciary
Committee.
The Senate passed SB 569
to prohibit the distribution of
state funds to organizations
that perform abortions or make
referrals for abortions.
Also, the Senate approved
SB 543 to provide immunity
for people who call 911 to seek
land, second. Chemistry—Celeste
Hurst, first. Electronics—Susan
Cleveland, second. Physics—
Jamie Churchill, first. Keith Hern,
second; Linda Norris, third. Earth
Science—Ramona Haralson and
Kent Dollar, tie for first; Charles
Fengler, third. Medical Science—
Ann Graves and Jeff Robinson, tie
for first.
Prospects appear dim for
Coach George Jones’ senior high
track team this year. Only 12 boys
are working out in preparation for
the first meet Friday, March 26, at
Russellville.
Honor Roll students at Atkins
Junior and Senior High School
for the fourth six-week period
were announced this week. Two
students compiled perfect grades
during this period. They were
Betsy Bauer of the eighth grade
and Lissa Churchill of the ninth
grade.
75 Years Ago
(From Files of March 15, 1940)
Despite rainy weather, all
previous records were broken
when 330 votes were polled in
the municipal primary Tuesday.
In the race for mayor, Dr. Walter
Cale, incumbent, was defeated
by C.W. Darr, a former mayor.
Jack M. Lemley won over Turner
Hamlet, running for re-election
as recorder; R.D. Bradley, a former
marshal for more than 30 years,
defeated Bob Gill. Albert McCollum was re-nominated Treasurer
without opposition. The only contest for alderman was in Ward 1
where John R. Cheek and Reece
Henry were victorious. W.H. Bost
ran a close third. Aldermen elected
without opposition in other wards
were J.M. Barker Jr., L.L. Evans,
J.B. Maus and R.J. Young. Central
committeemen nominated were
Earl Burnett, Irvin Emmert, Van
Tyson, L.B. Hogan, David Griffin,
Harry Odom, Harold Alexander,
Aubrey Oates and F.F. Hubbard.
Miss Ernestine Hogan, daughter of Mrs. W.C. Hogan of Atkins,
was one of the College of the
Ozarks students participating in
the Arkansas Forensic League
tournament held in Conway last
week.
100 Years Ago
(From Files of March 12, 1915)
Mike Byerly, B.F. Wild and C.W.
Darr have been appointed judges,
and Carrell Bost and Willie Step
clerks for the Democratic municipal primary March 20.
The building occupied by
Lemley and Sons is being repaired
and remodeled.
Mrs. L.L. Evans attended the
state meeting of the Woodmen
Circle in Jonesboro this week.
Only one store room for rent in
Atkins.
H.B. Lay is having the wooden
awning in front of his store building on Dover Street torn down and
is replacing it with a metal awning.
Miss Mabel Vogan, the accommodating lady clerk at Pinkerton’s,
is an expert window trimmer.
She keeps the display window at
Pinkerton’s attractive at all times.
Social Security•
by Phylis Dills
Public Affairs Specialist in Little Rock, AR
of more than $32,000. If you
Question: I’m gathering
are married and file a separate
everything I’ll need to file my taxes
return, you probably will have
this month. Do I have to pay taxes
to pay taxes on your benefits.
on Social Security benefits? Also,
where can I get a replacement 1099? You can read more about tax
preparation in relation to Social
Answer: Some people who get
Security at www.socialsecuSocial Security must pay federal
rity.gov/planners/taxes.htm.
income taxes on their benefits. Still,
Social Security benefits include
no one pays taxes on more than
monthly retirement, survivor,
85 percent of their Social Security
and disability benefits. They
benefits.
don’t include Supplemental
You must pay taxes on some
Security Income (SSI) payportion of your benefits if you
ments, which are not taxable.
file an individual federal tax
You can also get a replacement
return and your combined
1099 or 1042S when you open
income exceeds $25,000. If
your own personal my Social
you file a joint return, you
Security account at www.
must pay taxes if you and your
socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
spouse have combined income
medical assistance for someone
in danger from a drug overdose.
It will be known as the
Joshua Ashley-Pauley Act, after
a young man in Conway who
died of an overdose of prescription drugs, even though he and
his friends were near the local
hospital. They were afraid of
getting in trouble until it was
too late to save his life.
The Senate passed SB 46 to
authorize law enforcement officials to seek extended authority to monitor sex offenders.
It requires prison officials to
notify prosecuting attorneys
when a registered sex offender
is about to be released.
Prosecutors could then
seek permission from circuit
court for an extended period
of supervision over the sex
offender, even beyond the expiration of his initial parole date.
Both chambers approved HB
1573, which expands the collection of DNA samples to include
anyone arrested on felony
charges and not just those
arrested for violent crimes.
Across the country there are
reports of how DNA sampling
has enabled the police to solve
murders, assaults, rapes and
other violent crimes. It has happened after the police arrested
someone for a crime such as
burglary or theft and collected
DNA samples. The suspects’
DNA matched samples from
other crimes and police were able
to confirm that they had caught a
dangerous, repeat offender.
Courthouse News
Marriage Licenses Granted
Robert Harlan Chavers, 37,
Clarksville, and Shannon Don
Bradley, 31, Clarksville
Matthew Floyd Ackerman,
26, Russellville, and Coral Marie
Newbold, 23, Russellville
Gayer F. Milikin, 41, Benton,
and Gina Ochea Masbang, 41,
Benton
Zachary Todd Calvert, 30,
Sherwood, and Brittany Ann
Cleary, 24, Sherood
Franklin D. Hardcastle, 55,
Russellville, and Donna Kathelene Farmer, 39, Glenwood
Ronnie Lee Mims, 32, Russellville, and Nicole Lynn
Garner, 32, Russellville
Brian Lamont Johnson, 38,
Russellville, and Clarissa Shea
King, 25, Russellville
Allen Davis, 41, Atkins, and
Crystal Dawn Jones, 37, Atkins
Marcus Len Graham, 21,
Hector, and Deborah A. Brockett, 20, Altus
Nathan
Clyde
Riojas,
23, Atkins, and Alyxandria Nicole Riojas, 27, Dover
Edward Shaddon, 74, Dover,
and Sharon Marie Pilkington,
68, Dover
Tracey Wade Reinhart II, 21,
Russellville, and Peyton Renee
Joyner, 22, Russellville
Gabriel Scott Bacquet, 20,
Dardanelle, and Paige Alyce
Massey, 21, Dardanelle
Alan Ray Stubbs, 51, Atkins
and Amanda Lynette Milholland, 35, Atkins
Steven Paul Taylor, 41, Russellville, and Raquel Lynn
Murie, 45, Russellville
Patrick Dwain Watts, 50,
Russellville, and Amanda Gail
Duvall, 35, Russellville
Christopher Shawn Thomas,
34, Russellville, and Rebecca C.
Denney, 42, Russellville
Timothy Wayne Caldwell, 27,
Russellville, and Danielle Olema
Smith, 21, Russellville
James Arthur Bowden, 62,
Dardanelle, and Phyllis J. Hurst,
64, Dardanelle (3-13)
Circuit Court Cases
Filed (Domestic)
Seungsuk Lee v. Daeburn
Kim, divorce
Leane Bryant v. Edward
Bryant, divorce
Christopher Fine v. Tiffany
Hefley, paternity/support, custody/visitation
Arkansas Office of Child Support Enforcement (AOCSE) and
Saleena R. Clifton v. Dayvon M.
Kidd, paternity/support
AOCSE and Amanda N.
Jordan v. David P. Long, pater-
nity/support
AOCSE and Victoria D.
Wilson v. Michael D. Westbrook,
support
Andy Xiomara Beldin v.
Joshua Earl Beldin, divorce
AOCSE and Matilde FunesMolina v. Santos J. Hernandez,
paternity/support
AOCSE and Ashley N. Clark,
v. Kristopher T. Holbrook Jr.,
support
Glenda Harris v. Billy C.
Harris, divorce
Arlis Wheeler v. Melissa
Wheeler, divorce
Haley Mitchell v. Christopher
Mitchell, divorce
Blaine C. Selby Jr. v. Karne J.
Selby, divorce
Sandra Jane Dale v. Joseph
Self Dale
Heather Greer v. Dayton
Greer, divorce
Kelly Marie Pride v. Bradley
F. Clark, Jr., divorce
Stephanie Bautista v. Pedro
Bautista Jimenez, divorce
Tiffany Putnam v. Lucas
Putnam, divorce (164)
Circuit Court Cases Filed
(Civil)
Robert Marks vs. Siemens
Energy, Inc.; Bigge Crane and
Rigging Co.; DP Engineering
Ltd. Co.: John Scoggins; and
VEI General Contractors, Inc.,
negligence
Discover Bank vs. Andrea R.
Whitbey, alleged debt
Midland Funding, LLC vs.
Calvin Miller, alleged debt
Vanderbilt Mortgage and
Finance, Inc. vs. Shane Morgan,
Lisa Morgan fka Lisa Leach,
and all other occupants of 636
Eakins Road, Russellville, AR 72802, writ of assistance
Little John Transportation
Servies, Inc. vs. Dallas Machelle
Renfroe (now French), injunction
Little John Transportation
Services, Inc. vs. Brenda Campbell, injunction
Jerry Wayne Hurley, Bobbie
Rae Haag, Sandy Gale Johnson
vs. Stephhanie Petty, Dale Petty,
Kellly Blalack and all current
residents of a certain 83 acres
in Pope County, James Rackley, Harlan Rackley, William
Mueller, Rebeccca McAlister,
Joey Beth Fields, Chad Laymon,
Burl Rouse, Merle Rouse, and
all living heirs of William Scott
(“W.S”) Hurley, Eva Jo (Tackett) Hurley, Ira Ray Hurley, Ava
Ruth (Brant) Hurley and all
missing or absent claimants to
the described property, quiet
title (74)