In The News!
NEWS ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN THE

July 1998

Parched clime could dampen 4th festivities Burn bans, heat advisories, patrols by troopers abundant this holiday
Date: 7/4/98
Category: News
Page: B1

MATTHEW WAITE ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Talk of barbecues and get-togethers are going hand in hand with heat advisories and burn bans this Fourth of July, making outdoor celebrations sweaty, fireworks-less affairs. Law enforcement officers from throughout the state were getting ready for heavy traffic, fireworks complaints and drunk drivers.

With many off work Friday and today and with gasoline prices as low as they have been this decade, officials predicted heavy traffic on the roads this weekend.

State police spokesman Bill Sadler said the regular staff of state troopers will be on the highways, but others could be called in if there are many accidents.

Typically, more traffic means more accidents. Last year, state police investigated four fatal accidents over the holiday weekend. Early Friday, a Pine Bluff couple was killed in a head-on collision in Phillips County.

And with the recent addition of 350 portable alcohol breath-testers to the state police, some of which will be with troopers this weekend, Sadler said police will be watching for drunk drivers.

"We will be keeping a closer eye on the holiday because history tells us that people will take the chance and drink and drive on a holiday," he said.

The new breath-test devices, called the Alco-Sensor IV, were purchased with a $205,000 grant.

In the past, troopers have had to drive more than a half-hour in some rural areas to get a suspected drunken driver to the nearest licensed breathalyzer machine.

Maj. Dan Oldham, commander of the state police highway patrol division, said the portable equipment is not certified for court purposes, but it can be used to help troopers quickly decide if a driver should get a court-approved breathalyzer test.

While police are keeping an eye on increased traffic, dry weather has fire departments across the state busy with grass fires. And forecasters have put out heat advisories through the weekend.

The National Weather Service in Little Rock predicted temperatures in the mid-9Os through Sunday with scattered thunderstorms giving a lucky few some relief. Heat indexes, which determine heat advisories, were predicted to be between 105 and 1 10 through the weekend.

The hot weather and no rain has canceled several municipal fireworks displays and made setting off fireworks at home illegal in dozens of Arkansas counties.

Pulaski County has given permission for three professional fireworks shows Saturday night despite a countywide burn ban.

The Saturday night shows include Pops on the River in Little Rock and Lights on the Lake in Maumelle. The Little Rock Air Force Base also got permission to hold a fireworks show, and that show will be open to the general public for the first time.

Last month, Pulaski County Judge Buddy Villines banned burns, including fireworks, until the area gets a general rainfall.

Pops on the River at Riverfront Park begins at 6 p.m. The fireworks start at 9:20 p.m.

The Maumelle festivities begin with a 9 a.m. parade and include other daytime events. Evening festivities begin at 6 p.m. with fireworks to go off at 9:30 p.m. over Lake Willastein.

The air base will open its gates to the public at 7 p.m., and fireworks are set for 9:30 p.m. at the base lakes.

In Hot Springs the annual fireworks show at Oaklawn Park was canceled at the request of the Fire Department. However, the Jennings Osborne family fireworks display -- which had been canceled up until Friday -- was back on. That show, at the Just Add Water harbor on Lake Hamilton, will go on as scheduled at 9:30 p.m.

North Little Rock police spokesman Sgt. Jim Scott said officers will be enforcing the ban.

"We'll confiscate before we arrest, but we will be enforcing fireworks ordinances," he said.

Also an annual concern, lakes and rivers throughout Arkansas were jammed with holiday boaters and floaters. Police are searching for a man who fell off a barge Thursday.

Five people on the party barge were nearing the boat ramp at Murray Park in Little Rock when John Jenkins, 41, 1708 S. Cedar St., who had just undone his life-preserver moments before, fell into the water. Witnesses said he never resurfaced.

Little Rock and Pulaski County water rescue units spent more than an hour late Thursday searching for Jenkins' body, and continued Friday morning to no avail.

Statefile
Date: 7/14/98
Category: Sports
Page: C5

LR holds Hooked on Fishing picnic

• Jennings Osborne's third Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs barbecue will be held from 5:30-8:30 p.m. today at Murray Park in Little Rock. Osborne and his family are helping the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the Arkansas Education Department and Gov. Mike Huckabee, who will be on hand to help promote educational program for young people. The governor's band, Capitol Offense, will provide music. The event is free and open to the public. For more information about the event or the Hooked on Fishing program, call (501) 223-6313.

Arkansas names Trainor associate SID

• Kevin Trainor has been promoted to associate sports information director at Arkansas and Chris Williams has been named assistant sports information director, the school said. Trainor has been assistant sports information director for the past three years, handling baseball and tennis while working with football and basketball. Trainor replaces Bill Rogers, who has taken a position with the Springdale Chamber of Commerce. Williams was an intern last year at Oklahoma after serving as a student assistant in the Mississippi State sports information office for four years.

Fayetteville angler wins Truman Pro-Am

• Dennis Tune of Fayetteville placed 18th in the pro division of the 1998 Truman Pro-Am Bass Tournament. He weighed in 17.90 pounds to win $750. David Shelton of Green Forest placed 11th in the amateur division with 8.60 pounds, winning $375.

UCA signs 6- 10 center from Florida

• Central Arkansas has signed center Israel Torres of Miami-Dade (Fla.) Community College North to a basketball scholarship. Torres, 6-10, 250, averaged 7 points, 8 rebounds and 5 blocks last season.

LR Warriors win 16-and-under AAU title

• The 16-and-under AAU Little Rock Warriors defeated the Utah Hawks 70-59 in the final of the AAU Nationals. Eddie Withers scored 24 points and Damon Ashford 13 for the Warriors.

Lady Sixers 2-0 in national tournament

• The Arkansas Lady Sixers 12-and-under basketball team has improved to 2-0 in the Youth Basketball of America National Tournament at Winter Haven, Fla. TeAundra Harden scored 21 points Sunday and Kelly Williams 11 to lead the Lady Sixers past Lansing 58-32. Harden scored 15 points Monday and Ashley Harrel 13 in 63-39 victory over North Carolina. The Lady Sixers play defending national champion West Virginia at 4:30 p.m. today

Arkansas Mavericks start 1-1

O The Arkansas Mavericks began the Youth Basketball Organization of America girls national tournament in Orlando, Fla., with a loss and a victory. The Mavericks lost 56-49 to South Carolina, then beat the Costa Rican Junior National Team 60-28. Ashley Hudson and

Ashlee Antony were the Mavericks' leading scorers.

Announcements

• Henderson State will induct seven into the Reddie Hall of Honor on Sept. 12 at the Garrison Center in Arkadelphia. For more information, contact Ken Turner at (870) 2305161.

O Arkansas State will hold its annual coaches reception July 30 at the Holiday Inn Select in Little Rock. For more information, call Jeff Stotts at (501) 851-2703 or Larry Wilson at (501) 664-0204.
Arkansas Sportsman: Hooked on Fishing, Not Drugs a big lure for kids
Date: 7/16/98
Category: Sports
Page: C8

Steve Bowman
If you could have looked at all the little faces that lined the banks of the Arkansas River at
Murray Park Tuesday evening, the idea that kids can actually get hooked on fishing rather
than drugs would have become reality.

The idea is one that has been pooh-poohed by some, mainly those who have never had the chance to get hooked. If they would only spend a minute at an event like the Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs picnic Tuesday evening they would have a change of heart.

The point is made by watching kids of every age, who in any other case you couldn't keep still with nylon rope and anvil, standing or sitting still and concentrating on getting a bite from an unseen catfish. If I could get my daughter Melissa to concentrate on me when I'm talking to her, half as much as she concentrates on her line while she is fishing, I would save a bundle on Zantac and Tums.

As it is, my words don't seem to offer near the promise as the possibility of getting her line stretched. It could be worse. She might like other things better than fishing. She doesn't articulate it this way, but I can imagine one day hearing her say, "Fishing is the ultimate high."

That's the point, and it's working.

Thousands of people, most with small children in tow, showed up for the picnic. It's a good guess many of the parents were there for the incredible feast that Jennings Osborne and his family provided. (My plate, full of ribs, a pork sandwich, half a chicken, a smoked turkey leg, potato salad and cole slaw, fed five people and there was some left over.) But the kids made sure their parents understood the real purpose. (Most kids have yet to understand the value of a well-cooked barbecue rib.) Once their parents were full, the kids dragged them to the fishing area.

It's an ingenious way to get kids fishing, make sure the parents get fed first. It's an old Baptist ploy that worked for getting people to church when I was a kid. It's not surprising that it's working now.

Most of those kids will want to fish again. And some of those parents will recognize that the simple act of watching a line in the water is a way for them and their kids to share an equal bond. Nothing but good can come from that.

Despite politics, because it doesn't matter what religion or party you're with, we are fortunate to have a governor who not only knows the value of giving kids alternatives like fishing, but promotes it as well.

"We can continue to tell our kids to 'Just Say No!"' Gov. Mike Huckabee said during the introduction of the picnic. "But we also have to give them something to say 'yes' to as well."

It is a big reason Huckabee's Hooked on Fishing, Not on Drugs program is growing in schools all over the state. Kids are looking for things to hold on to. Some find drugs, others find gangs, and some fortunate ones are finding fishing.

Duck hunting is starting to gain more attention every day. You may have noticed the petitions circulating on a variety of issues.

There are a lot of folks worked up over all sorts of things from guides and blinds on wildlife management areas to hunting ducks during deer season.

For those who are just wondering about the ducks, the news is still good. It's just not as good as it has been in years past.

Hunters can expect another 60-day duck season with a six-bird daily limit. But this may be the last season for a while with a liberal amount of ducks and days. There are some waterfowl biologists who expect a return to a shorter season as early as next year.

According to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service numbers, nesting ducks were down by 8 percent and ducks in ponds in prairie Canada dropped by 50 percent from last year's record figures. All of which signals a downturn in the cycle of duck populations.

In the case of mallards, Arkansas' prize duck, the numbers only dropped only 3 percent to 9.64 million and remained 32 percent above the 28-year long-term average. In addition mallards remained well above the population goal of 8 million. But as the mallards have gone up or remained relatively stable, pintail numbers continue to drop. Pintails have declined 29 percent from last year and 43 percent below the long-term average.
Family affair at fishing picnic untangled
Date: 7/17/98
Category: Sports
Page: C2

Jeff Krupsaw
Fishing truly has a good PR guy. It always sounds great, even to those of us who are no good
at it.

Fishing especially sounds good when you haven't done it in a long time. You tend to forget the 17 times you hooked branches or the 24 tangled lines you had to untangle before you got a decent cast. You tend to forget the 32 casts without a bite, the lost bait, the broken lines, the disappointment of heading home not only without a fish but without a tug.

You tend to forget all these things when you hear about programs like Gov. Mike Huckabee's Hooked On Fishing, Not On Drugs family picnic. You hear about the free use of fishing poles and bait, you hear about free barbecue supplied by Jennings Osborne.

You figure even if the kids don't catch any fish, at least you get some food. And it's free.

When you have kids aged 8, 6, 3 and 20 months, you can't beat free. And once again, the lure of fishing is too much for any of them to ignore.

"Who wants to go fishing?" Dad announced.

"I do."

"I do."

"I DO!!!"

The littlest one didn't answer, but she was jumping up and down, so you had to figure she wanted to go along, too.

So we loaded up the van and drove to Murray Park.

It was a bit on the warm side, but before we knew it, we were handed three fishing poles and a bag of bait. We found a spot that wasn't too crowded, at least there was enough space for us to try to cast, and we settled in.

The youngest, Kimberly, got to watch everything from her stroller. She might have been the lucky one.

Before the first cast was made, the impatience was growing.

"We never catch anything," Rebecca, 8, said. "I want to go to the dock."

"I want to go play in the playground," Daniel, 6, said.

"I'm too hot," Elizabeth, 3, said.

"Patience, guys," the old man extolled. "Just a little patience."

Soon, Dad had all three baited and ready to go. First he helped Rebecca cast, then he turned to Daniel and finally Elizabeth.

Just as he turned his attention to Rebecca for another cast, Elizabeth dropped her pole in the water.

Daniel complained, before his second cast, that he wasn't catching anything.

"I want to go to the playground," he said.

"We never catch anything," Rebecca said. "I want to go to the dock."

"I want to go home," Elizabeth said.

"Patience, guys," the old man extolled, sweat dripping off his forehead. "Just a little patience."

Rebecca, the oldest, started doing better. She was casting out, waiting a fair amount of time, then reeling it in.

After about five casts, though, she was starting to wonder if Dad knew what he was doing.

"Dad," she said. "Maybe we shouldn't put as much bait on because maybe the fish are eating too much and getting too full."

Sound logic for an 8-year-old. Advice taken. We started putting a little less bait on the hook.

But the others weren't buying it. Elizabeth had enough.

"I'm too hot. I'm tired. I want to go home."

Daniel: "I don't feel good. I want to go play in the playground."

Kimberly was watching from her stroller.

Elizabeth tangled her line around her pole. It took Dad about 10 minutes to untangle it.

Then she did it again, this time somehow hooking her bait in her hair. Stinkbait, that is. Once gain, Dad untangled the line, extracting the hook and bait from her hair.

Meanwhile, the squawking stopped. Rebecca continued to cast, and patiently waited to reel in her line.

"I think I've got a bite," she said, almost every cast.

Daniel, tired of complaining for the moment, started casting on his own.

"Look Daddy," he said. "That's a good one."

Pretty soon, though, Dad had enough. The lure of barbecue was too much. Kimberly's patience was running out. Elizabeth was plum tuckered out.

"OK, guys, let's each do one more cast. Let's catch us one."

Everybody did their last cast, and no fish were caught. Dad took Rebecca's pole and attached the hook on the rod. He did the same with Elizabeth.

Daniel was still fishing.

"Can we do just one more?" Daniel asked.

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