By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
Palestine-Wheatley honored its student athletes last week at the school's annual athletic banquet held in the high school cafeteria.
Athletes in each of the school's active sports events as well as the cheerleaders were honored.
Oh yes, the Palestine-Wheatley Lady Patriots basketball team were given their Class AA state championship rings.
"We believe that we have succeeded in putting the students first and athletics second at Palestine-Wheatley," said superintendent Jimmy Allen in opening remarks. "That's a credit to the students we have in this district. It's been a wonderful year of highlights with very few problems along the way. Our kids did a good job of representing the school district all year."
Leon Barmore, head coach of the Louisiana Tech women's basketball program, was the featured speaker at the banquet. Barmore recruited and signed Palestine-Wheatley senior Erica Smith last November.
RBI Award-Sean Northcutt
Pitching Award-Jon Busby
Fielding Award-Derrick Franklin and Jason Ford.
Most Runs Scored-Jason Ford
All-Conference-Jason Ford, Jared Parker.
Best Batting Average-Jared Parker.
All-Conference-Nikki Bass, Amanda Riffle, Leslie Hoots, Libby Martin, Jenny Loewer
All-State-Nikki Bass, Amanda Riffle
All-Region-Nikki Bass, Amanda Riffle
Best Batting Average-Jenny Loewer (.722)
Most Runs Scored-Nikki Bass, Libby Martin (25)
Most RBIs-Ashley McGraw
Fielder's Award-Marla Gardner, Andrea Cooper, Beth Varvil
Most Valuable Player-Nikki Bass (4 HRs, .686 batting average, 4 triples)
Distant Running-Derrick Franklin
Field Events-Davian Knox
Sprinter's Award-Michael Barnes
High Point Award-Michael Barnes and Brian Mitchusson.
All-Conference-Erik Sparks,Steven Eldridge
Gatorade Award-Steven Eldridge, Erik Sparks, Joe Smith, Michael Barnes, Derrick Franklin, Davian Knox, Brian Mitchusson
All-Conference and All-Region-Nikki Bass, Melanie Baker, Erica Smith, Carlene Gardner, Sheryl Moore
All-State-Nikki Bass, Erica Smith
All-Star Game-Erica Smith, Melanie Baker
Outstanding Offensive Player-Erica Smith
Leading Rebounder-Erica Smith
Outstanding Defensive Player-Carlene Gardner
Lady Patriot Award-Erica Smith
Hustle Award-Tammy Griffin
Best Free Throw Percentage-Nikki Bass
Scholastic Award (4.0 GPA)-Brittney Flenory, Beth Varvil, Nikki Bass
Most Improved Player-Sheryl Moore
Best Field Goal Percentage-Melanie Baker
WNBA Sportsmanship Award-Erica Smith
Rebounding Award-Leroy Bell
Best Free Throw & Field Goal Percentage-Oliver Smith
Assist Award-Michael Barnes
Three-Point Award-Michael Barnes
Outstanding Defensive Player-Derrick Franklin
Outstanding Offensive Player-Leroy Bell
Scholastic Award (4.0 GPA)-Derrick Franklin
Most Improved Player-DeVille Pickett
Mr. Patriot Award-Leroy Bell
All-Conference-Derrick Franklin, Leroy Bell, Michael Barnes
Sportsmanship Award-Leroy Bell
All-Conference-Ray Gardner, Chris Siler
Honorable Mention-Casey McDaniel, Jason Ford, Marcus Pendleton, O.J. Smith
Mr. Patriot Award-Jared Parker
Outstanding Offensive Back-Ray Gardner
Outstanding Defensive Back-Chris Siler
Sophomores of the Year-Brandon Roberts, Marcus Pendleton
Gatorade Award-Jason Ford, Jared Parker, Casey McDaniel, Ray Gardner, Joey Parker, Chris Siler, Josh Dover, Marcus Pendleton, Daniel Getchell
Co-MVPs-Leroy Bell, Jared Parker
Offensive MVP-Ray Gardner
Defensive MVP-Chris Siler
Scholastic Award-Jared Parker
Offensive Lineman Award-Casey McDaniel
Defensive Lineman Award-Randal Wingo
Most Improved Player-Matt Daugherty
Unsung Hero Award-Clyde Kennedy
3-Sport Award-Libby Martin, Nikki Bass, Leroy Bell
AA Coach of Year-Beverly Bass
By FRED CONLEY
T-H Sports Editor
The annual Farm Fest 5K race will be held Saturday, June 9, in Wynne.
There will be a walking and a running division for race participants.
The race will begin at Regions Bank, at the corner of Falls Boulevard and Hamilton Ave (Highway 64-B) at 8 a.m.
The race entry fee is $10 prior to race day and $15 on the day of the race.
The 5K is held in conjunction with the city's annual Farm Fest celebration.
Prize money for the overall course records and overall winners will be awarded.
Trophies will be awarded to the overall and age-group winners, first, second and third places.
Beefy-T shirts will be given to the first 100 entrants.
A Kiddie Fun Run (3/4 of a mile) will be held immediately after the 5K for children, ages 12-under. The fun run fee is $5.
For entry forms or more information, contact David Reagler at 238-5528 or Gary Crawford at 238-5423 or e-mail for additional information to d_reags@yahoo.com
The Forrest City Recreation Department's youth baseball and softball leagues will resume play tonight at the Sports Complex.
Monday's youth schedule as well as the adult softball schedule of games were rained out. All of the leagues were idle on Friday, due to area high school graduation ceremonies.
Tonight, the girls' slow pitch and fast pitch leagues will be playing for the first time since last Tuesday.
In the 16-under league, the two unbeaten teams, Clay Funeral Home and Dr. St. John will square off at 8 p.m. on Field 2.
In one other change in the 12-under league, Times Herald and Children's Clinic will play at 7 p.m. on Field 1, rather than the 8 p.m. start listed on the original schedule.