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.
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.
(RNN Sports Photo / Jim Best)
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.
Smith-Robinson to have a new look for the 2023 season.
The long-rumored town tall-tale of Smith-Robinson becoming a enclosed stadium is finally becoming a reality. Announced this week along with the construction of the new video-scoreboard, the athletic department made the decision to make the most substantial improvement to the stadium since having Chick-Fil-A sold near the Bulldog Foundation billboard.
The building on the exterior will look strikingly similar to the Anderson Fieldhouse in Bullhead, Arizona. “I did a search on Ask Jeeves! and was like, ‘Well I am copying that'” said a local architect on a condition of anonymity. The construction for the building has begun with a completion date before the Spring Football Game.
Funding for the build was provided by California based Silicon Valley Bank. Once the funds were secured through the FDIC, it was full steam ahead. The project has a working title of the “Dustin Dome” named after the yearly Award-Winning Athletic Director Dr. Dustin Smith. “This was a passion project of the late H.B. Stewart after he oversaw the construction of the arena that carries his namesake. We were looking in a Bankers Box of stuff with Ms. Skaggs and we found this drawing on Hardee’s napkin of how to enclose the Stadium. I felt like Nicholas Cage on National Treasure. Have you seen that movie? It was amazing the way they tried to find stuff on the Declaration of Independence. Just a complete Oscar Worthy performance.” Said a School Administrator whose name was withheld.
Local remodeling company Beshears Remodeling & Construction won the bid and was tasked with a tight timeline. “We went in thinking this was a cool idea but I am really sure we are going to be way overbudget and late. The track kids have gotten mad that we had our manlift where the High Jump was, but they have got to understand I gotta work. Their little hopping thing can wait.” Owner Zak Beshears said. “We found the plans on Etsy for a lot of the build, it was $75. You can find us on Facebook at Beshears Remodeling & Construction.”
The School Administrator speaking on the build said “My favorite scene was when they used the Lemon Juice ya know, then it didn’t show up so Jon Voight who is Nick Cages dad in the movie said ‘Use heat!’ so they breathed on it and the symbol for the Masons showed. To me that is a classic piece of Hollywood Cinema.”
Seating capacity is to remain the same once the final build is completed. When asked if the student section chants of “They need water!” and “Start The Buses!” would be louder the builder replied “The what? They chant at the other fans? That is wild.”
Completion of the project is slated for 11-ish on May 25th.
Elizabeth Ann Berggren Tabor was born in Parmer County, Texas on May 26, 1933, and left her earthly life on March 29th, at the glorious age of 89 years young.
She will be joined in heaven with her daughter, Melissa; her son, Jim Tabor; her parents, Leroy and Ruth Berggren; and her brothers, Scott, Dale, and Davy Berggren.
In 2007, she moved to Greenwood and built a house on Gracie Court. She very much enjoyed the neighbors, especially the neighborhood kids. She was a true Texan and loved her birth state, but enjoyed her years in Greenwood, near her family.
Cremation arrangements are under the direction of Roberts Funeral Home.
She is survived by her son, Mike Tabor of Greenwood; daughter, Melinda Mizell (Randy) of Greenwood; grandsons, Bill Mizell (Kelly) of Greenwood, Michael Tabor (Libby), Nic Tabor (Kelly) of Virginia; and great grandchildren, Avery, Mason, Chloe, Samuel, Bailey, Morgan, Isla, Campbell, and Riley.
Elizabeth will have a monument at Cross Cemetery in Greenwood and will be returning to her family home place in Farwell, Texas. A family held memorial service will be at a later date.
Paris Elementary School principal Lakaen Schluterman and her staff have announced the date for this year’s kindergarten graduation ceremony. The event is a popular one every year with both parents and members of the Paris community. This year’s ceremony will be held on May 18 at 6 p.m. at the Paris High School gymnasium.
The ceremony is an annual tradition in the Paris school district and is one of the best “feel good” moments of the entire school year. The symbolic acknowledgement of students passing to the next twelve year’s of their educations is a great event and is one that is enjoyed by all.
RNN will be on hand to cover this event. Photos of the graduates will be taken on the floor and made free of charge to anyone wishing to have copies.
More information on this event will be published as time draws near. In the meantime, mark your calendars, and we will see you on May 18 for this very special moment in our students’ lives!
In the financial world, stocks and stock-based mutual funds often get a lot of attention. And deservedly so, because they often form the core of a portfolio. But to help achieve your goals, you may also want to consider a broader array of investments — one of which may be a certificate of deposit (CD). As you may know, a CD earns interest on a lump sum for a designated period. You can purchase CDs whose maturities range from a few months to 10 or more years. Generally, the longer-term the CD, the higher the interest rate, although this isn’t always the case. In recent years, CD rates have been pretty low, reflecting the overall interest-rate environment. But now, as the Federal Reserve has repeatedly raised interest rates to combat inflation, CD rates are rising, too. In fact, one-year CDs can currently be found paying in the 5% range — a rate that hasn’t been seen in more than 15 years. Later in 2023, though, if the Fed eases up on rate hikes, or perhaps even starts reversing them, CD rates could fall again You can purchase a CD from a bank or buy a “brokered” CD from a financial services provider. The income you receive from a CD may be its main attraction, especially if the rates remain elevated for a while. But there’s another key advantage to owning CDs: They can help diversify a portfolio of stocks and stock mutual funds that are generally more susceptible to movements in the financial markets. A portfolio that contains CDs, as well as bonds and government securities, can help reduce the effects of market volatility. Keep in mind, though, that diversification can’t guarantee profits or prevent losses in a declining market. While adding individual CDs can be valuable, you might get a greater benefit from a more strategic approach known as laddering. You can build a CD ladder by buying a series of CDs that mature at different dates in the future — perhaps one month, three months, six months, nine months and 12 months out, or an even longer-term ladder of one to five years. In either case, as one CD matures, you can use the money if you need it or reinvest it to another “rung” on your ladder. If interest rates are up, the reinvestment option might be appealing, but if the available CD rates are lower than your maturing CDs, you could find better uses for your money. And you’d still have your longer-term CDs, possibly paying higher rates, working for you. You must evaluate whether a CD ladder and the securities held within it are consistent with your investment objectives, risk tolerance and financial circumstances. The amount of space occupied by CDs in your portfolio should depend somewhat on your stage of life. If you’re a long way from retirement, you may want to own a larger percentage of growth-oriented investments. But once you’re retired and getting more income from your portfolio becomes more important, you might find a greater need for CDs. In any case, CDs may prove useful to your overall financial strategy — so give them some thought. 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
TH Musgrove, 91 of Mansfield, Arkansas, died Thursday, March 30th, 2023. He was born November 28th, 1931 to Gertie and T.K. Musgrove in Waldron, AR. TH was a loving, devoted and generous husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
He was owner of Musgrove Drilling Company, a member of Mansfield First Baptist Church, and a Gideon. He was also a 50-year member of the Reid Lodge # 163 F & AM, a Shriner, and Amrita Grotto. He served as the director of the Arkansas Water Well Commission for several years. He was District Deputy Grand Master of the Western District. He also served as a member of the Mansfield City Council. He was the founding member of the Black Jack Mountain Racing Club and an avid motorcyclist. TH also served as a medic during the Korean War.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Betty Ann of Mansfield; his sons Bobby (Deborah) of Mansfield; Harold (Janet) of Mansfield and daughter, Elizabeth Mastin (Wendell) of Fort Smith; a daughter-in-law, Pam, eight grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and two soon-to-arrive great-great-grandchildren. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Gary, two brothers, five sisters, along with grandchildren and great-grandchildren that the Lord kept in Heaven.
TH was known by many as a kind-hearted, caring, never met a stranger, Christian man. He was someone that believed in the Lord Jesus and would talk about his Savior to everyone he met. One of his questions when talking to people was if they were a Christian. As a member of the Gideon’s prison ministry team, he helped lead many souls to the Lord. He told family every time they gathered that he prayed for them each night by name. He was a man that walked in his faith which led him on mission trips in Haiti and Guatemala to share the gospel and drill water wells.
Growing up, TH followed in his father’s footsteps in the family drilling business. If one saw him working on the rig with his sons around lunch time, TH would be holding a sandwich in one hand while wearing a glove on the other side to operate the drilling rig. The orange and blue rig that he drove to drilling sites was easily recognized by many in the area. Even after his retirement, TH still went to drill sites with his sons to give advice and enjoy being with family.
As TH grew older, his family continued to be the joy of his life. He always had a smile and a hug for each of his grandchildren. His heart grew more as each great-grandchild was born. He was awaiting the arrival of his great-great grandchildren when he passed.
Visitation will be held Sunday, April 2 from 5-7 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home in Mansfield, AR. Funeral services will be held on Monday, April 3 at 10 a.m. at First Baptist Church in Mansfield Burial will be held at Coop Prairie Cemetery with full military honors. Arrangements are under the direction of Martin Funeral Home of Mansfield.
Pallbearers will be Matthew Musgrove, Timothy Musgrove, Calvin Mastin, Wesley Musgrove, Jason Bates, Gary Hunt, Bob Mask, Michael Smith and Jackie Smith. Honorary pallbearers will be Tom Betti and Lewis Farrar.
Memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International and St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis TN 38105-1942.
Pursuing a dream at any age takes dedication and fortitude. But, for one Mansfield Middle School student, he’s making that dream a reality.
Gabe Haysmer developed an enthusiasm for boxing at an early age. His parents, Albert and Kristy, have nurtured and supported that passion. Currently, he is poised to compete across the bi-state area.
Pictured are Coach Albert Haysmer, Joseph York and Coach Terry Clark. York, 20, is headed to the mid-south Golden Glove in Memphis, TN.
He will join seven other members of the Fort Smith Boxing Club and travel to Augusta, AR, and Oklahoma City, OK to compete. Four, including Haysmer, will be boxing in the Arkansas State Junior Olympics on April 28 and 29.
Eight competitors, with Coaches Albert Haysmer and Terry Clark, who will be competing over the next few weeks in the bi-state area.
Albert Haysmer has joined the Coaching staff, alongside longtime Coach, Terry Clark. These coaches have spent countless hours volunteering their time to help the youth within the club achieve their dreams. In fact, that is the motto of the club, “Where Dreams are Made.”
Traveling with the competitors takes a great deal of resources, however. “When we travel, food and lodging costs add up,” shared Coach Albert Haysmer. The club operates on donations and support from businesses.
“We teach them how to responsibly deal with anger,” added Coach Albert Haysmer. It is a tool that is making the difference in the lives of teenagers who might otherwise be misguided.
All four competitors take the win in Augusta, AR!
The look of achievement and pride on the faces of young Gabe Haysmer and his teammates, it’s fair to say the program is a success.
If you, or your business would like to sponsor the club, or make a monatery donation, big or small, it would be extremely beneficial to these budding athletes.
For more information, contact Coach Terry at 479-226-6669 or Coach Haysmer at 479-207-0918.
As everyone likely already knows, visiting your doctor is important, especially when something is wrong. Even though the process of visiting them doesn’t sound too difficult in theory, many people struggle to do it when they need to.
There are several reasons why some people don’t visit their doctor as often as they should. We’re here to go over them as well as give some advice that should help you gain the confidence needed to plan a visit.
They Don’t Have the Money
One of the biggest reasons people avoid going to the hospital is the high expense of health care in this country. Even if you have good insurance, the cost of certain procedures might be way too high for someone to reasonably afford. This leaves people with no choice but to ignore it, which will only make the condition worse.
Unfortunately, there’s not much individuals can do about this other than vote for politicians who work toward fixing this issue. Outside of that, you can sign up for government medical programs or find companies to work for that offer great benefits.
They’re Embarrassed About What They Have
One problem that people have a lot more control over is the embarrassment of admitting that they have a problem. Certain conditions, like athlete’s foot or incontinence, can be embarrassing to admit that you have. It’s not always the doctors that people worry about when it comes to this issue either. Sometimes, it’s the fear of ridicule from friends, family, or even themselves.
Admitting that you have a problem isn’t easy, but your doctor will be the best person to talk to about these kinds of issues. For example, many people don’t know the most common mistakes to avoid with incontinence simply because they’ve never talked to a medical professional about it. Regardless of your condition, though, your doctor will be there to help and won’t make you feel bad for having it. If they do, you can find a new doctor.
They Don’t Think It’s That Important
The final reason why some people decide not to visit their doctor is that they don’t think it’s that important. While things like yearly checkups might seem like overkill, it’s the best way to ensure you’re still in good health. When it comes to personal health, prevention is the best way to fight off most issues.
Conditions like cancer and heart disease are much more maintainable if you catch them early. Finding out too late will limit your potential treatment options. So even if you feel fine, you should still try to go in once a year or so for a regular checkup. Be sure to tell your doctor about anything you might be experiencing while you’re there.
Starting a garden is always a good idea. You get to try out a relaxing new hobby and get some fresh air. Plus, it’s oh-so-satisfying to take that first crunchy bite of a vegetable that you grew yourself. However, there’s a difference between planting a small garden in a box versus taking care of an entire field of potential produce. Use these helpful tips for growing vegetables in a big garden if you’re working with a lot of space.
Using Good Soil
Soil quality is one of the most vital aspects of growing plentiful, healthy vegetables. It’s a good idea to have soil with some natural moisture that doesn’t feel too dry. You may have trouble planting crops if your soil is too dusty or compacted. You want soil that sticks when you apply pressure but easily breaks apart. Soil with natural elements such as broken leaves and ground bark helps farmers grow healthy crops.
Having Helpful Equipment
One helpful tip for growing vegetables in a big garden is to invest in anything that requires you to move around less. When you’re taking care of a large plot of land, working smarter instead of harder can save you a lot of time and hassle. We recommend investing in irrigation systems and timers that help supply steady watering to your plants. A UTV can make farming tasks easier by helping you transport things or plow fields before beginning a new harvest. Getting the right equipment for your big garden can make a significant difference.
Limiting Pesticides
There’s a lot of debate about using pesticides. Only a small percentage of the insects that visit your garden is harmful, but those unwanted visitors can cause plenty of damage. That said, many people don’t really like the idea of using pesticides on something we plan to eventually eat. A general piece of advice is that if you feel you must use insecticides, use them very sparingly and only apply them later in the day or evening. Many of the insects that may visit your garden in the early morning are beneficial insects and pollinators, and you don’t want your pesticides to remove them from the equation.
