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Solar Eclipse Enthusiasts: Choose Magazine!

Resident News Network
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Solar Eclipse Enthusiasts: Choose Magazine!

NOTE TO OUR READERS: The following story was sourced directly and in its entirety from Mr. Jonathan Gipson, social media director, Magazine School District. Mr. Gipson is a RNN Sports contributor, and we thank him for bringing this story to our readers.

MAGAZINE – In about 2 ½  months, it’s estimated that the State of Arkansas will be welcoming upwards of 1.5 million visitors for the solar eclipse.

With the City of Magazine and the River Valley being in the solar eclipse’s projected “path of totality”, many of those visitors are expected to call this area home during the weekend leading up to and the day of the eclipse on Monday, April 8.

Most traditional lodging options – hotels, motels and lodges – throughout the River Valley have been booked for quite some time now, but Magazine Schools is offering visitors a unique opportunity for outdoor lodging on its spacious campus at an affordable price.

Magazine Schools EAST students recently launched a website – Arkansas Eclipse Camping – promoting the many on-campus lodging and solar eclipse view opportunities available for visitors to choose. 

By visiting www.arkansaseclipsecamping.org, visitors can reserve RV sites and primitive tent camping sites for the weekend and day of the solar eclipse or viewing sites for the day of the solar eclipse. Meals also will be available for purchase each day.

Out-of-area visitors wishing to learn more about the Magazine area, like goods and services available, to see an eclipse simulator for a look at what the eclipse will likely look like in Magazine or to see a map of the area can visit the school’s website page – https://www.magazinek12.com/o/magazine-school-district/page/campsites2024 – which also has a link to the Arkansas Eclipse Camping website.

In anticipation of the increase in traffic on our area roadways and the timing of the eclipse — it will start at 12:31 p.m. and end at 3:09 p.m. — on April 8, school will not be in session at Magazine that day.

Rare dual brood emergence of cicadas coming this spring

Tammy Teague
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Rare dual brood emergence of cicadas coming this spring

By Mary Hightower
U of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture

Entomologists say two broods of periodic cicadas will be making a rare simultaneous emergence this spring. The last time this happened in the U.S. was in 1803 and the next one won’t happen for another 221 years.  

Arkansas is home to brood XIX, a group whose adult insects emerge every 13 years. The brood’s last emergence was 2011 and the next will be 2037. Brood XIII, which emerges every 17 years, last emerged in 2007 and will again emerge in 2041. Brood XIX is the largest 13-year brood in the United States, covering 15 states.

Cicadas spend most of their lives underground as nymphs, then “they all emerge at once, in an effort to overwhelm their natural predators by sheer numbers,” said Jon Zawislak, extension assistant professor-apiculture and urban entomology. “Anything that might want to eat a cicada will be able to get a belly full, so the rest can survive to continue the species.”

The insects know how to turn up the volume, often hitting 90-100 decibels, louder than a hair drier.

“I remember camping near the Buffalo River in the early summer of 1998, and it was LOUD,” he said. “Also, you couldn’t catch a fish to save your life. They were all so full of cicadas they couldn’t be tempted by anything else.”

Brood XIII is found in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. Brood XIX can be found in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

“We will see and hear a lot of the Brood XIX in Arkansas. Brood XIII will mostly be in northern states,” he said. “If you really want to be at ground zero for all the cicada action, you might trek to Springfield, Illinois, where there will be a lot of overlap.”

Zawislak said the two broods won’t be alone.

“There are a number of annual cicadas that will come out and there are often some stragglers from other broods that don’t quite synchronize with the rest of their group,” he said. “Arkansas is home to 20 different species of cicada.”

The brood that will emerge in Arkansas is of a species called Magicicada tredecassini, which emerges this April-May-June.

“But you will see and hear other cicada species every year, that come out later, ranging from April to November, especially members of the genera Neotibicen and Megatibicen. Factors like temperature and rainfall will affect how soon they emerge and how long they stay around,” Zawislak said.

What is that noise?

The cicadas’ unique sounds are part of their mating process. In their “choruses,” adult males “sing” by vibrating a membrane on the sides of their bodies called a tymbal. Females can make clicking noises to indicate they are ready to mate. 

The song of the African cicada, Brevisana brevis, can hit 107 decibels from 20 inches away. That compares to a chainsaw, which can hit 110 decibels from the same distance, according to the University of Nebraska at Lincoln.

John Lovett, science editor for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, had to improvise a solution when the din grew too loud during a camping stop near the Cumberland Gap.

“I had to stuff napkins in my ears to sleep and that didn’t even really work well,” he said. “A Dutchman in yellow wooden clogs came by my camp the next morning to talk about the cicadas over coffee. I think he was as impressed by the cicadas as I was his shoes.”

Lifecycle

After mating, the females lay eggs on tree branches and the adults die soon after. 

“They are only around making noise for about four to six weeks,” Zawislak said. “After a few weeks the nymphs emerge from the eggs and drop to the ground, where they dig down and feed on the sap from tree roots for years.”

The nymphs may feed on roots of smaller plants first, then switch to tree roots when they are older. 

“After their allotted time, they crawl out and up onto something vertical like a plant stem, tree trunk, or a house, fence post or mailbox and molt one last time, emerging as winged adults,” Zawislak said. “Most people have probably seen the hollow shed exoskeletons around in late spring or early summer.

“They are neat creatures. And large,” he said. “Most sap-feeding insects don’t get that large, which is why they take so long to grow. But when they appear all at once, they become a feast for small predators. Which gives those animals a population boost.  Which gives larger apex predators a population boost. These big bugs are an important link in the food chain, between trees — feeding on sunlight — and big, majestic wildlife.”

They might also become a feast for pets, but owners shouldn’t worry.

“I do not know of any poisonous or toxic effect that cicadas may have on pets that happen to eat one or more,” said Jeremy Powell professor of animal science and veterinarian for the Division of Agriculture. “However, they do have that very heavy exoskeleton that could be hard for pets to digest and may lead to some minor intestinal upset. That scenario would likely be short-lived.”

Mistaken identity

Zawislak said the cicadas are sometimes called locusts.

“Early European colonists who had never encountered them before likened the sudden appearance of giant insects to a biblical plague, even though they did not eat crops like a hungry hoard of grasshoppers,” he said. “Once the adults emerge, it’s back to singing and making more cicadas. So, it’s one generation every 13 years for this brood.”

The CDC notes that it is not claiming that exposure to cicada sounds is harmful.

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.

About the Division of Agriculture

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.

The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.

The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.

Treasury bonds: Still safe for investors

Tammy Teague
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Treasury bonds: Still safe for investors

You may have read reports about an impending “debt crisis” in the U.S. Should you be worried about investing in Treasury securities?

Part of the concern over debt has been driven by the cost of government borrowing, which has risen because of higher interest rates. But it’s worth noting that while interest expenses have risen to nearly 2% of gross domestic product (GDP), this measure had exceeded 3% in the early 1990s. So, while the upward trend of federal debt could prove problematic down the road, the claims of a current crisis may be overblown. And Treasury securities are still considered among the safest investments in the world, as they are secured by the full faith and credit — that is, the ability to borrow and tax — of the United States.

In any case, if you haven’t invested in Treasury securities, you’ll want to know the basics. First of all, when you purchase a Treasury security, you’re lending money to the federal government for a specific period of time.

Here are your purchase options:

• Treasury bill – Typically matures in four, 13 or 26 weeks, although some have maturities of up to a year.

• Treasury note – Matures between one and 10 years.

• Treasury bond – Typically matures in 10 to 30 years.

When you buy Treasury notes or bonds, you receive semiannual interest payments, but when you purchase a Treasury bill — a T-bill — you generally buy it a discount, and when the bill matures, you receive its face value. So, for instance, you might pay $4,700 for a 13-week T-bill and get $5,000 back at the end of the three months.

When investing in Treasury securities, you’ll want to keep these features in mind:

• Price fluctuation – While your interest payments will always remain the same, the market value of your Treasury security can change. So, you might not get face value for a Treasury bond if you sell it before it matures, particularly if market interest rates are higher than the rate you’ve been receiving. Because longer-term bonds have more payments left to make than shorter-term ones, they are more sensitive to interest rate changes and market price fluctuations.

• Taxes – Interest income from Treasury securities is subject to federal income tax but exempt from state and local taxes.

In addition to the traditional Treasury bonds, bills and notes, another option is available: Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). Unlike other Treasury securities, in which the

principal is fixed, the principal of a TIPS can move up or down, based on movements in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Once your TIPS matures, if the principal is higher than the original amount, you’ll get the increased amount; if the principal is equal to or less than the original amount, you’ll get the original amount. TIPS pay a fixed interest rate semiannually until maturity, but because interest is paid on the adjusted principal, the amount of your interest payments can vary. As with other Treasury securities, you can hold a TIPS until maturity or sell it before it matures.

Don’t let scary or gloomy predictions discourage you from considering Treasuries — they remain a good option as part of the fixed-income portion of your investment portfolio.

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

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

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

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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Habits to Boost Your Mood

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 

Tammy Teague
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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

Tammy Teague
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Timepiece: Hell on the Border

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

Tammy Teague
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Waldron School Board Meets

​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 11th 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 12th.  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 4th 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, 1st place, Kayla Tedford, 2nd place, and Alounpaphay Dala, 3rd place. Mr. Taylor announced that theBook Fair will be at Middle School starting February 2nd.  Mrs. Solomon reported that the Juniors will be taking the ACT in February. There will be a Reverse Job Fair on April 16th.  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 5th in Pottsville and Sr. High District will begin February 12th 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 3rd.  

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)

Tammy Teague
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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

Tammy Teague
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Arrest Reports 1/14

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.**

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