Ridge Writer
Chronicles of life above the DeltaForte out at UAPB, multiple sources confirm – UPDATE 2
As initially reported here last week, multiple sources close to the situation have confirmed to Ridge Writer that football coach Mo Forte has been released by Arkansas-Pine Bluff just one year after taking the Golden Lions to the SWAC Championship Game.
An announcement from the university is expected today.
UPDATE (Nov 19/12:37 p.m.): Our source tells us that defensive coordinator Monte Coleman will be named interim head coach in a few hours.
UPDATE 2 (Nov 19/3:01 p.m.): Ridge Writer broke the story, and now it has come to pass. Monte Coleman will be the next head coach of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions. Associated Press story on the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
Memphis, Little Rock among most dangerous cities in America
The Arkansas state capitol and the home of the delta blues were named two of the 15 most dangerous places in America recently in a report based on FBI statistics.
Memphis, Tenn., a shopping destination for many in east Arkansas and home to the primary airport for the region, came in at eighth place while Little Rock came in at 13th.
At least one other city in the greater Mississippi River delta ranked in the top 15 – St. Louis, pegged number one a year ago in this report, is now at number two.
[Hit the picture for the related story]
What do ASU and Alabama have in common?
…Both have lost to Louisiana-Monroe this year.
Certainly a banner year for the Sun Belt – our Indians have underachieved after almost knocking off Texas, but the league has wins over C-USA, the SEC, the Big 10, and the Big XII. ASU can go a perfect 3-0 versus C-USA this season if they knock off Southern Miss this Saturday in Hattiesburg.
[Hit the picture for the related story]
‘Keeping up with the Jonesboros, Part I’ – Jonesboro to consider Paragould-ish water park
In the continuing battle for “Hub of Northeast Arkansas” supremacy that we here at Ridge Writer like to call ‘Keeping up with the Jonesboros’, Paragould has apparently had Jonesboro in check thanks to the new Community Center Park on US 49 South. The park’s aquatic center, pictured above [click for large view], features several pools and large slides as well as two indoor pools with a retractable roof. The rest of the park includes several softball and soccer fields and a large convention facility.
Jonesboro officials haven’t liked the fact that city residents find it necessary to drive the 15 minutes up Highway 49 to Greene County’s flagship city to get summer fun, so they want to build a similar facility in their city.
The City Council will meet tomorrow to consider a resolution to hire a consultant so that a feasibility study can be created. The contract is expected to be valued at $45,000.
In 2002, Jonesboro Parks & Recreation conducted a study that concluded an aquatic facility was the primary local need but that the cost would prohibit such a facility from being constructed. Per The Sun, the only municipally owned pool is at the Earle Bell Community Center and was constructed in the 1930s.
Former Arkansas governor, Chuck Norris to roundhouse kick Republican competition
Oh my. Chuck Norris, the martial arts star turned political columnist, has endorsed former Arkansas governor and Republican presidential candidate Mike Huckabee. If that wasn’t enough, the two have joined forces to create the campaign ad you see above.
High school playoffs dominated by non-delta teams
The following delta teams are still in the Arkansas high school football playoffs.
Class 4A
Warren (hosts Nashville next week in semi-final)
Dumas (at Central Arkansas Christian next week in semi-final)
Dollarway at Pocahontas (next week in semi-final)
Class3A
Hoxie (at Glen Rose next week in semi-final)
Class 2A
Augusta at Earle (next week in semi-final)
Unless the Ridge Writer is missing one, there are no east Arkansas teams still in contention in the 5A, 6A, and 7A divisions. My, how the powers have shifted.
Forte’s fate looks bleak at UAPB
The Ridge Writer first brought you news yesterday of a possible change in Mo Forte’s status as head coach of the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions. This morning, things look bleak for the forth year coach.
The Pine Bluff Commercial cites unidentified sources in reporting that Forte will be fired on Monday and the remaining one year in his contract will be bought out for $120,000. This comes just one year removed from his 8-4 season that saw him take the Golden Lions to the SWAC Championship Game.
UAPB officials have declined to comment on Mo’s status until after today’s game against Texas Southern. Texas Southern is winless on the season, so a win by the Lions seems likely. The Golden Lions are currently 3-7 on the year with several close loses, including a three-point loss to New Mexico State of the Division I Bowl Subdivision.
The Ridge Writer thinks Forte is a good fit for UAPB and thinks they should at least give him next season. We’ll see in the next few days.
[Hit the picture for related story.]
Several media outlets confirm Nutt out at Arkansas
Several media outlets, including Jonesboro’s KAIT, claim to have independently verified that embattled head football coach Houston Dale Nutt is coaching his final game in the state of Arkansas for the Razorbacks today.
Normally, the Ridge Writer avoids news about Pig Slop State for two reasons: (1) it isn’t located on the Ridge, and (2) he could care less.
But, as a hard core college football fan, a little coaching speculation got the best of him.
Who will replace Nutt as the highest paid employee of the state of Arkansas?
A new athletics director is taking the helm of a newly combined athletics department in Fayetteville. Would he dare make a run at our very own Steve Roberts, head coach of the Arkansas State Indians?
Hear this out. Steve Roberts turned around the Indians after several years of underachieving. He brought the Tribe a league championship and a bowl game.
He has proven he can take a troubled program and build it into a winner.
He’s a Little Rock man and brings no baggage – he is a very respected member of the Jonesboro community and has made a reputation for recruiting players who can achieve academically as well as athletically.
Also, to the Arkansas fans who are always complaining about a one-sided offense, Roberts makes good use of what he has. For his first several years at ASU, he coached a power running game because he had great running backs. Now with Corey Leonard’s play-making ability and rocket arm, he has put together a very balanced offense that ranks among the nations elite.
The Ridge Writer hopes we don’t lose him, but thinks he could be a good fit at Pig Slop State.
[Hit the picture for related story.]
Jonesboro nature center could get indoor archery range thanks to Rotarians
The Rotary Club of Jonesboro is willing to donate up to $150,000 toward the construction of an indoor archery range at the Forest L. Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center in Jonesboro.
The range will be open two nights a week to the public and will be used for school competitions and the like. They also plan on using the facility for archery and air riffle lessons.
[Hit the picture for the story - registration may be required.]
Pine Bluff council can’t get work done without comfortable seating
The Ridge Writer feels sorry for Pine Bluff aldermen. This blog wouldn’t get updated if it weren’t for his $200 chair.
The Pine Bluff council wants to get more work done by spending $2,000 on 10 chairs that are used during meetings by the aldermen, the mayor, and the city clerk.
“An excellent buy,” according to City Treasurer Greg Gustek.
Meanwhile, with the holidays approaching fast, the average cost of Thanksgiving dinner is about $40 – a total of 50 family dinners could be purchased with the chair fund.
Life goes on in the delta.
[Hit the picture for the story.]
