Resident News Network

Obituary: Willie (Shorty) Owens

Obituaries

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6:18 pm

Willie (Shorty) Owens, 90, of Waldron, Arkansas, went to his heavenly home March 27, 2024. Shorty was born in Scott County and lived there his entire life. he worked in the timber woods from a young age and worked at Waldron Lumber Company, Big Pine Lumber Company, and Travis Lumber Company as a millwright until his retirement. He was an amazing mechanic and without any training, prior to computers, he could fix anything.

Shorty loved fishing and hunting with his sons but his favorite sport was pulling skiers behind his boat on Lake Ouachita. He was an excellent skier and taught all his kids and many of his grandkids to ski at an early age.

Shorty also enjoyed gardening with Leota, the love of his life, and together they had amazing gardens; his watermelons and her tomatoes were legendary and they loved sharing their produce with family and friends.

He was a long time member of Temple Baptist Church in Waldron.

Shorty is survived by two daughters, Gwynda Walker (Mike) of Pea Ridge, Arkansas; Brenda Hartness of Little Rock, Arkansas; three sons, Bruce Owens (Connie) of Waldron, Arkansas; Steve Owens (Nancy) of Mt. Magazine, Arkansas; and Brian Owens (Cassie) of Mansfield, Arkansas; 13 grandchildren: Justin Keener (Leigh), Amber Owens, Megan Mueller (Michael), Lindsay Owens (Christa), Whitney Reames (Bradley), Grayson Owens, Madalyn Owens, Harper Owens, Monet Owens, Giana Owens, Julie Berry, Ashley Dipley (Jerod), Lauren Faulkenberry (Stone), and 17 great grandchildren.
He is also survived by one brother, Johnnie Ray Owens of Bauxite, Arkansas.

He is preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Leota; a son, Russell Owens, and his parents Johnnie and Pauline Owens.

Shorty’s pallbearers will be: Michael Mueller, Justin Keener, Grayson Owens, Jerod Dipley, Hunter and Bradley Reames.

His celebration of life will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, March 30, 2024, at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Jackie Smith officiating. Interment will follow in the Birdsview Cemetery in Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

There will be a visitation time from 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. on March 30, 2024 just prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to a charity of your choice.

Timepiece: Backwoodsman

Lifestyle

Tammy Teague

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6:13 pm

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By Dr. Curtis Varnell

World War 11 was over and America entered a period of peace and prosperity. The baby boomer generation began, people fled the rural areas, and suburbs of the up-and-coming generations were built encircling the major cities. A chicken in the pot, a car, and a house filled with the newest electrical devices was the dream of America. Television was the rage and everyone had to have one to watch the newest westerns and programs. Live talk shows were the rage and few were as popular of Ed Sullivan or the Art Linkletter show. One of the most popular segments of Linkletter’s show was the live interview called People say the darndest things. Always looking for new and interesting people, scouts scoured the country searching for unique people and experiences. In 1958, talent scout Jack Houston visited Arkansas with the thought of finding a real hillbilly and having him introduced to modern society. Traveling down the newly paved pig trail from Fayetteville to Ozark, he noticed the many rustic cabins and home places. Stopping at Cass, he asked where he could find the oldest resident of the area. Direct to the home of 92-year old John Stephens, he found the perfect candidate.

Stephen’s was a mountain man, a hunter who lived a simple rustic life. His family had moved to the home on Black Mountain when he was eight years old. He grew up without any schooling, he worked on his father’s farm, and spent his free time hunting and fishing. Tough as nails, he knew how to track wild game, find the wild honey trees, and how to survive in the backwoods.

When first approached by Houston about being on the show, Stephen’s was reluctant to travel to Hollywood. “Them planes are dangerous and I’d rather just stay here at home, but I can walk it.” Stephens finally agreed to the trip if the program would take along Walter Harris, a 71-year old neighbor. Offered a shot of bourbon on the plane, Stephens was said to have stated “this stuff has been watered down; ain’t a bit of head in the glass.” Stephens was a known moonshiner.

Appearing on the program in overalls and hunting garb, Stephens was the hit of the show. He was unable to identify a tube of lipstick, an electric razor, or a modern camera. When asked about modern plumbing, he replied, “don’t need any of that, we got the bushes.” Mr. Houston later stated, “Old John captured them with his first remark and kept them in an uproar the entire time he was on stage.” Asked about the food he was served in Hollywood, Stephens stated, “why they served us right in our rooms but I couldn’t eat them butter and eggs. The butter wasn’t no cow butter and the eggs were cold storage eggs.” Asked how he got from place to place without a car, Stephen’s replied we walked. The nearest town was Ozark, 18 miles away. At the conclusion of the show, Linkletter allowed him to reach his hand into a bowl and extract as much money as he could grasp. Stephen’s calmly grabbed a big handful, placed it in a pile, and clipped it to his bib overalls. Tight with his money, he bought only a whittling knife, a dunking bird toy, and a pipe to take home.

A hit, he was offered an opportunity to return the next week. When offered a new suit for the show, Stephens told them he had never had a new suit. “Don’t buy me no tie, I won’t wear it.” Not only did they buy him a suit but presented him with a new shotgun, a TV set, and many more gifts to take home with him.

At home, he told neighbors that the Hollywood people were some of the nicest he had ever meet. He got to see an ocean for the first time, met Rin Tin, seen wild animals at the zoo, and plants he had never seen before. Yet he would rather be at home in the hills, wearing his overalls, and being with his family.

Many in Arkansas took exception to the story and the painting of the state as a bunch of backward hillbillies. It reinforced the ideal that people of the state were simple minded and didn’t know much. Nephew James Tucker explained that Stephens was wilier than he appeared and “acted” out the part well. Even though he didn’t drive, he often hitch-hiked to town, his house had electricity, and he was smart enough to extract a trip and hundreds of dollars from those “Yankees.”

A Little Old, A Little New: Rattlers Unveil 2024 Football Schedule

Sports

Tammy Teague

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6:07 pm

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A Little Old, A Little New: Rattlers Unveil 2024 Football Schedule

By Jonathan W. Gipson
Magazine Schools Media Relations

MAGAZINE – A little bit of old, and a little bit of new.

With the start of the Arkansas Activities Association’s new two-year cycle, the Magazine football schedule will feature just that when the Rattlers take the field this fall for the 2024 varsity season.

The 10-game schedule will feature three new nonconference opponents and two new conference teams, and six of the 10 games will be played at Diamondback Stadium, including four of the seven conference games.

“Our nonconference schedule is pretty standard. There’s nothing special about it,” Magazine Coach Ryan Chambers said. “I like the way our conference schedule is set up. There’s a good mix of who we play at home compared to away. We have our must-win games at home, and I really like that.”

Class 3A state semifinalist Mansfield and nearby rival Danville, who were both longtime nonconference opponents for Magazine, are no longer on the schedule, and Berryville, a last-minute addition to the nonconference slate last season to help avoid another open date, is no longer on the schedule as well.

In an effort to keep the longtime rivalry alive with Danville, Magazine will play Danville, who is now under the direction of its former head coach D.J. Crane, in a preseason benefit game instead of playing recent preseason opponent Paris.

“Mansfield is just on a different level than we are currently. It wasn’t really going to benefit either one of us playing each other again right now, so we both decided to explore different options,” Chambers explained. “We tried to get Danville back on the schedule, but we just couldn’t get it worked out with them date-wise, so we picked them up for the benefit game instead.”

The three former nonconference opponents have been replaced with Class 3A Cedarville in Week 0 on Aug. 30 at Diamondback Stadium, Class 4A Lamar’s junior varsity in Week 1 on Sept. 6 at Diamondback Stadium and Class 3A Two Rivers in Week 2 on Sept. 13 at Ola.

Those three opponents, Chambers said, are a better fit at the moment for the Rattlers, who are looking to improve upon last year’s 1-8 overall finish and 0-5 mark in the tough 2A-1 Conference, which produced Class 2A state champion Bigelow.

“These are games that will be very competitive and good for us going into the conference slate,” Chambers said. “We really needed one more game, and I had trouble finding one that we didn’t have to travel across the state for. I called Coach (Josh) Jones over at Lamar and got something worked out playing their JV team. We’ve played their JV team multiple times over the years, and they always are very competitive, being one of the upper echelon teams in 4A.”

Following an open date in Week 3 on Sept. 20, Magazine will begin conference play and will do so with a full slate of seven conference games for the first time in recent history. Former conference member Decatur, which had struggled to field a team at both the 11-man and 8-man levels the past few seasons and created untimely open dates as a result, has dropped its football program, but two new teams join the conference – Mount Ida and Mountain Pine.

Mountain Pine returns to 11-man football after competing at the 8-man level last fall, while Mount Ida moves into the conference after playing in the 2A-3 Conference last season. They will join returning conference members Magazine, Bigelow, Mountainburg, Johnson County Westside, Conway Christian and Hector.

“We had some really tradition-rich teams added to our conference. Mount Ida and Mountain Pine have both been solid teams in 2A, especially Mount Ida. It’s nice to know we won’t have a week break in between conference games,” Chambers said. “Sometimes it is nice (to have a bye week) if you have some injuries and things like that, but overall, it normally hurts. You come out sluggish after a week off. It’s tough to replicate game reps in practice.”

Magazine will play Bigelow in Week 4 on Sept. 27 at Diamondback Stadium and Mountainburg in Week 5 on Oct. 4 at Diamondback Stadium. The Rattlers will play at Mount Ida in Week 6 on Oct. 11 and will host Johnson County Westside in Week 7 on Oct. 18 at Diamondback Stadium.

The Rattlers will make consecutive road trips to Conway Christian in Week 8 on Oct. 25 and Mountain Pine in Week 9 on Nov. 1. Magazine will close the regular season against Hector in Week 10 on Nov. 8 at Diamondback Stadium.

During this first year of the two-year cycle, Magazine will play six home games, and Chambers said that is a big benefit for the Rattlers, especially with defending state champion Bigelow having to visit Diamondback Stadium to begin conference play.

“We get the defending state champions at home for our first conference game. That’s nice for the fans to see us be able to go up against the team who just won a state championship and finished off four conference championships in a row,” Chambers said. “Hopefully, we can come out with a good game plan and compete in that game in front of the home crowd. It’s always better playing at home than on the road. We have some big must-win home games on the slate this year, and I’m very happy we get them at our place with an opportunity to get the program headed back in the right direction.”

The season schedule for the Junior Rattlers is very similar to that of the varsity teams. Magazine will play at Cedarville in Week 0 (Aug. 29) and host Lamar junior varsity in Week 1 (Sept. 6) and Two Rivers in Week 2 (Sept. 12). The Rattlers will play at Hector in Week 3 (Sept. 19), Bigelow in Week 4 (Sept. 26) and Mountainburg in Week 5 (Oct. 3).

The Junior Rattlers will host Mount Ida in Week 6 (Oct. 10) and play at Johnson County Westside in Week 7 (Oct. 17). They will host Conway Christian in Week 8 (Oct. 24) and Mountain Pine in Week 9 (Oct. 31) to end the season.

Bear hunters eclipse harvest record

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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6:04 pm

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By Randy Zellers

PARIS — Arkansas bear hunters harvested 765 bears during the 2023 hunting season, topping the record by a margin of 100 bears, according to a presentation given by Myron Means at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s March 21 meeting at the Lodge at Mount Magazine State Park.

Means, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Large Carnivore Program coordinator, said hunters took 665 black bears during archery, muzzleloader and modern gun seasons in 2020, and harvest remained in the high 400s the next two years.

Last year’s record is likely attributed to an earlier opening day of the bear archery season in Bear Zones 1 and 2. Recent seasons opened on the third week in September to be concurrent with deer archery season, but bear hunters in 2023 were able to get out on Sept. 13, a week and a half earlier.

“You see a lot more bears at bait stations before the acorns drop, then the bears will go to the woods and then start denning,” Means said. “Quite frankly, we’re getting bear harvest in the state about where we need bear harvest in the state.”

Means says the early season does come with one caveat: an increased chance of harvesting a female bear before they begin their fall denning cycle.

“We saw an increase in female bear harvest, but it’s not something that I’m going to say the sky is falling over,” Means said. “We do need to pay some attention to it because the females are the future of our bear population. Two years of high female harvest in a row may trigger a need to look at changes in season structure.”

AGFC Director Austin Booth pointed out that harvest appeared to favor male bears heavily during the first few days of the bear season opener. This, according to Means, may indicate that hunters who were baiting and preparing their hunting sites seemed to be selecting for males at first, but became much less choosy as the quota neared.

“I think our bear hunters are trying to educate themselves about how they can take a bear and help the population by selecting for males,” Means said. “We worked with Clay Newcomb to produce a video on how to differentiate between males and females, and I’ve done some bear hunting seminars for the last two years where identifying a bear’s sex is a component of the presentation. This is the number one way a hunter can help protect the future of their sport.”

In keeping with the bear season since its reestablishment in Arkansas, archers accounted for more than 80 percent of the harvest. Six hundred and forty-three of the 765 bears taken in 2023 came by way of bow-and-arrow.

“This has really been the case since baiting was allowed on private land for bears in 2001,” Means said. Ninety percent of the Bear Zone 1 harvest was by archery, and the 400-bear quota was met within seven days up there.”

Muzzleloader hunters harvested 36 bears (5 percent), and bear hunters using modern guns took 86 bears (11 percent). The bear harvest in Zones 4, 5 and 5A all came by way of modern gun.

For the second year, hunters in Bear Zones 3 and 4 were able to take bears during a brief quota hunt during December. Although technical difficulties forced the AGFC to close the season before the quota was completely met, Means is confident that remaining conservative in the harvest in this newly opened portion of the state was beneficial to the population.

“We had 19 bears harvested within a few days,” Means said. “And the female portion of the harvest was only 37 percent, which bodes well for the future of bear season down there.”

Bear Zone 5 in southeast Arkansas reported a harvest of nine bears, and Bear Zone 5A along the White River in southeast Arkansas had two bears harvested within its borders.

Means also had time to talk about some of the reproductive surveys that took place in March, following up with population trends and the AGFC’s monitoring program.

“It’s been a good spring and a lot of our females had at least two cubs with them,” Means said. “In Zone 4, we saw a lot of triplets as well. That population has a lot of food and a lot of room to grow. We just need to keep vigilant and protect as many female bears as we can.”

Visit Helpful Tips for Bear Identification on YouTube for a breakdown on how to tell male and female bears apart during hunting season.

Magazine Schools To Hold Pre-K, Kindergarten Registration April 19

Featured

Tammy Teague

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11:01 am

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Magazine Schools To Hold Pre-K, Kindergarten Registration April 19

By Jonathan W. Gipson, Magazine Schools Media Relations

MAGAZINE – Magazine Schools will conduct its Pre-K and kindergarten registration for the upcoming 2024-25 school year from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Friday, April 19, at Magazine Elementary School.

To register for Pre-K, students must be 3 years old on or before Aug. 1, 2024. Parents must bring the following documents to registration: student’s birth certificate, social security card and current immunization record, any legal custody documents and proof of income (2023 tax return or 30 days of paycheck stubs).

To register for kindergarten, students must be 5 years old on or before Aug. 1, 2024. Parents must bring the following documents to registration: student’s birth certificate, social security card, current immunization record and any legal custody documents.

For more information, please call 1-866, 900-2001.

Mansfield Elementary Third Quarter Principal’s List/Honor Roll

Featured

Tammy Teague

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6:32 pm

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Mansfield Elementary Third Quarter Principal’s List/Honor Roll

Kindergarten:

Principal’s List: Alaina Blevins, Ava Bowman, Jani Cowan, Lawson Gitthens, Lainey Hattabaugh, Hadley Heydenreich, Emerson Krigbaum, Emily Langford, Logan Leland, Leena Little, Addison Mize, Finn Moss, Zoey Nguyen, Allison Nichols, Lucas Pennington, Colten Ronzzo, Jessie Swearingen

Honor Roll: Tucker Brumbelow, Jimmy Case, Penelope Dang, Allie Goines, Castyn Hancox, Weston Hattabaugh, Deklan Highsmith, Savannah Morton, Theodore Templeman, Marleigh Thomas

First Grade:

Principal’s List: Eli Clay, Emily Griffin, Cole Hobbs, Cambrie Mason, Mylah McNeill, Della Newman, Wade Roper, Aurora Sylva, Aiden Whittaker, Deacon Wilson

Honor Roll: Aurora Alvarez, Axel Alvarez, Kenzi Battin, Rhett Blevins, Damien Brown, Trynadee Bryen, Victoria Chanthalangsy, Addison Deeds, Mason Dickinson, Aiden Elmore, Sawyer Godwin, Piper Hall, Chase Hansel, Giovannie Hartman, Roque Hattabaugh, Liam Helms, Paislee Huddleston, Gabriella Moore, Fabio Pantoja, Clayton Parsons, Ellie Polk, Emmalee Pollard, Jayce Reed, Brentley Richmond, Tyler Smith, Patience Stuart

Second Grade:

Principal’s List: Presley Adams, Lincoln Bozant, Jerra Dewitt, Coda Griffin, Ainsley Hawkins, Roslyn Himes, Oliver Martin, Natalie Young

Honor Roll: Ezekiel Buckley, Kylor Cox, Journey Elmore, Makayla Eubanks, Tobias Fuerst, Dalylah Himes, Divina Hunt, Elijah McCutcheon, Sarah Morton, Ethan Nguyen, Adalynn Pennington, Elaina Robinson, Ethan Shipley, Hugh Strozier, Easton Winters

Third Grade:

Principal’s List: Ella Brown, Layton Heydenreich, Alexandria Howell, Kamrynn Jackson, Riley Kelley, Ellie Martin, Anniegayle Minden, Brody Schefe, Ethan Trinh

Honor Roll: Ryleigh Andrews, Alexis Bates, Brently Battles, Emma Carlton, Racyn Clopton, Coraline Cook, Jaxon Dickinson, Hunter Elmore, Nora Godwin, Aiyanna Gordon, Montana Hattabaugh, Matthew Hudcovic, McKenna Ingram, Brooklynn Johnson, Harper Jolley, Kinsley Norton, Hailie Prater, Delani Purifoy, Parker Roberts, Jayden Schaefer, Tyler Tuck, Luke Wingate, Kiara Worley

Fourth Grade:

Principal’s List: Raelyn Bozant, Dahlia Collier, Caroline Mort

Honor Roll: Nathaniel Adams, Emmitt Buckley, Jordan Cesaire, Braxton Clay, Serenity Cooper, Madrox Cormier, Raelynn Elmore, Korben Eyerman, Myla Francis, Jordan Gordon, Riley Hall, Faith Harris, Bentley Kinsey, Meaghan Leland, Alexander McCafferty, Cannon Meyers, Clayton Moore, Raylyn Moore, Zoey Schossow, Ryder Staton, Piper Sudbeck, RJ Swearingen, Allen Quick, Kalea Trautwein, Hadleigh Whittaker, Tripp Williams, Kassidy Wilson

Obituary: Dorothy Anne “Dodie” Osam

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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6:28 pm

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Dorothy Anne “Dodie” Osam passed away on March 22, 2024. She is survived by her husband, Duane, son, Dr. James Best (Elaine), stepson, Dr. Patrick Osam (Teresa), grandchildren, James Best, Jr. (Alysen), Jon Best (Chelcey), and step-grandson, Neil Osam (Kelly); great-grandchildren Bentley, Archer, Lilliana, Evan, and Owen.

Dodie was a member of Highland Valley United Methodist Church and the Highlander Sunday school class.

A viewing will be held on Thursday, March 28 at the Smith Family Little Rock Funeral Home from 5 – 7 p.m. A memorial service will be held Tuesday, April 2, 11 a.m., at Highland Valley United Methodist Church.

Memorials may be made to the Highland Valley United Methodist Church Music Fund, the Highland Valley United Methodist Church Youth Fund, or Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Donations may also be made directly to the American Cancer Society as a memorial in the name of Dorothy Osam to further cancer research. Donations may be made online at cancer.org or by calling 800-227-2345.

Arrest Reports 3/17

Police Reports

Tammy Teague

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4:31 pm

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Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office:
Serena Lynn Barrios of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 21 at 4:18 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with bond. Barrios was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Misdemeanor.

Amber Rose Castro of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 22 at 11:24 p.m. and released on signature bond March 23 at 12:51 a.m. Castro was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Misdemeanor.

Maverick Chance Lawson of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 19 at 1:18 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 19 at 2:22 p.m. Lawson was charged with Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree, and Assault On Family Or Household Member-3rd Degree.

Keith Joseph McGregor of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 18 at 11:08 a.m. and released on signature bond March 18 at 2 p.m. McGregor was charged with Disorderly Conduct – Fighting.

Joshua Ray Oxford of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 22 at 4:53 p.m. and released on signature bond March 22 at 7:26 p.m. Oxford was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Roy Milford Phelps of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 17 at 10:16 p.m. and released on signature bond March 19 at 1:04 a.m. Phelps was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Coady David Ramsey of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 17 at 3:03 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 17 at 8:11 a.m. Ramsey was charged with Refusal To Submit To a Chemical Test-adult and Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Angel Sue White of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 17 at 4:18 p.m. and released on cash bond March 17 at 9:04 p.m. White was charged with Petition to Revoke – Felony.

Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
Demarcius Maurice Dodds of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 23 at 1:57 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 23 at 4:53 a.m. Dodds was charged with Reckless Driving 1st Offense and Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Jessica Lynn Holt of Parks was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 22 at 2:06 a.m. and released on cash bond March 22 at 3:48 a.m. Holt was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Octavia Lee Plemmons of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 17 at 1:18 a.m. and transferred to an outside agency on March 18 at 9:37 a.m. Plemmons was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Misd.

Jason Patrick Pyle of Barling was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 17 at 3:55 a.m. and remains at the SCADC with bond. Pyle was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), Driving While License Cancelled/Suspended/Revoked, DWI I – Drugs Misdemeanor, and Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule I/II Felony <2g.

Paige Silva-Saez of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 23 at 8:36 p.m. and released on signature bond March 23 at 9:04 p.m. Silva-Saez was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H:
Christarae Gauthier of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 17 at 1:23 a.m. and transferred to an outside agency on March 18 at 9:40 a.m. Gauthier was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Misd.

Arresting agency – Hartford Police Department:
Christopher Ryan Potter of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 22 at 10:19 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with bond. Potter was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), and Petition to Revoke – Felony.

James Keith Yarbro of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 22 at 10:20 p.m. and released on signature bond March 23 at 12 a.m. Yarbro was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), and Contempt of Court–(child support), FTAS, FTRespond Subpoena, FTComply WCO.

Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Brooks Wayne Simkins of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 19 at 5:46 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 20 at 8:33 a.m. Simkins was charged with Assault On Family Or Household Member-3rd Degree, and Assault On Family Or Household Member-3rd Degree.

Arresting agency – Arkansas Parole:
Daniel Richard Smedley of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 19 at 4:39 p.m. and released to an outside agency on March 23 at 4:08 p.m. Smedley was charged with Fugitive from Justice Out of State.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office:
Jeffrey Wolfe, 49 of Springdale, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 18 at 9:58 p.m. Wolfe was charged with theft by receiving GT then $5,000, LT $25,000 and absconding.

Robert Williams, 36 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 19 at 5:49 p.m. Williams was charged with body attachment.

Karissa Garfield, 24 of Hartman, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 19 at 9:52 p.m. Garfield was charged with affidavit.

Hailen Midwell, 38 of Delaware, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 20 at 5:03 p.m. Midwell was charged with contempt of court, furnishing, possessing, or using prohibited article, and two counts of theft by receiving.

Zechariah Reynolds, 41 of Ratcliff, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 21 at 1:59 a.m. Reynolds was charged with failure to appear.

Steven Goodson, 31 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 21 at 8:14 p.m. Goodson was charged with 3rd degree assault on a family or household member.

Pacen Roberson, 23 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 22 at 1:25 p.m. Roberson was charged with warrant served.

Arresting agency – Franklin County Sheriff’s Office:
Jerry Dale Clayborn, 48 of Hartman, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 23 at 9:53 p.m. Clayborn was charged with failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Sera Fina, 27 of Santa Monica, CA, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 23 at 4:34 p.m. Fina was charged with hold for another agency.

Ethan David Morton, 33 of Mulberry, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 23 at 4:34 a.m. Morton was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor – 3rd degree.

Billy Wayne Turner, 28 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 23 at 3:57 a.m. Turner was charged with assault on family or household member.

Floyd Howard Gibbs, 55 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on March 23 at 3:51 a.m. Gibbs was charged with disorderly conduct, and failure to comply with conditions of suspended sentence or probation.

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

City of Greenwood Recognized Tree City USA

Lifestyle

Tammy Teague

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10:12 am

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City of Greenwood Recognized Tree City USA

The City of Greenwood has once again been recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as “Tree City USA.” The city has been acknowledged by the foundation for the past six years.

According to their website, the Tree City USA program provides communities with a four-step framework to maintain and grow their tree cover. It also gives them an avenue to celebrate their work, showing residents, visitors, and the entire country that they’re committed to the mission of environmental change.
PROGRAM HISTORY
Started in 1976, Tree City USA is one of the Arbor Day Foundation’s oldest programs. Our founders had a vision for a greener, healthier America, and hoped this initiative would inspire change on a nationwide level.
The first Tree City USA cohort was comprised of 42 communities in 16 states. Today, the program includes more than 3,600 communities from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.
The first Tree City USA cohort was comprised of 42 communities in 16 states. Today, the program includes more than 3,600 communities from all 50 states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico.
We’ve seen a lot of change over the years — but our participants’ passion for trees has remained the same.

A thriving urban forest offers many advantages to communities. Here are just a few:

Trees help absorb the sounds of traffic in urban areas by 40%.
Neighborhoods with trees are seven to nine degrees cooler than those without.
Trees reduce energy costs up to 25% by shading buildings and protecting them from winter winds.
Homes with trees have higher property values.
Green space plays a major role in improving mental and physical health.
Planting and maintaining trees absorbs carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, mitigating the effects of climate change.

Other cities in Arkansas recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation include: Batesville, Bella Vista, Bentonville, Casa, Centerton, Clarksville, Conway, Cotter, Delight, Etowah, Eureka Springs, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Gassville, Gentry, Gilbert, Goshen, Greenbrier, Hardy, Holiday Island, Hot Springs, Jonesboro, Leslie, Little Rock, Little Rock AFB, Lowell, Marvell, Maumelle, McGehee, Melbourne, Monticello, Morrilton, Mountain Home, Mountain View, North Little Rock, Osceola, Paragould, Pine Bluff, Pleasant Plains, Prescott, Rogers, Searcy, Springdale, Star City, Trumann, Walnut Ridge, Warren, West Fork, Winslow, and Wynne.

City to Host Town Hall to Discuss Proposed RV Park

Tammy Teague

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9:47 am

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City to Host Town Hall to Discuss Proposed RV Park

The Mansfield City Council met in regular session on Thursday evening, March 21 at 6 p.m. Members of the council present included James Steele, Glen Hurt, Beverly Lyons, and Sheri Hopkins. Also present, Mayor Buddy Black, Recorder/Treasurer Becky Walker, and City Attorney Travis Plummer. Council members Julie Thomas and Boyd Farmer were not present.

After approving the minutes and financial reports from previous meetings, the council heard the city services reports.

Fire Chief Michael Smith reported a total of 31 calls for the month, four fire and 27 EMS. Additionally, that the new sirens had been installed and that he was still waiting for the solar panels to be installed to have the system fully operational via radio. Until that time, the system can still be used manually. Lastly, Smith noted the preparations being done for the upcoming solar eclipse event.

Police Chief Wayne Robb reported 42 total calls, eight agency assists, two total school calls, seven medical calls, 10 total incident and arrest reports, two accident reports, one DWI arrest, two drug arrests, seven adult arrests, two juvenile arrests and two animal calls. His department had a total of three training hours.

Mayor Black read aloud the public works department report, which included 141 service orders completed, 111 One Call requests completed, two leaks repaired on the main line of Hub Brooks Rd., and a main line and service line repaired on Franklin St. The report also reflected that the department had filled multiple potholes and cut and patched other areas, and that work on the streets was ongoing. Additionally, the aerator pumps at the sewer plant had been installed, two manholes had been repaired, new sensors and telemetry equipment had been installed, and a new water/trash pump and service line puller had been purchased to aid in water line repair. Lastly the report stated that both trash trucks were up and running again.

City Attorney Travis Plummer relayed to the council that he had heard from State Representative Marcus Richmond regarding a city official receiving pay from two different offices but is waiting on a ruling from the attorney general’s office.

In matters of unfinished business, the council discussed allowing the RV park proposed at the intersection of N. Caldwell and E. Center St., adjacent to the Mansfield Elementary School. “It is not prudent or wise to approve that RV park so close to a school zone,” stated Steele. “I agree,” responded Hopkins, “there are kids that walk that way home, and I just don’t feel like the location is good.” Lyons proposed a meeting with the members of the community to receive their input on the proposed RV park. “We are here to represent the people, and I have had some tell me they are for it, and others against it. Why don’t we have a meeting so they can come and give their input.” Mayor Black summed that he would work to secure a date and time to hold a town hall meeting on the proposal.

In items of new business, the council voted to allow the public works employees to brush hog the outer perimeter of the Johnny Cake Baseball Fields during the 2024 season. Additionally, the council approved an ordinance regarding meter box replacement.

In the last item of new business, the addition of a new member of the volunteer fire department. The council voted unanimously to approve John Cochran as a new fire fighter.

In comments and announcements, Mayor Black reminded everyone of the upcoming citywide cleanup dates, and the solar eclipse festival, planned for April 6.

With no other items of business remaining on the agenda, the meeting of the Mansfield City Council was adjourned.

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