Resident News Network

Clinic Renovations Underway for School-Based Dental Clinic in Mansfield

News

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6:46 am

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

News

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.

Arrest Reports 3/3

Police Reports

Tammy Teague

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7:40 pm

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Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office:
Cavin Dale Allison of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 6 at 3:03 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with bond. Allison was charged with Theft of Property – >$1k, and Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

Malorie Alumbaugh of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 6 at 3:13 a.m. and remains at the SCADC with bond. Alumbaugh was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

Seth Austin Bly of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 8 at 8:34 a.m. and released on time served March 10 at 8:02 p.m. Austin was charged with Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely.

Ivan Cruz of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 6 at 9:19 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 7 at 2:21 a.m. Cruz was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Logan Leigh Daigle of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 8 at 5:09 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 8 at 12:10 p.m. Daigle was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Jeremy Scott Jeffress of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 4 at 11:55 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Jeffress was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor, petition to revoke misdemeanor, and Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

Terrina Faye Pool of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 9 at 10:32 p.m. and transferred to an outside agency on March 10 at 3:14 p.m. Pool was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Misd.

Robert Thompson Scott of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 8 at 8:46 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Scott was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 2nd offense.

Cierra Jean Smith of Magazine was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 5 at 11:38 a.m. and released on bond March 5 at 1:06 p.m. Smith was charged with Petition to Revoke – Felony, and Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

James Michael Spiotto of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 6 at 12:32 p.m. and released to an outside agency on March 8 at 2:27 p.m. Spiotto was charged with Fugitive from Justice Out of State.

Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Rose Marie Ayers of Magazine was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 6 at 11 a.m. and transferred to an outside agency on March 11 at 1:17 p.m. Ayers was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Ingest, Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule VI Misdemeanor <4oz, and Assist Outside Agency-Felon.

Tony Dewayne Burkholder of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 4 at 2:29 p.m. and released on signature bond March 6 at 11:29 a.m. Burkholder was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Jeremiah Luke Edwards of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 6 at 11:14 a.m. and remains at the SCADC with bond. Edwards was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Ingest, and Contempt of Court–(child support), FTAS, FTRespond Subpoena, FTComply WCO.

Nelson Ray Inman of Paris was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 9 at 10:21 a.m. and remains at the SCADC. Inman was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), Contempt of Court–(child support), FTAS, FTRespond Subpoena, FTComply WCO, Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor, and Criminal Trespass – Premises.

Hollee Joanne Putman of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 3 at 2:58 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 6 at 4:57 p.m. Putman was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 2nd offense and furnishing a Prohibited Article-Correctional Facility.

Arresting agency – Arkansas Parole:
Draper Gene Crone of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 4 at 10:04 a.m. and released on March 6 at 9:07 a.m. Crone was charged with Drug Court Sanctions.

Arresting agency – Bonanza Police Department:
Chad David Gentry of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 8 at 4:10 p.m. and released on signature bond March 8 at 9:18 p.m. Gentry was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Lewis Asia Pittman of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 6 at 11:36 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with bond. Pittman was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia C Felony, and Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule I/II Felony <2g.

Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H:
Hixon, Bryan Keith of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 9 at 2:52 p.m. and remains at the SCADC Hixon was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine, and Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
Landon Keith Wagner of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 8 at 11:27 a.m. and released on signature bond March 8 at 9:26 p.m. Wagner was charged with Criminal Trespass – Premises.

Arresting agency – Mansfield Police Department:
Hunter Franklin Walton of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 8 at 11:23 a.m. and remains at the SCADC. Walton was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Ingest, Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the Third Degree, Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely, and Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Arresting agency – Hackett Police Department:
Carly Anne Ward of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 7 at 7:01 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 7 at 8:29 p.m. Ward was charged with Theft of Property <$1k.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office:
Jackson Allen, 26 of Waldron, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 3 at 12:07 a.m. Allen was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree.

Latasha Allen, 23 of Waldron, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 3 at 1:16 a.m. Allen was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor in the first degree.

David Gilmore, 43 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 4 at 9:38 a.m. Gilmore was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, endangering the welfare of a minor in the third degree, and sentenced to ADC.

Larry Harrower, 46 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 6 at 11:56 a.m. Harrower was charged with body attachment.

Aaron Klein, 42 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 6 at 4:44 p.m. Klein was charged with disorderly conduct and public intoxication.

Dustin Mayer, 39 of Scranton, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 7 at 5:36 a.m. Mayer was charged with domestic battering in the third degree, criminal mischief in the second degree, violation of a no contact order, and bond revocation.

James Price, 42, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 7 at 4:29 p.m. Price was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Robert Wells, 47 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 8 at 11:12 a.m. Wells was charged with involuntary commitment.

Arresting agency – Franklin County Sheriff’s Office:
Luis Alejandro, 34 of Clarksville, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 8 at 2:41 p.m. Alejandro was charged with three counts of failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Darissia Lynn Lovelace, 28, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 8 at 1:17 p.m. Lovelace was charged with sentenced to days.

Wesley Truman Perry, 42 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 7 at 4:56 p.m. Perry was charged with sentenced to ADC.

Ashley Dawn Moore, 35 of Ratcliff, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 7 at 2:53 p.m. Moore was charged with bond revocation.

William Douglas Pettigrew, 19 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 7 at 1:07 p.m. Pettigrew was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia meth/cocaine, possession of SCH I or II LT 2 GM, and disorderly conduct.

John Edward Moffatt, 38 of Fort Smith, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 6 at 3:50 p.m. Moffatt was charged with failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Albert Lee Wright, 43 of Hartman, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 6 at 2:14 p.m. Wright was charged with two counts of failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Jessica Lambert, 42 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 6 at 12:28 p.m. Lambert was charged with five counts of failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Kristopher Lee Bolin, 40 of Charleston, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 3 at 1:41 p.m. Bolin was charged with rape/sexual intercourse/deviate activity.

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

AGFC adds second boat-cleaning station in south Arkansas

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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2:53 pm

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AGFC adds second boat-cleaning station in south Arkansas

Boaters and anglers have a new tool to help clean their boats of debris at Lake Columbia, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission hopes it tips the scales in the fight against aquatic nuisance species. Last week, AGFC staff installed a waterless, solar-powered watercraft cleaning station at Beech Creek Access in Columbia County for boaters to use as they leave the lake to prevent the spread of giant salvinia or other invasive aquatic plants that may be trying to hitch a ride on their boats and trailers.

This is the second such cleaning station the AGFC has deployed in south Arkansas.

“Installing the self-service watercraft cleaning station at this access will allow anglers to help contain giant salvinia in the lake by providing free tools to remove water, weeds, and debris from their boats before leaving the access area,” Matt Horton, Aquatic Nuisance Species Program coordinator for the AGFC, said. “A similar cleaning station installed by the AGFC at AGRED Park on Lake Erling has been used more than 300 times since it was installed just over a year ago. These cleaning stations have proven themselves effective tools in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species in Arkansas as well as other states.”

The cleaning station is equipped with an air blower, wet-dry vacuum and hand tools to remove vegetation and water from boats and trailers, all powered by an onboard battery system that’s recharged through solar panels.

“The onboard software system allows us to track daily tool usage and monitor equipment function remotely,” Horton said. “Lights on the station also make it easier for anglers to use at night if the fishing action keeps them after sundown.”

Lake Columbia is a 3,000-acre reservoir owned by Columbia County and is the municipal water supply for the city of Magnolia and surrounding area. The AGFC manages the lake’s fishery, and it is a very popular destination in southwest Arkansas for recreational boating, fishing and waterfowl hunting. Since giant salvinia was discovered at Lake Columbia in 2019, AGFC has worked closely with the Columbia County Rural Development Authority to install floating containment booms at the northshore and southshore boat ramps to prevent the invasive plant from floating into the boat ramp area and hitching a ride on boats and trailers.

Horton said Beech Creek Access’ size and location near the main creek channel made the installation of such a boom system infeasible.

A video of the new boat-cleaning station in action is available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzr-3khKDd0.

“It also has the potential to impact water quality and the lake’s use as a municipal water supply for the city of Magnolia and surrounding area,” Horton said.

Giant salvinia has been detected in five lakes in Arkansas since it was first discovered in Arkansas in 2017, including Smith Park Lake in Miller County, Lake Erling, Lake Columbia, Millwood Lake and Mercer Bayou. Through early detection and intensive eradication efforts, it was successfully eradicated from all waters except lakes Columbia and Erling, where it has become established and spread throughout these lakes. All introductions appeared to result from giant salvinia hitchhiking on boats, trailers, and hunting and fishing equipment. It is prevalent in almost all major waters in Louisiana and several waters in south Texas and Mississippi. The plant can survive out of the water on boat trailers and moist environments for a week or more.

“It is critical that all boaters, including anglers, recreational boaters and hunters using boats, to thoroughly inspect their boats, motors, trailers, livewells, fishing nets and recreational equipment, and remove any debris and vegetation prior to leaving the boat ramp,” Horton said. “It can easily snag on boat trailer axles, bunks, sonar transducers, trolling motors and any part of the boat and trailer that contacts the water.”

Horton has some easy to remember recommendations everyone should follow to reduce the risk of transporting giant salvinia from infested waters: Just clean, drain and dry your boat, motor and trailer.

Clean — Inspect the boat, livewell, trailer and motor and remove all debris, mud and vegetation. Clean all livewells, bilge pumps, ballast tanks and other areas that hold or pump water in addition to exterior surfaces. Once completed, if possible, boat owners should wash their boats and trailers with high-pressure, hot water.
Drain — Remove all drain plugs at the boat ramp and allow all water to drain from the vessel. This requirement became law in 2020.
Dry — Allow the boat and trailer to dry, preferably for five days, before transporting the boat to a new body of water. These few steps will help ensure other water bodies don’t become infested with giant salvinia or other aquatic nuisance species.

Boaters should report giant salvinia or other aquatic nuisance species to the AGFC immediately by going to www.agfc.com/ans and submitting an online report or contacting Horton at 501-747-9012. Please remember to include clear pictures for identification and note the exact location (GPS coordinate preferred) where the observation occurred.

Timepiece: Draft Evaders

Networks

Tammy Teague

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2:52 pm

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By Dr. Curtis Varnell

Up the narrow defile we climbed, hand over hand in steep places, until we reached the base of the cliff. Water cascaded over a near-by outcrop of rock, dropping twenty feet into the stream below. The overhanging rock above sheltered a deep indentation into the cliff face and afforded the perfect shelter and hiding place for anyone eluding capture. The secluded area on Huckleberry mountain supplied everything needed for evading those seeking to force individuals into the draft. From the heights, one could see for miles, it had an adequate water supply, and, by constructing a small protective wall in front, it was comfortable in any kind of weather. After hours of searching, we had located the area locals identified as the WWI draft evaders hideout.

WWI was an unpopular war in many regions of the U.S. The U.S. had managed to stay out of the conflict for three long years and there seemed no real reason to become involved in a war fought between European states. Woodrow Wilson had won the most recent election by proclaiming his ability to keep us out of war but had eventually joined the fray when American shipping was attacked. Americans opposed to the war rallied support and openly expressed their feelings and frustrations. Wilson quickly passed the Alien and Sedition acts that criminalized and “disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language or acts” against the government or military.

With a large German-American population, several regions of Arkansas came under scrutiny. On April 13, 1917, local officials showed up at Subiaco Abbey seeking to destroy the abbey’s radio under the pretext they were communicating with the German government. Later, in Johnson County, members of the Lutheran church were threatened by gunmen and the pastor was driven from his home. The German National Bank and Trust Company of Little Rock changed their name to the American Trust bank, a move followed by German-American banks across the state. Some Lutheran and Catholic churches began doing their worship services in English rather than German to avoid suspicion. Although unsubstantiated, mistrust developed between neighbors, sometimes resulting in violence.

According to records, 8, 732 men in Arkansas evaded the draft or deserted. Most were not German; many were not sympathetic to the Central Powers whatsoever. Ben Caughron, a dissenter from Mena probably described it best, “You can’t force mountain men. You can’t force anybody who is not afraid to die, and the mountaineers are not afraid to die.” Dozens like him refused to fight, instead choosing like ancestors during the Civil War, choosing to hideout in the mountains and hollows to avoid capture.

Several draft evaders clashed with county draft boards and small draft wars occurred in Polk, Logan, Johnson, and Searcy County. In August of 1918, rumors of draft evaders in Franklin County (Ozark) lead the county to selecting a posse to round up a group of men headed by a man known as J.H. Benson. Approaching Benson’s home, a gunfight ensued resulting in the death of one posse member and the injury of several others. It was later discovered that Benson was an alias for a wanted draft evader from Oklahoma by the name of Jim Scott and most of the group were his relatives. The group of draft evaders scattered but, according to reports, ammunition and weapons found in the house indicated that they were insurrectionists. A manhunt was set up to chase down the group who had fled to Logan County to hide out. Captain D. W. Rosser of the Hartman Home Guards eventually caught the last of the gang in Bear Hollow, near where the hideout described above is located. Again, according to local lore, several draft evaders were using the site to hideout and Harry Huffman, the last of Scott group was fleeing to hideout with them.

The war was soon over, the proud veterans returned to their homes having survived the terrible ravages of the first World War. The alien and sedition acts were soon forgotten, captured dissidents were released from prison, others came down from their hideaways, and America entered the “roaring twenties.” Time marches on and history is a forgotten hideaway in the middle of nowhere.

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

Lifestyle

Tammy Teague

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2:47 pm

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“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

By Sheri Hopkins, Lifestyle Contributor

Hello everyone! Beautiful weather we are having. We spring forward this weekend, don’t forget or you will be late for church, and everyone will turn around and stare at you when you come in. They stare at me anyway because I’m always trying to open some Lifesavers, gum or candy. Justin Weaver and Jacob used to give me and the other Sheri dirty looks for being loud and shush us all the time.

I am 60 years old and I’ve been driving legal and illegally since I was 15 or 16 and I had something happen to me that has never happened. I was headed to Oklahoma to get my taxes done. It was raining, but not hard enough that I had to use my wipers. I had just passed PJs Store in Monroe and all of a sudden, my driver’s side wiper flew off my car and who knows where it went, out to the wild blue yonder. I mean why does crazy stuff happen to me all the time. There was a truck trying to pass me, so I’m assuming it hit his truck. Serves him right for passing an old lady. Sooo, I thought well, I’ve got to make it to Poteau to an auto parts store and get new blades. It’s raining and I’m like Eddie Rabbit driving my life away on a wing and a prayer trying to make it to Poteau. I made it and the nicest guys took care of me and got me some new wipers and away I went. Driving crazy like my kids say I drive. I lost my Texas Toast at Blue Ember from somewhere from the counter to the table. Jacob says I’m wild, slinging around and such. When we got up to leave it was under the table! How did that happen? See what I mean? I’m like a bull in a China shop, I guess. If y’all see a wiper blade on the side of the road in Oklahoma, it’s probably mine. If you see some Texas Toast lying under a table at Blue Ember, then you know I have been there!

Y’all have a blessed week and check your wiper blades on your vehicles.

This week’s recipe is a mounds brownie. Make sure you have a tall glass of milk when you decide to make these.

MOUNDS BROWNIES
1 family size brownie mix (I use the chocolate fudge)
5 1/3 cups shredded coconut
14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
1 1/2 cups powdered sugar
1 can of chocolate frosting (I use chocolate fudge)
Heat oven to 350 and make brownies according to package directions in a 9×13 pan. I always use parchment paper in my pan. Let the brownies cool completed. In a bowl combine coconut, sweetened condensed milk and powdered sugar until all the ingredients are incorporated well. Spread over the brownie. Place the can of frosting (with the foil off) in your microwave for 10 seconds and pour the frosting over the coconut mixture. Let it cool and enjoy. I would keep this in the fridge. If you like Almond Joy, you could always put almonds on top or chop up and sprinkle on top. Enjoy, and it will be rich!

High Speed Chase Ends in Deadly Crash

Tammy Teague

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9:05 am

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A high-speed chase left one dead and another injured on Friday, March 8. According to the Arkansas State Police, the crash happened at 5:18 p.m.

Kelvin Willis, 32 of Alma, was traveling northbound in a 2017 Hyundai Santa Fe on U.S. Highway 71 near Highway 45 at a high rate of speed. Willis then exited the roadway to the left, colliding with a pole at the intersection of Highway 71 and Highway 45.

Willis was pronounced dead at the scene. One of the passengers, Braxton Cole, 30 of Fort Smith, was transported to the hospital with injuries.

According to Greenwood Police Chief Brad Hobbs, the high-speed chase began when one of his officers attempted to make a traffic stop.

“On the evening of Friday, March 8, our officers intercepted a stolen vehicle. A traffic stop was attempted. However, the driver of the vehicle fled at high speeds. As the pursuit was being transferred to the Arkansas State Police, the driver of the vehicle left the roadway and struck a utility pole at Hwy. 71 and Hwy. 45 and then collided with a second vehicle. The fleeing driver was pronounced deceased at the scene. There were two passengers in the vehicle with one being an infant. The infant was not injured. The Arkansas State Police is investigating the vehicle crash. Our department will conduct an internal pursuit review.”

3-PEAT!!!!!!!

Ross Fujibayashi

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1:45 am

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Lady Bulldogs defeat Vilonia for their 8th state title.

The Lady Bulldogs pulled off one of the most incredible seasons in school history and capped it with winning their third State Championship in a row. In front of a rowdy crowd of 2,944 at Bank OZK Arena in Hot Springs, Seniors Anna Trusty, Brooklyn Woolsey, and Carley Sexton capped their careers at Greenwood High School avenging an earlier season loss to the Vilonia Eagles. The win gives Clay Reeves his 11th State Title including 3 that were won in Greenland.

Greenwood finished their season 28-4 overall with a 12-1 league record in 5A-West play. The state title is the 63rd in school history after Cheer, Cross Country and Football won theirs in the first half of the year. It marks the programs 8th state title, In a season that saw Coach Reeves win his 800th game and Anna Trusty become the All-time leading scorer for the Lady Bulldogs. Junior Izzy Smith and Sophomore Kylah Pearcy were integral parts of the Greenwood scoring machine throughout the season.

The real strength of the Lady Bulldog team came from the players rotated in. Seniors Mckenzie Thomas and Kaci Dedmon, Juniors Jenna Honkala, Pate Jones, Piper Pitts, Keelie Dolan, Halie Key, Hailey Spearman and Alissa Gray. Sophomores Journey Clements, Ashlin Rose, Trinity Spicer, Addison Bridges, Honor Zuress, and Eva Booth. The unsung heroes of the Lady Bulldogs were Assistant Coach, Ryan Lensing and Managers Julian Oliver, Fallen Van Lare, and Joslyn McBride.

Greenwood would strike first with a three-point basket from Senior Brooklyn Woolsey at the 7:47 mark. Vilonia got on to the board after a free throw from Sidni Middleton. Greenwood Junior Izzy Smith and Vilonia’s Lexi Heston traded baskets before Greenwood went on a 6-0 with baskets from Woolsey, Anna Trusty, and Kylah Pearcy. It pushed the Lady Bulldog lead to 8 with five minutes left in the 1st period. Vilonia pulled within 2 one last time on a Brooklyn Burnham 3-point basket with 4:14 in the first. From there it was all Lady Bulldogs as they out ran the Lady Eagles to a 27-15 1st period score. Brooklyn Woolsey led Greenwood with 11 points, Kylah Pearcy had 6 points, Anna Trusty and Izzy Smith both had 5 points. Vilonia had 4 turnovers that Greenwood converted to 9 points.

The 2nd period saw a closer game between the two State Championship hopefuls, although the closest the Lady Eagles would get to Greenwood is by 11 points. It was back and forth between the two teams as they traded points. The Lady Bulldogs shot 63.6% from the field, but were one for four from the three point line. It was enough to extend the lead to 44-29 as the halftime buzzer sounded. Kylah Pearcy led the scoring with 6 points, Izzy Smith added 5 points to her total. Seniors Carley Sexton, Brooklyn Woolsey, and Anna Trusty each had 2 points.

Vilonia came out of the half with a 6-0 run on Greenwood’s defense getting them within 9 of the Lady Bulldogs. It would the two minutes three seconds into the half before Greenwood put points on the board from a Kylah Pearcy layup inside the paint. Greenwood held Vilonia to shots from the foul line before going on another 6-0 run with scores from Anna Trusty and 3-point basket from Brooklyn Woolsey. Greenwood extended their lead to as much as 19-points in the 3rd, with a period ending score of 61-43. Pearcy capped the 3rd with a 2-point basket at the buzzer. Brooklyn Woolsey had 8 points, followed by Pearcy with 6 points, and Trusty with 3 points.

Starting the 4th, Vilonia began chipping away at the Lady Bulldogs cutting the Greenwood lead to 14, and that would be the closest they would get. Greenwood would have two 7-0 runs in the fourth period pushing their lead to 26 points. Kylah Pearcy would go out of the game with 5 fouls, bringing in Junior Jenna Honkala. Senior starters Woolsey, Sexton, and Trusty would leave the court one last time to a standing ovation from the Greenwood crowd. Carly Sexton and Anna Trusty scored their last points as Lady Bulldogs in the 4th period as well. Senior McKenzie Thomas scored the points for Greenwood putting the score 77-51. Anna Trusty had 8 points, Carley Sexton had 4 points, Izzy Smith and McKenzie Thomas had 2 points each.

Greenwood Lady Bulldogs win the 2024 Class 5A Girls State Championship. Senior Anna Trusty was the State Championship game MVP.

“I thought our players came to play. They played great. They played a really good first half.” Coach Clay Reeves said after the win “Probably the first time I’ve ever went in at halftime and said ‘Ya’ll played a good first half.’ haha”

“Great kids to coach, they always work hard. They’re always there. They put up with me coaching them” Coach Reeves said with a laugh.

Greenwood bussed down 150 students to cheer on the Lady Bulldogs to their third Championship in a row. Senior Brooklyn Woolsey commented on the support, “It means a lot to us, the atmosphere is great. I think that really helps us play.”

The Lady Bulldogs have made it to the State Championship game four times of the last five, only missing out in the 2020-2021 season losing in the Quarterfinals to eventual State Champion Jonesboro. Which also was Anna Trusty’s Freshman year, and something she reflected on in the post-game press conference. “It’s been awesome. Lots of people go through out their high school career without even going to one. To be able to go for three is awesome.”

Paris Softball Opens Conference Play This Week

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5:24 pm

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Paris Softball Opens Conference Play This Week

PARIS- Coach Jonathan Vire’s Paris softball team entered this season wanting to see an uptick in their play on the field to mark improvement from last year’s rebuilding season. And although the win / loss record may not appear to show progress, the actual play on the field and the competitiveness the Lady Eagles have shown against good competition does indicate progress.

Paris officially opened the 2024 season with a road game at Dover. Paris was in the game until the last inning when Dover got a base hit to score the go ahead, walk-off win for the Lady Pirates.

The Lady Eagles then traveled to Lavaca to play a very good Lady Arrows team. Lavaca, who is stacked with great pitching and a tremendous infield, scored a game-shortened 12-1 win over Paris. The Lady Eagles, who were competitive in the first two innings of the game, committed a series of errors that produced scoring opportunities for Lavaca, and the game was never in doubt from that point. Paris played the game at Lavaca without outfielder Annabelle Perry.

The Lady Eagles have turned their attention to conference play with the first game being played at Two Rivers. At publication time for this story, Paris was scheduled to play Two Rivers and Booneville during the week of March 12-14. Due to spring break, Paris will not play the week of March 18-22. After the break, the Lady Eagles will resume play on March 25 at Waldron.

Stay with RNN Sports this spring for Lady Eagles softball coverage in the RNN Logan / Franklin County newspaper, as well as on our website at residentnewsnetwork.com

Can You Save too Much for a Rainy Day?

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Tammy Teague

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5:10 pm

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“Save for a rainy day” is an old piece of advice — and a good one. But is it possible to save too much?

To begin with, what defines a “rainy day” in terms of financial needs? It could be any number of things: a temporary loss of employment, a major home or car repair, a large medical bill, and so on.

If you did not have the money readily available to pay for these types of expenses, you might be forced to dip into your IRA, 401(k) or other retirement accounts, incurring taxes and possible penalties, as well as lowering the amount of money you’d have available for retirement. And that’s why it’s a good idea to build an emergency fund containing up to six months’worth of total expenses, with the money kept in a liquid, low-risk account that’s separate from the accounts you use for your daily spending needs.

An emergency fund is valuable, but many people may be overfunding it. And while this isn’t the biggest financial mistake one can make, it could result in some missed opportunities.

For one thing, when you keep money in a low-risk account, you can generally count on your principal being protected, which means the money will be there for you when you need it—but the flip side is that this money likely won’t grow very much, if at all. And if you’re going to achieve your long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement, you need your investment portfolio to provide you with significant growth potential within the context of your individual risk tolerance. So, any excess dollars kept in your rainy-day fund might be used to help fuel some growth-oriented investments.

You could also use these dollars to help diversify your investment portfolio. If you only owned one type of investment, your portfolio could take a big hit if a market downturn affected just that asset class. But by owning a mix of stocks, bonds, government securities and other investments, you can help reduce the impact of market volatility. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification, by itself, can’t protect against all losses.)

Still, before deciding on what to do with extra money you might have in your emergency fund, how will you know if you indeed have too much? Up to six months’ worth of totalexpenses may be adequate for most people — but everyone’s life is different. For example, if you have reason to believe your employment — or that of your spouse — may be in jeopardy in the near future, or if you anticipate the need for some renovations to your home, but not for a year or so, you might want more than six months of expenses tucked away in your emergency fund. Also, once you’re retired, you may well want to keep a year’s worth of expenses in the fund. If you need cash, you don’t want to be forced to sell investments when their price may be down, especially since you have less time for them to recover.

Ultimately, when thinking about how much to keep in your emergency fund, review your situation carefully and weigh as many variables as you can. And if you do decide your rainy-day fund is abundant, use any “overflow” in a way that can help you keep moving toward your financial goals.

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

Edward Jones

20 N Express St, Paris, AR 72855

479-963-1321

jeffrey.o’neal@edwardjones.com

edwardjones.com/jeffrey-o’neal

Edward Jones, Member SIPC

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