“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor
By Sheri Hopkins, Lifestyle Contributor
Hello everyone! Such beautiful weather we are having. I love it. I guess I will cancel my plans to move to the retirement mecca of Boca Raton.
I was born in the City of Paris, AR and lived in the City of Booneville until I was seven. Then we moved to Mansfield. I missed all my cousins and the play dates we had, but my dad worked at the sawmill in Mansfield, so that is why we moved. Booneville was where most of my mom and dad’s families lived. That was some 54 years ago. Mansfield is my home now, but I still go to Booneville once a month or so. Some of the cousins meet at a Mexican restaurant, eat and visit. I have one aunt left, and she comes to meet with us also. We have a good time. If the weather permits when you arrive in town, there is an older gentleman dressed as Batman standing by the side of the road waving at everyone. It just makes my day when he is out there. I also like to go to the Walmart in Booneville and get groceries. I was just shopping and looking at stuff and I pass this tall, kind looking gentleman. I speak to everyone, so I said, “hello.” He looks in my cart and says, “looks like you are going to have more fun than I am.” I had all kinds of junk in there and stuff to make cupcakes for my great niece’s birthday party. I said, “yes, I am making stuff for a party” He wanted to know if I was a good cook. You know me, no modesty at all, as I reply, ” I am a very good cook.” That seemed to pique his interest. Then he asked me, “what do you like to do for fun?” I didn’t tell him, but I Have a lot of things I do for fun. We go on our merry way. I am checking out with all my groceries, and he is checking out at the same time, and he says, “I can help you with those groceries. I will load them in your car for you.” I replied, “I got it, I don’t have that much.” He was really nice, but I don’t have time for such goings on.
A few days later, my cousin went to the Booneville Walmart and a man asked her if she was married, if she had kids and if she did, would they be jealous of him. She told him yes, and that she had been for 40 years. He must have thought that to be unbelievable because he said, “so you have been married twice?” She said, “no, just once.” He told her that he was looking for a girlfriend. He said he had a girlfriend, but it didn’t work out and he broke up with her. While my cousin was shopping, she heard him ask three more women the same thing. She called and described the man to me, but it was not the same man. The moral to this whole story is if your single and looking, Booneville Walmart is the place to be. Ya’ll have a great week and enjoy the weather.
If your spouse is still alive, tell them how much they mean to you and how much you love them. This week’s recipe reminds me of my childhood when I would walk to the Kerr McGee gas station owned by Mammy and Pappy Reece and get me a cold Grapette out of the machine.
GRAPE CRUSH CAKE OR CUPCAKES
4 egg whites, room temperature
½ cup vegetable oil
1 ½ cups grape soda
1 white cake mix (dry)
1 package of grape Kool-Aid
4-6 drops of purple food coloring
Preheat oven to 350-degree, spray your cake pan or get out your cupcake liners. These are super cute for a kid’s party. You can get those colored paper straws in purple and white and stick in the side when you are finished decorating or use sprinkles. Add the egg whites, oil and grape soda to a mixing bowl and use your hand mixer and mix until well-combined. Add the cake mix, grape Koop-Aid and few drops of the food coloring and mix well, until the purple streaks are gone. Fill your cupcake liners or cake pan and bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. I would start at 15 minutes and go from there. Less if you are doing cupcakes. I would just buy the white frosting in the can. To make it go further, I add about 1/2 cup powdered sugar and mix with my hand mixer and add the rest of your purple food coloring till it’s the color you want. If you want to make homemade frosting, you can.
State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Terry Rice
LITTLE ROCK – The Senate has approved a package of bills with tougher regulations for the signature-gathering process by which citizens can place issues on statewide ballots.
In recent years the legislature has passed numerous new laws to prevent voter fraud and protect election integrity. The Secretary of State, the top election official in Arkansas, recently issued a report in which he gave the state good grades for its voter integrity laws.
However, he gave Arkansas poor grades for the security of our signature-gathering process, saying that wealthy out-of-state groups “are able to get almost any issue on Arkansas ballots.”
His report stated that “almost all petitions provided to the Secretary of State’s Office contain tens of thousands of invalid signatures and thousands of duplicate signatures.”
The Senate has approved a package of bills to prevent deceptive practices when canvassers collect signatures from registered voters, in order to place an issue on the ballot.
Senate Bill 207 would require canvassers to inform people, before collecting their signatures, that petition fraud is a Class A misdemeanor. The disclosure could be verbal, or in a separate written document that would be shown to people before they sign.
SB 208 would require canvassers to view a photo ID of each person signing the petition. If canvassers are unable to verify someone’s identity, they may not collect a signature.
SB 209 directs the Secretary of State to not count signatures on a petition if a preponderance of evidence indicates that the canvasser has violated state laws or provisions in the state Constitution regarding canvassing, perjury, forgery or fraudulent practices in getting signatures.
SB 210 would require people to read the ballot title of a ballot issue before signing the petition. The ballot title is a summary of all the provisions in the proposed constitutional amendment or initiated act. The bill allows for the ballot title to be read to the person signing, in the presence of the canvasser.
SB 211 would require canvassers to submit a sworn statement that he or she has complied with all state laws governing the collection of signatures, and with the Constitution. Unless the canvasser submits the sworn statement, any signatures he or she turns in will not be counted by the Secretary of State.
One bill in the package has not been voted on by the full Senate. It is SB 212 to create a new office within the Secretary of State’s office, known as the Document Validity Division.
In other news, the Senate Committee on Revenue and Taxation endorsed legislation that would save Arkansas homeowners more than $56 million. It is SB 263 and it will take effect in 2026, when it raises the homestead property tax credit by $100. The credit is currently $500. A spokesman for the state Department of Finance and Administration said that about 708,000 homeowners would benefit from the bill.
The Senate approved SB 223, known as the Religious Rights at Public Schools Act of 2025. It would put into one law all the various religious rights of students, teachers and school administrators. The act will be distributed to all students and staff at the beginning of each school year.
Obituary: Kathy Massey (1959-2025)
Kathy D. Massey of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life, February 23, 2025 in Waldron, Arkansas with her loving family by her side. Kathy was born February 20, 1959 in Richmond, California to Hermadee “Pete” Clark and Alma Clark. She was 66 years old.
Kathy worked for many years at Norman Lures. She later went to work for Tyson Foods and dedicated many years of service there. Kathy was a laid back person who loved listening to music. Her favorite thing in the world was being at home surrounded by her family, especially her grandchildren, and her animals.
Kathy leaves behind to cherish her memory, her husband Van Massey, her children: Krista Clark and Rick Bartlett all of Waldron, Arkansas, one sister, Kay Sorg of California and bonus son Van Massey Jr. Nana will forever remain in the hearts of her grandchildren: Aunna Bartlett, Abby Barba and Mason Bartlett. Kathy will be missed by all who knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host of nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.
Kathy was preceded in death by her parents Pete and Alma Clark and her siblings: Jean Brown, Ron Clark and David Clark.
Kathy’s family will hold a private celebration of life at a later date. Arrangements and cremation are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas.
Obituary: Irene Waddle (1960-2025)
Irene Louise Waddle of Waldron, Arkansas went to be with her Lord and Savior, Tuesday, February 25, 2025 in Waldron surrounded by her loving family. Irene was born November 7, 1960 in Hart, Texas to Leroy Boman and Betty Jean (Slater) Boman. She was 64 years old.
Irene was a member of The Crossing Church in Waldron. She had become an ordained minister, constantly studied the Bible, loved teaching about Jesus and was excited about all the things she had learned. Irene was always an outdoor woman, even being called a tomboy as a youngster. She enjoyed collecting rocks, tumbling them and sharing their beauty with others but her favorite thing was being surrounded by her grandchildren and loved ones. She was a loving sister, aunt, mentor and friend to everyone she knew.
Irene leaves behind to cherish her memory, two daughters, Erica Westbrook of Hot Springs, Arkansas and Heather Thomas of Waldron, Arkansas as well as her sisters, Debbie (Thurman) Cheesman and Delta and Jay of all Waldron, Arkansas. Nanny will forever remain in the hearts of her grandchildren: Landyn Thomas, Logyn Thomas, Lylee’n Pickens, Leelyn Pickens, Payton Brown and Devon Brown. Irene is also survived by special friends, Jimbo Jones and Suzie. Irene will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host of nieces, nephews, extended family and friends and her church family she loved dearly.
Irene was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, James Boman.
Irene’s life celebration will be Saturday, March 1, 2025 at 2:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Grady Parker officiating. Arrangements and cremation are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas.
Irene’s visitation will be Friday, February 28, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Umarex Big Squirrel Challenge breaks records
Elijah and Abigail Sleighton weighed in an impressive three-squirrel bag limit that included a black fox squirrel. Less than one percent of fox squirrels have this melanistic trait. The team took second place at the Fort Smith location, and Abigail even won the grand door prize at Fort Smith, a Umarex air rifle valued at $190. AGFC photo courtesy Kiley VanMatre.
By Randy Zellers
YELLVILLE — For the second straight year, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Umarex Big Squirrel Challenge broke attendance records with 186 teams weighing squirrels at one of 12 weigh-in stations across the state.
The father/son team of Kurtis and Syler Villines won both the fox squirrel and mixed bag categories for youths. Their limits were weighed in at the Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center in Yellville. AGFC photo.
“We had four locations with more than 20 teams participating this year,” Eric Maynard, AGFC assistant chief of education, said. “Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center in Yellville had 37 teams show up for the event.”
Maynard said he’s excited about the continued growth of the event and sees possibilities to expand it even more with the addition of a “gray squirrel only” category in the future.
“We split the categories into youth teams and adult teams weighing either all fox squirrels or mixed bags that must include at least one gray squirrel,” Maynard said. “This year we just didn’t have that many bags of all fox squirrels weighed in. In fact, four of the 12 weigh-in stations didn’t have a three-squirrel limit of fox squirrels turned in.”
One youth team didn’t have any issues finding the fox squirrels. Syler Villines, mentored by his father, Kurtis, brought in the best-ever score in any category, dropping three large fox squirrels on the Crooked Creek Nature Center scales that weighed 2,429 grams. Not only did they win the all-around youth category for fox squirrels, they had enough squirrels left in their daily bag limits to enter three others (this time including one gray squirrel) to take first place in the state in the youth mixed bag category with a score of 1,916 grams of beefy bushytails.
The Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center had the most participants with 37 teams turning in squirrels this year. AGFC photo.
The team of Justin Wright and Jason Weatherford claimed top honors in the adult fox squirrel category, bringing 2,379 grams of squirrel to the Johnelle and J.B. Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center weigh-in location, and Hunter Moore took the top prize in the adult mixed bag category with two fox squirrels and a gray weighing 1,995 grams at the Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center scales.
Regional Winners, Division, Total Grams per Bag
Batesville, Independence County Shooting Sports Complex: James Wallace, Adult Fox-only, 2,269; Dalton Lee and Levi Branscum, Adult Mixed Bag, 1,903; David and Chesnee Bates, Youth Fox-only, 2,099; Ruger and Rocky Boyce, Youth Mixed Bag, 1,653.
Columbus, Rick Evans Grandview Prairie Nature Center: Chad Rader and Cameron Tatum, Adult Mixed Bag, 1,471; Braiden and Chase Friend, Youth Mixed Bag, 1,184.
Fort Smith, Janet Huckabee Arkansas River Valley Nature Center: Lyle Smith and Jack Ishii, Adult Fox-only, 2,187; Hunter Moore, Adult Mixed Bag, 1,995; Aiden Newton and Jeff Armer, Youth Fox-only, 2,068; Hunter and Matthew Moore, Youth Mixed Bag, 1,750.
Hazen, Mike Freeze Wattensaw WMA Headquarters: Lovett and Lovett, Adult Fox-only, 2,251; Boyett and Boyett, Adult Mixed Bag, 1,600; Holmes and Holmes, Youth Mixed Bag, 1,270.
Jonesboro, Forest L Wood Crowley’s Ridge Nature Center: Andrew A. Agee and Andrew G. Agee, Adult Fox-only, 1,975; Chase Rye and Ethan King, Adult Mixed Bag, 1,862; Jake Johnson and Eelik York, Youth Fox-only, 2,112; Everett Davis and Walker Denevan, Youth Mixed Bag, 1,868.
Magnolia, SAU Laney Farm: CJ Johnson and Ronnie Hughey, Adult Mixed Bag, 1,237; Tracy Clark and Lisa Cupples, Youth Fox-only, 2,091; Heath Barr and Dayton Boton, Youth Mixed Bag, 1,557.
Mayflower, Camp Robinson Special Use Area Clubhouse: Aidon and Brad Ratliff, Adult Fox-only, 2,296; Kory and River Jones, Adult Mixed Bag, 1,704; Elijah Paulette and Hudson Wright, Youth Fox-only, 1,998; Carter and Bently Tedford, Youth Mixed Bag, 1,637.
Monticello, AGFC Southeast Regional Office: Tim Chapman and Nate Cooper, Adult Mixed Bag, 1,541; Slade and Ryan McRae, Youth Mixed Bag, 1,568.
Russellville, AGFC West Central Regional Office: Kyle Witt, Adult Fox-only, 1,919; Kyle Witt, Adult Mixed Bag, 1,559; Ryker Hipps, Youth Fox-only, 482; Robert McCormick, Youth Mixed Bag, 1,406.
Pine Bluff, Gov. Mike Huckabee Delta Rivers Nature Center: Jaxon Power and Landen Shirey, Adult Mixed Bag, 1,226; Bentley and Cory Thompson, Youth Mixed Bag, 1,254.
Springdale, J.B. and Johnelle Hunt Family Ozark Highlands Nature Center: Justin Wright and Jason Weatherford, Adult Fox-only, 2,379; Blade and Megan Elmore, Adult Mixed Bag, 1,425; Mike and Koen Ransom, Youth Fox-only, 2,306; Colton and Chris Hendrix, Youth Mixed Bag, 1,660.
Yellville, Fred Berry Crooked Creek Nature Center: Clayton and Dale Villines, Adult Fox-only, 2,233; Laine Hilliard and Austin Tate, Adult Mixed Bag, 1,877; Kurtis Villines, Youth Fox-only, 2,429; Kurtis Villines, Youth Mixed Bag, 1,916.
Timepiece: Skedaddle
By Dr. Curtis Varnell
Smoke rolled across the field as cannons thundered. General Herron’s men pressed the smaller Union forces backward through the forested fields near Pea Ridge, Arkansas. One Illinois soldier recalled that the air around him was “literally filled with leaden hail. Balls would whiz by our ears, cut off bushes closely, and even cut our clothes.” Union troops under Colonel Jefferson C. Davis rallied the Union forces, not able to press forward but holding the line of advance. A large black horse thundered across the front of the line, panicked by the noise of the battle raging around him. Several of the men from the 22 Indiana Infantry seized the animal, quieting and calming him. Horses, and especially horses of the quality of this animal, were valuable commodities during the Civil War and this one was probably previously owned by one of the opposing Confederate officers. After the battle, the troops presented the animal as a gift to Davis. Davis, obviously elated by the gift, named the stead Skedaddle. Skedaddle accompanied Davis throughout his career, the chosen warhorse of the career military officer.
Davis was promoted to Brigadier General for his action at Pea Ridge and was transferred east to the Army of the Cumberland. A career officer, Davis had participated in the war with Mexico and served with distinction. Col. Davis was the only man who fought at Pea Ridge who had heard the opening gun fired at Fort Sumter, was in the march to Atlanta, and participated in events surrounding the end of the war.
Soon after being transferred, he and Skedaddle played a significant role in the battle of Corinth where Davis and his troops were instrumental in securing the Mississippi railroad hub. It was immediately afterward that his career took and significant and detrimental downturn.
Davis, already cursed by having the same name as the president of the Confederacy, strongly objected to orders given him by his commander, General William Nelson. Nelson was a large man, standing well over 6-foot-tall and weighing over 300 pounds. He was an imposing figure with the nickname of Bull Nelson. Davis, on the other hand, was significantly smaller and weighted 125-pounds soaking wet. Nevertheless, feeling slighted by his commander, Davis challenged him to a duel. Nelson cursed and swore at Davis, then grabbed and slapped him twice across the face. Davis left the hotel, borrowed a pistol from another officer, and shot Nelson through the heart. Due to military expediency, he was never prosecuted but it was a black mark on his career and he never advanced further than Major General, even though he was a very successful leader.
Davis commanded a division at Sone’s River and Chickamauga, two of the major battles in the Army of the Cumberland. He earned the respect and admiration of Major William Tecumseh Sherman and was instrumental in the battles leading up to the march of Atlanta and on to Savannah, Georgia.
As the war ended, the victorious Union troops were invited to Washington for an official grand review before the army was disbanded. President Andrew Johnson, U.S. Grant, General Sherman and as many as 250,000 men, women and children looked on for twelve hours over a two-day period as the troops passed in review. There in the forefront, was General Jefferson C. Davis astride the magnificent Pea Ridge runaway, Skedaddle.
With the war over, Skedaddle was retired to the Davis farm near Memphis, Indiana. He lived out his days in a pampered life, never again doing manual labor. Skedaddle died in 1887, so admired by his family that they placed him in a marked grave. The citizens of Memphis, Indiana erected a monument celebrating the life and contributions of Skedaddle, the Pea Ridge warhorse.
