Resident News Network

Russellville Wins Home Opener Over Paris, 3-1

Sports

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2:40 am

Russellville Wins Home Opener Over Paris, 3-1

RUSSELLVILLE- After another deep run in the Class 3A state tournament a year ago, Paris fans were eager to see the rebuild in 2023 after the heavy loss of players to both graduation and transfer. The team has made great progress over the summer leading up to Tuesday night’s season opener at Russellville.

But perhaps as a sign of new players playing together for the first time as starters and being counted on heavily for the season, the Lady Eagles got off to a rough start in the first set, falling into a 6-0 score deficit to start the first set. Although Paris would go on to drop the first step, the team competed and kept itself in contention until late in the first. Russellville would go on to win the first set by the score of 25-21. A valiant effort by Paris on the road, but the early deficit was too much for the Lady Eagles to overcome.

Struggles continued for Paris in the second, as the young team playing at a Class 5A school was forced to focus after having things go wrong in the first. Russellville’s back line played very well, saving multiple points by keeping the ball alive for their front-line hitters. The Lady Eagles would battle, but they would be unable to get over the hump score wise, and the Lady Cyclones would go on to win the second set by the score of 25-17.

The tide turned in the third set for Paris with the Lady Eagles starting the set with their first lead of the match. The score seesawed back and forth, but late in the third, Paris was able to maintain and 2–3-point lead and eventually close-out the third with a win by the score of 25-20. The young Lady Eagles had fought back, showing great character, after facing a 3-0 defeat at the hands of the Lady Cyclones, and momentum seemed to be shifting back to Paris.

But the momentum shift would be short-lived, and the young Lady Eagles would not be able to win the fourth set. Untimely service errors and problems on the receive would spell defeat for Paris. Russellville went on to win the fourth set by the score of 25-16, and the match by the set score of 3-1.

Paris will again be on the road on Thursday when they travel to Little Rock to play Pulaski Academy. The match will be the second of three road games in the first two weeks of regular season play. Conference play will begin next week when the Lady Eagles return home to play Charleston before again going on the road on August 31 to play at Hackett.

Watch for photos from this match on Thursday on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports. RNN Sports will be in Little Rock on Thursday for the Lady Eagles’ match against the Pulaski Academy Lady Bruins.

Timepiece: Sound of Silence

Networks

Tammy Teague

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1:37 am

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By Dr. Curtis Varnell

Sounds echoed throughout the building as workers scurried about preparing the fruit and vegetable for processing. Women talked among themselves, exchanging gossip and anecdotes while watching over their children who were scurrying about underfoot. Older children, even though legally underage to work, were assisting their parents by peeling heated tomatoes, snipping of the ends of snap beans, or halving peaches. Parents were commonly paid by the number of cans produced so all help in providing extra income was appreciated.

By the early 1900’s, most smaller towns in Arkansas had one of more canning factories which preserved and sold local produce. Generally, a group of businessmen would put up money as loans to local banks who would then contract out buying the racks, trays, boilers and putting up a canning shed or building. Initially, these were small time operations where local families would work during harvest season to make extra money. Men generally received about ten cents an hour for processing the produce while women were paid by the bushel to prepare the tomatoes, beans, or fruit. The product would be poked through holes at the top of the can, water and salt added, and then the can was patched with a piece of metal and soldered. The cans were then placed in a boiler where the product was cooked and harmful bacteria killed.

Some of the largest packing companies were found in northwest Arkansas. In 1886, Springdale Canning became one of the first large commercial canneries. It employed up to 100 people during their busy season but contributed to the economy of the entire area by buying area products. By the 1930’s, the Springdale plant could process as many as 3,500 cases of beans, greens, spinach, or tomatoes in a ten-hour day.

To take advantage of the large area grape harvest, Welch began a grape juice factory in 1923 and the Springdale area plant continued operating until 1978. Smaller towns like Ozark, Clarksville, Atkins, and Lowell, and Pettigrew had canning facilities that catered to one product but they began to fade away as federal food regulations coupled with expensive new technology forced consolidation.

Two of the big names to emerge from the process was nationally known brands Atkins pickles and Allen canning. For more than fifty years, Atkins pickles were the name brand of choice in America. During its early years, the factory produced specialty items such as tomolives, pickled okra, peppers, and onions but eventually concentrated only on pickles. In 1983, the plant employed 500 people and sales reached $40 million dollars. Visitors to the state capitol were given gift packs of Atkins products to showcase items produced in state. Several consolidations into national conglomerates later, an organization known as the Suiza Corporation purchased the company and closed out the Atkins brand.

Allen’s Incorporated began in Siloam Springs as a local canning company. In 1976, Allen’s was given the title of the world’s largest independent food processor and was one of the top ten canneries in the world. The company claimed the ability to pick the vegetables in the morning and have them ready to ship by night. By 2013, they employed more than 1,000 people nationally and produced canned and frozen vegetables under 11 brand names. Alma, Arkansas laid claim to being the spinach capital of the world as a result of the spinach canned at the local Allen’s cannery under the brand name of Popeye spinach. A large statue of the character was erected as a symbol of the city.

Like other businesses that preceded it, Allen’s suffered from declining markets and large cooperate consolidation. After several sales to increasingly larger corporations, Allen’s closed their production unit and the business closed.

Passing through the small towns, one sees the empty enclosed plants, the boarded up windows, and the corporate for sale signs hanging on the fences. The jobs are gone, the young have moved on, and the only noise within the canneries are the sounds of silence.

Boozman Shares Service Memories of Lavaca Veteran

Tammy Teague

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12:55 am

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Boozman Shares Service Memories of Lavaca Veteran

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) recognized the service and sacrifice of Patrick Grout in ‘Salute to Veterans,’ a series recognizing the military service of Arkansans.

Grout knew early on he wanted to enlist in the military, so in 1972, on his 19th birthday, he enlisted with clear objectives: to serve in the Navy and to go to Vietnam.

“It’s just something I’ve felt since I was real little that I had to serve,” Grout said. “On my enlistment, it asked what you would like to do or be stationed, and I put Vietnam. I felt I had to do that.”

“I wanted to travel,” Grout said. “I’d be best to go into the Navy in order to see other countries.” Throughout his time in uniform, Grout visited Vietnam, the Philippines, Japan, Hawaii, Hong Kong and Singapore.

Originally from Los Angeles, Grout was first stationed nearby in Alameda, California. While in bootcamp, he remembered a lot of marching and outlined how everything that was done was to simply “get you to follow orders.”

His jobs changed throughout his time on board the ship. He was originally placed in the main engine room as a machinist mate, then was assigned a new task of making water for the next three years. He recalled the conditions of working in the main engine room, “I remember washing my clothes and hanging my pants over a rail and when I got done, I could just stand them up. It was so hot it just ironed them in place.”

When he transferred to the auxiliaries, Grout quickly moved into a leadership role as he oversaw training other sailors and running qualifications for the preventative maintenance systems. “That was the first time I was in charge of people, and I had 19 of them,” he explained. “That helped me become a buffer.” Grout noted how much he appreciated the respect the military gave to rank and how “people no matter where you go, you’re showing the rank and respect because of your rank.”

Grout said the closest enemy encounter he had was as his ship was leaving the Gulf of Tonkin, when a nearby U.S. destroyer was severely damaged and three people had to be brought aboard his ship because it had a full hospital.

He recalled his feelings returning home and the lack of a warm welcome by his community, and the country, and how it still affects him today. “Disappointing, really disappointing. You expect a parade you know,” he said. “Nowadays when people say, ‘thank you for your service,’ that just – thank you, cause we didn’t get it back then.”

As a veteran, Grout understands the demands of those called to serve in uniform and says they are uniquely qualified to meet the demands of employers. “I’ve often thought about people who have a company and they want to hire people. Hire a vet because they do what it takes to get the job done. They know how to take orders,” Grout said.

Today, Grout calls Lavaca home.

“Patrick Grout humbly served our nation in uniform through his hard work and dedication. Every veteran deserves our thanks and appreciation. It is my hope that Patrick feels our gratitude for his sacrifice. I am pleased to collect his memories and share his story,” said Boozman.

Boozman will submit Grout’s entire interview to the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center to collect and retain the oral histories of our nation’s veterans.

Boozman Shares Service Memories of Greenwood Air Force Veteran

Tammy Teague

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12:48 am

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Boozman Shares Service Memories of Greenwood Air Force Veteran

U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) recognized the service and sacrifice of Richard McKinney in ‘Salute to Veterans,’ a series recognizing the military service of Arkansans.

Richard McKinney spent much of his Air Force career in a division of the service he says is not usually popular – the Office of Special Investigations (OSI).

He grew up in a military household, following his dad’s Air Force career all over the world, and enlisted himself after graduating from Greenwood High School. McKinney attributed his father’s time on active duty to his decision to enlist. “I just kind of grew up and always knew that I liked that military life, I liked that structure. And growing up on the military bases it was just a very natural environment for me.”

McKinney joined the Air Force in 1973. He trained as an electrician and eventually moved into management with the civil engineering division, but re-enlisted and eventually found his calling when an OSI officer said they were looking for new agents.

He successfully navigated OSI’s rigorous selection process and throughout his career was involved with investigations that ranged from narcotics and fraud to counterintelligence. He also served in Operation Desert Shield and was assigned to help keep secret U.S. military programs secure.

“A commander would come up and say, “Okay. I’ve got this program. I’m not going to tell you what it is. I want you to send a team in this building – it’s where we work – and I want you to tell me if you can find any leaks about information about what we do, what we’re working on, where we’re going. Things like that,” McKinney shared. “We would do whatever we needed to do, just like an adversary would do. Then we would come back after those operations and write up a classified report and then we would go back to the organization.” “We always came in with a non-adversarial approach. We didn’t want to put anyone in jail. It was really a tool to help them plug the holes. Keeps those programs safe, secure.”

After more than 20 years McKinney retired from military service and began devoting time to the needs of veterans in his community. He served as a VFW Post Commander in Greenwood for many years and worked to enhance the organization’s public service work.

“We are recognized nationally at our post there for being a community service post, which we are extremely proud of,” McKinney said. “We are an outreach, we want to do things in the community. You need something done you come to the VFW, we will try to figure out how to get it done.”

McKinney also advocates for hiring veterans. “The veterans are such a huge asset. I tell people in private business: if you get somebody that’s done a hitch in the service, you’ve got a guy who knows how to show up on time. You’ve got a guy who knows how to dedicate himself to a project,” he said.

He has focused on getting a younger generation of men and women who served in uniform involved in local veteran organizations to help increase their influence on policies impacting them and their fellow veterans.

“Richard McKinney honorably served our nation in uniform and was dedicated to maintaining security for U.S. military programs. His time in our Armed Forces, devotion to our national security and concern for his fellow veterans all demonstrate his character and patriotism. I am grateful to collect and preserve his memories of service,” Boozman said.

Boozman will submit McKinney’s entire interview to the Veterans History Project, an initiative of the Library of Congress’s American Folklife Center to collect and retain the oral histories of our nation’s veterans.

Registration opens Aug. 28 for Walk Across Arkansas Fall 2023

Featured

Tammy Teague

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12:08 am

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Registration opens Aug. 28 for Walk Across Arkansas Fall 2023

By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture

As families resume their busy back to school schedules, it’s important to take time to exercise. Walk Across Arkansas, an eight-week, group-based exercise program from the Cooperative Extension Service, is designed to help Arkansans get moving and collaborate with peers.

GET MOVING, ARKANSAS — To help Arkansans get active, the Cooperative Extension Service’s Walk Across Arkansas program asks participants to log their number of minutes spent being physically active each day. The free program is offered each spring and fall, and past participants list numerous benefits, including better sleep, lower stress levels and strengthened relationships with teammates. (Division of Agriculture graphic.)

The free program is offered each spring and fall by the Cooperative Extension Service, the outreach arm of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. Participants record the total number of minutes spent being physically active each day — and any moderate to vigorous physical activity that boosts the heart rate counts — not just walking.

Teams can consist of one person to as many as 30 people. Participants can register and log exercise minutes at walk.uada.edu/walk/. Registration for the fall 2023 session opens Aug. 28, and the competition starts Sept. 11 and ends on Nov. 5.

Heather Wingo, extension health program associate for the Division of Agriculture, said the Walk Across Arkansas program is a great resource for Arkansans looking to improve their health.

“Walk Across Arkansas provides an endless list of benefits, such as improving physical activity goals, encouraging teamwork, improved strength and stamina, and lower stress levels,” Wingo said. “And it’s completely free, making it very accessible for all participants.”

Positive results

During the spring 2023 Walk Across Arkansas session, 409 participants on 82 teams from 43 counties logged 1,036,886 minutes. Wingo said many participants reported they had more energy, slept better, controlled stress, strengthened relationships, lost weight or inches, and improved their blood panels and blood pressure.

“Participants can start slow and gradually build up their exercise time over the course of eight weeks as they get stronger,” Wingo said. “If you need a little motivation to get going, having friends with similar goals can help you stay on track.”

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

To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on 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.

Arrest Reports 8/13

Police Reports

Tammy Teague

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10:57 pm

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Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H:
Sherry Lea Adams of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 18 at 8:03 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond August 19 at 3:51 p.m. Adams was charged with Driving on Suspended or Revoked DL – DWI, and Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree – False ID.

Arresting agency – Huntington Police Department:
Caren Joyce Burgess of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 16 at 2:24 p.m. and transferred to an outside agency on August 21 at 4:45 p.m. Burgess was charged with Fugitive from Justice Out of State.

Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
Kaleb Avery-Don Carter of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 16 at 2:22 a.m. and released on signature bond August 16 at 10:07 a.m. Carter was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Christopher Eugene Kampmann of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 13 at 1:14 a.m. and released on signature bond August 13 at 2:47 a.m. Kampmann was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Misdemeanor.

Gerard Anthony Ledoux of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 19 at 3:25 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond August 19 at 3:41 p.m. Ledoux was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the Third Degree.

Arresting agency – Barling Police Department:
Ricky Martin Chaffin of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 14 at 10:04 a.m. and released on signature bond August 15 at 10:07 a.m. Chaffin was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office:
Natalie Dawn Christensen of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 15 at 7:14 p.m. and released on bond August 17 at 2:28 p.m. Christensen was charged with Obstructing Governmental Operations-Impair, and Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely.

James Glenn of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 13 at 5:23 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond August 13 at 12:08 p.m. Glenn was charged with Careless Driving – Inattentive Operation, and Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Billy Joe Head of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 13 at 3:42 p.m. and remains as an Arkansas Department of Corrections hold.

Morgan Gene Jones of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 14 at 11:19 a.m. and remains at the SCADC. Jones was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

Haley Dee Miesner of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 15 at 12:33 a.m. and released to an outside agency on August 16 at 7:55 p.m. Miesner was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Misd.

Tanner Houston J Oakes of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 13 at 9:08 p.m. and released on signature bond August 13 at 10:53 p.m. Oakes was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Robert Ray Rocha of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 13 at 4:06 p.m. and released on August 14 at 5:06 p.m. Rocha was charged with Assault On Family Or Household Member-3rd Degree.

Courtnee Elizabeth Saenz of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 18 at 12:40 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond August 21 at 4:05 p.m. Saenz was charged with Domestic Battering in the Second Degree – Victim <12 years old or >60 years old.

David Nathanael Sage of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 19 at 9:31 a.m. and released on August 21 at 8:33 a.m. Sage was charged with Driving While License Cancelled/Suspended/Revoked.

Darren Wayne Schaeffer of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 17 at 5:43 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Schaeffer was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Misd., Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), and Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

Rhiannon Michelle Souder of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 15 at 9:01 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond August 16 at 2:46 p.m. Souder was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the First Degree -Conduct, and Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Tara Kay Walker of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 17 at 11:30 a.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Walker was charged with ADC commitment hold.

Arresting agency – Hackett Police Department:
Terrell Marquis Lawson of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 15 at 7:13 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Lawson was charged with Aggravated Assault, Refusal To Submit To Arrest Misdemeanor, and Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely.

Heather Lynette Rogers of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 15 at 7:20 p.m. and released on cash bond August 16 at 12:02 a.m. Rogers was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Cody Stafford of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 15 at 9:27 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond August 17 at 4:09 p.m. Stafford was charged with Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree, and Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely.

Arresting agency – Arkansas Parole:
Brandan Charles Loudermilk of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 16 at 12:27 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond Loudermilk was charged with absconding, parole violation, and ADC commitment hold.

Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police:
Jacob Levi Rush of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on August 18 at 12:45 a.m. and released on signature bond August 18 at 6:30 a.m. Rush was charged with Public Intoxication – Annoyance.

Arresting agency – Franklin County Sheriff’s Office:
David Heath Haney, 52 of Charleston, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on August 19 at 11:43 a.m. Haney was charged with misdemeanor criminal trespass.

Michael Gonzales, 27 of Altus, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on August 18 at 8:47 p.m. Gonzales was charged with failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA).

Adam Capo, 37 of Ratcliff, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on August 18 at 3:34 p.m. Capo was charged with public intoxication, possession of drug paraphernalia, and disorderly conduct.

Katlyn Martin, 32 of Alma, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on August 17 at 5:09 p.m.

Megan Elizabeth Gunn, 35 of Elkins, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on August 17 at 12:40 p.m. Gunn was charged with two counts of failure to appear, and failure to comply with conditions of pre-trail release.

Jeremy Lee Boswell, 46 of Ozark, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on August 16 at 1:37 p.m. Boswell was charged with failure to appear on unclassified misdemeanor (FTA), and parole violation.

Adam Lewis Swims, 33 of Lavaca, was booked into the Franklin County Detention Center on August 16 at 1:01 p.m. Swims was charged with public intoxication, drinking in public, disorderly conduct, battery 2nd degree/purpose of causing injury, causes serious injury.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office:
John Combs, 38 of Ratcliff, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 14 at 2:54 p.m. Combs was charged with failure to appear.

Zachary Mason, 26 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 18 at 10:35 a.m. Mason was charged with failure to appear, and two counts of violation of probation/suspended imposition of sentence.

Jason Bowden, 49 of Subiaco, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on August 19 at 10:06 p.m. Bowden was charged with failure to pay.

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

Mansfield City Council Meets

News

Tammy Teague

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6:30 pm

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The Mansfield City Council met in regular session on Thursday evening, August 17. All members of the council were present including Sheri Hopkins, Glen Hurt, Beverly Lyons, Julie Thomas, James Steele, and Boyd Farmer. Also present, Mayor Buddy Black and Recorder/Treasurer Becky Walker.

After approving the July meeting minutes and financials, the council heard the city services reports.

Mansfield Fire Chief Michael Smith was not present at the meeting, and Mayor Black read his report noting there were eight fire and 39 EMS calls. The report reflected that the new tornado sirens had been ordered. Smith included in his report that the E-One was still in Texas being repaired, and that the new tank on the tanker truck was also undergoing repairs. Smith attended the IAFC Fire-Rescue Conference in Kansas City, MO on August 16-18.

Next, Police Chief Wayne Robb gave his department report which noted (Scott County) four citations and 12 violations; (Sebastian County) five citations and nine violations. Robb also noted 39 department calls, 19 agency assists (five in Scott County and 16 in Sebastian County); 12 medical calls; two total incident/arrest reports; three accident reports; 64 traffic stops; 44 warnings issued; one DWI arrest; one adult arrest; and one animal call. Chief Robb also stated his department has had a total of five total training hours.

Public Works Director Derek Pollard presented his report to the council noting they had completed 118 service orders, 21 one call requests, storm damage cleanup, and a water leak repair. Pollard also noted that they are continuing a chlorine residual testing schedule to keep the disinfection levels monitored and that a water flushing plan is still in effect.

In matters of unfinished business, the council voted unanimously to adopt Ordinance 2023-2, a water rate increase ordinance. Black stated the new rate will go into effect on October 1. In sum, the estimated rate increase will be anywhere from $8-$10 per bill. “If someone’s water bill was $60, it will go up to about $70,” shared Black. “The rate increase is not as severe as I first thought it would be.”

In matters of new business, the motion was made to enter into executive session. The purpose of executive session was to discuss a personnel matter.

The next item on the agenda, considering pay increases for Cody Hensley and Mark Walls. Both have exceeded the 90-day probationary period. The council voted to approve those raises.

In the last item of unfinished business, the consideration of two rural, non-voting members of water advisory committee. This is a newly formed advisory committee comprised of members of the council and two rural, non-voting members. The two non-resident customers from the area are to be outside the municipal boundaries and in an unincorporated area. Black asked the council members to submit recommended names for members to serve on the committee.

Before adjourning the meeting it was announced that the fishing derby would be held on September 9 at the Mansfield City Lake, and that the Citywide cleanup would be held on September 23 from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Public Works Department.

With no other items of business, the meeting of the Mansfield City Council was adjourned.

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

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Tammy Teague

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1:57 am

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“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

By Sheri Hopkins, Lifestyle Contributor

Hello everyone! Hope the first week of school went well for all the teachers and kiddos.

I will never forget Jacob’s first day of kindergarten. I was a stay-at-home mom, and I was so, so, sad. I really missed my little guy. Here comes Chuck home from work, he had to go to Ft. Smith and get a part, and he says, “come and go with me, I know you are having a hard time.” So, away we went, and it sure did help. Sometimes it’s hard on moms to let go of our babies. That same baby is 30 years old today, but he is still my baby. He has done a lot of things in those 30 years that make me shake my head. He goes through phases and this particular time it was a cooking phase. He calls me and says, “mom how much oil do I put in the skillet?” He was grilling chicken I think, and I said, “about two tablespoons.” He responds with “whatever that is.” So, I had to tell him about teaspoons and tablespoons. The next time he is cooking, he is cooking at a friend’s house and calls me and says, “mom I am making baked potatoes and I have them wrapped in foil, now how long to I microwave them for?” I reply, “noooo, you cannot microwave foil!” Landsake, I can’t believe he hasn’t blown up the town of Mansfield or my house. What in the world.

Can I add, he’s smart. He’s been married a few years now and he is a good cook. He even made Loren a cake from scratch one time. You could not have found a place to lay down a toothpick on the counter, and there was cream cheese everywhere, but he did it.

When they got married, I asked Loren if she knew how to cook. Her reply was, “yes, Dino nuggets and French fries.” When she left to go home, I told Jacob, boy you are going to starve to death. Guess what? She is an awesome cook. And she can make just about anything and it’s delicious.

He is on another phase now. He borrows Ella’s keyboard and takes it home to learn how to play the keyboard. Well, he brings it back a couple weeks later, no the phase is not over, it had some dead keys, so he just bought him a new one. Loren says he’s been playing songs and asking her to identify them. I’m telling y’all he has done these phases for years. He will learn to play a song on that keyboard, and it will be in the next yard sale.

Remember what I told y’all about him and Buff Jimmy when they watched the Rocky movies. They would come through the house and head to the garage to work out and I always knew they had been watching Rocky. I was so worried when they watched Ant Man that they would act like ants. That’s my boy and I am so proud of him, and his daddy would be also.

This week’s recipe is peach angel food cake. If you want a quick and easy dessert for company coming, this is the one for you.

PEACH ANGEL FOOD CAKE
All you need is a 15 oz. can of diced peaches in heavy syrup, or you can cut up the ones in a regular can of peaches.
1 angel food cake mix
Lightly grease or spray with cooking spray a 9×13 pan and preheat your oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, add the full can of diced peaches and use a potato masher to get the peaches to a smaller size. Carefully pour in the angel food dry cake mix and mix with a wooden spoon till fluffy. Pour the batter evenly into the pan and bake for 32-34 minutes. The top of the cake will slightly crack and be al light golden brown. Allow to cool and eat with vanilla ice cream or cool whip. Have a blessed week and spread a little sunshine.

2023 North Logan County Fair is a Big Success

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Resident News Network

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1:20 am

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2023 North Logan County Fair is a Big Success

PARIS- It was a warm August week last week at the North Logan County Fairgrounds in Paris, but the heat didn’t keep fair goers away and from having a good time. Attendance was good throughout the week, and on Friday, the fair began to come to an end with the Cattle Show that was held that evening.

Schools from all over county, including Paris, Booneville, and Magazine FFAs participated in the various animal shows the week of the fair. A big crowd attended the cattle show that produced great competition in all categories.

North Logan County Cattle Show (RNN Sports Photo / Jim Best)

The midway attractions have packed up and are now in Booneville for the South Logan County Fair that is being held this week. The fair season is a busy time of year for high school agriculture programs. Students and their faculty sponsors will be traveling to several fairs throughout the region and will culminate with shows at the Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock in the fall.

Paris Hosts Waldron in 2023 Football Season Opener August 25

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Resident News Network

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1:16 am

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PARIS- After all of the winter off-season, spring football, summer workouts, and now, preseason practices in sweltering August heat, Arkansas high school football teams are set to kickoff the 2023 season on Friday, August 25.

Not all teams will open on “zero week” of the Arkansas Activities Association, but among River Valley schools who will play on August 25, Waldron will travel to Paris to take on the Eagles. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Eagles Stadium.

Waldron scored a decisive victory in the first of the two-game series last year in Waldron, winning by the score of 48-7. Several offensive turnovers by Paris in the second quarter of last year’s game spelled defeat for Paris in the season opener a year ago. The Eagles will be looking to correct those errors and get their new season off to a good start against a Waldron team that is guaranteed to play a competitive game every year. For both schools, the August 25 opener is extremely important to their success this year. Both schools play in tough conferences, and opportunities to win in the non-conference portions of their schedules are critical.

Waldron will enter the 2023 season with a new head coach: Cain White, formerly of Manila in Northeast Arkansas. White guided the Lions to a playoff win in 2021 and has set the goal of returning the Bulldogs to the playoffs for the first time since 2003 when they were in the 3A classification.

Offensively, Waldron will run the flex bone offense and will attempt to control the game and the game clock. A Waldron basketball point guard, Keegan Lynch, is expected to start at quarterback, and the Bulldogs will attempt to get the ball in space to their track athlete who possess 4.6 speed, Kason Davis. Davis is not the only basketball and / or track athlete that is expected to be a threat in the Bulldogs offense. Levi Brown, 4.5 speed, will be a threat to defensive secondaries from the receiver position.

Defensively, the Bulldogs will be relying on young talent from their junior high team a year ago. Logan Young, who will play fullback on offense in the Waldron flex bone, will also be a force on defense where he is expected to be a possible college prospect as a middle linebacker.

Waldron plays in the tough 4A-7 conference that includes Malvern (2022 4A state champions), Arkadelphia, Nashville, and Mena. Although there are only six teams in the conference and five will make the playoffs, the question becomes which team will Waldron defeat this year to qualify for the playoffs? A home game with Mena on October 13 could be the Bulldogs’ best opportunity to win in the conference and go to the playoffs as a five seed.

The Paris Eagles were 1-8 a year ago with their lone win at home against Two Rivers. The Eagles had one game forfeited on their schedule when the Danville Little Johns cancelled the remainder of their season. It was quite a drop for Paris who had won 21 games the previous two seasons, including a state quarterfinal appearance in 2020. But heavy graduation of both talent and numbers forced Paris into a rebuilding season in 2022 that will continue going into the 2023 season.

Paris dropped their season opener at Waldron by the score of 48-7 a year ago. Multiple offensive turnovers in the second quarter turned a small Paris lead into a route that ended up with the Eagles being down 35-7 going into halftime. But perhaps more significantly, the game seemed to set the tone for the rest of the season for Paris. This year, the return home game with the Bulldogs at Eagles Stadium is crucial for Paris to reverse the snowball effect from last year and create early season momentum that will need to carry forward into a tough non-conference match at Mansfield the next week, and the eventual start of conference play at Glen Rose on September 22.

Paris will add youth to critical areas of its defense this season to bolster areas such as the defensive line that were problematic for the Eagles last season. Sophomore Whitman Patton is an example of new size to the defensive line that could be an area of much-needed improvement this season. On offense, the Eagles have good “skill position” players, although they are fairly young and inexperienced. But some of the Eagles’ young skill players received playing time last year. Players such a Mason Ulrich (junior) are expected to be big factors this season.

The big key to victory for both teams will be to avoid turnovers that could allow the game to get out of hand. For Paris, the Eagles will have to avoid giving the Bulldogs and their offense short fields in which to score. As everyone knows, it is hard for all teams, no matter how good they are, to overcome multiple turnovers that give the opposition a short field to score. So, both teams must play clean games, free of turnovers to win. Paris will have the opportunity to perhaps score quickly and to put the Bulldogs’ offense in the position of having to come from behind with a ball control offense. But to do so, Paris must avoid turnovers and convert third downs into first downs to keep drives alive. Waldron will want to wear down the Eagles’ defense with their running game that can also break an explosive run with their running game and wide receivers. The team that can stay on the field offensively will have the best chance to win.

As the high school season moves along, watch for RNN Sports’ coverage every week on its website, social media, and in our print publications. Each week, we will preview the upcoming game in the RNN Logan / Franklin County Edition newspaper. Watch for our post-game coverage online every Sunday at residentnewsnetwork.com and on social media. On Friday nights you can catch all of the scores from around the region on our “Team Press Pass” page on Facebook!

Good luck to all of the River Valley schools, and all of us at RNN Sports look forward to seeing you at the stadium every Friday night!

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RESIDENT NEWS NETWORK