79.4 F
Fort Smith
Wednesday, July 29, 2026
type here...
Home Blog Page 272

New Laws to go into Effect on August 1

Tammy Teague
-
0
New Laws to go into Effect on August 1

Arkansas lawmakers passed 890 laws during this year’s legislative session, and most take effect on Tuesday, August 1.

While some laws are already in effect with an emergency clause, the remaining legislation goes into effect 91 days after the session ended on May 1. Of the hundreds passed, 1/4 of those were appropriations bills.

EDUCATION

Act 237 — Commonly called the LEARNS Act, Governor Sarah Huckabee’s education bill brings changes to the state’s education system. Lawmakers included an emergency clause but it has been delayed due to a lawsuit. 

Act 317 — Requires students at public and charter schools to use the bathrooms that align with their gender assigned at birth.

Act 511 — Prohibits public schools and colleges from requiring employees to participate in implicit bias training.  An institution would not be prohibited from requiring implicit bias training if 95% of it “is required by an accreditor, grantor, or licensor.”

Act 542 — Requires Arkansas public school teachers and professors to use the pronouns and names students were assigned at birth. Students’ parents can provide written permission for students to go by other names or pronouns, but teachers will not be required to comply with such requests.

Act 654 — Amends the requirement for high school students to take a computer science course to graduate so they have the option to instead take a computer science-related career-and-technical education (CTE) course.

Act 883 — Requires a new oath of office for school board members that includes this statement: “… that I shall abide by the ethical guidelines and prohibitions under § 6-24-101 et seq…,” and sets penalties for failing to comply. The law also establishes new reasons school boards can meet behind closed doors and who can be in those meetings under the state’s Freedom of Information Act.

CHILDREN

Act 195 — Removes the requirement for children under 16 years old who wish to work in Arkansas to obtain an employment certificate from the Division of Labor.

Act 274 — Allows minors who receive gender-affirming health care to sue physicians for medical malpractice for providing this care up to 15 years after they turn 18.

Act 612 — Requires pornography websites to verify that users are at least 18 years old.

FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION

Act 41 — Extends the deadline to register a motor vehicle from 30 to 60 days when you buy a new car, move to Arkansas or take over ownership of a vehicle.

Act 629 — Outlaws Delta-8, Delta-9 and Delta-10 THC by classifying them Schedule IV drugs.

FIREARM

Act 777 — Clarifies that you don’t have to hold a permit to carry a concealed firearm in Arkansas.

Act 30 – Allows someone who sought voluntary mental health treatment to obtain a concealed carry permit after a certain period.

Act 757 – To protect the rights of medical marijuana patients and caregivers to obtain a license to carry a concealed handgun.

Act 773 – Adults can be in possession of a handgun on school property when the person is on a jouney.

MISCELLANOUS

Act 160 — Requires able-bodied adults between the ages 19 and 64 to work, volunteer or participate in a workforce training program in order to receive federal housing assistance. People with disabilities, parents of children under 5 years old and participants in drug and alcohol treatment programs are exempt.

Act 889 — Authorizes the Arkansas Parole Board to create a mobile app with information about parolees and inmates who are being considered for parole.

ELECTION RELATED

Act 305 – This removes the ability for write-in candidates on election ballots.

Act 329 – A ballot count report provided to the county clerk will have: 

  • a date of delivery
  • method of delivery
  • total number of ballots provided by ballot
  • names and signatures of the person delivering ballots

It also ensures a ballot count report is available to the public.

Act 353 – No absentee ballot drop boxes

No election officials or county clerks are allowed to use a drop box for absentee ballots.

Act 441 – This adds a change to Amendment 51 of the Arkansas Constitution to ensure the security and accuracy of the voter registration list. The Secretary of State under this law can communicate with other states and jurisdictions to compare voter rolls to prevent registration in multiple states and determine who can vote in Arkansas. It is also clarifies that only U.S. citizens are allowed to vote in the state.

Act 444 – This allows for the state’s election commissioner board to develop training for poll watchers. It also designates an observation area for poll watches at each location, but they are not allowed to wear campaign material advocating for or against a candidate or interfere with the duties of any election official. Poll watchers will be allowed to challenge a ballot under certain circumstances.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

Act 707 –  allows law enforcement to use automated cameras to catch images of drivers speeding through work zones. The images from the cameras will be transmitted to an officer down the road from the work site who will be able to write tickets or warnings.

For a full list of every act of the 94th General Assembly, click here.

Red Birds Continue to be Active in Trade Market, Acquire Minor League Pitchers from Texas

Resident News Network
-
0
Red Birds Continue to be Active in Trade Market, Acquire Minor League Pitchers from Texas

ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Cardinals announced this afternoon that they have acquired minor league right-handed pitcher Tekoah Roby, left-handed pitcher John King and infielder Thomas Saggese from the Texas Rangers in exchange for pitchers Jordan Montgomery and Chris Stratton and International Signing Bonus Pool space.

Roby, 21, was the Rangers 3rd round draft choice in 2020 out of Pine Forest High School in Pensacola, Fla. The 6-1, 185-pound Roby has made 10 starts for Frisco (AA) this season, going 2-3 with a 5.05 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 46.1 innings pitched.

King, 28, has four seasons of major league experience, all with the Rangers.  He was 7-5 with a 3.52 ERA out of the bullpen in 27 games in 2021 and owns a career mark of 10-10, 4.27 ERA in 87 games, all in relief.

Saggese, 21, was the Rangers 5th round selection in the 2020 MLB Draft out of Carlsbad (Calif.) High School. 

The 5-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting Saggese is batting .314 (6th in all of Double-A) with 15 HR’s, 78 RBI (3rd in AA) and a .894 OPS in 92 games for Frisco (AA) while playing second base, third base and shortstop.

Roby and Saggese will be assigned to the Springfield Cardinals (AA) club and King will report to St. Louis.

Note to Our Readers: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball organization.

Cardinals Obtain Two Minor League Pitchers from Toronto for Jordan Hicks

Resident News Network
-
0
Cardinals Obtain Two Minor League Pitchers from Toronto for Jordan Hicks

ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Cardinals announced this afternoon that they have acquired minor league right-handed pitchers Sem Robberse and Adam Kloffenstein from the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for right-handed reliever Jordan Hicks.

Robberse, who pitched in the MLB Futures Game earlier this month, is a 21-year-old from Zeist, Netherlands who was signed by the Blue Jays in July of 2019.  

The 6-1, 185-pound righty has started 18 games this season for New Hampshire (AA), going 3-5 with a 4.06 ERA in 88.2 innings pitched while posting a 1.17 WHIP (10th in all of Double-A) and striking out 86.

Kloffenstein, 22, is a 6-5, 243-pound right-hander from Magnolia, Texas who was the Blue Jays 3rd round draft choice in 2018.

Kloffenstein (pronounced KLOF-ehn-steen) has made 17 starts this season for the Fisher Cats at New Hampshire, going 5-5 with a 3.24 ERA (6th in all of Double-A) in 89.0 innings of work.  He’s struck out 105 this season and had one complete game effort.

Both Robberse and Kloffentstein will be assigned to the Memphis (AAA) roster.

Hicks, 26, was drafted by St. Louis in 2015 and was 1-6 with a 3.67 ERA and 8 saves this season in 40 games.  He will become a free agent following the 2023 season.

Note to Our Readers: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the St. Louis Cardinals Baseball organization.

2003 River Valley High School Football Notables

Resident News Network
-
0
2003 River Valley High School Football Notables

FORT SMITH- It is hard to believe that twenty years has passed.

Arkansas high school football stars of the River Valley who culminated their careers in 2003 are now approximately 38 years old and undoubtedly looking back and wondering where the years have gone.

Football is especially suited for small towns. The game is a rallying point for community members, and the stars that we know so well and think we will never forget…well, time passes by, and the next group comes along the next year.

As the 2023 season approaches, we thought it would be fun to look back at a list of superstars from the River Valley that played 20 years ago. So, for fan debate on who should have made the list or who should not have made the list, here is our list to start the debate!

Wide Receiver: Slick Shelley, Fort Smith Southside

Defensive Lineman: Ryan Crumb, Greenwood

Defensive Back: Sean Kearny, Waldron

Defensive Back: Tracy Stiger, Russellville

Punter: Jeremy Davis, Fort Smith Southside

The list above is a comparative list of River Valley players versus other players at their positions across the state in 2003. Positions left off the list would have been named to players in other regions of the state.

So, River Valley football fans, go to our Facebook page at Resident News Network and post your opinions to our post on who you think should be on or off the list!

And by the way, football season starts August 25th! Stay with RNN Sports all season as we bring you the best coverage of River Valley high school football!

If you have not yet subscribed to the RNN Logan / Franklin County weekly newspaper, now is a great time before football and volleyball seasons begin in August! To subscribe, go to residentnewsnetwork.com/subscribe

Hogs Volleyball Preseason Selection at #5 in SEC

Resident News Network
-
0
Hogs Volleyball Preseason Selection at #5 in SEC

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas volleyball has been picked to finish right where it left off as the Razorbacks have been tabbed fifth in the preseason SEC poll.

The Hogs received 101 votes in the poll, which are cast by the conference’s coaches. Arkansas comes in behind Kentucky, Florida, Tennessee and Georgia to round out the top five. It is the fifth time in head coach Jason Watson’s eight seasons that the Razorbacks have been picked to finish in the top five of the conference.

Arkansas closed out 2022 tied for fourth in the SEC with an 11-7 record. The Hogs went 21-9 for the season and ended the year in the second round of the NCAA Tournament, their first appearance since 2013 and first victory since 2005. Arkansas posted wins over two top 10 teams for the first time in a single season over No. 8 Washington and No. 7 Georgia Tech, had the most wins in Jason Watson’s tenure and most since 2012.

SEC Preseason Coaches’ Poll (Points)

1. Kentucky (142)

2. Florida (129)

3. Tennessee (113)

4. Georgia (106)

5. Arkansas (101)

6. LSU (96)

7. Auburn (89)

8. Texas A&M (63)

9. Ole Miss (42)

Mississippi State (42)

11. South Carolina (39)

12. Missouri (30)

13. Alabama (22)

In addition to the ranking, Arkansas had two athletes named preseason All-SEC in outside hitters Jill Gillen and Taylor Head. It’s the second preseason All-SEC nod for Gillen in her career and second straight. She finished last season with 3.61 kills per set, tied for first on the team, and has led Arkansas in that statistic in each of her seasons so far. She also had a team-best 0.33 aces per set. Gillen moved up in the record books during her senior season, and now sits in fourth place in program career kills with 1,548, which is a jump of nine spots from the 2021 season. She also has 133 career aces, which tied for fourth in Arkansas history.

Head tied Gillen for team-best kills per set at 3.61 in 2022, led the Razorbacks in total kills with 390, and had the second-best efficiency percentage among Arkansas’ hitters at .277. She also showed her defensive chops throughout the course of the season with 297 digs and 2.75 per set, second-best on the team. Head played a huge role in the Hogs’ tournament run and led the team 7 kills, 3.86 kills per set, three service aces, and 19 digs over the two matches. She became the 18th member of the Arkansas 1,000-kill club on Nov. 25, 2022, and has 1,043 total for her career currently, which puts her at 18th in program history.

Gillen and Head were named All-SEC and AVCA South All-Region, both repeat honors for the duo. Gillen has been named All-SEC in each of her seasons, and Head also earned AVCA All-America Honorable Mention status, Arkansas’ first All-America nod since 2017.

The pair and the Hogs kick off the 2023 season at home against Michigan State on August 25, and single match and season tickets are now available online or in person through the Razorback Ticket Center.

More Information

Visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com for the latest information on all things Arkansas Volleyball. You can also find the Razorbacks on social media by liking us on Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Volleyball) and following us on Twitter and Instagram (@RazorbackVB).

— ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks

Note to Our Readers: The previous story was sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Emily Polglaze.

1949: The NFL Plays at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock in the First of a Series of Preseason Games

Resident News Network
-
0
1949: The NFL Plays at War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock in the First of a Series of Preseason Games

LITTLE ROCK- War Memorial Stadium in Little Rock has seen its share of big events. From high school and college football to concerts, and numerous other events, the historic landmark has been the sight of many great memories for Arkansans.

But few may be aware that the National Football League (NFL) and the American Football League (AFL) once played games at the central Arkansas stadium. In fact, a former Razorbacks Hall of Famer also took part in the game when the Philadelphia Eagles played the Los Angeles Rams at War Memorial Stadium in 1949.

The venerable stadium was barely a year old when the exhibition game was played. Clyde Scott, former All-American football player for the Razorbacks, played in the game for the Philadelphia Eagles. The game was played on September 10, 1949, and resulted in a 10-10 tie. The Eagles’ training camp was held in Hot Springs that year and they then played the exhibition game before returning to Philadelphia for the start of the regular season. In the previous season, Philadelphia defeated the Chicago Cardinals to win the NFL Championship. So, when the Eagles walked on to the turf at War Memorial that fall, they did so as defending NFL Champions.

Scott had also been named as an All-American at Arkansas in 1948.

But the 1949 game would not be the last at the stadium. In 1952, the Eagles played the Detroit Lions who had also trained in Hot Springs that year. The Lions defeated Philadelphia 7-3. Arkansas alumnus Pat Summerall had just been drafted by the Lions, so Arkansas fans were cheering for both Summerall and Scott in the 1952 exhibition game.

War Memorial Stadium was also the sight of a 1964 American Football League (AFL) preseason game between the Houston Oilers and the San Diego Chargers. The game featured former Arkansas All-American receiver Lance Alworth. Alworth caught three passes in the final, game-winning drive of a high scoring affair with the Oilers. The game was won with just a little more than a minute to go, and the Arkansas crowd of 22,000 was treated to a thriller of a game.

Combine all of this with the storied college football history of the stadium, the legacy of War Memorial Stadium is one that deserves to be kept alive for future generations of football fans.

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

Tammy Teague
-
0
“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

By Sheri Hopkins
Lifestyle Contributor

Hello everyone! It feels great to be 60, thanks for all the wishes, goodies and gifts. I am telling people that 60 is the new 30. My mind thinks I’m 30, but my body tells me I’m definitely 60.

I saw my seventh grade English teacher, Mrs. Baker, at the post office the other day and let me tell ya, she made my day. She told me how she enjoyed my column. Tasked her, “even with all my grammar mistakes?” She said that it didn’t matter, she loved to read it. So y’all family members and folks on Facebook, I have permission from my seventh grade English teacher to write how I want to. I have people that think I should use punctuation on my Facebook. I’m not going to, but that for thinking I should.

Okay, back to my crime stories. Well, I guess speeding tickets are not a crime, but I’m going to call them that. One day, I got a text from a girl that I did not know that worked at the old Grubbs Restaurant where the Hideaway Pizza is now. The text goes like this, she says, “hey I work at Grubbs with you.” I said, “you have the wrong person.” She replied, “yes, the blonde headed girl told me to talk to you about smoke” (meaning marijuana). So again, I tell her–I do not work at Grubbs. She just won’t take no for an answer, so finally I said to her, “I work for the Ft. Smith Police Department.” I guess that got thru to her and she says, “oh, I’m so sorry for the misunderstanding, and I meant cigs.” Well, I didn’t just get off the cabbage truck, I knew what she meant, and I guess I could have gone outside and bagged some grass and sold it to her, because she was not taking no for an answer. I got a big kick out of it all.

Did I ever tell y’all that the honorable Judge Michael Wagoner told me if I got a ticket in his jurisdiction, he would double my fine? I have news for him, I would get on the stand and start telling funny stories about him. Is that considered black mail? He loves to give me a hard time. One day I was somewhere, I can’t remember where, and I started talking to this young lady, I know, y’all are shocked. She told me she was very nervous; she was going to get sworn in for a job with Judge Wagoner. I told her, honey, just stop and get a box of Little Debbie cakes and hand them to him and he will laugh and all will be alright. I think she thought I was joking, but I was serious. There is not a Wagoner I know that don’t like Little Debbie cakes.

I went to court one day and just slid on the bench and watched him in action. He finally noticed me, and I know he was wondering what I was doing there. I wasn’t on the docket. I enjoyed myself. Anybody can go to court and just be entertained.

I hope you all have a wonderful week! This is wonderful lemon dessert and it’s kind of like the old four-layer delight recipe, except you use Oreos for the crust. You can do any flavor of pudding and use different flavors of Oreos. I’ve had strawberry lush and it’s delicious. Give it a whirl, you are sure to enjoy it.

LEMON OREO DESSERT
1 package (14.3 OUNCES) Golden Oreo cookies (if I’m making lemon, I would use the lemon Oreos)
1/2 cup salted butter, melted
2 packages (3.4 OUNCE) instant lemon pudding mix
3 ¼ cups of milk
2 containers (8 oz. each) Cool Whip, thawed
1 8 oz. package of cream cheese, softened
1 cup powdered sugar
Crush all the Oreo cookies in a food processor, or crush with a rolling pin in a large Ziplock bag. Reserve 3/4 cups of the crushed Oreos for the topping. Pour the remaining crumbs in a 9×13 baking dish, spread out evenly. Pour the melted butter all over the crumbs. Mix together and then press down into the bottom of the pan to make your crust. In a medium bowl, mix together both the lemon pudding mixes and the milk. Whisk well to combine. Place in the refrigerator for about five minutes to let it thicken. In a separate bowl, place the cream cheese and blend until smooth. Then add the powdered sugar and mix till combined. Fold in one of the containers of the Cool Whip. Spread this mixture very gently and evenly all over the crust. Spread the lemon pudding evenly over the cream cheese layer. Then spread the remaining container of Cool Whip over the top and sprinkle the 3/4 cup of Oreos on top. Cover and chill for a couple of hours. It is delicious. These are variations you can try: chocolate pudding with the mint Oreos, or chocolate Oreos. You can do any flavor with the Golden Oreos. So good! Have a wonderful week, count your blessings folks!

How To Avoid Starting Drama at a Funeral

Resident News Network
-
0
How To Avoid Starting Drama at a Funeral

Funerals are emotional events for everyone. Funerals are a gathering place for friends and family to reminisce on the deceased’s memory, whether they’re laughing at funny jokes or remembering their wise life advice. We shouldn’t destroy those moments with drama. As you approach the day of your loved one’s funeral, here’s a guide on how to avoid starting drama at a funeral.

Respect the Deceased’s Family and Friends

Anyone who attends a funeral should show respect, no matter past arguments or falling outs. Everyone is grieving and vulnerable, so do your best to show respect. Put the past aside and show your support for the family and friends of the deceased.

Keep Your Emotions in Check

Attending a funeral is an emotional experience for everyone. You may have anger, resentment, or numbed feelings brewing inside, but it’s best to control them. Although it can be difficult, controlling your emotions is essential to avoid starting drama. If you’re overwhelmed, consider stepping outside to compose yourself. Demonstrating self-control and respect for others prevents outbursts.

Focus on the Positive Memories

Even if you had issues with the deceased, focusing on positive memories during the funeral is best. Sharing fond memories with others can alleviate tension and foster a sense of unity among attendees. After all, everyone’s gathering to honor the life of the departed individual, and if you focus on the positive aspects, you can make the experience more comforting and peaceful for all.

Keep Conversations Appropriate

While it’s natural to want to share stories about the deceased, keep the conversation appropriate for the setting. Funerals are a time to show respect and reverence, and any off-color remarks, jokes, or incidents may not go over well. Keeping your discussions respectful and inoffensive can prevent any potential drama.

Practice the Art of Listening

Sometimes, the best way to avoid starting drama at a funeral is by being there to listen. Listening instead of speaking shows others you care and are there to support them in their grief. Being an empathetic listener will make you less likely to cause tensions or conflicts in an already emotional situation.

But also, staying quiet the entire service might be rude. While there are many things you shouldn’t say at a funeral, you also shouldn’t stay quiet the whole time. When the moment appears, share a few words, but keep your remarks short and sweet to dilute the tension in the room.

Funerals are difficult for everyone, and the best way to avoid funeral drama is to be respectful. When you’re cordial, you control your emotions better. Keep these tips in mind as you head to the funeral service.

Financial Focus: How Will You Exit Your Business?

Tammy Teague
-
0
Financial Focus: How Will You Exit Your Business?

If you own a business, you’ve always got a lot on your mind. But no matter how busy you are today, you need to think about tomorrow. Specifically, you’ll want to create an exit strategy for the day you want to move on from your business to a new phase in your life.

To develop this strategy, you’ll need to address these key questions:

• How much do you need (or want) for your business? Ideally, you’ll want the sale of your business to meet your retirement and estate-planning goals. So, you’ll need to think carefully about these goals and what costs they may entail. And these issues aren’t just financial — for example, when you think about how you may want to spend your time in retirement, you might realize that you don’t really want to exit your business completely. So, you might decide to sell just part of it, or sell it entirely, but stay on to help manage it or possibly do some consulting for the new owners.

• How much is your business worth? You may want to calculate your business’ value three to five years before your planned exit. You could do this on your own, but it’s typically advantageous to use professional valuation services. If you’re gifting or selling your business to family members, selling it to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) or settling an estate, you’ll need to get a more formal qualified appraisal to meet IRS standards.

• How can you close the gap between what you need and what your business is worth? The amount you need from the sale of your business to support your retirement goals may be more than what your business is actually worth. To help close this gap, you could try to boost your business’s profits through the usual means, such as introducing new products, raising prices or cutting costs. But you might also try to lower the amount you need from the sale by working longer, reducing your personal spending and saving more outside the business.

• Who will take over your business? When planning for a successor for your business, you have several choices, including selling to a family member or an outside buyer. Going public or liquidating the business are also options. These are distinct paths, but depending on your circumstances, one might be more appropriate for you than another. To cite just one factor, if you don’t have an obvious choice for a family member to take over the business, you might have to consider other buyers. In any case, you’ll need to explore all the economic and personal factors involved in the choice of successor.

Who can help you with your exit strategy? Exiting a business can be complex. To ensure you’re making the right moves for your overall financial and family situations, you may want to build an exit strategy team, possibly consisting of your financial, legal and tax advisors. You may also need to enlist the services of a commercial banker and a business evaluation expert. Each of these professionals can

bring a different area of expertise to your exit decisions, and together they can help address all the issues related to your exit strategy.

Exiting your business will take a lot of planning and decisions — but if it’s done right, it can be worth the effort.

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

Zane Gibson Completes UAFS Men’s Basketball Staff

Resident News Network
-
0
Zane Gibson Completes UAFS Men’s Basketball Staff

FORT SMITH – University of Arkansas – Fort Smith Men’s Basketball Head Coach Zane Gibson has assembled his coaching staff for the 2023-24 season.

Joining Gibson at UAFS from his staff at Western New Mexico are assistant coach Jared Drake and volunteer assistant coach Jeremy Zepeda, with Brett O’Neil also returning as an assistant coach. Caleb Ligon will serve as a student assistant to the program.

Drake coached with Gibson for one season at WNMU, helping guide the Mustangs to a 17-11 record, the program’s first winning season in 16 years. The Mustangs also won 11 Lone Star Conference games, the most in program history.

“I am very excited to have Coach Drake make the move with me from Western New Mexico to UAFS,” Gibson said. “Coach Drake does a tremendous job developing relationships with the guys. He is a dynamic skill developer having worked with current and future NBA players and brings a great deal of knowledge to our staff. We welcome Coach Drake to Fort Smith and can’t wait for him to be with our young men when they return in August.”

Prior to WNMU, Drake was the head coach at NJCAA Southeastern Illinois College for two seasons and also had coaching stops at Riley High School, Philander Smith College (AR) and Evansville Central High School.

Before his coaching career, Drake played at Robert Morris College in Chicago.  After a two-year stay there, Drake transferred his eligibility to Southern University of New Orleans (La.) where he was awarded “Newcomer of the Year,” along with being ranked in the top-five in the nation in three-point shooting percentage and free throw shooting percentage.

After graduation, Drake continued his playing career on the professional level for three developmental league teams in the U. S. and in the European League.

Drake has received three degrees, an Associate’s in Health and Fitness Exercise Science (Robert Morris), a Bachelor of Applied Science in Management Information Systems (Southern University) and a Master of Science in Recreation and Sports Sciences, Coaching Education (Ohio University).

O’Neil joined the Lions’ coaching staff in 2021 and has assisted in coaching five All-Conference players in his two seasons. He helped the Lions earn a bid in the LSC Tournament in 2021-22. Prior to UAFS, O’Neil was an assistant at Hill College for one season and a graduate assistant at Cameron University from 2018-20.

“Brett has made a great impact within the Lions community in his two years here,” stated Gibson. “I did not know Coach O’Neil when I took the job, but he received unbelievable reviews from faculty and staff both in and out of the athletic department. We started working together when I first got here and quickly realized I wanted Brett to stay here and work for me.”

O’Neil played two seasons at Dodge City Community College before finishing his playing career at Central Missouri. He graduated from Central Missouri with degree in Elementary Education and earned his Master of Education degree from Cameron.

“Brett is as hard of a worker as they come and has a passion for Fort Smith and the current players on the roster. He has a bright future in this industry, and I’m excited he chose to stay on with me at UAFS,” Gibson added.

Zepeda played one season at Central Arizona College before moving into the coaching ranks, assisting the Vaqueros for three seasons. Following his time in Arizona, Zepeda joined Gibson’s staff at WNMU as a graduate assistant for the program’s historic 2022-23 campaign. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business degree.

“Jeremy is a young, hungry coach who is very dedicated to the game of basketball and was an unbelievable asset to my staff least year at Western New Mexico,” Gibson said. “He is a first guy in the office last person to leave type of guy. He is an excellent evaluator of talent and is as diligent as they come when it comes to film study. Jeremy could be an absolute star in our business, and he along with Coach Drake know how I do things day to day and that continuity between us will greatly accelerate the growth of our program.”

Ligon enters his second season as a student assistant for the Lions in 2023-24 after assisting the Lions with day-to-day operations and travel. He was also a student assistant at Williams Baptist University in 2021-22. He is pursuing a degree in Organizational Leadership.

“Caleb is a blue-collar, lunch pail guy,” noted Gibson. “For being a student assistant, he is one of the more advanced young men I have ever been around in the industry. I tried to kick Caleb out of the office from time to time in the spring and he just wouldn’t leave until everything was done for the day. He takes pride in everything he does, and no job is too big or small for him. He just attacks every assignment I give him and helps set the standard of how hard we will work in this program.”

Note to Our Readers: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith Sports Information Office, Jostun Pomplun.

1...271272273...1,061Page 272 of 1,061

© Resident News Network | 2015 - 2026 | All Rights Reserved | Baggett Enterprises LLC | Isaiah 43:18-19