State Capitol Week in Review From Senator Terry Rice
LITTLE ROCK – The Senate voted to create a new and sustainable property insurance plan to help school districts meet the rising cost of property insurance.
Senate Bill 481 is the result of two years of work by legislators, school administrators and state officials. Two years ago the governor and legislators agreed to help schools pay for about 30 percent of the cost of increased premiums, noting that on average the cost of property insurance for schools was rising at an average of 130 percent a year.
The sponsor of SB 481, when presenting the bill before a Senate committee, said that some schools had experienced “staggering” increases of 180 to 200 percent in the cost of insurance premiums.
SB481 will create a captive insurance plan, administered by the state, which will combine the participants in three current plans. The larger risk pool will allow more efficient management of costs and risks. The goal is to have the plan in operation by July 1, and savings could be as much as $15 million in the first year.
The legislature will consider a separate funding bill that will capitalize the new insurance program with about $136 million.
In other news, the House of Representatives approved a bill to extend coverage from 60 days to a year for women on Medicaid who have a baby. In nationwide studies of maternal health care, Arkansas ranks near the bottom.
According to state Medicaid officials, during a three-month period last year 39 percent of women on Medicaid lost their coverage after 60 days.
Public health experts say that providing coverage for 12 months will improve the health of both the baby and the mother. One reason is that it eliminates concerns the mother may have about paying for visits to the doctor.
In other news the Senate approved legislation intended to preserve order and dignity in women’s restrooms, changing rooms and sleeping quarters where they have traditionally enjoyed privacy and safety. It is SB 486. If a woman enters a restroom and encounters someone of the opposite sex, she would be able to sue the shelter or facility.
The bill would not apply if the person of the opposite sex was cleaning or doing maintenance, responding to a medical emergency or a natural disaster or performing law enforcement duties.
The Senate also approved SB 426 to enhance criminal penalties against illegal aliens who commit a violent offense. The enhancement depends on the severity of the felony. An illegal alien convicted of a Class A, Class B or Class C felony would receive an additional 10 years to their prison sentence. The enhanced sentence for a Class D felony would be four years.
Two years ago lawmakers passed Act 689 to require social media companies to verify the age of users, and to impose fines when social media companies fail to do so. It was blocked by lawsuits, however.
This year, SB 611 has been filed to give parents greater control over their children’s Internet usage. Also, SB 612 would allow lawsuits against social media companies that encourages use of drugs, self harm, suicidal behavior or eating disorders.
“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor
By Sheri Hopkins,
Lifestyle Contributor
Hello everyone! We have had a gulley washer here in the River Valley. Supposed to be storms today, and I already have a huge tree limb down in my front yard from Wednesday’s winds.
We had the Culpepper Merriweather Circus in town on Saturday. To say I had fun is an understatement. Since I am the Chamber of Commerce President, they asked me to speak to the crowd and welcome everyone. I asked the Ringmaster if I could say “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages” when I announced. She said, “of course you can, this is your day to shine.” So, in my loud voice with microphone in hand, I yelled “Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls of all ages, welcome to the circus!” I have wanted to do that for as long as I can remember. Mark that off my bucket list.
We had a customer come to the drive thru this week and ask Teresa, “who are y’all going to get to replace Sheri?” Teresa is confused wondering what’s going on. He says, “I heard she left with the circus. He heard I was announcing at the circus. If I joined the circus there are three jobs I could do: bearded lady, fat lady and clown. I qualify for all three. Enough about the circus, I run a a three-ring circus at my house.
My friend, Joy, made these cherry bars and brought to the Chamber of Commerce fundraiser and they were delicious and everyone bragged on them, including me. They are easy and good. Y’all have a great week, and if you see me doing a side gig at the circus, don’t be surporised.
CHERRY BARS
1 cup butter
1 ¼ cup sugar
4 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
3 cups flour
1 ½ tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 can cherry pie filing
Frosting: 1/3 cup powdered sugar and milk
Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Add flour, baking powder, and the rest of ingredients gradually, beating well after each addition. Take out 1 ½ cup of batter. Pour the rest of the batter into a 12 x 16 or 9 x 13 greased pan. Spread cherry filling on top of batter. Drop the rest of the batter by teaspoonfuls over the top of the cherries. Bake for 30 min at 350° or done. Mix powdered sugar with milk into thin icing and drizzle over still warm bars.
Obituary: Jodi Evans (1980-2025)
Jodi Ann Evans of Waldron, Arkansas went to be with her Lord and Savior Monday, March 31, 2025 in Waldron, Arkansas. Jodi was born December4 21, 1980 in Norman, Oklahoma to Joel Earl Potts and Charolett Ann (Copeland) Potts. She was 44 years old.
Jodi was a devoted member of the Waldron Pentecostal Church of God. She loved the Lord and desired to serve him more and learn all she could. Helping others was her passion. Jodi enjoyed being a homemaker and taking care of her family. She treasured time and memories made with her children and grandchildren.
Jodi leaves behind to cherish her memory, her loving husband Jeff Evans, her mother Charolett Potts of Waldron, and her children: Shanna Sanders of Atkins, Arkansas, Sage Hardie of Van Buren, Arkansas, Arrabela Hardie of Van Buren, Arkansas, Jenna Evans of Waldron, Arkansas, Jolie Evans of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, Jaclyn Evans of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, Jace Sanders of Waldron, Arkansas, Dalton Sanders of Waldron, Arkansas, Jerry Don Briggs of Waldron, Arkansas, Kobe Evans of Ft. Smith, Arkansas. She will forever remain in the hearts of her grandchildren: Aspin Petchenik, Olivia Petchenik, Jacelyn Sanders, Chase Sanders, River Sanders. Jodi will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host of extended family, friends, neighbors and loved ones.
Jodi was preceded in death by her father, Joel Potts, one daughter Taelyon Dawn Briggs, and one sister, Marissa Kaye Potts.
Jodi’s celebration of life service will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Konnor McKay and Rev. Travis May officiating. Interment will follow in the Buffalo Cemetery. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Jodi’s pallbearers will be Richard Freeman, Kevin Keeler, Brent Deetcherage, Travis May, Kurtis Bell and Josh Sanford.
Jodi’s visitation will be Monday, March 7, 2025 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Tags needed to bag a turkey this spring; nonresidents limited to single gobbler
By Randy Zellers
Arkansas turkey hunters will need to add one more item to their hunting vest this season: an Arkansas Turkey Hunting Tag. The tags and a valid hunting license are required to enable the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to more accurately judge the number of hunters taking to the field in the search of a gobbler.
The resident versions of the turkey tags, labelled RTT for adults and YTT for youth hunters, are free but must be acquired through the AGFC’s licensing system before the hunter takes to the woods. Even residents who hold lifetime licenses and disability licenses are required to add this free permit to their licensing account before hunting. Checking out the tags will enable all resident hunters a total of two legal gobblers.
Nonresidents have a few more hoops than resident hunters to jump through if they wish to chase an Arkansas turkey. For nonresident hunters under 16, the Nonresident Youth Turkey Tag remains free and will be the only license they need. Adult hunters, on the other hand, will need to either purchase a Nonresident Turkey Tag (NRTT) for $100 in addition to their Nonresident Annual Hunting License (NBG), which costs $410, or they may opt for the newly created Nonresident Annual Turkey Hunting License (NRTL), which includes a tag, for $325.
“Many hunters who chase turkeys in Arkansas may not have an annual license from last deer season, so we wanted to offer this $325 license as a more affordable option for nonresidents wanting to pursue turkeys in Arkansas,” Brad Carner, deputy director of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, said. “If you already hunt deer here, you can just buy the $100 tag to add to your annual license as well. Whichever way is more economical will work.”
Nonresidents who hold a Non-expiring Lifetime Hunting and Fishing Permit from their time as residents in Arkansas will still need to get the Nonresident Turkey Tag in the license system, but will not be charged the $100 fee when they check out of the system.
Regardless of the license, all nonresidents will need to choose wisely this spring, as all nonresident options are limited to a single legal turkey per year.
“The Commission has heard from many hunters through the regulations public comment process as well as during informal conversations about the idea of reducing bag limits for turkeys to one per year in order to preserve hunt quality and protect Arkansas’s turkey flock,” Carner said. “Although very few hunters actually harvest two birds, the Commission did decide to opt for a more conservative limit on nonresidents after many discussions.”
According to Susan Porter, AGFC licensing manager, one additional turkey tag option may appear in Arkansas’s license system for some hunters. The code NBLTP represents another free turkey tag, this one specifically for Mississippi residents who are hunting land that falls under the Arkansas/Mississippi reciprocal agreement.
“They will need to have all licenses required to hunt in Mississippi, but some of these lands are on the Arkansas side of the Mississippi River, so they will need to get this free turkey tag to transport their bird back across state lines to check it with Mississippi’s license system,” Porter said. “That is the only scenario where a hunter in Arkansas would need this particular tag on their license profile.”
Arkansas’s turkey season opens April 21 statewide. In Turkey Zone 1, it closes April 29; it continues through May 11 in Turkey Zone 2. The Special Youth Turkey Hunt for hunters younger than 16 is April 12-13. A full list of turkey regulations is available in the 2024-25 Arkansas Hunting Guidebook.
All turkeys harvested in Arkansas must be checked via agfc.com, the AGFC mobile app or by phone within 12 hours of harvest. If they are checked immediately upon harvest, the turkey does not need a physical tag attached to it. If the hunter is unable to immediately check the bird, then they must affix a possession tag indicating the hunter’s name, CID number and the date and time of harvest that must remain with the bird until it is checked. Checking should also be more convenient this season, as the AGFC plans to roll out a new “express check” option on its website beginning with the Special Youth Turkey Hunt. Visit www.agfc.com/licenses to procure your turkey tag.
Musings on Nature: Out and About with Gerald and Winny
Sinkholes
That the ground beneath our feet is solid is one of the anchors of our belief system. When something happens — say, an earthquake or a sinkhole opens up — the ensuing panic is because our basic belief system has been shaken. The Earth is not always solid.
Sinkholes form in areas underlain with limestone or dolomitic rocks. These carbonate rocks were deposited in shallow seas during the past half million years and underlay continents around the world, including here in the Ozarks. The carbonates are the exoskeletons of microscopic sea creatures and a few larger ones, just to keep things interesting. The cave systems found throughout the Ozarks are found in these carbonate layers that have been eroded by flowing water across the ages.
Rainwater is acidic in nature, with an average pH of between 5.0 and 5.6. Rainwater falling through the atmosphere intercepts carbon dioxide molecules and forms a weak carbonic acid solution. As carbon dioxide levels increase in our atmosphere, the pH of rainwater is becoming more acidic. The bleaching of coral reefs around the world is in part due to increased ocean temperatures but also because of the increased acidity of rainwater.
Geologists use the phrase “karst geology” to describe these underground erosional events. Rainwater seeps in through cracks in the earth and begins dissolving channels through the limestone and dolomite layers. Eventually a Swiss cheese-like rock forms, and water flows more freely. These perforated rocks are critical to humans. About a quarter of the freshwater supply used around the world is drawn from these honeycombed rocks.
Aquifers are the underground rivers that follow these perforated carbonate rock layers. The Edwards Plateau of central Texas is one of the largest and best-studied aquifer systems in the world. It is huge, encompassing 1,250 square miles and containing more than 50 million acre-feet of water. Though that’s a lot of water, the demands for water use are also high. Because the aquifer is relatively shallow and overlain with lots of fractured rock layers, the recharge rate is relatively high, yet withdrawals are currently exceeding the recharge rate by about 6 percent per year.
Another important characteristic of this honeycombed rock is that oil is found in them. Saudi Arabian oil fields — and most relatively shallow oil fields — gush out all that oil because the network of karst limestone is so extensive that oil just keeps flowing when a pumpjack removes it.
But let water flow through honeycombed rocks long enough and a hollowed-out cave forms. If the carbonate layer is close enough to the surface and there is not a strong sandstone ceiling, the roof can collapse. This can be sudden or gradual, but eventually, a pothole in the earth’s surface is left. The Yucatán Peninsula is pot-marked with these water-filled sinkholes. The one in the accompanying photo was taken in southeastern New Mexico. A string of eight or 10 500-foot-wide sinkholes have formed in a row as they follow the course of the underground river. In this case, gypsum deposits (calcium sulfate) are being dissolved. And the lakes aren’t bottomless. The deepest is only 90 feet deep, but the water that fills them comes from below-ground sources, not rainwater.
Sinkholes appear from time to time and make the news. My favorite sinkhole story occurred in 2014 when the floor of the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky suddenly opened up and swallowed up eight vintage ‘vets. The hole was 60 feet long, 40 feet wide and 30 feet deep. But it turns out sinkholes are good promotion. That year, three million people visited, the largest number of attendees so far.
A friend and I were driving through the Arkansas woods heading to the Guion Ferry (before the bridge across the White River was built in the late 1980s) when he spotted a bare rock face in the woods. We stopped to investigate. It was a new sinkhole about 100 feet across that had dropped the soil perhaps 20 feet. To get there we had gone down one small ravine and up another hill and were several hundred feet from the road. There in the bottom of the sinkhole was an old couch. The effort to carry that old piece of furniture that distance just to dispose of it in a new hole in the ground spoke volumes of our base nature to pitch things in a hole.
| Gerald Klingaman is a retired Arkansas Extension Horticulturist and retired Operations Director for the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks. After more than two decades of penning the popular Plant of the Week column, he’s taking a new direction, offering views on nature as he pokes about the state and nation. Views and opinions reflect those of the author and are not those of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. If you have questions or comments for Dr. Klingaman about these articles contact him at musingsonnature@gmail.com. |
Obituary: Donna Stanfill (1944-2025)
Donna Gwen Stanfill of Mena, Arkansas (formerly of Waldron, Arkansas) passed from this life, Monday, March 31, 2025 in Mena. Donna was born January 31, 1944 in Hon, Arkansas to Holland L. Piles and Virgie Inez (Frost) Piles. She was 81 years old.
Donna grew up in and around the Parks area. She loved riding horses even into adulthood. She sold Home Interior for over 23 years. She spent many hours traveling and helping ladies with all things decor. She had a passion for what she did. When Donna became Nana she wanted to be closer to her grandchildren and relocated to Mena. Having Donna close by and doting on her grands and then great grands made for sweet memories dear to everyone. Donna also loved her dogs who served as her companions and friends.
Donna leaves behind to cherish her memory, one daughter, Tanya Fretz and husband Mark of Mena, Arkansas. Nana will forever remain in the hearts of her grandchildren: Talyssa Simmons and husband Dalton of Lincoln, Arkansas and Chandler Fretz of Lincoln, Arkansas as well as great grandchildren: Amzie and Elva Simmons. Donna is also survived by one brother Keith Piles and wife Rhonda of Parks, Arkansas. Donna will be missed by those whose lives she impacted including a host of extended family, cousins, friends and neighbors she loved dearly.
Donna was preceded in death by her husband Glenn Stanfill, one son Russell Lynn Rogers and brother Leamon Piles.
Donna’s celebration of life will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, April 3, 2025 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Pat Ray Biggs officiating.
Interment will be in Hawkins Cemetery in Parks, Arkansas.
Donna’s visitation will be Wednesday, April 2, 2025 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas.
NASCAR Adds To 2026 Schedule
The Greenwood Clock Tower 250: NASCAR’s Bold Move to Small-Town America. In an unprecedented expansion move, NASCAR announced that the Cup Series will make its way to Greenwood, Arkansas, for the first time in history. The newly minted Greenwood Clock Tower 250, presented by Gatorade and Ditch Witch, is set to take place at a state-of-the-art temporary circuit, making history as the first NASCAR event in the region.
A Race in the Heart of Arkansas.
Greenwood, a small town known for its historic clock tower and rich Southern charm, the only liquor store outside of Fort Smith, has never been on the radar of motorsports’ biggest leagues—until now. The announcement of the Greenwood Clock Tower 250 sent shockwaves through the NASCAR community, with fans and drivers alike eager to see how this unique track will challenge competitors. The race will take place on a temporary street course through the heart of Greenwood, incorporating both high-speed straights and technical turns that wind around the town’s picturesque downtown area. Spectators will be treated to an up-close experience as NASCAR’s biggest stars roar past local landmarks. The track will use the new bypass for a portion of the track. Pitlane will be along Coker St in front of Arvest Bank and El Palenque.
Why Greenwood?
NASCAR officials cited the town’s passionate racing community, its growing economy, and its ideal location in the South as key reasons for choosing Greenwood as the latest addition to the schedule. The town has a deep-rooted love for motorsports, with local short-track racing drawing significant crowds over the years. “The opportunity to bring NASCAR to Greenwood is something we never imagined,” said Greenwood Mayor Doug Kinslow. “This town lives and breathes racing, and to have the best drivers in the world competing here is beyond anything we could have dreamed.” But, thanks to Greenwood’s only liquor store in the Wal-Mart parking, the owner Witaro (Arkansas Man of Mystery) sold enough booze to make his dream a reality. “Surprisingly, the number of people were supportive of the business, especially after they put the billboard above my van.”
An Unforgettable Weekend
The Greenwood Clock Tower 250 will be more than just a race—it will be a festival of speed and Southern hospitality. Fans can expect a weekend full of activities, including fan meet-and-greets, live music, and a showcase of classic and modern racing machines. Presented by Gatorade and Ditch Witch, the event is expected to bring a major economic boost to Greenwood, with businesses preparing for an influx of visitors from across the country. Hotels are already reporting increased bookings, and local restaurants are gearing up for a race weekend unlike any other.
What’s at Stake?
As part of the NASCAR Cup Series regular season, the Greenwood Clock Tower 250 will play a crucial role in shaping the playoff picture. The tight corners and fast-paced layout of the street circuit promise thrilling action, with potential for dramatic finishes and unexpected winners. Former Cup Series champion Chase Elliott expressed his excitement about the event: “Street courses bring a whole new dynamic to our sport. Greenwood’s track is going to be fast, technical, and completely different from anything we’ve raced on before. I can’t wait to see what kind of show we put on for the fans.”
A New NASCAR Tradition?
With Greenwood’s debut on the NASCAR calendar, fans and analysts alike are wondering if this could be the start of a new era—one where small-town America plays a bigger role in shaping the future of the sport. If successful, the Greenwood Clock Tower 250 could become a staple of the NASCAR schedule for years to come, proving that great racing isn’t limited to the country’s biggest cities. As the engines get ready to fire up, one thing is certain—Greenwood, Arkansas, is about to make NASCAR history.
APRIL FOOLS EVERYONE!