Spring football practice is over and high school programs across the state will now move into summer workouts and football camps as they move toward preseason practice in August.
The Paris Eagles will participate in their first summer football camp on Monday, June 5 at Charleston High School. Paris participated in the June 2022 camp at Charleston last season, and this year, Charleston will host three camps throughout the summer.
The list of participating schools in June 5 camp at Alumni Field is impressive. That list includes Clarksville, Lincoln, Poteau, Ozark, Pottsville, Lamar, Dover, Two Rivers, Heavener, Danville, Panama, and the host school Charleston Tigers.
Summer workouts and football camps in the months of June and July are often very warm and are opportunities for the teams to practice against other schools when numbers on their own rosters may be low. The camps provide a structured environment to work on conditioning and acclimatization to the summer heat prior to August preseason practices.
A calendar of the Eagles’ summer camps and its annual “Moms 101” date in July may be found on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports. The summer schedule is flexible and subject to change; both additions and deletions from the schedule may occur. We will keep you updated if those changes occur.
Good luck to all of the River Valley teams as they move into the next phases of preparation for the 2023 high school football season!
MAGAZINE – Magazine High School’s Brock Gentry and Rylan Matthews have been selected to represent their community and school at Arkansas Boys State 2023, an immersive leadership and civic engagement experience sponsored by the American Legion.
They will join more than 500 young men attending the program’s 82nd session at the University of Central Arkansas in Conway from May 28 to June 2.
“Arkansas Boys State is a legacy program that has produced remarkable local, state, national and international leaders,” said Lloyd Jackson, executive director of Arkansas Boys State. “That Brock and Rylan were nominated to attend speaks volumes to their character, pursuit of excellence and desire to make his community stronger.”
During their week at Arkansas Boys State, they will be assigned a political party, city and county. Throughout the week, Gentry and Matthews, who will be seniors this coming school year, and their peers will administer, from the ground up, a mock government as if it were real: run for office, draft and pass legislation, solve municipal challenges and engage constituents.
“We like to say that Arkansas Boys State is a week that shapes a lifetime, and our tens of thousands of alumni can attest to that,” Jackson said. “We’re thrilled that Brock and Rylan are joining us and will experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Gentry and Matthews and their peers at Arkansas Boys State will be guided through their experience by more than 60 volunteers who serve the program. The staff of volunteers includes college students and career professionals with interests and expertise in education, finance, industry, politics and government, journalism, and more.
The week’s activities, including keynote speakers, general assemblies, and election speeches, will be streamed live by Arkansas PBS on their Arkansas Citizens Access Network: https://www.myarkansaspbs.org/arcan.
Note to Our Readers:The previous story was sourced from Arkansas Boys State Media via Mr. Jonathan Gipson, social media Director, Magazine School District.
Buster Carroll Snellgroves, 92, of Tickbush, Arkansas went to be with his Lord and Savior, Sunday, May 21, 2023 at his temporary home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Buster was born April 16, 1931 to Arthur and Mattie Pearl (Bowen) Snellgroves in Bakersfield, California. Buster was a member of Waldron Pentecostal Church of God. He was a member of the Waldron Masonic Lodge No. 132, since 1977. Buster was a Master Mason and a part of the A&A Scottish Rite of Free Masonry at the 32 degree level. Something Buster was proud of but never boosted about was that he was a certified Arkansas firefighter. He was an instrumental part in the development of State Line Volunteer Fire Department, where he served as director and chief for 35 years.
Buster was married to the love of his life, Betty Zane for 40 years before Zane went on to Heaven to wait for him. Together they raised four amazing children and played a huge role in the lives of their grandchildren. Buster enjoyed listening to good ole’ bluegrass music and always attended and helped out at Turkey Track. He was known as the mayor of Tickbush, Arkansas and was part of the CB Radio era with his handle being Tickbush Mayor. If you knew Buster, well then, you had been given a nickname specially thought out for you. He was a collector of caps and enjoyed collecting unique ones to add to his collection. Buster loved going to church and cooking for the men’s prayer breakfast. When there was a community cookout he would smoke meat “which was very very good” and Zane would make beans and desserts. Buster was a friend to all and would help others before finishing things he already started for himself.
Buster leaves behind to cherish his memory, four children: Deborah Herrin and husband Jack of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Elaine Youree and husband Gary of Heavener, Oklahoma; Danny Snellgroves and fiancé Beth of Palmetto, Florida and Sonny Richards and wife Becky of Stringtown, Oklahoma. Papa will remain in the hearts of his twelve grandchildren; twenty-three great grandchildren, four great great grandchildren and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. Buster will be missed by all that knew him and the many lives he impacted by his generosity and thoughtfulness.
Buster was preceded in death by his loving wife Betty Zane Snellgroves; his parents, Arthur and Mattie Snellgroves; one son, Mark “Rocco” Richards; one brother, Norman Snellgroves; and two sisters, Bessie Ruth Arp and Patricia “Dovie” Bennedict.
Buster’s life celebration will be at 2:00 p.m. Friday, May 26, 2023 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Ricky Hunt and Rev. Konner McKay officiating. Interment will follow in the Union Ridge Cemetery in Crossroads, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Buster’s pallbearers will be: Cory Richards, Jeremy Herrin, Brian Youree, Mike Duncan, Larry Huddleston and Terry Nix.
Buster’s visitation will be held on Thursday, May 25, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home.
You may leave words of remembrance for Buster’s family by visiting www.heritagememorialfh.com
(NORMAN, Okla.) Singer, songwriter, and entertainer Toby Keith has acquired Luck E Strike, a bait and tackle brand name as ingrained with top tier anglers as it is with weekend recreationalists. Endorsed by National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Famer Jimmy Houston and operated by sporting goods industry vets Jeff Williams (General Manager) and Todd Hempen (Operations Manager), the company is relaunching this summer with a new focus on its traditional American made division in Greenwood Ark., while maintaining the current assortments sold nationwide, as well as a new slogan: “An American Original Since 1970.”
For the singer of “Made in America,” Luck E Strike occupies a special place in the world of outdoor sports. “They’ve got a lot of history,” Keith says. “It’s actually one of the earliest fishing brands that is universally stocked in national retailers.”
In the bass fishing world Luck E Strike is well known for tackle kits, hand crafted crank baits, and its Redman Spinner Bait. The latter was designed by Houston who used it successfully for decades and led to his two 1st Place Finishes at the Bassmaster Classic. Trading in its prior yellow and black packaging, the Redman Spinner will be the first lure to lead the company’s new red, white, and blue packaged product line in the coming months. Details and timeline are forthcoming.
National Fresh Water Fishing Hall of Famer Jimmy Houston.
The host of the 46-year running Jimmy Houston Outdoors television show is the company’s biggest brand ambassador. “Jimmy is one of about three big legends in the fishing world,” Keith says. “He has been a spokesperson for Luck E Strike for decades, and started building his Redman Spinners out of diaper pins and selling them to Walmart.”
Houston asserts this acquisition will make an impact in the world of fishing. “In addition to being one of the best singers and songwriters, Toby Keith is an
incredible patriot,” he says. “Tying those two together in an American lure company known for making outstanding bass and crappie lures at great prices is so exciting. As his friend, I’m happy seeing the fire in his eyes over this company. It’s a big deal for the fishing industry as a whole to have him involved and bringing this brand back to where it ought to be.”
Having fallen on hard times, the company had been in disarray. “They needed a new focus and vision and I happened to be standing at the door ready to pick up the pieces,” Keith says.
“I’ve got a house on a lake where they hold a lot of fishing tournaments, and I became friends with Jeff, who has built two big tackle brands,” he continues. “He reached out and told me Luck E Strike was for sale, and he was as interested as I am in rebuilding it.”
Luck E Strike General Manager Jeff Williams (left) and Luck E Strike Operations Manager Todd Hempen (right)
Williams is an accomplished angler, bait and tackle developer, and businessman whose brands have included Team Catfish and Fle Fly. “Everyone knows Luck E Strike and its industry-leading lures,” Williams says. “It’s a working folk’s brand and Toby Keith is the right person at the right time to build this thing back up. We’re already hard at work rebuilding wholesale relationships and vetting tackle manufacturer’s domestically and abroad. Luck E Strike will be a global tackle brand, with Toby’s involvement.”
Hempen has more than 30 years of retail and supply chain experience with some of the biggest names in sporting goods, including Bass Pro Shops, Walmart, and Amazon. “I am honored to be working with Toby and this team to revitalize the Luck E Strike brand,” Hempen says. “This is going to be a big deal for Toby’s fans and the faithful Luck E Strike customers.”
Known for his prodigious work ethic, Keith is ready to go. “This team is so good and the brand and product speak for themselves,” he says. “Through the years Luck E Strike has sold hundreds of SKUs nationally at major retailers. Unfortunately, that business has dwindled some but we’re going to build that back up, add some rod-and-reel combos, apparel, fishing tools, and tackle systems. We will put this brand back at the level it deserves.”
“I’m a nostalgic guy and that’s part of it, but this is great stuff,” he continues. “I know a bunch of pro anglers and they’re all telling me if I can get them the stuff, they’ll fish with it.” With the expertise and marketing muscle Toby Keith is investing, it’s a safe bet they won’t be the only ones using and having success with Luck E Strike lures.
About Toby Keith: Arguably the most prolific self-directed creative force in country’s modern era, Toby Keith has amassed 42 top 10 hits, 32 No. 1s, 40 million albums sold, and more than 10 billion streams largely on the strength of his own songwriting and producing, and under the banner of his own Show Dog Nashville record label. Among his many accomplishments, the New York based all-genre Songwriters Hall of Fame (2015), the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame (2021) and BMI Icon (2022) are his most treasured.
Mansfield High School is a 2023 Casey’s Cash for Classrooms grant recipient. The school will receive $3000.00 to purchase 2 new refrigerators for the classroom kitchens. This project will help students by giving them the resources needed to develop much needed life skills.
“We are grateful to receive a Cash for Classrooms grant from Casey’s and are excited to complete this important work that will improve our students’ ability to learn and grow at Mansfield High School each day,” said Annette Smith, FACS Teacher. “Casey’s is a great community partner that gives back to many schools across its footprint, including ours, through this program.”
Donnie Eveld – Principal -MHS and Annette Smith Family & Consumer Science Teacher
The project is expected to be completed by July 2023.
In addition to the grant program, Casey’s guests can support schools year-round by directing their Casey’s Rewards points toward a donation to their school of choice. Sign up for Casey’s Rewards here.
Traveling across the state, one is amazed by the beauty and what the natural state has to offer. Larger, well-developed metropolitan areas such as Fayetteville, Jonesborough, and the Little Rock area interspersed with smaller towns and rich farmlands serve to remind us that we are far removed from the backward hillbilly image of which we are frequently portrayed. That image, perhaps fomented by some of our earliest historians, has survived somewhat intact to the present time.
Thomas Nuttall, an English born naturalist, visited and chronicled some of the state’s earliest history. The title of Thomas Nuttall’s book; A Journal of Travels into the Arkansas Territory during the year 1819, with occasional Observation of the Manners of the Aborigines suggest that he might not be overly impressed with the people and culture he encountered. Arriving at Arkansas Port, he vividly described the squalor and general backwardness of the inhabitants. His described the village as having 30 or 40 houses and a few stores occupied by poor and improvident people who were proceeding slowly in any efforts of improvement. He went on to say that nature had done so much but the people so little that it was difficult to determine the value and resources of the land. The homes were open galleries, totally unacceptable and destitute of comfort for winter. His description of the population certainly fits the typical hillbilly image; ““It is to be regretted that the widely scattered state of the population in this territory, is but too favorable to the spread of ignorance and barbarism. The means of education are, at present, nearly proscribed, and the rising generation are growing up in mental darkness.”
As he proceeded up the Arkansas river, his perspective did not change. He ran across rough frontiersmen, thieving Indians, and hired a guide who, he discovered later, had murdered a man for his property. At Cadron, present day Conway, he got stuck for days in a poorly constructed tavern where men gambled and drank day and night while cold January winds blew through the many cracks between the log walls. “Every reasonable and rational amusement appeared here to be swallowed up in dram drinking, jockeying, and gambling,” he grumbled as he described the location.
Further up river, he discovered coal layers in the cliffs near Spadra and described some of the beauty of the natural surroundings and created several painting of Nebo Mountain (which he misnamed Magazine, and of Cavanal Mountain near Fort Smith. Encountering ticks, malarial fever, and waring Indian tribes, he eventually journeyed back to England where he composed his widely-read, and generally negative views, of the inhabitants of the state.
Henry Schoolcraft, another journalist and Arkansas visitor stated, “in manners, morals, customs, dress, contempt of labor and hospitality, the state of society is not essentially different from that which exists among the savages.”
Further compounding the states appearance as hillbillies, Sanford Faulkner, supposedly traveling with Archibald Yell, Ambrose Sevier, and perhaps Albert Pike, stumbled across a log cabin occupied by a squatter in the Boston Mountains. From that encounter, the Arkansas Traveler story and song depicting the typical Arkansan became a part of our state lore and image. Arkansas has long struggled with the perception being backward uneducated hillbillies. Although far from perfect, when you travel our state today, you enjoy enough forests, mountains, and streams to appreciate the Natural State while passing the new business and industry that makes us a thriving progressive state.
The River Valley Regional Food Bank, and its 150 nonprofit member agencies, wishes to thank the River Valley community for its support in donating more than 52,000 pounds of food through the recent Stamp Out Hunger food drive.
These contributions will provide more than 40,000 meals to families in need across the Arkansas River Valley.
A special thanks to the National Association of Letter Carriers and the US Postal Service for coordinating the event, ArcBest and Feeding America for their gold-level sponsorship. The food bank would also like to thank silver sponsors, the Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance and Metal Sales of Fort Smith.
Thank you as well to the bronze sponsor of the event, United Way of Fort Smith. Thank you, River Valley!
As conference tournaments are being played in the SEC and around the country, RNN Sports is looking ahead to the NCAA Baseball Tournament that will conclude with the Men’s College World Series in June!
As of the date of this story, Arkansas appears to be a lock for hosting both a NCAA Regional Tournament and possibly a Super Regional Tournament at Baum-Walker Stadium. To host a Super Regional, the Hogs would have to win their regional tournament.
So, Hogs fans, here is a list of important dates leading up to the NCAA Tournament and the eventual crowning of a national champion in college baseball.
Selection show: Monday, May 29 — airs at noon ET on ESPN2
Regionals: Friday-Monday, June 2-5
Super regionals: Friday-Sunday, June 9-11 or Saturday-Monday, June 10-12
First day of MCWS games: StartFriday, June 16
MCWS finals: Saturday-Monday, June 24-26
Final championship game: Monday, June 26
Each regional tournament will be double-elimination, from June 2-5. Winners of the regional round advance to the super regionals, from June 9-11 or June 10-12.
But first things first! The Hogs play Wednesday at 12 p.m. local time in Hoover, Alabama in the SEC Tournament. The Hogs will play the winner of today’s game between Tennessee and Texas A&M. At publication time, the Volunteers and the Aggies were in a ninth inning rain delay with A&M leading, 3-0.
Note to Our Readers: The interactive NCAA bracket and associated information is courtesy of the NCAA.
BIRMINGHAM, AL – Arkansas pitcher Hagen Smith is a semifinalist for the 2023 Golden Spikes Award.
Smith is one of 25 semifinalists for the award given to the top amateur baseball player in the nation. The Golden Spikes Award will be presented on June 25 at 2:30 p.m. ET on ESPN, leading into game two of the College World Series finals.
The Razorback left-handed pitcher, who was named to the All-SEC First Team, has been used in several capacities this season. Smith began the campaign as Arkansas’ No. 1 starter and transitioned to a “wild card” role at the start of SEC play due to injuries to the pitching staff before settling back into the Hogs’ starting rotation.
For the year, Smith has made 15 appearances with nine starts, including five in SEC play, and boasts an 8-1 record with a team-leading 2.56 ERA and two saves over 63 1/3 innings of work on the mound. The true sophomore, who is also a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Award, has struck out a team-high 93 batters and limited opposing hitters to a meager .191 batting average this season.
Smith is the eighth Hog since 2007 to be named a semifinalist for the award. Arkansas outfielder Andrew Benintendi and pitcher Kevin Kopps won both the Golden Spikes Award and Dick Howser Trophy in 2015 and 2021, respectively.
Fan voting will again play a part in the Golden Spikes Award. Fans can vote for their favorite players on GoldenSpikesAward.com beginning on May 22 with the naming of the semifinalists. USA Baseball will announce the finalists for the award on June 7, and fan voting will open at GoldenSpikesAward.com before closing on June 21.
BIRMINGHAM, AL – Arkansas skipper Dave Van Horn has been named the 2023 SEC Coach of the Year.
Van Horn, in his 21st season as head coach, led the Razorbacks to their fourth SEC championship and second in the last three seasons. Arkansas also won its seventh SEC Western Division crown under Van Horn and fourth since 2018.
Van Horn was voted SEC Coach of the Year for the third time in his career, also winning the award in 2004 and 2021 after leading the Hogs to their second and third conference titles, respectively. He is one of three active coaches, along with Vanderbilt’s Tim Corbin (3) and Florida’s Kevin O’Sullivan (3), to be named SEC Coach of the Year at least three times.
Four Razorbacks were named to All-SEC teams by the league’s head coaches, led by Hagen Smith’s first-team selection at starting pitcher and All-Defensive honors. Kendall Diggs picked up second-team recognition at designated hitter, while pitcher Gage Wood and outfielder Tavian Josenberger garnered Freshman All-SEC and All-Defensive praise, respectively.
Smith, the Hogs’ first starting pitcher to earn first-team SEC honors since Ryne Stanek in 2013, has been used in several capacities this season. The left-hander began the campaign as Arkansas’ No. 1 starter and transitioned to a “wild card” role at the start of SEC play due to injuries to the pitching staff before settling back into the Hogs’ starting rotation.
For the year, Smith has made 15 appearances with nine starts, including five in SEC play, and boasts an 8-1 record with a team-leading 2.56 ERA and two saves over 63 1/3 innings of work on the mound. The true sophomore, who is also a semifinalist for the College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Award, has struck out a team-high 93 batters and limited opposing hitters to a meager .191 batting average this season.
Diggs, the 55th All-SEC honoree in school history, is slashing .314/.451/.566 with 10 home runs and a team-leading 56 RBI through 51 games this year. The true sophomore, who leads all Razorback batters in walks with 41, has racked up 55 hits, including 12 doubles and one triple. During SEC play, Diggs has posted a .291/.437/.495 slash line with three homers and a team-high 33 RBI in 30 league games.
Wood, the 56th All-SEC selection in program history, is 2-0 with a 3.81 ERA and 41 strikeouts over 28 1/3 innings this season. The right-hander leads the Hogs in saves with five, all of which have come in SEC play. Wood is just the fourth Arkansas freshman pitcher since 2003, Van Horn’s first year at Arkansas, to record at least five saves in a season.
Josenberger, the 57th All-SEC selection in Razorback history, earned All-Defensive recognition in the outfield. A converted infielder, he has posted a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 116 total chances as the Hogs’ everyday centerfielder and recorded a team-leading seven outfield assists while helping turn five double plays.
Smith also secured a spot on the SEC All-Defensive Team alongside Josenberger. The Razorbacks’ ace has not committed an error on the mound this season and limited opposing base runners to just two steals all year.
– ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks
Note to Our Readers: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Oliver Grigg.
