PressBy FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The deadline to submit nominations for the Forrest City Athletic Hall of Fame is Wednesday, Aug. 1.
The committee, made up of last year's 12 charter inductees into the Hall of Fame, needs all nomination forms and input to help decide the Hall's "Second Class."
The Athletic Hall of Fame was started last year and 12 Forrest City athletes -- from three different eras -- were inducted.
Twelve new names will be added this year at the Sept. 21 banquet and induction ceremonies.
The Hall houses athletes from Lincoln High School and Forrest City High School -- before 1970 and after 1970.
Forrest City School Athletic Director Bill Baxter already has a varied and lengthy list but believes there are still many names which could be added for consideration.
"We have some great names on the nomination list," Baxter said. "But I feel there are still other potential athletes out there we haven't thought about or who haven't been brought to our attention yet."
As was the case last year with the inaugural dozen Hall members, this year's class will be honored during halftime of the Forrest City-Jonesboro football game at Sam Smith Stadium. Plaques for each new member will be placed on the Wall of Honor inside Mustang Arena.
The selection committee will make their choices for the second class based on the nominees (living or deceased) and the information provided by the person or persons making the nomination.
Nomination forms may be picked up at the St. Francis County Museum located at 603 Front Street or from Baxter.
All forms must include information as to why the particular nominee is deserving of being elected to the Hall of Fame.
Last year's charter class was made up of Lincoln athletes, Robert Harris, Cecil Twillie, Manuel Twillie and DeJustice Coleman.
Representing Forrest City prior to 1970 were Marvin Laws, James Devazier, Donnie Kessinger and Elmer B. Lindsey.
Representing Forrest City High School after 1970 through the present were Rusty Trail, Mallory Nimocks, Robert Lee Steward and Arthur Banks.
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The Forrest City Junior High Blue and White Mustang football teams will begin the first week of football practice next week.
Equipment will be handed out on Monday, Aug. 6 and Tuesday, Aug. 7, from 8 until 11:30 a.m. at the Junior High Fieldhouse, according to the coaching staffs.
Summer football drills will begin Wednesday, Aug. 8, at 9 a.m. Both the Blue and White teams will practice on the field directly across from the junior high school.
No student will be allowed to take part in the drills without a physical examination.
Those exams are being offered by Dr. Sudhir Kumar's office for $10.
The White Mustangs will be coached by Stan Siler and Sonny Shields while the Blue Mustangs will be coached by Rich Trail and Barry Hodges.
Trail said he wasn't sure if the teams would go twice a day or not.
Now that youth baseball and softball is into its last days, it is time to start thinking about fall-related sports.
Registration is set to begin on Monday, Aug. 13, at City Hall, for the upcoming Forrest City Recreation Department youth soccer and flag football fall programs.
Boys and girls, ages four through 14 may sign up to participate in the youth soccer league, while boys, ages 7-12 may register for the flag football league.
Registration fees are $20 each for players who live inside the Forrest City city limits and $25 each for those who live outside the city limits.
For more information about either of the two programs, contact Kenneth Taylor at (870) 633-3667.
The leagues will begin play in September and continue through October.
All games will be played at the Sports Complex.
Pressby FRED CONLEY
Several readers of the Times-Herald sports pages have asked me recently about Nate Allen's column and why there hasn't been one in quite a while.
Allen, one of the state's best known sports columnists, was part of a package of columnists put together by Donrey Media, which the Times-Herald subscribed to, until recently.
As the Times-Herald was making the decision not to renew the Donrey package, Allen was making the decision to leave Donrey Media to start his own service.
Having said all of that, I can now say that beginning tomorrow (Aug.1) Nate Allen's columns will once again grace these sports pages -- at least twice a week and possibly three times a week in some cases.
Look for Mr. Allen's writings in this very space.
There's something else in the air as well. Can you feel it?
While it is only the beginning of the dog days of August, it's also time for high school football.
Most all prep teams will begin practice next week on the way to the August 31 season opening date.
In case you don't know or have forgotten, the Forrest City Mustangs will open the 2001 season on that date by hosting the Osceola Seminoles, guided by former Forrest City coach Clinton Gore, at Sam Smith Stadium.
Osceola replaces long-time opening opponent, Wynne, who opted to take part in the Hooten's Kick Off Classic to be played Saturday, Sept. 1, at Little Rock Central's Quigley Stadium.
Wynne will play Shiloh Christian at approximately 2 p.m. that afternoon.
Marianna and Newport remain as the Mustangs' other non-conference opponents again this year.
The Hughes Blue Devils will stick with traditional season-opening foe Barton followed by Marion and Rivercrest for their non-conference portion of the schedule while the Palestine-Wheatley Patriots open against Altheimer and then face Elaine and Dermott before starting conference play.
The annual Times-Herald Professor Pigskin Football Contest will begin on Tuesday, Aug. 28 and the first winner will be announced on Tuesday, Sept. 4.
Also, the T-H annual football preview special section will be on the news stands on Wednesday, Aug. 29.
Check this one out. We're going to try some new things this time around.
Speaking of football, the West Memphis Blue Devils under new coach Lanny Dauksch, will try something a little different during summer drills.
The Blue Devils will hold a "Midnight Madness" practice on Wednesday, Aug. 8, beginning at midnight and lasting until 2 a.m. at Hamilton-Schultz Field. In full pads no less.
Midnight Madness practice sessions are best known to occur during the basketball season.
Hughes has a new basketball coach.
Brad Brannen, who coached the junior basketball boys at Wynne last year, will be taking over the Blue Devils junior and senior boys' basketball programs and will also help out on the football field.
Brannen replaces Wes Swift, who resigned in April to go to Shiloh Christian. He left Shiloh after just a month to take over the Lonoke basketball program.