Well, well, well. Our subscribership (unsure if this is a word, rolling with it) has more than doubled since the last send, which rules. Thank you all for being here.
There’s a lot in this one. There’s a brief voting guide (because the language they use for these ballot measures is confusing) in our news section, so you’ll notice it’s longer than previous issues.
Then there’s the story of Bennie Fuller. In all my hunting and poking around in the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, this is the story that’s jostled around in my brain the longest. I’m a hooper of much (MUCH) less renown, so I’m drawn to any basketball story, but his is special in its own way that I will not spoil here. You gotta scroll down for it.
Again, thanks for being here. Tell your friends.
— Reid B.
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THREE STORIES YOU SHOULD KNOW
Little Rock school board votes to close three elementary schools.
The Little Rock School District board voted Oct. 15 to close Western Hills, McDermott, and Mabelvale elementaries. The closures are part of the district's "LRSD Forward" plan to address falling enrollment and a budget shortfall. The administration's original plan estimated $4.6 million to $5.3 million in savings and would take effect in the 2027-28 school year. THV11Early voting is open through Nov. 2.
Early voting started Monday, Oct. 19, ahead of the Nov. 3 general election. Central Arkansas voters will see races for U.S. Senate, governor and the Legislature, plus statewide ballot issues. Arkansas Advocate
Voters will decide on:Issue 1: Citizens only voting
Adds language to the Arkansas Constitution saying only a U.S. citizen may vote in any state or local election. Citizenship is already required, so this writes it in more explicitly. Supporters say it sets a clear ceiling on who can vote. Opponents say noncitizen voting is already illegal and that no Arkansas city has tried to allow it. They also say the amendment could make it easier for the state to require stricter proof of citizenship. KATVIssue 2: Right to keep and bear arms
Rewrites the gun-rights section of the state constitution. It would cover common defense, lawful hunting and recreation, and any other lawful purpose. It would also explicitly include ammunition, firearm accessories, and components, and declare the right "natural, fundamental, and individual." Supporters say it clarifies what the right covers. Opponents worry the "without limitation" wording could conflict with laws barring gun possession by people convicted of serious crimes or subject to domestic violence-related prohibitions. AxiosIssue 3: Economic development districts
Lets the Legislature create economic development programs, loans and grants using public money, and set up economic development districts. It's a policy change (as opposed to a clarification), and the ballot language is broad. This has been one of the most confusing for voters, so we are sharing a piece of the UA Division of Agriculture voter guide:A FOR vote means you are in favor of changing the Arkansas Constitution regarding economic development, including allowing the legislature to create programs, loans or grants of public money and establish economic development districts; allowing economic development districts to levy taxes, assessments and fees; allowing counties, municipalities, economic development districts, and other political subdivisions to issue bonds to finance economic development projects if approved by voters in that jurisdiction; and to repeal any parts of the Arkansas Constitution and supersede court rulings that may be in conflict with this amendment.
An AGAINST vote means you are not in favor of changing the Arkansas Constitution regarding economic development, including allowing the legislature to create programs, loans or grants of public money and establish economic development districts; allowing economic development districts to levy taxes, assessments and fees; allowing counties, municipalities, economic development districts, and other political subdivisions to issue bonds to finance economic development projects if approved by voters in that jurisdiction; and to repeal any parts of the Arkansas Constitution and supersede court rulings that may be in conflict with this amendment.
Issue 4: $500 million in water bonds
Lets the Arkansas Natural Resources Commission issue up to $500 million in general obligation bonds for water, waste disposal, pollution control, drainage, irrigation and flood control projects. The state's full faith and credit backs the bonds, which is why voters must approve them. Voters approved a similar bond issue in 2008, and most of that money has already gone out to communities. KUAF
Data center pause fails on a tied vote.
On Tuesday night, the city board tied on a proposed six-month moratorium on permitting hyperscale data centers in Little Rock, so it failed. An earlier 18-month proposal failed in August with 4 of 10 votes. KARK
You, yes, YOU can pay to put anything you want right here (not anything). What a deal.
ONE STORY YOU DIDN’T KNOW: THE GREATNESS OF BENNIE FULLER
In researching this story, I went to the record books to see if his records still stood. They do, and it’s not even close. I was surprised, again, at how little I knew of Bennie Fuller.
Which raises questions about who we celebrate and why. The answer may be simple: It was a long time ago, and our memories skew toward recency. Central Arkansas sports fans recite the same group of names when discussing the greatest basketball talents to come from Little Rock — the same ones I’d submit myself before learning about Bennie Fuller.
There is, of course, Joe Johnson. The Armadillo Cowboy. Iso Joe. Cool Joe. He’s about as cool as sports heroes get, and the resume speaks for itself: In his senior year at Central, he averaged 18.5 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.0 steals, and the Democrat-Gazette named him player of the year again. He led Central to the 1999 state title with a 97-52 win over North Little Rock, sharing playoff MVP with teammate Jarrett Hart. He went on to be a seven-time NBA All-Star and play in the league for 18 years.
He’s still writing his legacy, but Bobby Portis is rightfully beloved. He won four straight state championships at Hall and scored 1,093 points over his last two seasons. As a senior, he averaged 20.4 points and 10.3 rebounds and was a McDonald’s All-American. After a stellar career with the Razorbacks, Bobby became an NBA champion. Big Bobby Buckets now plays for the Miami Heat.
Ball-knowers will mention Derek Fisher. Less a stat-sheet stuffer and more of a pure winner, Fisher led Parkview to a title and a 35-1 record in 1991. All five starters on that team received Division I offers. Fisher played at UALR and went on to win five NBA titles. He also had huge arms.
Obviously, there is the great Sidney Moncrief, also from Hall. Moncrief was a Hog legend and two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He was also top 10 in NBA MVP voting five times.
A guy named Bennie Fuller had a better high school career than all of them, and it isn’t close.
Here’s a snapshot:
Career points: 4,896, the all-time Arkansas boys’ high school record and fourth on the national list. The next closest on the Arkansas list is Jacob Roark, who is more than 1,200 points behind Fuller. To give a sense of scale, Bobby Portis Jr. did not score enough points in his last two years of high school to bridge the gap between Bennie Fuller and Jacob Roark on the all-time scoring list.
Career average: 39.4 points per game over four years.
Senior season (1970-71): a single-season record of 1,294 points, averaging 53.8 per game.
Biggest game: 102 points against Leola on Jan. 19, 1971. It’s the most ever by a deaf player in a certified varsity game.
Hot streak: a nine-game stretch in 1970 with scores of 98, 77, 65, 51, 65, 51, 50, 55, and 51.
Courtesy of the ADG archive at CALS
If you’re an astute reader, you’ve realized this isn’t just an extraordinary story; it’s an unordinary story. Bennie Fuller was deaf. He played for the Arkansas School for the Deaf from 1968 to 1971. Raised just outside of town in the rural community of Hensley, Fuller learned to shoot a basketball through an old bicycle wheel. It’s believed that Fuller was the first deaf basketball player to receive a scholarship to a university that was not for the deaf. Only one of his scholarship offers, Pensacola Junior College, would afford Fuller an interpreter. This is because PJC also offered Fuller’s teammate, Donnie Nutt, nephew of Houston Nutt Sr., the longtime coach at the Arkansas School for the Deaf. Donnie Nutt would be Fuller’s interpreter.
At PJC, Fuller averaged more than 30 points a game, but a mid-career coaching change prompted Fuller to transfer to the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. In 2013, the Arkansas School for the Deaf named its court after Fuller, and in 2014, he was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame.
He is undoubtedly one of the greatest basketball players from Little Rock and has a strong case for being the greatest ever. And while all his records still stand, I think it’s important that his story does, too. I’ll close with a quote found in his Encyclopedia of Arkansas entry:
“In the world of the deaf, Bennie Fuller’s name resonates like a midnight lightning strike. He’s the legend for the hearing- and speech-impaired.”
For more on his story, the short documentary below is excellent.
WHAT’S NEXT? WEEKEND EVENTS OCT. 23-25
Friday
Sunny
H: 79
L: 48
Precip: 10%
Saturday
Partly sunny
H: 79
L: 48
Precip: 10%
Sunday
Cloudy
H: 76
L: 47
Precip: 10%
Friday, Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts: Ballet Arkansas opens its season with a world-premiere Great Gatsby
The company is launching its 2026-27 season with a new production that reimagines the Fitzgerald story. So head to the closet and get gussied up — a world premiere is a one-time chance, after all. Tickets range from $25 to $50. Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts
Friday, Wildwood Park for the Arts: The Addams Family musical
This is a great event for families with kids — get all the spooky vibes without anything that will terrify them. Tickets are $35. The musical is the Wednesday Addams story, so perfect if they’ve seen the show already. Inviting Arkansas
Friday and Saturday, the Good Earth Garden Center: The Great Pumpkin Party
Friday (11 a.m.-5 p.m.) brings a free hot dog lunch from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., then a fall campfire story and s'mores at 4:30 p.m. Saturday (8 a.m.-5 p.m.) is the big day: free hot dogs again from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and kids' activities all day. The afternoon has a Pumpkin Pie-ish Bake-Off at 1 p.m. (registration required) and Battle of the Blooms at 2 p.m., where three staffers race to build the best container pot and the audience picks the winner. Flyway Brewing is on site from 1 to 5 p.m. Paid classes include Coffee + Create at 10 a.m. ($35) and a concrete pumpkin Paint + Pour at 3:30 p.m. ($45), and both need registration. Call 501-868-4666. Good Earth Garden Center
Saturday evening, Museum of Discovery: Nightmare at the Museum
It's the museum's adults-only Halloween party, so no trick-or-treating and no kids. From 6 to 9 p.m. you can dress up and wander the exhibits with drinks, live science demos, liquid nitrogen treats, and Halloween competitions. Scorched Flow Arts does fire breathing, the MacArthur Military Museum runs a zombie shooting gallery, and the Arkansas Symphony Orchestra has an instrument petting zoo. Stone's Throw Brewing is pouring, and Fry Fry Crazy is the food truck. It's for ages 21 and older, with $15 admission, and members get in free (two adults per membership). Museum of Discovery
Sunday evening: Joshua Ray Walker, White Water Tavern
The Texas singer-songwriter known for his character-forward songs and lovely tenor voice plays at our hometown tavern at 7 p.m. White Water Tavern
Until next week,
Reid