In an effort to bring more coverage to the communities we call home, we have recently hired Darrell Spells, who also serves as Hackett Police Chief. Spells will contribute to the Hackett column regarding events, newsworthy stories, community issues, “feel good” pieces, as well as serving as our Ambassador to the Hackett community.
Growing up in the small town of Huttig, Arkansas, Spells knows the meaning of community, and takes that to heart in his work, and community efforts. His role as Chief of Police offers Spells a unique position within the City of Hackett, which aids Resident Press in “keeping with the pulse” within the community, the people, and events.
“It’s my hope that my role with Resident Press will allow the public to not only see a glimpse of life behind the badge of a police officer, but, more importantly, a glimpse of the wonderful people, places, and events the City of Hackett has to offer” stated Spells.
Spells is married to his wife Tish, and the proud father of three young adults who are a constant source of joy.
Join us in welcoming Darrell Spells to Resident Press.
Welcome Darrell Spells, to Resident Press
Mansfield Middle School FBLA Officers
If you haven’t noticed, Mansfield Middle School is leading the way with its Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) participation, community involvement, and their personal/group accomplishments.
FBLA Sponsor Renea Bryan sees it not only as a school function, but lessons learned which can be directly applied to college, life, and career. Bryan focuses the attention towards the students who have taken to her leadership, and instilled a true desire to make Mansfield Middle School FBLA, more than just an organization.
Mansfield Middle School FBLA Officers:
7th / 8th Grade Officers: 1st row, Colton Silvey – Reporter, 2nd row, (sitting on bench) Blake Reano – Vice-President, Taylor Dunn – Historian, Izzy Stipins – President, Sarah Holley – Treasurer, Kimber Campbell – Parliamentarian, and Jackie Nolan – Secretary
5th /6th Grade Officers: 3rd row, Peyton Martin – Treasurer, Greyson Baggett – President, Natalie Allison – Vice-President, Serenity Brunson – Reporter, and Seth Carter – Secretary
We’re proud of you kids, and Thank you, Mrs. Bryan! GO TIGERS!
Abbott Baptist Church hosts Annual Community Dinner
Abbott Baptist Church is set to host their annual “Community Dinner” Saturday, November 19th at 28127 Highway 71 North, in Mansfield, Arkansas (actually East of Mansfield, North side of Hwy 71, going South). The dinner is FREE!
The event starts at 5:00PM, ending at 7:00PM, with “Just Us” Bluegrass band, taking the stage for entertainment.
Event organizer, Teri Huskey stated, “This a great free event for the whole community with great entertainment.”
For more information, please call Teri at 479-461-5214
Everyone is invited to attend!
Hackett Hosts Earl White Basketball Tournament
Starting this evening, Hackett School District hosts the Earl White Basketball Tournament for teams from our area.
Bracket play will begin today at 4:55PM with both Mansfield, and Hackett Junior High Basketball taking the courts at the below listed times. Go TIgers, and Go Hornets!
Junior Girls Basketball Bowl Past Hornets
Mansfield’s junior girls opened the 2016-2017 basketball season with a dominate performance over the Hackett Hornets. Fresh off a team building exercise at Bowling World, the MJH girls teamed together for the non-conference win on November 7.
At the urging of some of his team leaders, Mansfield basketball coach John Mackey and his wife Debbie took his players to a night on the town. Bowling and pizza in a wall reducing atmosphere was on the agenda. Coming together in an arena away from the basketball gym to help form bonds while in the gym was their prime objective.
By the looks of the 31-16 display on the Mansfield scoreboard a few days later, the trip to Fort Smith must have worked.
The junior Lady Tigers covered the passing lanes and generated several steals and fast break layups to open the basketball season against Hackett. The results shell shocked a Hornets teams that failed to score but one field goal in the first three quarters as the Lady Tigers built and sustained a large lead.
“We’ve been stressing being good teammates, and wanting to play for each other not just beside each other,” said Mackey. “Following that lead, a couple of players organized a team outing on the Saturday before our first game. It’s amazing how many walls can be broken down with the number of gutter balls we threw at Bowling World that night.”
Mansfield’s Danielle Lillie was the main recipient of the unselfish play of the Tigers. Leaking out off the top of a stingy half-court defense, Lillie received several outlet passes off steals to convert layups.
Lillie led all scorers with 10 points on the night. Six of those came in the first quarter as the host team screamed ahead 13-2 to start the contest.
Hackett suffered through the first half with a limited offense going 6 of 14 at the free throw line in the second period. Mansfield’s aggressive defensive style forced the visitors to repeated trips to the charity stripe as the Tigers committed 10 fouls in the half alone.
“We did a good job of creating turnovers by putting pressure on the ball and crashing the defensive boards,” commented the Mansfield coach. “We did foul to much. But, I’d rather be aggressive going for the ball than sit back and let them do what they wanted on offense.”
Freshman Abby Turner came off the Tiger bench to add extra offense to the home team. The slashing ninth grade guard made three field goals in the fourth quarter and a free throw in the first period for seven total points.
Newcomer Brooke Wright covered the middle with strong rebounds and solid free throwing for Mansfield. The eighth grade Texas transplant found a bucket in the second stanza and was 3 of 4 at the line for five points in the Tiger victory.
Mansfield used 12 players in the first half, and all 16 dressed participants throughout the entire contest. Freshmen Daniella Santander and Maggie Strunk joined Lillie and Wright in the starting lineup. Isabella Stipins joined the first five as well.
Strunk contributed five points including 1 of 2 free throws. Stipins made an early basket as six total Tigers found the scoring column.
Guards Mikayla Harrison and Morgan Burns played heavy minutes for Mansfield. Amber Elmore, Deana Sensinger, and Abigail Morgan offered extended help through the post with rebounding and steals.
Mansfield led 17-8 at the half. They extended their lead by six more points in the third quarter to build a 23-8 margin going into the fourth.
The Lady Tigers were to have attend the opening round of Hackett Earl White Classic on November 15 verses Trinity. The group will move along bracket lines until they played three games in the tournament concluding on Saturday, November 19.
Mansfield will be hosting a four game night against Waldron on Friday, November 18. The junior girls start off the home set at 4:00 PM. A rolling schedule will follow with the junior boys, senior girls, and senior boys.
Mansfield School Based Dental Clinic OPENS
The Mansfield School Based Dental Clinic is pleased to announce that Dr. Cody Friddle DDS, and staff, will now be seeing students at the School Based Clinic four times per month.
Parents and community members may also make an appointment by calling 452-8800. The Mansfield School District believes in the concept of educating the “whole child”, a collaborative approach to education and health.
Pictured L to R are: Rachel Scharbor, Registered Dental Hygienist; Barbie Dumas, Lindsey Gramlich & Kristin McEntire.
Waldron Nursing Center News
Waldron School Cheerleaders perform for residents at Waldron Nursing Center, Mackinzie Callahan, Morgan Langley, Bree Norris, Wintney Powell, Alexandria Jones, Alexie Mortimore, Aubrey Deer, Lauren Trampp, Madison Patrick, Jillian Davis, Brooke Sanford, Madison riddle, Aueisha English, Rena Owens, Aubry Butler, Maggie Hudgens, Jacob Bliss, Levi Franklin, Elijah McWilliams, Keaten Davis & Nick Ison.
Waldron Nursing Center honored Veteran residents, Robert Merrow-Navy, Willard Perkins-Army, Granville Stuart-Air Force ,with a Special program in the dining room. Thanks to Alex and Billie for coordinating the program while I hosted the SACA (Activity Directors) meeting here at Waldron Nursing Center. Also to Terri Hattabaugh and Doyle Wayne Dickens for helping with the program. To Karen for helping take the photos of the Veterans. Along with their recognition each Veteran received a certificate, flag and lapel pin.
What a “Night” our residents had as “Trick r’ Treater’s” of every size, shape and costume came through our doors on “Treat giving night”. It was a glorious time for our residents as they had gathered outside their doors to hand out the treats as everyone filed through with their sacks and buckets to be filled. We were so grateful for our local city police who came up to help us with the crowd control at the main door, Police Chief David Miller, Officers Steve Morton and Ja Hunnicutt were just wonderful at the front door as the groups of goblins were let inside in groups so our residents would have time to hand out the goodies to each one. Thanks to all the “gobblins” for being patient while waiting for their turn to enter the door. It worked out really well for everyone. There was plenty of candy for everyone to fill their buckets up to the last one going through, thanks to all of the contributors of candy and donations as well as our staff who have held fundraisers all year long so that we would have enough candy. Big thanks to all of our staff who also worked and Volunteered to help out on this night. To Pat Morales and Pat Staggs and all of the other volunteers who helped we are ever so grateful. Contributors that was not mentioned in last weeks column are Area on Aging Agency, Fern Yandell family, David Yandell, Carlene Boyer, Dean Brown, Page Bethel-Methodist church, Farm Bureau, Sherry Johns Guidance Center, Tyson workers, EMS staff, Don’s Ezy pay, Sherry Johnston, and Joyce Williams. To anyone else that I may have missed we are truly grateful for your help in helping our residents have such an enjoyable night.
Other big events was the fall resident outing to Golden Corral. Going on the trip beside myself was staff members Nurse Amber Barker, Billie Strozier, Alex Carter, Beverly Byford, Warren Davis, driving the company truck to haul all the wheelchairs and walkers, Volunteers- Chris Davis, Joanna Strozier and Pat Staggs, Our wonderful Church Bus driver, Eddie Harrison from Waldron First Baptist. We are always so “thankful” to Eddie and the Church for helping us out with the Church bus to help transport the residents, the two Nursing Center Vans are not quiet big enough for everyone to fit in that wants to go on this outing. Residents going were Henry Bell & Joyce Thompson, Paulette Boyce, Janis Hull, Hattie Thomas, Hazel Cheesman, Jimmy Mize, Paul Davis, Joyce Leslie, Dianne Brennan, Willard Perkins, Cora Owens, Barbara Hay, Norma Williams, Freda Carter, Judy Chesman and Johna Rich. Everyone was stuffed to the brim when we returned back from the lunch. Thanks to our Administrator Fred Watts for footing the bill.
Residents received a great surprise from the 4-H group “Country by Heart” with hand made Fall cards. The group of Braxton Daniels, Wyatt Harris, Sky Harris, Kinzy and Zayne all arrived loaded down with the cards of reach resident and to visit a bit with each one as they passed the cards around.
The Waldron School Kindergarten classes also arrived on Monday morning to do their fall program for the residents. Each class was dressed with a different hand made fall hat and sang some really good songs for a large group of residents along with parents or grandparents of the students who came to see the program. Each one received a special treat after the program was finished and several of the kids had family members who was here so they got to see them as well. Thanks to all of the teachers who help bring this program to our residents each year and to the bus drivers who transport them.
The Special activity this week was “Deer Hunting” with my assistants Alex Carter and Billie Strozier getting everything set up for the hunt and Volunteer Joanna Strozier helping me with the photo making. We had some great hunters in the group and got the deer with the first shot of the pop guns.
Waldron Nursing Center also enjoyed a performance by the Waldron School Cheerleaders. The building is also looking quiet festive for Thanksgiving as Ms. Powell’s art classes for the 1st & 2nd period came to paint the glass doors inside the Nursing Center with a variety of Thanksgiving themes.
In closing as always we are so blessed with all that our great staff does to help bring enjoyment to our residents in their daily life here at the Nursing Center as well as our great Volunteers and people of our community who are always willing to help. We are truly grateful.
Photos, and story provided by Christine Lees, LSW/ADC – Waldron Nursing Center.
Eye Exams available NOW
Mansfield School District students are able to receive an eye exam and choose glasses at the Mansfield School-Based Health Center now.
Eye exams are provided by Dr. Adam Schluterman OD at the Vision Clinic the second and fourth Thursday of every month. Parents and the public can schedule an appointment as well by calling 479-269-6058.
Pictured with new glasses are: Back Row: Christopher Hinkle, Lauryn Langston, Daniella Santander, Abbi Olivar. Front Row: Faith Rainwater & Josh Carter-Williams.
Long Distance Runners Compete at Showdown
Medal Sweep! Mansfield senior girls all medal as the cross country team earns the runner-up team trophy at the SW Region Finals. (Referencing the above picture)
For the two younger teams linked to the Mansfield cross country program, the Southwest Regionals at Acorn was the end of their 2016 season. For the two older squads, the multiple classification sectional was the final tuneup before the state championships at the end of the week.
Mansfield took its four divisional teams to the regional finals pitting teams form across classification lines for the November 2 event. Teams from class 1A through 4A were invited to attend the bordered area stretching from as far north as Mansfield to as far south as Jessieville.
The Mansfield senior girls collected the runner-up team trophy while the junior girls only managed fourth after moving up its freshmen runners. Neither of the Mansfield boy teams carried a full roster and were only eligible for individual awards.
Four days earlier the Mansfield junior girls were 3A-4 conference champions by a large margin. At the Acorn hosted regionals, the MJH unit was running without the services of the individual district medalist Lennon Woods and fellow freshman Jessica George.
The ninth grade pair helped the Lady Tigers win the district but were summoned up to the senior high team in preparation for the state meet. Therefore the junior Lady Tigers were populated exclusively with seventh and eighth graders.
“The ninth graders knew the conference was their last junior high meet,” explained their head coach John Mackey. “ Yes, it hurt the younger team’s standings but it helped the senior results tremendously. They (Woods and George) needed to experience this level of competition before the big show.”
Mansfield’s new look senior high women took home the second place team trophy at the regionals. The crew achieved conference championship status back on October 29 when they moved up freshman Delilah McKusker early for a qualifying team of five.
At Acorn, it was Mansfield junior class member Megan Rose that shined with a stellar time of 21:45 for the overall second place finish. Rose climbed within 50 seconds of the first place position behind an incredible kick to end her 5K race.
Newly elevated teammate Woods was fifth overall with a clocking of 23:52. Corrina Wesley, McKusker, and Jessica George completed the Lady Tiger scoring five. Bree George provided displacer points.
For the junior girls, Mansfield eighth grader Danielle Lillie closed strong to garner a top ten medal. The runner-up district finisher went 11:22 for the 1.5 course.
Seventh grade teammates McKenzie Griffin (11:24 for 11th) and Harleigh Mars (11:46 for 19th) also medaled as awards went to the top 25 regional runners. The group’s scoring five was completed Haylee Helms and Morgan Burns.
On the men’s side it was Mansfield stalwart Devon Pyles that turned in his best performance to date. The junior class member reached the elusive 19 minute barrier for the first time in a legitimate 5K race.
Pyles was timed at 19:41. The milestone was important to the Tiger’s lone senior high runner as the 19 minute mark is the qualifying standard for the River Valley All-Star team later this month.
“We’ll see if it’s enough for Devon to make the All-Stars for the second year in a row,” said Mackey. “It depends upon the top 20 men in the area. We hope Devon can improve on this number a little more to ensure his status.”
Pyles was eleventh overall and secured yet another medal to add to his growing collection.
Mansfield’s junior boys only sent three to the regionals after the unit carried a team of five for a district runner-up plaque a week earlier.
The three seventh graders representing the junior boys were Levi Escalante, Dru Buckner, and Riley Sadoski. All three squeaked into the top 25 for medals.
Escalante was 19th (10:30), Buckner was 22nd (10:38), and Sadoski was 24th (10:50).
“It was a good finish for the boys,” commented Mackey. “Everyone off the boys side secured a medal this season. It made the hard work worth the effort.”
Mansfield’s Distance Dynamo Earns SW Regional Runner-up
With 600 meters to go, Mansfield’s Megan Rose was chasing down three of the region’s best 5K runners at the Southwest Regionals in Acorn on November 2. Trusting her repeat training from the day before, the diminutive Lady Tiger kicked it in to catch two of the three star runners. The result was an individual silver medal for Rose and a regional runner-up plaque for her team.
Alina Homan of Jessieville, currently the third ranked 5K runner in the class 3A state, was in the lead. Faith Hill of Acorn, the second ranked class 1A distance runner and the fifth place finisher at the state finals in 2014, was next. Morgan Fagan, the class 1A state champion from three season’s ago, was step for step with her Acorn teammate. All three had entered the final field heading towards the finish line with Rose bearing down.
The previous day, Rose had completed a workout where she would simulate chasing down runners deep into the race. It was a repeat training session of 600 meters in length against members of the offseason track and volleyball teams.
The non-cross country runners were spaced 50 meters apart giving the junior runner a fresh body to race through the entire 600 meter kick phase. With two minute breaks, Rose repeated the simulation several times to model the action of a closely contested race.
“It must have worked,” expressed John Mackey the coach of the Mansfield cross country teams. “The finish of the race shaped up just like what she had done the day before the meet. Megan looked so confident going into that last section of the course. It was like the Cubs. It was going to happen.”
Homan was in control with about a minute lead. But, it was Hill, Fagan, and Rose bunched together in that order for a hard fought fight for the second place finish.
Homan eventually took the champion’s laurel by 50 seconds. Her lead was too much for the talented, trailing trio to overcome. But, the real race was in that ensuing group anyway.
Rose passed the Acorn pair along the back fence. She exited the woods with a slight lead. From there the determined Mansfield Tiger held off the former state champion on her home course by a mere step.
Homan crossed at 20:55.1 for the win. Rose closed the gap at 21:45.3. Fagan was a step behind at 21:45.9 with Hill fading to fourth at 21:50.5.
“What a way to prepare for the state finals,” beamed Mackey. “A district championship, a regional runner-up, and a come from behind knockout of a state champion; that gives you a lot of confidence going into Hot Springs.”
Rose and company will attend the Arkansas Activities Association State Cross Country Finals on Saturday, November 12. The class 3A women are scheduled to run at 10:45 AM.
At the Regional Finals, Mansfield’s senior girls were sporting it’s largest collection of runners this season. With the 3A-4 District Finals completed four days before, their coach decided to move up the remaining freshmen to forge his state roster a week before the state championships.
Lennon Woods, the conference champion in the junior high division, moved up to compete in her first 5K race. The results were strong. The Tiger ninth grader stayed with the early front runners for a good portion of the race. She faltered somewhat past the midpoint of the race but turned in a tremendous time for her inaugural event.
“Lennon is very talented,” confessed her coach. “She can really leave her mark on this sport if she wants to do so. Think about it. She was right on the All-Star qualifying mark with her first senior high meet.”
Woods was the next to cross the finish line after the highly regarded pair of Acorn Tigers. The Mansfield native had the fifth place time with an incredibly solid time of 23:52.3.
Mansfield teammate Corrina Wesley completed the 3.1 mile equivalent in a season best 26:03.3. It was her goal to reach the 25 minute mark. Her seventh place overall finish was within seconds of the bid.
MHS freshman Delilah McKusker, a midseason entrant onto the senior high team, was the 13th runner to complete the Acorn regional course. The Lady Tiger surprise rounded the two loop venue in 28:27.
Sisters Jessica George and Bree George came in consecutive order to McKusker at 14th and 15th position. The younger of the two siblings, freshman Jessica, was timed at 28:45. Her junior class sister, Breanna, clicked the clock at 29:46.
Alyssa Berry, the Lady Tigers’ number two runner for most of the season, did not participated because of injury. The sophomore strained her knee stepping into a hole during a long training run on the Monday before the meet.
Acorn won the senior girls’ team title with 25 points. Mansfield was second at 34 points.