Hello everyone! Hot weather here in the River Valley. I hope y’all had a wonderful Fourth of July. Mansfield put on a good show.
I will be going on vacation next week. My brother, his wife and me are going to Mt. Airy, North Carolina to the Andy Griffith show replica town. Y’all know when we go on trips, I always have crazy stuff happening to me or one of my family members, so be prepared. We are also going to watch a couple Atlanta Braves baseball games and I am looking forward to it. I’ve lived in Mansfield since I was in the second grade, about 1970. It was back in the day of Barnes Drug Store, Western Auto, Seamans, Johnson Dry Goods to name a few. I loved going downtown and we would get candy at the drug store. As we got older, we would ride our bikes downtown and go behind Romeo Boyd’s and he had a Coke machine with the coldest pop you could get in a glass bottle. Good times for sure. We had the Dixie Bell Drive-In and there was a couple that ate there every single day, Charlie and Barbara. One time they got mad at Don Martin, and it just happened to be around Christmas, so they made a sign and put it on their little old car to drive in the Christmas parade. It said, “Don’t Eat at Don Martin’s.” So funny, and only in small town Arkansas.
Huntington had stores also. I remember going with my dad to Joe Elmore’s store and dad would get lunchmeat sliced and buy snacks. Joe was open on Sunday, that’s when we would go. When I was a teenager, there was a man who lived in Huntington named Mr. Rhoar. I am not sure if I am spelling his name right. He drove an old bronze colored Oldsmobile. He used to have some kind of library or museum in Huntington, according to Mayor Gary Lawrence. I’ve told all that to tell this, he drove sloooooow! If you got behind him coming from Huntington or going to Huntington, it would take half a day to get to where you were going. He was in Mansfield one day and barely moving down Mainstreet. I had Curtis Feimster with me, and he wanted out of the car. Curtis gets out of the car and starts running up beside Mr. Rhoar in his car and Curtis runs right passed him on Main Street! We laughed and laughed about that. If we would have had video cameras in those days, we would be rich from all the crazy stuff that happened. If you had Curtis Feimster with you, there was going to be laughs for sure. Hope y’all have a blessed week, enjoy your loved ones and always tell them how much you love them!
ALMOND JOY CAKE 1 chocolate cake mix (I use devil’s food) bake according to package directions 1 cup evaporated milk 1 cup sugar 26 large marshmallows 14 oz. shredded coconut 1/2 cup evaporated milk 1/2 cup butter 1/2 cup white sugar 1 cup chocolate chips 1/2 cup of almonds Bake cake according to package directions. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Pour batter into the cake pan sprayed with non-stick spray. Bake in 350-degree preheated oven for 26-31 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Mix 1 cup of evaporated milk, 1 cup sugar and marshmallows together in a large pot. Stir over medium heat until marshmallows are melted. Stir in coconut and pour over hot cake. Combine 1/2 cup of evaporated milk, butter and 1/2 cup sugar in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil, stirring constantly. Fold in chocolate chips, and almonds. Spread over the coconut layer. Cool cake until set, about 30 minutes. Enjoy.
Arkansas voters decide more than candidates on Election Day. You also have a role in shaping state policies by voting on proposals that seek to create new laws or change the state constitution.
Arkansas is one of 15 states where citizens can propose constitutional amendments, state laws and veto referendums on the ballot for voters to decide. Legislators also have the right to refer up to three constitutional amendments on the statewide ballot.
We provide voters with neutral, research-based information on all statewide ballot proposals. Ultimately our goal is to increase voter participation and help Arkansans be confident in their vote.
Election Day is Nov. 5, 2024.
What Constitutional Amendments are on the 2024 Arkansas Ballot?
The Arkansas constitution allows legislators to refer three amendments to voters on the General Election Ballot. In 2023, Arkansas lawmakers filed 33 proposed constitutional amendments for the 2024 ballot. Through their committee process, legislators narrowed down the proposals and referred only one proposal to the November ballot.
What Citizen Initiatives Have Been Submitted for November?
On July 5, 2024, sponsors of three proposed constitutional amendments submitted voter signatures collected from across the state. Employees at the Arkansas Secretary of State’s Office will now review the voter petitions. The Secretary of State must send the official 2024 ballot to counties by Aug. 22.
Since 2004, the Public Policy Center has published unbiased fact sheets on statewide ballot measures so voters have a better understanding of what is being asked of them on Election Day. The fact sheets go through a vetting process that includes reviews by issue supporters and opponents.
In 2022, we distributed 40,000 ballot issue voter guides across Arkansas’ 75 counties. Our ballot issue education web pages attracted 346,972 unique visitors who recorded 432,615 page views between Sept. 1-Nov. 11, 2022. Find past voter guides in our archive.
What will I find in Extension’s ballot issue voter guide?
How the proposals will appear on the ballot
Answers to basic questions about each issue
Reasons why people may support or oppose the proposals
A worksheet to record your voting plans
What Are Ballot Issues?
Ballot issues are policy questions that appear on local or statewide ballots for voters to decide.
Proposed state laws, constitutional amendments and veto referendums are often referred to as “ballot issues” when they are being decided by voters. Sometimes people call these proposals “ballot measures” or “citizen initiatives.”
Game wardens patrolling Natural State waterways reported no boating fatalities over the course of last weekend’s Independence Day celebrations, thanks in part to increased boating safety presence throughout the state.
According to Sydney Grant, boating law administrator for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 121 AGFC game wardens worked 2,400 hours, patrolling rivers, lakes and streams July 4-6, and contacted more than 11,250 individuals during their annual Operation Dry Water effort.
“There were a few boating accidents reported, but that zero fatality number is always encouraging,” Grant said. “But we still have some room to improve, especially when it comes to boating under the influence.”
According to Grant, 23 boaters were arrested for boating while intoxicated during the holiday weekend, with the highest level of intoxication being nearly three times the legal limit.
As part of Arkansas law, those boaters not only will face heavy fines, but they also likely will lose their ability to operate a vehicle on Arkansas’s roads.
Col. Brad Young, chief of the AGFC Enforcement Division, praised the officers involved in the increased boating safety effort.
“Taking those 23 impaired boaters off the water likely prevented some major disasters and saved lives during a weekend reserved for celebration,” Young said. “I am extremely proud of our men and women out there making sure everyone made it home safely to remember their time on Arkansas’s waters.”
Grant said the lifesaving measures didn’t stop with boating-under-the-influence checks. Lack of properly fitting life jackets, reckless boating and other violations were reported as well.
“Out of the 3,659 vessels contacted, 534 contacts uncovered a violation,” Grant said. “In 346 of those cases, wardens were able to issue a warning as soon as the violation was rectified; the remaining 188 were severe enough to warrant a citation.”
With well over a month of prime boating weather still to come, Grant reminds everyone to do their part to help keep Arkansas’s waterways safe.
“We want everyone to enjoy boating, angling and paddling in The Natural State, but we have to do it responsibly,” Grant said. “High-traffic times like holiday weekends are critical, but every time you’re on the water is a time to remember safe and courteous boating. We’re all out there to have fun, and winding up in jail or the hospital because of poor judgment isn’t very fun at all.”
Operation Dry Water (ODW) is a national initiative aimed at reducing alcohol- and drug-related incidents and fatalities on the water.
The University of Central Arkansas has announced the Presidential Scholars and Dean’s List for spring 2024.
Recognition as a Presidential Scholar or Dean’s List scholar is based on grades earned during each semester of the regular academic year. Eligibility on the Dean’s List requires at least a 3.5 GPA with a minimum course load of 12 credit hours. Students must achieve a 4.0 GPA with a minimum course load of 12 credit hours to qualify as a Presidential Scholar.
Presidential Scholars from our area are: Hannah Buzbee – Greenwood Dalton Curtis – Charleston Larry Davis – Central City Anna Davis – Central City Molly Denison – Greenwood Ireland Green – Lavaca Landon Henning – Greenwood Jacey Mabery – Greenwood Chase Martin – Greenwood Ralph Meeker – Greenwood Trenton Rhodes – Booneville Katherine Williams – Greenwood Ella Williams – Greenwood
It was definitely summertime in Arkansas. Sweat cascaded down my forehead and formed pathways down my back, drenching my clothing. Noel Coward stated it well; nothing but mad-dogs and Englishmen would be ignorant enough to venture into the midday sun and here I was out mowing my yard. How in the world did we survive before air conditioning?
Air conditioners are a relatively recent solution to providing relief from Southern summers. Invented in the early 1900’s by Willis Carrier, they would not become economically feasible for use until nearly a century later. The 1932 price for an individual window unit in 1932 would cost the equivalent of $200,000, a sum available to only the wealthiest of Americans.
Early pioneers used natural methods to cool their homes. Dogtrots, openings between rooms of the house, allowed air to circulate through the central part of the home. Large porches spanned the front of the homes and allowed people to sit outside, visit in the shade, and catch the occasional breeze. Kitchens were often build separate from the homes to prevent trapping the heat from the wood cooking stoves. Windows, covered by screen, were thrown open to catch any cross-breezes that might wonder through. Church meetings were often held in brush arbors during the summer. With four-sides open to the air and the roof covered by tree branches, the long-services were at least endurable. Funeral homes supplied paper fans to stir the air and, if one was energetic enough, could create enough breeze to evaporate the profuse sweating and create temporary cooling. At night, many families would place beds on screen-covered porches and sleep outside, hoping for a few hours of relief from the unrelenting heat of the day.
By my childhood, electricity allowed for the use of fans which would circulate the hot air through the homes. As I began my teaching career, we would cool the 95 degree plus rooms by opening windows and turning on a multitude of fans. On a particularly scorching day, a fellow teacher pranked me by sending a “delivery” from the office. The student that delivered the gift set it on my desk and left without a word. I instantly realized my mistake as I attempted to move the box. Styrofoam delivery chips tumbled from beneath the box, weighted down by the rock my friend had conveniently placed on top of the chips. Caught up in the breeze from four large circulating fans, my room soon resembled a huge snow globe, complete with twenty students chasing in swirling chips.
Many homes in the 60’s and 70’s were equipped with window water coolers. Instead of lowering humidity, these huge air circulators were fueled by filling the bottom of the unit with water. The fans picked up moisture and large water droplets and hurled them across the room. For those seated in the air flow, it was a glorious moment as the wet air flowed around you. Soon the room reached 100 percent humidity and water began to drip from the ceiling and run down the walls. Dye in the wall paper would began to dissolve and the pastoral scenes that once covered the walls would become Picasso like versions of modern art with colors and designs in free-flow down the wall. On particularly hot days, dad would buy a 50-pound block of ice to sit inside the water cooler. Pure bliss for about thirty-minutes until the ice melted!
People from that period of time remember going to a café or store and reading the huge signs on the windows or doors announcing that the facility was actually cooled by AIR CONDITIONING.
Perhaps we have become soft. My friends will often bring throw blankets to teacher meetings, I haven’t seen a funeral home fan in years, and even school busses are air conditioned. Like my Latin-American friends, I find it more convenient to siesta in the cool during the hottest part of the day and I freely admit I love my AC unit
The regular monthly meeting of the Waldron School Board was held in the Central Office Building Monday, July 8, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were Clay Woodall, Stan Cottrell, Angela Hunsucker and Konnor McKay. Board member Mac Davis was not present. Others present were Superintendent Daniel Fielding, Chris Lipham, Kim Solomon, Zack Taylor, Chelsea Ridenhour, Cheyenne Smith, Tonya Cluck, Darla Jeffery and Toni Dozier.
President Woodall called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m.
Mr. Woodall welcomed everyone.
Mr. Konnor McKay began the meeting with a word of prayer.
Mrs. Angela Hunsucker led the Pledge of Allegiance.
A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Konnor McKay to approve the Consent Agenda items: A) Approval of the June 10th and June 19th Minutes; B) Approve Financial Reports and Expenditures; C) Approve Invoice to Health Special Risk, Inc; D) Approve Bill of Sale to Crain Kia of Fort Smith. Motion carried 4-0.
A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to approve the Petition for Transfer of Students. Motion carried 4-0.
The principals from each building reported on the great job that the student workers have done in the buildings with waxing the floors, painting and getting the buildings ready for students. Mrs. Solomon reported that ABC/First Step enrollment is looking to be up from last year. She also reported that their grant got approved. Mrs. Jeffery, Elementary Principal, reported that Robin with NIET has been contracted to work with staff on planning and leadership. Mr. Taylor informed the board members that there are no students having to be retained at Middle School after the completion of summer school.
Assistant Superintendent Chris Lipham informed the school board members that dead week is now over. He also let them know of the possibility of adding e-sports in the future.
Superintendent Daniel Fielding also stated that student workers have done an excellent job this summer. He and the board members discussed the possible dates for the annual Beardsley Financial meeting.
Adjourned to executive session. Time dismissed: 6:48 Time returned: 7:26
A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Stan Cottrell to approve the resignations of Phylisa Millard from Food Service and Becky Staggs as ABC/First Step Paraprofessional as of the end of 2023/24 SY. Motion carried 4-0.
A motion was made by Stan Cottrell and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to hire Debra O’Neill as Food Service cook for the 2024-25 SY. Motion carried 4-0.
A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to hire Mary Beth Tinder as Food Service cook, with 2 years’ experience, for the 2024-25 SY. Motion carried 4-0.
A motion was made by Stan Cottrell and seconded by Konnor McKay to hire Faith Brown as School Based Mental Health Specialist for the 2024-25 SY, with a 196-day contract. Motion carried 4-0.
A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Konnor McKay to hire Courtney Evans for Elementary Paraprofessional for the 2024/25 SY, pending the passing of the paraprofessional assessment. Motion carried 4-0.
A motion was made by Stan Cottrell and seconded by Konnor McKay to hire Cassidee Tucker as 5th Grade Math Teacher for the 2024-25 SY, pending that she meets the requirements. Motion carried 4-0.
A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Konnor McKay to transfer Gina Efurd from a 218-day contract to a 238-day contract as AOA Secretary for the 2024-25 SY. Motion carried 4-0.
A motion was made by Stan Cottrell and seconded by Konnor McKay to adjourn. Motion carried 4-0.
Close to 500 boys and girls, aged two and a half to 18, chasséd into the Fort Smith Convention Center on June 1st to perform for parents and friends in Chance 2 Dance’s (C2D) tenth annual dance recital titled Celebrat10n Recital 2024. The recital featured five separate sessions covering ten hours: Two hours for the dancers on the competition teams Two hours each for the dancers from the Alma and Greenwood studios Two sessions of two hours for the dancers from the Van Buren studio
(RNN photo / James Slemp)(RNN photo / James Slemp)(RNN photo / James Slemp)(RNN photo / James Slemp)
Various styles of music filled the auditorium as brightly clad soloists and groups from two to over ten showcased their newly acquired techniques and skills. As each session closed on bows, waves, and tears, the dancers and staff closed out another year at C2D. Leading up to this all-day event required Megan Park-Grimm, owner and artistic director of C2D, and her excellent staff of instructors and coaches to plan, develop, coordinate, and instruct the various dances starting as early as June of the preceding year.
Megan Park-Grimm grew up in Van Buren. She started dancing when she was six years old at a studio that has since closed in Van Buren, Dance Unlimited. Megan danced throughout her childhood at both the studio and in school. She attended the University of Arkansas- Fayetteville and was on the Razorback dance team while studying chemical engineering. Megan took her degree first to Tulsa and then to Little Rock, where she taught at a dance studio. She also danced for the Tulsa 66ers, a D-league basketball team. Having never wanted to get into the business side of dance, it took a tremendous calling for her to transfer to Fort Smith and open a studio in her hometown of Van Buren. Megan opened the first C2D studio in August 2014. She has seen numerous changes in the business side of dancing and the techniques and opportunities for the dancers in her ten years in business. She bought a studio in Greenwood in the Fall of 2019 and opened in 2020. She opened her third studio in Alma in January 2023. I sat down with Megan and two of her instructors, Kayte Jeffress, and Ally Wysocki, at her flagship studio in Van Buren to find out what drives each of them to teach and coach, how dance impacted their lives, and what impact dance has on the dancers and the community.
(RNN photo / James Slemp)(RNN photo / James Slemp)
Resident News Network: You took your engineering degree from the University of Arkansas into Tulsa’s workforce and then to Little Rock. You mentioned that you felt a calling to open a dance studio, which was taking away from your engineering career. How daunting was that decision?
Megan: I have danced most of my life and taught as I got into the workforce, but I never saw myself as an owner of a studio. The calling I felt, however, was strong, and I wanted to take the leap so everyone could have a chance to dance. I didn’t have any business experience or education before I opened C2D, but my dad opened a business and mentored me. I learned a lot as I went along, and I’m still learning, mainly through trial and error. I wish I had taken business classes in college, but I’ve been fortunate to have some great mentors. We have recreational classes for kids who want to dance but don’t want to compete, and we have competition classes where we enter competitions. We also have all-star dance and cheer programs that prepare the kids for high school dance teams.
RNN: You’ve grown from one to three studios in ten years. How have you maintained and increased your enrollment, especially through COVID-19?
Megan: My experience in the dance studio as a kid was fantastic. I loved coming to the studio and wanted other kids to feel the same way. I saw an opportunity here in Van Buren to open a studio that could provide a place for kids to learn dance, and I could do some outreach to the community. The previous studio was closed for about five years, and they provided a lot of equipment and an old client list that I used to contact dancers. Social media wasn’t as big when I started, so I used old-school methods to market. I posted flyers and yard signs all over the surrounding towns and placed advertisements in the newspaper. As I became more successful, I’ve reduced my time and resources for marketing. Most of my new students come to C2D by word of mouth. I changed this year’s recital to help increase enrollment in our competition teams. I sprinkled some competition team dances throughout the five sessions. I received a few calls from parents right after the recital that saw those performances and wanted to know how to get their children into those classes.
RNN: What are some of the benefits that dance provides a student?
Megan: Dance provides so many positive physical and mental aspects. Kids, especially our younger ones, learn to be independent from their parents. It teaches them to follow instructions, gives them confidence and a sense of purpose, and provides them something to look forward to each week. They also develop leadership skills and help them overcome shyness. The kids also make friends that many will have throughout their lifetime. Kids also develop flexibility, total body strength, and footwork that helps them in other physical activities. To be successful, you must have a studio background because that’s where you learn the technique. Taking ballet, jazz, and all other styles you learn in the studio helps perfect your art. You may not do that dance style on the football field or wherever you’re dancing, but you can tell the dancers trained in a studio because their technique is impeccable. I always offer technique classes because I know what it takes to be successful on a dance team. The studio is the foundation. Studio dance helps prepare dancers for the teams in high school and college. We’ve seen a slight increase in boys enrolling in dance, but I’d like to see more. Younger boys need to understand the importance of stretching and flexibility for sports, which they learn through dance classes.
RNN: Do you have issues with injuries, given the highly athletic nature of dance?
Megan: We’ve seen a few injuries throughout the year, as we always have. We monitor and limit our dancers to the moves and routines they perform based on their abilities, how flexible they are, and how strong they are to reduce and prevent injuries. We used to have a strength and conditioning class, but it wasn’t popular with the dancers, so we removed it. We’re implementing a new acro program in the Fall that breaks everything down in steps and teaches you how to do every element of a trick and how to do it properly and safely and build the muscles and flexibility to do it in a very systematic way. It will help our dancers from getting injured.
RNN: Have you had opportunities to work with local schools, especially high school dance teams?
Megan: I have taught dance technique and ballet classes to some of the schools in the past. I’ve received video recordings of school dances and provided feedback to the coaches. I’ve made myself available to all the schools in the area because I know how important it is for a kid to be a part of a school’s dance team. However, I haven’t received any opportunities to teach dance technique and ballet to school sports teams, although dancing has been shown to help an athlete’s flexibility and footwork.
RNN: What do you see as the next major step for C2D?
Megan: I would like to have a studio in Fort Smith. Fort Smith has a market for another studio, and we can bring something to offer those families that live in that market and don’t want to drive to Van Buren or any of my other studios. My dad has always pushed me to franchise out C2D, but that’s a little overwhelming to me right now. It’s been done in the dance world, but I’m not sure if I’m ready to do it. We’re doing a lot of things now since I have more resources. We’re bringing in more consistency across the classes and the studios to help the dancers learn and develop at a similar pace. Students who miss a class can make it up on a different day or even at a different studio. Our instructors will have a more directed focus to help dancers learn at the same pace while developing them for those upper-level classes. I was looking at the Poteau market, but the Greenwood studio was on the market, so I bought that and expanded into Greenwood.
RNN: Have you made any changes for this upcoming year?
Megan: We shortened the individual recital sessions this year and eliminated some solos to help shorten the overall program. The audience and the dancers were appreciative. In years past, we scheduled two or three sessions on recital Saturday, but they would last four hours each. A parent or grandparent would come to see their child perform in a two-minute program, and they would have to watch the entire session before picking their child up. That was too long. We’re going to limit the recital to four sessions in the future. We’re also making changes to our performance team this year. When I started the program years ago, it fit with what we needed at that time, but since COVID, there have been few opportunities and events that we can participate in. We still get asked to perform in parades and festivals, so I’m having a small group of dancers perform at those parades and festivals during the Fall holidays. I want to do more team-building activities for the competition teams to bring some of that fun back to that group. I’ll combine those team-building activities with our outreach programs, such as performing at a nursing home and then going out to dinner to build that bond between the dancers.
RNN: When do you start getting ready for the next season? Megan: Planning always seems to continue; it’s a year-long process that starts as soon as the dance recital is over and even earlier. I figure out the staffing in January of the previous year and then generate a schedule for the classes which is sent out April 1st. Early enrollment starts after the schedule comes out with special pricing. The competition teams finish their current season after we have tryouts for next year. However, we are giving them July off this year. I start budgeting for competitions in June so they can have pricing for the dancers in late July. I find a theme for the recital, so it helps the teachers find songs and choreography. For competition routines, I’ll often find a song I like, and a dance starts forming in my mind. Dance is constantly evolving, and the kids bring in moves and styles that they want to try, and they find their way into the choreography. We tailor our choreography to fit the skills and abilities of the dancers in the routine. We want to showcase dancers with higher levels of technique without excluding less advanced ones. Recital planning starts with the sizing and ordering of costumes in January. Before that, the teachers must choose their songs and begin choreography for their routines. We have open enrollment all season long; we don’t turn anyone away, so anyone can take our classes. The recital is optional, so we can offer dance classes to kids who can’t afford the costumes for recitals or are too shy to get on stage. That way, they can still learn and experience dance.
Kayte, 21, and Ally, 18, danced for C2D and are part of Megan’s teaching staff.
(RNN photo / James Slemp)
RNN: Ally, tell me your story. How did you get into dance, and why have you become a teacher?
Ally: My mom asked me what I wanted to do when I was around four. I watched Dance Moms on TV, so I told her I wanted to dance. She saw a C2D lawn sign and signed me up, and I’ve been dancing since then. I started teaching dance at the Alma Studio a year ago, and when I graduated, I decided to delay college and stay as a teacher there. I love to dance, but I find it more fun to teach. I’ve expanded the number of classes I teach this year. I’ve added two competition dances to my regular classes. I like to see the kids learn new skills and be so happy.
Kayte: I started at a different studio. The owner worked at a Boys and Girls Club, and she taught a dance and cheer program. She convinced my mom to sign up for classes at her studio, and I eventually ended up on her competition team. When she closed her studio and moved to C2D, I followed her. I graduated three years ago and have taught here in Van Buren. I’ve since received my real estate license but won’t give up teaching at C2D. I love seeing the kids learn new skills they show off to everyone. Some kids are so hard on themselves, so seeing them succeed on the dance floor is great.
(RNN photo / James Slemp)
I want to thank Megan Park-Grimm, Ally Wysocki, and Kayte Jeffress for sitting with me to discuss dance and C2D. Megan has developed an outstanding program, with the help of many of her former dancers, that has grown both her enrollment and her staff. With most of her staff former C2D dancers, she’s been able to focus more on the overall training program and reach a bigger market. This year’s 10th annual dance recital was amazing, and I’m looking forward to their eleventh.
Darla June (Waddle) Davis of Elm Park, Arkansas went to be with her Lord and Savior, Sunday June 7, 2024 at her home surrounded by her loving family. Darla was born January 16, 1964 to Thomas L. Waddle and Loretta (McKinzie) Waddle in Waldron, Arkansas.
Darla will be remembered for her love of fishing, her animals, tending to her flower beds, and cooking. Darla was always up for a drive on the back roads and never missed a chance to go shopping with her mom. She enjoyed spending time with her family and visiting with her best friend, Missy “Sue”. The memories made with her loved ones will forever be treasured by each of them.
Darla married the loved of her life Scott “Buck” Daivs, 27 years ago which she leaves behind to cherish her memory. Her mother Loretta Waddle and Chet of Elm Park, Arkansas; one brother, Jay Waddle and Sheila of Elm Park, Arkansas; two brother-in-laws, Rick and Julie Davis and Art Davis; and sister-in-law, Irene Waddle of Waldron, Arkansas. Darla is also survived by her one daughter, Jonai Bates from Boles, Arkansas; two grandchildren: Kyler Boyd and Macee Bates of Boles, Arkansas; two great grandsons: Scott Boyd and Silas Boyd of Mansfield, Arkansas; two nieces: Erica Brown and Heather Thomas; two nephews: Jeff Waddle and Jerhome Waddle. Darla will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including aunts, uncles, several great nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
Darla was preceded in death by her daddy, Thomas Waddle and her brother, Timothy.
Darla’s family would like to extend a warm thank you to also those who prayed for Darla and for the support during this difficult time.
Darla’s life celebration will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 27, 2024 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas. Cremation arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
In June, Mena VFW Post 4451 recognized Scott County’s Christy Hattabaugh for her dedication and passion to serve and assist those in the community.
During the June monthly meeting at the post, Commander Linda Johnson announced that Hattabaugh had received recognition at the local level and advanced on, winning the national award.
Hattabaugh was presented with the VFW National Emergency Technician (EMT) Award. The award is presented to any individual who actively gives emergency medical treatment, provides rescue service or civil disaster assistance as a member of any public or volunteer company organized to give emergency medical care, provide rescue and civil disaster assistance to our nation’s citizens.
Hattabaugh, who has worked with Southwest EMS for the past 15 years, was humbled after learning her colleagues unanimously nominated her for the local award. Hattabaugh would later discover that former patients, their families, and professionals in several different fields, such as Arkansas State Police Tropper Mike Lance, Heritage Funeral Home office manager and co-owner, Melissa Callahan, and Waldron Police Department’s Billy Biggs, had written letters of recommendation for her to be recognized on a higher level.
“I feel very honored to work in a field with so many people who are as deserving or more deserving than me,” shared Hattabaugh. “I am here because a lot of good people pushed me.”
She recalled her early days in the field and classroom, which were difficult at best. Hattabaugh faced unthinkable odds while trying to chase her dream. She endured the tragic death of her brother, and only two months before graduation, the untimely death of her husband, Gary. The couple had been married for 31 years. “My husband was very proud of me,” continued Hattabaugh. “I hope he was proud for me to finish.”
A non-traditional student, she had to work a little harder than those who were fresh out of high school. “I was the oldest person in the class,” Hattabaugh stated, smiling. “I had an instructor who never gave up on me though. Lisa Dyer at KTC (Kiamichi Technology) is a great instructor and a personal mentor. By her not allowing me to quit, I am able to do a job I love. I strive to be better every day.”
Hattabaugh also recalled an influencer early on, Marty Nelson. Hattabaugh attended the University of Arkansas Fort Smith for EMT under Nelson’s instruction. “He pushed me to go on to paramedic school, almost daring me…”
With Hattabaugh’s grit and determination, there is no wonder she landed the top spot for recognition. “You can do anything you set your mind to do. I really love this job. I love the people and the connections. I guess at the end of the day if I have made my kids and grandkids proud, or if I have made a difference in one person’s life, then it is all worth it.”
The Operations Base Manager in Mena set goals for her life and career and has worked tirelessly to achieve them. Success, however, is one patient at a time for her. “When I am on a call, I am focused solely on my patient.” She recalled her “first big save” with her partner of 15 years, Danny Jones. “The call was at Harvey-Nola. We saved this kid, and they didn’t think he would ever walk again. I followed up with his mom and later she sent me a video of him dancing!”
Jones, a 32-year veteran medic, holds his partner in the highest esteem. “During COVID, Christy worked 30 days straight with no days off!” She is truly the most dedicated and gifted paramedic. As a manager, she would rather be short-staffed and working on her scheduled days off than to employ the wrong people.
He recalled that in the final days of the contract in Scott County, two calls came in when Hattabaugh did not feel well. “We begged her to go home, she wouldn’t do it. But we knew something was wrong. She just kept on going…” Later that night, Jones would transport his partner to the emergency room for evaluation. Ultimately, Hattabaugh ended up in the cath lab, where they discovered she had suffered a heart attack.
“I remember working a call with a pediatric patient and we were in route to meet transport for Children’s Hospital,” shared Jones. “There wasn’t a whole lot we could do for this child, treatment wise. I remember looking in my mirror and seeing Christy stroking the child’s hair and singing ‘You are my Sunshine’ to them”… She just has a gift of knowing what is needed, not only for the patient, but the family, too.” Jones recounted one call where a child was going to Children’s Hospital in Little Rock, and the family faced unexpected travel expense. “Christy pulled a $50 bill out of her pocket and gave it to the child’s parents.”
Sometimes treatment requires more than just medication. It requires compassion. Hattabaugh is undoubtedly her patient’s biggest advocate. “Christy says we work for those who dial 9-1-1 next,” continued Jones, recalling the time she went toe-to-toe with a doctor she didn’t agree with. “He later apologized, and we got a pizza party out of it,” laughed Jones.
Southwest EMS, Hattabaugh’s employer for the span of her career, is fortunate to have such a caring professional on staff. “She is a true public servant in every sense of the word,” shared Director of Education and Quality Management for Southwest EMS, Ryan Shane Rowe. “Christy is a very good communicator and from my vantage point, a hard worker who goes above and beyond the call…”
On behalf of those whom you serve daily, Christy Hattabaugh, thank you for your service. You truly stand out in the field in which you serve. Congratulations on this prestigious award, you certainly are more than deserving!
Sales of canoes, kayaks and paddleboards have surged since 2020, with more Americans than ever taking to the water aboard a paddling craft. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, boating fatalities associated with padding craft have increased as well.
According to the USCG’s 2023 Boating Statistics, 304 injuries requiring medical attention were recorded last year from paddle craft operators, resulting in 189 fatalities. This accounted for nearly one-third of the total boating fatalities recorded during the year. Arkansas, however, bucked this trend, recording only two fatalities.
Sydney Grant, AGFC boating safety coordinator at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Hot Springs regional office, says boaters should still pay heed to the warning, especially as the summer sun drives many more users to Arkansas’s waterways.
“Motorboats still make up the vast majority of our accidents and fatalities here,” Grant said. “But we want everyone out there to make it home safely, and it really only takes a little extra effort to do so.”
Paddling and PFDs Personal Floatation Devices (aka life-jackets) are just as essential to kayakers, paddleboarders and other recreational boaters as they are to people using sailboats and motorboats.
“Of the nine deaths that occurred during 2023 in all of Arkansas’s boating accidents, six were the result of drowning,” Grant said. “None of those victims were wearing a life jacket.”
Grant says the same laws for life-jacket wear apply to paddlers as they do for motorboats. Children 12 or under are required by law to wear their life jacket anytime the craft is on the water. People over 12 must have a life jacket within easy reach while onboard the vessel.
“Because of limited storage and the increased chance of tipping the craft, it’s always advisable to just go ahead and wear the life jacket while you’re on the water, period,” Grant said.
Know Your Limits Grant says one factor at play in paddlesports accidents is the increasing popularity of inexpensive vessels being used for waters for which they are not suited.
“There has been a big increase in inflatable paddleboards and economy-priced kayaks on the shelves of stores and on the water,” Grant said. “They have been great at getting more people on the water, but they are not typically built to handle swift water.”
Just like the capabilities of the craft should dictate your use, your personal ability should be a major consideration when heading out for a day on the water.
“If you’re a beginner, you definitely should stay near shore and stay in calmer water,” Grant said. “Current and wind can put you in some bad situations if you’re not familiar with paddling, and it’s best to learn how to handle those situations with the help of an advanced paddler or outfitter showing you the ropes.”
Find a Float Buddy Outfitters abound on some of Arkansas’s more prominent float streams, but some lesser-known floats and reservoirs don’t have facilities devoted to paddlesports. Regardless of the area you choose to float, it’s always a smart idea to pair up with a friend or group to enjoy the water.
“It’s safer with someone else around to help, especially if that person is more experienced than you,” Grant said. “And it’s more fun for a lot of people to get out and enjoy the outdoors together. If you have problems finding someone to float with, there are groups like the Arkansas Canoe Club who have Facebook Groups and hold regular events to enjoy floating together.”
Just like with other forms of boating, it’s important to let someone know where you’re headed and when to expect you back. If you do find yourself in a bad situation that delays your return, it’s always good to have someone who is able to check on you. This is especially true for some of Arkansas’s more remote float streams and waters. The solitude may be nice, but it also means fewer people to help in the case of an emergency.
Plan for the Conditions Canoes, kayaks and paddleboards also are much more susceptible to weather conditions than larger watercraft, especially in the hands of beginners. Grant says it’s important to look at the weather report to make sure you aren’t surprised midway through your outing.
“Wind and paddlesports don’t go together, and if you’re caught away from shore and a storm rolls in, it can be rough getting back in,” Grant said. “Also, if you’re on a stream, a storm upstream of you can drastically change the water level where you are and create dangerous current. Never float at flood stage.”
Grant says paying attention to outfitters is always a good idea. If they aren’t putting clients on the water, it’s a good idea to stay off as well.
“Some outfitters are more than happy to tell you about floating conditions, even if you aren’t going with them,” Grant said. “They want everyone to make it home safely, and so do we.”
