Resident News Network

Obituary – Alma Irene Crump (1942-2023)

Obituaries

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12:52 am

Alma Irene Crump of Boles, Arkansas passed from this life, Saturday, April 1, 2023 in Nashville, Arkansas. Alma was born December 12, 1942 in Arkansas. She was 80 years old.

Alma was a stream stress by trade and also enjoyed being a trucker. Her hobby was quilting.

Alma leaves behind to cherish her memory, one son, Albert B. Crump and wife Amy of Oklahoma and grandchildren: Brianne Crump, Brent Crump, Starland Powers, Fiona and Jarrod Williams, Raelene Crump Warren and husband Duane as well as a host of great grandchildren. Alma will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including friends, neighbors and loved ones.

Alma is preceded in death by her husbands, Bobby A. Crump, her stepson, Robert A. Crump and her parents.

Alma’s graveside celebration of life will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, April 6, 2023 at the Chant Cemetery in Y-City, Arkansas with Rev. Pat Ray Biggs officiating. Interment will follow.

You may leave words of comfort and remembrance for Alma’s family by visiting: www.heritagememorialfh.com.

Arrest Reports 3/26

Police Reports

Tammy Teague

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11:54 pm

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Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
James Edward Barnard of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 26 at 1:35 a.m. and released on signature bond March 26 at 11:03 a.m. Barnard was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Julie Renea Bratton of Delaware was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 27 at 11:54 p.m. and transferred to an outside agency on March 28 at 1:39 a.m. Bratton was charged with two counts of Assist Outside Agency-Misd.

Tony Dewayne Burkholder of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 26 at 6:43 p.m. and released on signature bond March 26 at 10:50 p.m. Burkholder was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Tanner David Holstine of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 28 at 3:22 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond April 3 at 1:37 p.m. Holstine was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the Second Degree, and Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Negligently.

Nathaniel Christopher Kelley of Paris was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 31 at 6:45 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Kelley was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Felony.

Eric Christopher Ralston of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 27 at 8:06 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 27 at 11:15 p.m. Ralston was charged with Driving on Suspended or Revoked DL – DWI, Driving While Intoxicated 3rd offense, and Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule I/II Felony <2g.

Arresting agency – Bonanza Police Department:
Patrick Wayne Craig of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 31 at 11:45 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Craig was charged with Failure to Appear – Class A Misdemeanor.

Steven Wayne Delapaz of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 28 at 7:56 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Delapaz was charged with Contempt of Court–(child support), FTAS, FTRespond Subpoena, FTComply WCO, and Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

Laura Lea Topham of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 30 at 9:48 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Topham was charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Minor in the First Degree -Conduct, Endandering the Welfare of a Minor in the First Degree – Minor less than 10 years old-desert, and Aggravated Assault.

Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office:
Christine Elizabeth Davis of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 26 at 10:20 a.m. and remains at the SCADC. Davis was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 2nd offense.

Dylan Gregory Harrison of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 27 at 11:11 a.m. and released on bond March 27 at 3:30 p.m. Harrison was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), and Assault On Family Or Household Member-2nd Degree.

Aileen Miranda Ledesma of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 28 at 9:31 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Ledesma was charged with two counts of Sexual Assault in the First Degree – Jailer.

Sarah Alexis Pedroza of Paris was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 31 at 1:35 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 31 at 4:50 p.m. Pedroza was charged with Petition to Revoke – Felony.

Ricky Lee Perry of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 29 at 12:06 p.m. and released on signature bond March 29 at 2:27 p.m. Perry was charged with Petition to Revoke – Felony.

Bobby Gene Rogers, Second of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 28 3:33 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Rogers was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Misdemeanor, and Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Arresting agency – Lavaca Police Department:
Tanner Blake Garcia of Fayetteville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 29 at 4:30 p.m. and transferred to an outside agency on March 30 at 9:49 a.m. Garcia was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Misd.

Rocky Allen McGee of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 26 at 4:27 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 28 at 8:18 p.m. McGee was charged with Driving While License Cancelled/Suspended/Revoked, Assault in the 2nd Degree, and Criminal Trespass – Occupiable Structure.

Arresting agency – Hackett Police Department:
Terrell Marquis Lawson of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 27 at 12:55 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 27 at 5:43 p.m. Lawson was charged with Assault On Family Or Household Member-3rd Degree, and Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Joshua Michael Wilkerson of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 26 at 2:39 a.m. and transferred to an outside agency on April 3 at 9:27 a.m. Wilkerson was charged with ADC Commitment Hold, Parole Violation, Loitering – General, Fleeing -On Foot-Misd., Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule VI Misdemeanor <4oz., and Petition to show cause.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office:
Chey Ann Winn, 26 of Ozark, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 27 at 9:22 a.m. Winn was charged with failure to appear.

Allen Campbell, 46 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 29 at 3:02 p.m. Campbell was charged with possession of a controlled substance, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a schedule VI controlled substance with the purpose to deliver.

Robert Williams, 35 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 29 at 6:44 p.m. Williams was charged with body attachment.

Tammy Roberts, 53, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 29 at 7 p.m. Roberts was charged with failure to pay.

Christopher Rongey, 49 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 30 at 10:28 a.m. Rongey was charged with contempt of court.

Shannon Smith, 58 of Cove, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 30 at 6:43 p.m. Smith was charged with body attachment.

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

Obituary – Bertha Geneva (Harvey) Hale (1941-2023)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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3:38 pm

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Obituary – Bertha Geneva (Harvey) Hale (1941-2023)

Bertha G. Hale, better known as Geneva, of Haletown, Arkansas went to be with her Lord and Savior, Saturday, April 1, 2023 in Haletown with her loving family by her side. Geneva was born November 5, 1941 in Fouche Valley Arkansas to Cecil and Carmel (Sexton) Harvey. She was 81 years old. Geneva was a faithful member of Mt. Moriah Church in Haletown.

As a young woman, Geneva married the love of her life, Windell. They made their life together in Haletown, Arkansas where Geneva was a business woman who owned and operated the Haletown Store for many years. Her outstanding gift of making beautiful quilts was priceless. However, nothing Geneva did compared to the love and selfless caring she had for her family. She treasured her children and grandchildren and cherished them all.

Geneva leaves behind to cherish her memory, her loving husband of 61 years, Windell Hale of the home and her children: Randall Hale and wife Sonya, Teresa Scantling and husband Russell and Ronald Hale and wife Elaine. Granny will forever remain in the hearts of her 9 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren. Geneva is also survived by one brother, Everette Lee Harvey and wife Betty of Dumas, Arkansas. Geneva will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host of extended family, neighbors, friends and loved ones dear to her heart.

Geneva was preceded in death by her parents, Cecil and Carmel Harvey, one sister, Jeanetta Colter, and brothers, Cecil Wayne Harvey, Herman Harvey and Micheal Harvey as well as one great granddaughter Reese Emerson Scantling.

Geneva’s graveside celebration of life will be 10:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 4, 2023 at the Union Hill Cemetery in Union Hill Arkansas with Rev. Joe Powers officiating. Interment will follow. Arrangements are being entrusted to Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Geneva’s pallbearers will be her grandsons: Lucas Scantling, Eli Scantling, Kevin Hale, Garrett Hale, Josh Reyman and Grant VanRavensway. Honorary pallbearers will be Charlie Hale, Wayne Hale and Jake Hale.

Obituary – Velma Mai (McPherson) Barker (1946-2023)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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3:31 pm

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Obituary – Velma Mai (McPherson) Barker (1946-2023)

Velma Mai Barker of Boles, Arkansas passed from this life, Friday, March 31, 2023 in Waldron, Arkansas. Velma was born August 11, 1946 in Jonestown, Mississippi to Curvie Alvin McPherson and Trudie (Rone) McPherson. She was 76 years old.

In her younger years, Velma loved to sew and read. She married the love of her life, Jimmy Barker in 1963. They were blessed with 52 years together. They had 2 children and 1 grandson and later 1 great granddaughter, all of whom made Velma’s days bright. They were the highlight of her life. Velma worked for Tyson Foods and retired after 24 years. Velma had a large extended family and loved all the get togethers and being surrounded by laughter, fun and good times making treasured memories.

Velma leaves behind to cherish her memory, one grandson, Easton Evans and wife Courtney and one great granddaughter, Luci Mai. Velma is also survived by sisters Mary Louise Milligan and Judy MacDuff, and brothers James A. Clayton, Tommy H. Clayton as well as her special bonus family Joe Taylor, Becky Parks (Ronald), Paula Helton (Brian), Park Barker (Diane), John Barker (Judy), Joe Barker. Velma will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host of nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones.

Velma was preceded in death by her husband Jimmy Barker Sr., one son Jim (Jimbo) Barker Jr., one daughter Doris Barker Stuart, her parents, Curvie and Trudie McPherson, brothers Joe McPherson, Cecil McPherson and Robie McPherson.

Velma’s celebration of life will be 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Pat Ray Biggs officiating. Arrangements and cremation are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas.

Velma’s visitation will be Tuesday, April 4, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

A Terrible Little Rock Storm Strikes Home…

News

Resident News Network

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3:36 am

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A Terrible Little Rock Storm Strikes Home…

West Little Rock residents suddenly found themselves in the direct path of a violent EF 3 tornado on Friday. The storm, of tremendous size and intensity, ravaged the Arkansas city and rapidly moved on to not only the surrounding northeastern states, but as far as the state of Delaware. Dozens, if not hundreds of homes in Little Rock were either heavily damaged or completely destroyed. The storm hit many homes in the literal sense, and figuratively, it hit home as well. My parents, who have lived in their home for over 40 years, were in the direct line of the tornado and their home was heavily damaged. By the grace of God, they both survived. And for me, the events of the past 48 hours have hit home with me. Hitting close to home; we should always be thankful for the good things in life that we have, and for all of the loved ones in our lives. We can never take them for granted. And Friday’s storms hit home.

My parents’ home that was damaged by Friday’s tornado (RNN Photo / Jim Best)

As I drove into the area on Sunday, I made a turn on to their street that I have made a million times. But this time, when I made the turn, the sight I saw took my breath away. I could not believe what I was seeing. You have heard many victims refer to the damage as resembling a war zone, and that image is exactly what came to mind. It is hard to image how this beautiful neighborhood can look the way it does now.

But, one reason I decided to write this story is because of the inspiration I received from the residents who had been displaced from their homes. The entire area was up early, fighting through the shock and disbeleif, and moving on with their lives. The sounds of chainsaws filled the air. Contractors moved quickly to board houses and to tarp rooves. An army of trucks and crews from various electric power companies filled the area. And in the middle of the day, as we worked to slavage items from inside the house, a couple who lives a few doors up the street, came to the house and asked if there was anything they could do to help. Their house had sustained severe damage too, but they took time to go down the street to look after my parents.

The attitudes of the residents in the affected areas seemed to be one of acceptance….shock…but acceptance. And they immediately went to work to clean up their properties. Sure, everyone was upset, but no one seemed to be looking for sympathy. Their attitude was one of, “That’s life…it happended, now let’s go to work and get it cleaned up.”

The strength and the support that everyone has for each other is truly inspiring. In a time of crisis, people rise to the occasion.

The stories are both amazing and tragic. From the perspective of my parents’ home, it is truly amazing that both the home and they survived. Just before the impact, they huddled together in the interior hallway of their home with cushions over their heads. They said afterwards that they could hear trees exploding, hitting the ground with a resounding thud, and glass breaking. It was a fast-moving storm, and they estimate that they went through the worst of the storm for 10-15 seconds. And when they emerged from their home after the storm had passed, what they saw was devastating.

Adding insult to injury, once the cyclone portion of the tornado passed, the area was doused by torrential rain. Water flowed into the houses that were now exposed with gaping holes in their rooves, or, where there were no rooves at all. My stepbrother who lives in Little Rock, immediately came to their aid, having to park a ways down the street from their house, and climb over fallen tree limbs and branches that lined the street to come to their assistance.

Two doors down, a Texas family that had just purchased their new home and had moved, saw their new home totally destroyed, minutes after their moving van had left. Heartbreaking.

Wood and other debris were impaled into homes, trees, and other structures. The outside gas meter for my parents’ home was completely blown away, leaving only an open, exposed, above-ground pipe that was venting dangerous gas into the entire area. Lawn furniture is just gone; who knows how many miles away it landed. Fences, power poles…anything above ground, was just simply blown away.

A piece of wood impaled into my parents’ home by the high winds of Friday’s tornado (RNN Photo / Jim Best)

So, in the middle of trying to stay focused on what things needed to be done first, I could not help myself from reflecting on the history of my parents’ home. I remember when they purchased it and how proud they were. I remember how much pride they have always taken in maintaining it and in always having a magnificent lawn.

But most significantly, I remember the home being the host of so many wonderful family memories. The family members themselves, both in the past, and in the present that have been in the house celebrating many occasions… the Christmas gatherings for the “traditional non-traditional” Christmas fish fry…and all of the wonderful memories that flooded my emotions. And to see the house and the neighborhood now…it is just overwhelming to process.

The storm hit home for me; and for the residents of West Little Rock, it him home for them, as well. But the good people of West Little Rock are strong and will rebuild both their homes and their lives. For me, I am truly thankful God protected my family. They are going to be OK. It will be difficult and inconvenient, but they will be OK.

And when you go to bed tonight, please ask God to make all of the affected residents OK, as well. They have a long road to go to recover from this violent tornado that hit home for them, too.

Weather Wrecks Meet As Juniors Exit Early

Sports

Tammy Teague

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7:32 pm

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Weather Wrecks Meet As Juniors Exit Early

Mansfield Tiger Relay workers crowd the press box during the school’s 19th annual track festivities. The junior high meet was canceled with only partial results due to bad weather.

Storms were coming. Mansfield tried moving up the start times, reducing attempts, and pushing through the rain. In the end it just wasn’t enough. The junior high edition of the Mansfield Tiger Relays on March 30 had to be cut short as nearby lightning ended the event in the midst of the 100m dash.

Mansfield workers and jumpers help at the 19th annual home track meet. Two days later, rain wrecks the completion of the Junior Tiger Relays.

Mansfield was able to get 22 teams and approximately 25 volunteer workers to the stadium early. The start times for the 19th annual Junior Tiger Relays moved up 30 minutes for the field events and one hour for the races. But, the rains were coming. Then a lightning strike 10 miles away forced meet officials to end the proceedings with only 9 of 17 events partially in the books.

“The weather was playing havoc with our electronic timer,” confessed meet director and Mansfield head coach John Mackey. “We were having trouble timing the sprint races. The radio waves wouldn’t carry more than 80 meters. That slowed us down, then the rains, then the lightning off in the distance forced the pause.”

MHS triple jumps team compete at the Senior Tiger Relays. Pictured are Natalie Allison, Jadelynn Wood, Laney Wood, and Trinity Triska.

The Mansfield head coach sent the teams to the buses and a coaching representative to the gym. After a lengthy discussion it was decided that the mandatory 30 minutes delay may not be enough to wait out the weather. From that discussion, it was decided most teams were ready to call it a no contest and go home.

Mansfield’s men and women both were having a fair amount of success when the meet was called. In fact, with partial results the two hometown teams were sitting in second place. Booneville was on top in the men’s rankings and Waldron was hoving in first for the women.

Lady Tiger Daisy Nelson was already building a resume for the high point award. The freshman sprinter had already completed four of her scheduled six events.

Nelson won the 100m hurdles and pole vault. She was second in the 100m dash and fourth in the long jump. After four events, the high point candidate who had also won the Van Buren plaque earlier in the season was already at 34 points and in control of the individual point standings.

Mansfield cashed in on Madison Hearron’s triple jump personal record. The freshman covered 30’ 1.5 inches on her last leap in the rain to take the 10 point victory. Seventh grade teammate Adeline Bray was inching closer with a third place personal record of her own at 27’ 7”.

The seventh graders gave the Mansfield girls a boost in a few areas before the meet was shut down. Rylan Jones scored third in the discus. Addison Howard took fourth in the shot. Miley Clopton ran up to seventh place in the 100m dash. Payton Meyers grabbed a point in the high jump.

Mansfield’s 4x800m relay grabbed another point with Bray along with Danielle Lowery, Harley Kunkel, and Chloe Whiley. Lowery also scored in the discus toss.

For the Mansfield junior boys, Dominic Shores won the 110m hurdles and took second in the high jump. Alex Hecox followed in the 110m hurdles giving the Tigers a 1-2 finish in that sprinters race.

Zander Walters had a solid night in the long jump and triple jump by the 2A-4 conference standards. He went 17’ 0.5” in the long jump to lead the league and finish fourth overall. The freshman also went 33’ 1” in his first triple jump attempts of the season to top the conference contenders and finish ninth overall.

Cadien Ore and Bryson Elmore scored 13 points in the men’s discus. Ore covered 115’ 6” for second place. Elmore went 112’ 10” for fourth.

The Tiger’s 4x800m relay team was second. The combination of Gunner Williams, Billy Vanelli, Hunter Whittaker, and Josiah Williams posted a 10:34.01 clocking for the red ribbon.

Dawson Robinson offered a sixth place leap of 7’ in the pole vault. It was the freshman’s first attempt at the event. Ethan Martin threw 36’ 2” in the shot put before rushing off to play baseball next door at the Tiger diamond.

Next up on the track circuit will be Waldron. The Bulldogs are scheduled to host the Gaile Hainley Relays on Monday, April 3, the Junior Bulldog Relays on Tuesday, April 4, and the Seventh Grade Relays on Thursday, April 6.

Mansfield Ribbon Run Successful for Rookies

Sports

Tammy Teague

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5:45 pm

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Mansfield Ribbon Run Successful for Rookies

Lady Tigers Adeline Bray, Rylan Jones, Abby Smith, and Miley Clopton celebrate winning the last event at the Mansfield Seventh Grade Ribbon Run on March 27.

Spring break ushered in the start of three days of Mansfield Tiger Relays. The first of which was the Seventh Grade Ribbon Run on Monday, March 27.

Mansfield invited eight teams and allowed unlimited entries into their ribbon run format. As a means to get several kids involved, the games committee established the unlimited entry format along with awarding ribbons for each heat.

Senior Seven Sanderson meets the pre-qualification standards in the women’s discus. She will advance to the state finals in Quitman in May.

Whether under the relaxed rules or not, Mansfield athletes still found success. The fact that multiple heats were tabulated individually just increased Mansfield’s usual haul of awards.

For instance, Mansfield discus throwers scored 3 blue ribbons as opposed to just one winner with a saturation of top 8 places to follow.

Rylan Jones, Bailey Quick, and Alivia Wilson were among the trend setters at the discus ring. Jones, Quick, Addison Howard and Aubree Helms similarly headlined the shot put ring.

Sophomore Carter Whiley advances to the state high jump outdoor finals in class 2A by reaching the 4′ 10″ high jump standard and securring victory at the Tiger Relays.

Sprinter Miley Clopton had a very good night as she took high marks in a loaded event schedule. The up and coming sprinter stood out in the 100m dash, 200m dash, high jump, long jump, and 4x100m relay.

Teammate Abby Smith was a hit big in her role as well. Smith scored well in the pole vault, high jump, 100m hurdles, 300m hurdles, 4x100m relay, and 4x400m relay.

Adeline Bray set a personal record in the triple jump. Two days later she moved up to the junior high team and did so again. By the end of the week, the seventh grade rookie had established her new mark at 27’ 7”. That new triple jump PR advanced her to the second ranked horizontal jumper among all Mansfield junior high leapers.

Hunter Whittaker, Treven Hattabaugh, Drake Brunson, and Matthew Knight complete the Seventh Grade Tiger Ribbon Run in the 4x400m relay.

Bray, Clopton, Jones, and Smith put the shine on the final race. In a photo finish for the 4x100m relay, Mansfield came away with victory. The combination of Payton Meyers, Clopton, Bray and Smith were equally to the task in the women’s 4x100m relay.

Hunter Whittaker continued to get better in the horizontal jumps. In the long jumpy he topped the 14 foot mark and in the triple he eclipsed the 31 foot margin.

Whittaker joined Matthew Knight, Treven Hattabaugh and Drake Brunson in improving relays as well. The combination scored both in the 4x100m relay and the closing 4x400m relay.

Clayton Garrison stayed in the top rankings for seventh grade shot and discus measurements. Michael Carter made headway in the two tosses as well after spending spring break at volunteer practices.

Lady Tigers Take Win At Senior Tiger Relays

Sports

Tammy Teague

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5:36 pm

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Lady Tigers Take Win At Senior Tiger Relays

A portion of the Mansfield senior girls track team wait as the final results declare them the winners of the Mansfield Tiger Relays.

According to their coach, Mansfield’s senior girls start every track season with the same three goals in mind. Those include winning the indoor state finals, winning the home meet, and winning the outdoor state meet. As of Tuesday, March 28 count those first two goals checked off.

Mansfield had already won the 2023 ATCA Indoor Track State Championship back in February. This past week the senior girls kept the Mansfield Tiger Relays Championship plaque in town with a 23 point victory over the closest of 14 scoring schools.

MHS relay runner’s Laney Wood and Carter Whiley execute an exchange in zone one of the 4x100m relay.

The hometown Lady Tigers cobbled together their biggest roster so far this season for their home debut. Dual spring sport athletes took a night away from the softball diamond to fortify the squad’s pursuit of goal number two. The addition of five throwers and one horizontal jumper made a difference as Mansfield’s solidified squad scored 128 points.

Nearly 20 schools registered for the 19th edition of the senior high version of the Tiger Relays. Outstanding performances abound from Mansfield athletes. Count MHS senior Seven Sanderson and Tiger sophomore Carter Whiley off the women’s team among them. Count MHS seniors Ashton Hinkle and junior Dakota Langford off the men’s team among them.

Mansfield men’s coach Ethan Bowman takes a break from the scoring the pole vault to ask Lady Tiger throwers Kaylee Ward and Skylynn Harris their results.

Sanderson was the first of the Lady Tiger throwers to punch her ticket to the outdoor state meet. The senior did so by exceeding the AAA qualification standard in the discus event. Sanderson hurled the 1kg disc 97’ 2” to take the individual win and surpass the state standard 89’ 8”.

Whiley toughed out a sore insole on her none jumping foot to take the blue ribbon in the high jump. Her 4’ 10” leap on a second attempt equaled the state standard and qualified her to the early entries to the state outdoor finals in May.

Lady Tiger Addison Stover advances the baton to Jadelynn Wood who takes the Lady Tigers to first place in the women’s 4x400m relay at Mansfield’s home meet.

“We wanted foremost to win the home meet,” announced John Mackey, the only meet director the Tiger Relays have had since the event was established 19 season’s ago. “This was our first opportunity to qualify in any field events since the outdoor season started. It feels good to have the outdoor finals team taking shape.”

Hinkle didn’t win his favorite event but he inched closer to the outdoor benchmark in the pole vault. The homeschool senior cleared 11’ 0” for second place. He needed only three more inches to reach the state minimum for early entry to the outdoor state finals.

Senior Tiger Ashton Hinkle moves down the runway in the men’s pole vault. Hinkle clears 11′ for second place.

Langford also placed second in one of his primary events. His mark in the discus went 20 feet further than any previous attempts from earlier in the season. This time Langford’s red ribbon toss allowed him to reach the 100 foot club at 103’ 8”.

Mansfield senior Jadelynn Wood was close to meeting her state standard in the 300m hurdles. The All-State hurdler from the 2022 season was within 0.72 seconds of the mark. Wood pushed hard in her heat to take second place in a time of 51.97.

Sophomore Austin Ruiz comes down in the men’s pole vault. Ruiz finished fifth in the event with a clearance of 10′.

Wood was the home team’s leading scorer with 31 points. She was third leg on two winning relays. She posted a trio of third place marks in three individual events along with the second place hurdle race.

Mansfield girls scored in 15 of 18 total events. Two of those non-scores were due to a coaching decision. Whiley, one of the area’s top sprinters, was shelved from the 100m and 200m dashes to rest her sore foot.

Of the 15 scoring events, the Lady Tigers took victory in four. Those included the 4x100m relay, 4x400m relay, discus, and high jump.

Laney Wood, Carter Whiley, Jadelynn Wood, and Azlynn Stover rounded the one lap 4x100m relay in 56.23 for the win. Stover and Wood joined Addison Stover and Trinity Triska in the first place 4x400m relay team. That grouping edged rival Waldron by 3 seconds.

Natalie Allison came over from softball to give Mansfield a boost in the long jump and triple jump. With limited practice time the senior went 13’ 9” in the long and 29’ 7” in the triple for a seven point Lady Tiger surge.

Sanderson, Skylynn Harris, Kaylee Ward, Brooklyn Adams, and Kaylie Lowery all came over from the softball diamond to bolster the Lady Tiger shot put team. The five all had marks inside the top 8 but only Sanderson and Harris were allowed to score per games committee rules.

Sanderson was second in the shot at 31’ 7.5”. Harris was third at 31’ 5.5”. Unofficially Ward would have finished fourth, Adams sixth, and Lowery eighth. The games committee set up the rules to allow only two scorers from each school.

The same five Mansfield throwers did similar good at the discus ring. Again, only two participants per school were allowed to score. That left Sanderson with the win. Ward took sixth at 78’ 5”. Adams, Lowery, and Harris followed in near consecutive order to round out the top 10.

Addison Stover, Raine Hecox, Trinity Triska, and Azlynn Stover took second in the 4x200m relay. They fell just 0.43 seconds shy of Mountainburg’s winning time of 2:04.01.

Laney Wood gathered with Azlynn Stover, Hecox, and Triska to take another second place in the 4x80m relay. Ashley Martin scored in her two distance races, the 1600m run and 3200m run. Saylor Steward, Summer Frazier, and Carissa Vaughan competed in the 200m, 400m, and 1600m respectively.

Austin jumped 10’ 0” in the men’s pole vault to score for the Tigers. He was fifth. Trey Powell also took fifth in the men’s 100m dash. His time of 11.61 seconds was near the 11.46 state qualifying mark.

Team results in the girls division had Waldron (105), Greenwood (87), Ozark (85), and Mena (60.5) in the top five behind Mansfield (128). Waldron (171.5) did win the boys division with Nashville (133.50), Greenwood (104), Mountainburg (47), and Dover (36) rounding out the top five.

Obituary – Ramona Lynn (Lamberth) Wright (1962-2023)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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5:07 pm

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Obituary – Ramona Lynn (Lamberth) Wright (1962-2023)

Ramona Lynn (Lamberth) Wright of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at her home. Ramona was born March 16, 1962 to Frank Willie Lamberth, Sr. and Treva (Tilley) Lamberth in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Ramona raised four children and played a huge role in their lives. She loved her kids and grandkids. Ramona loved the country life, watching John Wayne classics with her coffee, fishing and cooking tators for her kids. She could always find a bargain and enjoyed garage selling. The memories made with her loved ones will forever be treasured by each of them.

Ramona leaves behind to cherish her memory, her four children: Johnny Esmond Jr of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Crystal Esmond of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Jaclyn Alexander of Sapulpa, Oklahoma and Johnathon Esmond of Tulsa, Oklahoma. Granny will remain in the hearts of her five grandchildren: Trey Esmond, Alyssa Screechowl, Cierra Screechowl, Eamonn Esmond and Parker Williams. Ramona is also survived by her mother: Treva Lamberth of Fort Smith, Arkansas; sister of the heart, Kathy Renee of Tulsa, Oklahoma; two sisters: Lynn Best of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Lisa Baldwin of Fort Smith, Arkansas; two brothers: Willie Lamberth of Tulsa, Oklahoma and Darrel Jamison of Prue, Oklahoma. Ramona will be missed by all that knew her and the many lives she touched.

Ramona was preceded in death by her father, Frank Willie Lamberth, Sr and brother Jessie Lamberth.

A private memorial will be held at a later date. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas.

Miscount Leads To Unpresidented AAA Football Realignment

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Adam Hecox

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1:08 pm

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Miscount Leads To Unpresidented AAA Football Realignment

We’ve all done it before. You sit down and try to make a grocery list and you missed a key item. Sure enough, once you get home from the store you have entirely too much of one thing and are completely missing another. Unfortunately, that is what happened to areas schools during their last AAA rotation census. But this “oopsy” for football programs such as Mansfield, Magazine, Hackett, Paris, Charleston, Booneville, Greenwood, and Waldron is much bigger than merely forgetting to get butter.

In March of 2023, the AAA had an internal audit and found a whopper of a mistake. The format which is used by the AAA to determine the proper school numbers for alignments apparently had a glitch in the system which scrambled school populations with other schools. This set in motion an emergency meeting by the heads of the AAA and athletic directors from around the state. The solution was a chaotic mess that wound up being merciful to some athletic programs and a downright death penalty to others. Once the dust settled and all was finalized though, a new conference alignment format was formed. The alignments will go into effect at the beginning of the 2024 athletic season.

Mansfield will be moved from their home in the 3A-1 up into the treacherous 4A-7. This will place the Tigers football program against the likes of Arkadelphia, Malvern, Nashville, Ashdown, and Mena. “This is downright unacceptable”, said Mansfield’s newly appointed assistant coach, Bob Barker. “We leave our kids athletic careers in the hands of a centralized power to make fair and balanced decisions, but with the spin of a big wheel, this is what we get in return? The price is wrong on this move, way wrong”. The Tigers aren’t alone in their distastes for this impromptu shuffle either. The numbers for Booneville and Magazine were so messed up that their football programs had to be combined into one team which will rocket the schools into the 5A West. Now the “Rattlecats” will step on the gridiron with the likes of Shiloh Christian, Harrison, Prairie Grove, Farmington, Alma, Dardanelle, Clarkesville, and Pea Ridge. It’s long been said that Booneville and Magazine would eventually combine schools, but the move was still shocking to others. Lifelong Magazine football super fan, Clark Kent, stated “Anytime there’s trouble, us Magazine folks always have to take off our glasses, pull open our shirt, and go save the day. I guess we’ll have to do that every week in Booneville now”.

Other teams affected are Paris, Hackett, Greenwood, and Waldron. Paris and Hackett will fall to the 2A-4, which should pan out to be very beneficial for the Eagles and Hornets. The Greenwood Bulldogs days of playing larger schools as non-conference opponents though are over as they will now play them in conference play in the 7A West. That’s right, Greenwood will be in the mix with Fort Smith Southside, Springdale, Springdale Har-Ber, Fayetteville, Rogers, Rogers Heritage, Bentonville, and Bentonville West. The multi-State Championship Greenwood programs response to the news was simply “And your point is…?”. Possibly the most shocking move of them all though is the Waldron Bulldogs. The Bulldogs have been a staple in the 4A for as long as many can remember, but now they’ll be moving down into the 2A-3. That pits Waldorn against Mt. Ida, Dierks, Mineral Springs, Murfreesboro, Foreman, Poyen, and Lafayette County. Once the news broke, upcoming Bulldog senior, Wile E. Coyote said “We’re takin’ state baby. Mark it down right now, we’re takin’ state”. The only area school not affected by the shuffle will be the Charleston Tigers. That is because the AAA deemed Charleston as a cornerstone program of the 3A-1 and feared that any movement of the Tigers would cause an eventual irreversible warp in the space-time continuum thus placing the entire sport of football in jeopardy worldwide.

The miscount by was marginal at best, but the realignment is now set in stone. But what was the counts that pushed this chaotic realignment to start with? Well it was more than just a glitch. Mansfield’s count was off by just two students and a Ram 1500, Magazine by one scale, Booneville miscounted 16 of their 17 train horns, Greenwood did not mark down their business signs (which later started a war), Hackett and Paris just winged it, Charleston was off by a State Championship, and Waldron counted students on the opening day of deer season which left a lot of students lost in the woods. The football realignment process is supposed to get the final stamp of approval at noon on April, 1st 2023, also known as April Fool’s day.

RNN April Fool’s / #FakeNews

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