Resident News Network

GO-AR Hosts Meet the Legislators Event

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10:02 am

By Cassie Coben

If you have never been to our beautiful Capitol building in Little Rock, the perfect opportunity to visit is coming up. On Tuesday, January 14, Gun Owners of Arkansas will be hosting their Meet the Legislators event.

The day will start off at 11am in room 151 in the Capitol. Gun Owners of Arkansas (GO-AR) members will be on hand to answer questions and conduct tours of the Capitol building. There will even be several chances to meet some of Arkansas’ lawmakers.

This is a great educational event for young and old alike, parents are encouraged to bring their children.

Don’t miss out on this amazing day!

State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Terry Rice

News

Tammy Teague

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10:01 am

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State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Terry Rice

LITTLE ROCK – The legislature’s list of accomplishments in 2024 was highlighted by a $438 reduction in income taxes for Arkansas families and businesses.

Individual income taxes for about 1.1 million Arkansas taxpayers will go down because the legislature lowered the top rate from 4.4 percent to 3.9 percent.

The legislature also lowered corporate income taxes by changing the top rate from 4.8 percent to 4.3 percent, saving about $66.2 million every fiscal year. An estimated 7,800 corporations will benefit from the tax reduction.

The tax cuts were passed in a June special session.

In addition to lowering income taxes, the legislature also lowered property taxes. For assessment years beginning January 1, 2024, the homestead property tax credit will go up from $425 to $500, saving homeowners $46 million a year. The second full year it is in effect it will save homeowners about $47 million.

The legislature also met in fiscal session in 2024, approving a budget for the current fiscal year of $6.31 billion. That is an increase of only 1.76 percent over the previous year. Arkansas legislators have always been fiscally conservative, and the 2025 budget is one of the most conservative in the state’s history.

During the fiscal session lawmakers passed laws to tighten regulations of data centers and the newly emerging crypto mining industry. The laws protect homeowners from excessive noise near the data centers. Another goal is to ensure that their energy consumption doesn’t cause power failures.

In August more than 3,000 additional families applied for Education Freedom Accounts, bringing the total number of families in the program to about 15,000 this school year. The accounts were created in 2023 to promote greater school choice for families who choose to send their children to private or parochial schools.

In its first year the program funded 5,548 accounts, each providing $6,672 for help with tuition.

The same legislation that created Education Freedom Accounts also raised teacher salaries. Arkansas teacher salaries went up 3.2 percent last year, to an average of $54,309. The LEARNS Act set a minimum salary of $50,000. It will dramatically affect teacher salary figures in coming years.

The Legislature approved rules to implement a provision in the LEARNS Act that helps families pay for literacy tutors for children who have difficulties learning to read. The families of about 20,000 elementary students are eligible for a $500 grant to pay tutors to help their children move up to grade level. The students are in kindergarten through the third grade.

During the current school year the state Education Department began making grants available to Arkansas school districts to help implement cell phone restrictions in the classroom.

The grants can be used to pay for mental health services, via telehealth technology. It also is being used for secure pouches in which students lock away their cell phones during the day. Each pouch costs about $30. Teachers and other school personnel will have special magnets that unlock them.

When the legislature convenes in regular session in January, they likely will consider further restrictions on students’ cell phone use.

Buggy Hill Cemetery Association Meets to Elect New Board

Resident News Network

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8:05 am

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On December 21, 2024, the Buggy Hill Cemetery Association board of trustees held their annual meeting.

In the meeting. current members Ricky, and Renea Bryan, and John Byers elected John, and Angela Byers, Brad, and Bonita Byers, and Jason, and Lesli Baggett as the Buggy Hill Cemetery Association Board of Trustees for the incoming year, 2025.

All elected members will serve as purposed to maintain the integrity of Buggy Hill Cemetery grounds through by-laws, rules and regulations all supported through the Arkansas Heritage.

Board unanimously voted to pass the following:

Transfer of management of care (mowing, abandoned flowers, et cetera.) to new board of trustees
Derive, implement and enforce rules and regulations pertaining to the care, management and integrity of the overall well being of Buggy Hill cemetery
Derive, implement and enforce Buggy Hill Cemetery Association by-laws, rules and regulations, et cetera, beginning date of creation
Cemetery rules and regulations will be publicly available as stated on a sign placed on fence, near entrance with contact information.
Local funeral homes will be given copy of by-laws, with contact information as reference

Arrest Reports 12/15

Police Reports

Tammy Teague

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4:51 pm

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Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H:
Billie Lynn Albertson of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 21 at 6:46 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with cash bond. Albertson was charged with two counts of Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Alaina Dawn Hernandez of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 18 at 4:48 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with cash bond. Hernandez was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

Arresting agency – Hartford Police Department:
Scotty Eugene Escalante of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 19 at 7:22 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with cash bond. Escalante was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Department:
Stephen Austin Hill Lee of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 16 at 8:15 p.m. and released on bond December 17 at 4:27 p.m. Hill was charged with two counts of Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), and Failure to Appear – Class C Misdemeanor.

Anthony Terrell Maloy of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 18 at 11:04 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond December 18 at 5:40 p.m. Maloy was charged with Petition to Revoke – Felony.

Randy Shane Mathis of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 21 at 8:02 p.m. and remains at the SCADC on cash bond. Mathis was charged with Failure to Appear – Class A Misdemeanor.

Jeffery Thomas Vansandt of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 19 at 9:08 p.m. and released on bond December 20 at 12:49 a.m. Vansandt was charged with three counts of Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely.

Dusty Alan Waymire of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 21 at 7:35 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with legally sufficient bond. Waymire was charged with Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely.

Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Austin Dean Jones of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 16 at 2:08 a.m. and released on bond December 18 at 3:33 p.m. Jones was charged with Possession Of Firearm By Certain Persons Felony, Public Intoxication – Danger to self or others, Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule I/II Felony <2g, Simultaneous Possession of Drugs and Firearms-Firearm, and Petition to Revoke – Felony.

Tation Mitchell of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 16 at 2:09 a.m. and released on bond December 16 at 10:04 a.m. Mitchell was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense, and Refusal to Submit to a Chemical Test-adult.

Annett Lee Smith of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 19 at 1:55 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with cash bond. Smith was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Corey Justin Turner of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 15 at 5:18 p.m. and released on cash bond December 15 at 10:11 p.m. Turner was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Arresting agency – Hackett Police Department:
Edward Hayden Thornburg of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 18 at 12:53 p.m. and released on signature bond December 20 at 3:18 p.m. Thornburg was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), and Failure to Appear – Class C Misdemeanor.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Department:
Diamond Weaver, 23 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 18 at 6:29 p.m. Weaver was charged with breaking or entering, theft of property, possession of methamphetamine, heroin, or cocaine with the purpose to deliver, possession of a controlled substance, breaking or entering, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Andrew Brewer, 33 of Subiaco, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 20 at 5:45 p.m. Brewer was charged with body attachment and contempt of court.

Steven Goodson, 32 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 20 at 10:50 p.m. Goodson was charged with contempt of court, driving while driver’s license cancelled, suspended or revoked, and no insurance.

Billy Catlett, 48 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 21 at 2:17 p.m. Catlett was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and public intoxication – drinking in public.

Arresting agency – Franklin County Sheriff’s Department:
Devon Dority, 24 of Charleston, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 18 at 12:34 p.m. Dority was charged with cruelty to animals, obstructing governmental operations, and failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

John Alvin Vaughan, 48 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 18 at 5:52 p.m. Vaughan was charged with failure to appear.

Jason Ray Johnson, 46 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 19 at 9:46 a.m. Johnson was charged with failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Austin Jones, 26 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 19 at 11:19 a.m. Jones was charged with absconding / white warrant.

Kevin Kelley, 47, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 19 at 11:39 a.m. Kelley was charged with failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Johnny Aviles, 35 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 20 at 5:09 p.m. Aviles was charged with domestic battering – 3rd degree / purpose of causing injury, causes serious injury, public intoxication, and disorderly conduct.

Amy Cathaleen Pierce, 49 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 20 at 7:11 p.m. Pierce was charged with domestic battering – 3rd degree/purpose of causing injury, causes serious injury, public intoxication, disorderly conduct, obstructing governmental operations, battery – 2nd degree / purpose of causing injury, causes serious injury.

Phyllis Jean Romano, 49 of Holiday, FL, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 21 at 9:39 p.m. Romano was charged with driving while intoxicated – DWI 1st drugs, reckless driving, fictitious tags, no proof of liability insurance, resisting arrest – refusal to submit to arrest / active or passive refusal, and possession of drug paraphernalia meth/cocaine.

**The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.**

Obituary: Anthony “Tony” Lee Widmer (1953-2024)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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3:07 pm

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Obituary: Anthony “Tony” Lee Widmer (1953-2024)

A graveside service will be held for Anthony “Tony” Lee Widmer, age 71, at Arlington Cemetery, in Homer, LA, on Sunday, December 22, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., with Rev. Jerry Gill, officiating. Visitation will be at the graveside from 1-2 p.m., prior to the service.

Tony was born August 14, 1953, in El Dorado, AR, to F. L. “Leroy” and Frances “Doodle” Jones Widmer. He entered into rest on December 18, 2024, in Waldron, AR. Tony was a member and served as a deacon at Ruple Baptist Church for many years. He was an avid lover of animals and always had a dog. Tony was a motorcycle enthusiast and mechanic who would rebuild old Harleys and traveled the United States. He enjoyed spending time with his friends and family. Tony was a kind person who would give anyone in need the shirt off his back.

He is preceded in death by his parents.

He is survived by his brother, Andy Widmer and wife Julie of Homer, LA; sister, Tea’ Heard and husband Richard of Homer, LA; six nieces and nephews, Leah Walker and husband James, Lori Thurmon and husband Henry, Mitzi Koeppl and husband Chris, Drew Widmer and wife Christie, Kim Stanberry and husband Brady, and Briana Pental and husband Chad; numerous great-nieces and great-nephews, as well as great-great nieces and nephews; other relatives and friends; and his baby dog, B.B.

Tony’s family would like to express their gratitude to Carla Hodson, Pastor Larry Free, Tracy Bradford, the director of Gentiva Hospice and Mercy Hospital along with their staffs for the care and compassion shown him during his final days.

Pallbearers will be nephews and great-nephews, Chad Pental, James Walker, Henry Thurmon, Ethan Harvey, and Jackson Bailey.

In lieu of flowers honoring Tony, his family suggests memorials be made to Samaritans’ Purse or The Gideons.

Obituary: Billie Gayle Scott (1958-2024)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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11:48 am

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Obituary: Billie Gayle Scott (1958-2024)

Billie Gayle Scott, 66, of Waldron, Arkansas passed away on December 19th, 2024 in Waldron Arkansas.

Billie Gayle was born June 15th 1958 in La Grande, Oregon to the late Ranny Savage and Dora (White) Thompson. She was a loving Daughter, Mother, Nana, Sister, Aunt, and friend.

She attended Harvest Church and she loved her Lord and Savior. Billie Gayle loved her family, adventure, traveling, and she never met a stranger. Once someone said “hi” they were considered a friend for life. She was a member of the Waldron Quadrille for 14 years and a proud member of the Choctaw Nation. Although Billie loved all of these things, nothing made her more happy than the memories that were made when surrounded by her family. Billie Gayle was a blessing and light to so many and we will carry on her legacy of love forever.

Billie Gayle leaves behind to cherish her memory, Mother Dora (White) Thompson of Waldron Arkansas, Her two sons Rusty Craig and wife Amber, and Clint Scott of Waldron Arkansas. Nana will forever be missed by her Granddaughters Dusti Craig and Lanee Shaddon and Grandson Lane Scott. Her two brothers Scott Thompson and wife Sheri of Bates AR and Eric Thompson and wife Wynona of Waldron Arkansas. Step brother Earl Wayne Thompson and wife Barbara of Bates Arkansas. Step sisters Pam Payne and Husband Lewis of Waldron Arkansas and Karen Parish and husband Russell of Mansfield Arkansas. Aunt Billie forever remains in the hearts of all of her nieces and nephews. Billie Gayle will be missed by all that knew her including a host of cousins, extended family, friends, and all those who loved her.

Preceding Billie Gayle in death is her father Ranny Savage, Sister Randa Savage, Great Nephew Josiah Batchelor, Great Niece Reese Scantling and several Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins.

Billie Gayle’s celebration of life will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, December 21, 2024 at the

Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Bro. Larry Free and Bro. Jaylin Brumbelow officiating. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory.

Billie Gayle’s pallbearers will be her beloved nieces and nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be her co workers at Weigh Tech.

Visitation for Billie Gayle will be Friday, December 20, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Terry Rice

News

Tammy Teague

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10:57 am

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The financial health of the state Teacher Retirement System has been steadily improving over the past decade.

For example, using very conservative criteria, retirement systems are generally considered healthy if their “funded ratio” is above 80 percent. Ten years ago it was below 80 percent but at the end of last fiscal year it was 84.6 percent. This measure the system’s capacity to pay for all future benefits of both retired and active members.

Improvement is also indicated if you measure the system’s financial health by its amortization period. Actuaries estimate that within 20 years the system will be 100 percent funded. That compares favorably to the amortization period of ten years ago, when it was an estimated 33 years. It is a marked improvement over last year’s estimated 26 year estimate.

The ratio is 100 percent when taking into account only retired members. The system has enough funds to fully pay for all future benefits of every retired beneficiary, for the rest of their lives.

According to the system’s director, who sends regular updates to members, the retirement system hire consultants to recommend how to best make investments. The investments are diversified, to protect from excessive loss in a particular category and withstand market volatility.

About 56 percent of the system’s investments are in publicly-traded stocks, while 13.4 percent are in bonds and other fixed income categories. Alternative investments, such as hedge funds, make up 5.1 percent of total investments. Real estate accounts for 6.7 percent, private equity 13.4 percent and agriculture, timber and infrastructure 4.9 percent.

Assets are evaluated after adjusting for losses and gains over a four-year period, and at the end of last fiscal year the system’s investments earned 9.75 percent.

A snapshot of the system’s finances demonstrates how its financial health has improved over the past few years. At the end of Fiscal Year 2024 its assets were $22.4 billion. A decade ago its assets were $15 billion.

The system has 142,000 members. About 68,000 are active and 56,000 are retired. Almost 3,000 are in the T-DROP program and almost 15,000 are inactive.

The Teacher Retirement System is the largest public retirement fund in Arkansas. Its Board of Trustees makes decisions after considering their long-term effect. To quote from the system’s web page: “The ATRS Board makes decisions in terms of decades, not days, weeks, or months.”

Junk Food Restrictions

The governor announced that Arkansas would seek permission from federal agencies to prohibit the use of food stamps for sugary soft drinks and junk food snacks. The food stamp program is now called SNAP, for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

In a letter to federal officials, the governor said that SNAP “is undermining the health of millions of Americans, on the taxpayer’s dime, by encouraging families to eat highly processed, unhealthy junk food…. our federal food assistance policies are fueling obesity, diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, and a wide range of chronic health conditions across America.”

Timepiece: Christmas Past

Featured

Tammy Teague

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10:14 am

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By Dr. Curtis Varnell

Celebrating Christmas in Arkansas is a tradition older than the state itself. It is said that Jesuit priests celebrated the birth of Christ at Arkansas Post as early as 1698. Although not officially recognized as a national holiday until 1870, Arkansas had declared it a holiday in 1838, just two years after statehood.

Early Christmas celebration appears to have been more a community than a family type celebration. Communities and churches meet for communal celebration and, in some areas of Arkansas, they were quite a riotous affair involving fireworks, lots of alcohol, and gunfire. In 1837, Robert Brownlee described people coming into town, fighting, swearing and using the Bowie knife freely. In 1840, the Arkansas Democrat reports the firing of a cannon in the downtown area; one with a report so loud it broke windows out of nearby homes. Others described much quitter times, spent in church and sharing communal meals and singing.

Tom Wing, curator of the Drennen-Scott house located in Van Buren, describes the typical Victorian Christmas. John Drennen was a prominent Indian agent, businessman, and politician in the mid-1800’s. According to Wing, during Christmas time the Drennen family celebrated with friends and family in a manner that was similar to today. Old letters, bills, and diaries describe that the house was decorated with lots of cedar and pine boughs. The smell of fruit and spices permeated the house during the holiday. An open Bible sat on the table, opened to the book of Luke and the Christmas story. It was a tradition in the home to read the story each year to those that had gathered. Bowls of salted and sugared pecans, a family favorite, was served to guest of the home, accompanied by the ever-present eggnog. Mr. Wing, who still has several of the old recipes, noted that the eggnog consisted of cream, sugar, nutmeg, lots or egg whites, and a generous serving of cheaper bourbon. The concoction was much fluffier, stronger, and almost unrecognizable from that of today. Among the bills and notes left by the Drennen family was a December order from a local baker for a Canola cake. Canola was a very popular jelly-roll cake and would have been enjoyed by the family during the Christmas meal.

Christmas celebrations, even in Van Buren, must have been more like the fourth of July celebration of today because even the Drennen house mentions that fireworks were placed on the tables for use during events later in the day. A popular firework of the time was the type containing something similar to a firecracker that popped when a string attached to either end was pulled. Several diaries and letters from the time period remarked that guns were fired into the air as part of the celebration.

The traditions we observe today are a conglomeration of celebrations from around the world. The Christmas tree tradition was brought from Northern Europe and were commonly found in homes by the late 1800’s. Candles lit the first trees and were a fire hazard. The invention of electric Christmas lights greatly increased the popularity and use of the tree.

As a rural and poor state, the quality of gifts was determined by how good the crop was in any specific year. Common gifts included practical items such as clothing, shawls, handkerchiefs, and coats for women and such things as saddles, guns, and tools for men. By the late 1800’s, Sears catalogs offered a variety of goods that could be delivered right to your door- of course for the right price. People in the southern part of the state would travel by special Christmas trains to Shreveport or Fort Smith to purchase the latest and best products available form the world market. Sewing machines were popular buys for the women while, like today, baseball bats and dolls were sold to the children. The more typical working class travelled little and were given smaller gifts, sometimes left in stockings, of nuts, oranges, and candy.

As we wait for Christmas, we observe photos of Santa Claus, see thousands of sales adds, and check out the long lists of items wanted by members of our family. Every add and song seems to mention sleigh bells, snow, and a white Christmas. According to Mr. Wing, the winter of 1863 saw the Arkansas River at Van Buren completely frozen over, so much so that Union troops could drive wagons and supplies across the ice. According to weather reports, that is not going to happen again this year but remember, just as in the 1800’s, the real important thing is to spend time with our families and friends and to celebrate the real reason for the season. Happy Holidays.

NIAAA Announces National Scholarship Winners

Tammy Teague

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2:23 pm

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NIAAA Announces National Scholarship Winners

Brevin Egbert and Carley Sexton were named the 2024 NIAAA National Student Athlete Scholarship winners. They were selected by the NIAAA board of directors during their annual July meetings.

Every year two national winners are selected from the pool of NIAAA section scholarship winners – 16 student-athletes in all. The national winners are chosen based on their notable scholastic, leadership, and sportsmanship qualities, as well as community involvement.

The scholarship awarded each year by the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) to one male and one female student-athlete is a one-time award of $2,500 for higher education.

Sexton is a graduate of Greenwood High School in Greenwood, Arkansas. The athletic
director is Chris Young and Sexton’s parents are Aaron and Crystal Sexton. Sexton graduated with a 4.09 GPA and was a two-sport athlete at Greenwood. She participated in softball for two years and basketball for three years. In softball, she contributed to the team earning runner-up in the state tournament. On the basketball team, Sexton helped the team earn a state title and she was named all-conference in 2023 and all-state in 2022.

As a leader in her school, Sexton was a member of the Student Leadership Team, the
Fundraising committee, Spanish club, and mentored freshmen at Greenwood. Furthermore, Sexton was the vice president of finance for the Greenwood High School Health Occupations Students of America.

In her local community, Sexton was an active member at her church – Fellowship
Baptist. She was on their hospitality team, a member of the Mission Team, and was
active in their youth group. In addition, for close to six years Sexton volunteered for the
Special Olympics.

In Sexton’s essay she wrote for the NIAAA student scholarship program, she wrote
about the time and effort she put into high school sports, and how failure is never final.
“It might seem simple to some, but through athletics, I learned you are not a failure if it
takes a while to learn it. Setbacks are opportunities to learn,” Sexton wrote.

Accepting the award on Carley Sexton’s behalf, AD Chris Young, and her brothers, Noah Sexton and Travis Cooper.

Both Egbert and Sexton were invited to the 55th National Athletic Directors Conference in
Austin, Texas in December 2024. They were given the chance to read their scholarship essays, as well as receive a glass etching which recognizes them as national winners. Sexton was unable to attend the conference, but accepting in her place, her brothers, Travis Cooper and Noah Sexton. Also present at the Conference, Chris Young. The award was presented by Tol Gropp, CMAA – NIAAA Board President, Director of Athletics, Timberline High School, Boise, ID.

For a student to apply for and receive the scholarship at the state, section, or national
level, they must meet distinguished requirements. This includes a certain level of
athletic and academic achievements, amongst other rigorous criteria. Their athletic
director must also be an NIAAA member. To learn more, visit https://niaaa.org/awards-recognition.

HOLIDAYS: Tips for forming habits, making lifestyle changes in the new year

Featured

Tammy Teague

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2:10 pm

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HOLIDAYS: Tips for forming habits, making lifestyle changes in the new year

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

A new year often involves resolutions to improve health, form a new habit or change one’s behavior. To better achieve these changes, Brittney Schrick, extension associate professor and family life specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, recommends setting SMART goals by ensuring they are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-sensitive.

One of the biggest barriers people face when trying to form a new habit is “expecting to be perfect right out of the gate,” Schrick said.

“Often, if we ‘fail’ at something, we give up,” she said. “What is lost here is the idea that practice is necessary. It can’t be an all-or-nothing attitude, and that tends to be how we approach New Year’s resolutions. Give yourself some grace and give yourself the opportunity to start over multiple times.”

Schrick said that when making a change, it doesn’t need to happen on a Monday, or at the first of the month or calendar year. It can be at any time, on any day. “You can just decide, ‘I need to recommit to that,’” she said.

Setting SMART goals

Schrick recommends making SMART goals: those that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-sensitive.

Specific and Measurable: “Your goal can’t just be something like, ‘I need to get healthier,’” Schrick said. “That’s not particularly helpful. But if you narrow it down to ‘I want to eat more vegetables, so I will try to eat them at two meals every day,’ then that is concise enough for you to easily keep track.”
Attainable: Schrick said people should set goals that aren’t grand or unrealistic. “It needs to be something that can actually be achieved,” Schrick said. “If you have never run in your entire life, but you say, ‘This summer, I’m going to run a marathon,’ you might be able to do it, but you’re probably setting yourself up for failure. ~~But~~ you’re more likely to get to a 5k race by the summer.”
Relevant: Finding a true motivation that makes sense within one’s own life and desires is important to progressing toward a goal. “It needs to be something that you actually want to achieve,” Schrick said. “There has to be some motivating factor that isn’t just, ‘I want to look better in a swimsuit by the summer’ or ‘My mother told me I need to get healthier.’ It needs to be something personally relevant to you.”
Time-sensitive: The goal needs to have an end point or built-in deadline, where it is either achieved or it isn’t. “It can be your goal to meet it every day,” Schrick said. “It doesn’t have to be something far in the future. If your goal is to eat two servings of vegetables every day, but you don’t hit it one day, that doesn’t mean you have to stop. You can just try again tomorrow.”

Think outside the body

Though physical health tends to be the focus of many New Year’s resolutions, Schrick said it is helpful to consider other kinds of changes that can benefit mental and emotional health.

“While improving our physical health is a worthy goal, a lot of the time, what ends up happening is that we move on from them when we don’t see results as quickly as we should,” Schrick said.

Setting a goal to read more books, make more of an effort to reach out to friends, or spend more time outside are all changes that can feel good from the inside out.

“I also like the idea of changing our mindsets about things,” Schrick said. “Deciding to be nicer to yourself, or speak more kindly to yourself in your head, can go a long way. Try to catch your negative thoughts before they spiral into being mean to yourself.

“Just catching and reframing some of those words can have a huge impact, which you might not notice the benefits of until it comes in handy,” she said. “It might be months down the line of you practicing this before you notice, ‘Oh wow, my first thought wasn’t a bad one this time.’ That can be a really useful thing to do.”

Deciding to tidy up one’s living space more regularly can also have a big impact on mental health, and Schrick said it is good practice for forming a new habit in general. This is also a helpful goal to set as a family, and it can be tracked using a chore chart or other visual progress indicators.

“Talk with your children about how you all share this space, so you’re going to share the labor it takes to keep your space clean,” Schrick said. “Maybe you have a shared incentive for completing it. ‘If we can keep the house tidy and cross off all of our goals this week, then we can order pizza on Friday night’ — whatever works for your family.

“Just having those shared goals, and that visual tracker, helps you hold each other accountable for making sure things get done,” Schrick said.

For more information and resources about family life, visit the Cooperative Extension Service’s Personal and Family Well-Being page.

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on X and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on X at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on X at @AgInArk.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

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