You’ll find some big differences between traditional and speculative investments — and knowing these differences can matter a great deal when you’re trying to reach your financial goals.
To begin with, let’s look at the basic types of traditional and speculative investments. Traditional investments are those with which you’re probably already familiar: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, government securities, certificates of deposit (CDs) and so on. Speculative investments include cryptocurrencies, foreign currencies and precious metals such as gold, silver and copper.
Now, consider these three components of investing and how they differ between traditional and speculative investments:
The first issue to consider is risk. When you own stocks or stock-based mutual funds, the value of your investments will fluctuate. And bond prices will also move up and down, largely in response to changing interest rates. However, owning an array of stocks — small-company, large-company, international, etc. — can help reduce the impact of volatility on your stock portfolio. And owning a mix of short- and long-term bonds can help you defend yourself somewhat against interest-rate movements. When interest rates fall, you’ll still have your longer-term bonds, which generally — but not always – pay higher rates than short-term ones. And when interest rates rise, you can redeem your maturing short-term bonds at potentially higher rates.
With speculative investments, though, price movements can be extreme as well as rapid. During their short history, cryptocurrencies in particular have shown astonishingly fast moves up and down, resulting in huge gains followed by equally huge, or bigger, losses. The risk factor for crypto is exacerbated by its being largely unregulated, unlike with stocks and bonds, whose transactions are overseen by well-established regulatory agencies. There just isn’t much that investors can do to modulate the risk presented by crypto and some other speculative investments.
A second key difference between traditional and speculative investments is the time horizon involved. When you invest in stocks and other traditional investments, you ideally should be in it for the long term — it’s not a “get rich quick” strategy. But those who purchase speculative investments want, and expect, quick and sizable returns, despite the considerable risk involved.
A third difference between the two types of investments is the activity required by investors. When you’re a long-term investor in traditional investments, you may not have to do all that much, once you’ve built a portfolio that’s appropriate for your risk tolerance, goals and time horizon. After that point, it’s mostly just a matter of monitoring your portfolio and making occasional moves — you’re not constantly buying and selling, or at least you shouldn’t be. But when you speculate in crypto or other instruments, you are constantly watching prices move — and then making your own moves in response. It’s an activity that requires considerable attention and effort.
One final thought: Not all speculative instruments are necessarily bad investments. Precious metals, for instance, are found in some traditional mutual funds, sometimes in the form of shares of mining companies. And even crypto may become more of a stable vehicle once additional regulation comes into play. But if you’re investing for long-term goals, such as a comfortable retirement — rather than speculating for thrills and quick gains, which may disappear just as quickly — you may want to give careful thought to the types of investments you pursue.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 SIP
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
Financial Focus: Should You Invest…or Speculate?
Waldron’s New Dollar General Slated to Open in the Fall
The ground breaking is underway and construction will soon follow on the City of Waldron’s new Dollar General store location at 643 South Main Street.
Media relations for the Dollar General store stated that at this time, the store opening is slated for fall of 2023, but construction may alter this date.
“Our customers are at the center of all that we do, and meeting customers’ needs is Dollar General’s top priority when choosing store locations. In selecting store sites, we take a number of factors into consideration, carefully evaluating each potential new store location to ensure we can continue to meet our customers’ price, value and selection needs. We further strive to provide convenience for customers who may not have affordable nearby retail options.”
The store will serve as a traditional Dollar General store and employ approximately 6-10 employees, depending on the individual needs of the store.
Anyone interested in joining one of America’s fastest-growing retailers with competitive wages and benefits, world-class training and development and the ability to further their career through our growing organization may apply for available positions online at www.dollargeneral.com/careers.
SR Tigers Prove To Be “Mean’a” Than Mena In Scrimmage
Let’s face it, a scrimmage is just practicing against another program. But depending on who you are depends on how you really look at it. Coaches look to see where improvements need to be made while finalizing their starting lineups before the real games start. Players look at the scrimmage as their first chance to play full-contact live football against someone else and to prove a point to upcoming opponents. Fans look at the final on the scoreboard. Even though there’s no true winner or loser in a scrimmage, fans tend to always use the score as bragging rights. Even if the scoreboard isn’t lit up, they’ll still keep a mental tally of what the final was. The Mansfield Tigers took on the Mena Bearcats in a live scrimmage on Tuesday, August 15th and in the end it really didn’t matter whose definition of a scrimmage was used, the Tigers looked good.
Photo courtesy of Joey Bolin
The layout of the scrimmage was simple. Each team would start out playing their second string for fifteen plays each on offense and follow that with a live 12 minutes of play. Once done, the first string offenses and defenses would follow suit. The Tigers opponents in the scrimmage were by no means a walk over cupcake program. The Mena Bearcats are a notorious year-in and year-out State Playoff contender in the 4A with their impeccable size, speed, and solid coaching staff. To even keep up against Mena is considered quite a feat. But Mansfield wasn’t content with keeping up in the scrimmage, they were out to make a statement to the entire state. That statement was clear and concise to all. Just Bring It.
Photo courtesy of Joey Bolin
Mansfield’s second-string squad stood tall by leaning heavily on their defensive prowess. Through their section of the scrimmage, the Tigers defense showed extreme depth in their defensive skill and talent as they stuffed Mena on nearly every snap of the ball. The showstoppers of the Tigers opening series was the entire defensive line which consited of Dakota Deer, Cole Kindle, Cadien Ore, and James “Critter” Bausley. With the Bearcats primarily focusing on their run game, the Mansfield linemen were able to gorge themselves with a Thanksgiving meal of tackles as they accounted for eight of the team’s stops and forced a fumble on Mena’s first fifteen offensive plays. Offensively, the Tigers struggled but still showed some poise. The Tigers were able to gain large chunks of yardage with scrabbles by quarterback Cooper Edwards and solid runs by Trey Powell and Dawson Robinson. Unfortunately, mental mistakes and penalties left a mark on each gain down the field for Mansfield as both teams second strings left the field with a 0-0 draw.
Photo courtesy of Joey Bolin
After a small taste of Tiger football, the fans were eager for more as Mansfield and Mena ushered their first-string teams onto the field. What fans got was a plate of defensive desert as Mansfield continued their dominance over the Bearcats offense forcing a punt on Mena’s first series. Mena paid the Tigers back though as they stuffed Mansfield’s run game and forced a bad snap which set the Tiger way back on fourth down. With a positive field position, Mena began to throw the ball effectively to the perimeter of the field. It didn’t take long for Mansfield to sniff out the Bearcats new plan of attack though as Peyton Martin and Daniel Burton took turns swatting down passes to force a turnover on downs against Mena. The Tigers next offensive possession started out the way their previous one ended with a bad snap, but Daniel Burton took the ball on second down and juked around for a fifteen-yard gain giving the Tigers a first down. The flash of yards ended as quickly as it began though as mental mistakes pushed the Tigers back to punt the ball back to Mena again.
Photo courtesy of Joey Bolin
With neither team’s offense proving effective, the scrimmage would come down to who’s defense could execute better. That execution came from the Tigers head executioner, Ethan Martin. Martin scooped up a Mena fumble and rolled 13 yards into the end zone for a Tiger touchdown. Jeremy Strozier tacked on the extra point kick to give the Tigers a 7-0 lead. Mena would again give the ball up on their next series as linebacker Zander Walters picked off a pass and darted 34 yards for a Tiger touchdown. Unfortunately, a penalty brought the touchdown back but still gave Mansfield possession of the ball. Both teams continued to duel it out as the lights came on and the clock ran down, but it was Mansfield who prevailed in the scrimmage with a 7-0 victory over Mena.
Photo courtesy of Joey Bolin
Although it was merely a scrimmage, the night was quite impressive overall for Mansfield. Both teams held back on a lot of their play calling so that they didn’t show all of their cards to future early-season opponents. That being said, Mansfield proved they can hang with a solid 4A team with some plain jane vanilla play calling on both sides of the ball. The Tigers also showed plenty of depth as the line between the first string and second string was blurred with equal amounts of talent. Even with a whole new layout for the program and a lot of inexperience on the field, Mansfield proved that when they smooth out all of the bumps, they’ll be a force to be reckoned with in 2023. The Tigers will officially start their 2023 campain on Friday, August 25th at home against the Magazine Rattlers.
Income Tax School offers in-person, virtual training for advanced income tax preparation
By Rebekah Hall U of A System Division of Agriculture
For Arkansans interested in advanced income tax preparation, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture will offer five in-person and virtual Income Tax School training courses later this year.
The Income Tax School is offered through the Community, Professional and Economic Development unit of the Cooperative Extension Service. Each of the two-day courses will provide information about the latest tax code updates and insight into what taxpayers can expect for the 2024 tax season.
“As one of only a few tax school options in Arkansas, we offer high-quality, affordable federal tax education that fits your schedule,” said Kim Magee, director of the Income Tax School for the extension service. “We provide the information you want and continuing professional education you need every year.”
In-person training will be offered in four Arkansas cities:
· Jonesboro: Nov. 13-14 at the Arkansas State University Delta Center for Economic Development, 319 University Loop
· Fayetteville: Nov. 16-17 at the Don Tyson Center, 1371 W. Altheimer Drive
· Hope: Nov. 27-28 at Hempstead Hall, 2500 S. Main Street
· Little Rock: Nov. 29-30 at Cooperative Extension Service State Office, 2301 S. University Avenue
A virtual option will be offered via Zoom Dec. 6-7.
The cost of the course is $270 for those who register before Aug. 25, or $310 after the priority registration deadline. Registration is available at uada.formstack.com/forms/tax. Classes run 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. daily. A certificate of attendance will be awarded after class is dismissed on the second day.
Curtis Davis, a certified public accountant with more than two decades of tax experience, and Bill Laird, a retired Internal Revenue Service agent, will be instructors at the schools. The course will offer a general review of current tax regulations and updates on changes in existing tax laws.
The Income Tax School is approved by the IRS as a continuing education provider. Participants can earn 16 hours of continuing professional education credit, including two hours of ethics. For more information, contact Kim Magee at 501-671-2081 or kmagee@uada.edu.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter 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 Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter 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 to all eligible persons 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.
Timepiece: Charity in the Midst of War
Dr. Curtis Varnell
The date was September 27. 1863 and the country was in the middle of the great Civil War. Flags and guidons were flying as Joseph Shelby’s Iron Brigade travelled up the old military road. Eight-hundred cavalry, twelve wagons, and two cannon would have resulted in a column stretched a mile or more. Passing through the sparsely settled but politically divided farmland of what is now Logan County, the Confederates encountered warm welcome on the one hand and abject hostility on the other. Occasionally Union sympathizers took the opportunity to fire on the column from the surrounding brush and forests. To prevent these attacks, Shelby assigned Captain Tuck Thorpe the duty of preceding the column and clearing the way.
Nearing Haguewood Prairie, Thorpe and his group unexpectedly ran upon an encamped group of the Arkansas (union) first infantry. The First Arkansas Infantry were composed of locals, many of whom had visiting family members with them. Surprised by the advance scouts, the men quickly fell back into the trees along Haguewood creek and formed a line of defense. Gunfire erupted as the two sides engaged. Hearing sounds of battle, Shelby advanced rapidly to the aide of his scouts. Outnumbered, but in a good defensive location, the eighty men of the union army put up a good fight. A two-hour skirmish ensued as the two sides exchanged gunfire across the prairie. Shelby, tiring of the battle, ordered an all-out charge on either flank. His colorful official report states, “the simultaneous charge scattered them like chaff and our rough riders rode them down like stubble to the lava tide.”
There were casualties on both sides and Shelby took a number of captives. Among the captured were two women and three little girls. While the firing continued, they all huddled behind a huge white oak tree and prayed. When their father was brought in bleeding and pale, the young children crowded around him, distraught and crying. “Father, father please don’t die,” they wailed in distress. “Your bleeding so bad and you are so pale and sick.” The man’s wife set dejected and wringing her hands in distress, her eyes filled with tears.
Confederate troopers gathered around, moved by the pathetic scene played out before them. Some of the men, no doubt thinking of their own loved ones left behind, turned from the scene with tears. Some of the men began to pull money from their own possessions and to lay it before the small family. Shelby collected at least twelve months’ provisions for the family and then provided them with overcoats and blankets. Stating he was sorry that their dad was hurt, he took a leather purse of gold coin from his pocket and pressed it into the hands of the woman.
Research indicates that the wounded man was Isaac Plumley, a 48-year-old farmer that had enlisted in Fayetteville in March of 1863. Isaac had a large family, eventually a total of at least 11 kids with his first wife. His wife Sirena and the younger children Cerenta, Sarah, and Narcissa would fit the description from official records. Official records show that Isaac was severely wounded in the lower leg and ankle and spent months in the military hospital. He was eventually discharged in Fort Smith, AR in Nov. of 1864. It is said that the money given them was equal to several year’s wage. After the warm, Plumley filed for and was awarded a pension of 12 dollars monthly. The 1870 census shows that his wife Sirena had died and that Isaac had remarried to his sister-in-law who had lost her husband. His new wife had four children and they proceeded to have seven more children together. No doubt, with 22 children between them, they needed every accumulated penny to survive! He died in March of 1897 and is buried in Long Cemetery, Boone County, Arkansas.
Shelby continued on his raid into Missouri. During the raid, his troops killed or wounded 600 Federal troops, captured thousands of weapons, destroyed two forts, destroyed miles of railroad and telegraph lines, while preventing more than 100,000 Missouri and Arkansas troops from assisting in the Tennessee campaign. Shelby and his men conducted one of the most successful campaigns in the west, yet found time for mercy and compassion in the midst of war.
Arkansas Blackberry Breeder will Develop New Tools to Unlock Consumer Preference
By John Lovett
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station
Despite leaps in Arkansas blackberry breeding over the past few decades, there is still room for advancement with the help of genomewide association mapping, consumer panels and a machine with a mouthful of a name — a gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometer.
Margaret Worthington, associate professor of fruit breeding and genetics for the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, has tasted a lot of blackberries and knows what a good berry tastes like. But consumer sensory panels are more accurate and objective than a fruit breeder’s ratings, Worthington said.
As the principal investigator for a new U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, she will use new genomic tools and novel approaches for improving flavor to support her efforts in propelling the largest public-sector breeding program for fresh-market blackberries in the United States.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s blackberry breeding program has developed and patented 43 fresh-market blackberry cultivars, including many combining erect growth habit, thornlessness, and improved shipping ability. The first primocane-fruiting blackberry cultivars, which produce fruit on first-year canes, were also developed in the breeding program. The experiment station is the research arm of the Division of Agriculture.
The USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture will administer the $650,000 Agriculture and Food Research Initiative grant over the next four years. In addition to more data from consumer panels, the grant also provides funding to conduct studies that identify genomic variants statistically associated with a particular trait, known as genomewide association mapping.
Consumer sensory panels are considered the “gold standard for evaluating flavor in fruit crops,” Worthington said, but they cost money and time.
“This is all about discovering what drives consumer preference,” Worthington said. “Comparing the chemistry data on blackberries with consumer panel data, we’ll have much more power to make inferences about what consumers want and how to breed blackberries.”
She said that even with the rise in blackberry consumption and sales, inconsistent flavor is considered a barrier to industry growth. She added that a common complaint about blackberries from consumers and grocers is that they are too tart or not sweet enough, either from being picked too early or simply having an “off” taste.
The USDA-NIFA grant will support investigations that tie in the consumer sensory panel data with the different flavor volatiles found in the blackberry genotypes most favored by consumers, which is where the gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometer plays a role. This instrument can be used to analyze the chemical components of blackberry flavors, including specific flavor and aroma compounds called “volatiles.”
Although the basic tastes of blackberries — sweetness, sourness, and bitterness — impact their flavor, volatile aroma compounds are also responsible for typical aromas and aromatic flavors of blackberries, Worthington noted. Volatiles are substances in fruit that vaporize easily at ambient temperature. In blackberries, those volatiles include acids, esters and alcohols, but vary by variety, ripeness, harvest time and storage conditions.
Worthington will take all the information collected to help guide selections for advancing blackberry plants in breeding trials.
The grant also provides funding for a Ph.D. student, Katelyn Lust-Moore.
“We want to look for correlations between certain volatiles and consumer preferences to determine what exactly makes the flavor of a blackberry desirable or off-putting,” Lust-Moore, said. “Then, we can use this information to create tools for breeders so they can more efficiently select plants that produce better-tasting fruit.”
Worthington, who is part of the horticulture department, is teaming up with food science researchers Renee Threlfall, research scientist of horticultural postharvest/quality, and Scott Lafontaine, assistant professor of flavor chemistry; Samuel B. Fernandes, assistant professor of agricultural statistics and quantitative genetics with the experiment station’s Center for Agricultural Data Analytics; and Lust-Moore.
Worthington noted the collaboration includes complimentary fields and tools. Lafontaine, for example, operates the Shimadzu gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometer that evaluates samples for chemical analysis. And Fernandes combines computer science advances with elements of agriculture to help plant breeders, growers and consumers.
Two prerequisites
Worthington said this scale of a project would not have been feasible even a few years ago.
One factor that makes the project possible is her work with a team of international scientists who assembled the first complete sequence of the blackberry genome. Another factor, oddly enough, was the COVID-19 pandemic.
During the pandemic, when restrictions prevented researchers from conducting sensory panels, Threlfall and her team devised a protocol that allowed them to preserve blackberries until restrictions were lifted. They froze the blackberries after harvest, thawed them, and made a puree for tasting right before the sensory panels took place.
Operating consumer sensory panels during the blackberry harvest season is difficult to manage in tandem with regular blackberry breeding duties, Worthington said. Threlfall’s pandemic-era protocol will allow Worthington’s team to conduct the sensory panels in the winter and spring when they are less busy with blackberry breeding duties.
The blackberry research is supported by USDA grant number 2023-6703-39448.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.
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.
Support Greenwood First Responders by Giving Blood at the Greenwood Boots and Badges Aug 22nd at the ROC
Roll up your sleeve and support your local first responders by giving blood with Our Blood Institute at a local blood drive and you too can help save a life!
Our Blood Institute (OBI) will hold the Greenwood Boots and Badges Blood Drive on Tuesday, August 22, 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the ROC (Recreation Outreach Center).
Successful donors will also receive a limited-edition Boots & Badges T-shirt, and a free ticket to Science Museum Oklahoma, Frontier City or Hurricane Harbor.
“Each and every single day Arkansas’s first responders see the need for life-saving blood donations,” said Dr. John Armitage, president and CEO of Our Blood Institute. “We are incredibly thankful for our local first responders who continue to keep us safe, and we owe it to them to do our part in making sure blood is readily available in emergency situations.”
Anyone who is healthy and 16 years old* or older can give blood. Blood can be donated every 56 days and platelets can be given as often as every seven days, up to 24 times a year.
Appointments to donate can be made online at obi.org or by calling 877-340-8777.
*16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; 18+ year-olds must weigh at least 110 pounds. Photo ID required.
NHTSA and Arkansas Law Enforcement Remind Drivers: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over
During the Labor Day holiday period, including the end of summertime and the busy holiday weekend, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) will be working alongside law enforcement in Arkansas to decrease impaired driving. From August 18 through September 4, Arkansas law enforcement will be participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility enforcement campaign. During this time, you’ll see officers working together to take drunk drivers off the roads in support of law enforcement’s dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities. No matter how you plan to celebrate the end of summer this year, make sure you plan to do it safely.
For this year’s campaign, the National Park Service (NPS), and NHTSA Region 7, which includes Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and Iowa, are again partnering to emphasize the importance of driving sober and saving lives on America’s roadways in and around our region’s National and State Parks. There will be an increased presence of state and local law enforcement officers along with NPS rangers during this campaign, whose expanded efforts to protect against impaired driving will be conducted in a fair and equitable way. Campaign activities will be highlighted by NHTSA at a press conference in St. Louis, Missouri at the Gateway Arch on August 25. Law enforcement officers in all regions will be participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign throughout the Labor Day weekend.
According to NHTSA, 13,384 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2021 — that’s one person every 39 minutes. On average, more than 11,000 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes each year from 2017 to 2021. This is why Arkansas law enforcement officers are working together with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal; it’s a matter of life and death. As you head out to festivities during the end of summer and Labor Day weekend, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.
“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Colonel Mike Hagar, Arkansas Public Safety Secretary, and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “In addition to enforcement, the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is an awareness effort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it takes lives. Let’s make this a partnership between law enforcement and drivers− help us protect the community and put an end to this senseless behavior,” he said.
During the 2021 Labor Day holiday period (6:00 p.m. September 3 to 5:59 a.m. September 7), there were 531 traffic fatalities nationwide. Of these 531 fatalities, 41% (216) involved a drunk driver, and more than a quarter (27%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday period in 2021, 48% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher.
No one should mix drinking and driving, and no one is immune to the effects of drinking. If you find yourself drunk and stranded with your vehicle, give your keys to a sober driver who can safely drive you home. Remind your friends to never get into a vehicle with a drunk driver. If you have a friend who is about to drive after drinking, take away their keys and help them get home safely. Most importantly: Always have a plan before you head out for the evening. If you wait until after you’ve been drinking to figure out how to get from one place to the next, you will already be too impaired to make the right choice.
So remember, this Labor Day weekend and all year long: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. It could save your life.
For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136. For more on Arkansas’ ongoing Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities, visit www.TZDArkansas.org.
Waldron School Board Meets
The regular monthly meeting of the Waldron School Board was held in the Central Office Building Monday, August 14, 2023; at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were Clay Woodall, Angela Hunsucker, Mac Davis, Konnor McKay and Stan Cottrell. Others present were Superintendent Daniel Fielding, Misty Owens, Ryan Walker, Kristi Sigman, Darla Jeffery, Josh Atchley, Tonya Cluck, Kim Solomon, Toni Dozier, Cheyenne Smith, Randi Hickman, Zack Taylor and Chris Lipham.
President Woodall called the meeting to order at 6:31p.m.
Mr. Woodall welcomed everyone.
Mr. Konnor McKay began the meeting with a word of prayer.
Mrs. Hunsucker led the Pledge of Allegiance.
A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to add Item D) Discuss the Rewording of the Deed with The City of Waldron on the Sawyer Wright Field, to New Business. 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 July 10th Minutes; B) Approve Financial Reports and Expenditures; C) Approve Purchase Order to O’Reilly Auto Parts; D) Approve Purchase Order for MHC Kenworth; E) Approve Purchase Orders for BSN Sports; F) Approve Purchase Order for Pearson Virtual Schools; G) Approve Milk Bid for Food Service; H) Approve Bread Bid for Food Service. Motion carried 5-0.
A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Stan Cottrell to approve the Petitions for Transfer of Student (3). Motion carried 5-0.
A motion was made by Stan Cottrell and seconded by Konnor McKay to approve the Request for Proposal received by Community National Bank and move the operating account. Motion carried 5-0.
A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to approve the Elementary, Middle and High School Handbook changes. Motion carried 5-0.
A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to approve for Mr. Fielding to explore the rewording of the Deed with The City of Waldron on the Sawyer Wright Field. Motion carried 5:0.
Each of the principals reported that the first day of school went great! Meet the Teacher Night was a success. Mr. Walker also commented that there are 87 students enrolled for Pre-K, and he is still enrolling students in the on-line virtual academy at this time. Mrs. Jeffery informed the board that there are 104 Kindergarteners enrolled as of now. She also reported that
the 3rd and 4th graders last year improved in all areas except for 2 on their testing last year. Mr. Taylor announced that Middle School improved in 9 of the 16 areas of the testing, his building grew by 9% in Exceeding and Ready categories. Mrs. Solomon also commented on the growth in testing scores, with an increase in scores in all 8 areas, 22% overall increase in Science, 16% in Math, 14% in English and 15% in Reading! Great things are happening all around!
Assistant Superintendent Mr. Lipham reminded the board about the AAA Volleyball Benefit Game at Pottsville on Thursday and Scrimmage Football Game on Friday against Dequeen. He reported that the Transportation Department is still in need of substitute bus drivers. Superintendent Daniel Fielding expressed how proud he is of the teachers and students over the improvement on the test scores.
A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Mac Davis to accept the resignation of Jessica Neely as Middle School Special Education Teacher as of July 27, 2023. Motion carried 5-0.
A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Stan Cottrell to accept the resignation of Tammy Forrest as Elementary Paraprofessional as of July 31, 2023. Motion carried 5-0.
A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Mac Davis to transfer Elizabeth Gonzalez to Middle School Special Education Teacher, pending the receiving of a provisional license, effective July 27, 2023. Motion carried 5-0.
A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Stan Cottrell to hire Kevin Hillier as Elementary Paraprofessional and Leticia Smith as Middle School Special Education Paraprofessional effective August 7, 2023. Motion carried 5-0.
A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Konnor McKay to hire Tracie Adams as a Level 2 Bus Driver with 2 years’ experience effective August 10, 2023. Motion carried 5-0.
A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to hire Kyra Taylor as High School Special Education Paraprofessional, pending she receives necessary credentials, effective August 15, 2023. 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 7:13 p.m.
Arrest Reports 8/6
Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s office:
Sherry Lea Adams of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 11 at 9:56 p.m. and released on August 14 at 9:37 p.m. Adams was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), and Driving While Intoxicated 2nd offense.
Cathy DeAnne Barnhill Beach of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 9 at 11:01 a.m. and released on cash bond August 9 at 1:11 p.m. Beach was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.
Christopher Ray Beaty of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 7 at 8:50 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Beaty was charged with Surrender Off Bond, and Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).
Andrea Rayne Brown of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 9 at 8:39 p.m. and released on signature bond August 9 at 10:58 p.m. Brown was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).
Dakota Cheyenne Bunch of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 10 at 7:57 a.m. and released on August 12 at 8:18 a.m. Bunch was charged with Domestic Battering Third Degree – Purposely a misd.
Justin Ray Carroll of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 7 at 10:37 p.m. and released on cash bond August 7 at 11:46 p.m. Carroll was charged with petition to revoke – misd.
Ruben Allen Dampier, Junior of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 9 at 2:58 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond August 9 at 9:47 a.m. Dampier was charged with Delivery of [Schedule VI Controlled Substance] >14g, and Delivery of Methamphetamine or Cocaine >2g.
Amanda Loraine Gregory of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 6 at 10:33 a.m. and released on cash bond August 7 at 11:32 p.m. Gregory was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.
Tyler John Light of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 11 at 8:26 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond August 11 at 9:23 p.m. Light was charged with Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree.
Staci Leann Neu of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 10 at 11:59 a.m. and remains at the SCADC as a Arkansas Department of Corrections hold.
Jeffrey Luke Ridenhour of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 11 at 12:45 p.m. and released on signature bond August 14 at 4:50 p.m. Ridenhour was charged with Failure to Appear – Class A Misdemeanor.
David Nathanael Sage of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 11 at 8:21 p.m. and released on August 13 at 9:58 p.m. Sage was charged with Driving While License Cancelled/Suspended/Revoked.
Rebekah Lynn White of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center August 11 at 9:31 a.m. and released on signature bond August 11 at 2:43 p.m. White was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).
Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
Morgan Christine Bonfiglio of Hot Springs was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 6 at 6:31 p.m. and released on signature bond August 6 at 10:42 p.m. Bonfiglio was charged with Driving While License Cancelled/Suspended/Revoked.
Hunter Luke Brandenburg of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 8 at 11:07 p.m. and released to an outside agency on August 9 at 4:52 a.m. Brandenburg was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Felony.
Amanda Sue Yancey of Ft. Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 9 at 4:28 p.m. and released on signature bond August 14 at 5:35 p.m. Yancey was charged with Failure to Appear – Class A Misdemeanor.
Brandon Tyler Haneline of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 11 at 8:19 p.m. and released on bond August 14 at 11:01 p.m. Haneline was charged with Possession Drug Paraphernalia – Felony, and two counts of Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine.
Ryan Alexander Martinez of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 9 at 8:25 a.m. and transferred to an outside agency on August 9 at 1:22 p.m. Martinez was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Misd., and Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine.
Carl Wayne Spearman Jr. of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 9 at 4:33 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Spearman was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), and Petition to Revoke – Felony.
Arresting agency – Lavaca Police Department:
Caitlyn Gilbreth of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 12 at 9:18 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond August 12 at 1:06 p.m. Gilbreth was charged with six counts of Theft of Property <$1k.
Arresting agency – Bonanza Police Department:
Jason Lee Hill was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 8 at 7:50 p.m. and released on signature bond August 9 at 1:10 a.m. Hill was charged with Theft of Property <$1k.
Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H:
Regina Faye Rector of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 10 at 8:09 p.m. and released on signature bond August 10 at 11:01 p.m. Rector was charged with Driving on Suspended or Revoked DL – DWI.
Michael David Rush, II of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 12 at 12:16 a.m. and released on signature bond August 12 at 2:25 a.m. Rush was charged with Driving While License Cancelled/Suspended/Revoked, Failure to Appear – Class C Misdemeanor, Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor, and Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).
Steve Allen Sexton of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 9 at 3:02 p.m. and released on bond August 12 at 8:47 p.m. Sexton was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), and Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.
Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Dustin Wayne Tankersley of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 9 at 1:30 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Tankersley was charged with Fleeing -On Foot-Misd., Refusal To Submit To Arrest Misdemeanor, and Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).
Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office:
Jacob Shackleford, 47 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 6 at 1:55 p.m. Shackleford was charged with possession of controlled substance, defective signal or brake lights, possession of a controlled substance, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
Brant Kuykendall, 39, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 7 at 3:18 p.m. Kuykendall was charged with failure to appear.
Letitia Schouweiler, 61, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 8 at 7:02 p.m. Schouweiler was charged with public intoxication.
Karl Bradley, 48, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 8 at 7:44 p.m. Bradley was charged with domestic battering in the third degree, and parole hold.
Joseph Srutka, 49 of Subiaco, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 10 at 4:26 p.m. Srutka was charged with contempt of court.
William Evans, 38 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 11 at 10:15 a.m. Evans was charged with two counts of failure to appear.
Robert Wells, 46 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 11 at 11:33 a.m. Wells was charged with violation of an order of protection, disorderly conduct, and terroristic threatening in the first degree.
Elijah Schluterman, 28 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 11 at 11:54 a.m. Schluterman was charged with hold for ADC.
Arresting agency – Franklin County Sheriff’s Office:
Aiden J Brown, 20, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on August 7 at 12:43 a.m. Brown was charged with battery – 2nd degree/purpose of causing injury, causes serious injury, terroristic threatening – 2nd degree a person threatens to cause physical injury or property damage, resisting arrest, criminal mischief – 1st degree/property of another w/value over $1,000 but $5,000 or less, burglary, commercial, theft $1,000 or less – all others, three counts of impairing the operation of vital public facility, two counts of obstructing governmental operations (use or threaten physical force), domestic battering – 3rd degree/purpose of causing injury, two counts of failure to appear, failure to comply with conditions of suspended sentence or probation, fail to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA), two counts of impairing the operation of vital public facility, obstructing governmental operations (use or threaten physical force), and criminal mischief – 1st degree/property of another value $1,000 or more.
Thomas Anthony Figgins, 36 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on August 7 at 2:38 p.m. Figgins was charged with two counts of failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).
Natalie M. Lopez, 40, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on August 8 at 3:36 p.m. Lopez was charged with failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).
Montez Laument Ward, 31 of Olive Branch, MS, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on August 10 at 8:19 a.m. Ward was charged with possession of SCH VI LT 4 oz., reckless driving, driving left of center, driving while license suspended, obstructing a highway or other public passage, failure to register vehicle, and no proof of liability insurance.
Daniel O’Connor, 19, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on August 11 at 1:57 a.m. O’Connor was charged with two counts of fleeing by vehicle – extreme indifference to human life, theft by receiving less than $25,000 but greater than $5,000, criminal mischief – 1st degree/property of another w/value over $5,000 but less than $25,000, theft by receiving $1,000 or less, cruelty to animals, possession of defaced firearm, speeding, reckless driving, fictitious tags, failure to wear seatbelt, and no proof liability insurance.
**The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.**