CommUNITY – When One is Down, We Lift Them Up!

Featured

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11:31 pm

UNITY

uni·ty
the state of being united or joined as a whole

I see it in all of our coverage areas, when one is downtrodden, hurting or in need–we step up. This week, I was again witness to this favor.

Neighbors opening their homes to others who had no water, a mayor in a neighboring town calling to offer his assistance, businesses donating food and water, and residents checking in on one another. It’s truly a beautiful thing, our commUNITY.

Mansfield Mayor Buddy Black extended his gratitude towards all those who worked to locate and repair the leaks. Additionally, Sebastian County Emergency Management Director Travis Cooper, Scott County Emergency Management Director Keaton Davis, Sebastian County Judge Steve Hotz, Scott County Judge Brian Jones, former Scott County Judge James Forbes, Jim Barkie with ARWA, Jeff Pyles and Stephen Moore at James Fork Regional Water, the National Guard, Fire Chief Michael Smith and members of the VFD, those who assisted in providing water to the Mansfield Juvenile Treatment Facility, Harps, Caseys, Sonic and West Fraser.

“I am thankful for our employees who have worked long hours to try to restore the water to our residents,” stated Black. “I really appreciate the citizens who called in with suggestions and especially for their patience and understanding. Our fire department, Chief Michael Smith, Rick Thomas, and Jason Teague, went above and beyond the call of duty, working tirelessly to distribute water. Also, Jim Barkie with the Arkansas Rural Water Association.

Mayor Black made himself available to those with questions and concerns, consistently engaging workers for updates to pass along to residents, as well as ensuring that water was made available to those who needed it. “I saw so many different faces and talked to so many people, and I am afraid I might miss someone, but I do appreciate everyone working together.”

At the end of the day, well the difficult and trying few days, water was restored. We are left with the reminder, however, that when difficult times come, and they will, we can count on our family, friends and neighbors – our commUNITY!

Habits to Boost Your Mood

Madison VanRavensway

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10:51 pm

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In past years around my Birthday I shared things I had learned in however many years of life. In preparation for my Birthday in 2023 I reread my past articles, and decided for turning 28 I had nothing to share.

I feel like I’m always behind, but when I try to think of who I’m behind, I fall short on coming up with who is ahead. Sometimes staying at home feels like ground hog day.

Rather than wallowing in my mental swamp I seem to be in during these winter months, I started thinking on things I’ve heard to do to help it feel like I am accomplishing things. More often than not I get to the end of the day and wonder what I’ve done all day. Despite being exhausted and knowing I’ve done a lot, the house doesn’t show it.

The first thing I would like to adopt, especially on the days my brain is being really mean, is making a “done list”. To-do lists are so last year! (Or not, if it works for you. Keep making your lists!) But the satisfaction of a to-do list is checking off the list, skip the first list and instead write down the tasks completed. Fed your child/dog/self a snack? Check. Brushed your teeth? Check. Broke up a sibling quarrel? Check. Check check check. Write it down, check it off if the check makes you happy. Write as many or as few tasks as works for you! If you’re like me, you will be shocked to see how much you are accomplishing in a day just on auto pilot.

The second idea was looking for “glimmers” these are small moments in a day that bring you happiness. The perfect cup of coffee. A beautiful sunrise. A hug or someone reaching out to hold your hand. My two year old telling me my hair is pretty even though she usually tells me it needs “ficked”. A bunch of patterns mixed together like a patchwork quilt. Glimmers, sparks, shimmers, happy moments, little pockets of sunshine- rename it. Embrace it. Look for those moments, not the bad ones. Instant mood boosts! If you journal, write some down!

If you’re going into 2024 and your mental health isn’t where it should be, and it’s not just winter blues, I encourage you to talk more to your doctor about it! If you are feeling suicidal I would like to take this time to share 988 is the phone number to call for the suicide hotline in the states. Please reach out, life is better with you in it.

New partnership putting more hands to work for deer management in Arkansas

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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1:17 am

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New partnership putting more hands to work for deer management in Arkansas

By Randy Zellers

Deer clubs throughout The Natural State will have more resources to improve their deer herds than ever before thanks to a new agreement struck between the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the National Deer Association.

Thanks to the new partnership, five biologists will be hired by the NDA, but will aid the AGFC’s new Private Lands Habitat Division by working one-on-one with deer clubs enrolled in the AGFC’s Deer Management Assistance Program throughout the state.

We’ve been looking at a way to revitalize DMAP for a while,” Jeremy Brown, the AGFC’s newly appointed statewide DMAP coordinator who has worked for seven years as the assistant deer program coordinator, said. “A few years back, Ralph Meeker, our deer program coordinator, and I, surveyed all of our participating clubs and performed a bit of an audit on ourselves. We wanted to know how we could improve the program and what sorts of things our clubs wanted to make their deer hunting experience even better. The biggest limiting factor in making those things happen was manpower.”

Brown explained that until this partnership, managing the Deer Management Assistance Program was one of many duties placed on the agency’s private lands biologists.

“Our PLBs are great biologists and really knowledgeable, but they were being pulled in so many directions, they never could devote themselves to DMAP to really be able to make meaningful changes,” Brown said. “I’m not slighting anyone, there just aren’t enough hours in a day for them to cover all the bases these folks had been tasked with. So when Director Booth created the new Private Lands Habitat Division and wanted to increase capacity, I knew now was the time to really think about adding capacity, whether through our staff or partnerships with other agencies.”

Although Brown still hopes to bring on additional DMAP biologists within the AGFC’s ranks, he says working with the NDA was a no-brainer.

“The National Deer Alliance and Quality Deer Management Association merged to form the National Deer Association,” Brown said. “We have received a lot of our deer management training from QDMA before that merge. It’s really a perfect fit.”

Brown says the partnership positions will be similar to others the AGFC has fostered with Quail Forever and Ducks Unlimited, but the focus will be putting habitat on the ground for Arkansas’s most popular game species, the white-tailed deer.

“We’re known for ducks, and we work very hard on turkeys, quail and a variety of other animals, but there’s no doubt that deer are the number one species our hunters pursue,” Brown said. “Our deer herd is in good shape, so a lot of the initiatives we see make it seem like we’re not as focused on them, but I can tell you that’s far from the truth. We want our deer clubs to be just as invested in conservation as every other hunting group out there, and this partnership will give us a much needed tool in our toolbox to really hit another gear in deer conservation and habitat management.”

Brown says the five new positions are being advertised, and he encourages any wildlife biologists with a passion for deer management and working with deer clubs to apply.

“We hope to have boots on the ground within a month or so,” Brown said. “So any deer camps who have been interested in joining DMAP also are welcome to give us a call to learn more about how these new positions will be able to help them improve habitat on their properties with a focus on whitetails.”

Visit https://deerassociation.com/about/employment-opportunities for more information about the new DMAP positions. Visit www.agfc.com/DMAP to learn more about Deer Management in Arkansas.

Timepiece: Hell on the Border

Featured

Tammy Teague

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1:16 am

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By Dr. Curtis Varnell

The old book shelves held dozens of volumes, many I had forgotten about or stuck back for future reference. With snow and ice on the ground, there was no better time than the present. Stuck between two huge volumes was a tattered, yellowed volume entitled Hell On the Border, written by author Frank Eaton. An old volume purchased by my father at some long-forgotten yard sale, the book was a descriptive story of Fort Smith’s historical federal court. Chocked full of actual court descriptions of cases provided over by Judge Isaac Parker, it was a treasure trove of information about frontier justice in Fort Smith and the Indian Territory.

Judge Parker was the third and longest serving of the three federal judges who served the Western District from the end of the Civil War until the late 1890’s. The court, held originally in Van Buren, was moved to Fort Smith in the 1870’s. It serviced Indian Territory, stretching from the Arkansas border across the plains to Colorado and included 74,00 square miles. The area was sparsely populated with an average of only 60,000 people, but those 60,000 included an unholy mixture of shysters, bandits, and thugs of every description. The 1828 treaty with the natives had guaranteed protection for the inhabitants but had seldom lived up to the promise. Parker, a man of integrity was determined to bring law to the region. His motto, “Permit no innocent man to be punished, but no guilty man escape.”

In twenty-one years as judge, Parker tried 13,490 cases, 344 of which were capital crimes. Nine thousand four hundred and fifty-four cases were deemed guilty of conviction. Parker sentenced 160 men to death during those years but only 79 were ever hanged. The rest died in jail, appealed, or were pardoned. Cherokee Bill, James Childers, and Belle Star are some of the most famous outlaws to appear before the judge and the most famous of his 65 deputy marshals was Bass Reeves. It was said the when Judge Parker sent Bass Reeves after you, it was time for you to surrender because he always got his man.

Behind the numbers are the real stories, the stories recounted in court by the victims and the perpetrators of the crimes. Hell on the Border describes many of these, often in more detail than can be recounted. The final testimony of John Whittington is typical of many of those convicted, “I was just what my father taught me to be. He taught me to drink whiskey, and set the example of being a drunk. I took to this practice, and knowing not what I was doing, killed my best friend.” Other stories describe horrendous tales of cleaving someone’s skull with an ax, killing someone over petty arguments or for a few dollars in cash. In 1875, several men including one Joseph Martin, ran across a young couple journeying through the Arbuckle mountains on the way to Texas. Known as “the Bully,” Martin first killed the husband and then took the pretty wife, abused her, and threw her into a six-foot hole filled with rattlesnakes. Her body was found weeks later, still surrounded by the den of snakes. This may have served as inspiration for one of the dominant tales from the movie and book, True Grit.

First referred to in the 1920’s as the Hanging Judge, Parker was thought to be impartial and fair. Although opposed to capital punishment, he yet sentenced more than 70 men to die at the gallows behind the park. He once stated, “it is not the severity of punishment but the surety of punishment that stops crime.” It is said that he shed tears as he sentenced his first person to hang and that he refused to observe the hangings. The hangman in virtually every case was George Maledon. Maledon first served as a deputy marshal and then volunteered to serve as hangman. A dour 5 ft 5-inch man, he was said to be a man without a smile and a tough man to mess with. He shot five men who tried to attack members of the court or attempted to escape. One man was shot and killed with a pistol from 75 yards away as the tried to escape.

So many stories and so much to tell. For a more complete picture, visit the Fort Smith National Park. Let my friend Cody Farber guide you on a tour through the courtroom, the filthy crowded jail space that held dozens of prisoners in the basement, and tell you the true stories of the American west. If so inclined, visit the gallows, ride the trolley, visit the beautiful Bass Reeves monument, or go a few blocks north to the U.S. Marshals Museum. The best part, you learn so much of the good and bad of our history and most is free.

Waldron School Board Meets

News

Tammy Teague

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12:03 am

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The regular monthly meeting of the Waldron School Board was held in the Central Office Building Monday, January 22, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were Clay Woodall, Angela Hunsucker, Mac Davis, Stan Cottrell and Konnor McKay. Others present were Superintendent Daniel Fielding, Misty Owens, Kim Solomon, Cheyenne Smith, Toni Dozier, Chris Lipham, Kristi Sigman, Darla Jeffery, Tonya Cluck, Josh Atchley, Randi Hickman and Zack Taylor.

President Woodall called the meeting to order at 6:29 p.m.and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

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

Angela Hunsucker led the Pledge of Allegiance.

Superintendent Fielding informed everyone that January is School Board Member Appreciation month, and he recognized the school board members for their service to our school.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to add item H) Approve Bid for the Purchase of Jerseys for the Football Team for the Upcoming School Year. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Mac Davis to approve the Consent Agenda items: A) Approval of the December 11^th Minutes; B) Approve Financial Reports and Expenditures; C) Approve Purchase Orders to Amazon; D) Approve Purchase Orders to Great Minds; E) Approve Purchase Order to Lexia Learning System, LLC; F) Approve Purchase Order to National Institute for Excellence in Teaching; G) Approve Purchase Order to Saied Music Company; H) Approve Bid for the Purchase of Jerseys for the Football Team for the Upcoming School Year. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Stan Cottrell to add Item A) Authorization for the District to Request a Waiver to New Business and move the original itemsdown. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to Authorize the District to Request a Waiver to start school on August 12^th. Motion carried 5-0.

Superintendent Fielding informed each of the school board members of the number of training hours they received for 2023.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to approve the Gate Keeper Pay. Motion carried 5-0.

The principals reported on each of their schools. Mrs. Dozier reported that Adventure Online Academy currently has27 students enrolled. Mrs. Jeffery informed the board members that ten 4^th Graders participated in the Spelling Bee. She also stated that iReady testing is underway. Mr. Taylor informed the board members of the Spelling Bee winners, they are as follows: Ajay Cherry, 1^st place, Kayla Tedford, 2^nd place, and Alounpaphay Dala, 3^rd place. Mr. Taylor announced that theBook Fair will be at Middle School starting February 2^nd. Mrs. Solomon reported that the Juniors will be taking the ACT in February. There will be a Reverse Job Fair on April 16^th. The date for Prom has not been determined yet. Coach Atchley reported that FCA has grown so much that the classroom they are meeting in is overflowing.

Assistant Superintendent Chris Lipham informed the board that Jr. High Basketball District will begin February 5^th in Pottsville and Sr. High District will begin February 12^th in Clarksville. Volleyball will be in the 4A Conference next school year. Mr. Lipham also reported that 7 band students tried out for All-Region Band and Ben Crump will go on to try out for All-State Band. Indoor Track at UA will be February 3^rd.

Superintendent Fielding wanted to give a shout out to the maintenance crew during the freezing temperatures for all their work and dedication.

Executive Session Start: 7:16 Executive Session Returned: 8:14

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Stan Cottrell to accept the resignation from Sarah Gouthro from Food Service as of 12-22-2023. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Mac Davis to accept the resignation from Jeremy Hall as Custodian, as of 12-29-2023. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to hire Caleb Smith as Custodian effective January 16, 2024. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Mac Davis to extend Superintendent Fielding’s contract for one more year starting July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Stan Cottrell and seconded by Konnor McKay to adjourn. Motion carried 5-0.

Meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m.

Obituary – Cody “Rod” Lang (1964 – 2024)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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6:24 pm

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Obituary – Cody “Rod” Lang (1964 – 2024)

Cody “Rod” Lang, age 59, of Fruitvale, Texas, passed from this life at his home on January 17, 2024. He was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas, on October 20, 1964 and spent his formative years in Mansfield, Arkansas.

Cody was a remarkable individual who left an indelible mark as the Owner and President of Liquid Oasis Pools & Spas and Earth Tech Land Services. Cody was not only a successful entrepreneur but also an avid hunter who found solace in the great outdoors. His love for the lake and cherished moments spent at Timberlang Ranch brought him immense joy.

Cody’s passion extended to the kitchen, where he delighted in cooking for family and friends. Known for his culinary expertise, he generously hosted and prepared meals for large gatherings, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. Beyond his personal circles, Cody opened his home to contractors and employees, fostering a sense of camaraderie and appreciation.

His legacy lives on through the businesses he built, the memories created, and the connections forged over shared meals and gatherings. Cody Lang will be remembered for his love of nature and the warmth he extended to all who crossed his path.

Cody is survived by his loving wife, Kimberly Johnson Lang of the home; two daughters, Ashely (Geoffrey) Jones of Fruitvale, Texas, and Jamie (Luke) Ballard of Alba, Texas.

Cody’s memory will be cherished by his four grandchildren; Rylee Simmons, Jed Boysen, Garrick Jones, and Frankie Ballard; his brother, Bo (Sharon Jean) Lang and sister, Kim McBee, both of Mansfield, Arkansas; “Brothers”, Brad Fry and Chris Fry; and his mother-in-law, Betty Kimrey of Fort Smith, Arkansas.

Cody was preceded in death by his mother, Shirley (Fry) Lang, brother, Jeff Lang, and Aunt and Uncle, Patsy and Sonny Fry.

The family will receive friends and relatives for Visitation on Tuesday, January 23, 2024 at Fellowship Baptist Church in Witcherville, Arkansas, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm.

Funeral service will be Wednesday, January 24, 2024 at Fellowship Baptist Church at 10:00 am. Officiating the service will be Rev. Gary Martin.

Pallbearers are: Bo Lang, Brad Fry, Chris Fry, Jimmy Franklin, Luke Ballard and Geoffrey Jones

Honorary Pallbearers are: Bobby Johnson and Tommy Eckle

Graveside service will be at 2:00 pm, Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at Freedom Cemetery.

Arrangements under the direction of Martin Funeral & Cremation, Mansfield, Arkansas.

Arrest Reports 1/14

Police Reports

Tammy Teague

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3:06 am

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Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
Hunter Luke Brandenburg of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 19 at 10:25 a.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Brandenburg was charged with Driving While License Cancelled/Suspended/Revoked, Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), and Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

Billy Joe Noble of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 18 at 3:29 a.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Noble was charged with Violation Of A Protection Order Misdemeanor, and Aggravated Assault on a Family or Household Member – Choke.

Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Cabol Ryan Brooks of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 18 at 6:40 p.m. and released on signature bond January 18 at 10:32 p.m. Brooks was charged with Violation Of A Protection Order Misdemeanor.

James Robert McFarlin of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 19 at 4:35 a.m. and released on signature bond January 19 at 6:31 a.m. McFarlin was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Maxwell Morin of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 20 at 9:27 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond January 21 at 2:13 a.m. Morin was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Arresting agency – Mansfield Police Department:
Michael Warren Evans of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 17 at 3:14 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with cash bond. Evans was charged with Failure to Appear – Class A Misdemeanor.

Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H:
Eddie Dale Hice of Paris was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 19 at 12:31 a.m. and remains at the SCADC with bond. Hice was charged with two counts of Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Department:
Mauricio Davilla Robertson of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention on January 15 at 9:35 p.m. and released on January 18 at 8:41 p.m. Robertson was charged with Contempt-Failure to Comply w/ Court A Misd., Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), and Failure to Appear – Class C Misdemeanor.

Kendra Nicole Tanner of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 15 at 1:26 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond January 15 at 2:05 p.m. Tanner was charged with five counts of Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card or Debit Card-Stolen-M, and Theft of Property <$1k.

Arron Wayne Taylor of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 20 at 2:22 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond January 20 at 12:32 p.m. Taylor was charged with Possessing Instrument Of A Crime, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Store or Conceal – Other, and two counts of Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule VI Misdemeanor <4oz.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Department:
Mark Miller, 26 of Van Buren, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 17 at 8:03 p.m. Miller was charged with failure to appear, driving while license suspended or revoked for DWI, and criminal use of prohibited weapons.

Ronnie Kennedy, 42, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 18 at 10:58 p.m. Kennedy was charged with two counts of failure to pay.

James Price, 42, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 19 at 3:45 p.m. Price was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Jospeh Jeffery, 41 of Spiro, OK, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 19 at 6:39 p.m. Jeffery was charged with theft of property GT $1,000 LT $5,000.

Keona Woodbridge, 30, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 19 at 8 p.m. Woodbridge was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

James Emberson, 62 of Magazine, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 20 at 11:03 p.m. Emberson was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Department:
Jay Marshal, 34 of Blytheville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 20 at 5:27 p.m. Marshal was charged with possession of schedule VI with purpose to deliver GT 4oz. but LT 25lbs.

Keniko Torres, 22 of Bells, TN, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 19 at 6:40 p.m. Torres was charged with breaking or entering / building or structure, theft $1,000 or more and less than $5,000 (breaking or entering / building or structure).

Jorge Paraga-Gonzalez, 27 of Ft. Smith, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 19 at 2:20 p.m. Gonzalez was charged with failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor.

Michael Isiah Howe, 21 of Ozark, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 19 at 10:06 a.m. Howe was charged with failure to comply with conditions of pre-trial release.

James Edward Timmerman, 61 of Altus, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 19 at 9:44 a.m. Timmerman was charged with two counts of failure to comply with conditions of pre-trial release.

Saw Lahney Htoo, 36 of Clarksville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 18 at 10:13 p.m. Htoo was charged with criminal contempt of court, and driving while intoxicated – DWI 2nd offense.

Christopher Lee Sutterfield, 36 of Ozark, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 18 at 10:03 a.m. Sutterfield was charged with failure to comply with conditions of pre-trial release.

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

Lady Tigers Douse Dragons To Remain Undefeated

Sports

Adam Hecox

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5:36 pm

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Lady Tigers Douse Dragons To Remain Undefeated

Rankings mean nothing unless there is a match between two opponents where one wins and another loses. Comparing all of the statistics such as like opponents, win/loss record, and rosters doesn’t give the same idea of who’s better. But a head-to-head matchup, now that does. The Mansfield Lady Tigers were supposed to face the Mountainburg Lady Dragons on December 8th, 2023, but that game didn’t happen due to a conflict with the football State Playoffs. At that time, both teams were just getting their feet under them on the court. As the season progressed though, both the Lady Tigers and Lady Dragons developed some hype around their eventual matchup on Friday, January 19th. Mansfield held first place in the 2A-4 with an undefeated conference record and was ranked second in the state while Mountainburg also had dibs on the conference’s top spot with a 5-0 record and sat at 6^th place in the state polls due to an early season loss. But was the overall buildup of this #1 versus #2 2A-4 showdown worth the wait? You bet your bottom dollar it was.

The game started with something you wouldn’t expect from two top-notch teams. Both Mountainburg and Mansfield’s jumpers missed the opening jump ball. Once the butterflies settled, Kaylee Ward tipped the second jump ball to her older sister, Kynslee Ward, and the Lady Tigers went to work. After a missed shot by Mansfield and a turnover by Mountainburg, the Lady Tigers got on the scoreboard first with a long range three-point shot by Kynslee Ward. The Lady Dragons quickly answered with a three-pointer of their own to set the game at 3-3 early in the first quarter. Not to be outdone, Kynslee Ward again drained a three-pointer which forced the Lady Dragons to take a timeout. The timeout didn’t cool Mansfield’s hot streak down though, as Harlie Fuller hit a three-pointer of her own to extend Mansfield’s lead. Mansfield kept the points rolling on through the net as they ran away with a 15-5 lead. But the Lady Tigers had happy feet, which led to multiple traveling calls. The turnovers allowed Mountainburg to cut into the Lady Tigers’ lead to end the first quarter with a 17-9 lead for Mansfield.

The second quarter started with an early foul by Mountainburg which sent Kaylee Ward to the free-throw line where she hit one of two shots. The Lady Dragons took a page out of Mansfield’s book as they drew a foul of their own and hit both shots. Both teams were uncharacteristically sloppy with missed shots, turnovers, and fouls which created a sort of stalemate in the second quarter. A Kynslee Ward to Harley Fuller floor pass broke a two-minute scoring drought for Mansfield as Fuller rolled in a smooth layup to give a 13-point lead to the Lady Tigers over Mountainburg. Alyson Edwards began to show her power at the boards late in the second quarter as she started to get buckets and draw fouls to gain five points in less than a minute. Mountainburg wouldn’t lay down though as the Lady Dragons closed the gap just before halftime with a few short shots and a two-point buzzer-beater to send the teams into halftime with a 29-19 score in Mansfield’s favor.

Mountainburg came out of the half on fire by hitting a three-pointer and drew the foul to get a quick four points. With the score gap now in single digits, Mansfield was in unfamiliar territory. Alyson Edwards was able to push up a pair of shots to give the Lady Tigers some breathing room, but Mountainburg smelled an upset brewing and kept the pressure on Mansfield by getting within three points of the Lady Tigers, 33-30. In close battles, it’s the warriors that step up to take control and Kynslee Ward took a huge step forward for Mansfield by hitting a much needed three-pointer to get the Lady Tigers back to a six-point lead. Heavy defensive pressure by Trinity Triska and Harley Fuller led to a Kaylee Ward short shot to give the Lady Tigers a 38-30 lead. Fuller then showed her offensive side with a big three-pointer to stretch the score back into a double-digit lead for Mansfield, but Mountainburg closed the door again with a three-pointer of their own. Harlie Fuller would have none of that though and rolled in a layup with two minutes left in the third quarter to set the score at 43-33. A three-point shot by Kaylee Ward pushed Mansfield even further ahead giving the feeling that the game was all but done. Mountainburg came right back with a pair of uncontested layups to cut Mansfield’s lead back down to nine points. Alyson Edwards again came through for Mansfield with a forceful board shot to close the third quarter with Mansfield leading Mountainburg 50-39.

With three quarters down and just one to go, this game was living up to the hype. It didn’t matter if it was sloppiness by both teams or just two great programs keeping each other in check, this game was definitely a small-town showstopper for the first three quarters. Someone had to win though, and Alyson Edwards was the one to put Mansfield’s name in the winner’s hat first. Edwards started off the fourth quarter by putting up a board bucket and drew a foul to boot. Trinity Triska’s defensive prowess picked up a few steals which allowed Mansfield to cash in on shots by Kaylee Ward and Alyson Edwards. Edwards continued to push up the Lady Tigers lead as she dominated the final quarter with powerful shots in the paint and drew fouls along the way as the Mansfield Lady Tigers took the win over Mountainburg with a 67-44 final score. Alyson Edwards led the team with 26 points in the game. Sisters Kynslee and Kaylee Ward combined for 33 points while Harlie Fuller closed out Mansfield’s scoring with 8 points. A big road win over the #6 team in the state solidified Mansfield’s name as a true state contender and kept the Lady Tigers with an undefeated 18-0 record.

Consider family meeting to discuss estate plans

Business

Tammy Teague

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1:34 am

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Consider family meeting to discuss estate plans

At some point, you’ll want to share your estate plans with your loved ones — and the first step in this process may be to hold a family meeting.

The best time to hold this meeting is when you’re still in good mental and physical shape, and the enactment of your estate plans may well be years away. But what topics should you cover?

Consider these main areas:

• Your wishes — and those of your family. Use this meeting to introduce your estate plans and, in a basic sense, what you hope to accomplish with them — leave money to your family, support charitable groups and so on. You’ll want to emphasize that you want to be equitable in what you leave behind, but there may be issues that affect this decision, such as disparities in income between grown children or an allowance for a special-needs child. But you’ll also want to listen to what your family members want — and you might be surprised at what they tell you. Consider this: More than 80% of the millennial generation would rather know their parents are financially secure throughout their retirement, even if this means that their parents will pass on less money to them, according to an Edward Jones/Age Wave study.

• Estate planning documents – At the time of your family meeting, you may or may not have already created your estate planning documents, but in either case, this would be a good time to discuss them. These documents may include a will, a living trust, financial power of attorney, health care power of attorney and possibly other arrangements. At a minimum, you’d like to give a general overview of what these documents mean, but at an initial family meeting, you don’t necessarily have to get too detailed. For example, you might not want to talk about specific inheritances. This is also an opportunity to inform your loved ones of the professionals involved in your estate plans, such as your attorney and your tax advisor.

• Roles of everyone involved – Not only does a comprehensive estate plan involve moving parts, such as the necessary documents, but it also includes actual human beings who may need to take on different roles. You will need an executor for your will and, if you have a living trust, you’ll need a trustee. Even if you choose to serve as the initial trustee, you’ll still need to identify one or more successor trustees to take your place if you become incapacitated, or upon your death. Plus, you’ll need to name people to act as your power of attorney for health care and finances. Choosing the right people for these roles involves thought and sensitivity. Obviously, you want individuals who are competent and reliable, but you also need to be aware

that some family members could feel slighted if others are assigned roles they feel they could do. By being aware of these possible conflicts, you can be better prepared to address them.

Here’s one more suggestion: Let your family know that this initial meeting doesn’t mean the end of communications about your estate plans. Encourage your loved ones to contact you with questions whenever they want. You may need to hold additional family meetings in the future, but by laying the initial groundwork, you will have taken a big first step in establishing the legacy you’d like to leave.

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

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

Networks

Tammy Teague

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1:33 am

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“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

Hello everyone! Brrrr, it’s cold here in Mansfield, Arkansas. Hope everyone made it without a fall. I am proud of myself, I slid once, but never went down. I think that is a record for me. I always fall when it snows.

I am so sorry for all our rural water customers without water. Hopefully, by the time this paper comes out, they will have found the leak and have it fixed. No water is no fun.

All this talk about water reminded me of a Buff Jimmy story. For those of y’all that don’t know, Jimmy Brimble practically lived at my house. Him and Jacob were best friends. I’m just gonna tell y’all that he was always an easy target. Jacob and their buddies pestered him a lot. Jimmy is my second son. I love him like he was mine. We loved Buff Jimmy. Oh, the reason we called him Buff Jimmy was because we were at church one time and Mason Weaver was there and he hadn’t seen Jimmy in a while and he says, “wow Jimmy is so buff!” We got the biggest laugh out of that. So, that’s how Buff Jimmy got started.

Back to my story. Chuck Hopkins always had some kind of learning lesson for the boys. He knew facts of all kinds. He was talking to them one day about water and how our drinking water had bleach in it and so on, and Jimmy says, “really, Chuck?” and Chuck said, “really.” That particular day, Jimmy had drunk some tap water and goes outside and tries to gag himself and throw up because had had drank water with bleach in it. He used to get worked up over the simplest things. One time the boys tried to spray bug spray on him and he thought he was going to die. He lived, but he was scared to death. Let me tell ya about keys. He always, not once a week, but every day, lost his keys. We all had to go on a search for his keys. One time we had looked everywhere, and we just couldn’t find them. Mom lived with us because she had Alzheimer’s. So, I asked her if she took them. Noooo, I most certainly did not was her reply. I finally pried her purse away from her and found Buff Jimmy’s keys in her purse. She had everything but the kitchen sink in that purse. I even found a baby bird in it one time. That is a good story, I might as well tell y’all.

I came home from work one day and kept hearing a bird. I asked Jacob if he heard it, he said, “yes, there is a bird’s nest on the front porch with babies in it.” I took that as a good answer, but it sounded like it was in the house and close to my mom. I finally pried the purse from her again and low and behold one of those baby birds had fallen out of the nest and my mom had got a washcloth and wrapped it up and put it in her purse. Please don’t think I am ever making fun of my mother. It was either laugh or cry and I chose laughter. She kept me on my toes that’s for sure. I miss her dearly. Oh, and for Buff Jimmy, he is a manager at Walmart and obviously keeps up with those keys, makes me proud.

This week’s recipe is for a Milk Cake. Yes, Milk Cake. I made it last week for a friend of mine. They said it was delicious. I didn’t’ taste it since I made it for them, but I sure wanted to.

THREE MILK CAKE
1 yellow cake mix, made according to the box directions. Let the cake cool.
1 can of sweetened condensed milk
1 can of evaporated milk
1 1/2 cups whole milk
1 regular container of Cool Whip
2 teaspoons of vanilla (give or take, I didn’t measure)
After the cake is cooled, poke holes in it. While it is cooling, mix all the milks together and mix well. Stir in the vanilla. I know this seems like a lot of milk, but trust me on this, my friend said it was delicious. Now, pour all the milk on top of the cake. I put it in the refrigerator for about an hour and then topped it with Cool Whip. Keep this cake in the refrigerator. It’s better the next day. Have a wonderful week. Be safe and check on your elderly and loved ones!

R

UNITY

uni·​tythe state of being united or joined as a whole

RESIDENT NEWS NETWORK

uni·ty
the state of being united or joined as a whole