Resident News Network

Staff Story Picks for 2023

Featured

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1:02 am

In lieu of the traditional story year-end wrap up, we asked our staff and contributors to submit their article pick for 2023 and share what made it memorable.

ADAM HECOX
When a program gets a new head coach (in any sport), questions swirl as to how the players and community will react to any changes in the program. When Whit stepped in as the Head Coach for the Mansfield football program, he made it very clear very quick as to what his plans were…..a complete rebuild. The article was a feel-good story where instead of a new coach coming in with a sledgehammer to dismantle everything, Overton used the Boot Camp as the first stone laid in place for a new era of Tigers football. Through team building activities such as fishing derbies, community service, bowling, and some sermons by the ol’ pond, the players were able to see Overton’s vision clearly and began setting their stacking up their own stones for the season. Practices were equally mixed in with fun and a true family/team relationship became more than just a slogan for the program. The Boot Camp was more than football, it was more about young men accepting a drastic change and willingly deciding to take a newer yet harder path to earn success. That’s something that doesn’t happen very often…. especially at their age. If the Boot Camp wasn’t one of the main factors in the Tigers 2023 success, then I don’t know what was.
Story link: SR Tigers Mix Work And Play At First Annual Boot Camp | Resident News Network

DR. JIM BEST
In a great year for RNN Sports coverage, my favorite sports story choice was a very difficult one. But in the River Valley, I believe the County Line state championship basketball season of 2022-23 was not only the best story, but one that may not be repeated for generations. The Indians were a perfect 45-0 on the season and marched through the first three rounds of the Class 1A state tournament virtually unchallenged. Their championship run ended with a thrilling last-second shot that gave the Indians the state title over Marked Tree in Hot Springs at Bank OZK Arena. County Line’s historical season was one for the ages and is my pick for the top sports story this year in the River Valley!
Story link: County Line Finishes Improbable Perfect Season at 45-0 and a State Championship | Resident News Network

TAMMY MOORE-TEAGUE
My pick for story of the year in 2023 was the feature on Johnny and Judy Culver, owners of Master Made Concrete. So many times in an article I’m not afforded the ability to editorialize–but with this one, it was really hard not too. The feature on their business became personal to me, and in the end, I felt like I had made a family of new friends. Their daughter, Kristi, and her parents – it was a true gift to come to know them. Their faith-based business is one of humble inspiration. It reminds me of why I love doing what I do! Thank you, Culver family, for allowing me to share your story and for being such a blessing!
Story link: Local Concrete Business Credits Success to God, Family and Friends | Resident News Network

MADISON VANRAVENSWAY
I love anything to do with quilting, but I really loved the history and learning about friendship quilts. I have a closet full of quilts! My Ma and Granny, and my great granny’s all quilted. I haven’t seen any with signatures like this, so it was really interesting to me.
Story link: Timepiece: Friendship Quilts | Resident News Network

On behalf of all of us at Resident News, thank you for supporting us. We close out 2023 with gratitude and bright hopes for 2024!

ARDOT Reminds Drivers- Don’t be a Left Lane Loafer

News

Tammy Teague

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1:01 am

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ARDOT Reminds Drivers- Don’t be a Left Lane Loafer

The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) and law enforcement officials are reminding drivers to use the left lane for passing only.

In 2021, Act 1090 was passed into Arkansas State Law which outlines the conditions drivers must meet while traveling on multilane highways in the same direction.

Act 1090 was designed to prevent backups on roadways and, in turn, increase safety by limiting left-lane driving to passing only.

Except for situations when lanes are blocked, the law requires drivers to use the right lanes for travel, reserving the left-most lane for passing only.

“We want to remind drivers that it’s illegal and dangerous to impede the flow of traffic by driving in the left lane,” said Arkansas Highway Police Chief Jeff Holmes.

A recent report shows that 411 citations and 3,100 warnings for left-lane driving have been issued by state and local law enforcement since the law went into effect in 2021.

“Some people don’t realize they are breaking the law when they continuously drive in the left lane and impede other vehicles from passing.” ARDOT Director Lorie Tudor stated.

“ARDOT and our law enforcement agencies are working to educate drivers and increase safety on our roadways.”

SR Lady Tigers “Ward” Off Lavaca For Conference Win

Sports

Adam Hecox

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1:29 am

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SR Lady Tigers “Ward” Off Lavaca For Conference Win

When the Mansfield Lady Tigers fell in the semifinal of last year’s State Playoffs, the juniors and sophomores of the 2022-23 group could have easily just given up on their upcoming 2023-24 season. Doing so wouldn’t have been hard to do as the Lady Tigers lost a group of very talented seniors in Natalie Allison, Skylynn Harris, Seven Sanderson, and Brooklyn Adams to graduation which was a “sizable” loss for the program. Instead of laying down after losing their giants of the hardwood though, the Lady Tigers program accepted the challenge to continue Mansfield’s winning ways en route to a 10-0 start to the 2023-24 season. Mansfield hasn’t played any powder puffs along the way either as the Lady Tigers have defeated teams like Booneville, Pea Ridge, Elkins, Poteau, Waldron, Hackett, Cedarville, Western Yell, and Charleston. The Lady Tigers won number ten on Tuesday, December 19th against the Lavaca Lady Golden Arrows and did so in grand fashion with a 53-19 victory.

Mansfield’s Kaylee Ward won the opening tip off and just like that it was off to the races as the Lady Tigers sister act took center stage with Kaylee Ward dishing the ball to her older sibling, Kynslee Ward for an easy layup. The Lady Tigers outbounded Lavaca at the other end of the court and Kaylee Ward took the ball in for a contested board bucket forcing Lavaca to take an early time out at the 6:10 mark in the first quarter. Lavaca couldn’t get on target with their shots early on which allowed Mansfield to take full advantage of their on-court talent. Alyson Edwards made a sweet assist to Kaylee Ward for a layup which was soon followed by a Kynslee Ward breakaway layup and then Kaylee Ward’s three-point swish giving the Lady Tigers an 11-0 lead. Lavaca finally broke Mansfield’s run with a steal that led to a layup which put a pause on Mansfield’s accuracy for the remainder of the first quarter. The Lady Tigers began to make mental mistakes and miss free throws which allowed Lavaca to close the gap to a 14-7 game at the first-quarter buzzer.

The Lady Tigers’ hot start continued to cool in the second quarter with both Mansfield and Lavaca trading turnovers back and forth to start the second quarter. Ill-advised passes and missed shots made it to where Mansfield eked out just four points halfway through the quarter until head coach, Ethan Bowman, called a timeout at the 5:30 mark to settle his team down. The timeout allowed the Lady Tigers starters to calm their nerves and catch their breath, but Lavaca was able to do the same as the second quarter continued back and forth on the scoreboard. Harley Fuller battled her way into the paint for a rebound and put back which got the Lady Tigers bench on their feet. Lavaca countered though with a wide-open three-point shot to get within eight points of the Lady Tigers. Lavaca focusing on the Ward sisters worked for a bit, but it backfired as they left an ever-dangerous Alyson Edwards open at the boards for an easy board bucket. Mansfield maintained their lead but by drawing fouls and sinking free throws, the Lady Golden Arrows stayed in the game as the teams went into the half with Mansfield leading 21-12.

It’s a known fact that the Lady Tiger teams over the past few years have been second-half teams. The Lady Tigers showed Lavaca that they’re not going to change up what has proven to be successful as Mansfield laid it on the Lady Golden Arrows in the third quarter. Mansfield started the third quarter with a Kaylee Ward jump shot which was followed by Trinity Triska weaving her way into the basket for a score. The quick back-to-back scores forced Lavaca to call a time out but the slight break in the game didn’t cool down the Lady Tigers hot streak, not this time. Kynslee Ward kept the hardwood burning with rebounds, steals, and full-court drives for points to push Mansfield’s lead higher and higher. Harlie Fuller showed that the Lady Tigers’ defense is just as good as their offense as they knocked the ball out from a Lavaca player and then crashed to the floor to retrieve it. The defensive effort by Fuller was not in vain as she pushed the ball from the floor to Alyson Edwards who took it down for an easy bucket. Another Kynslee Ward steal led to more points by Alyson Edwards stretching the score even further in the Lady Tigers’ favor. Kaylee Ward put the final touches on the third quarter with a jump shot and two free throws as Mansfield held Lavaca to zero points and went into the final quarter with a commanding 40-12 lead.

The fourth quarter was short, sweet, and to the point as Alyson Edwards, Kaylee Ward, and Kynslee Ward put the game out of reach for Lavaca by adding another 14 points to the scoreboard. The Lady Tigers’ defense bent slightly, but still only allowed seven points as Mansfield snapped the Lady Golden Arrows with a 54-19 final score. Kaylee Ward led the Lady Tigers in scoring and rebounds with 21 points, 16 rebounds, and 9 blocks in the game. Alyson Edwards finished with an impressive 16 points and 8 rebounds. Kynslee Ward recorded a triple-double with scoring 12 points, 10 rebounds, and 10 steals against Lavaca. Trinity Triska and Harlie Fuller both wound up with two points and two assists each and the duo combined for 8 steals to boot. The win puts Mansfield with a 10-0 overall record and a 2-0 conference record, but an old foe looms ahead of the Lady Tigers. The Lady Tigers will travel south and renew their rivalry with the Acorn Lady Tigers on Thursday, December 21st in a game between two teams with their eyes on the 2A State Championship.

Add some holiday cheer to your favorite fishing hole

Featured

Tammy Teague

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5:06 pm

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Add some holiday cheer to your favorite fishing hole

“No one loves a Christmas tree on March the 25th,” was the punchline to a favorite poem in Shel Silverstein’s book, Where the Sidewalk Ends, but Silverstein may have gotten it wrong in the eyes of crappie anglers. They absolutely love old Christmas trees at the end of March, so long as they’re sitting 10 feet deep in their favorite lake.

In his poem titled “Merry,” the pop culture poet, cartoonist and writer of Johnny Cash’s famous song, “A Boy Named Sue,” was taking a jab at the sudden change in people’s sentiment toward each other once the holiday season has ended. Your personal “Giving Tree” still has a lot of potential in those branches for baitfish and young sport fish to hide from predators, which draws crappie and crappie anglers alike. That’s why the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has worked with many towns over the years to establish Christmas tree donation centers to give those used trees a second life as fish habitat.

AGFC Christmas tree drop-off locations work sort of like a take-a-penny, leave-a-penny tray at a cash register. Anyone can drop off their tree, and anyone is welcome to take them to sink their own brush piles. Anglers sinking brush should call ahead to make sure sinking brush is allowed in the body of water where they want to sink the trees. Some water-supply reservoirs and other lakes have regulations to prevent dumping of brush without permission.

No artificial trees are allowed at the drop-off locations, and anglers also should make sure all ornaments, lights and tinsel are removed from their real tree before sinking. A modest piece of parachute cord or bailing wire can be used to add a cinder block or bags of sand to sink the trees and keep them anchored to one spot.

Christmas trees are relatively short-term habitat because they don’t have much thick woody material, but they can be gathered in clusters easily and sunk in large groups. The main stems will last longer than the wispy branches and continue to draw fish throughout the year. Many anglers use these Christmas trees to freshen up productive attractor sites every year with the main trunks offering long-lasting cover and the branches of the new brush.

Trees can be dropped off at any of the following locations until the end of January:

Northwest Arkansas

Beaver Lake – Highway 12 Access, AGFC Don Roufa Highway 412 Access and Monte Ne Boat Ramp Access
Lake Elmdale – Boat Ramp Access
Bob Kidd Lake – Boat Ramp Access
Crystal Lake – Boat Ramp Access
Lake Fayetteville — Boat Ramp Access

North Arkansas

Bull Shoals Lake – Any U.S. Army Corps of Engineers boat ramp
Norfork Lake – Any U.S. Army Corps of Engineers boat ramp

Northeast Arkansas

Jonesboro – Craighead Forest Park Lake Boat Ramp
Lake Bono – Boat Ramp Access
Lake Walcott – Crowley’s Ridge State Park Boat Ramp Access
Lake Charles – West parking lot at Highway 25 Boat Ramp Access
Lake Poinsett — Dam Access Boat Ramp
Batesville — Ramsey Slough Boat Ramp

Central Arkansas

Arkansas River – Riverview Park Access in North Little Rock
Lake Barnett – Reed Access
Greers Ferry Lake – Sandy Beach (Heber Springs), Devils Fork Recreation Area and Choctaw Recreation Area (Choctaw-Clinton)
Harris Brake Lake – Chittman Hill Access
Lake Pickthorne – Holland Bottoms Access
Lake Overcup – Lake Overcup Landing
Cox Creek Lake – Cox Creek Lake Public Access
Lake Hamilton – Andrew Hulsey State Fish Hatchery Access Area

East Arkansas

Horseshoe Lake — Bonds Access
Wynne Sports Complex Family and Community Fishing Pond

Southeast Arkansas

Lake Chicot – Connerly Bayou Access Area
Cook’s Lake – Potlatch Cook’s Lake Nature Center at 625 Cook’s Lake Road, Casscoe, or the bus lot across from Grand Avenue United Methodist Church in Stuttgart

South Arkansas

Camden – AGFC Regional Office on Ben Lane, next to the National Guard Armory
Upper White Oak Lake – Upper Jack’s Landing
Magnolia – Columbia County Road Department Yard on Highway 371
El Dorado – City recycling center drop-offs: one behind Arby’s and one on South Jackson
Smackover – Recycling Drop-Off Center (these will be transported to El Dorado)

Southwest Arkansas

Bois d’Arc Lake – Kidd’s Landing or Hatfield Access
Millwood Lake – Cottonshed, White Cliffs Recreation Areas and the Millwood State Park ramp on the point
Dierks City Pond — Main parking area
Dierks Lake – Jefferson Ridge South Recreation Area
De Queen Lake – Any U.S. Army Corps of Engineers boat ramp
Gillham Lake – Any U.S. Army Corps of Engineers boat ramp
Lake Greeson – New Cowhide Cove and Self Creek Recreation areas
South Fork Lake – South Fork Lake Access
Terre Noire Lake – Terre Noire Lake Access
Hope – AGFC Regional Office on U.S. Highway 67 East
Lake Dieffenbacher – Bobby Ferguson Park Pavilion

First quarter runs push Lions past Eagles

Sports

Tammy Teague

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1:10 am

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First quarter runs push Lions past Eagles

OKLAHOMA CITY – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Women’s Basketball used a 12-0 first quarter run to erase its only deficit of the game and held off an Oklahoma Christian comeback for a 65-63 win Tuesday in its final game before the holiday break.

After the Eagles scored the first five points of the game, the Lions scored the next 12, with five coming from guard Baylee Fincher. Leading 12-9, the Lions went on another 10-0 run to lead 24-9, their largest lead of the game.

The Lions had to hold off the Eagles multiple times, first in the second quarter as OC cut the lead to five before the Lions led 37-29 at the break. UAFS shot 55.2 percent in the first half to 27.3 percent for OC.

OC cut the lead to one possession in the third quarter, but the Lions responded with a basket on the next possession each time.

UAFS grew the lead back to 10 in the opening minutes of the fourth, only to see the Eagles go on an 11-2 run to trim the lead to 58-57. OC then tied the game at 59-59 with 1:50 left before guard Morgan Browning made a layup to put the Lions back in front.

Guard Hannah Boyett then closed out the game with four consecutive free throws for her only points of the game.

Four Lions scored in double figures, led by forward Sinetra Jones with 12 points. Browning tallied 11 points while Fincher added 10 points. Forward Kayla Brundidge contributed 10 points and seven rebounds off the bench.

UAFS had a 22-19 edge in points off turnovers to counteract the 19-9 edge in second chance points for the Eagles, as OC corralled 23 offensive rebounds.

Next up for the Lions is a trip to Texas Woman’s on January 4.

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

Lifestyle

Tammy Teague

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1:31 am

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“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

Hello everyone! Such beautiful weather we are having this close to Christmas. This time of year always brings back the memories of all the Christmas gifts Chuck Hopkins bought me.

I was just on the phone with Jacob, he was on his way home from a meeting in Little Rock and was driving through Conway. For those that don’t know, Chuck worked in the Conway/Greenbriar area for several years. Jacob and I were going down memory lane talking about Conway and how we used to run around the weekends when we went to see his daddy. I believe this was one Christmas he had bought something, and it was a surprise. He was hauling it from Conway. He had a truck, so I assumed it was in the back of the truck. Well, he comes rolling in pulling a trailer. He had bought the biggest bean bag I had ever seen. It wouldn’t fit in the back of his truck, he had to haul it on a trailer! That Albatross took up the whole living room. Did I act excited, yes!! Was I? No. Let me tell ya the kids loved that thing. Every kid that came over could fit on it and they could sleep on it, it was so huge. He looked like Clark Griswold when him, Jacob and Jimmy unloaded that thing and unwrapped it in the middle of the living room floor. We were always having to walk around it and it was in the way. He was happy as a lark about it. My all-time favorite gift was of course as you all know, the confederate soldier statue. I’ve had mouse traps, flashlights, men’s sweaters, tons of appliances, and shiatzu massagers. He really got better with age. I have some nice jewelry and I used to always get some warm socks. Most of the time they were men’s, but who cares. The thought behind it was what counted. He wanted my feet warm.

Y’all know how much I love Little Debbie cakes. Christmas Tree cake Debs are my favorite. I love the white and the chocolate. Tonya Wagoner, yes, you read it right, Tonya Wagoner made the Christmas Tree Dip and it looked beautiful. I’m going to share it with y’all, you might want to make it during Christmas.

LITTLE DEBBIE CHRISTMAS TREE DIP
5 Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes (white ones)
8 oz. of cream cheese softened
1 tsp. vanilla extract
8 oz. Cool Whip
1/3 cup milk
Christmas sprinkles
Place all the ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Mix with a hand mixer until well combined and mostly smooth. There will be some lumps from the cakes. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Serve cold with sprinkles on top. Tonya added a little Debbie cake in the middle after she put it in the bowl. You can serve with cookies, vanilla wafers, pretzels, whatever you like best. Have a great week, Merry Christmas!

RNN Sports Stone Cold Lock Of The Week: Dudes Of The Year Team

Ross Fujibayashi

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7:22 am

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RNN Sports Stone Cold Lock Of The Week: Dudes Of The Year Team

In the 2023 season we saw a lot of surprises.

RNN Sports Stone Cold Lock Of The Week: Coach of the Year

Whit Overton

When looking at the coaching candidates, you begin to get a grasp of how good football is here in the River Valley. Chris Young is no stranger to the lights of War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock, getting his 16th visit of Greenwood’s 17. Along the way, got Greenwood’s 11th State Championship. Ricky May always has the Charleston Tigers ready to pounce and were looking to defend their State Championship. Doc Crawley has the hardnosed Booneville Bearcats setting records and bulldozing opponents and winning the 2023 Class 3A State Championship. Out of all those coaches and their illustrious resume’s, one name stood out to all of us at the RNN Sports Department. Whit Overton.

Coach Overton bleeds Mansfield Red and White through and through. Aa a graduate of the Mansfield School District, Coach Overton took over a program that had not seen much playoff success and was overshadowed by the neighboring Powerhouse teams. This year…. all that changed. The Tigers got off to a fast start averaging over a 50-points per game, while holding true to their team first culture. Back-to-back losses to Charleston and Booneville, did not spoil the Mansfield season. The Tigers rolled into the playoffs the number 3 seed out of the 3A-1 Conference. After a very convincing win over Centerpoint in the first round, Mansfield traveled to Hoxie and pulled an upset. Then went on the road again the next week to Salem and knocked off the Greyhounds. The historic Mansfield run would come to a close at the hands of the Prescott Curley Wolves in the Semi-Finals. With the success and amazing season your RNN Sports Stone Cold Lock of The Week Coach of the Year is Whit Overton

RNN Sports Stone Cold Lock Of The Week: Dudes of the Year Team

This was a hard choice, some were obvious and stood out. Some we had to make tough choices, are they offense or are they defense. Do we do a 2nd team? Where can we get stats. To the coaches we reached out to, thank you for your help on names and stats on Dudes of the Year.

Offense

QB – Kane Archer – Soph – Greenwood – All-State, 6A State Championship Game MVP, 6A West Offensive Player of the year, 8th Nationally in scoring with 49 total touchdowns. Holds several Power 5 Offers

RB – Dax Goff – Sr – Booneville – All-State, 3A State Championship Game MVP, 3A-1 Offensive Player of the year, Booneville career yardage leader with 5,961 yards. 266 Carries for 2,691 yards 39 Touchdowns. Committed to Harding University

RB – Daniel Burton – Jr – Mansfield – All-State 115 Carries for 1,519 yards 18 Touchdowns.

RB – Brayedan Davis – Sr – Greenwood – All-State 237 Carries for 1,584 yards 23 Touchdowns

OL – Ryan Shortes – Sr – Greenwood – 6A Burlsworth Award winner, 6A West All-Conference

OL – Matt O’Bar – Sr – Booneville – All-State, 3A Burlsworth Award winner. Was part of an offense that gained 6,331 yards. 45 tackles

OL – Lance Sims – Sr – Booneville – 3A-1 All-Conference. With Matt O’Bar, part of an offense that gained 6,331 yards. 31 tackles.

OL – Cody Taylor – Soph – Greenwood – 6A West All-Conference. Holds several Power 5 offers.

OL – Turner Wright – Sr – Mansfield – All-State

WR – L.J. Robins – Sr – Greenwood – All-State 79 receptions for 1,015 yards 17 Touchdowns. Back to Back 1000 yard seasons. Holds several offers to play in college.

WR – Grant Karnes – Jr – Greenwood – All-State 72 receptions for 990 yards 13 Touchdowns. 10 yards shy of back to back 1000 yard seasons.

Defense

DL – Cash Archer – Jr – Greenwood – All-State, 6A West Defensive Player of the Year, 20 sacks, 38 hurries, 78 total tackles. Holds several Power 5 Offers

DL – Dakota Deer – Jr – Mansfield – 3A-1 All-Conference, 3 sacks, 11 tackles for a loss, 38 total tackles

DL – Maddix Terry – Soph – Charleston – 44 Total Tackles, 5 Tackles for a loss, 8 sacks and 4 fumble recoveries

LB – Zander Walters – Soph – Mansfield – 3A-1 All-Conference, 61 total tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 3 pass deflections, 2 forced fumbles

LB – Hunter Warren – Soph – Booneville – 3A-1 All-Conference, 87 tackles, 4 sacks

LB – Reese Merechka – Sr – Charleston – 3A All-State, 3A-1 and Farm Bureau Insurance 3A- Defensive Player of the year.

LB – Hunter Little – Sr – Charleston – All-State, 93 tackles, 6 tackles for a loss, 2 sacks, 1 interception.

LB – Kason Davis – Sr – Waldron – 4A-7 All-Conference 2nd Team, 21 total tackles

DB – Brady Mackey – Sr – Greenwood – All-State, Farm Bureau 6A Defensive Player of the Year, 82 total tackles, 7 Interceptions

DB – Payton Martin – Sr – Mansfield – 3A-1 All-Conference, 23 total tackles, Committed to play baseball at University of Arkansas – Rich Mountain.

DB – Cole Bailey – Jr – Waldron – 4A-7 All Conference, 72 total tackles, 4 tackles for a loss, 1 sack.

K – Andrea Emilini – Charleston – 46 points, 44/47 on extra points, 2/4 Field Goals, 12 Touchbacks on Kickoffs

(RNN sports photo / Shelly2 Photography Videography and Design)

RNN Sports Stone Cold Lock Of The Week: Some More Dudes Of The Year – Honorable Mention

QB – Jace Washburn – Booneville

QB – Jeremy Strozier – Mansfield

QB – Eli Huck – Charleston

QB – Noah Patrick – Waldron

RB – Rylen Ray – Booneville

RB – Conner Lentz – Booneville

RB – Chakong Vang – Magazine

RB – Steve Grano – Waldron

RB/DB – Tyler Turnipseed – Mansfield

RB/DB – Andrew Burton – Mansfield

OL – Mathew Crosby – Booneville

OL – Sam Hicks – Booneville

OL/DL – Caiden Ore – Mansfield

OL/DL – Logan Ore – Mansfield

WR – Isaiah Arrington – Greenwood

WR/FS – Emiliano Gaona – Charleston

LB – Kolton McCubbin – Magazine

LB – Eli Whitaker – Greenwood

LB – Sam Ehler – Waldron

DB/P – Landon Nelms – Greenwood

DB – Braden Skaggs – Greenwood

K – Bodey Steinfeldt – Greenwood

LS- Jack Edwards – Greenwood

Elephant In The Room: 2024 Classifications and the Competitive Equity Factor

Ross Fujibayashi

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4:47 am

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Elephant In The Room: 2024 Classifications and the Competitive Equity Factor

This past week, the Arkansas Activities Association announced the approval of the classifications for the next two school years. A hot topic within of the last two years has been that of the Competitive Equity Factor. For local public schools it does not effect them as much as it does the private schools in the larger metro areas. I know what you’re thinking, “The private schools can recruit!” Sure, it is a rumor I know I have heard for 25 years of being around Arkansas High School Football. Heck, there was an article in the late 90’s in the Times Record covering recruiting and it’s possibility. So what got us to here?

Since the late 90’s the discussion of Private schools in the state of Arkansas has been everyone’s go to point in football every year. Then Gus Malzahn took the Cross Church owned Shiloh Christian to great heights and almost instantly rumors circulated regarding recruiting. Of course at the same time, another team in Arkansas was on the rise and accused of the same. Was it that Greenwood and Shiloh were recruiting or was it that they changed the game that much and no one had caught up? At the time powerhouses were Wynne and Alma, both running the highly effective Wing-T, three yards and cloud of dust offenses. For Greenwood and Shiloh, it was 3000 yards through the air. In the article mentioned above, former Greenwood Head Coach Ronnie Peacock said “We do not recruit, our program and it’s success does that.”

Here we are 25 years later. Greenwood and Shiloh are still topics of discussion, but what Kevin Kelley did with Pulaski Academy and their down the street neighbor Little Rock Christian are now added to the fold. The state and Arkansas Activities Association have done just about everything they can to slow down the non-public schools just short of telling them to play in their own classification. For this Resident News Sports writer, why should they? Currently, if a non-public school accepts a student-athlete from another district within a 25-mile radius, they must sit out the next athletic season. A few years ago, the AAA introduced a attendance multiplier to ensure a private school were in a classification on par with the area. That cycle had Shiloh Christian playing in the 5A. On the flip side of that, in 2015 the State of Arkansas passed a School Choice bill allowing public school students and their parents the opportunity of going to the school one district over. It is interesting to see public schools do ads on TV and Social Media that rival the collegiate ones we see watching sporting events. Now we are to the Competitive Equity Factor, if a non-public school team wins or is a runner-up in a State Championship, playoff victory, and/or has a winning conference record the school is to move up a Classification. If the team accumulates less than 2 points in a cycle they can move down a classification. This next cycle sees Pulaski Academy and Little Rock Christian Academy moving to the 7A. Shiloh Christian to the 6A. Harding Academy moves to the 5A.

Make no mistake, I am for the Competitive Equity Factor, but I feel it needs an adjustment. If the teams slated to move up are beat in their conference by a Public school mulitple times they should be able to stay in that classification. There are examples of this in this cycle with Pulaski Academy, Little Rock Christian and Shiloh Christian. I firmly believe for those three schools the Competitive Equity Factor got them to the Classification their program is competitive and not just dominating, which was the complaint for the last 25 years. Maybe, even extending out the period to which they earn points from 2 years to 4 years. Depending on how things go for all the non-public schools moving up, it is extremely possible that most of the non-public schools in Arkansas could be in the 6A for the 2026 season. I am certain by time that cycle rolls around there will be another AAA proposition, bill, or resolution passed trying to once again slow down the non-public schools. But, I think they finally got it right, they just have to go a step further in refining it.

One social media opinion pitched is the same factor used on public schools. For a school like Booneville, for example, that would place them in the 4A this coming year. Greenwood in the 7A, Little Rock Parkview back in the 6A. Could those teams fair well in those classifications? Maybe, I know Greenwood since 2004 is 31-9 against schools in the state’s largest classification in non-conference and in the hybrid 6A/7A conferences they tried.

While we try to make heads or tails as to what is next for Arkansas High School football, the view for any team should be what Shiloh Christian put on their Facebook regarding the move to the 6A West, “Just put the ball down and we’ll be there.”

Arrest Reports 12/10

Police Reports

Tammy Teague

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1:42 am

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Arresting agency – Hackett Police Department:
Kenneth Wayne Basinger of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 13 at 6:36 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond December 13 at 8:58 p.m. Basinger was charged with petition to revoke – felony.

Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office:
Paul Darin Black of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 12 at 8:57 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond December 13 at 8:42 a.m. Black was charged with driving while intoxicated – 2nd offense.

Christopher Wayne Grigsby of Paris was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 12 at 1:47 a.m. and remains at the SCADC with $50k legally sufficient bond. Grigsby was charged with Negligent Homicide – Intox.

Emily Nicole Jordan of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 11 at 10:32 a.m. and released on signature bond December 11 at 11:39 a.m. Jordan was charged with assault in the 2nd degree.

Clay Ledbetter of Midland was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 12 at 7:52 p.m. and released on signature bond December 13 at 2:04 a.m. Ledbetter was charged with public intoxication – danger to self or others.

Robert P Page of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 10 at 7:47 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with $75k legally sufficient bond. Page was charged with Sexual Assault in the Second Degree <14.

Bobby Allen Rowe of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 12 at 9:44 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Rowe was charged with ADC Commitment Hold and return to testify.

Christina Nicole Wibbing of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 11 at 8:14 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond December 12 at 9:53 a.m. Wibbing was charged with Fraudulent Use of a Credit Card or Debit Card-Stolen->5k.

Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Amber R Castro of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 16 at 3:51 p.m. and remains at the SCADC with bond. Castro was charged with Possession of [Schedule I/II Controlled Substance] with the Purpose to Deliver <2g, Possession of [Schedule VI Controlled Substance] with the Purpose to Deliver >4oz, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia C Felony.

Amanda Lynn Taylor of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 16 at 8 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond December 17 at 10:46 a.m. Taylor was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Ingest Meth/Cocaine, and Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule I/II Felony <2g.

Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
John Ross Connor of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 10 at 9:34 a.m. and transferred to an outside agency on December 11 at 5:20 p.m. Connor was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Felony.

Emily Meryl Foote of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 11 at 3:16 a.m. and released on cash bond December 11 at 9:23 a.m. Foote was charged with Contempt of Court–(child support), FTAS, FTRespond Subpoena, FTComply WCO.

Kurt Douglas Gammill of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 10 at 6:02 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Gammill was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule VI Misdemeanor <4oz, Driving While License Cancelled/Suspended/Revoked, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Ingest Meth/Cocaine, and Assist Outside Agency-Felony.

Amanda Gayle Meeker of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 13 at 1:10 p.m. and transferred to an outside agency on December 14 at 1:06 p.m. Meeker was charged with fugitive from justice – out of state.

Landon Keith Wagner of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 14 at 6:51 p.m. and released on signature bond December 15 at 4:53 a.m. Wagner was charged with Criminal Trespass – Premises.

Arresting agency – Arkansas Parole:
David William Howell of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 14 at 12:52 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Howell was charged with absconding and parole violation.

Arresting agency – Bonanza Police Department:
Christopher Hugh Mclaughlin of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 13 at 9:08 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond December 14 at 12:12 a.m. Mclaughlin was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 2nd offense.

Arresting agency – Lavaca Police Department:
Tasha Jean Munson of Midland was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 11 at 9:37 p.m. and released on signature bond December 12 at 12:51 a.m. Munson was charged with Reckless Driving 1st Offense, Disorderly Conduct – Excessive Noise, Possession of open container, and Public Intoxication – Danger to self or others.

Arresting agency – Franklin County Sheriff’s Office:
Jared R Munoz, 44 of Altus, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 15 at 12:05 p.m. Munoz was charged with failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Santana Lashea Catlett, 22, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 15 at 3:25 a.m. Catlett was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia meth/cocaine, possession of meth or cocaine GT 10GM but LT 200GM, possession of a controlled substance schedule VI <4 oz., possession of meth or cocaine with the purpose to deliver GT 10GM but LT 200GM, driving while license suspended, improper display of license tags, no liability insurance, possession of schedule I or II 28GM or more but less than 200GM with purpose to deliver, and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.

Mark A. Duke, 62 of Odessa, TX, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 14 at 11:23 p.m. Duke was charged with failure to comply with conditions of suspended sentence or probation.

Michael Dewayne Carson, 55 of Alma, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 14 at 10:53 p.m. Carson was charged with possession of meth or cocaine GT 10GM but LT 200GM, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of SCH VI LT 4 oz., possession of meth or cocaine with the purpose to deliver GT 10GM but LT 200 GM, obstructing governmental operations, possession of SCH I or II GT 2GM but LT 10GM, tampering with physical evidence – obstruct prosecution/defense felony, possession of a firearm by certain persons, and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.

Trey Allen Johnson, 26 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 14 at 3:01 p.m. Johnson was charged with theft by receiving.

Alexis Long, 25 of Grove Hill, AL was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 14 at 1:10 p.m. Long was charged with theft by receiving.

Michael Wayne Cook, 40 of Huntsville, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 12 at 5:58 p.m. Cook was charged with failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Chey Wynn, 26 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 12 at 12:15 p.m. Wynn was charged with failure to comply with conditions of suspended sentence or probation.

Jason Edward Miller, 41 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on December 10 at 3:53 p.m. Miller was charged with failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office:
Christopher Kampmann, 33 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 10 at 6:15 p.m. Kampmann was charged with failure to appear.

Robert Leftwich, 37 of Greenwood, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 13 at 6:45 p.m. Leftwich was charged with failure to pay.

Thomas Phillips, 57 of Subiaco, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 14 at 6 p.m. Phillips was charged with failure to pay.

Anthony Reno, 39 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 14 at 6:28 p.m. Reno was charged with body attachment.

Larry Bryant, 41 of Magazine, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 15 at 10:47 a.m. Bryant was charged with failure to appear.

Evelyn Heath-Jones, 32 of Hartman, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 15 at 3:32 p.m. Jones was charged with failure to appear.

Hailen Midwell, 38 of Delaware, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 15 at 9:23 p.m. Midwell was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance.

Haskell Swanson, 33 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 16 at 11:18 a.m. Swanson was charged with aggravated assault on a family or household member, and domestic battering in the 3rd degree.

Benjamin Barbee, 45, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 16 at 7:55 p.m. Barbee was charged with parole violation, possession with the purpose to deliver meth/cocaine GT 10GM LT 200GM, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a schedule VI-controlled substance with the purpose to deliver.

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

Christmas Morning Sanity Saver Basket

Madison VanRavensway

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9:46 pm

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Christmas morning goes so quickly! Maybe running around gathering supplies for all the new goodies makes it last longer, but it certainly doesn’t add to the magic. Now is the time to prep your “Christmas Morning Sanity Saver Basket”. What a name, right?

Despite the crazy name I’ve assigned for it, it’s not complicated. This will also give you an idea of anything else you need to pick up at the store- think batteries!

Grab you a basket (or any other container looks don’t matter unless you want them to)

Hopefully you are reading this with time to prepare your box ahead of the big day! I sure hope you are because I think this is gonna be great for my brain to have all ready to go on Monday morning!

Scissors. Who designed these packages? We are gonna need scissors to get in them!
Pocket knife- sometimes you need a knife rather than scissors. Maybe this is a me situation?
Flat head and Phillips head screwdriver- if you only have one you will need the opposite, it’s scientific.
Pen/marker- this seems like a good thing to already know where is so I’m not wanting one and scrambling.
Batteries! Nothing comes with batteries anymore! Make sure you have AA and AAA, and if you bought a kid’s metal detector maybe a set of 9V. I was glad I checked that before orderin batteries.
Bonus- extra wrapping paper and tape! Sometimes we get a little overzealous and open gifts that aren’t supposed to be opened by us, woops!

Most of all I hope you have the merriest of Christmases this year!

R

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