Resident News Network

The Battle of the Brave

Networks

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12:08 pm

LITTLE ROCK- Chances are, either you, or someone close to you has battled cancer. Unfortunately, it is a harsh reality that we as a society have to face every day. But perhaps no more than those who are fighting the battle today, and every day. For them, cancer is a battle of the brave.

As a sportswriter, there is nothing better in my opinion than covering or writing a story about athletes who demonstrate great courage and never give up in seemingly impossible situations. And when they overcome those battles on the way to victory, it is a great story.

But, in my opinion, there is no better example of courage than those who are fighting cancer. Facing fear and uncertainty, these very special people get up every day and fight the battle. They endure great pain, fatigue, and fear every day, but they refuse to give up. They are true warriors, and my respect for them is endless.

If you or someone you know has or is currently fighting this battle, you know better than anyone what a scary and arduous battle it is. Cancer patients face long days of treatment, scans, waiting endlessly in doctors’ offices, and then contend with the pain and physical discomfort of chemotherapy and radiation treatment. They sit in chairs for hours, receiving chemotherapy drugs, and then go home to a myriad of oral medications that are prescribed to combat the various side effects of the chemo treatments. In some cases, they must force themselves to eat and drink, although it may be in very small amounts.

It requires patients who are being treated to fight with every fiber of their physical, mental, and emotional beings to overcome a treatment process that can seemingly be worse than the disease itself. Flat out, it can be horrible at times.

Some forms of cancer treatments have achieved big gains and advances in the administration and comfort of medications as well as their efficacy in curing cancer. Some cancers have seen very little improvement in the past fifteen or so years.

Advances in early cancer detection has been significant in some cancers, and in others, diagnosis comes too late to avoid spreading to other vital organs from its origin in the body.

And the cynical side of me wonders why we, in 2024, still do not have a cure for cancer. Afterall, and I have shared this thought with many others, we as a nation were able to land men on the moon with the technologies that existed in the 1960s, but in today’s world, we still do not have a cure. My mind leaps to the thought of too much money being involved, but I just don’t want to go there thinking we are sacrificing life for the all mighty dollar.

Who knows why, but the fact remains, we do not have a cure for cancer. That is reality.

According to the American Cancer Society, for every 100,000 people, 403 new cases of cancer were reported in 2020. That is the latest year for cancer statistics to date, and I should emphasize the operative words of “reported cases” suggesting that the number of actual cases could be higher than reported. Statistics also state that men have a 40% chance of developing cancer in their lifetimes.

So, I am sharing this story on behalf of everyone out there who is battling this terrible disease, and for those family members and friends who know others close to them that are engaged in this terrible battle. And to the caregivers out there, please know that you are valued and loved for being there to help your loved one or friend through this scary period of their life.

Cancer has struck our family this year, and I have written this story to share my thoughts for the benefit of my mother who is battling cancer, as well as anyone out there who reads this story.

My mom is strong…perhaps the strongest person I have ever known. I love her; she is the greatest mom a child could ever have been blessed to have. She is a fighter, and she is fighting the good fight. This is what I would have expected her to do; she has fought the good fight her entire life. Whether it was the loss of their home last March to the tornado that hit Little Rock, or her cancer diagnosis in January of this year, my mom is a fighter. And I love and respect her for many reasons, but perhaps first and foremost for this very reason.

Cancer clinics across our nation are full of fighters every day. It is disturbing to see the large numbers of people in clinics across America who every day take treatments to fight this terrible disease.

God bless all of them. They are inspirational in their fight and positive attitudes. Each of them are examples of how we should value each day of our lives.

Greenwood Man Arrested, Charged with Domestic Battering with Deadly Weapon

Resident News Network

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11:59 am

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Greenwood Man Arrested, Charged with Domestic Battering with Deadly Weapon

The Sebastian County Sheriff’s office was dispatched to the scene of a domestic disturbance call on Thursday night, March 14. Upon arrival, they found a woman barricaded in the bathroom and an armed man attempting to break down the door.

The SCSO was dispatched to the scene around 10 p.m. at 21409 Highway 71 South. According to the incident report, the call was in regard to a domestic disturbance between a husband and wife, called in by the daughter. When deputies arrived, they found the daughter outside the residence in the driveway screaming “he’s hurting her!”

The daughter stated that her mother was inside with her step-father, Randy Phelps, 63, and he stated if anyone attempted to come inside, he would kill her and himself.

SCSO Deputies Christopher Belt and Allan Chitwood were on scene with Greenwood Police Officer John Michael O’Mara. Law enforcement officers were able to breach a locked back door. Once inside, they heard a screaming coming from a bathroom. Deputy Belt noted holes in the bathroom door, debris, and parts of the door frame lying on the floor. Officers heard a woman screaming repeatedly, “he’s trying to kill me, please help!”

Officers identified themselves and commanded Randy Phelps to come out with his hands up. However, he did not comply. Officers were able to open the door to the bathroom and observed Randy Phelps sitting against the tub with his hands propped up on the side of the tub, stating “shoot me in the head.” Deputy Chitwood was able to pull Randy Phelps to his feet and outside the bathroom, and eventually take him into custody.

Phelps’ wife had possession of a shotgun, which was secured. She told officers her husband was going to kill her if they had not arrived, and that while barricaded in the bathroom, he had stabbed her through the door with a large metal rod in the back multiple times.

While searching the scene, officers located a large knife hidden under some towels inside a decorative wheelbarrow and a 1×6 wooden stick inside the bathtub. Additionally, a shotgun loaded and chambered with shells.

Randy Phelps was interviewed and stated that he and his wife had gotten into an argument but did not know anything after that. According to the incident report, Phelps stated he loved his wife and would never lay a hand on her.

Phelps was transported to the Sebastian County Adult Detention Center and was charged with domestic battery 1st Degree – deadly weapon, aggravated assault on a family/ household member, two counts of battery 2nd degree on a law enforcement officer and criminal mischief.

Phelps’ wife was transported by ambulance to Baptist Hospital. Deputy Chitwood was treated on scene after sustaining several cuts to his left arm due to the broken glass upon forced entry. He was treated on scene.

Slow and Steady: a Smart Way to Invest

Business

Tammy Teague

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9:07 pm

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You’ve probably heard stories about fortunate investors who “get in the ground floor” of a new, hot company and quickly make a fortune. But while these things may happen, they are exceedingly rare and often depend on hard-to-duplicate circumstances — and they really don’t represent a viable way of investing for one’s goals. A far more tried-and-true approach is the “slow-and-steady” method.

To follow this strategy, consider these suggestions:

• Start small — and add more when you can. When you’re first starting out in the working world, you may not have a lot of extra money with which to invest, especially if you’re carrying student loan debt. But one of the key advantages of the slow-and-steady method is that it does not require large investment sums to get going. If you can afford to put away even $50 or $100 a month into individual stocks or mutual funds, month after month, you may be surprised and pleased at how your account can grow. And when your salary goes up, you can put away more money each month.

• Take advantage of an employer’s retirement plan. If your employer offers a 401(k) or similar tax-advantaged retirement plan, try to take full advantage of it. Again, if you’re just beginning your career, you may not be able to put away much in this type of plan, but even a small amount is better than nothing. And as soon as you can possibly afford it, try to put in enough to earn your employer’s matching contribution, if one is offered. These types of plans can offer some key benefits — and perhaps the biggest one is that investing is automatic, in that the money is moved directly from your paycheck into the investments you’ve chosen within your 401(k) or other plan.

• Be prepared for downturns. The financial markets will always experience ups and downs. So, you need to be prepared for those times when your investment statements may show negative results. By understanding that these downturns are a normal part of the investment environment, you can avoid overreactions, such as selling quality investments with good fundamentals just because their price has temporarily dropped.

• Chart your progress regularly. A key element of a slow-and-steady investment approach is knowing how well it’s working. But it’s important to measure your progress in a way that makes sense for you. So, for example, instead of measuring your portfolio’s performance against that of an external stock market index, such as the S&P 500, you may want to assess where you are today versus one year ago, or whether the overall progress you’re making is sufficient to help you meet the financial goals you’ve set for yourself well into the future. Another reason not to use a market index as a measuring tool is that the index only looks at a certain pool of investments, which, in the case of the S&P 500, is simply the largest companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges. But long-term investors try to own a range of assets — U.S. and foreign stocks, bonds, government securities, certificates of deposit, and so on.

“Slow and steady” may not sound like an exciting approach to investing. But it’s often the case that a little less excitement, and a lot more diligence, can prove to be quite effective.

This article is provided by Jeffrey O’Neal, Financial Advisor

Edward Jones

20 N Express St, Paris, AR 72855

479-963-1321

jeffrey.o’[email protected]

edwardjones.com/jeffrey-o’neal

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

SR Tigers Overachieved Well Beyond Critics’ Expectations In 2023-24

Networks

Adam Hecox

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7:25 pm

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SR Tigers Overachieved Well Beyond Critics’ Expectations In 2023-24

When the 2A West Regional Championship game came to a close on February 24th in Greenland, the Mansfield Tigers looked at a scoreboard that showed a 50-46 loss to Lavaca. The Tigers then did the customary post-game handshake with the Golden Arrows and headed for the locker room. As the Regional Championship and Runner-Up trophies were being prepared to be handed out, there were no Tiger players to be seen. As Head Coach, Joshua Brown, retrieved his players, he could be heard saying “They didn’t know. None of them have ever gotten this far. They’ve never been here before”. Not only had no one on the Mansfield Tigers roster ever played in a Regional Championship, but they weren’t even supposed to be there to start with according to many critics early on in the season.

Mansfield started off their season a little short-staffed. With four of their eventual five starters still on the gridiron in late November instead of on the court, many would’ve thought Mansfield would be mowed over in their first game against their first opponent, Charleston. What happened instead was a show of determination and grit from a young group looking to make a name for themselves. The Tigers did narrowly defeat Charleston, 43-42, but fell in their next two games against 3A opponents Paris and Booneville. Even when the team welcomed back their football teammates, the Tigers only went 1-3 in their schedule against larger programs. Mansfield’s final loss of that stretch though is what began the separation between a perceived losing season and an upstart dangerous team. The Tigers took a trip to Elkins’ brand new crown jewel stadium to face off against one of the 3A’s best teams. Although the Tigers lost 44-41 in the final seconds, the loss kickstarted the team into gear going into conference play. “We had a lot of guys come straight from playing in a semifinal football game that Friday night,” said Coach Brown. “Then less than 24 hours later, they were playing a basketball game against one of the Top 10 teams in the 3A. Everyone had a competitor’s spirit that night and they nearly pulled off the upset”.

Being so close to conference play with a dismal 2-5 record isn’t a position any team or coaching staff likes to see, but that was the factual mirror that Mansfield had to face at the time. It’s not often that a team with a losing record begins to knock down teams that they are severe underdogs against, but that’s exactly what the Tigers began to do. The Tigers had a 49-47 heart-stopping win over Poteau, a three-point win over Western Yell, and then back-to-back wins over 2A powerhouses Hector, Lavaca, and Acorn. As the rest of the 2A-4 Conference was warming up, Mansfield was on fire. It didn’t matter if it was a blowout win or an edge-of-the-seat thriller, Mansfield was still putting together the wins. The Tigers did have a thorn in their side the size of a dragon though as Mountainburg swept the Tigers in conference play and Lavaca was able to hand Mansfield another conference loss before the regular season ended. All in all, the Tigers went from a 2-5 record early on to enter the 2A-4 District Tournament as a 3Seed with an impressive 15-8 overall record.

The 2A-4 District Tournament was hosted in one of the hardest places to play for any team in the conference. Lavaca. Being a 3Seed in hostile territory put the Tigers as the underdogs again and after an edge-of-the-seat 45-44 win against JC Westside in their opening game, many thought that that was the last win for the Tigers as they advanced to play none other than Mountainburg. This time though, Mansfield was able to put out the Dragons’ fiery offense to beat Mountainburg for the first time in the season. Mansfield moved on to the District Championship where they upset the 1Seeded Golden Arrows, 50-46, on their home court to win the 2A-4 District Championship. The Tigers run continued into the 2A Regional Tournament as Mansfield rolled past Haas Hall and Hector to earn a spot into the Tournament Championship where they played none other than the Lavaca Golden Arrows. Lavaca got payback by beating Mansfield 51-40 leaving the Tigers as the 2A West Regional Runner-ups and a 2Seed going into the 2A State Tournament. The Tigers dropped their first game of the 2A State Tournament to Junction City, 53-42, thus ending a wild season of Mansfield Tiger basketball.

None of the Tigers on the team had ever won a District Championship, made Runner-Up in a Regional Tournament, nor been in a State Tournament game. No one expected them to do any of that either. “I was very proud of our guys and the way they approached this season,” said Coach Brown. “They gave themselves a chance every night. They were a lot of fun to coach and our practices were very competitive”. A lot of the reason that there was very little faith in the Tigers by the critics was the fact that Mansfield boasted two seniors on the roster. Seniors Peyton Martin and Zach Hayslip led the very young team through the rough spots and showed their younger counterparts that it’s never over until it’s over. Both seniors earned All-Conference postseason accolades with Martin having 6.2 points per game and 3.6 rebounds while Hayslip ended his season with 5.9 points per game and a 6.6 rebound average.

The hot hand on the court in most of the Tigers games this season was junior, Daniel Burton. Burton led the team in points per game with 15 and earned 2A-4 All-Conference, 2A All-Tournament Team, and 2A All-State postseason awards. Burton’s brothers, Samual and Andrew Burton, combined for 19.4 points and 12.9 rebounds per game which gave both players 2A-4 All-Conference awards. Junior, Winston Allison, also earned 2A-4 All-Conference status with his clutch shooting skills coupled with 6.8 points per game. Again, this was a young team. Players like Joseph Carter, Cooper Edwards, Jonah Martin, Cameron Pettus, and a slew of other talented Tigers were vital in the season and will likely be even more impressive when the 2025 season starts. Lastly, every great army has a great leader. Head Coach, Joshua Brown, was impeccable this season and his peers acknowledged that by naming Brown as the 2A-4 Conference Coach of the Year.

But Coach Brown won’t toot his own horn. Instead, he gave the credit to, well, everyone except himself. “The support of our community was vital to our success and we are very thankful for those that came to the games and those that watched online. Our seniors will be missed tremendously but we look forward to seeing our younger guys grow and continue to get better. This group won’t just be remembered for their District Championship or the first Regional Championship game experience but for how hard they played night in and night out and just being great young men. I’m so thankful that I get to/got to coach them each day”.

Stand Tall and Donate with Our Blood Institute!

Lifestyle

Tammy Teague

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7:08 pm

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Stand Tall and Donate with Our Blood Institute!

Show your blood donor pride by giving blood and saving lives this spring with Our Blood Institute.

Our Blood Institute (OBI) will hold a blood drive with Hartford Community on Wednesday, March 20, from 1:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the City Hall Conference Room.

Successful donors will receive a free “Stand Tall and Donate” T-shirt, one free ticket to the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden and one free bundlet from Nothing Bundt Cakes.

“Our donors stand tall above others by dedicating their time to saving someone’s life through blood donation,” said Dr. John Armitage, president and CEO of Our Blood Institute. “Our blood supply is an essential part of our health care system. We’re extremely thankful for partners like the Oklahoma City Zoo and Botanical Garden for helping ensure we continue to have a healthy blood supply for patients in need.”

The OKC Zoo is your one-stop shop for all things wild in Oklahoma. Enjoy world-class habitats including Great EscApe, Cat Forest/Lion Overlook, Oklahoma Trails and Sanctuary Asia where you will find the amazing animals of the Asian continent.

Every two seconds, someone needs blood, and the supply must be constantly renewed. It takes approximately 1,200 donors a day to meet those needs.

Anyone who is healthy and 16 years old* or older can give blood. Appointments to donate can be made online at obi.org or by calling 877-340-8777. Walk-ins are also welcome.

*16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year olds must weigh at least 110 pounds. Photo ID required.

Waldron School Board Accepts Resignation of Head Football Coach

News

Tammy Teague

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11:01 am

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Waldron School Board Accepts Resignation of Head Football Coach

The regular monthly meeting of the Waldron School Board was held in the Central Office Building Monday, March 11, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were Clay Woodall, Mac Davis, Stan Cottrell and Konnor McKay. Board member Angela Hunsucker was not present. Others present were Superintendent Daniel Fielding, Misty Owens, Kim Solomon, Chris Lipham, Kristi Sigman, Josh Atchley, Mike Galinato, Darla Jeffery, Zack Taylor, Toni Dozier, Cheyenne Smith andRandi Hickman.

President Woodall called the meeting to order at 6:33p.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

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

Mac Davis led the Pledge of Allegiance.

A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Mac Davis to approve the Consent Agenda items: A) Approval of the February 12^t^h Minutes; B) Approve Financial Reports and Expenditures; C) Approve HSR Student Insurance Quote; D) Approve Purchase Orders to DCS (eRate); E) Approve Purchase Order to Hackett Public School; F) Approve Purchase Order to ITSAVVY; G) Approve Purchase Order to Lexia Learning Systems, LLC; H) Approve Purchase Order to WinSupply. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Stan Cottrell and seconded by Konnor McKay to approve the Petition for Transfer of Students. Motion carried 4-0.

Each of the principals reported on the happenings at their buildings. Mrs. Dozier stated that Read Across America Weekwas a success at Pre-K. Mrs. Dozier and Mrs. Jeffery wanted to thank West Fraser for donating wood chips for the playgrounds at Pre-K and Elementary Schools. Mrs. Jeffery also stated that Literacy Week was a success and they had many activities for the students, she expressed her gratitude for all those that donated their time to come and read to the students. All buildings have been taking the Atlas test the past week and the principals expressed that went well. Mr. Taylor stated that the 8^thgraders completed their CAP Conferences last week. The Jr. High and Sr. High choirs performed at Solo and Ensemble with several students receiving Superior and Excellent ratings. He said that the Elementary Archery team competed and improved their score immensely from their first meet. Mrs. Solomonannounced important dates for the upcoming months. Reverse Job Fair will be April 16^th. Seniors last day will be May 3^rd. The Athletic Banquet will be held May 13^th, Baccalaureate will be May 15^th and Graduation on May 17^th. Prom will be on April 27^th. The High School will be having a Dog Day this Friday. She also informed the board members that Juniors and Seniors have been making college visits. Mr. Lipham stated that baseball and track are starting in full force. Cheer tryouts will be this week as well. Mr. Lipham will be interviewing coaching staff this week as well.

Superintendent Fielding informed the school board members that Emergency crews will be set up at the ALA building in order to prepare for the eclipse on April 8^th. He also let the board know that the Legislative Audit reports have been mailed and they will be getting theirs as well.

Adjourned to executive session. Time dismissed: 6:51 Time returned: 7:23

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Konnor McKay to accept the resignations of: Rena’ Owens as WES Special Ed Paraprofessional as of the end of 2023/24 SY; Ramona Gail Sims as WES 2^nd Grade Teacher as of the end of the 2023/24 SY; Savanna Johnson as WES Kindergarten Teacher as of the end of the 2023/24 SY; Dana Yandell retiring from WES Teacher as of the end of the 2023/24 SY; Desiree Bryan as WMS Special Education Teacher as of the end of the 2023/24 SY and Josh Bryan as WHS Math Teacher and Girls Basketball Coach as of the end of the 2023/24 SY. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Mac Davis to accept the resignations of Alejandra Ozuna as Elementary Paraprofessional as of March 10, 2024. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Konnor McKay to accept the resignation of Cain White as High School Teacher and Head Football Coach as of March 11, 2024. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Mac Davis to hire Phylisa Millard for Food Service as of March1, 2024. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Konnor McKay to hire Katie Pennington as High School Math Teacher for the 2024/25 SY, providing she meets all requirements for licensure. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Konnor McKay to hire Sherri Moore as ABC Paraprofessional for the 2024/25 SY. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Mac Davis to adjourn. Motion carried 4-0.

Meeting adjourned at 7:26 p.m.

Fire Chief Makes Updating Sirens a Priority

Tammy Teague

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6:50 pm

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Fire Chief Makes Updating Sirens a Priority

On Wednesday, March 6, contractors with Little Rock’s Safetycom erected two new tornado sirens within the City of Mansfield.

Since coming back to the department as Chief, Michael Smith has made it a priority to acquire a more modern siren system. Over the course of the past 12-14 months, Smith has been able to make that happen.

The sirens, which are located at the public works building and off Slate Road near the high school, totaled $60,067.47. That included the two new Whalen Omni-Alert 1200 high powered sirens, solar panel charging and installation, and a FCC license to be able to set the sirens off remotely.

Safetycom contractor works to install a new siren at the public works building.

When the old siren at the public works building stopped functioning, the plans for a replacement became a priority. With over 5 decades in service, the old siren had served the city well. “We realized we also needed something near the high school, because when the siren would sound you couldn’t hear it out there. With all the housing and of course with the school, it was really needed.”

The new sirens include up to date and convenient safety features including remote access, higher decibels, multi-tone and voice message capability.

Currently, the system is operational manually. Smith noted that once the solar panels are installed, it will be fully functional, enabling remote / unwired deployment of the sirens.

Smith concluded that he would like to eventually see a third siren installed on the west side of the city.

Lady Tigers Finish Historic Season As 2A State Runner-Ups

Adam Hecox

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11:37 am

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Lady Tigers Finish Historic Season As 2A State Runner-Ups

Famous comedian and podcast host, Joe Rogan, once said “Someone else’s success doesn’t equal a failure for you”. On Saturday, March 9th the Mansfield Lady Tigers entered the 2024 Arkansas 2A Championship as an underdog against the heavily favored defending champion Mount Vernon-Enola Lady War Hawks. Once the scoreboard read 0:00, the Lady Tigers stared down a final score of 50-44 in Mount Vernon-Enola’s favor. The loss stood as Mansfield’s sole defeat in their 2023-24 season and left the Lady Tigers holding the 2A State Runner-Up trophy. Although there is no doubt that Mansfield lost, those who watched the Lady Tigers battle with the Lady War Hawks from all over the state on public television, on the internet, and in person will tell you that no matter who won or lost, neither team would have anything to hang their heads about this season.

The Lady Tigers with their Bill Frye Invitational Championship

The battle for the Arkansas 2A State Championship was possibly the game of the year in all classifications. The Lady Tigers jumped to an early 5-0 lead on Mount Vernon-Enola, but the Lady War Hawks pulled in tight to a 12-12 tie at the end of the first quarter. Mansfield’s offensive attack ran into a wall in the second quarter as Mount Vernon-Enola smothered every shot opportunity that the Lady Tigers had. The Lady Tigers put up a mere seven points in the second quarter while Mount Vernon-Enola began to warm up in the paint to power their way to a 26-19 lead going into halftime. Although Mansfield was down at the half, the Lady Tigers were not going to lay down and quit. The Lady Tigers outscored Mount Vernon-Enola 13-11 in the third quarter and brought the game back to a 40-40 tie with 5:22 left in the fourth quarter. The Lady War Hawks and Lady Tigers continued to battle it out down into the final minute of the game where Mansfield came within two points of another tie, but with time quickly running out were forced to foul to stop the clock. Mount Vernon-Enola took full advantage of the fouls at the free throw line sealing the Lady Tigers’ fate and ending the 2A State Championship with Mount Vernon-Enola holding the State Title with a final score of 50-44.

The Lady Tigers with their 2A-4 Conference and District Championship plaques.

Mansfield’s State Championship hopes and perfect season came to an unfortunate end, but the Lady Tigers cannot be ashamed of their overall success in the 2023-24 season. Mansfield made it to the 2A State Championship for the first time since 1986 and an undefeated 32-0 record. The Lady Tigers and Mount Vernon-Enola were in fact the only two undefeated teams in the entire state across all classifications when they met up for the 2A State Championship. The Lady Tigers filled the Mansfield trophy case with the 2023 Bill Frye Invitational Championship, the 2A-4 Conference Championship, the 2A-4 District Championship, the 2A West Regional Championship, swept the 2A State Tournament held on their own court, the 2A State Runner-Up trophy, and a 32-1 overall record. The overall resume laid out by the 2003-24 Mansfield Lady Tigers definitely places them in the conversation of the best girls basketball team in Mansfield history.

The Lady Tigers with their 2A West Regional Championship.

The team as a whole achieved great success, but there were multiple individual achievements that made Lady Tigers history also. Seniors Kynslee Ward and Alyson Edwards eclipsed the 1,000-point mark in their careers. Who can forget senior Harlie Fuller setting the new state and school record for three-point shots made in a State Tournament when she set the nets on fire with nine threes in the Lady Tigers quarterfinals game against Marshall. The Lady Tigers had three players who averaged points in double digits in each game with Kynslee Ward averaging 15.6 points per game, Kaylee Ward averaging 14 points per game, and Alyson Edwards averaging 13.5 points per game. Edwards and Kaylee Ward also ruled in the rebound game with Edwards averaging 9.2 per game and Ward snagging 9.5 per game. Kynslee Ward broke the school records for most three-pointers in a season (89), steals in a season (164), and steals in a single game (10). Ward’s younger sister, Kaylee Ward, broke her own school record in blocked shots in a season going from 112 in 2022-23 to a whopping 156 this season. Kaylee also broke her own record of blocks in a game going from 10 blocks in a game last season to 12 this season. Trinity Triska moved up to second on the school’s all-time list in assists with 150 this year. While these individual records are astounding, Coach Bowman insists that there’s more than meets the eye with this year’s team. “We had key contributions coming off the bench in major games this season,“ said Bowman. “Our bench really stepped up in games against Acorn, Pea Ridge, and the State Semifinal game against Izzard County. The teams success took all ten players to be successful this year, especially in practice”.

The Lady Tigers with the ticket to the 2A Championship game after sweeping their side of the 2A Tournament bracket.

In post-season accolades, Mansfield boasted nearly their entire roster as some of the top-tier players in the state. Kynslee Ward was selected as 2A All-State, 2A All-State Tournament Team, 2A West All-Star, and 2A-4 All-Conference. Alyson Edwards and Kaylee Ward were awarded 2A All-State and 2A-4 All-Conference. Harlie Fuller earned All-State Tournament Team and 2A-4 All-Conference. Raine Hecox, Trinity Triska, and Shelbie Fuller all earned 2A-4 All-Conference accolades. The Lady Tigers will lose five of their ten-player roster to graduation this upcoming spring as Kynslee Ward, Alyson Edwards, Harlie Fuller, Raine Hecox, and Cole Smith will trade in their basketball shoes for diplomas. Losing such talent will be a rough shot to the chin for the program, but the remaining Lady Tigers and Coach Ethan Bowman know that this year’s success is just the beginning. Although the seniors were key in this year’s historic run, younger players such as Kaylee Ward, Trinity Triska, Shelbie Fuller, Meghan Emery, and Isabella Escalante know what it takes to get there and are likely already drawing out their map to Hot Springs again. With them, next season will be an up-and-coming freshman class that will bring an extra boost to the 2024-25 senior Lady Tigers squad. Mansfield will not play in the 2A next season as they will move up to the 3A. But if you ask any of the Lady Tigers about moving up to a higher classification, they’ll tell you that they welcome the new challenge.

Congratulations 2023-24 Seniors (left to right) #20 Cole Smith, #2 Raine Hecox, #3 Harlie Fuller, #21 Kynslee Ward, and #12 Alyson Edwards on an outstanding season and career.

Clinic Renovations Underway for School-Based Dental Clinic in Mansfield

News

Tammy Teague

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6:46 am

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Clinic Renovations Underway for School-Based Dental Clinic in Mansfield

Last week, the announcement was made by the Mansfield School District that Dr. Bryan Bishop would be a new dental provider at the school-based clinic. Renovations are currently underway at the clinic, located at 100 N. Walnut Ave. in Mansfield. Bishop, who currently practices in Greenwood, released the following statement regarding the new service:

In 2011, the Arkansas General Assembly passed Act 89 which led to Dental Hygienist Collaborative Care program. This allows dental hygienists who work under collaborative care permits with a licensed dentist to deliver preventive dental services in a public setting to underserved children and older adults. Permits must be granted by both the Arkansas Department of Health Office of Oral Health and the Arkansas State Board of Dental Examiners for both the dental hygienist and the collaborating dentist. Bishop Family Dentistry holds a Collaborative Care Permit I which allows the dental hygienist to provide preventive services to underserved patients under the age of 19.

The Office of Oral Health is required to develop and maintain a list of communities and/or rural areas prioritized as in need for dental services so that collaborative services may be directed to those areas in greatest need. Mansfield Public School District falls into the Tier 2 category, and we have been granted permission to serve in the school setting in Mansfield.

I, Dr. Bryan W. Bishop, was contacted personally by Mr. Staton, the Mansfield Public School Superintendent expressing his concern for the students of the district after the closure of the previous school-based clinic. Access to care is a growing concern in the state of Arkansas and as a provider in another school-based clinic, I realize the importance of improving access to care for students in the Mansfield area. We will be providing preventive and restorative services under the collaborative care program to students. Once I feel that the students’ needs are adequately met, I will eventually begin opening services to the general public to better serve the Mansfield area.

We are currently in the process of renovating the clinic and updating equipment to properly serve patients. New patient packets have been sent out to all students which should be completed and returned the school office in order for information to be input into our system. We look forward to serving the Mansfield area and providing preventive and restorative treatments as quickly as we are able.

Plan Ahead This St. Patrick’s Day – Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

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Tammy Teague

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7:43 pm

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Plan Ahead This St. Patrick’s Day – Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

St. Patrick’s Day is one of the United States’ most popular holidays, celebrated with festivals, parades, and parties. These celebrations frequently feature themed cocktails and green pints, and the amount of alcohol consumed on this holiday is higher than average. People are more likely to make poor decisions as a result, including driving while intoxicated. To raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving and to help keep your community’s streets safe, Arkansas law enforcement is teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Remember before and throughout the celebrations, if your plans for the holiday include alcohol: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

St. Patrick’s Day can be a dangerous day on America’s roads due to increased alcohol consumption and drunk driving. There were 272 lives lost in drunk-driving crashes over the holiday period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18) between 2017 and 2021. Though drunk-driving fatalities are more likely to occur at night, drunk driving puts lives in danger at any time of the day. During that same period, there were 31 daytime drunk-driving fatalities. The consequences of driving impaired can be deadly.

“Celebrate responsibly this St. Patrick’s Day. Before you go out, decide who will be your sober designated driver or whether you’ll use another safe transportation option,” said Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar. “Drunk driving is illegal and can have deadly consequences for the intoxicated driver and innocent people in their path.”

According to NHTSA, 13,384 individuals died in alcohol-impaired motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2021 alone, accounting for 31% of all traffic fatalities in the United States that year. This means that someone died in a drunk-driving crash every 39 minutes on our nation’s roads in 2021. During that same period, 185 individuals died in alcohol-impaired motor vehicle traffic crashes, accounting for 27% of all traffic fatalities in Arkansas.

No one should mix drinking and driving, and no one is immune to the effects of drunk driving. If you find yourself drunk and stranded with your vehicle, give your keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you home. Remind your friends to never get in the vehicle with a drunk driver. If you have a friend who is about to drive drunk, ask them not to drive and help them get home safely. You might be saving their life, or someone else’s. Most importantly: Always have a plan before you head out for the evening. If you wait until after you’ve been drinking to figure out how to get from one place to the next, you may already be too impaired to make the right choices.

Celebrate with a Plan
— Before heading out, it’s vital to plan ahead. Be honest with yourself: You know whether you’ll be drinking or not. Arkansas law enforcement recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:

— It’s never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation to get to your destination safely. Plan a safe way home before you leave.

— If you’ve been drinking, call a taxi, ride-share service or a designated driver to drive you home.

— If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 9-1-1.

— If you know someone who is about to drive or operate a motorcycle or any other vehicle while impaired, help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.

— Always buckle up. Your seat belt is your best defense against a drunk driver.

— Always remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

For more information on impaired driving, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8127, and go to https://www.tzdarkansas.org/ to learn about Arkansas’ Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities.

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