77.2 F
Fort Smith
Sunday, June 14, 2026
type here...
Home Blog Page 168

Obituary: Vestal Rice (1929-2024)

Tammy Teague
-
0
Obituary: Vestal Rice (1929-2024)

Vestal Olene (Owens) Rice, of Waldron, Arkansas, passed from this life into eternity with Jesus on July 13, 2024, at the age of 95. Vestal was born March 6, 1929, in Gravelly, Arkansas to Jake and Edith Parker Owens. She graduated from Waldron High School in 1946. She began working in the local drug store at the age of 13 at the soda fountain and later as assistant to the pharmacist.

In 1947 she married her high school sweetheart, Ray Rice and they were married for 77 years, raising 4 children who survive her: Wendell Ralph Rice (wife Phyllis) of Bella Vista, Sherry Plummer of Ft. Smith, Christy Rogers of Sherwood, and Karen Johnson (husband Brian) of Bentonville. Also surviving her are six grandchildren: Jennifer London, Tracie Spaulding, Jon Plummer, Haley Spradlin, Anna Tobkin and Sarah Johnson, nine great-grandchildren, and many in-laws and extended family.

Vestal was a follower of Christ and longtime member of First Baptist Church in Waldron, serving the Lord there as a Sunday School teacher, committee member and church clerk. Vestal was a self-taught seamstress and spent many hours at the sewing machine. She also enjoyed quilting, and making puppets and costumes for use in Children’s ministry at First Baptist.

Preceding Vestal in death were husband Ray, her parents, her father and mother-in-law Jimmy and Hazel Rice, brother, Rena Owens, sister Wanda Priddy, sister-in-law Johnnie Faye Owens, sister-in-law Roberta Harris, son-in-law Ronnie Plummer, grandson-in-law Darriell Mathis, and foster great grandson, Hayden Taylor.

A graveside service and burial will be held on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at 10:00 AM, at Birdsview United Methodist Church, City Lake Road, Waldron, Arkansas with Randy Hogan officiating. Interment will follow for the couple in the Birdsview Cemetery. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Memorial donations may be made to the Birdsview Cemetery Fund at 1378 City Lake Rd, Waldron, Arkansas, or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital at www.stjude.org in memory of Vestal Rice.

Arrest Reports 7/7

Tammy Teague
-
0
Arrest Reports 7/7

Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Department:
David Phillip Blake of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 12 at 9:39 a.m. and released on signature bond July 12 at 11:04 a.m. Blake was charged with Leaving the Scene of a Property Damage Accident $1k – 10k.

William Lamont Bowen of Midland was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 11 at 10:35 a.m. and remains at the SCADC with legally sufficient bond. Bowen was charged with Assault on Family or Household Member-1st Degree and Interfering with Emergency Communications – 1st Degree Misdemeanor.

Carl James Chapman of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 11 at 9:57 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with cash bond. Chapman was charged with failure to appear – class C felony.

Tony Ray Cummings of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 10 at 5:09 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Cummings was charged with parole violation and absconding.

Scotty Eugene Escalante of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 7 at 11:54 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with jail time. Escalante was charged with criminal trespass.

Matthew Lynn Hubbard of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 8 at 10:55 a.m. and released on cash bond July 11 at 3:07 p.m. Hubbard was charged with Petition to Revoke – Felony.

Hunter Lee Jones of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 13 at 5:03 a.m. and released on signature bond July 13 at 6:56 a.m. Jones was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Gabriel Kesner Law of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 7 at 12:23 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond July 7 at 5:06 a.m. Law was charged with Fleeing Vehicle D Felony Speeding D Felony.

Myra Jean Loecher of Booneville with booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 10 at 3:03 p.m. and released on July 11 at 1:46 p.m. Loecher was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Austyn Keith Price of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 9 at 11:43 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with legally sufficient bond. Price was charged with Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree, Harassing Communications – Catch All, Harassment Catch All, and Terroristic Threatening in the Second Degree.

Allen James Randolph of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 12 at 6:46 p.m. and released on July 14 at 4:59 p.m. Randolph was charged with Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Pregnant (Purposely, Violation of a Protection Order Misdemeanor, and Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

John Alvin Rowe of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 12 at 12:09 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Rowe was charged with ADC commitment hold.

Joah Grady Stillwell of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 10 at 5:22 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond July 11 at 3:44 p.m. Stillwell was charged with Manufacture of [Schedule VI Controlled Substance] >14g (marijuana).

Kimberly Ann Stillwell of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 10 at 5:20 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond July 11 at 9:48 a.m. Stillwell was charged with Manufacture of [Schedule VI Controlled Substance] >14g (marijuana).

Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H:
Amanda Michelle Brooks of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 7 at 2:48 a.m. and released on signature bond July 7 at 3:52 a.m. Brooks was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Catrina Marie Schwietzer of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 8 at 7:59 p.m. and released on cash bond July 12 at 10:12 p.m. Schwietzer was charged with Petition to Revoke – Felony.

Arresting agency – Hartford Police Department:
Stephen Auther Hanna of Midland was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 10 at 8:33 p.m. and released on signature bond July 11 at 12:55 a.m. Hanna was charged with Disorderly Conduct – Excessive Noise.

Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
Jason Lee Lovett of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 11 at 7:51 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with cash bond. Lovett was charged with two counts of Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Arresting agency – Bonanza Police Department:
Staci Leann Neu of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 12 at 4:28 a.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Neu was charged with absconding and parole violation.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Department:
Kara Brinley, 40 of Subiaco, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 8 at 2:19 p.m. Brinley was charged with violation of conditions of suspension or probation, and theft of property.

Melissa Cundiff, 43 of Magazine, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 9 at 9:18 p.m. Cundiff was charged with two counts of failure to appear, and violation of conditions of suspension or probation.

Joshua West, 38 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 10 at 1:19 a.m. West was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of controlled substance, and criminal trespass.

Keona Woodbridge, 30 of Fort Smith, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 10 at 9:39 a.m. Woodbridge was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Edward Gonzalez – Lemones, 38 of Oklahoma City, OK, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 10 at 2:08 p.m. Limones was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Brennan Burks, 36 of Subiaco, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 11 at 11:07 p.m. Burks was charged with contempt of court.

Johnathon Byrd, 52 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 11 at 11:37 p.m. Byrd was charged with contempt of court.

Alciviades Alvardo-Juarez, 21 of Los Angeles, CA, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 12 at 10:45 a.m. Juarez was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Amber Hayden, 21 of Lebanon, IL, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 12 at 12:11 p.m. Hayden was charged with theft by receiving, and possession of a firearm by certain persons.

William Desern, 31 of Fort Smith, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 12 at 12:56 p.m. Desern was charged with driving while driver’s license cancelled, suspended or revoked, obstruction of interior – prohibited, and theft by receiving.

Summer Gierke, 45 of Ratcliff, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 12 at 3:45 p.m. Gierke was sentenced to ADC.

Christopher Millsaps, 40 of New Blaine, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 12 at 4:38 p.m. Millsaps was charged with contempt of court.

James Fleming, 53 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 12 at 4:59 p.m. Fleming was charged with body attachment.

Geno McQuire, 35 of Ozark, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 12 at 8:33 p.m. McQuire was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest, and obstructing governmental operations.

Jason Dinkel, 45 of Magazine, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 13 at 10:17 p.m. Dinkel was charged with contempt of court.

Arresting agency – Franklin County Sheriff’s Department:
Jordan Hayden McIlroy, 38 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on July 12 at 9:36 p.m. McIlroy was charged with public intoxication, and criminal mischief – 1st degree / property of another with value of $1,000 or less.

Dennis Coburn, 48 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on July 11 at 7:59 p.m. Coburn was charged with five counts of failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

John Clifton Kelly, 40 of Fort Smith, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on July 9 at 12:49 p.m. Kelly was charged with failure to appear.

Robert Leroy Wilson, 66 of Altus, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on July 8 at 6:13 p.m. Wilson was charged with delivery of meth or cocaine GT 2 GM but LT 10 GM.

Cody Hamilton, 28 of Lavaca, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on July 8 at 4:45 p.m. Hamilton was charged with failure to comply with conditions of suspended sentence or probation, and failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

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


“Make Charleston Great” Seeks to Put Alcohol Sales on the Ballot

Tammy Teague
-
0
“Make Charleston Great” Seeks to Put Alcohol Sales on the Ballot

A group of Charleston residents, “Make Charleston Great,” are working to get alcohol sales on the ballot this November.

The group states they want to make the community a better, safer place to live and to make Charleston GREAT:

  • G – Growth.  Help Charleston grow with local business for more prosperity and opportunity for our citizens. 
  • R – Responsible.  With the increased tax revenue, the city of Charleston can hire more police to help make our town safe.
  • E – Entertaining.  Keep people in town with more to do – events and dinner dates are much more fun without a drive!
  • A – Affordable.  Recently the community of Charleston has had to raise local taxes.  We can help stop this with increased tax revenue from more local sales.
  • T – Thrive.  Help Charleston stay competitive!  Any alcohol sales through other cities or communities only help them, NOT us.  

Spearheading the movement, Jonas Schaffer and Frank Hugg. “We respect everyone’s faith or decision to not partake in alcohol consumption; this is not intended to encourage drinking. Consuming alcohol is legal in Charleston, and we are not arguing to increase consumption- this is a vote for our town to take back the sales tax our local citizens are already paying for their alcohol – and keep it in our town.”

There are those who oppose the measure, however. They were given the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns at a recently held meeting.

For more information about the movement, or to find out how to sign the petition, you can visit Make Charleston GREAT.

Obituary: Mateo Gibby Limon (2024)

Tammy Teague
-
0
Obituary: Mateo Gibby Limon (2024)

Baby Mateo Gibby Vatsana Limon, infant son of Felipe Limon and Nayley Vatsana, was greeted by angels on Thursday, July 11, 2024, in Fort Smith, Arkansas surrounded by his loving family.

Baby Mateo is survived by parents, Felipe Limon and Nayely Vatsana of Stilwell, Oklahoma; maternal grandparents, Eric Vatsanas and Nikita Michelle Mckiski of Waldron, Arkansas; paternal grandparents, Terry Steele of Waldron, Arkansas and Amber Steele of Stilwell, Oklahoma; Aunt Emma Rose Vatsana of Waldron, Arkansas; Aunt Rhonda Limon and Aunt Victoria Limon both of Stilwell, Oklahoma; and Uncle Gibby Limon, Uncle Gabriel Soto, and Uncle Adrian Soto all from Stilwell, Oklahoma.

Baby Mateo was preceded in death by: maternal grandmother, Ntxhee Mayo (sing) Vatsana.

The arrival on earth of Baby Mateo was anticipated with eagerness and great joy and the passing has touched the hearts of all of his family and friends. Baby Mateo will be lovingly remembered and greatly missed by all those who awaited his arrival.

Baby Mateo’s life celebration and interment will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at Square Rock Cemetery in Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Mansfield’s Kaylee Ward: Beyond the “Ball” Of Duty

Adam Hecox
-
0
Mansfield’s Kaylee Ward: Beyond the “Ball” Of Duty

Mansfield junior, Kaylee Ward, was just five years old when she first picked up a basketball, and from that day forward, the rest is history. “Growing up, I always played with older girls and always looked up to them” recalls Ward as to what first piqued her interest into the game of basketball. “I wanted to be like them and make myself a better version, and constantly watching college ball pushed me to believe that I could make it there one day.” Fast forward to the 2023-2024 basketball season where Ward averaged 14 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, and 4.7 blocks per game.

When asked what she was most proud of in her basketball career, Kaylee stated, “I’m most proud of our state championship game this past season, although we didn’t come out with a win. One, we got there – and two, my teammates and I gave it our all and fought hard and I got to experience it with the best girls, the best coaches, and most of all my, sister Kynslee. A lifetime of memories were made throughout that game and that season and it will never be forgotten.”

This upcoming season will be one where 6’4 mega athlete Ward “Takes another step forward in her development as a player, especially on the offensive end,” explains Mansfield Lady Tigers head coach, Ethan Bowman. “Already in camps, she has been more versatile on offense shooting and hitting threes, breaking opponents down off the dribble from the perimeter to score and facilitate, executing pick and pop situations, starting the fast break by bringing the ball up the floor herself, and also still working hard in the low and high post areas.”

With two years still left in her high school career, Kaylee has had college offers from Tulsa University, UCA, University of Arkansas, ACU, UAFS, Mississippi State, Colorado University, and Georgia Tech as well as interested parties from Baylor, Texas Tech, OSU, OU, Missouri State, Kansas State, Rice University, Weber State, and Utah. But it’s not always “ball in a day’s work” when it comes to the sport of basketball. Sometimes it’s downright exhausting and you want to be anywhere but on the court. On those game days though, Ward offers this advice. “I try to keep myself positive most of the time because I know my team needs me but if I really get in my head at times, I know my teammates, as well as Coach Bowman, are always there to help me pick it back up.”

As for this next season, “Kaylee will take on more of a leadership role than she has in the past,” continues Bowman. “And I believe she will thrive in it. Herself and the Lady Tigers have been working hard so far this summer and are preparing to continue the culture that we have built.” When it comes to the generation below her and the advice she would give to young girls just starting the game, Ward leaves us with this. “Honestly just have fun in everything you do! Don’t be so hard and negative on yourself and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t do it. Just prove to them that YOU CAN! and forever stay humble and give all glory to the Lord.”

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

Tammy Teague
-
0
“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

By Sheri Hopkins, Lifestyle Contributor

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 Ballot Issues

Tammy Teague
-
0
Arkansas Ballot Issues

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.

–ISSUE 1 LOTTERY PROCEEDS

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.

Download a one-page handout about 2024 Arkansas ballot issues.

We will update our website when it’s known which proposals have qualified for the November ballot.

–POTENTIAL 2024 BALLOT ISSUES

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.”

Increased enforcement efforts bolster safe waters during holiday weekend

Tammy Teague
-
0
Increased enforcement efforts bolster safe waters during holiday weekend

By Randy Zellers

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.

UCA Dean’s List and Presidential Scholars announced for spring 2024

Tammy Teague
-
0
UCA Dean’s List and Presidential Scholars announced for spring 2024

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

Dean’s List from our area are:
Eden Adams – Greenwood
Renee Blankenship – Booneville
Mattison Brewer – Waldron
Ely Calvert – Greenwood
Cassidy Chansysoulat – Charleston
Jenna Gaughan – Greenwood
Carlee Harris – Charleston
Elijah Lyles – Greenwood
Landis Luke – Greenwood
Michael Moreton – Huntington
Shalea O’Riley – Greenwood
Kassidy Powell – Greenwood
Chalakorn Pumchamnong – Huntington
Aaron Rhodes – Booneville
Jocelyn Sewell – Greenwood
Wonda Sengkomyong – Lavaca
Ethan Smithson – Lavaca
Brandon Teague – Charleston
Jenna Ward – Charleston
Lindsey Ward – Paris
Hayden Weaver – Greenwood
Ethan Whitney – Charleston



Timepiece: The Air Conditioner

Tammy Teague
-
0
Timepiece: The Air Conditioner

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

1...167168169...1,051Page 168 of 1,051

© Resident News Network | 2015 - 2026 | All Rights Reserved | Baggett Enterprises LLC | Isaiah 43:18-19