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Greenwood Councilman Charged with DWI

Tammy Teague
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Greenwood Councilman Charged with DWI

Greenwood Councilman Tim Terry was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center early Saturday morning, September 14, at 3:53 a.m.

Terry was charged with driving while intoxicated, 1st offense, and released on a $1,000 signature bond at 8:08 a.m., Saturday.

Terry’s court date is set for Monday, September 16 at 12:30 p.m. at the Sebastian County Courthouse in Greenwood.

Updated September 16: Terry pleaded not guilty to the charge of driving while intoxicated.

Updated September 19: Terry confirmed on his social media “X” that he will no longer serve as the voice of the Bulldogs: “Thanks for everything. It was the time of my life. It truly was.”

Tim Terry (RNN photo/SCSO)

Greenwood Parks Commission Meeting Minutes

Tammy Teague
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Greenwood Parks Commission Meeting Minutes

The meeting was called to order by Parks Commission Vice-Chair Brandon Tate at 4:00 p.m.; roll was called, and members present were as follows: Jennifer Travis, Kay Headley, and Otis Edwards; a quorum was declared with the addition of the acting Chair; Commission members Joel Goldstein and Cinda Bell were absent, and City Clerk/Treasurer Sharla Derry was present.

Approval of Minutes
Motion was made by Mr. Edwards, seconded by Mrs. Travis to approve the 07-16-24 regular meeting minutes as presented; motion passed unanimously.

Committee Reports

  1. Freedom Fest Committee – None
  2. Trails Committee – None
  3. Tree & Plant Board – None
    Agenda Items to be Added: None
    Business Items
  4. Director – Pavilion Rates Update – Mr. Craig presented these revisions for consideration and
    answered any questions the Commission had; Mr. Craig indicated that even with the raised rates,
    the City is still well under what others charge in the area; motion was made by Mr. Edwards,
    seconded by Mrs. Travis to accept the changes as presented; motion passed unanimously.
  5. Director – 5 Year Capital Outlay List – Mr. Craig said that he felt the list would be a good idea
    to update the Commission on future needs, and encouraged members to take it home and review
    it. He also emphasized the need for a Parks building for equipment and vehicle storage; Mr.
    Edwards asked for an account of the number of vehicles and equipment and agreed that storage
    should be added to the wish list; Mr. Craig said that he has already submitted his budget to Mr.
    Marsh; Ms. Derry agreed that she would add the Parks 2025 Budget to the next regular meeting
    agenda.
  6. Finance Director – Discussion on Parks A&P Budget – Mr. Marsh gave the Commission a
    detailed account of spending to date from the virtual A&P Parks Fund in contrast to revenue from
    the A&P Fund received; and cautioned that any deficit that this virtual fund experiences will be
    funded by unrestricted monies in the General Fund; Ms. Derry expressed concern with this
    structure being “open-ended” and Mr. Marsh explained further that the major cost event is held in
    the middle of the year, prior to the total revenue being realized at the end of the year; he went
    through other updates such as the splash pad account and its portion of A&P funding, as well.
    Areas to cut back on the Fall Festival were discussed, and Mr. Marsh encouraged everyone to
    publicize the need to shop and eat local in order to keep taxes coming in. Ms. Derry reminded the Commission that if the Park Fund finds this area falling short year over year, consideration might
    be given to go back to the A&P Commission to see if they could bump up the percentage from
    45% to something more in order to keep events funded; Mr. Craig acknowledged the need to slow
    spending a bit and he stated that he would not spend money irresponsibly.
  7. Budget Amendment for Bell Park Project Reallocation – Mr. Craig said that he had submitted
    professional fees as $20,000 for 2024 and they are actually $32,000 and he has talked to the
    engineers and confirmed amounts. There was discussion between Mr. Marsh and Mr. Craig
    about this and it was determined that other areas of the Parks budget could absorb this and no
    action would be needed at this time.

Foundation Report
None
Director’s Report: Written report submitted with talking points as follows:

  • Splash Pad update – opening date unknown as of yet
  • Switchback Trail update – reassigned to a different Scout
  • Liberty Park Bridge update – old fashioned timber framed covered bridge looking very nice
  • ARDOT grant re-appropriated and easement obtainment underway for the paving of the trail from
    the Oaks to Bell Park
  • Lake Trail Kiosk update
  • Inclusive Park update
  • God’s Plan movie being hosted at Bell Park August 22nd

Comments: Mayor Kinslow commended the new parks employees on the exceptional mowing job as of late; Mr. Craig indicated that he has recently sent them a message with the same sentiment.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn was made by Mrs. Travis, seconded by Mrs. Headley; meeting
adjourned at 4:58 p.m.

Arkansas pumpkins face increased pest pressure; growers urged to scout often

Tammy Teague
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Arkansas pumpkins face increased pest pressure; growers urged to scout often

By Sarah Cato
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Cooperative Extension Service

Arkansas’ future jack o’ lanterns are facing a scare of their own, with the early arrival of melonworms that can cause significant yield loss for growers.

Melonworm is a pest of cucurbit crops — a family that includes cucumbers and watermelons — that feeds on plant foliage and fruit, usually etching pumpkin rinds just under the stems, causing handles to pop off, or where the fruit contacts the ground. Often confused with pickleworm, melonworm is a different, tropical species that migrates to Arkansas from coastal regions. Because melonworm doesn’t overwinter in Arkansas, its arrival varies year to year, typically beginning in early to mid-September, but sometimes as early as late August.

“We first saw melonworm on Aug. 8 near Fort Smith and Aug.15 in Hope,” said Aaron Cato, extension horticulture integrated pest management specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. “This is about a month earlier than usual. In 2021, moths showed up sometime in August and began multiplying rapidly before pumpkin harvest started, leading to widespread damage.”

Cato said many Arkansas growers saw a 50 percent or more yield loss in 2021. The early arrival of melonworm, both in 2021 and 2024, may be in part related to tropical weather.

“In 2021 Tropical Storm Claudette and Hurricane Ida had heavy winds that likely moved a lot of moths north towards Arkansas,” Cato said. “In 2022 and 2023 there was no tropical weather tracking from Texas and Louisiana in our direction, and we saw almost no impact from melonworm in those years.”

It’s possible that Hurricane Beryl, which moved into the Gulf of Mexico in early July of this year contributed to the early arrival of melonworms. Cato said with this early arrival, paired with the recent Tropical Storm Francine, growers should treat this year like 2021 and scout early and often.

“Based on observations from the past four years, melonworm arrival by early September signals a problematic year,” Cato said. “Aug. 8 is a very early sighting and growers should be on guard, as this is a similar trajectory to 2021 where many growers incurred significant loss.”

Scouting and control methods

Cato said growers should be scouting pumpkins for melonworms one to two times a week, focusing on the early signs of an infestation.

“The earliest signs of melonworm is feeding on the leaves, where melonworm larvae will be present in the new growth first,” Cato said. “It’s also important to keep an eye out for moths and rolled or folded leaves. Fruit should also be scouted for injury, even if melonworm haven’t been observed.”

Melonworm moths have white, almost translucent, wings with a brown outline. Larvae are green caterpillars with two longitudinal, white stripes down their back and four sets of prolegs.

Cato recommends an insecticide application as soon as melonworm larvae are observed in a pumpkin planting.

“We recommend growers have a diamide insecticide like Besiege, Coragen or Shenzi on hand and apply as soon as you find any melonworm larvae or moths,” he said. “If growers are already spraying a weekly pyrethroid for control of other pests they can expect melonworm to be suppressed as well. Our data indicate that weekly pyrethroids, or Bt, will suppress melonworm as well as the diamide insecticides, however, diamides offer 21 days of residual activity which has offered the least fruit loss in previous trials.”

More information on melonworm and control options can be found in Cato’s blog.

Mention of product names does not imply endorsement by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. 

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

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 and services 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.

State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Terry Rice

Tammy Teague
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State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Terry Rice

Legislators and state officials continue to work on methods of improving maternal health care in Arkansas.

A special committee created by the governor last week issued its recommendations in a report called “Healthy Moms, Healthy Babies.” It calls for making access to health care more clear and convenient for expectant mothers.

It also listed ways for medical providers to recognize when pregnant women are at risk of losing their health coverage. It recommends steps to make sure that women have some type of health insurance and are aware of the services available.

The lack of obstetricians in rural Arkansas is a challenge, so the committee recommended creating a loan forgiveness program for maternal care providers. One method is to increase the number of residencies in obstetrics and gynecology. Another would be to establish a school of midwifery.

Another recommendation was to create a process by which doulas and community health workers can get certified and receive Medicaid reimbursements. A doula is a woman who provides guidance and help during labor, and after delivery. Doulas provide physical and emotional support, with expertise in breathing techniques and breastfeeding.

Medicaid, a government health program for low-income families, pays for more than half the deliveries in Arkansas. Adding doulas and community health workers to the list of approved Medicaid providers could significantly increase the availability of maternal care in isolated parts of the state.

The report also recommends evaluating reimbursement rates for all aspects of maternal care, including family planning and contraception.

The state Health Department operates local clinics throughout Arkansas, and the department is assessing whether each one needs to enhance maternal health care.

A report by the March of Dimes points to the urgency of expanding maternal care options. According to the organization, 38 of the 75 counties in Arkansas lack a hospital or birthing clinic with obstetric care providers.

Nationwide, about a third of all counties lack obstetrics services, according to the March of Dimes report.

Last December another special committee created by the legislature in 2019 issued a lengthy report that identified specific illnesses that are most prevalent in pregnant women in Arkansas, and recommended strategies for improving treatment.

The leading cause of death among those 38 was cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscles. The second leading cause was cardiovascular conditions caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity and age.

In last year’s legislative session lawmakers approved Act 562 requiring Medicaid to reimburse providers when they screen pregnant women for depression. An early diagnosis can dramatically help prevent the negative effects of postpartum depression.

Legislators also approved Act 553 to mandate that the state Medical Examiner conduct a postmortem examination of any woman who dies within 365 days of being pregnant, if the death is possibly related to the pregnancy. By identifying the serious medical conditions that harm a pregnant woman’s health, physicians can better treat and prevent them.

Act 581 of 2023 requires Medicaid to reimburse physicians and clinics for providing reversible contraception immediately and during postpartum.

Obituary: Mildred Estelle Rupe (1928-2024)

Tammy Teague
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Obituary: Mildred Estelle Rupe (1928-2024)

Mildred Estelle (Rhyne) Rupe of Waldron, Arkansas went to be with her Lord and Savior, Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at the age of 96. Estelle was born March 2, 1928 to Hoyle and Lillie (Hutchens) Rhyne in Waldron, Arkansas. Her devotion to her faith was unwavering, as a dedicated member of the Mulberry Freewill Baptist Church in Gravelly, Arkansas

Estelle was a talented seamstress, she had a gift for sewing, knitting and crocheting, creating beautiful pieces that brought joy to those around her. She found enjoyment in assembling intricate jigsaw puzzles, the more pieces the better. Estelle loved making candy and took such delight in crafting delectable Christmas candies every year for her family and friends. Her favorite candy to make was chocolate covered cherries.

Estelle leaves behind to cherish her memory, two sons: Rod Rupe and wife Norma of Gravelly, Arkansas and K.C. Rupe and wife Dee of Korea. Mamaw will forever remain in the hearts of her six grandchildren: David M. Rupe, Teresa Bourns, Daniel Rupe, Sarah Amos, David Rupe and Mark Rupe as well as a host of great-grandchildren and one great great-grandchild. Estelle is also survived by two siblings: Betty Edward of Iowa and Stan Rhyne of Waldron, Arkansas. She will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted, including an extended family of friends and loved ones dear to her heart.

Estelle was preceded in death by her parents, Hoyle and Lillie Rhyne and six of her siblings: Chuck, May, Foye, Mary, Hoyle Jr. “Chuckle”, Lavonne and Frank.

Estelle’s life celebration service will be held on Saturday, September 14, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Mark Ward officiating, with a public visitation preceding the service at 10:00 a.m. Following the service, Estelle will be laid to rest at the Birdsview Cemetery. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Estelle’s pallbearers will be: Eddie Hutchens, Terrell Trumble, John Trumble, Larry Tate, David M. Rupe and Billy Rhyne.

Memorial Donations may be made to the Birdsview Cemetery, 1378 City Lake Road, Waldron, Arkansas 72958.

RNN Sports: Stone Cold Lock Of The Week: Week 2

Ross Fujibayashi
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RNN Sports: Stone Cold Lock Of The Week: Week 2

Picks last week were a lot closer to correct than the week before, although the Stone Cold Lock game of the week was FAR from correct. The second choice was Booneville vs Ozark and well that went as similar as Greenwood vs Northside. It is one last tune-up for some of these teams as their Conference run looms large in the coming weeks. Has anyone noticed the crazy number of “rankings” for these teams? Sure, glad we have not dabbled in that mess, maybe some time in the future.

This week we have another guest to the Stone Cold Lock Of The Week picks. Greyson Baggett, a Mansfield graduate, and member of the Mansfield Tiger Football team during his time there. We would like to thank Greyson for participating. He has some dang cool parents too.

If you want to be a guest picker, comment on Facebook. We would love to hear from you! We will make you famous! Resident News famous!

Stone Cold Lock Of The Week

Charleston vs Ozark

Both teams are coming off losses last week. Charleston dropped a close one to Pottsville, while Booneville took care of the Hillbillies of Ozark in convincing fashion. The Tigers are having to make another road trip this week, but will be at home against Heavener, Oklahoma next week. Charleston pulls this one out against their Franklin County rival.

The Others

Mansfield vs Lamar

Mansfield ended the happy party that Waldron was having after beating Paris in Overtime. The Tigers now set their sights on the Lamar Warriors. Lamar’s JV team played Magazine last Friday during their Bye Week but fell short 14-13. The Warriors took care of Huntsville in Week 0 49-12. This has the makings of a Stone Cold Lock Of The Week.

Springdale Har-Ber vs Greenwood

Har-Ber had to rally to beat Farmington 65-50. Greenwood was up 44-0 on Fort Smith Northside at the half. A question that will be asked all season, that I can essentially copy and paste on all these Greenwood previews is “Can ___________________ slow down Greenwood’s Offense” but the real question is, can Har-Ber do enough to keep Greenwood’s defense on its toes. Northside had -12 yards total Offense last week. Much improved from Week 0 to Week 1, very physical, very fast.

JC Westside vs Cedarville

Last week needs to be a distant memory for these two teams. Both teams took losses that saw them giving up 50 points. JC Westside fell to Danville 48-28, while Cedarville lost to Mountainburg 50-22. Once Cedarville gets past Friday night, they have two weeks to prepare for Booneville.

Hackett vs Gentry

Gentry has an offense that will test the Hackett defense, but the Hornets have had two weeks to prepare for this game. Hackett will have to take it one game at a time over the next few weeks as there is a gauntlet of teams, they have to go through in two weeks starting with Mansfield on Sept. 27th. Hackett shut out Danville in Week 0, while Gentry played Stilwell, Ok and Pea Ridge to get to 2-0.

Booneville vs Paris

Both of these teams won by large margins in Week 1. Stone Cold Lock Of The Week Booneville vs Ozark, did not live up to the hype I was anticipating. The Bearcats do what the Bearcats do and rolled to another victory 31-14. Paris hosted Lavaca and won 48-21. Can the Eagles soar in this one? Time will tell, but Booneville is still doing Booneville things and that is winning.

Magazine vs Two Rivers

The Florida Gator inspired uniforms from Two Rivers are nice. The Gators finished 0-10 in 2023 and are starting at 0-1 after a Week 1 loss to Baptist Prep, 42-28. Magazine played Lamar’s JV team and won 14-13 last Friday and are sitting at 1-1. The momentum continues as the Gators are snake bitten in this one by the Rattlers.

Lavaca vs Roland, OK

The Golden Arrows are starting the season at 0-2 and will be on the road in Week 2. Lavaca crosses over into Oklahoma to play the Roland Rangers. Roland was beat by the Muldrow Bulldogs 53-20 in Week 1. This could be a pivotal game for both teams. Roland’s last winning season was in 2021 when they went 7-3. Lavaca, while finishing 6-5 last year, were 4-0 before playing Hackett in the 2023 season. One gets to build upon the win, while the other has to wait another week.

Muldrow, Ok vs Waldron

A Bulldog battle in Waldron. Muldrow put up 53 points against their Hwy 64 neighbor Roland. While Waldron fell to their Hwy 71 neighbor Mansfield, 41-8. No clever phrase, just genuinely curious on how this game will go.

UAB vs Arkansas

I… well… Last week I was surprised by the Hogs and how they played Oklahoma State. Granted it was a loss, there were positives. They roll UAB for their home opener.

Ross’ PicksAdam’s PicksGreyson’s Picks
Charleston vs Ozark (GOTW)CharlestonCharlestonOzark
Mansfield vs LamarMansfieldMansfieldLamar
Springdale Har-Ber vs GreenwoodGreenwoodGreenwoodGreenwood
JC Westside vs CedarvilleCedarvilleCedarvilleCedarville
Hackett vs GentryGentryGentryHackett
Booneville vs ParisBoonevilleBoonevilleBooneville
Magazine vs Two RiversMagazineMagazineMagazine
Lavaca vs Roland, OkLavacaRolandLavaca
Muldrow, Ok vs WaldronMuldrowMuldrowWaldron
UAB vs ArkansasArkansasArkansasArkansas

U of O, AGFC join forces to build shooting sports facility 

Tammy Teague
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U of O, AGFC join forces to build shooting sports facility 

CLARKSVILLE — A recent agreement between University of the Ozarks and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has launched the public phase of a fundraising campaign by the university to build an Olympic-level shooting sports facility in Clarksville.

The memorandum of understanding outlines the construction and operation of the facility and was signed earlier this month in Little Rock by Austin Booth, director of the AGFC, and Richard Dunsworth, president of U of O.

Under the agreement, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission will donate $2 million in matching funds to the project and the university will raise the remaining cost of the project. The facility will be open to the public and will be constructed on a 140-acre parcel owned by the university just south of Interstate 40.

According to Dunsworth, with the AGFC’s pledge, a total of $4.5 million has been committed to the project, including $1.5 million from the university and $1 million from the city of Clarksville.

“We are one step closer to having a world-class shooting facility right here in Clarksville,” Dunsworth said. “We have the full support of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the city of Clarksville and Johnson County, and now we’re ready to fully launch the fundraising initiative.”

The AGFC recently devoted an entire division’s focus to recreational shooting, which includes archery, competitive shotgun shooting and shooting range development.

Booth says the matching pledge is a continuation of the AGFC’s commitment to recreational shooting and its role in conservation.

“Aside from many being hunters and anglers and playing active roles in conservation, all recreational shooters contribute to conservation through the purchase of firearms and ammunition, which supports excise taxes earmarked for conservation work throughout the nation,” Booth said. “By increasing ranges in Arkansas, we’re not only helping remove barriers to hunting, but we’re also ensuring all who contribute to conservation are represented in our efforts.”

University officials said construction on the first phase of the project could begin once the university raises an additional $10 million. Dunsworth said the fundraising initiative would include naming-rights opportunities for donors.

Sporting clays, skeet, trap and archery are only a few of the things planned for the new multi-million dollar range if the university can gather enough donations to create the Olympic-level facility.

The first phase of the complex would include a clubhouse, competition-level sporting clay courses and fields for skeet, trap and bunker as well as a pistol and rifle range. There will also be an archery field. The facility would also include spectator areas, picnic areas and pavilions.

The $5 million second stage would include an RV park and additional support spaces.

According to Dunsworth, the new facility would fill a void of competition-caliber shooting sports complexes in the region. The nearest Olympic-level complex is more than 600 miles away in San Antonio.

“Clay target shooting and archery are among the fastest-growing sports in the country, from youth on up to the collegiate level,” Dunsworth said. “Our research has shown that there are more than 100 junior and senior high and other youth shooting sports programs currently within a 100-mile radius of Clarksville, and we’re excited about providing a premier facility for these young men and women.”

The shooting complex will be adjacent to and easily visible from Interstate 40, the third-longest freeway in the United States. According to the Arkansas Department of Transportation, the Clarksville area of I-40 has an average daily traffic volume of about 30,000 vehicles.

Under the 15-year agreement, the AGFC staff would operate and manage the pistol and rifle range, and U of O will operate other parts of the facility.

The complex would be the home course of the university’s men’s and women’s sports shooting teams as well as local youth and high school shooting programs. Dunsworth said the university plans to create a collegiate archery program once the facility is completed.

The university established the state’s first board-sanctioned, competitive collegiate shooting program in 2010. Since then the teams have won seven individual and team national championships in sporting clay. Dunsworth said the university plans to create a collegiate archery program once the facility is completed.

Four things to ‘bear in mind’ when chasing an Arkansas bruin

Tammy Teague
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Four things to ‘bear in mind’ when chasing an Arkansas bruin

By Randy Zellers

Bear hunters have few changes to worry about going into the 2024 bear season, with the most substantial difference being the elimination of shooting bears wearing telemetry collars. Here are a few things to remember as you prepare for Arkansas’s bear archery season opening day on Sept. 18.

Necklace No-No
It is once again illegal to harvest any bear that is wearing a radio telemetry collar. At 2 inches wide, the leather collars are obvious when in the field, and with nearly all bear hunters harvesting their bear within archery range, there’s no mistaking a collared bear for one with no neckwear. This change actually is a reinstatement of a former regulation.

During the last two years, the AGFC has gathered baseline data on how hunting influences bear populations in newly opened areas. Arkansas held its first modern-day bear hunt in Bear Zones 3 and 4 during the 2022 hunting season, and information about harvest needed to be unbiased. Since protecting bears with collars introduced bias into the harvest, the restriction against taking a collared bear was lifted for those two years.

“We have a lot of time and taxpayer dollars invested in every bear that we collar,” Stacey Clark, assistant chief of wildlife management for the AGFC, said. “The trapping process can take days, and the information we gain through winter bear den health checks is invaluable in managing the species. We also want to make sure we do what we can to protect the female bears, as they are your producers of the next generation of bear cubs. Since all bears outfitted with radio collars are female, protecting them falls in line with our management strategies.”

Most collared bears also have an ear tag to help identify them, but many other bears sport ear tags without wearing a collar. These bears were nuisance bears that found their way into people’s back yards and had to be relocated. As long as they don’t have the collar, the bear is legal to harvest.

Get a Permit 
Both residents and nonresidents must have a bear permit in addition to a valid license for big game to hunt and check a bear in Arkansas. Resident bear hunters will need a Sportsman’s License (license code RS or CS) as well as a free Resident Bear Permit (RBT). Nonresidents must purchase a Nonresident Bear Permit (NRB), which costs $300 and must have a valid Nonresident Annual All Game Hunting License (NBG) for an additional $410. Both resident and nonresident hunters under 16 years old do not need a license to hunt, but they do need the proper youth bear permit. The Youth Resident Bear Permit (YBT) and Youth Nonresident Bear Permit (YBTN) must be obtained before pursuing a bear. Both of these permits are free.

All bear permits are available through the AGFC’s new license system online, through license vendors and through the AGFC’s mobile app.

Bear permits were introduced last year to better evaluate hunter participation and success throughout the state.

“Each year we know how many bears are checked in, but without permit data, we don’t know exactly how many hunters are attempting to harvest a bear,” Clark said. “These permits will help us in that regard. The only thing we ask is that hunters only obtain these permits if they intend to harvest a bear. That way our numbers are as accurate as possible to best manage the resource.”

Pulling Teeth (and Hair)
Successful hunters must submit a premolar tooth from the bear they harvest as part of the checking process. This isn’t a new requirement, but it is often overlooked during the excitement of tagging a bear.

When a hunter initially checks their bear, they will receive a packet in the mail from the AGFC within a few days. They will have seven days from the arrival of that packet to pull and return a premolar tooth to the AGFC. The tooth enables biologists to age the bear and match it up with data collected during the checking process.

Clark says the easiest time to pull the tooth is immediately after harvest.

The tooth packet also will include a separate envelope for a hair sample. While this is voluntary, it takes only seconds to collect. Hair samples should be pulled from the bear’s hide, not cut, as the hair follicles are the portion of the sample most needed.

“The hair sample is for genetic analysis, and the DNA is gathered from the follicle portion of the hairs,” Clark said.

An instructional video on how to collect these samples is available at the AGFC YouTube Page.

Who Likes Liver?
In addition to tooth and hair samples collected from harvested bears, the AGFC is asking hunters who take a bear this season to contribute to ongoing research concerning the presence of pesticides and other chemicals that may be present in portions of Arkansas and their effects on the bear population in The Natural State. Anyone willing to participate can drop off a section of the bear’s liver to one of the AGFC’s chronic wasting disease drop-off locations for testing.

The locations of all CWD containers are available and updated at www.agfc.com/CWD.

“We only need a sample about the size of a baseball,” Clark said. “Just place it in aluminum foil and take it to one of those freezers. They can add their information to one of the CWD tags and we can process it from there.”

In addition to liver samples, any hunter who shoots a bear that has signs of mange should call the AGFC’s Wildlife Hotline to report the incident.

“The hotline is answered 24/7 and the operator will be able to put you in touch with one of our local bear biologists,” Clark said. “They can pull a sample or instruct you how to do so if you’re comfortable with that process.”

Visit www.agfc.com/bear for more information on bears and bear hunting in Arkansas.

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

Tammy Teague
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“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

By Sheri Hopkins, Lifestyle Contributor

Hello everyone! Beautiful weather we are having in the River Valley. I love this time of year. This week I am going to talk about my husband, bless his heart. This November he will have been gone eleven years. It sure does not seem that long. When you lose your spouse your life changes forever.

Now don’t get me wrong we were complete opposites, and he would drive me as crazy as a road lizard. I can just hear some of y’all saying that would have been a short drive. We had some knock down drag outs in our marriage, but we also had a lot of fun. My nephew, the Judge, told me one-time years ago, “If you would have killed him when you first thought about it you would have been out on good behavior.” The good behavior part was the problem, ha ha! I would have been on cell block C and they would have nicknamed me Maude.

I’m sure some of you have read this on Facebook, “Nobody told me that when you get a husband, the ears are sold separately.” This is a true statement. One day I was talking to Chuck and just a rattling on and on ninety to nothing, then I asked him a question about what I was talking about, and he had no clue. I said, “You don’t listen to anything I say!” He looked at me as serious as could be and said, “There is no possible way I could take in everything that comes out of your mouth.” I will give him credit for that statement, it’s true. We had a lot of adventures together. Some of his were a little wilder than mine.

Let me tell y’all about the time he almost went to prison. He had been working in Georgia, his job traveled a lot. From Georgia he went to Venezuela. He was on his way home from Venezuela and was in the airport in Florida. All of a sudden, he is whisked away to the back. They have him in this room and they start questioning him about a murder in Georgia. Yes, he had been in Georgia, but he hadn’t killed anyone. They raked him over the coals for a long time. He was actually scared. The man that was wanted had the same name and birthday as Chuck. Finally, a man came in and asked him to remove his shirt, so he does. Come to find out the man they were looking for had a tattoo on his side. Chuck Hopkins did not have any tattoos. That saved his life that day. They let him go. So, to all you young people getting tattoos, you may want to be careful if you ever fly to Florida. Not having a tattoo saved him from the rock. This is just one of his crazy stories. I have many more.

It’s almost time for pumpkin spice, apple cider and chili. I will be doing more fall recipes starting this week. This week’s recipe is a Cinnamon Toast Crunch Apple Dump Cake. It screams fall of the year. If you don’t like apple, exchange the apple pie filling for peach.

Cinnamon Toast Crunch Apple Dump Cake
2 cans apple pie filling 20 oz. size each
3 cups Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cereal
1 1/2 sticks of butter, sliced
1 box vanilla cake mix (dry)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, spray your cake pan or dish with non-stick cooking spray. Layer the 3 cups of cereal in the bottom of your 9×13 inch baking dish. Add the canned apple pie filling (I like to cut my apples up to smaller pieces), spread it out evenly over the dry cereal. Spread the vanilla cake mix evenly on top of the apples. Add the sliced butter evenly over the dry cake mix. Bake in the oven for 45-55 minutes, ovens will vary just check it after about 40 minutes. You will be able to tell if it’s done. It will be nice and bubbly. Serve warm with ice cream. Have a nice week and remember always be kind!

Positive Progress Made at Scott/Sebastian Library Site

Tammy Teague
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The planning and site preparation remains in progress–but, oh what progress is being made! Recently a large mound of dirt and shell obstructed the view of that progression. Now that has been removed, and the vision of the new Scott/Sebastian Library is in sight.

“They have been prepping the pad, and have conducted underground testing,” updated Scott-Sebastian Library Chairman, Jim Reynolds. “Once the foundation is completed, we are looking at a fluid 16-18 months to completion.”

Clearing the way for construction on the new library. (Photo courtesy of Jim Reynolds)

The current dirt work being done has yielded a great benefit for another ongoing project in the City of Greenwood–the bypass. Road construction crews have utilized the shale excavated from the site of the new library to build access roads. That shale was sold for use to the Arkansas Highway Department.

“The Sebastian County Library new library project is moving along as expected,” shared Scott-Sebastian Regional Librarian Rene Myers. “In early 2024 after the purchase of the land was complete, the enormous undertaking of shale removal from the new library site began. MAHG Architecture reported at the August 15th Sebastian County Library Board meeting that boring for mineral samples at the library site had been completed. Samples are being evaluated for final proof that the land can still be built on at the current elevation. The current elevation of the site is also being evaluated for build readiness…”

The Curve, and site of the new Scott-Sebastian Regional Library.

The regional library is an asset central to Hackett, Mansfield, Huntington, and all the surrounding communities. The agreement of the county to purchase the land for construction will be an investment for generations to come. “It’s so needed,” continued Reynolds. “The books will rotate from this central hub to our branch libraries.”

One of the things Reynolds gets asked repeatedly is, why do we need a new library? The answer is threefold.

First, it is an investment in the future. The original library is no longer meeting the needs of its patrons.

“One of the things I am so happy about is the opportunity to provide people in this area with a community room…One that has technology readily available to them and will be free for them to use.”

Secondly, the financial commitment was made on behalf of the county, not the City of Greenwood, and will be of service to patrons in both Scott and Sebastian Counties. “The library could have been built anywhere, but the library board and Quorum Court chose this site,” noted Reynolds. “Greenwood did make a contribution to be able to make this happen. They bought James Fork water rights and ran a water line to The Curve to keep it in Greenwood.”

Lastly, it is an investment in truth. “If you believe everything on your phone, well that’s ok,” continued Reynolds. “But if you want to ensure you know the truth, the library is the best place to do research.”

There are many other reasons the library is considered an asset. Including access to the internet, specifically to children and those who are homeschooled.

The Curve, the site of the new library, will have a significant economic impact on the area. “Developers confirmed that Braum’s is coming to The Curve,” continued Reynolds. According to Braum’s financial performance in 2023, there could be an estimated $21,122.12 positive financial impact to the City of Greenwood.

Progress being made at “The Curve” is encouraging. The businesses that are set to locate in that area make it an exciting development!

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