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52 State Police Recruits Commissioned into Service

Tammy Teague
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52 State Police Recruits Commissioned into Service

Fifty-two certified officer recruits became Arkansas State Troopers tonight during a graduation ceremony at Camp Robinson, making it the largest graduating class since 1977. 

The new Troopers were among an initial field of 230 applicants who were tested and interviewed before entering a 10-week training program, where they completed approximately 760 hours of specialized instruction and practical training. 

The graduates were sworn under oath as Arkansas State Troopers by Arkansas Supreme Court Justice Cody Hiland, who served as the keynote speaker. 

Colonel Mike Hagar, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety, Major Roby Rhoads, Corporal Keondrick Thompson, and Sergeant Chad Staley addressed the class during the ceremony. ASP senior command staff, troop and company commanders, the training section cadre, ASP Commissioners and ASP Foundation members were among the audience. 

Special recognition and awards were presented to the recruits who attained the highest scores within the respective training categories listed as follows:

Academics:
1st place – Lydia Rogers
2nd place – Trey Smith
3rd place – Dylan Evans

Physical Fitness:
1st place – Justin Shackleford
2nd place – Shane Fox
3rd place – Hunter Grubbs

Firearms:
1st place – David Whipple
2nd place – Dylan Evans
3rd place – Lydia Rogers

Emergency Vehicle Operator Course (EVOC):
1st place – Tyler Ryals
2nd place – Mark Fallis
3rd place – Tre’ Davis

The recruit graduates and their first post assignments are listed as follows:

Thomas “Dylan” Evans, 2023-B Class Leader, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D.

Highway Patrol Division
Troop A
Milton “Alex” Bratton
Amber Cass
Tre’ Davis
Andrew Garrison
Raul Parada
Robert Plyler
Tyler Ryals
Trey Smith
David Whipple

Troop B
Joshua Haley
Justin Parrish

Troop C
Christopher Dunham
Victor Garcia
Cody Jackson
Carter Lazenby
Lydia Rogers
Nash Thomas
Christian Underwood

Troop D
Dakota “Blake” Davis
Thomas “Dylan” Evans
Troop E 
Jonathan Nutt
Lincoln Smith

Troop F
Alan “Mitchell” Butler
David Menotti

Troop G
Akari Alexander
Micah Brown
Richard “Zane” Butler
Matthew “Trent” Coffman
Landon Loe
Jacob Meadows
Gannon Tiller

Troop H
Dalton Lewis
Tucker Phelps
Justin Shackleford

Troop I
Jared Curtis
Cody Lee

Troop K
John “JD” Crow
Hunter Grubbs
Mathew Hall
Corbin Rideout
Mason Robinson
Cody Rollins
Jayson “Sean” Weston

Troop L
Tyler Smith
Brandon Walker

Criminal Investigation Division
Company A
Eric Varner

Company C
Mark Fallis
Judson “Dalton” Myers

Company D
Thurman “Kieth” Lunsford

Company E
Erick Riggs

Company F
Shane Fox

Internet Crimes Against Children Division
Danny Harris 

Upon reporting for duty at their respective troop headquarters, the new troopers will be placed with a certified departmental Field Training Officer (FTO). Each graduate will work in tandem with their respective FTO for a transitional period prior to being released to their assignment.

Obituary – Emma Brown (1949 – 2023)

Tammy Teague
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Obituary – Emma Brown (1949 – 2023)

Emma Dean Brown beloved wife and mother was called to be with her Lord and Savior on Friday, December 22, 2023. Emma was born August 5, 1949 to Ralph and Edith (Miner) Johnson in the Y-City community. She was a member of the Waldron Pentecostal Church of God.

Emma married the love of her life, Larry on August 11, 1967. She embarked on a journey of being his partner in work of many different positions. She loved her family. It was evident in anything she done. She loved antiques. Many happy memories were of her on antique trips with her sister’s. She loved the outdoors, taking rides in her mule, enjoying her cabin and the hunter’s, even though she had to listen to deer and turkey stories dozens of times.

Emma leaves behind to cherish her memory, her loving husband Larry, two sons: Larry “Bang” Brown and wife Sheila of Greenwood, Arkansas, and Jason Brown and wife Traci of Waldron, Arkansas as well as three grandsons: Dylan and wife Alisha, Payton and Ryder Brown all Waldron, Arkansas and two step grandsons: David Russell and wife Jenna of Greenwood, Arkansas and Jimmy Russell of Waldron, Arkansas, one great grandson, Sterling and one great granddaughter on the way, step great grandchildren: Dalton, Joseph and Maebree Russell all of Greenwood, Arkansas. Emma is also survived by her sisters: Lorene Beck of Mena, Wanda Holdron of Mena, Violet Becker of Ft. Smith, JoAnn Betterton of Alma, Patsy Ward of Altus and brothers: Jerry Johnson of Mansfield, David Johnson of Nashville, and Micheal Johnson of Mena. Emma will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host of extended family, friends, neighbors and loved ones.

Emma was preceded in death by one son Marcus Heath, one grandson Tyrone Ryder Brown, her father and mother, Ralph and Edith Johnson, one sister Sandra, and brothers in law: Audie Powell, Robert “Bob” Becker, Doyle Beck and Wayman Betterton and her best and dearest lifelong friends Deloras and Larry Horn.

Emma’s life celebration will be 2:00 p.m., Sunday, December 24, 2023 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Rickey Hunt officiating.

Interment will follow in the Friendship Cemetery near Waldron. Arrangements are being entrusted to Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Emma’s pallbearers will be Dylan Brown, Payton Brown, Ryder Brown, David Russell, Jimmy Russell, Jarrod Johnson and Russell Powell. Honorary pallbearers will be Sterling Brown, Randall Barnett, Jerry Bottoms, Brian Horn,

Emma’s visitation will be Sunday, December 24, 2023 from 1:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas.

Obituary – Michael Sleeman (1958 – 2023)

Tammy Teague
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Obituary – Michael Sleeman (1958 – 2023)

Michael Stephen Sleeman, 65, of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life on Tuesday, December 12, 2023 in Longview, Texas surrounded by his loving family. Michael was born October 11, 1958 to Lyle Herman Sleeman Jr. and Elizabeth “Betty” Jean (McGurn) Sleeman in Manhattan, Kansas.

Michael was married to the love of his life, Diana (Chudleigh) Sleeman for 38 marvelous years. Together they raised their children. Michael loved history, the sciences, air planes and old cars. The memories he made with his loved ones will forever be treasured by them.

Michael leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife Diana Sleeman of the home. His children, Michael Sleeman Jr. of Arkansas; Mary Mathews, Dallin Sleeman, Daniel Sleeman, Kristin Sleeman, Kyle Sleeman, Kelli Sleeman, Kalvin Sleeman and Curtis Sleeman of the Houston, Texas area; two brothers: Mark Sleeman of Nevada and Lyle Sleeman III of Texas and two sisters: Catherine Gowing of Texas and Elizabeth “Betsy” Armstrong. Michael is also survived by many more family members, extended family, friends and loved ones dear to his heart.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents, Lyle and Elizabeth Sleeman.

Michael’s life celebration will be at 10:00 a.m. Friday, December 29, 2023 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Bishop Chris Loftin officiating. Interment will follow in the Sehorn Cemetery in Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Michael’s pallbearers will be Michael Sleeman Jr., Jacob Lyle, Phil Thompson, Manuel Herrera, John Ravenburg and Scott Bartholomew.

Michael’s visitation will be Friday, December 29, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. until the funeral begins at 10:00 a.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home.

Timepiece: The Old Home Place

Tammy Teague
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Timepiece: The Old Home Place

By Dr. Curtis Varnell

The school kids excitedly took pictures of the old home place and talked among themselves. Wonder who lived there?  What was that building used for?  If those walls could talk, wonder what stories they could tell?  My mind drifted to those days growing up and visiting in my grandmother’s home.

The old house was built in dogtrot style, one large room on each end with smaller bedrooms in the middle.  The kitchen and dining room were building blocks attached haphazardly to the back of the house.  Planks covered the original log structure, the paint long deteriorated leaving the stark grey exposed board.  

Behind the house sat the smoke house, barn, the well, and more importantly, the outhouse.  The hog-wire fence surrounding the garden was immersed in sweet smelling honeysuckle vines. My grandmother loved flowers and roses, daffodils, and iris grew abundantly.  Yet, it wasn’t the appearance of the house that made it important to my childhood, it was the life within.

My grandmother cooked and heated with wood.  Nothing like getting up early in the morning surrounded by the aroma of breakfast cooking.  With a large family of working men, breakfast was important.  Grandma always had a huge pan of biscuits sitting on the open cooking stove door and a dozen or more eggs cooked and ready to serve.  She fried up fat back, bacon, and sausage and used the leavings for milk and red-eye gravy.  Red-eye gravy was just grease with coffee interspersed.  The coffee sank to the center bottom of the bowl and gave the concoction its unique name.  I much preferred the chocolate gravy, butter and biscuits!  The left over eggs, bacon and sausage were inserted into the middle of the three-inch high biscuits and placed in gallon lard buckets and carted away for the men’s lunch.  The men worked hard at rock quarries, lumber yards, or cotton fields while we were at school.  My grandmother stayed busy around the house, milking the small jersey cow, slopping the hogs, tending the garden, or canning.  

Get outside and play!  That was our instructions when we got home.  Grandma didn’t have television until I was twelve and, for a large part of that time, no electricity. Some of my fondest memories were short winter days when we came in early.  The pop-bellied coal stove glowed fiery red in the semi-darkness of the room and the adults and visitors sit around talking, telling jokes, and discussing news.  I loved to read so I sat further back, near the kerosene lamp, listening to the conversation and straining my eyes to read Zane Grey westerns. 

No-one that hasn’t experienced the trip in the dark to a freezing out-house can explain the convenience of modern restrooms.  Then time for bed.  My grandparents slept in a bed in the living room, the rest of us in scattered unheated bedrooms.  Usually two or three of us shared a bed and a pile of the hand-sewn blankets that kept us warm.

My favorite time were spring nights.  Winds whistling around the house, lightning flickering through the windows, and the gentle sounds of rain falling on the old tin roof as I drifted into sleep.   

Yes, those walls could tell a story and they still whisper to me in my dreams!

Timepiece: One Man’s Story

Tammy Teague
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Timepiece: One Man’s Story

By Dr. Curtis Varnell

With more than eight billion people on this planet, many of us feel like we’re a small cog in a large machine and there is little that we can do to change or affect the world around us. I love visiting Eureka Springs with its historic and quaint shops, its unique mountainous streets, and its old buildings. Visitors explore the numerous nooks and crannies of the various shops, finding that unique and original item found nowhere else in the state, visit the kite shop, and explore the large springs that gush from the hillside. Nostalgia creates an aura of better days, simpler times, and remembrances of times past. Much of what we see stands as a testament to what can be achieved by one man, determined to work with others to make his world a better place.

John Fuller Cross came from a distinguished family that succeeded and achieved the American dream through hard work and determination. His grandfather was a common workingman. When John S. Cross was of age, his mother worked in a boarding house to help pay tuition for his education. John S. Cross worked at various jobs with the U.S. Department of the Interior and was instrumental in the creation of the Promenade at Hot Springs National Park. Later, even though past draft age, he was in the Navy and a WW. II veteran. He and his wife were the parents of John F. Cross (1934) and brother Claude (1935). It is interesting that both of them spent time in the military with Claude becoming a naval officer in charge of the USS Poseidon, a position in which he held the same “nuclear” button as the president and the power to destroy a big portion of the world.

John F. graduated from the University of Arkansas, and after his military years, started to work as a teller in the bank of Eureka Springs. Always interested in the outdoors, he took the local job in his grandfather’s bank rather than more lucrative job elsewhere so that he would have plenty of time to hunt, fish, and explore.

Bank of Eureka Springs and Marker

Always interested in promoting and building the city he lived in, he purchased the Basin Park Coffee shop, the Basin Park Hotel, the Ozarka water company, the spring, and other real estate. He was successful in restoring and preserving these enterprises for future generations. With an astute head for the market and investment, John moved up the ladder in the bank and. In 1968, became the youngest bank president (age 33) in Arkansas. Today it is one of the top five community banks to work for in the U.S.

John’s biggest impact in the region came from his interest in history and his efforts to preserve and restore his home town. In 1978, he was elected to serve as the chairman for the Eureka Springs centennial committee. At that time the downtown area was decaying and rundown with buildings in shambles. Seeking to restore the historic old city rather than to demolish it, the committee decided to clean up, polish up, and rebuild the natural attractions rather than build a sterile theme park. John was instrumental in locating grants and in finding matching funds, obtaining donations, and in organizing the reconstruction. Old buildings were repainted, aluminum siding removed, and buildings redone to match the decor of the historical city. In many instances, building that could not be repaired were removed and replaced by beautiful fountains, parks, and gardens. Trolleys were purchased to roam the streets, transporting tourist from the new upper town to the historic district. Cross worked with Gerald L.K. Smith to get the huge Christ of the Ozarks statue constructed. Latter the Passion Play, which attracts thousands to the city, was added to the attraction.

In his 70th year of banking, he is the oldest working banker in the state and perhaps the oldest working in the U.S. Still involved in the region, he assisted the efforts to preserve Carnall Hall at the U/A and helped create the Bank of Eureka Spring Museum.

When we think we are only an unimportant cog, let us remember John F. Cross and the many men like him that stand as an example of how one person can change and make the world around them a better place.

Time: A key element of investing

Tammy Teague
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Time: A key element of investing

Who knows where the time goes? We’ve reached the end of another year, so it’s appropriate to reflect on the nature of time and how it affects us. And time certainly is a key element in the pursuit of your financial goals.

As an investor, time can be your greatest ally. If you hold some investments for the long term, you could achieve an impressive cumulative growth in value. Furthermore, if you keep adding shares to these investments, possibly through a dividend reinvestment plan, you could attain “growth on growth” through the power of compounding. Of course, when you own equity investments, you will experience market fluctuations, but in general, the longer you hold these investments, the more you can reduce the effects of market volatility.

But you also need to consider aspects of time in these contexts:

• Checking progress on achieving goals – When you establish a goal, such as saving for a child’s education or your own retirement, you know the end date of when you’ll need the money, but it’s also important to mark your progress along the way. So, each year, see how far along you are in meeting your goal. If you’re falling behind, you may need to adjust your investment mix.

• Choosing an appropriate strategy – The time needed to achieve a goal should drive your investment strategy for that goal. For example, when you are saving for a retirement that won’t happen for three or four decades, you will need to invest for growth by placing a reasonable percentage of equities and equity-based investments in your portfolio, based on your comfort with the various types of risk, including interest rate risk, credit risk and market risk. You will experience some bumps along the way — keep in mind that the value of investments will fluctuate and the loss of some or all principal is possible — but you likely have time to overcome the “down” periods. On the other hand, when you are saving for a short-term goal, such as a vacation or a new car or a wedding, you’ll want a set amount of money available precisely when you need it. In this case, you may need to sacrifice some growth potential for investments whose principal value won’t fluctuate, such as certificates of deposit (CDs) and bonds.

Keep in mind, though, that when you’re investing for long- and short-term goals, it doesn’t have to be just one strategy or the other. You can save for retirement with primarily growth vehicles but still have room in your portfolio for shorter-term

instruments. And even when you’re specifically investing for some short-term goal, you can’t forget about your need to save and invest for retirement.

And here’s one final point about the relationship between time and investing: Your risk tolerance can, and probably will, change over the years. As you near retirement, you may feel the need to adjust your portfolio toward a more conservative approach. That’s because you may want to consolidate any gains you might have achieved while also recognizing that you simply have less time to bounce back from down markets. Still, even in retirement, you’ll need some growth potential in your portfolio to help you stay ahead of inflation.

When you invest, one of your biggest considerations is time — so use it wisely.

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

Staff Story Picks for 2023

Tammy Teague
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Staff Story Picks for 2023

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

Tammy Teague
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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

Adam Hecox
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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

Tammy Teague
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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
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