In addressing Caldwell’s 10-year-old son, Harley, sitting in the audience, Booth said with some obvious emotion in his voice, “Over the next seven years, we’re glad that (your dad) is here, and I ask that you never forget that your dad is doing this for the same reason that I’m doing this, and that the (other commissioners) are doing it here, and that the agency staff does it. That’s to leave things better than we found it, because that’s what this place is all about.”
No proposed hunting regulations clarifications for 2024-25 were approved, as the 30-day period for public comment in regulations clarifications brought before the Commission last month had not ended. Commissioner Rob Finley of Mountain Home said that commissioners will meet here (or by teleconference) at 10 a.m. Thursday, July 25, to approve those regulations changes. [Click for Presentation]
In other action:
Booth submitted a minute order that was approved to retire the weapon from the agency inventory of former Chairman Jones.
The Commission adopted the Arkansas Legislature’s approval last month of a 5 percent raise for Booth.
Booth recognized the work of more than half of the AGFC Enforcement Division who worked extensively during Operation Dry Water July 4-6. Booth said 121 game wardens and officers worked 2,400 hours for public safety during the three-day period, contacting more than 3,600 boats and about 11,000 boaters on Arkansas waterways. Officers arrested 23 boaters for boating while intoxicated, handed out 188 citations and issued 346 warnings. Booth noted that, most importantly, there were no boating fatalities on Arkansas waterways during Operation Dry Water, a national campaign to raise public awareness about the dangers of boating under the influence.
A video of the meeting is available at https://www.youtube.com/user/ArkansasGameandFish.
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CUTLINES:
IN CHARGE J.D. Neeley of Camden (left) leads the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission as its new chairman during July’s monthly meeting in Little Rock, as AGFC Director Austin Booth (left) and vice-chairman Anne Marie Doramus (right) look on.
INTERN AT THE LECTERN Jackson Brown, a senior-to-be at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, was one of three summer interns at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission who spoke to commissioners at the July monthly meeting. Each intern, part of a crew of 21 college interns and three Hutton Scholars at the agency this summer, gave a PowerPoint presentation of their work over an eight-week paid internship and how it has changed their understanding of how the agency operates.
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FIRST DAY IN THE CHAIR New AGFC commissioner Chris Caldwell of Little Rock notes his wife and son in attendance Thursday during his first monthly meeting with the Commission. Third-year commissioner Bill Jones is to Caldwell’s right.
You made it to the weekend and it looks wonderful. Highs will be in the 80s Saturday and Sunday with lows in the 60s and low 70s. There will be a slight chance for showers Sunday. A better chance for rain and storms should arrive Monday through Wednesday as moisture levels increase and a front stalls in the state. Showers and storms will be scattered with most of it falling during the heating of the day. With the rain and clouds around, temperatures will likely stay in the 80s for highs with muggy lows in the 70s. The chance for showers and storms may decrease by the end of next week. -Todd Yakoubian
Two people died in two crashes on Arkansas roads Wednesday, according to preliminary reports from the Arkansas State Police.
Mary Ann Frederick, 84, of Paris, died about 11:52 a.m. while attempting to cross Arkansas 22 west of Subiaco from north to south, according to a report. A 2019 Dodge Ram 1500 traveling east struck and killed Frederick when she walked into the eastbound traffic lane, the report says.
The trooper investigating the death reported that the weather was cloudy and the road was dry at the time.
An unidentified male driver died in a crash at 1:59 a.m. on Main Street in Grady, according to a report, which lists the driver only as John Doe.
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The driver was headed north in a 2015 BMW 320 when he failed to navigate a left turn, leaving the roadway to the right, the report says.
The driver overcorrected, causing the vehicle to reenter and exit the roadway to the left, the report says. After leaving the roadway, the car struck a utility pole and continued traveling until it struck a building.
The trooper investigating the crash reported that the weather was clear and the road was dry.
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — For Razorbacks coach Sam Pittman a lot has been talked about the state of his program following a 4-8 season in 2023. In need of a shift in culture, confidence and leadership, the blend of returning players, transfers and new blood from high school ranks is as now is good of time for a reset as any.
Pittman met with reporters at SEC Media Days to share his plan for turning his Arkansas program around. One phrase that stuck out was his team needing to “embrace the Hog.”
“Which means we need to be tough, we need to be together, consistent, accountable, and do it with pride,” Pittman said. “We’ve accomplished that this summer and through spring ball. Every setback is an opportunity for a comeback. We embrace that mindset.
“I believe in our players, staff and our state. I believe in our direction that we’re heading in and where we’re going to rise to the challenge for a great 2024 season.”
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That challenge will likely not be a College Football Playoff berth in December. Attaining bowl eligibility status will go a long way to bring confidence back to Arkansas’ program.
Five of Arkansas’ losses last season were determine by one possession with three of those coming on the road against LSU, Ole Miss and Alabama. A flip in offensive philosophy compounded with leadership and belief of what’s being coached can help the Razorbacks win close games again.
Bobby Petrino’s return as Arkansas’ offensive coordinator was a major storyline when the regular season came to a close in November. The Razorbacks’ former head coach may understand embracing the Hog better than any other active coach in the country.
“[Petrino] loves the Hog,” Pittman said. “He likes to win. He likes to score points. I mentioned it before, I had Barry before that I could bump some head coaching questions off of. As I get older, it’s the questions aren’t as many as I get more years of being a head coach.
“But what I’ve got, it’s like a security blanket. I got Bobby there. I had Barry [Odom] there. I have Bobby there that I can run off. I’ll ask them a question, and I want their opinion, and they know it, and we’ll agree on it, or we won’t, but we’re both grown men, and if we do, we do, if we don’t, we don’t. We’ll move on down the road. But that’s been very beneficial to me, and I really like him, and I have a lot of respect for him. He spends more time in my office than anybody, and I apologize to him, but I say ‘Bobby come in,’ and I don’t know if he likes it or not, but I do make him talk to me a lot.”
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HOGS FEED:
• Pittman confident in leadership ability of new quarterback
• In show of unity, Pittman should join Drinkwitz on this one
• Did Arkansas fans really expect Texas coach to acknowledge them?
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