Resident News Network

Lady Tigers Row, Row, Row Their Boat Past Riverside to Win 2A State Championship

Sports

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5:40 pm

Lady Tigers Row, Row, Row Their Boat Past Riverside to Win 2A State Championship

The Mansfield Lady Tigers won their first softball State Championship since 2012 on Saturday, May 18^th by defeating the Riverside Lady Rebels 4-2.

To play in a State Championship game is big. To win a State Championship is even bigger. The fact that Riverside defeated the Lady Tigers 1-0 last season in the Championship game, that it’s been over a decade since Mansfield has won a softball State Championship, that the Lady Tigers had lost in the Championship game the past two consecutive seasons, and that it took extra innings to win this past Saturday, well, you’ll need to break out the ole dictionary to find more words to express how BIG of a victory it was.

The game was a pitcher’s duel for the first four innings as Mansfield’s, Alyson Edwards, faced off against Riverside’s 2023 Championship MVP, Klaire Womack. Neither top tier pitcher was going to allow their opponent’s batters to just ease their way around the bases. It seemed like a repeat of the 2023 Championship game as the game stood scoreless up until the bottom of the fifth inning. The Lady Tigers held a runner on all three bases as Trinity Triska stepped to the plate. Triska, who is known for her quiet demeanor, eyed each Riverside pitch perfectly to earn a walking trip to first base. This allowed the walk home for the Lady Tigers third base runner to set Mansfield up with a 1-0 lead. It didn’t take long for Riverside to catch up though, as the Lady Rebels tied the game on an RBI single. Riverside had a chance to walk their way in for a win in the bottom of the seventh with a runner on second and two outs. The Lady Rebels hit a speedy ground ball directly at shortstop Kynslee Ward. Ward zipped the ball to first baseman Ambria Whittaker, who edged the Riverside runner to gain the out at first base. There was very little denim left on the back pockets of fans in the stands for neither Mansfield nor Riverside in this edge of the seat thriller. But going into extra innings, the fans left their seats entirely to watch this one go down to the wire.

The Lady Tigers again sent Trinity Triska to the plate first and the payoff was huge as the silent assassin quickly scored on an error to break the tie on the scoreboard. The Lady Tigers hit a wall shortly after, though, as Riverside landed a one-two punch taking two Lady Tigers out. A one run lead isn’t anything to hang your hat on for any team, but Mansfield was “Whitty,” and it came down to being in a pinch. Ambria Whittaker headed to the batter’s box with what could have been the game on the line. Unfazed by the pressure, Whittaker popped up a single into left field which allowed two Lady Tigers to roll in for a score. If anyone thought the game was all over with a 4-1 score, then they don’t know anything about Riverside softball. With two outs in the books, the Lady Rebels cut the 4-1 lead of Mansfield down to 4-2 with an impressive RBI single. Now that Riverside was charging back, it all boiled down to the arm of Mansfield’s All-State, All-Star pitcher, Alyson Edwards. If the future University of Nebraska-Omaha pitcher could close out the game against Riverside’s final batter, then she’d forever cement herself into Mansfield softball lore. If not, then Riverside would remain a threat to defeat the Lady Tigers for the second straight year. Edwards didn’t hesitate to seize the opportunity as she downed the final batter to engrave the Lady Tigers name into the 2024 2A Arkansas Softball State Championship trophy.

While Edwards was deservingly named the game’s MVP by throwing a total of 153 pitches, 15 strikeouts and only allowing one earned run in eight innings on three hits, she’ll be the first to tell you that it wasn’t her who won the game, it was the Lady Tigers team as a whole. Over the course of 2024, the Lady Tigers replaced their entire outfield and saw new faces at first base and as catcher. Bosting only five seniors, the Lady Tigers had a relatively young team roster wise. Seniors Alyson Edwards, Kynslee Ward, Kinley Vanmeter, Harlie Fuller, and Cole Smith have made Mansfield Softball a statewide name over the past few years as the seniors have obtained a 90-18 overall record, four Conference Championships, four District Championships, three Regional Championships, two State Runner-Up trophies, and the State Championship over their four-year careers. Although these excellent seniors will no longer be on the team in 2025, the youthful Mansfield group left behind have proven that they have what it takes to continue the Mansfield Lady Tigers softball name of excellence into the future.

Arrest Reports 5/12

Police Reports

Tammy Teague

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5:18 pm

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Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office:
Darren Craig Bailey of Midland was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 16 at 10:56 a.m. and remains at the SCADC with cash bond. Bailey was charged with two counts of Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Everette Todd Degen of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 13 at 9:11 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Degan was charged as an ADC commitment hold and return to testify.

Krystin Brooke Earnhart of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 13 at 9:40 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with cash bond. Earnhart was charged with failure to appear – class C felony.

Zackery Quell Jennings of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 13 at 5:38 p.m. and released on May 17 at 1:35 p.m. Jennings was charged with Theft of Property <$1k, Criminal Trespass, and Burglary – Residential Felony.

Donald Allen Lackey of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 14 at 6:50 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with legally sufficient bond. Lackey was charged with two counts of released from ADC has previous charges they have not bonded on.

Douglas Arthur Middleton of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 17 at 11:38 p.m. and released to an outside agency on May 18 at 10:02 a.m. Middleton was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Misd.

Jerome Andrew Schluterman of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 15 at 9:30 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with bond. Schluterman was charged with aggravated assault on a family or household member, endangering the welfare of a minor second degree, two counts of terroristic threatening in the second degree, failure to appear – class B misdemeanor, and contempt – willful disobedience (failure to pay fine).

Julieanna Genevieve Stubblefield of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 17 at 9:18 p.m. and released on signature bond May 17 at 10:10 pm. Stubblefield was charged with Harassing Communications – Catch All.

Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
Adrian Vincent Cross of Spiro, OK was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 12 at 8:17 p.m. and released on signature bond May 12 at 9:07 p.m. Cross was charged with criminal trespass.

Carl Lang of Barling was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 18 at 8:15 a.m. and released on signature bond May 18 at 12:32 p.m. Lang was charged with Public Intoxication – Danger to self or others.

Chloe Paige Rugomwa of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 18 at 8:35 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond May 18 at 12:25 p.m. Rugomwa was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 2nd offense.

Arresting agency – Arkansas Parole:
Taylor Cruise Harmon of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 14 at 1:28 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Harmon was charged with parole violation and absconding.

Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Jason Lee Hill of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 13 at 1:04 p.m. and remains at the SCADC on jail time. Hill was charged with Contempt-Failure to Comply w/ Court A Misd.

Lucinda Marie Pettus of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 18 at 3:22 p.m. and released on signature bond May 18 at 3:55 p.m. Pettus was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Annette Lee Spencer of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 14 at 7:57 a.m. and transferred to an outside agency on May 14 at 10:16 a.m. Spencer was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Felony, and Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Trista Lee Ann Watts-Newman of Central City was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 13 at 12:36 p.m. and released on signature bond May 13 at 8:10 p.m. Newman was charged with Public Intoxication – Danger to self or others, and Obstructing Governmental Operations-ID.

Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H:
John Tomas Molina of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 17 at 3:11 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond May 17 at 7:49 p.m. Molina was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 2nd offense.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office:
Annett Spencer, 46 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 14 at 12:43 p.m. Spencer was charged with contempt of court.

Robert Williams, 36 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 16 at 3:25 p.m. Williams was charged with possession of controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest.

Robert Williams, 36 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 16 at 3:25 p.m. Williams was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting arrest.

Tommy Robinson, 42 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 16 at 4:43 p.m. Robinson was sentenced to ADC.

Saccoia Emery, 29 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 18 at 8:48 p.m. Emery was charged with theft of property and breaking or entering.

Arresting agency – Franklin County Sheriff’s Office:
Matthew Larsen, 44 of Charleston, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 18 at 6:20 p.m. Larsen was charged with driving while intoxicated – DWI 1st, careless and prohibited driving, open container containing alcohol in moto vehicle, and drinking on highway or public.

Courtney Carroll, 29 of Clarksville, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 18 at 7:03 a.m. Carroll was charged with driving while license suspended, and owner failure to register vehicle – expired tags.

Shane Michael Skyles, 38 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 17 at 8:10 p.m. Skyles was charged with public intoxication, terroristic threatening 1st degree, fleeing on foot, resisting arrest, and two counts of failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Kyle Aaron Cagle, 33 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 17 at 7:07 p.m. Cagle was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia meth/cocaine, open container containing alcohol in motor vehicle.

Josha Adam Edgmon, 33 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 17 at 5:01 p.m. Edgmon was charged with criminal mischief – 1st degree / property of another with value of $1,000 or less, domestic battering – 3rd degree / purpose of causing injury, causes serious interference with emergency communications first degree.

Angela Renee Garner, 44 of Dardanelle, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 17 at 2:35 p.m. Garner was charged with failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Brian Lee Novak, 57 of Springdale, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 17 at 1:06 p.m. Novak was charged with contempt – failure to comply, and failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Farron Henwood, 32 of Newport, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 16 at 7:21 p.m. Henwood was sentenced to the Arkansas Department of Corrections.

Lakelyn Nicole Warren, 34 of Huntsville, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 15 at 7:37 p.m. Warren was charged with hold for other agencies.

David Sarten Arre, 25, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 15 at 3:04 p.m. Arre was charged with hold for another agency.

Buc Emery Arre, 35 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 14 at 4:24 p.m. Arre was charged with domestic battering – 3rd degree / purpose of causing injury, causes serious injury, and endangering the welfare of a minor – 3rd degree – recklessly.

David Sorrells, 38 of Benton, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 14 at 1:56 p.m. Sorrells was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of SCH I or II GT 10 GM but LT 200 GM, possession of SCH VI LT 4 oz., and possession of SCH I or II GT2 GM but less than 28 GM with purpose to deliver.

Javier M Barnes, 26 of Jackson, MS, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 13 at 9:43 p.m. Barnes was charged with possession of SCH I or II LT 2 GM, and possession of controlled substance SCHED VI < 4 oz.

Christopher Avery Denton, 33 of Russellville, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on May 13 at 2:23 p.m. Denton was charged with two counts of failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

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

Alligators a steady presence in Arkansas

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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6:51 pm

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Alligators a steady presence in Arkansas

By Ryan McGeeney
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Arkansas is known as the “natural state” for a reason, and the abundant wildlife is a major contributor to the reputation. Lions and tigers, not so much. Bears — sure, here and there. But for residents across the state’s southern tier of counties, alligators make more than the occasional appearance.

In Miller County, for example, spotting the occasional reptile is just part of life. Jen Caraway, Miller County extension staff chair for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said they’re not uncommon in areas where waterways are essential to agricultural operations.

“There’s not much you can do if you encounter one, other than stay clear and call it in,” Caraway said.

Decades ago, American alligators (Alligator mississippiensis) in the United States were hunted nearly to extinction. In 1973, they were identified in the Endangered Species Act, but were ultimately removed from the list in 1987 once their population numbers rebounded.

Becky McPeake, extension wildlife biologist for the Division of Agriculture, said alligators have managed to thrive throughout much of the south in the intervening years.

“We’ve had great success reintroducing them to Arkansas,” McPeake said. The state lies at the northern edge of the animal’s natural range, she said, with most of the northern half of Arkansas being simply too cool an environment for alligators to survive.

Sometimes, McPeake said, alligators are just part of the neighborhood, including one known specimen that nests near a site of frequent field research.

“Whenever we go out there to do any kind of research or environmental survey, the first thing we do is locate it,” she said. “Once we know where it is, we can avoid it.

“Honestly, they prefer to avoid people,” McPeake said. “It’s when they become used to being around people that they become dangerous. Some people want to feed them for some strange reason. Please don’t. It can have terrible consequences for both people and pets.”

McPeake said that if a person spots an alligator, they should stay at least 60 feet away from it, whether it’s on land or in a body of water. She said that one way to help livestock avoid crossing paths with alligators is to make sure they have their own secure sources of drinking water.

“We recommend that producers maintain water tanks for their livestock, rather than letting the livestock drink from ponds,” she said.

In November 2023, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, introduced a new nuisance wildlife hotline. The number, 833-345-0315, is intended to respond to reports of wildlife that may pose a threat to people, livestock or property. The number is monitored 24 hours a day.

The commission has published annual Alligator Management Reports since 2007 and has records of alligator nuisance reports dating back to 2000. In that year, the commission reported 11 nuisance reports across the state’s five alligator management zones. The number has varied year to year, peaking in 2009 with 108 complaints across all three zones. In 2023, the commission reported 57 alligator nuisance complaints.

Among the five alligator management zones, alligator sport hunting is only allowed in the three southern-most zones (Zone 4 includes about a dozen counties in the northeastern corner of the state; Zone 5 includes most of the counties covering the northwestern third of the state).

Alligator hunting on public lands is limited to Alligator Management Zone 1, the southwest corner of the state, and Zone 3, the southeast corner of the state. These permits are drawn, so some luck is involved. Alligator hunting on private land is allowed in any of the three zones, including Alligator Management Zone 2, which encompasses more than 16 counties in central and south-central Arkansas. Private Land Alligator Permits can be purchased outright.

The hunting dates for either permit include two four-day periods in mid-September. In 2023, Arkansas hunters set a record for alligator harvest, bagging 202 alligators on public and private lands.

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

GRIN Scholarship Uniting Families

Madison VanRavensway

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11:41 am

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Kason Dedmon was an extraordinary little boy. At three years old his parents received his GRIN1 diagnosis. GRIN1 is a rare disorder that presents with varying degrees of developmental delays.

Upon receiving the diagnosis, Kason’s parents began joining Facebook groups to find families experiencing the same thing as them. At the time, Kason was the only child with this specific diagnosis in Arkansas. The closest family was four hours away from them.

On August 22, 2022, Kason passed from this life into his eternal home with Jesus. Kimberlee Dedmon, Kason’s mom, said “when we lost Kason, we received an outpouring of love from our GRIN1 family”. Just nine days later, another member of the GRIN1 family passed away, Aspyn Randall.

At the time of Kason and Aspyn’s passing, neither family had met another family, in person, whose life had been impacted by the diagnoses their children had received.

In memory of Kason, his parents Kimberlee and Keith Allen, started a scholarship for the class of 2023. The scholarship, which was open to Waldron and Mansfield seniors going into the medical field, was awarded to two seniors. This year they announced the second annual Kason’s Big GRIN memorial scholarship.

Kimberlee said she got a message from Aspyn’s mom requesting an application and knew they would be making the trip to present a scholarship to someone outside the area. This trip allowed both families to come together. Families who had a mutual understanding of what their children had gone through.

Aspyn’s oldest sister, Maddie Milton, from Tonkawa, Oklahoma was one of the recipients of the 2024 Kason’s Big GRIN memorial scholarship.

Two additional scholarships were awarded to Reagan Adams and Emily Powell both of Waldron.

Black and Reeder Scholarship Recipient to Study Biomedical Engineering

Featured

Tammy Teague

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7:30 pm

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Black and Reeder Scholarship Recipient to Study Biomedical Engineering

University of Arkansas alumni Sherman Black and Lynnette Reeder Black have announced this year’s recipient of the Black and Reeder Scholarship, which is awarded to a Greenwood High School student seeking a degree in engineering or business at the U of A.

Jackson Hudnall will graduate from Greenwood High School on May 24 and will pursue biomedical engineering in the College of Engineering.

Hudnall plans to use his biomedical degree as a springboard to medical school, with aspirations to become a radiologist. With many members of his family working in medical fields, he considers going into medicine to be a family legacy.

He said he chose biomedical engineering for his undergraduate studies because it lends itself to many career paths. He was convinced after attending Razorback 101 on the U of A campus in July 2023.

As a student at Greenwood High School, Hudnall was involved in National Beta Club, Partners Club, National Honors Society and HOSA-Future Health Professionals. He also helped in the office as an aide.

The Blacks created the scholarship as a way to give back to the community and honor their parents, Galen and Wilma Black and Van and Carolyn Reeder, longtime residents of Greenwood. Recipients’ $4,000 annual awards are renewable if they meet scholarship requirements.

Black and Reeder Scholarship recipient Noah Doss graduated in December 2023 with a bachelor’s degree from the Sam M. Walton College of Business.

Black and Reeder Scholarship recipients whose awards will continue next fall are Trey Smith, a senior in biomedical engineering; Gavin Holland, a junior in electrical engineering; and Maggie Leonard, a sophomore in business.

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

Featured

Tammy Teague

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7:19 pm

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“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

By Sheri Hopkins, Lifestyle Contributor

Hello everyone! I sort of feel like we live in Washington State with all the rain we have had. Larry did my yard before the rain started. I hope all you moms had a wonderful Mother’s Day. I had a day with my kids and grandkids. We had a whirlwind weekend celebrating Mother’s Day, graduation of my middle grandson, Evan and 21st birthday of my oldest grandson Ethan. We were on the go all weekend.

One of the gifts I received for Mother’s Day was a new scale. I asked for it, so Shannon, my daughter, got them for me. I started thinking about when COVID hit, and we were stuck at home, and we all gained 15 or more pounds. During this time, I had to go to the doctor and had to wear them dumb masks. The nurse calls my name and I go back, and she tells me to “step on the scales”. I sure didn’t want to and when she got the reading, I told her “boy those masks really weigh a lot.” She just turned and looked at me. I don’t think she thought that was as funny as I did. The only good thing about them masks was you could put M&M candies or some kind of small candy in them and snack during the day and nobody would know. I did see where someone was selling their scales on Facebook marketplace. Honey, that’s the way to go. Just get rid of them lying scales. None of them are accurate. The reason I wanted a new set of scales I got on mine and they said I weighed 102 pounds and I just kept trying and it said I weighed 102. It sure made me feel good for a little while even though I knew one leg weighed 102 pounds. I used to be a member of the Hartford Think Thin Diet Club. I called it the “Fat Farm”. I went over there for years and was asked by someone if it worked and I pointed at myself and said, “it works!” I was not a good example or spokesperson for the club. We were more of a social club than a diet club, but we sure had fun. All that being said, I found this wonderful recipe for Orange Creamsicle Cookies. My good friend and neighbor brough me a whole case of white chocolate chips, so I have been trying to find recipes for them. Have a wonderful week and try to stay dry!

ORANGE CREAMSICLE COOKIES
15.25 oz. white cake mix (1 box)
3 oz. box of orange Jello
2 tablespoons of orange zest
8 tablespoons salted butter (softened)
2 large eggs (room temperature)
11 oz. of white chocolate chips
Preheat oven 350 degrees, line your cookie sheets with parchment paper. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the white cake mix, orange Jello and orange zest until fully combined. Add the butter and eggs to the bowl. Use a hand mixer or stand mixer to beat the ingredients together just until combined, about two minutes. Fold in the white chocolate chips into the cookie dough. Do tablespoons of dough and roll into balls. I would chill the dough, because it is sticky and will be easier to work with if it’s cold. Put on a cookie sheet, two inches apart and bake for 10-13 minutes or until the edges are set. Remove from the oven and let cool for about 10 minutes. Enjoy them.

‘Cicadapolcalypse Now’ as emergence begins in Arkansas

Featured

Tammy Teague

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1:55 pm

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‘Cicadapolcalypse Now’ as emergence begins in Arkansas

By Mary Hightower
U of A System Division of Agriculture

Maybe you haven’t seen them, with their dark green hard-shell bodies and large red eyes, but you may be hearing the trademark buzzsaw sound of the cicada.

The insects have made headlines for months because of the emergence of two broods — an occurrence two centuries in the making — is expected to bring astronomical numbers of these insects above ground. The group of cicadas known as Brood XIX emerge every 13 years. This is also the year for Brood XIII, to emerge after 17 years underground.

“Over the next few months, people in the South will witness the emergence of the largest brood of periodical cicadas in the country, spanning parts of 16 states,” said Jon Zawislak, extension urban entomologist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

“The insect army poised to invade are still nymphs, in the very last stage of their development,” he said “After feeding on fluids from tree roots for 13 years, slowly growing and molting underground, they will make their debut by crawling up and out of the soil when it warms to about 64 degrees Fahrenheit and is softened by rains.”

The two broods are only likely to overlap geographically in southern Illinois. The last time this occurred was 221 years ago, coinciding with the Louisiana Purchase in 1803.

Some of the insects are making their presence known. According to iNaturalist.org, app users have reported cicadas north of the Ozarks, in the Ouachita Mountains, around and east of Jonesboro and scattered in southern Arkansas around Crossett, Warren and Camden.

The adult cicadas pose no threat to people, pets or livestock. They don’t sting and don’t bite.

“Mature adults don’t feed and don’t even have functional mouthparts with which to bite,” Zawislak said. “Having spent the last 13 years doing little more than eat, they emerge with the single-minded goal of making more cicadas.”

The buzzing is the male’s way of attracting a female. After mating, the female cicada saws a shallow crevice into a tree branch, where she deposits up to 20 eggs. She will repeat this process, producing up to 600 eggs over three to four weeks.

After about six weeks, the eggs hatch and the nymphs drop to the ground and land unhurt because of their small size.

“They quickly burrow into the soil and will tap into plant and tree roots to feed on the xylem almost right away,” Zawislak said. “They will continue to feed like this, sometimes moving to new food sources as they slowly mature. These nymphs will grow and molt four times over the next 13 years, when it’s time for the next generation to emerge.”

See Zawislak’s piece online. Learn more about insects in general by signing up for the pest management newsletter.

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

Sebastian County’s Cooper Named Farm Family of the Year

Lifestyle

Tammy Teague

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10:41 am

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Sebastian County’s Cooper Named Farm Family of the Year

The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has announced its 2024 County Farm Families of the Year.

Since 1947, the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program has helped to recognize outstanding farm families throughout the state. The objectives of the Farm Family of the Year program are:

To give recognition and encouragement to farm families who are doing an outstanding job on their farm and in their community;
To recognize the importance of agriculture in the community and state; and
To disseminate information on improved farm practices and management.

Selection criteria for the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year includes efficiency of production, conservation of energy and resources, leadership in agricultural and community affairs, home and farm improvement, and home and farm management.

The county Farm Families of the Year are:

Arkansas, North – Dean Price
Arkansas, South – Jim & Heidi Craig
Baxter – Ellie Lassiter
Benton – Michael & Phillip Fletcher
Boone – Billy Jack Burns
Bradley – Nathan & Jodi Harrod
Calhoun – Jeremy Martin
Carroll – Tom Butler
Clark – Tim & Michelle Daniels
Clay – Jeremy Wiedeman
Cleburne – Eddie Whitehurst
Cleveland – Jason & Ashley Boyd
Conway – Strap & Leigh Ann Brents
Craighead – Henry Dean & Jeff Finch
Crawford – Jamie Marion
Crittenden – Neal Williams
Cross – Chris Wood
Desha – Bradley Day
Drew – Jason Cater Family
Faulkner – Raymond & Karen Kelly
Fulton – Cline & Ashley Hall Family
Grant – Gator & Amber Denis
Greene – Jeff & Linwood Wells
Hempstead – Curtis & Melissa Bobo
Hot Spring – Robert & Vikki Tankersley
Howard – Billy Barton
Independence – Danny & Cheryl Franks
Izard – David Blakenship Family
Johnson – Dylan & Allyson Jackson
Lafayette – Stephen & Cindy Burton
Lawrence – Adam & Chasity Wall
Little River – Mark & Patty Welch
Lonoke – Jordan & Mary Ellen Lynch
Madison – Kenny & Rebecca Emitt Family
Mississippi – Murry Henderson Family
Monroe – Kortney & Megan Gray
Nevada – Damon Williams
Perry – Adam & Jill Blair
Phillips – Neil & Blake Culp
Polk – Tracy & Mary Standerfer
Pope – Tony & Jennifer Haley
St. Francis – Galen Geisler
Sebastian – Joel Brent Cooper
Sevier – Justin Craig
Sharp – Dennis Walling
Stone – Thane & Ashley Huyard
Van Buren – Stacy & Lisa Kirk
Washington – Larry & Be-Ann Walker
White – Dana Martin Stewart Family
Woodruff – Mike & Sheila Milton
Yell – Len & Melinda Cullins

The families will be visited by a set of judges to determine eight District Farm Families of the Year, which will be announced June 17. The Arkansas Farm Family of the Year will be announced in December at the Farm Family of the Year luncheon, who then represent Arkansas at the Southeastern Expo Farmer of the Year event in Georgia. Arkansas has had three Southeast Farmer of the Year winners, Brian and Nan Kirksey of Clark County in 2008 and Wildy Family Farms of Mississippi County in 2016 and the Cobb, Lyerly and Owen Family/Partnership of Craighead County in 2023.

Sponsors of the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program are Arkansas Farm Bureau, the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas and the Farm Credit Associations of Arkansas. Additionally, support for the program is provided by the Arkansas Agriculture Department, Arkansas Department of Career Education, Arkansas Press Association, University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture and the USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Rural Development.

For more information on the Arkansas Farm Family of the Year program, please contact Matt Jackson at matt.jackson@arfb.com or 501-517-4237.

Mercy Hospital Paris Named Among Best Critical Access Hospitals in the Country

News

Tammy Teague

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9:36 pm

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Mercy Hospital Paris Named Among Best Critical Access Hospitals in the Country

Mercy Hospital Paris has been named among the top 20 critical access hospitals (CAH) in the country for 2024, a recognition that was celebrated May 14 during a lunch and ceremony for co-workers and the community.

As determined by The Chartis Center for Rural Health, the top 20 CAHs were recently announced by the National Rural Health Association (NRHA). The May 14 celebration was held to recognize Mercy Paris co-workers and included leaders from both Mercy and the Paris community.

Mercy Paris was named to the top 20 from among 1,353 critical access hospitals throughout the U.S.

“This Top 20 designation is truly something to celebrate,” said Juli Stec, Mercy’s vice president of patient services. “Our co-workers deserve this recognition; they work so hard every day to provide high-quality care in Paris, and we are pleased that Chartis has recognized their efforts. We can’t thank our co-workers enough for all they do and for all they will continue to do for patients and for the community.”

The recognition comes just months after Mercy Paris was named among the top 100 critical access hospitals, a list that also includes Mercy hospitals in Berryville, Booneville, Ozark and Waldron.

The top 20 CAHs have achieved success in overall performance based on a composite rating from eight measurements of strength which includes quality, outcomes, patient perspective and cost.

Mercy Hospital Paris is a 13-bed critical access hospital serving Logan County. Along with the 24-hour emergency room, the hospital offers many services to the community, including laboratory, radiology, respiratory therapy and physical therapy, as well as access to specialists using secure video links that enable patients to be seen virtually.

“We’re here to take care of our community,” said Ryan Gehrig, president of Mercy Arkansas Communities. “I want to thank this team. This represents your commitment to the community, the commitment to the ministry and really your commitment to each other. You have to bring your ‘A’ game every day in order for us to achieve this recognition.”

Dr. Mark Bailey, Mercy Fort Smith board chairman and a practicing physician in a rural community, noted that, “You understand that awards of this magnitude are not just handed out. They’re not easily attained. They’re only achieved through really, really hard work and dedication to the hospital, your fellow co-workers, and area residents you serve day-in and day-out.”

The recognition is based on the results of the Chartis Rural Hospital Performance index. Now in its 14^th year, the index measures and monitors performance using publicly available data across a variety of areas impacting patient care, hospital operations and finance. An awards ceremony will be held during NRHA’s Critical Access Hospital Conference in September in Kansas City, Missouri.

“I truly tie this award back to Mercy’s mission statement: As the Sisters of Mercy before us, we bring to life the healing ministry of Jesus through our compassionate care and exceptional service,” Stec said.

Waldron School Board Meets

News

Tammy Teague

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6:00 pm

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The regular monthly meeting of the Waldron School Board was held in the Central Office Building Monday, May 13, 2024,at 6:00 p.m. Board members present were Stan Cottrell, Angela Hunsucker, Clay Woodall, Konnor McKay and Mac Davis. Others present were Superintendent Daniel Fielding, Misty Owens, Darla Jeffery, Zack Taylor, Kim Solomon, Kristi Sigman, Tonya Cluck, Natalie Cadena, Toni Dozier and Cheyenne Smith.

President Woodall called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m.and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Mr. Konnor McKay began the meeting with a word of prayer.

Angela Hunsucker led the Pledge of Allegiance.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to approve the Consent Agenda items: A) Approval of the April 15^th Minutes; B) Approve Financial Reports and Expenditures; C) Approve Purchase Orders for IXL Learning. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Stan Cottrell to approve the STAR Autism Support, Inc. Curriculum and Links Curriculum. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Stan Cottrell and seconded by Mac Davis to approve the 2 in-coming School Choice Applications. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to approve the 1 out-going School Choice Application. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to accept the resignation of Walter Embrey as Bus Driver as of the end of 2023-24 SY. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Stan Cottrell and seconded by Mac Davis to accept the resignation of Genesis (Ginger) Hobbs as WES Music Teacher for the 2023-24 SY. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to accept the resignations of Sherry Moore and Brayden Gilmore who decided not to sign their contract and declined the job for the 2024/25 SY. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to accept the resignation of Randi Hickman as MS Assistant Principal for the 2023/24 SY. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Mac Davis to hire Doug Milholen as of May 14, 2024 as HS Teacher, Head Sr. High Football, Assistant Jr. High Football, Assistant 7^th Grade Football and Powerlifting Coach. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Konnor McKay to hire Jenny Diaz as ES Teacher for the 2024/25 Sy. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Stan Cottrell to hire Makhalee Mortimore as ES Teacher for the 2024/25 Sy. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Mac Davis to hire Amy Huffmaster as ES Paraprofessional for the 2024/25 Sy. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to hire Cora Ozuna as ES Paraprofessional for the 2024/25 Sy. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Konnor McKay to hire Sarah Spradlin as HS Science Teacher for the 2024/25 Sy. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Stan Cottrell and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to hire Nancy Mondragon as HS Family and Consumer Science Teacher for the 2024/25 Sy. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Mac Davis to hire Rebecca Millard as ABC Paraprofessional for 2024/25 SY. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to hire Kelsie Taylor as ABC Teacher for the 2024/25 SY, providing she meets all licensure requirements. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Mac Davis to rehire the Classified Staff (see attached lists) for the 2024/25 SY. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Stan Cottrell and seconded by Konnor McKay to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at 6:30 p.m.

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