Resident News Network

Obituary: Debra Humphreys (1950-2024)

Obituaries

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11:18 am

Debra Ann (McCain) Humphreys, 74, of Waldron, Arkansas went to be with her Lord and Savior, Wednesday, May 29, 2024 in Fort Smith, Arkansas surrounded by her loving family. Debra was born March 11, 1950 in Waldron, Arkansas to Erma (Morris) and Ansel Phelan. Debra was a lifetime member of the Evening Shade Baptist Church in Waldron, Arkansas.

Debra was married to the love of her life, Cyrus Henry Humphreys Jr. for 42 marvelous years before Cyrus went on to Heaven to wait for her. Together they raised four amazing children and loved their grandchildren and great grandchildren immensely. Debra enjoyed listening to good old southern rock music and the blues. She loved it when Bob Seager’s music would come on. Debra enjoyed reading, crocheting and spending time with her family. Her children, grandchildren and great great children where her world and she always wanted to see them happy. The memories made will forever be treasured by each of them.

Debra, a loving wife, mother and grandmother leaves behind to cherish her memory her four children: Shawnda Lister of Waldron, Arkansas; Lee Humphreys of Lubbock, Texas; Shane Humphreys and Matt Humprheys both of Levelland, Texas. Nan will forever remain in the hearts of her seven grandchildren: Cydney Spooner, Trevor Lister, Madison Duvall, Josh Humphreys, Nikki Reffner, Nacoma Malloy and Austin Flores as well as 16 great grandchildren. Debra is also survived by three siblings: Cindy Cato of Hot Springs, Arkansas; Rhona Johnson of Waldron, Arkansas; and Butch Phelan of Poteau, Oklahoma. Debra will be missed by all that knew her, including many nieces, nephews, great nieces, great nephews and extended family and friends dear to her heart.

Debra was preceded in death by her loving husband, Cyrus Humphreys Jr and her parents, Erma and Ansel Phelan.

Debra’s life celebration will be held at a later date with Pastor John Eigsti officiating at Evening Shade Baptist Church in Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements and cremation arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Obituary: Leslie Boyd (1960 – 2024)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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11:43 am

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With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Leslie Lynn (Spoon) Boyd of Waldron, Arkansas. Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and friend, who peacefully departed from this world on May 27, 2024, at the age of 63, in her home surrounded by her loving family.

Leslie was born on June 12, 1960 to Harvey Spoon and Peggy (Holt) Boswell. Leslie dedicated 32 years of her life working as a rural mail carrier for the United States Postal Service.One of her greatest joys was spending time with her grandkids. She found joy in her work, as well as in her hobbies of gardening, canning, and cooking. Known for her caring and nurturing spirit, Leslie touched the lives of many through her passion for caregiving. She shared a special bond with her sister, often spending hours together crocheting. Leslie took great pride in her home, where she created a warm and welcoming environment for her loved ones. Her family was her greatest joy, and she treasured every moment spent with them.

Leslie will be deeply missed by her devoted husband, Clarence Boyd; daughter, Tashia Ward; son, Daniel Boyd and step-son, Shawn Boyd all of Waldron, Arkansas. As well as her adored grandchildren: Tate Ward, Jinjer Ward, Kyler Boyd, Hope Boyd, Faith Boyd, Peyton Boyd and Shaylee Byford and three great grandchildren: Scott Boyd, Silas Boyd, Colby Woodall and Carter Stuart.

Leslie is also survived by her siblings: Doris Morley of Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Leona Scott of Gloucester, Virginia, Irene Monroe of Haviland Kansas, Steve Spoon of Alabama, Barbara Spoon of Kansas, Bruce Waddle and wife Carla of Waldron, Arkansas and Sister-in-laws, Carol Lewis and husband Bud of Greenwood, Arkansas, Judy Kastl of Waldron, Arkansas and brother in law Bill Boyd and wife Cindy of Waldron, Arkansas. Leslie will be missed all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host of extended family, nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones dear to her heart.

Leslie was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey Spoon and Peggy Boswell and her half brother John Spoon.

A Celebration of Life service will be held to honor Leslie’s memory at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas on Friday, May 31, 2024, at 10:00 am. with Bro. William Crelia officiating. Interment will follow in the Sehorn Cemetery in Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Leslie’s pallbearers will be Ricky Blowe, Alex Bryant, Jake Waddle, Beau Bryant, Eric Sims, Jeffrey Sims, Jimmy Brimble, and Thomas Boggess.

Leslie’s visitation will be Thursday, May 30, 2024 from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel.

Logan County Senior Center Receives Community Grant

News

Tammy Teague

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4:03 pm

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Logan County Senior Center Receives Community Grant

Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders along with Secretary Hugh McDonald, AEDC Director Clint O’Neal, and Director of AEDC’s Grants Division Jean Noble, announced the Arkansas Economic Development Commission has awarded $8,478,624 in Community Development Block Grants to 17 Arkansas cities and counties.

These grants were awarded under the General Assistance set-aside, part of Arkansas’s $17.8 million FY 2023 formula grant allocation, which is designed to provide communities the opportunity to apply for a variety of non-housing public facility and public infrastructure projects. These funds originate from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

“When the federal government works right, in coordination with state and local experts, the results can be fantastic. The Community Development Block Grant program is a great example of state and federal collaboration,” said Governor Sanders. “This year’s seventeen recipients come from all across our state, from Garland City in the southwest to Peach Orchard in the northeast. Each one of these grants advances our administration’s priorities of improving our education system, investing in workforce readiness, and ensuring that every Arkansan has access to safe and clean drinking water.”

AEDC is highlighting these awards in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Community Development Block Grant Program. Enacted by Congress in 1974 under the Housing and Community Development Act, CDBG provides necessary funding to communities across the country to address infrastructure, economic development, housing, disaster recovery, and other community needs.

“Across Arkansas, there are thriving communities that are laying the foundation for future economic success and improving the lives of their citizens,” said Clint O’Neal, Executive Director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. “The Community Development Block Grants help local communities to strengthen that foundation to provide excellent quality of life and a great business environment for companies.”

Since the CDBG program’s inception in Arkansas in 1983, more than $900 million has been awarded for 2,390 projects that have benefited more than 5.16 million Arkansans. State CDBG funds are utilized for a variety of public facility and public infrastructure projects, including senior centers; childcare centers; public health facilities; youth centers; residential water and wastewater; street, curb, gutter, sidewalk, or storm sewer; and flood control and drainage projects; as well as towards economic development grants incentivizing the location or expansion of jobs in the state. Funds are awarded on an annual basis with counties and municipalities also allocating resources to meet urgent needs and benefit low- and moderate-income persons.

“The Community Development Block Grant remains one of the most important grant resources for the State of Arkansas and local governments and their non-profit and other partners to utilize in designing flexible solutions to meet community development needs,” said Jean Noble, Director of AEDC’s Grants Division. “We are proud to recognize the awardees for their hard work and dedication to addressing their highest priority community needs and administering these funds effectively back in local cities and counties. We look forward to partnering on these successful projects!”

The 17 General Assistance projects include the following:

· Columbia County, $500,000, after-school youth center

· Dierks, Howard County, $499,743, water system improvements

· Dumas, Desha County, $499,935, sewer system improvement

· East Camden, Ouachita County, $499,420, sewer system improvements

· Garland City, Miller County, $500,000, pond levee improvements

· Hope, Hempstead County, $500,000, wastewater system improvements

· Jennette, Crittenden County, $500,000, water system improvements

· Kensett, White County, $499,750, wastewater treatment plant improvements

· Kingsland, Cleveland County, $500,000, pump station improvements and pipe repairs

· Lockesburg, Sevier County, $500,000, water tank improvements

· Logan County, $485,556, senior center renovations

· Lonoke, Lonoke County, $498,874, sewer line rehabilitation

· Lonoke County, $500,000, developmentally disabled vocational training facility

· Pangburn, White County, $500,000, wastewater collection system rehabilitation

· Peach Orchard, Clay County, $498,920, water line rehabilitation

· Sparkman, Dallas County, $496,426, wastewater rehabilitation

· Van Buren County, $500,000, road improvements

To be eligible for CDBG funds, communities must have a population of less than 50,000 and at least 51 percent of the persons benefitting from the project must be of low- to moderate-income, or the project must meet another CDBG national objective, prevention of slum or blight, or meet an urgent need. All Arkansas cities and counties are eligible for the grant program except for 14 entitlement cities that receive CDBG funds directly from HUD.

For more information on the Arkansas Small Cities CDBG or CDBG-CV program, visit https://www.arkansasedc.com/grants

Arrest Reports 5/19

Police Reports

Tammy Teague

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4:54 pm

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Arresting agency – Hartford Police Department:
Amanda Jean Adams of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 21 at 12:59 p.m. and released on signature bond May 21 at 3:41 p.m. Adams was charged with Disorderly Conduct – Obscene Language or Gesture.

Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H:
Lisa Ann Baker of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 22 at 8:26 p.m. and released on signature bond May 23 at 4:42 a.m. Baker was charged with Possession of open container, Reckless Driving 1st Offense, and Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Johnathon Dishon Cozens of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 19 at 1:12 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond May 19 at 2:32 p.m. Cozens was charged with Reckless Driving 1st Offense.

Myra Jean Loecher of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 25 at 2:46 a.m. and released on signature bond May 25 at 8:48 a.m. Loecher was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Shannon Mayo of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 24 at 11:36 p.m. and released on signature bond May 25 at 5:26 a.m. Loecher was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Cheyenne Renae White of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 24 at 8:12 p.m. and released on signature bond May 25 at 12:12 a.m. White was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Torie Rae Cantrell of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 24 at 10:19 a.m. and released on signature bond May 24 at 10:19 a.m. and released on signature bond May 24 at 11:57 a.m. Cantrell was charged with Criminal Trespass – Premises.

Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Department:
Sandra Lynn Olsen of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 20 at 2:45 p.m. and released on released on signature bond May 23 at 5:33 p.m. Olsen was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense, and petition to show cause.

Braden Shawn Suter of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 20 at 12:49 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond May 20 at 9:11 p.m. Suter was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Kay Deice Walden of Paris was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 24 at 8:09 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with cash bond. Walden was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

Arresting agency – Lavaca Police Department:
Cynthia Anne Wall Hensley of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 19 at 4:29 p.m. and released on May 20 at 12:26 a.m. Hensley was charged with Contributing to the Delinquency of a Minor – Prohibited by Law.

Arresting agency – Mansfield Police Department:
Timothy Ryan Wood of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 24 at 8:25 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond May 25 at 3:29 p.m. Wood was charged with Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Department:
Tabetha Emberson, 45 of Mansfield, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 21 at 12:01 p.m. Emberson was charged with failure to appear.

Anthony Reno, 40 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 22 at 2:13 p.m. Reno was charged with body attachment and parole hold.

Michael Inman, 52 of Delaware, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 23 at 2:47 p.m. Inman was charged with delivery of methamphetamine, heroin or cocaine, and contempt of court.

Miguel Rodriguez, 33 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 23 at 9:38 p.m. Rodriguez was charged with contempt of court, and failure to appear.

Fabian Wells, 41 of Batesville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 24 at 7:08 p.m. Wells was charged with body attachment.

Arresting agency – Franklin County Sheriff’s Department:
Ronald Hawkins, 43 of Gould, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 25 at 3:25 a.m. Hawkins was charged with disorderly conduct, and public intoxication.

James Richard McEntyre, 39 of Mulberry, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 25 at 3:19 a.m. McEntyre was charged with two counts of failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Kadie Belle Ruston, 35 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 25 at 3:11 a.m. Ruston was charged with driving while intoxicated – DWI 1st, reckless driving, aggravated assault, open container containing alcohol in motor vehicle, no proof liability insurance, criminal mischief – 2nd degree/ recklessly destroys.

Nikita Love Robinson, 27 of Charleston, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 25 at 1:37 a.m. Robinson was charged with domestic battering – 3rd degree / purpose of causing injury, causes serious injury.

Riley Scott Chevier, 21 of Muskogee, OK was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 24 at 8:21 p.m. Chevier was charged with reckless driving, driving while intoxicated – DWI 1st, open container containing alcohol in motor vehicle.

Ashton Lee Lovell, 22 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 24 at 7:09 p.m. Lovell was charged with two counts of failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Jason Michael Wilson, 46 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 24 at 3:43 p.m. Wilson was charged with failure to appear.

James Arthur Rogers, 35 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 24 at 11:03 a.m. Rogers was charged with two counts of failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Ashton Leigh Stanford, 23 of Fayetteville, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 23 at 12:13 p.m. Stanford was charged with two counts of failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Thomas Anthony Figgins, 37 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 23 at 11:28 a.m. Figgins was charged with failure to pay child support.

Jordan Riley Jacks, 25 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 22 at 10:54 a.m. Jacks was sentenced to days.

Lillie Fields, 24 of Altus, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 22 at 9:38 a.m. Fields was charged with disorderly conduct, and harassment.

Tracy Wayne Turner, 56 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 20 at 1:15 pm. Turner was charged with failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

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

Legendary Historian, Educator Retires

Lifestyle

Tammy Teague

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10:25 am

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In the newspaper business, we often get asked questions which are historic in nature. There is a gentleman I often refer people too, Dr. Curtis Varnell. He is without a doubt one of the areas most renowned and respected historians and equally esteemed educator.

Varnell recently announced his retirement from the Guy Fenter Education Service Cooperation. Where, for the past 18 years, he has spent time traveling the region providing educational opportunities to students and teachers alike.

He has always had a unique, hands-on teaching style. Students find his methods of learning about science exciting and most importantly, FUN!

“I want to thank the many teachers I have had the privilege of working with over the past several years,” shared Varnell. “I also thank the parents who shared the wonderful students I was able to work with. This region is blessed with both- you don’t fully realize that unless you’re out visiting schools across the state and nation.”

For Varnell, education isn’t about the financial payoff. “What do I receive from teaching? Here are 200 kids from Alma intermediate school (pictured below) eagerly awaiting to learn science. No money, no award, nothing is as valuable as seeing and hearing young people interested in learning! This is why I TEACH!”

Eagar and excited Alma middle school students ready to learn about science!

The news about his retirement spread quickly across the state. Teachers and students expressed their gratitude towards Varnell and for his many contributions to education. “God has blessed me to be able to live a life doing what I set as a goal to do at the age of 14, to teach. Garvin Green, Coach Jim Clay, Bentley Allen, and John Ross demonstrated what a teacher should be and provided a poor kid from the south side of the tracks encouragement to become a college student. Dennis Baltz, Ray Douglas, and Jack Hatcher gave me a job to enable me to work through college and Mr. Ehren and Mr. Harris gave me a job in Paris where I wanted to be. My mentor Joyce Hander taught me to do and not talk science. So many people that have meant so much to my life and career.”

Retired teachers, family, friends and members of the CO-OP recently held a surprise retirement party in Varnell’s honor. They presented him with a video from area students thanking him for fun-filled learning opportunities he has provided throughout the years. He was also presented with a cedar crafted rocking chair with an engraved plate commemorating his service.

The hardest part of changing jobs is leaving the kids and teachers that are like family,” shared Varnell. I said bye to my Hackett family, and one of the kids told me I was the grandfather she never had. I got so many hugs and a few tears- some from me.”

Varnell will officially retire on June 30. He plans to work as a consultant part-time with AIMS (Arkansas Initiative for Math and Science), write more books, and work as an adjunct at Arkansas Tech University. “That will keep me occupied and out of trouble,” Varnell joked.

These are letters to Dr. Curtis Varnell from the middle school students at St. Joseph School-Paris. The letters are thoughtful and well-written. An opening line says “thanks for taking us on adventures and not killing us.”

We join the many others wishing Dr. Curtis Varnell well in his “retirement,” although chances are he will be busier than ever finding ways to continue sharing his gift of teaching with others.

The 2024 3A-1 Non-Conference Schedules Are Packed With Serious Showcase Showdowns

Adam Hecox

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8:58 pm

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The 2024 3A-1 Non-Conference Schedules Are Packed With Serious Showcase Showdowns

With all of the 2023-24 sports now completed across the state, it’s time to look ahead to the summer break. That is unless you’re a football fan, then you’re breaking down the upcoming 2024 season schedules. The conference part of the schedules usually sits as a same ol’ same ol’ situation, but the spicy part begins right at the top of the lists with the non-conference games. These non-conference games stack up with rivalries, dream games, and games that may indicate how the season might go. For the southern programs of the 3A-1, the non-conference games for some teams might as well be a State Playoff game as they load up with opponents from the larger 4A conference while others throw in a mixed bag of 2A, 3A, and 4A schools to build up momentum leading into the regular season. A few teams have even sprinkled in a little bit of out-of-state spices to give their no-conference schedule a bit of a kick.

Booneville tends to have one of the highest-rated non-conference schedules in the entire 3A each and every year. Rarely do you see them take on another 3A team and 2A programs aren’t even on their radar. Instead, the Bearcats face off against teams that are year-in and year-out Playoff contenders out of the 4A. The defending 3A State Champions 2024 non-conference resume will be just a hair different than previous years though as they will take on the Poteau Pirates (Oklahoma), Ozark Hillbillies (4A), and the Paris Eagles (3A). The Poteau game should be a slobber knocker as Pirates is a perineal powerhouse in eastern Oklahoma. Last season, the Pirates completed a 12-1 overall record and went 7-0 in conference. Although the Bearcats face a pair of Pirates each year in the 3A-1 conference (Cedarville and Greenland), Poteau’s ship will likely be harder to capsize for the Bearcats. Next up, Booneville will play in one of the oldest rivalry games in the state against the 4A-Ozark Hillbillies. Even though Booneville has won seven of the last eight matchups with Ozark, the game never fails to give fans their money’s worth. Last on the Bearcats non-conference lineup is the Paris Eagles from the 3A-4. Paris has had a rough go the past couple of years but is slowly starting to trend back upward. The Bearcats haven’t faced Paris since Booneville moved to the 3A-1 in 2022, but the Eagles haven’t forgotten their narrow 28-20 loss to Booneville in 2020 and will likely put up a decent fight.

Booneville versus Mansfield, 2023.
Photo courtesy of Joey Bolin

A lot of teams have shuffled in and out of the 3A-1 over the years, but the staple team has always been the Charleston Tigers. Like Booneville, Charleston isn’t scared to square off against the “big boys” from the 4A. In fact, they most likely enjoy it. Even though the Tigers fell in all three of their non-conference 4A games against Elkins, Ozark, and Nashville last year, Charleston did not refrain from setting up another high-end non-conference slate for 2024. Charleston will hit the road to face the Pottsville Apaches and Ozark Hillbillies from the 4A conference and then welcome the Heavener Wolves from Oklahoma to Tiger Stadium. The past two meetings between Charleston and Pottsville ended in a 35-14 and 21-14 victory for the Tigers. While Charleston has had the upper hand on the scoreboard, the Apaches will still have to be taken seriously, especially on Pottsville’s home turf. Next up will be the one, the only, the Franklin County Feud. The Tigers hold a 7-3 record against the Hillbillies over the past decade outscoring Ozark 246-218 over that period. But Charleston’s 28-7 loss to Ozark last season is a reminder that in this rivalry, no, in this FEUD anything is possible. The final non-conference game slated for Charleston is a head-scratcher as the Tigers host the Heavener Oklahoma Wolves. The Wolves held a 7-4 record last season allowing 277 points to their opponents while putting up 312 points on the scoreboard. If you compare that to Charleston’s 7-6 record in 2023 allowing 271 points and scoring 351, you’ll quickly notice that this will be a “don’t want to miss” game.

Charleston versus Barton, 2023.
Photo courtesy of Jim Best

The Mansfield Tigers had a record-setting run in 2023 by making the State Semifinals for the first time in school history, setting a school record by scoring 489 points on the year, and a school record for most wins in a season with 11 total games won. And all of that was done with just five seniors on the roster and first-year head coach, Whit Overton, who was awarded the 3A Coach of the Year plaque. But was all that just a mere fluke? Overton and the Tigers don’t think so and they set up a non-conference schedule to try and prove that their 2023 season wasn’t a one-and-done. Mansfield will travel to play the Bismarck Lions (3A), host the Battle of Scott County against Waldron (4A), and then will load the bus and head to Lamar to take on the Warriors. The Tigers game against the Bismarck Lions will be the first high school football game played in the entire state and is already being set up as a serious small-town showdown. Bismarck rolled through an impressive 10-4 record last season and ate the 3A-1s lunch in the State Playoffs by breezing past Hackett 42-13 and stunning Charleston in Charleston with a 35-27 victory. Like Mansfield, the Lions have been pegged as a mid-card program in the 3A and are eager to prove their worth. Then there’s Mansfield versus Waldron aka the Battle of Scott County. The Tigers will welcome the Bulldogs to The Jungle this year after trouncing Waldron 48-6 last season. As with any old-school rivalry, this one will be a bad-blooded battle no matter the final score. Mansfield’s last non-conference game scheduled will be a trip to Lamar to take on the Warriors from the 4A-4. The last time the Tigers played Lamar was in 2019 before the Warriors moved up into the 4A. As an annual 4A Playoff contender, Lamar will be the true test of what Mansfield might be able to do against the 3A powerhouses they’ll face later in the year.

Mansfield versus Waldron, 2023
Photo courtesy of Joey Bolin

Hackett will be going into the 2024 season under second-year coach, Mason Wann. Wann’s inaugural season wasn’t too shabby as the Hornets finished 4th in the 3A-1 and made it to the State Playoffs before falling to Bismarck. Normally, one would expect the Hornets to cross over into Oklahoma territory to play Panama and Pocola for non-conference play, but that’s not the case this season. Instead, Hackett will take additional steps towards building their program by facing the Danville Little Johns (3A), making a trip up to Gentry (4A) to take on the Pioneers, and will then close out against Mountainburg Dragons (2A). While playing Mountainburg and Danville may take some fans back to the Hornets 2A days before they moved into the 3A-1 in 2020, the game versus Gentry is the one to circle on the calendar. Both the Hornets and Pioneers will be looking to reestablish themselves as serious contenders in their respective conferences and this game could be what pushes one or the other over that hump. A sweep of their non-conference schedule would definitely put the Hornets in the talks of being a viable threat in the 3A-1 this season.

Hackett versus Mansfield, 2023.
Photo courtesy of Jeannie Keomoungkhoune

The Golden Arrows of Lavaca have owned their non-conference schedule for the past two seasons which has led to some pretty impressive starts in conference play. In fact, Lavaca has done so well in out-of-conference play over the past two years that they swept opponents with a combined score of 252-62. Those games were against two 2A teams and a small 3A program though and wound up creating what some might call a false sense of security as they enter 3A-1 conference play. This season the Golden Arrows will step onto the field with a new head coach and a new non-conference schedule. In his first move as Lavaca’s new head coach, coach Nick Stovall beefed up the Golden Arrows early game slate by filling in the slots with the Dover Pirates (4A), Paris Eagles (3A), and the Roland Rangers out of Oklahoma as Lavaca’s non-conference schedule. The Golden Arrows will hit the road to take on Dover and Roland but will face Paris at home. The Lavaca versus Paris game is likely to be the most evenly matched nonconference game for the Golden Arrows, but don’t think that it’s the only game Lavaca can win. Lavaca can take down Dover and Roland and gain road trip acknowledgment along the way. While this kind of upgrade in competition may not allow Lavaca to blow up the scoreboard as much as they have in previous years, it will definitely allow them to get a slight feel for what they will face in conference play.

Lavaca versus Mansfield, 2023.
Photo courtesy of Jeannie Keomoungkhoune

Looking through the non-conference schedules of the programs in the southern part of the 3A-1, there’s a plethora of solid games in the lineup. Booneville versus Poteau has that marquee heavyweight matchup feel to it. The Charleston Tigers taking on Heavener will likely set an attendance record for Tiger Stadium as not only is the game a big one, but Booneville, Lavaca, and Mansfield all have bye weeks that Friday and will likely be in the stands for an early season scouting session. A coin flip can be made as to which of Mansfield’s games has the most importance, but since their game versus Bismarck is the first game in the entire state, that one sticks out the most. For Hackett and Lavaca, it’s all about showing what they have built on from last season’s highs and lows. Some could pick the Hornets against Gentry and Lavaca versus Paris to set as decent indicators of the upcoming season too. It doesn’t matter which non-conference games you attend for whichever 3A-1 school you cheer for; it is highly unlikely that you’ll leave the early-season Friday night lights disappointed.

Big faker: Eastern hognose is Arkansas’s ‘counterfeit cobra’

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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5:29 pm

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Big faker: Eastern hognose is Arkansas’s ‘counterfeit cobra’

By Kirsten Bartlow

Snakes scare a lot of people. According to Web MD, half of the people in the world feel anxious about snakes while 2 to 3 percent of people experience ophidiophobia – a fear of snakes so extreme that it interferes with life.

Trigger warning: This article highlights a snake in Arkansas whose theatrical performance may cause your heart skip a beat.

Spoiler alert: Said snake is harmless to humans. As for their main prey, toads, that’s another story.

The eastern hognose snake lives statewide, but in localized populations. This medium-sized, stocky snake with an upturned snout prefers habitat with sandy or loose soil.

Describing the snake’s coloration is tricky because it comes in a palette of colors – tan, black, olive, yellow, reddish-orange or gray. These colors may be uniform or paired with a series of brown or black blotches on their back and bands on their tail. Adding to this variability, its belly may be gray, yellow, olive or red and mottled with green-gray or gray. One consistency in their coloration is a pair of large, dark brown or black blotches behind the head.

Their prominent, upturned snout digs and pokes through loose or sandy soil in pursuit of toads, their preferred prey. Toads have dandy defense mechanisms for most predators – glands behind each eye secrete a toxin that makes them inedible and they puff up their bodies to appear much larger. But these defenses are no match for the hognose. A neutralizing enzyme in the digestive tract of the snake allows it to eat toads with no ill effect, and a specialized pair of large teeth in the upper jaw in the back of the mouth deflate a toad like a balloon.

Color patterns of eastern hognose snakes can vary from tan to olive to yellow and even some red. The upturned nose and peculiar habits, however, always give it away as a big faker. Photo by Kirsten Bartlow.

Hognose snakes also produce a mild venom with their saliva that subdues their prey for easy swallowing. While toads make up most of their meals, hognose also dine upon a variety of frogs, salamanders, lizards and their eggs, ground-nesting bird eggs, and small mammals such as mice and shrews.

When frightened, a hognose snake puts on a thespian-worthy performance. Act one involves the snake flattening its head and neck and hissing loudly. It may even strike, but only as a bluff with its mouth closed. If this offensive display doesn’t work to ward off an enemy, the snake’s second act is a strong defense. It may go into convulsions, open its mouth and let its tongue hang out, thrash around, throw up prey from its stomach, defecate, roll onto its back and play dead. If the perceived threat moves away, the snake will eventually roll over onto its belly, look about cautiously while flicking its tongue before slithering away to safety.

Hognose are non-aggressive despite this impressive show – they rarely bite people, even when they’ve been captured. And while the saliva of a hognose helps subdue its prey, it has little effect on humans although some people have experienced a bit of swelling along with a burning and tingling sensation, all short-lived.

The harmless hognose has earned an assortment of nicknames including “puff adder” and “hissing viper.” And while its defensive behaviors work well against their natural enemies, these antics unfortunately cause them to be killed by humans out of unwarranted fear.

When its initial bluff doesn’t work out, a hognosed snake will resort to “playing dead” in hopes of escaping harm. Bigstock photo.

Check out AGFC’s “Arkansas Snake Guide” to learn more about the 36 species of snakes that live in The Natural State and the important roles they play in nature.

State Capitol Week in Review From Senator Terry Rice

News

Tammy Teague

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12:38 pm

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State Capitol Week in Review From Senator Terry Rice

LITTLE ROCK – Four election laws passed by the legislature in 2021 will continue to be enforced, thanks to an Arkansas Supreme Court ruling that upholds their constitutionality.

The four laws were immediately challenged after the 2021 regular session, during which the legislature enacted a long series of election integrity laws.

Last year a Pulaski County judge ruled that the four laws were unconstitutional. The lower court decision was reversed by the Supreme Court, which determined that the Pulaski County judge had made an error in law.

The four laws are Acts 249, 728, 736 and 973 of 2021.

Act 249 reaffirms the requirement that a voter bring a government-issued photo ID to the polling place. It repeals a provision in previous law that used to allow voters to sign an affidavit at their polling place if they didn’t have a photo ID with them.

Under Act 249, in order for their provisional ballots to be counted, voters must bring their ID to the county clerk or the county board of election commissioners by the Monday following Election Day.

Act 249 does not allow for a signature at the polling place, with or without an affidavit.

Act 728 prohibits people from entering or remaining in an area within 100 feet of the entrance to a voting site while voting is taking place, except for a person entering or leaving the building for lawful purposes.

Supporters of Act 728 say it prevents intimidation and electioneering within 100 feet of voting places. Opponents say it will prevent people from passing out water, and the lower court ruling was that it violated free speech rights embodied in the First Amendment.

However, the Arkansas Supreme Court cited U.S. Supreme Court decisions that have allowed restrictions on speech within 100 feet of a polling place. Therefore Act 728 easily satisfies First Amendment challenges, the state Supreme Court ruled.

Act 736 states that possession of more than four absentee ballots is presumed to be election fraud. It requires county clerks to provide the county board of election commissioners with a daily count of absentee ballot applications.

A contested provision of Act 736 directs county clerks to compare signatures on applications for absentee ballots with the original signatures on the applicant’s voter registration document. If the signatures don’t match, the clerk will not send an absentee ballot to the applicant. Opponents of the act argued that a person’s signatures change over time, and that the law would burden elderly voters.

Act 973 moves the deadline when absentee ballots must be turned in to the county clerk, from the Monday immediately before Election Day to the preceding Friday.

The Supreme Court ruled that the four laws did not threaten citizens’ fundamental right to vote. The justice who wrote the majority opinion said that “while the right to vote has been held to be fundamental, the right to vote in a particular manner is not guaranteed.”

In 2021 the legislature enacted a long series of election integrity laws clarifying the powers of county boards of election commissioners in relation to county clerks.

Local Youth Among Perfect Shooters

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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12:33 pm

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Corning, a perennial contender for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s Youth Shooting Sports state championship, led 63 other senior squads in qualifying for the state tourney, set for Saturday, June 1, at the Arkansas Game and Fish Foundation Shooting Sports Complex here.

But it wasn’t as easy as it sounds. Corning’s Squad 1 was tied for East Region honors on a soggy Saturday in early May when the shooting ended with Cabot’s Red team and Jonesboro Trap Team’s Uncoachables 2.0 matching Corning’s 238 clay targets out of 250 total. But in a “card off” of best individual shooters among the five-team members of each tied squad, Corning won out as the region champion.

Cabot and Jonesboro, though, will have a great chance to take the overall prize June 1 with the 64 qualifying senior shooting teams meeting in head-to-head bracket play. The draw of higher seeds vs. lower seeds will pit two teams, with each shooting 25 shots and the winner moving on to the next round, like the NCAA basketball tournament, though teams will shoot at different stands and compare scores. The state champion will have to win six matches.

Joining Corning as region winners were Bald Knob Red in the North, taking its region by 5 clays over Searcy Shooting Sports, 234-229; Greenwood Bulldogs Locked & Loaded, 4 points ahead of Berryville Road Kill Grillers, 233-229; and Smackover Shooting Sports’ Bucks Black, which like Corning needed a three-way “card off” to win the South Region over Nashville Scrappers Orange and Ashdown Shooting Sports 1 after the trio all recorded 230 targets. Two clays separated seven teams at the top of the South Region.

Corning’s Junior No. 1 squad also won its regional, hitting 114 out of 125 targets, but it was Bald Knob Bulldogs Trap Red in the North that had the top score among the 64 qualifying junior teams. Bald Knob Red, paced by two shooters who hit all 25 shots, coasted over Salem No. 1, 120-113, though Salem had three shooters have perfect shooting days.

Ozark Youth Shooting Team 1 took the West Region on May 17, the final weekend of regional action, while Magnolia Panther Trap Team Red claimed the South when the YSS regionals began April 26 here.

The Junior State Championship will be contested with the same format as the seniors but a day earlier, on May 31. Action on both days begins at 9 a.m. Admission is free, and food vendors will be available on-site. Participants and visitors can participate in fishing and archery during the day with stations set up on the east end of the complex.

The top 16 teams in each region advance to the state tournaments. Results of each region can be found here.

Four weeks of regional competition attracted 473 teams in the Senior Division and 414 for the juniors. About 5,400 shooters signed up for YSS this year, according to Jimmy Self, the AGFC’s coordinator of the program, part of the agency’s new Recreation Shooting Division.

Shooters who hit all of their targets during the qualifying rounds advance to the Tournament of Champions in both junior and senior divisions. A shoot-off among the qualifiers will be held after their respective state tournaments to determine a Champion of Champions. Junior Tournament of Champion qualifiers, who hit all 25 shots, are Stanley Andreski, Berryville Shooting Sports Toad Ala Mode; Asher Hale and Jameson Glaze, Bald Knob Red; Conley Tyler, Hoyt Smith and Levi Foster of Salem 1; Christopher Scrogin, Corning 1; and Reece Cash, Hazen Shooters A.

Eight perfect shooters in the Senior Division, hitting 50 out of 50 targets, came from the same region, the East. Advancing to the Senior Tournament of Champions are Caleb Richardson, Booneville Bearcats Gold; Donald W. Stephens, Greenwood Bulldogs Trap Locked & Loaded; Cole Cureton and Jackson Parks, Jonesboro Westside Red; Ellisa Vaughn, Greene County Tech Pigeon Pounders; Gage Stamper, Cabot Red; Hayden Whitlock, Brookland Bearcats Black; Jordan Miller, Harrisburg Hornets 2; Levi Adams, Corning Senior 1; and Gunner Bour, Indians Shooting Club 1.

College scholarship money totaling about $17,000 will be divvied up among the top three finishing senior teams, including $2,500 to the Champion of Champions Senior Division winner. The Doyne and Nancy Williams Endowment funds the Champion of Champions scholarship. The Williamses, 2014 inductees into the Arkansas Outdoors Hall of Fame, have been longtime supporters of recreational shooting sports, traveling the country to compete in events.

Visit www.agfc.com/yss for more information on the AGFC’s Recreational Shooting Division and Youth Shooting Sports Program.

Arkansas turkey harvest continues slow climb

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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12:26 pm

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Arkansas turkey harvest continues slow climb

By Randy Zellers

According to the latest harvest statistics compiled through the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission licensing system, Arkansas hunters harvested 9,335 turkeys during the 2024 annual turkey season, a few hundred birds more than last year. This is the third year in a row of an upward harvest trend.

David Moscicki is the AGFC’s turkey program coordinator who is taking the reins after Jeremy Wood, who did an excellent job of emphasizing habitat and observational research before pursuing additional opportunities in conservation. Moscicki says the stable harvest results are encouraging, but expected. According to brood survey data from two years ago, weather and habitat conditions combined to give Arkansas turkeys a good hatch.

“Those are the birds we’re hunting now,” Moscicki said. “Everybody’s looking for those 10,000 and 12,000 annual harvest numbers, but that doesn’t come overnight. I think we’re in good shape.”

Moscicki says he’s heard many reports to give him some hope for next year as well.

“We’re still cleaning up some of the data from last year’s brood surveys, but we received a lot of reports of Jakes (immature gobblers) and Jennies (immature hens) on the ground this year, so that’s promising for next season.”

Moscicki says youth hunters did harvest a few more juvenile birds this year than last, with 470 Jakes harvested throughout the season, compared to 250 last year.

“That is a significant increase percentage-wise, but the total number of Jakes harvested is still very low compared to the overall harvest, so that’s a bright spot,” Moscicki said.

The AGFC, partners like the U.S. Forest Service and The Nature Conservancy, and private landowners have put a lot of great habitat on the ground during the last decade through the use of prescribed fire, but Moscicki says expectations for increased populations should be tempered with a touch of caution.

“Turkey populations are extremely dependent on weather and other factors outside of land manager’s control,” Moscicki said. “Hatches can fluctuate from year to year, and we still have a lot of work to do in managing habitat and increasing the right mix of habitat types on the landscape. So far the weather seems to be pretty good throughout the state for some good hatch conditions, but we really won’t know until we’ve compiled the data from our annual brood survey, and that’s really where the public can do the most good to help us.”

As turkey hens emerge from their nests with this year’s poults in tow, hunters, wildlife watchers and anyone who enjoys time outdoors can help the AGFC by participating in the Annual Wild Turkey and Quail Population Survey. Participants record sightings of hens with and without poults and how many poults they observe. In addition to helping biologists gauge the hatch, participating in the survey can guide future habitat work on public and private land.

Moscicki says any hunters who still need to turn in their data from the AGFC’s Annual Spring Gobbler Hunting Survey also are encouraged to get that information to him as soon as possible.

“Both of these surveys give us key information that will guide our efforts to continue providing the habitat necessary to support Arkansas’s turkey population,” Moscicki said.

Turkey and quail sightings can both be entered into the AGFC’s Annual Wild Turkey and Quail Population Survey, which is available via website at www.agfc.com/turkeysurveys.

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