By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
The "jury" is in, and it's a three-peat for Forrest City.
The Forrest City High School mock trial team defeated Rogers on Saturday, to win its third consecutive state championship.
Next stop will be the national competition, scheduled this year for New Orleans.
This year, the team won with a mixture of youth and experience.
"For four team members (Allison Dulaney, F. Murray Ford, Van Witherspoon and Stephanie Darnell), this is their third straight championship. They've been there for all of them," said Jimma Darnell, the faculty sponsor, who added that the students actually exceeded expectations.
"We had some difficulties," she said. "We had kids who had to drop out because they had to work at night and didn't have time. And we had some kids who decided their interest just wasn't there, and they changed their minds about being on the team. So the kids had to double up every night. One might have to be a witness one time and an attorney the next."
Mock trial teams have to be ready to be prosecutors or defense. In the first round Saturday against Jasper, Forrest City was defense. In that round, every team that was on defense won.
In the second round, Cutter-Morning Star won the coin toss and elected to be defense again, making Forrest City the prosecution team. Forrest City won again.
Forrest City faced Rogers in the finals, and according to Darnell, it was tough.
"Rogers was good. It took 25 to 30 minutes for them to deliberate (decide who won)," she said.
"But when we got to a point," Darnell continued, "the difference was our attorney help. It was above and beyond. Chris (Morledge), Brad (Beavers) and Marshall (Wright). They made the difference."
Beavers, however, had a different take on the situation.
"Jimma always gives all the credit to the attorney-coaches," he said. "And while we certainly help the kids on the technical issues, there is no more dedicated teacher than Jimma Darnell, and it is through her guidance and her leadership that this team has been successful."
Beavers had high praise for the team members, also.
"To my knowledge, there has never, in all the time the Arkansas Bar Association has sponsored mock trial, that anyone has won the state championship three years in a row."
This is actually the fourth state championship in mock trial won by FCHS. The first came in 1996. Then came three straight, in 2001, 2002 and this year.
"The reason these kids win is that they are dedicated, they work hard, they're willing to learn and spend the time necessary," Beavers said. "The level of competition at the state championships this year was higher than I've ever seen. And the final match was very even. It was close, but our kids, with their poise, were able to take the day."
Beavers said there is a lot of bad news about kids today. "This shows there is truly another side to that, and there are really some good kids out there."
He said he has also heard from other members of the Bar Association, who have made the trip to other national finals with the Forrest City group.
"They are complimentary toward our kids both at the state competition and because they have been to the nationals with them. And I can speak with pride about these young people," he said.
Chris Morledge, another of the attorney-coaches, was proud of the effort, because along with the experienced team members, the younger students did their part as well.
"We had a good group, and they worked hard, but they were a young group," said Morledge. "They worked very hard and obviously it paid off for them. So we're pleased for the them and they're going to New Orleans."
The actual tournament will be May 8, 9 and 10.
Forrest City Superintendent Lee Vent attended the competition.
"I was there for all the trials," he said. "I'm very excited about the kids. They performed tremendously well. I don't know if, in my career, I've ever observed such a sharp crew as this crew. They represent our school and our community well, and that's something we can all be proud of."
He continued, "When you have a competition of this caliber, and go into the competition and win not only one year but three in a row, it speaks very well about how they are prepared by the sponsor and coaches. They all worked diligently to prepare them for this competition. You could see during the competition just how well they were prepared. The competition was well prepared, too, and that's what made it even better, knowing we eliminated some top notch competition. And I expect them to do very well in the nationals in New Orleans."
The team will be attempting to raise money for the New Orleans trip. Anyone wishing to make a donation may contact any of the sponsors or coaches.
The Caldwell Fire Department was one of 139 rural fire departments across the state which received automated external defibrillators from the Arkansas Department of Health last week.
According to a press release from the ADH, 172 defibrillators were distributed by the Arkansas Rural Automated External Defibrillators Coalition. The devices will be used to help heart attack victims when no other medical assistance is available.
"Even with advanced technology and superb physician and nursing staffs in hospitals nationwide, approximately 250,000 Americans die each year from coronary heart disease without being hospitalized. The use of AEDs by emergency staff, firefighters and others can change this statistic for the better. The Arkansas Rural AED Coalition is thrilled to be able to provide these valuable life-saving devices to deserving communities," said Dr. Fay Boozman, ADH Director.
According to the American Heart Association, approximately 680 Americans each day are heart attack victims who die without receiving hospital care. Use of defibrillation devices in the first few minutes after a heart attack can give a patient a 48 to 74 percent chance of survival. The Arkansas Rural AED Coalition is comprised of membership from the American Heart Association, the American Red Cross, the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management, the Ambulance Association and the offices of EMS and Trauma, Rural Health/Primary Health, Cardiovascular Health and Hometown Health Improvement of the Arkansas Department of Health.
The Forrest City City Council is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 1, at city hall.
Councilmen will consider two ordinances and hear an update from city attorney Alan Cline regarding pending litigation.