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Local Teen Tegan Stimac Shines as DCI Corps Member

Greenwood High School’s talented and determined student, Tegan Stimac, is set to embark on an exciting journey this summer as she joins the esteemed DCI corps, Zephyrus, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The 15-year-old rising Junior successfully auditioned for the renowned ensemble in February and was offered a contract on the spot, solidifying her place among the talented ranks of Zephyrus.

Drum Corps International (DCI) is a prestigious organization that showcases the skills of marching musicians through intense competition and captivating performances. Tegan’s exceptional talent and dedication have earned her the opportunity to travel and perform across the country with Zephyrus during their upcoming summer tour.

Tegan’s passion for music extends beyond her involvement with Zephyrus. Recently, she had the privilege of starring in a Public Service Announcement (PSA) aimed at raising awareness about fentanyl, a highly potent drug contributing to the ongoing opioid crisis. The PSA was filmed at Prairie Surf Studios in Oklahoma City, an acclaimed location for various film and media productions. Tegan’s involvement in this important initiative demonstrates her commitment to using her platform to address critical issues affecting her community.

As Tegan begins her Junior year at Greenwood High School, she continues to excel academically and balance her commitments in music, education, and leadership. Playing regularly with the worship team at Harvest Time, volunteering with White Bluff-Rye Hill Fire Department, and advocating for those on the autism spectrum are just a few of the ways she devotes her time.  Her dedication to her studies and extracurricular pursuits serve as an inspiration to her peers and underscores her unwavering drive for success.

Tegan Stimac’s story serves as a reminder of the exceptional young talent within our community. As she embarks on her journey with Zephyrus, her accomplishments are a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and the encouragement of those around her.

Friends, family, and followers of Tegan are encouraged to show their support by visiting the fundraising page dedicated to her journey: [https://tinyurl.com/ycku748b]. This platform allows individuals to contribute and provide financial assistance, ensuring that Tegan can pursue her dreams in music and make the most of her upcoming opportunities.

Arrest Reports 5/28

Arresting agency – Bonanza Police Department:
Lance Hunter Eaton of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 28 at 8:24 p.m. and released on signature bond May 28 at 10:49 p.m. Eaton was charged with Petition to show cause.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office:
Tony Curtis McCubbin, 62 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 31 at 3:24 p.m. McCubbin was charged with failure to appear.

Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office:
Michelle Leann Childers of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 29 at 9:51 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond May 29 at 10:11 p.m. Childers was charged with Petition to Revoke – Felony.

Johnny Ray Parrish of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 30 at 12:36 a.m. and released on cash bond May 30 at 11:12 a.m. Parrish was charged with Petition to Revoke – Felony.

David Tyler Smith of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 31 at 11:06 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond June 2 at 10:50 a.m. Smith was charged with two counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the Third Degree, and Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely.

Arresting agency – Mansfield Police Department:
Joshua Jacob King of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 30 at 8:58 a.m. and remains at the SCADC. King was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), Theft of Property <$1k, and Contempt of Court–(child support), FTAS, FTRespond Subpoena, FTComply WCO.

Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
Melissa Sue Spencer of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 31 at 11:52 a.m. and remains at the SCADC. Spencer was charged with two counts of Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor, Failure to Appear – Class A Misdemeanor, and Contempt of Court–(child support), FTAS, FTRespond Subpoena, FTComply WCO.

Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Gerald Ross Summers of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 28 at 1:26 a.m. and released on signature bond May 28 at 8:31 a.m. Summers was charged with Public Intoxication – Danger to self or others.

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

Greenwood Hosts First Football Team Camp

Action did not take long to happen as 5 other teams converged upon Smith-Robinson Stadium to take part in Greenwood’s Team Camp. Representing the Class 7A were Fayetteville, Bentonville, and Springdale Har-Ber. Class 6A were Greenwood, Pulaski Academy, and Russellville. The lone Class 5A team was Alma.

Fayetteville is looking to better their 7-5 record last fall and is capable of doing so with Minnesota commit Drake Lindsey at QB. While they did boast 5-2 record in conference they were beat in the playoffs by Conway. Greenwood will see Fayetteville again for the annual AAA Benefit Game when Fayetteville makes the trip back down I-49 to play in Greenwood on August 15th.

Bentonville is coming into the season as state runner-up in Class 7A and had several weapons on display at the team camp. They have an incoming Sophomore class that dominated their Freshman season. This team is traditionally a power in the 7A West and this looks to be another great Tiger team led by Greenwood Alum Jody Grant.

Springdale Har-Ber is under new leadership this season under Head Coach Brent Eckley. Coach Eckley’s previous spot was at Jackson, Missouri where he turned the program into a championship-level program in Class 5. Har-Ber finished 1-10 last season, their lone win coming from defeating cross-town rival Springdale.

Pulaski Academy is the reigning State Champion in Class 6A by avenging a loss to Greenwood in the regular season. the Bruins, similar to Greenwood, never have a rebuilding season, but very similar to Greenwood they had a different QB at the helm. Junior Brandon Cobb, who saw considerable time late in the season, was at QB for the Bruins.

Russellville was a Class 6A playoff contender in 2022. In the regular season the Cyclones kept it close to Greenwood in the first half before falling 42-21.

Alma started off their 2022 season with a bang, by winning their first for games. A 43-8 loss in Farmington seemed to turn the momentum not in their favor as the Airedales would only win two more games and inevitably miss the Class 5A playoffs.

Greenwood will be in action this coming week as they travel to Northside for that team camp on Wednesday and a 7 on 7 tournament in Alma on Friday.

Chris Young Tabbed As Greenwood Athletic Director

Greenwood Head Coach Chris Young chosen to be next Athletic Director with several others being announced to new dual roles

Greenwood has found its next Athletic Director in football Head Coach Chris Young. After the departure of Dr. Dustin Smith, the Greenwood School District set out to find the next person to the Athletic Department.

Hired in 2000, Chris Young has been a part of the Greenwood School District for his entire teaching career. Coach Young will remain in is position as Head Football Coach alongside being the Athletic Director. This is the third time in Coach Young’s career that he has held an administrative and Coaching role in the district. The other two times being the ALE Director and the Assistant Principal.

Also announced were High School Assistant Principal Chase Meyers as the Event and Eligibility Coordinator. High School Boys Soccer Coach and Computer Science teacher Tyler Woods as Event Coordinator. Activities/Athletic Technology Coordinator is now under the direction of High School Baseball Coach Brandon Brewer.

Resident News Network Sports Network would like to congratulate those hired to new roles and look forward to work alongside them at future sporting events.

Arkansas Plays TCU Today at 2 p.m. in Revised Regional Schedule

Arkansas will take on TCU today at 2 p.m. in Game 4 of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional. Tickets for Game 4 (originally scheduled for Saturday night) will be valid for Sunday’s game between the Hogs and Frogs.

Game 5 of the Fayetteville Regional is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Sunday night. Santa Clara will take on the losing team between Arkansas vs. TCU in the Sunday nightcap. In the only game played on a rain-soaked Saturday at the Fayetteville Regional, Santa Clara eliminated Arizona by defeating the Wildcats, 9-3.

The regional championship game is set for Monday with Game 6 first pitch yet to be determined. If Game 7 is necessary, it will follow approximately 30 minutes after Game 6.

All games will be available on ESPN+/SECN+ and can be upgraded to an ESPN family network.

NCAA Fayetteville Regional Revised Schedule

Sunday, June 4

Game 4 – TCU vs. Arkansas – 2 p.m.

Game 5 – Winner Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4 – 8 p.m.

Monday, June 5

Game 6 – Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5 – TBD

Game 7 – if necessary

Rain forced the postponement of game four on Saturday. Ground crews and NCAA tournament officials battled rain, lightning delays, and their subsequent effects on the national television schedule. The Razorbacks grounds crew did an excellent job in keeping the field in playing condition. The outfield took on a lot of rain throughout the day, but the grass at Baum-Walker drains extremely well, and by the time Arizona and Santa Clara took the field at 8 p.m., it was barely noticeable that the field had been subjected to rainfall for most of the afternoon. Cudos to everyone at the University of Arkansas for doing a great job hosting the Fayetteville Regional.

Now it is time for the Hogs to take the field in a game that could ultimately determine their fate in returning to the College World Series.

Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Oliver Grigg.

Arkansas Defeats Santa Clara 13-6 to Advance in NCAA Regionals

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas (42-16) used a pair of five-run innings to race past Santa Clara (35-19), 13-6, on Friday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium in the opening round of the NCAA Fayetteville Regional.

With the win, the Hogs advanced to the winner’s bracket and will play at 8 p.m. Saturday, June 3, against TCU. Arkansas has won eight consecutive regional openers since 2014.

Santa Clara jumped out to an early two-run advantage thanks to a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. The Broncos strung three consecutive base hits together, taking their only lead of the day on a one-out, two-run single to left center.

Cole Kitchen, Santa Clara’s starting pitcher, cruised through his first three innings of work on the mound before running into trouble in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Razorback offense broke through for five runs on a sacrifice fly, a pair of walks and four hits, highlighted by Kendall Diggs’ two-out three-run single.

Diggs’ bases-clearing knock proved to be the jolt that Arkansas needed. Will McEntire, who entered in relief of starter Hunter Hollan (2.1 IP, 2 R, 2 SO) in the top of the third, took full advantage of the run support by spinning five strong innings to settle the game down, striking out two while allowing just three runs on his way to his eighth win of the year.

The Hogs’ second five-run inning of the ballgame came in the bottom half of the sixth. Arkansas scored a pair on Tavian Josenberger’s two-run opposite-field homer before adding three more on back-to-back-to-back bases-loaded walks.

Josenberger, who went 2-for-6 with two runs scored and two RBI, was one of two Razorbacks to finish with multiple hits in the win. Jared Wegner also racked up a pair of base knocks, going 2-for-4 with a run scored, an RBI and a walk.

With Arkansas ahead by seven, Caleb Cali’s three-run blast in the seventh put the game away for good. His home run into the Hog Pen, which extended the Razorbacks’ advantage to 13-3, was his ninth of the season.

Santa Clara would cut its deficit back down to seven with two runs in the eighth and one more in the ninth, but Arkansas reliever Cody Adcock worked around the threat to close out the game and secure the Hogs’ 13-6 regional-opening win.

Arkansas left-hander Hagen Smith will get the start in tomorrow night’s contest. The true sophomore, recently named a First Team All-American by Collegiate Baseball, is 8-1 with a 2.69 ERA and 102 strikeouts over 67 innings this season.

For complete coverage of Arkansas baseball, follow the Hogs on Twitter (@RazorbackBSB), Instagram (@RazorbackBSB) and Facebook (Arkansas Razorback Baseball).

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

Note to Our Readers: The following story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Oliver Grigg.

Should You Consider 401(k) Loans or Withdrawals?

At some point, you may have more money in your 401(k) than in any other investment. And even though your 401(k) is intended for your retirement, you may one day think you have to tap into your account early — but should you? And if you do, how should you go about it?
If it’s possible to avoid taking money from your 401(k) before you retire, you probably should do so. You could spend 25 or more years in retirement, and you’ll need to pay for those years, so you may want to look for alternatives to your 401(k). If you’ve built an emergency fund containing several months’ worth of living expenses in cash or cash equivalents, you could use some of this money. If you have a Health Savings Account (HSA), you could use it to pay for qualified medical expenses. Or you could sell some of your taxable investments, rather than going into your tax-deferred 401(k).
But if you have determined that you must look at your 401(k) plan to meet a short-term funding need, you’ll want to carefully consider how to go about it. You typically have two main choices: loans or withdrawals.
For plans that allow loans, employees can generally borrow up to 50% of the vested amount of their 401(k)s, up to a maximum of $50,000 within a 12-month period. Administrative fees may apply, and Interest will be charged, but it will be added back to the 401(k) account as part of the loan repayments. Except when they’re used for a home purchase, loans must be repaid within five years, with equal payments made at least quarterly, unless payments are allowed to be paused temporarily. If you leave the company or don’t repay the loan according to the agreement, the loan balance will likely be treated as a taxable distribution.
Now, let’s consider withdrawals. For 401(k) plans that allow current employees to make withdrawals, the withdrawal requests are usually considered either hardship or non-hardship. To qualify for a hardship withdrawal, you must demonstrate an immediate and heavy financial need to pay for certain expenses, including a home purchase, college, a medical issue or other specified costs, and your withdrawal is limited to the amount necessary to meet the need. Non-hardship withdrawals can typically be taken for any purpose but usually are not granted until you’re 59½ or older.
Unlike with a loan, a hardship withdrawal can’t be repaid, while a non-hardship withdrawal can usually only be repaid by rolling over the amount to an IRA within 60 days. But the bigger issue may be taxes. If you withdraw funds from your 401(k), any previously untaxed money is generally taxed as
ordinary income and a 10% penalty will apply if you’re younger than 59½, unless you qualify for an exception. Plus, your 401(k) plan typically must withhold 20% of the withdrawal for taxes, so you’d have to take an even larger withdrawal to meet your needs.
Before embarking on a 401(k) loan or withdrawal, you may want to consult with a financial professional and your tax advisor. Taking money from your 401(k) is a big move, so make sure you know everything that’s involved.
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

Greenwood City Council Meeting Minutes

0

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 p.m. by Mayor Doug Kinslow. The roll was called by City
Clerk/Treasurer Sharla Derry andcouncil members present at roll call were Ralph Meeker, Tim Terry,
Roger Rainwater, and Daniel McDaniel; a quorum was declared; Mr. AC Brown arrived shortly after roll
call and Council member Rod Powell arrived after roll call at 8:00 p.m.; City Attorney Travis Plummer
was present; Prayer was offered by Bro. JeffIvey ofFirst Baptist Church and Pledge ofAllegiance was
led by Buddy Loyd.
Approval of Minutes:
Motion was made by Mr. McDaniel, seconded by Mr. Brown to approve the April 3, 2023 Regular City
Council and April 10, 2023 Special Called City Council meeting minutes as presented; motion passed
unanimously.
Recognitions and Acknowledgements
Mayor Kinslow honored the late, long serving Planning Commissioner Tommy Basham with a
Proclamation and key to the City on his behalf and presented these to his family.
Committee Reports:
Boys & Girls Club – Report Submitted; Director Kenny Sunde described a baseball field lighting project
and requested financial assistance for that from the City Council; no action was taken.
SRCA – Report Submitted
Parks Commission – Report Submitted
Water/Wastewater Commission- Report Submitted
Citizen Forum:
Mireya Chavez – 205 W. Gum – Ms. Chavez called on the City Council to consider allowing La Fiesta
Mexican Restaurant the ability to sell alcohol; she stated that the perceived tax revenue benefits would
help the town and keep the citizen’s money from going out of town for alcohol sales. Mr. Bob Purvis
stated that the Economic Development committee has been working on a sample ordinance that could be
considered regarding special allowances for liquor sales. After discussion, Ms. Chavez was requested to
fill out the paperwork she was given to apply for the permit and the City Attorney and other officials
would study the ordinance again to possibly make some changes to it; Ms. Chavez acknowledged that she would fill out the paperwork and go from there.
Financial Report
Mr. Marsh reported on sales tax growth; cash position loss due to budgeted capital spending; Animal
Control adverse spending trends; new “Consolidated Capital Expenditure & Improvement Budget” report
which gauges the performance of each city department’s capital projects throughout the year.

AgendaAdditions
None
OLD/UNFINISHEDBUSINESS

  1. Animal Control- Repealing and Replacing Ord22-01 Animal Control Ordinance -2-
    Reading – Mayor Kinslow requested a vote to enter into executive session regarding a personnel matter
    and motion was made by Mr. McDaniel, seconded by Mr. Rainwater to recess to executive session;
    motion passed unanimously. The session resumed and Mayor Kinslow stated that he would be
    transferring oversight of Animal Control/Code Enforcement from Danielle Smith to himself and clarified that it had nothing to do with the way that Mrs. Smith was providing oversight and the intention is to relieve pressure on her with her additional HR duties.
    Mrs. Smith answered questions pertaining to this ordinance and confirmed that the important change
    within it addresses the length of time animals are held by the City. Motion was made by Mr. McDaniel,
    seconded by Mr. Terry to put this ordinance on second reading by title only; motion passed unanimously and the title was read by the City Clerk.
    Animal Control – Ordinance Repealing and Replacing Ordinance #502 Prohibiting
    Unnecessary Noise – 2m Reading – Mrs. Smith confirmed that the change to this ordinance was made to be compatible with the time limit restriction for barking dogs, noise, etc.; motion was made by Mr.
    McDaniel, seconded by Mr. Rainwater to put this on second reading by title only; motion passed
    unanimously and the title was read bythe City Clerk.
  2. Mayor- Ordinance Prohibiting Heavy Haul and Semi-Truck Traffic on Highway 10
    Spur/Center Street – 2 Reading – Mayor Kinslow stated that Ms. Derry had cleaned up the ordinance
    since last reading and the blank portions were left to determine which parts of the ordinance, internally,
    were applicable to each. Chief Dawson was present to answer questions and motion was made by Mr.
    Brown, seconded by Mr. Rainwater to put this on second reading by title only; motion passed
    unanimously and the title was read by the City Clerk.
  3. City Attorney – Ordinance Updating City Attorney Duties- 1 Reading – Mr. Plummer stated
    that this amends two previous ordinances and that he did not expect this to go on first reading this night
    and asked that the council members digest it and bring it back next month. Ms. Derry updated council on the status of their request to take this issue to the commissions to know their thoughts; she said that the Parks and Water/Wastewater Commissions voted unanimously against paying for city attorney to perform services for them. Mr. asked that the ordinance be more clearly defined as to the scope of services and also to include an repeal and replace of the previous ordinances it references. After discussion, Mr. Plummer agreed that he would make those changes for a more detailed description of services and bring back to the next meeting.
    In reference to the city attorney’s invoice included in the city council packets, motion was made by Mr.
    Brown, seconded by Mr. Powell e payment; Mr. Plummer stated that the hearing on the lake
    annexation would be the next day and the property should be in the City; the vote was called and the
    motion passed unanimously.
    3.
    Planning – Ordinance Repealing and Replacing Zoning Ordinance #22-13 to Change Zoning for Storage Units – 2~ Reading- Mr. Bell presented this ordinance and answered council questions. It was suggested that page 26 included a typographical error that needed changed from “I-I” to “I-1” and also to reference “mini-storage” throughout the document for consistency. Motion was made by Mr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Terry to put this on second reading by title only with the changes discussed; motion passed unanimously and the title was read by the City Clerk.
    NEW BUSINESS (Items Listed in order addressed)
    б. Water/Wastewater Commission – Confirmation of Alternate Commission Member – Mr. Cross presented this item and explained that in the event that someone stepped down, this would be an
    alternate member. Ms. Derry clarified that the City Council confirms membership renewals and in the
    event someone is absent, this alternate would not fill in to make a quorum; rather it would only be in the
    event or a vacancy mid-term for a member; she also stated that the provision for alternate member is not
    mentioned in the bylaws or anywhere else that she has researched, but upon formation of the Commission, Kevin Hesslen was listed as an alternate member on the membership roster. Mr. Powell expressed concern that Mr. Alex Selkirk was vocal against the formation of commission, therefore he does not understand this individual’s intention in being a commission member; Mr.Brown, who serves as council liaison for the Water/Wastewater Commission, expressed approval of appointing an alternate member and motion was made by Mr. Powell, seconded by Mr.Terry to confirm Mr. Selkirk for alternate membership; motion passed by majority with Mr. McDaniel and Mr. Rainwater voting no and all others voting yes.
    Finance- Resolution to Establish Bank Account for Senior Citizen Center AEDC Grant
    Administration – Ms. Derry stated that she called the AEDC when filling out a form and she was
    informed that a physical, non-interest bearing bank account must be opened as a requirement of this grant.
    Mr. Marsh stated that the account would be funded with a tight timeline for expenses regarding
    administration of the grant; motion was made by Mr. Brown, seconded by Mr. McDaniel to approve the
    resolution; motion passed unanimously.
    Finance- Resolution to Amend Budget and Appropriate ARPA Funds- Mr. Marsh explained
    that a past resolution expressed an internal intention of how to spend the first tranche of ARPA funds, but
    was not obligated at the time; he opined that was a positive action because no qualified water projects
    have been presented thus far and time is passing with a deadline. He said that he spoke with Caran Curry
    of the Arkansas Municipal League and relayed to her that the first tranche was dedicated to the senior
    center and the second tranche was intended for water/sewer purposes due to the past resolution. He said Ms. Curry advised strongly against using the funds for water/sewer and instead favored its use as police salaries revenue replacement as it was much simpler and better, especially in the reporting aspect. He explained the logistics of using the funds and reporting, and in turn, the plan presented for use of funds would free up monies in other areas to spend at discretion. He stated that $1,125,219 for Police employee salaries would be moved to ARPA funding to appropriate as the use for ARPA funds and would therefore be reported as such. He also explained the amount of money that, because of this, would be freed up in the General Fund and referenced Item #10 on the agenda with funding needs as a suggested use for it since a grant was declined from the project due to a miscommunication and technicality. Ms. Derry added that the resolution in front of council was blessed by the Municipal League and Mr. Marsh agreed and stated that the only thing he applied to it were the correct numbers. He stated that overall, $1,950,400.48 was received in ARPA and Mr. Brown expressed concern that the past resolution
    dedicating ARPA to water/sewer needed to be amended; Ms. Derry stated that she felt the same and it was decided that the amendment to Resolution 121-19 be added to the agenda so that it can be dealt with properly at this time.
    Mr. McDaniel explained that ARDOT had previously authorized the transfer of a grant to the bridge
    project, but then later it was realized that it cannot happen because the project was already in process and it was made known that an environmental impact study is required to use federal dollars, and that could not take place because the study is required before a project starts at a location. He said, using the money
  4. freed up in the General Fund (from the police salaries) can now be used without restriction.
  5. After amending Resolution #121-19 and additional discussion, motion was made by Mr. Rainwater,
  6. seconded by McDaniel to approve the resolution; motion passed by majority with Mr. Terry voting
  7. no and all others voting yes.
  1. Finance – Amendment to Resolution #121-19- Ms. Derry advised the words “appropriated for
    Water and Sewer infrastructure purposes only be stricken from Section one of Resolution 121-19, There
    was discussion and motion was made by Mr. McDaniel, seconded by Mr. Meeker to adopt the resolution with the changes discussed; motion passed unanimously. Ms. Derry stated that she would send the resolution to council so that they could see it as amended.
    Parks -Resolution toAuthorize Recreational Trails Program Funding for Old Iron Bridge –
    Mr. Otis Edwards presented this resolution and motion was made by Mr. Powell, seconded by Mr.
    McDaniel to approve; motion passed unanimously.
  2. Finance- Resolution to Amend Budget for Cuthbert Bridge Fabrication – Mr. Marsh
    explained that, in the absence of the previously transferred grant, this amends the budget to use General Fund monies for the fabrication and transport of the bridge. Mr. McDaniel and Mayor Kinslow answered questions about the project motion was made by Mr. McDaniel, seconded by Mr. Rainwater to approve this; motion passed by majority with Mr. Terry voting no, and al others voting yes.
    Department reports and questions from Council
    Mayor Kinslow stated that the control box that was placed in view of these welcome to Greenwood sign has been relocated at no expense to the City.
    Council Forum
    Mayor Kinslow wished a happy anniversary to Daniel and Kerri McDaniel for 24 years of marriage.
    Mr. Brown inquired about the ownership of land for Eastside Village (sic) and asked if the previous vote
    was for the entire project or just phase one; Mr. Bell stated it was for the entire project and the owner of
    the land’s name is on the plat with signature notarized and filed; Mr. Bell retrieved a copy of the plat and displayed it to council.
    Mr. Powell requested an update on Phase 2 of the sidewalk project and Mayor Kinslow updated council
    on the status of that.
    Brandon Riggs of Spruce Street addressed council about a drainage situation adjacent to their
    property and said that homes are flooding because of the situation with grown trees insidethe drainage
    area. There was discussion and Mayor Kinslow said that he has consulted with the city attorney as to
    what the city can legally assist with. Mayor Kinslow expressed the desire to help and said at the very
    least, due to the trouble that presents with access to the problem area and repairs that would subsequently
    affect flooding for neighboring areas, he would notify the Street Director to see what can be done.
    Adiournment
    Motion to adjourn was made by Mr. McDaniel, seconded by Mr. Powell; the meeting adjourned at 9:57 p.m.

Father’s Day is a Day of Love and Appreciation

We celebrate Mother’s Day in May and Father’s Day in June…often times, that is just our routine each year. We visit our families and celebrate our father’s love and support that they have shown over the years of our lifetimes. But just as I said in last month’s tribute to our mothers, I wonder if it is something I have taken for granted all of these years. If I did, it was certainly unintentional, but something that is deeply regrettable.

We all have our family stories. With the ever-changing configuration of the nuclear family in our society, more and more of us have been influenced by fathers who were not our biological fathers.

I will not go into detail, but I will say that is the case in my family. The person whom I love and identify as my father has been in my life for a little more than 40 years. He married my mother in the 80s and has been a wonderful husband to her ever since. He has been the rock of stability and support for her and everyone in our family, and that includes me. Like my mother, he has always been there for me, even when he questioned or didn’t understand my actions or decisions throughout the course of my life. I have witnessed over and over again his unconditional love for my mother, and that has meant more to me than anything. But he has also shown that love and support for me, and I am so lucky that he came into my life.

My father, Duane Osam, is truly an amazing man, and is the kind of man that I have aspired to be, although in many respects, I could never measure up to be. A veteran of the United States Navy during World War II, a successful professional in the job place as a dairy plant manager, he has applied the same principles of discipline, good decision-making, love, and support in the job place that he has in his family. A graduate of Iowa State University in dairy industry management, he is very intelligent and knows his business. He carried great responsibility as part of the executive management at Coleman Dairy in Little Rock for most of his career and was so sought by the Coleman family that he was recruited and brought to Arkansas from Colorado to take over the plant management for the family in Little Rock. His advice was sought and taken with great credibility, and he was dedicated to the company’s success by working long, irregular hours if needed to keep things at the plant running smoothly.

But as much as I have admired him for his service to our nation and to his career, it is his unwavering love for my mother and for me that has meant the most to me. And now, both he and my mother find themselves in perhaps the most challenging time period of their adult lives and marriage. As I have shared with our readers over the past few months, they are rebuilding their lives from having lost their home in the Little Rock tornado in March, as well as having contracted the COVID virus immediately after the storm. Their lives are upside down, but, as I said with my mother’s reference in the Mother’s Day story, he and my mother are strong, and they will get through the challenges that they are currently facing. Duane is in his mid-90s, and for a lot of people, the challenges that face him at his age might be unsurmountable. But not him. I would put his mental capacity up against anyone at any age, and his fortitude and mental toughness as well. Together, he and my mom will make it, and that is just one of a million reasons why I love them both so much.

So, to Mr. Duane Osam, I want to say thank you for all the things you have done for me. You came into my life at a time when I had my own challenges, and you were there for me then and through all of the other times that happened after that time. I cannot thank you enough for being the loving and supportive husband to my mother that you are. And for those reasons, I just can’t find the words to adequately describe my love and appreciation for you.

So, in your way of being succinct and to the point, I will just say, thank you. Thank you for everything you have ever done for me, and thank you for the love you have shown to both my mother and me.

To all of our readers out there, I want to wish you all a very Happy Father’s Day, enjoying the day with this very special person in all of your lives.

Magazine Schools Receives Prestigious Arkansas RISE Schools Award

Note to Our Readers: The following story was sourced directly and in its entirety from Mr. Jonathan Gipson, Social Media Coordinator, Magazine Schools. Mr. Gipson is a RNN Sports contributor, and we thank him for bringing this story to our readers.

MAGAZINE – Magazine Schools announced last week that its elementary school has been awarded the prestigious 2023 Reading Initiative for Student Excellence (RISE) Arkansas School Award

Magazine Elementary Principal Jared Higginbotham, who was joined by members of the Magazine School District administrative staff and school board and representatives from the Guy Fenter Educational Service Cooperative, made the announcement to his staff during their final faculty and staff meeting of the school year.

An official award presentation by the Division of Elementary & Secondary Education staff will be held on campus during the fall of the upcoming 2023-24 school year.

Image Special to RNN / Jonathan Gipson, Magazine Schools

RISE Arkansas fosters a culture of reading by coordinating a statewide reading campaign with community partners, parents and teachers to establish the importance of reading in communities, homes and schools. The first goal of RISE Arkansas is to “sharpen the focus and strengthen instruction.” RISE training was developed in 2017 to bring evidence-based teaching practices to the classroom.

In an effort to promote the continued growth of RISE Arkansas, the Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) recognizes schools that have successfully implemented these practices for their students.  This past spring, a team from the ADE and education service cooperatives used a rubric to score submitted applications. The rubric was based on the three goals of RISE, plus the minimum requirements from the application.  Of those that applied, eligible schools advanced to a second round, which included a day-long visit from RISE specialists. The goal of the visit was to look for a schoolwide implementation of strategies and practices aligned with the science of reading.