Resident News Network

Overtime Thriller in H.B. Stewart Arena

Ross Fujibayashi

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2:28 am

The Greenwood Bulldogs have faced every emotion and every situation in the 2023-2024 season, Friday Night they got to add Overtime game to their portfolio. Greenwood falls short to Mountain Home 56-58.

In the last meeting of the Bombers and Bulldogs, Greenwood had to travel to Mountain Home after playing the night before. The result was a 61-31 loss for the Bulldogs. They were prepared to play the spoiler on Friday Night.

The first quarter played eerily like the girl’s game. Mountain Home would score first, with Braden Bollman answering right back with a 3-point basket. The one-point edge held through the first quarter with the Bulldogs leading 13-12. Bollman had 8 points, classmate L.J. Robins had four points, and Peyton Presson adding a free throw.

In the second quarter Mountain Home found slight breathing room with a five-point advantage going into the half. Three-point baskets from Jayden Garnes and Brendan Chick kept the Bulldogs close. Bollman added another two-points to his total.

In the past two weeks, teams have come out of the half with an advantage and used it to jump ahead of the Bulldogs quickly. The Greenwood defense kept the Bombers in check and kept Mountain Home from going on a run. The score at the end of three quarters 36-39. The Bulldogs were now knocking on the door heading into the final quarter in regulation.

While Mountain Home would open the quarter with a three-point basket, Greenwood’s nine-point run saw the Bulldogs tie the game and then push to a three-point lead with 4:25 left in regulation. The Bombers added six-points before the end of regulation to Greenwood’s three to leave the game at 48-48.

Greenwood would strike first in Overtime with a Peyton Presson two-point basket. Mountain Home answered with a three-point basket of their own. Brendan Chick would add two more points giving Greenwood the lead back. A trip to the foul line and a two-point basket would put the Bombers up by two. L.J. Robins gets a three-point basket to pull the ‘Dogs ahead by one-point. Trips to the foul-line for both teams almost had the game facing a second overtime. Braden Bollman missed his second free-throw that the Bulldogs rebounded. Timeout at 3.6 seconds is called by Greenwood. As the ball is brought back into play, L.J. Robins gets the chance to win the game with a three-point basket. It hits near the back of the rim and bounces down. Mountain Home won 58-56.

“It was a great game, I mean it was,” Head Coach B.J. Ross said after the game. “If you were a fan, it’s a great game.”

“We had great fight, we had our chances. We gave a couple of them away.” Coach Ross said, “There’s fight, that guy right there *pointing at L.J. Robins* there’s fight in that guy. He had a great game tonight.”

“Peyton Presson, [Brenden] Chick, Lane Philpot come in and gave us great minutes. Bollman had one of his best defensive outings of the year.” said Coach Ross, “Jayden plays great, Jayden handles the ball 95% of the time.”

The Bulldogs now have two games left in the season. Tuesday they travel to Alma and then on Friday they finish with Greenbrier. “The support, the way the towns coming out, the way the students are coming out. Good things are happening.” Coach Ross said finishing the interview.

Lady Bulldogs Outpace Lady Bombers

Ross Fujibayashi

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1:12 am

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In the first meeting between the two schools, the Lady Bulldogs had played a game the night before against Siloam Springs then made the trip to Baxter County the next night. Mountain Home would hand the Lady Bulldogs their first conference loss since 2019 in a 46-55. On Senior Night in H.B. Stewart Arena, the Greenwood set out to prove they are the team to beat in Class 5A with an 80-55 win.

Both teams played equally in the first period, ending with a score of 16-16. It took two minutes of game time before either team would score a basket. Carley Sexton ended the first quarter with eight points, followed by Anna Trusty with six points. Junior Izzy Smith got on the board with points from the free-throw line.

Senior Brooklyn Woolsey opened the 2nd period with a 3-point basket, from there Greenwood pulled away from Mountain Home. A missed 3-point basket from Kylah Pearcy was rebounded by Anna Trusty who ended the Lady Bulldog possession with two-points from under the basket. The Lady Bulldogs outscored Mountain Home 18-8 going into the half. Carly Sexton again, led the scoring charge with six points, Anna Trusty had five points. Brooklyn Woolsey with three points, and Izzy Smith and Kylah Pearcy with two each.

Brooklyn Woolsey started the second half just as she started the previous quarter with a three-point basket to start things off. Woolsey would get Greenwood past the 50-point mark with another 3-pointer enroute to her nine-point performance. Kylah Pearcy added eight points, and Anna Trusty with another five-points. The Lady Bulldogs led going into the fourth period, 56-38 over the Lady Bombers.

A foul under the basket getting a rebound found Anna Trusty in foul trouble, picking up her fourth foul of the night. Carley Sexton took the Lady Bulldogs to the 80-point mark, where the Lady Bulldogs would end the night. Greenwood won 80-55.

The Lady Bulldogs have just two more games to go in the 2023-2024 regular season. On Tuesday they travel to Alma and then finish the regular season against Greenbrier on Friday Night.

State Emergency Response Agencies Take Part in Exercise to Prepare for the 2024 Solar Eclipse

News

Tammy Teague

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11:35 pm

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State Emergency Response Agencies Take Part in Exercise to Prepare for the 2024 Solar Eclipse

On February 15, 2024, federal, state, local, and private agencies participated in a tabletop exercise for the 2024 Great Northern American Solar Eclipse.

“Although we have no way of predicting all of the challenges we will face on April 8th, we are doing everything in our power to ensure the safety of Arkansans and families visiting our state for the solar eclipse,” said Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar. “I am so impressed by the extraordinary planning and preparation that has gone into this, and I am grateful to all those who spent the day at Camp Robinson brainstorming and problem solving so that we can mitigate as many problems as possible.”

The Arkansas Department of Emergency Management (ADEM) organized the event to discuss scenarios and test the response capabilities in preparation for the April 8 Solar Eclipse. The primary focus of the exercise was to examine the objectives and core capabilities required to handle the influx of visitors in the western, central, and northeastern parts of Arkansas, including the counties directly and indirectly affected by the eclipse. Nearly two-thirds of the state is inside the path of totality for the eclipse. The aim was to encourage exercise participants to review, share, and update their response plans during and after the exercise.

Several scenarios, such as severe weather, transportation and traffic management issues, and potential fuel shortages, may impact Arkansans during the solar eclipse. Additionally, there may be emergency events that could arise before, during, and after the eclipse. The exercise included communication, public information, and services related to public health and emergency medical services.

ADEM has been holding operational calls for the last year in preparation for the event. On Saturday, April 6, ADEM will activate its Emergency Operational Center. A quick-reference map of eclipse-related events planned across the state can be here.

Due to an expected influx of visitors to Arkansas, the Arkansas State Police (ASP) will play a crucial role in ensuring public safety surrounding the even. ASP will work closely with other law enforcement agencies to combat potential safety risks, manage hazards, monitor traffic flow, and enforce road safety regulations. ASP officials advise those who plan to attend the event to prepare ahead of time and be patient, as travel on the main interstates may be congested.

“We want everyone to enjoy the excitement of the day, but also be prepared for some delays and inconveniences,” Hagar said. “We’re asking for patience and understanding as we do our best to clear hurdles that will undoubtedly arise.”

Visitors to Arkansas are encouraged to explore the state’s beauty, history, and culture by checking out events and happenings at Arkansas State Parks. Click here for more information on places to go and things to visit while in the Natural State.

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) will provide additional message boards throughout the state to keep motorists updated on any traffic situations affecting their travel plans. ARDOT has a dedicated website for the latest information on the upcoming eclipse along withIDrive Arkansas.

To ensure safety, the National Weather Service recommends that travelers have multiple ways to receive weather warnings, as the large number of visitors in the state may disrupt cellular service. Travelers should also bring a portable weather station to stay informed and alerted to any potential severe weather that may occur before, during, or after the Solar Eclipse.

The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management (ADEM) is the state’s homeland security and preparedness agency. The agency works to identify and lessen the effects of emergencies, disasters and threats to Arkansas by developing effective prevention, preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery actions for all disasters and emergencies. For additional information, contact ADEM at (501) 683-6700 or visit the website at www.adem.arkansas.gov.

How Will Higher Rates Affect You?

Business

Tammy Teague

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9:40 pm

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As you know, interest rates have risen considerably over the past couple of years.

But what does this mean to you, as a consumer and as an investor?

From a consumer’s standpoint, it’s not hard to see the effects of higher interest rates. If you want to take out a mortgage or refinance an existing one, you’ll find that it’s considerably more costly, in terms of the interest you’ll pay, than it was a few years ago. And the same is true of car loans and credit cards. Paying these debts at higher rates can affect your cash flow, so while rates are high, you may need to make some important decisions about your overall budget and spending plans.

As an investor, though, you may find the effects of higher interest rates to be somewhat more complex. That’s because higher rates can have a different impact on different types of investments, such as stocks and bonds.

When considering stocks, be aware that not all market sectors will respond the same way to higher interest rates. For example, the financial sector, which includes banks, insurance companies and brokerage firms, may benefit from higher rates. On the other hand, smaller technology companies, which still must invest heavily in their businesses, may not do as well due to rising interest rates making it more expensive for them to borrow. And other sectors will respond differently to higher rates. Keep in mind, though, that there’s great variance within sectors and among companies, so when you consider purchasing stocks, evaluate each choice on its merits and make sure it fits within your risk tolerance, time horizon and need for portfolio diversification. When you diversify your investment dollars, you can reduce the risk of market volatility affecting just one type of asset, although diversification by itself can’t protect against all losses.

With fixed-income investments, such as bonds, interest rate movements can have significant and direct impacts. When interest rates rise, the value of your current bonds will likely fall because new bonds can pay higher rates. However, you can also buy bonds at the new, higher rates and benefit from bigger interest payments.

Still, there’s no guarantee that interest rates will stay elevated – in fact, the Federal Reserve has indicated that it might actually start cutting rates in 2024 – which is why it may be a good idea to build what’s known as a “ladder” consisting of short-, intermediate- and long-term bonds. Once you have your ladder in place, you’ll have some protection from interest-rate movements. So, if rates were to keep rising, you could reinvest the proceeds of your short-term

bonds in the new, higher-paying ones. But if rates level off, or even fall, you’ll still benefit from your longer-term bonds, which typically (but not always) pay higher rates than short-term ones.

Of course, if you hold your bonds until maturity, you will continue to get the same interest payments, regardless of where market rates go.

In any case, it’s useful to be aware of what’s happening with interest rates — the more you know about the factors affecting your investments, the better off you’ll be.

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

Registration opens Feb. 26 for Walk Across Arkansas Spring 2024

Lifestyle

Tammy Teague

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9:31 am

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Registration opens Feb. 26 for Walk Across Arkansas Spring 2024

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

For many Arkansans, the start of a new year includes resolutions to exercise more and develop healthy habits. Walk Across Arkansas, an eight-week, group-based exercise program supported by the Cooperative Extension Service, is designed to help Arkansans get on their feet and connect with their peers.

The Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach and education arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, offers Walk Across Arkansas each spring and fall. Participants log their total number of minutes spent being physically active each day. Any moderate to vigorous physical activity that boosts the heart rate counts — not just walking.

Heather Wingo, extension health program associate for the Division of Agriculture, said Walk Across Arkansas helps participants improve their mental and physical health.

“Walk Across Arkansas is not just a step towards physical well-being,” she said. “It’s a stride towards a healthier, happier life.”

Registration for the spring 2024 session opens Feb. 26, and participants can register and log exercise minutes at walk.uada.edu/walk/. The competition starts March 11 and ends May 12. Teams can consist of one person and up to 30 people.

Program benefits

Past participants of the program have reported improved sleep, more energy, stress relief and weight loss, in addition to new relationships with Walk Across Arkansas teammates.

“This program helps people connect over a common goal and have fun achieving it,” Wingo said. “Participants often motivate each other through friendly competition with other teams in their community, and having the encouragement of your teammates is a great way to stay inspired.”

During the fall 2023 Walk Across Arkansas session, 464 Arkansans in 95 teams logged 1,188,942 physical activity minutes. Fifty-two of the state’s 75 counties were represented among participants.

Anyone can participate in Walk Across Arkansas. Division of Agriculture employees must use a personal email address, not their work email address, to register. Visit walk.uada.edu/walk/ to learn more and register or contact your local county extension agent.

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

Men’s Basketball to face St. Edward’s, St. Mary’s for Homecoming

Sports

Tammy Teague

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2:19 pm

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Men’s Basketball to face St. Edward’s, St. Mary’s for Homecoming

FORT SMITH, Ark. – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Men’s Basketball is set to host St. Edward’s and St. Mary’s this week as the Lions enter the final stretch of the regular season.

The Lions will face St. Edward’s Thursday at 7:30 p.m. followed by St. Mary’s at 3 p.m. Saturday. Both games will be streamed on the Lone Star Conference Digital Network and broadcast on Fox Sports Radio 103.5. Live stats will be available at uafortsmithlions.com.

NOTES:

LAST WEEK: The Lions split their road trip at Texas A&M International and Texas A&M-Kingsville, sweeping the Javelinas with a 74-70 win.

DISHING IT OUT: Guard Cameron Bush passed out a career-high nine assists in the win over A&M-Kingsville.

CRASHING THE GLASS: UAFS had its largest rebounding margin of the season against a NCAA II opponent, by outrebounding Texas A&M-Kingsville, 42-26. 18 rebounds were on the offensive end, leading to a 23-4 advantage in second chance points.

RECORD WATCH: Guard Payton Brown ranks sixth with 1,146 career points and fifth with 158 made threes. He is also fourth with 294 made free throws. Bush is eighth with 188 assists and tied for fifth with 93 steals.

SCOUTING SEU: The Hilltoppers are 17-8, 10-6 LSC after having won three of their last four games. St. Edward’s leads the LSC in free throw percentage at 79.4 percent. Four players average double figures, led by center Sean Elkington at 17.8 points and 8.0 rebounds per game.

SCOUTING STMU: The Rattlers are 10-12, 6-10 LSC but are just 2-7 away from home. St. Mary’s allows the second most points in the league at 81.4 points per game and is fifth in scoring at 82.1 per game. Guard Davion Coleman leads St. Mary’s with 14.6 points per game.

THE SERIES: The series is tied with St. Edward’s, 15-15, while the Lions lead the series with St. Mary’s, 16-14.

Waldron School Board Meets in Regular Session

News

Tammy Teague

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6:55 pm

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Waldron School Board Meets in Regular Session

The regular monthly meeting of the Waldron School Board was held in the Central Office Building Monday, February 12, 2024, at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were Clay Woodall, Angela Hunsucker (came in late), Mac Davis, Stan Cottrell and Konnor McKay. Others present were Superintendent Daniel Fielding, Misty Owens, Kim Solomon, Darla Jeffery, Keith Brigance, Kristi Sigman, Toni Dozier, Tonya Cluck, Zack Taylor, Randi Hickman, Lisa Allen and Cheyenne Smith.

President Clay Woodall called the meeting to order at 6:44 p.m.

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

Mac Davis led the Pledge of Allegiance.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Konnor McKay to approve the Consent Agenda items: A) Approval of the January 22nd Minutes; B) Approve Financial Reports and Expenditures; C) Approve Invoice to ASBA for Worker’s Compensation Insurance; D) Approve Purchase Order to Imagine Learning, LLC; E) Approve Purchase Order to MF Athletics (Everything Track and Field). Motion carried 4-0.

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

A motion was made by Stan Cottrell and seconded by Konnor McKay to adopt and approve the 2024-25 Alternative School Calendar. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Konnor McKay to approve the Inclement Weather Calendar Waiver Request. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Stan Cottrell and seconded by Mac Davis to approve the 2023-24 Alternate School Calendar, beginning February 19, 2024. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to approve the ABC Program Inclement Weather Days. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to approve the Resolution for Facility Master Plan. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to approve the Performance Targets for Superintendent for SY 2024-25. Motion carried 5-0.

Each of the school principals reported on the happenings at their buildings and upcoming events. Parent Teacher Conferences will be this Thursday from 2:00 to 7:00. Mrs. Dozier reported that the ABC and First Step will be participating in Read Across America the last week of February. She stated they are also starting to plan summer school, the spring picnic and ABC graduation. Mrs. Jeffery presented the board members with the mid-year iReady scores for the Elementary School which showed great improvement. Mr. Taylor stated that the Jr. High FBLA attended the District I Spring Leadership Conference in Fort Smith, several members competed against peers from around the district. Results are as follows: Justi Hunsucker, 1st place FBLA Mission and Pledge speech, Chris Canada, 2nd place Mr. Jr. Future Business Leader, Aniya Her, 3rd place Business Letters, Audrey Bowman, 3rd place Digital Citizenship, Braxton Turner, 4th place Exploring Computer Science, Chloe Richmond, 5th place Digital Citizenship, Mady Dunavant, 5th place Financial Literacy, Lilly Rincker, 5th place Leadership, Jasper Denton, 5th place Interpersonal Communication. All the spring clubs are back into full swing at the Middle School as well. Mrs. Solomon informed the board of the many activities that are happening at the High School some of which include: Reverse job fair, seniors have started their college visits, history students will be working the voting poles, and Sr. High Basketball teams have District this week. There were also 8 students that took the educational Praxis test and all 8 passed. Congratulations to Ben Crump for making All State Band.

Superintendent Fielding recognized the boys track team for placing 3rd at State Indoor.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to accept the resignation of Bethelene Davenport as of February 19, 2024, from First Step Paraprofessional. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to extend Assistant Superintendent Chris Lipham’s contract for the 2024-25 school year. Motion carried 5-0.

A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Mac Davis to rehire Administrators (see attached list) for the 2024-25 school year. Motion carried 5-0.

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

Meeting adjourned at 7:43 p.m.

Magazine FBLA Members Reap Rewards Of Hard Work at District I Spring Conference

Featured

Tammy Teague

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6:50 pm

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Magazine FBLA Members Reap Rewards Of Hard Work at District I Spring Conference

Article contributed by Jonathan W. Gipson, Magazine Schools Media Relations

MAGAZINE – Magazine High School’s Future Business Leaders of America Chapter reaped the rewards of its members’ hard work and preparation on Thursday (Feb.8) with 14 students earning 12 awards and two members being voted into district-level leadership roles at the District I Spring Conference in Fort Smith.

Twenty-six students attended the Spring Conference with students earning awards in various areas of academic and skill competitions, including four first-place performances.

Carissa Webster finished first in Marketing Concepts, Everlee Chappell finished first in Learning Strategies, Anberlyn Turley finished first in Financial Literacy and Madison Kilgore in Career Exploration.

“I am so proud of these amazing kids,” Magazine High School Business Teacher and FBLA Sponsor Brad Smith said. “Qualifying for state is one thing, but the fact that we had four kids get first place in their event was very impressive.”

Tempiest Dickens finished second in Accounting, and Phoebe Hopper finished second in Intro to Public Speaking. Alyssa Morris finished third in Cyber Security, and the team of Abby Crandall, Daniel Green and Bryson Smith finished third in Sports and Entertainment Management.

Kauree Bennett finished fourth in Impromptu Speaking, and Aura Turner finished fourth in Leadership. Elizabeth Duvall finished fifth in Business Communications, and Zoey Thurman finished sixth in UX Design.

“Early in the school year, the students decide on what event they want to compete in,” Smith explained. “Once they have decided, they have to go to work studying for objective tests or practicing for their live performances at the conference.”

Magazine’s FBLA Chapter will have two of its own in a district leadership position for the upcoming school year. Morris was elected as District I Vice President, and Bennett was elected District I Treasurer.

“Having a student represent their school by being a district officer is huge. The students aren’t just competing in an event, they are actively taking part in Future Business Leaders of America in all that it entails,” Smith said.

“All District Presidents are State Vice Presidents by default. Alyssa is primed and ready to run for District I President/State Vice President next school year. This year’s newly elected District President was actually the District Vice President last year. I like Alyssa’s chances for next year.”

All award winners qualified for the Arkansas FBLA State Convention on April 29-30 in Little Rock.

Timepiece: Titan II

Featured

Tammy Teague

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6:47 pm

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By Dr. Curtis Varnell

My friend Lee Roy McConnell was on a weekend family excursion. He and his family thought they were in the middle of nowhere, just driving and exploring some of the rural areas north of Conway when they encountered a barricaded roadblock. Manned by serious looking military police that demanded his I.D. and his reason for being there, Mr. McConnell quickly realized he was located in a place he wasn’t wanted and where he didn’t want to be. America was in the middle of the cold war with Russia, and everyone knew that Arkansas had several hidden missile silos containing nuclear weapons. A 1965 missile accident near Searcy had resulted in the death of 53 workers- the largest number killed in any U.S. nuclear weapons facility. The accident had occurred during a maintenance period when a welder accidently cut through a hydraulic line touching off an oxidizer explosion and fire. The accident would have been much more serious had the nuclear warhead not been removed prior to the accident.

Mr. McConnell knew there were many more such sites and, given the rural area and the military presence, he realized he had stumbled upon one. The U.S. Air Force Strategic Missile Wing, working out of Jacksonville air base, maintained 18 silos in the region. Each silo was equipped with the newest Titan II missile, an ICBM with a capability of delivering a nuclear warhead 6,000 miles and landing on site with 90% accuracy. Each warhead carried more explosive than had been dropped by mankind throughout history- even counting the two nuclear devices dropped on Japan. A year or so later, his deductions proved correct.

On September 18, 1980, two workers entered the huge silo at missile complex 374-7, located on a rural farm just outside of Damascus, AR. As they descended into the eight-story deep silo, one of the workers dropped an eight-pound socket off of his huge wrench. The huge socket tumbled downward, eventually striking and piercing the outside layer of the fuel tank. The silo was evacuated, and a crew sent in to prevent disaster. This time, the missile silo wasn’t empty, the nine-megaton Titan II nuclear warhead was attached with enough explosive power to destroy half the state.

In spite of the efforts of the crew, at around 3 a.m. the next morning, the hypergolic fuel in the tank exploded. The 740-ton silo door was blown away, the second stage of the rocket exploded, and the W53 thermonuclear warhead was launched out of the silo, landing about 100 ft. from the complex’s entry gate. Several personal stories of the event can be found on-line and in the Arkansas Encyclopedia of History and Culture. One survivor describes being blown 50-60 foot away and remembers being surrounded by huge chunks of falling concrete and streams of fire. Others described the jet of fire, shooting high into the air and lighting the countryside and the panic as people left the site. Steve Taylor, who was the Arkansas Democrat writer on-site when the explosion occurred, remembered asking one of the airmen where he should go. The airman pulled off his mask, “As far as you can, as fast as you can.” Sounds like great advice!!

The Titan II missile safety code prevented it from exploding and, according to government sources, no nuclear materials were exposed. Twenty-one people were injured and one, Airman David Livingston, was killed. Clean-up operations gathered debris from 400 acres surrounding the site and the total cost was nearly one-quarter of a billion dollars. The resulting congressional inquiry into the incident required “modification” of the Air Force’s ability to deny the existence of nuclear weapons at an accident site.

The Titan II program was deactivated by President Reagan and the last site in Arkansas was closed in 1987. As far as is known, Arkansas has no-known silos for nuclear weapons in the state but, if you’re out wandering around the state in the middle-of-nowhere and run across an official yellow and black radiation sign stating stay out, it might be wise to heed the warning.

Local Chambers Promote April’s Total Eclipse

News

Tammy Teague

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6:03 pm

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Local Chambers Promote April’s Total Eclipse

The 2024 Great Solar Eclipse will traverse across much of Arkansas, including Scott, Sebastian, Franklin and Logan County, on Monday April 8, 2024.

Arkansas Parks & Tourism along with many local chambers of commerce have invested considerable funds for promotion of this event as it could potentially bring in 1.5 million visitors to our state, along with millions of dollars in tax revenue.

In the path of totality, locations will see almost two minutes of darkness shortly after 1 p.m. There are some festival type events planned in our immediate area in connection with the eclipse. However, with this event taking place on a Monday, there may potentially be a gradual influx of visitors coming into the region as soon as Thursday, April 4, for the purpose of enjoying outdoor recreation activities in the Ozark National Forest and other popular camping and recreation venues.

MANSFIELD AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
“Cosmic Eclipse Festival” on April 6 at the gazebo, downtown Mansfield. There will be vendors, concession available, entertainment, and commemorative items such as t-shirts, eclipse glasses, keychains and much more available. Vendors are welcome to set up around the gazebo (please not underneath it) early, and again on Sunday and Monday.

WALDRON AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
“The Great North America Solar Eclipse” The Waldron Area Chamber of Commerce will be selling commemorative t-shirts with sponsored by local businesses.

PARIS AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE:
“Sunsational Shopping – Get Geeky During Eclipse Weekend”: April 6-8, 2024, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Costume contest daily at noon with the following themes – April 6, stars/NASA; April 7, UFO/Alien; April 8, Sun/Moon. The event will feature kids activities, food, crafts and vendors. Event location: 25 W. Walnut, Paris, AR.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF SOUTH LOGAN COUNTY BOONEVILLE AND MAGAZINE:
“Total Eclipse in the Park” will be held April 6-8, 2024. It will be a fun weekend of activities, and include crafts, a food market, and free music. The event will be held at Broadway Park in downtown Booneville.

REMEMBER: If you plan to view the eclipse, be sure to have proper eyewear. Eclipse viewing glasses and handheld solar viewers should meet the following criteria:
• Have certification information with a designated ISO 12312-2 international standard.
• Have manufactures name and address printed somewhere on the product.
• Not be used if they are older than three years or have scratched or wrinkled lenses.
• Ordinary sunglasses – even the very dark ones – should NOT be used as a replacement for eclipse viewing glasses.

This is going to be a historic event, in fact, in the remainder of this decade no fewer than six solar eclipses will be viewable from the U.S. and Canada. But do keep in mind that if it is not cloudy or rainy, there will potentially be a lot of extra folks in the area in the days leading up to it, and the day of. Many will be leaving as daylight begins to reappear to either follow the event, or to return home. This may be the most likely time for congested roads. Plan ahead to have what you need!

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RESIDENT NEWS NETWORK