Friday Night Lights
Meeting tonight on proposed Maumelle annexation, Census numbers show growth, plus news and sports headlines
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Maumelle grew! Well, that was expected, but it was great to finally get the numbers from the 2020 Census. By Chad Gardner and read more by clicking Maumelle sees growth
State releases covid case counts for school districts: This story will be updated if new numbers are released today.
The White House says boosters for all. Here’s what you need to know.
ICYMI: Bill Russell: Vote ‘em out
ICYMI: Why doesn’t Medicare cover services so many seniors need?
Sports headlines
Hockey Day set for Aug. 28 in Little Rock
BASEBALL ON BROADWAY is the weekly newsletter that spotlights the Arkansas Travelers. It is published on Monday and click the link above to give it a read.
Moore on Maumelle: My Take
Neal Moore is taking the week off.
Meeting on annexation tonight
A public meeting will be held at 6 p.m. tonight on the proposed annexation of the Pinnacle Heights property.
The meeting will be held at the Jess Odom Community Center and was announced on Monday by Maumelle City Clerk and Treasurer Tina Timmons.
The meeting was discussed at the City Council meeting that night.
“The property owner voluntarily agreed to meet with some residents,” Mayor Caleb Norris said then.
What was on the agenda, was a proposed second reading for the property at Ridgeland Drive to be voluntarily annexed into the city.
The property owner, Dr. Shabbir A. Dharamsey, filed for the voluntary annexation on July 9 and the development would include 186 single-family lots.
Now, that development has been delayed as the City Council voted 8-0 to push back the second reading to the first meeting in September. The property is 80 acres in total, and would include a clubhouse. Each lot would be an average of .365 acres and the development is roughly shaped like a very large “L”, as seen below.
The proposed development was first brought up at the March meeting of the Maumelle Planning Commission as it is in the extra territorial jurisdiction of the city.
Another voluntary annexation, the Bradley property, was also on the agenda Monday night and its second reading was held with the third reading scheduled for September and its eventual passage.
As the Ridgeland development is outside the city limits, the Council could deny the voluntary annexation but that wouldn’t stop the developer from continuing with the project.
Norris said on Thursday morning call that the voluntary annexation would be better for Maumelle as it would allow the city to influence happenings inside the development. He also said that the proposed development would be in phases and that the first phase calls for 30 new homes, and while that would increase traffic on Ridgeland, he said those numbers would be comparable to Manitou Drive.
Here Come the Hornets: Maumelle scrimmages at Ozark on Friday night
Football season is nearly here for Maumelle as the Hornets travel to Ozark this Friday for a scrimmage.
The high school scrimmage is currently scheduled to start at 7 p.m. and the stadium in Ozark is located at the intersection of 12th and Gibson streets, and not on the high school campus.
Maumelle was picked to finish third in the 5A-Central behind perennial powers Pulaski Academy and Little Rock Christian, while Ozark was picked to win the 4A-4 conference, by Hootens Arkansas Football magazine. Hootens has Maumelle No. 9 in Class 5A after going 6-3 in a pandemic shortened year with a second round loss in the 5A playoffs, while Ozark is No. 5 in Class 4A and have been to at least the quarterfinals for the last three seasons going 9-4 last year.
Expectations are high for Maumelle this season as senior linemen Andrew Chamblee and Nico Davillier have both committed to play at the University of Arkansas next season but Maumelle coach Kirk Horton said those won’t be the only two current Hornets that have the potential to play in college.
The entire offensive line, “Kelby Forte, Caleb Stroud, Brayden Yancy, and Kevin Hamilton,” Horton said. “Also Roderick Watts at wide receiver and Amarie Rogers at tight end. CJ Murphy, Jordan Harrison on the defensive line. Maurice Mosby and Skyler McClure at linebacker and Maxwell Pace and Caleb Epperson at defensive back.”
The returning offensive linemen are all seniors with Stroud checking in at 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds and the five average out at 275 pounds. Hootens rated, for good reason, as Maumelle having the best offensive line in Class 5A.
But maybe that should be Maul-Melle given that size.
Davillier, Chamblee and Stroud also all play basketball at Maumelle on a team that finished as the Class 5A runner-up last season.
Horton said that Davillier and his athletic 6-5, 275 frame, “Could see [action] in a lot of different spots,” and, “they both will do whatever it takes.”
Of the potential prospects listed by Horton, Rogers was the only junior, with the rest being part of the 25-man senior class but Horton said there’s only 60 players out and that’s down from previous seasons.
“Covid really hurt our Sophomore numbers,” Horton said, “We usually carry around 70” in total on the roster.
The sophomores only account for 15 of the team’s 60 players.
The ongoing pandemic has impacted the team in other ways as well.
“We have had some situations where kids have had to miss practice time due to Covid,” Horton said. “We hope we can have more of a normal season this year.”
And, as of now, Maumelle has no plans to limit home capacity at games this season.
Watch Horton in Action
Beginning August 24, we will host Hornets Live, Maumelle’s own coach’s show, at American Pie Pizza. Join us live or on YouTube. @MHSHornetSports streamer Natural State Sports will have a Coach’s show with Kirk Horton, broadcasting live from American Pie Pizza on Tuesday nights. The first starts next Tuesday at 7 p.m. and should be every following Tuesday at 7 p.m. until the season is over.
Natural State Sports also plans to stream the Maumelle football games this season, starting with the regular season opener at Sylvan Hills on Thursday, Aug. 26.
The YouTube channel can be found by clicking here.
Maumelle football schedule
Friday: Maumelle at Ozark (Scrimmage)
Thursday, Aug. 26: Maumelle at Sylvan Hills
Friday, Sept. 3: Robinson at Maumelle
Friday, Sept. 10: Maumelle at Vilonia
Thursday, Sept. 16: Maumelle at Shreveport Byrd
Friday, Sept. 24: Maumelle at Little Rock Christian
Friday, Oct. 1: Beebe at Maumelle
Friday, Oct. 8: Maumelle at Jacksonville
Friday, Oct. 15: Pulaski Academy at Maumelle
Friday, Oct. 22: Maumelle at White Hall
Friday, Oct. 29: Watson Chapel at Maumelle
All games kickoff at 7 p.m. unless noted, BOLD indicates a conference game
5A-Central Standings
Beebe … 0-0
Jacksonville … 0-0
Little Rock Christian … 0-0 (5A state runner-up)
Maumelle … 0-0
Pulaski Academy … 0-0 (5A state champion)
Watson Chapel … 0-0
White Hall … 0-0
#CollegeHornets
Dashaire Ford-Burton, Southern Arkansas
Nathan Juhl, Arkansas Monticello
Charles McRae, Arkansas State
Houston Motes, Arkansas Tech
Jonathan Reyes, Iowa Wesleyan
Zyon Slade, College of the Canyons, a junior college in California
#ProHornets
Kendall Donnerson, Carolina Panthers
Have any additions to this list? Email us at Arkansas@substack.com or reply to this email
#HighSchoolHornets
1 ... Maxwell Pace ... 12 ... 6-1 ... 175 ... FS/WR
2 ... Ethan Taylor ... 12 ... 5-8 ... 170 ... CB
3 ... Jalen Waits ... 12 ... 5-6 ... 165 ... RB/FS
4 ... Caleb Epperson ... 12 ... 6-0 ... 180 ... CB
5 ... Nico Davillier ... 12 ... 6-5 ... 275 ... DE
6 ... Roderick Watts ... 12 ... 6-3 ... 180 ... WR
7 ... Hunter Specht ... 12 ... 5-9 ... 160 ... WR
8 ... C.J Murphy ... 12 ... 5-10 ... 215 ... LB/DE
9 ... Dezmone Williams ... 12 ... 6-3 ... 200 ... WR
10 ... Weston Pierce ... 11 ... 6-3 ... 185 ... QB
11 ... Amarie Rogers ... 11 ... 6-3 ... 225 ... TE/DE
12 ... Paxton Compton ... 11 ... 6-1 ... 170 ... QB
13 ... Cayden McGee ... 11 ... 5-10 ... 170 ... WR/CB
14 ... Maurice Mosby ... 12 ... 5-10 ... 175 ... LB/RB
15 ... Jason Barham ... 10 ... 6-0 ... 180 ... QB/DB
16 ... John Bruchhagen ... 12 ... 6-1 ... 170 ... OLB
17 ... Jason Crawford ... 11 ... 5-10 ... 180 ... WR
18 ... Doug Bjork ... 10 ... 6-0 ... 185 ... LB ...
20 ... Jessie Knight ... 12 ... 5-9 ... 185 ... SS
21 ... Heath McPeak ... 12 ... 5-9 ... 160 ... FS
22 ... Jordan Candler ... 11 ... 5-9 ... 160 ... RB
23 ... Skyler McClure ... 12 ... 6-3 ... 230 ... LB/TE
24 ... Jaiden Worsham ... 10 ... 5-7 ... 160 ... RB
25 ... Michael Leach ... 10 ... 5-10 ... 170 ... CB
27 ... Michael Candler ... 10 ... 6-2 ... 180 ... RB
28 ... Karsten Hilliard ... 10 ... 5-9 ... 190 ... TE/LB
29 ... Trevon Rawls ... 11 ... 5-7 ... 170 ... CB
30 ... Jeremiah Armstrong ... 10 ... 5-7 ... 160 ... CB
31 ... Alan Timmons ... 10 ... 5-9 ... 170 ... CB
32 ... Jakossi West ... 11 ... 5-9 ... 165 ... FS
34 ... Romello Petty ... 10 ... 5-9 ... 160 ... WR
44 ... Keyshaun Bell ... 12 6-0 ... 185 ... RB
50 ... James Whitley ... 11 ... 5-9 ... 185 ... LB
51 ... Matthue McGarrah ... 11 ... 5-10 ... 165 ... LB
52 ... John Bishop ... 10 ... 6-0 ... 190 ... C/T ...
54 ... Tucker Culp ... 11 ... 5-10 ... 175 ... G
55 ... Jaylen Williams ... 12 ... 6-2 ... 240 ... DE
56 ... Cameron Kirkwood … 11 … 6-2 ... 240 ... OL/DE
57 ... Anthony Diaz ... 10 ... 6-0 ... 185 ... DE/T
58 ... Jordan Harrison ... 12 ... 6-4 ... 250 ... DE
59 ... Khalil Thomas ... 10 ... 5-7 ... 175 ... LB
60 ... Michael Wilson ... 12 ... 6-0 ... 240 ... NG
61 ... Sam Stephens ... 11 ... 5-9 ... 210 ... G/T
62 ... Braden Yancy ... 12 ... 5-10 ... 225 ... C/G
63 ... Richard Johnson ... 12 ... 5-9 ... 220 ... DE
64 ... Erik Young ... 11 ... 6-0 ... 175 ... T
65 ... Kelby Forte ... 12 ... 5-11 ... 265 ... G
67 ... Connor Dlugosh ... 10 ... 5-9 ... 200 ... C
68 ... Kenyette Garvey ... 10 ... 6-0 ... 220 ... DE
69 ... Christian Green ... 10 ... 5-7 ... 200 ... G
70 ... Kevin Hamilton ... 12 ... 6-2 ... 270 ... G/T
71 ... Tre-von Henson ... 11 ... 6-0 ... 270 ... G/T
72 ... Andrew Chamblee ... 12 ... 6-7 ... 300 ... T
74 ... Caleb Stroud ... 12 ... 6-7 ... 315 ... G/T
80 ... Lucas Keller ... 12 ... 6-0 ... 170 ... OLB
81 ... Cody Loveless ... 11 ... 5-9 ... 175 ... P
82 ... Evin Baumgartner ... 11 ... 5-10 ... 185 ... TE
83 ... Braden Kemp ... 11 ... 5-7 ... 170 ... K
90 ... RJ Wilkerson ... 11 ... 5-10 ... 225 ... DE
99 ... Kylan Vance ... 11 ... 6-0 ... 245 ... DE
North Little Rock games to have social distancing
As football draws closer, plans are in place to limit capacity at North Little Rock’s stadium this season.
North Little Rock will scrimmage El Dorado on Friday, Aug. 27 and in a Facebook post, the Wildcat Foundation said that social distancing would be enforced this year due to the ongoing pandemic.
This is a repeat of what the school did last season in terms of people being spaced out.
The Foundation noted, “as a result, the number of reserved seats that will be available for sale are dramatically reduced. … If you are interested in purchasing, we would advise you to get your order in soon.”
Seats will be sold until all have been reserved, and call 501-416-5030 to buy seats or if you have any questions.
Schedule
Friday, Aug. 27: El Dorado at North Little Rock (Scrimmage)
Friday, Sept. 3: Springdale Har-Ber at North Little Rock
Friday, Sept. 10: North Little Rock at Fayetteville
Friday, Sept. 17: North Little Rock at West Memphis
Friday, Sept. 24: North Little Rock at Little Rock Central
Friday, Oct. 1: Conway at North Little Rock
Friday, Oct. 8: North Little Rock at Little Rock Southwest
Friday, Oct. 15: Little Rock Catholic at North Little Rock
Friday, Oct. 22: Fort Smith Northside at North Little Rock
Friday, Oct. 29: North Little Rock at Bryant
Friday, Nov. 5: North Little Rock at Cabot
All games kickoff at 7 p.m. unless noted, conference games in BOLD
7A-Central standings
Bryant … 0-0 (7A champion)
Cabot … 0-0
Conway … 0-0
Fort Smith Northside … 0-0
Little Rock Catholic … 0-0
Little Rock Central … 0-0
Little Rock Southwest … 0-0
North Little Rock … 0-0 (7A runner-up)
#CollegeCats
In-State
Carlos Gordon, Arkansas Tech
Tobias Enlow, Central Arkansas
Dwain Hunt, Central Arkansas
Jaden Salley, Central Arkansas
Dennis Carroll, Harding
Frederick O’Donald, Henderson State
Jordan Owens, Henderson State
Out-of-state
Mason Carlan, Air Force
Slayten Clark, Dodge City Community College (Kansas)
Chris Jefferson, Dodge City Community College (Kansas)
Damon Ball, Jackson State University
Drew Martin, Memphis
Brandon Thomas, Memphis
Tony Collier, New Mexico
Oscar Addaway, North Texas State
David Chapple, North Texas State
Kareame Cotton, Northwestern State
Jaylon Glosson, Northwestern State
Erin Smith, SMU
#ProCats
K.J. Hill, L.A. Chargers
Martrell Spaight, Mass. Pirates (Indoor football league)
Have any additions to this list? Email us at Arkansas@substack.com or reply to this email
#HighSchoolCats
8 … Felix Wade …TE ... 5-10 ... 180 ... 12
9 ... Jiquori Stewart ... WR ... 6-0 ... 175 ... 12
15 ... Deontae Young ... LB ... 6-3 ... 245 ... 11
16 ... Joshua Thrower ... DB ... 5-10 ... 180 ... 12
17 ... Chris Foster ... QB ... 6-1 ... 175 ... 11
19 ... Malachi Gober ... QB ... 5-9 ... 160 ... 11
22 ... Torrance Moore ... RB ... 5-11 ... 185 ... 11
23 ... Jonathon Gray10n ... DB ... 5-8 ... 175 ... 12
24 ... Johnny Lewis ... WR ... 5-8 ... 148 ... 12
26 ... Larry Wilbourn ... RB ... 5-8 ... 160 ... 11
27 ... Noah Yarbrough ... TE ... 5-9 ... 200 ... 12
28 ... Davian Vayson ... LB ... 6-0 ... 180 ... 12
30 ... Jaylen Lambert ... TE ... 5-10 ... 170 ... 11
31 ... Justin Cole ... LB ... 5-11 ... 180 ... 11
34 ... Marquis Roberts ... LB ... 6-1 ... 160 ... 11
35 ... Tavion Akins... 5-10 ... 190 ... 12
36 ... Jakaiyah Brown ... LB ... 6-0 ... 160 ... 11
37 ... O'shea Williams ... DB ... 5-7 ... 145 ...
38 ... Zachary Robinson ... DB ... 5-9 ... 165 ... 11
40 ... Marcus Stovall ... DL ... 5-11 ... 180 ... 12
42 ... Devin Jackson ... K ... 5-9 ... 170 ... 11
43 ... Eligiah Smith ... RB ... 5-10 ... 157 ...
44 ... Robert Burgess ... DL ... 6-1 ... 220 ... 11
45 ... Josiah Hillman ... DB ... 5-9 ... 130 ... 12
47 ... Donnell Packer... 5-9 ... 159 ... 12
48 ... Ca'juan Harris ... DL ... 5-10 ... 185 ... 12
49 ... Timothy Armstead ... DB ... 5-7 ... 145 ... 12
53 ... Corliss Farmer ... OL ... 6-2 ... 225 ... 12
54 ... Reid Branch ... OL ... 6-0 ... 235 ... 11
56 ... Eric Settles ... DL ... 6-0 ... 300 ... 11
57 ... Desean Williams ... OL ... 5-10 ... 205 ...
58 ... Jeremiah Calvin ... OL ... 5-8 ... 230 ... 12
59 ... Jaden Jarrett ... OL ... 5-10 ... 265 ... 11
60 ... Kaden King ... OL... 5-10 ... 225 ... ... 11
62 ... Patrick Rogers ... OL ... 6-4 ... 285 ... ... 11
63 ... Lee Shephard ... OL ... 5-9 ... 239 ... 12
64 ... Romelio Buford ... OL ... 5-10 ... 210 ... 12
67 ... Jalon Gillerson ... OL ... 5-5 ... 215 ... 12
68 ... Zephaniah Williams ... OL ... 5-9 ... 242 ... 12
69 ... Noah Thomas ... OL ... 6-0 ... 220 ...
70 ... Braxton Johnson ... DL ... 5-11 ... 303 ... 12
71 ... Kevin Merritt ... DL ... 5-9 ... 215 ... 11
76 ... Kaleb West ... OL ... 5-7 ... 280 ...
77 ... Aaron Gist ... OL ... 5-10 ... 220 ... 11
81 ... Bradley Abrams ... WR ... 5-8 ... 153 ... ... 11
85 ... Camron Walker ... WR ... 5-10 ... 167 ...
86 ... Carson Alston ... K ... 6-0 ... 175 ... 11
88 ... Roshaun Simmons ... WR ... 6-2 ... 175 ... ... 11
90 ... Brandon Pettus ... DL ... 6-2 ... 168 ... 12
91 ... Na'khi Gray ... DL ... 5-11 ... 220 ... 11
92 ... Reginald Walker ... DL ... 6-3 ... 250 ... 10
93 ... Shaun Chambers ... LB ... 5-6 ... 200 ... 12
96 ... Ethan Booker ... LB ... 5-8 ... 180 ... 12
97 ... Eduardo Rodriguez ... DL ... 5-11 ... 195 ... 12
98 ... Edward Durham ... DL ... 5-9 ... 240 ... 11
99 ... Kelon Barnett ... DL ... 5-11 ... 220 ... 11
Derek Walter
Donovan Ajoku
Andre Broadway
Dalen Lairry
Elijah Mackey
CAC starts season Aug. 27
Students have returned to the Central Arkansas Christian campus and that means football is back at Mustang Mountain.
CAC starts its regular season on Friday, Aug. 27, with a trip to nearby Mayflower then at home on Friday, Sept. 3 when they host Riverview.
The Mustangs are used to being road warriors in previous seasons, but not this year as six of 10 games are in Pulaski County and the only real trips are conference games at Heber Springs and Stuttgart.
Last season, CAC went 8-3 in the 4A-2 Conference and lost in the first round of the playoffs to Crossett. This season, Hootens Arkansas Football has CAC picked to finish fourth in the league and No. 24 overall in Class 4A.
Schedule
Friday, Aug. 27: Central Arkansas Christian at Mayflower
Friday, Sept. 3: Riverview at Central Arkansas Christian
Friday, Sept. 10: Carlisle at Central Arkansas Christian
Friday, Sept. 24: Clinton at Central Arkansas Christian
Friday, Oct. 1: Central Arkansas Christian at Little Rock Mills
Friday, Oct. 8: Central Arkansas Christian at Heber Springs
Friday, Oct. 15: Southside Batesville at Central Arkansas Christian
Friday, Oct. 22: Central Arkansas Christian at Lonoke
Friday, Oct. 29: Bald Knob at Central Arkansas Christian
Friday, Nov. 5: Central Arkansas Christian at Stuttgart
All games kickoff at 7 p.m. unless noted, conference games in BOLD
#CollegeStangs
Gentry Miller, Arkansas State
Cole Shoemaker, Harding
Brandon Bishop, Henderson State
Jeremiah Wingfield, Ouachita Baptist
Have any additions to this list? Email us at Arkansas@substack.com or reply to this email
4A-2 standings
Bald Knob … 0-0
Central Arkansas Christian … 0-0
Clinton … 0-0
Heber Springs … 0-0
Little Rock Mills … 0-0
Lonoke … 0-0
Southside Batesville … 0-0
Stuttgart … 0-0