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“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

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

By Sheri Hopkins
Lifestyle Contributor

Hello everyone! It’s about to start raining in the River Valley. On Wednesday, the 22nd, the circus will be coming to Mansfield. The big top will be at the high school. If you can make it out you will have a good time. They were here a couple years ago and I really enjoyed it. I’m a kid at heart.
Anytime you bring up the circus around Ronnie Black you will get to hear the story of the time him and Randy seen fat Franny Brown at the carnival. He says they would sneak in so they could see her. If you ask nicely, he will do his impression of her. I laugh every time he does it, just like it was the first time I saw him do it. He said Franny Brown would say “eat five whole chickens a day” and “roller skate with my husband every night”. He said then she would turn around and shake her behind and say, “sock it to me, sock it to me.” Talk about hilarious.
I’m sure we all have a funny circus or carnival story. I always went to them for the food of course. When my nephews, Jason and Michael Wagoner and their sister Kelly were kids, I used to go places with them all the time. We went to the carnival in Ft. Smith once and they had a “freak show”. We didn’t sneak in. We actually paid to get in and see freak boy and the fat man. Now keep in mind this was back in the late 70’s and you would never have a show like that today. Oh, except on TLC. So, we are in the show and the announcer says “see the fat man dance” as he holds his arms to the side and does circles with them. By the way, that’s how I dance. I could be a freak show. It’s hard to believe they had shows like that. Why would someone want to go see the bearded lady? Once you hit fifty you can look in the mirror and almost get the same show. Young people, when you get old you will put on all kinds of shows.
Jacob, me and the grands went to Silver Dollar City once and I fell in the parking lot. I mean on a flat surface and fell and skinned my leg up. Here comes this nice man running over to us trying to help me up and I’m thinking he will throw his back out and about that time Jacob reaches down and has me back on my feet. He acted like I was a rag doll. I told him I thought there was a lip in the pavement and he said “there was nothing on the pavement, you just fell on a flat surface!” He’s mean, he could have acted like for my feeling’s sake. I mean I thought he named the girl on his phone Sheri, not Siri and he wouldn’t even let me think that. He had to correct me.
I said all this to say ya’ll come out Wednesday the 22nd and watch the circus. They have tigers, clowns and a trapeze lady. Good show.
This week’s recipe comes from Sue Moore and it sounds delicious.
FARMERS CASSAROLE
3 cups frozen hash brown potatoes
3/4 cup pepperjack cheese, shredded
1 cup cooked ham, diced
1/4 cup chopped green onions
4 eggs beaten
1 12 oz. can evaporated milk
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, grease a 2 quart baking dish. Arrange hash browns evenly in the bottom of the pan. Sprinkle with pepperjack cheese, ham and onions. In a medium bown, mix the eggs, milk, pepper and salt. Pour the egg mixture on top of the potato mixture in the dish. Bake for 40-45 minutes in a pre-heated oven, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Let stand 5 minutes before serving. If you are not a ham person, you can also use sausage.

401(k) Door Opens for Small-Business Owners

Tammy Teague
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401(k) Door Opens for Small-Business Owners

Are you a business owner who has wanted to offer a retirement plan to your employees, but you’ve been stymied by the costs involved? If so, you may be interested to learn about new legislation that can help open the door to the same type of plan enjoyed by employees of large companies.
At the end of 2022, President Biden signed into law the SECURE 2.0 Act, which, among many other provisions, provides tax credits for business owners who want to open a 401(k) plan.
The tax credit was introduced in the original SECURE Act in 2019, but it’s been significantly increased in the updated laws. If you have 50 or fewer employees, you can now claim a startup credit covering 100% of the costs associated with opening and administering a 401(k) plan, up to $5,000 for each of the first three years of your plan. To qualify for this credit, your business must have least one employee — besides yourself, if you’re the owner — who earns less than $150,000 a year. And you’re eligible for the credit even if you join a multiple employer plan (MEP), which, as you may know, is designed to encourage smaller businesses to share the administrative duties involved in offering tax-advantaged retirement plans.
SECURE 2.0 also introduces an employer contribution credit, which may entitle your business to a tax credit based on employee matching or profit-sharing contributions. This credit is capped at $1,000 per employee and phases out gradually over five years. It’s also subject to further reductions for businesses with 51 to 100 employees.
Another SECURE 2.0 provision deals with Roth matching and non-elective contributions. Effective this year, employees with 401(k) plans, along with those covered by 403(b) plans for nonprofit groups and 457(b) plans for government employees, can choose to have matching or non-elective contributions made as Roth (after-tax) contributions. Before this change, employers had to make these matching and non-elective contributions on a pre-tax basis. Of course, you’ll need to communicatee to your employees that Roth matching or non-elective contributions count as taxable income. The advantage is that your employees can ultimately withdraw the Roth contributions and earnings tax free, provided they meet certain conditions.
In looking ahead, SECURE 2.0 contains other options to make it easier for business owners to offer retirement plans. Starting in 2024, if you don’t already provide a retirement plan, you can offer a “starter” 401(k) or “safe harbor” 403(b) plan to employees who meet age and service requirements. These plans have lower contribution limits than a typical 401(k) or 403(b) and you can’t make matching or nonelective contributions. Consequently, a starter plan may be quite attractive to businesses with few employees.
And beginning in 2025, 401(k) and 403(b) plans will be required to automatically enroll eligible participants, although employees can choose to opt out. Also, exceptions will be made for businesses with 10 or fewer employees and for businesses less than three years old.
The ability to offer a retirement plan is a great asset for business owners who want to attract and keep good employees. And the SECURE 2.0 Act may make it easier for you to achieve this goal.
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

Obituary – Casie LaRae Akins (1977-2023)

Tammy Teague
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Obituary – Casie LaRae Akins (1977-2023)

Casie LaRae Akins of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life, Wednesday, March 15, 2023 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Casie was born July 7, 1977 in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Larry Leon Taff and Sandra Faye (Franklin) Murray. She was 45 years old.

Casie loved to fish. She enjoyed any time she could drop in a line. Casie was a RN and serving patients was her passion. She wanted to help her community and even in death she saved lives. Casie was a quiet woman but she loved big, especially her family.

Casie leaves behind to cherish her memory, one daughter Daisy Akins of Fort Smith, Arkansas, her mother, Sandra Murray and husband Johnny, her father Larry L. Taff all of Waldron, Arkansas, one brother Matthew Taff of Mena, Arkansas and her grandfather Junior Franklin of Waldron, Arkansas. Casie will be missed by all who knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including, two nieces and one nephew, a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and many friends she loved dearly.

Casie was preceded in death by one brother Heath Taff, her grandmother Ramona Franklin and uncle Jerry Newberry.

Casie’s graveside life celebration will be 11:00 a.m., Saturday, March 18, 2023 at the Hon Cemetery in Hon, Arkansas with Rev. Marty Gilbert officiating. Interment will follow.

Casie’s pallbearers will be Tim Franklin, Tommy Franklin, Marty Gilbert, Clay Gilbert and Doug Harrison.

Casie’s visitation will be Friday, March 17, 2023 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home.

AGFC angler survey collecting data to better serve Arkansans

Tammy Teague
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AGFC angler survey collecting data to better serve Arkansans

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission is wrapping up an online survey to learn more about licensed anglers in The Natural State, and time is running out to offer your insight into the future of Arkansas’s fisheries management. 

The AGFC conducts a resident angler survey every five years to learn more about the many different anglers who make up Arkansas’s fishing culture. For this year, a special two-pronged approach was initiated to learn more about ways to be more efficient in collecting this data. The first portion, which was initiated in February, was a closed survey sent to randomly selected license holders to complete online. The second portion, which is currently in progress, is an open invitation survey that is available online for anyone with an interest in providing feedback.

Responses to the survey will be kept confidential and no respondents will be identified with any feedback they offer. However, participants will be asked to provide a CID number (found on their license) and their home ZIP code to confirm that they are Arkansas resident license holders.

Results from past surveys have been used to direct additional efforts in many fishing amenities, particularly many new bank-angling accesses and improvements for bodies of water that accommodate kayaks, canoes and other small watercraft. They also have been used to identify trends in angling efforts and motivations for many Arkansans, which ultimately leads to better understanding of how to recruit the next generation of anglers and conservationists in The Natural State.

To begin the survey, click the following link: https://agfc1.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3gfQHlxHN1BQgHY

Hogs Close Out Illinois, Advance to Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Resident News Network
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Hogs Close Out Illinois, Advance to Second Round of NCAA Tournament

Special Note: RNN Sports would like to thank our Northwest Arkansas contributing photographer, John D. James, for helping secure photos special to RNN Sports from photographer, Craven Whitlow. Thanks to you both!

DES MOINES, IA – The 8th-seeded Arkansas Razorbacks took down the 9th-seeded Fighting Illini 75-65 in the First Round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament on Thursday afternoon. Arkansas used a 10-0 second half run and then held off a late Illinois run to advance to the NCAA Second Round to take on defending national champion and No. 1 seed Kansas on Saturday.

Illinois scored first but Arkansas answered with an 8-0 run, never surrendering the lead, and holding the lead for the final 37:15.

Arkansas’ first half defense was key in the win, holding the Illini to just 8-of-29 shooting (27.6%) to help build a 10-point lead at the break. Nine Illinois turnovers led to 13 Arkansas points with Anthony Black and Devo Davis each recording a pair of steals. While the Hogs were shining on the defensive end, Ricky Council IV was making the difference at the free throw line. Council sank 5-of-6 from the charity stripe and scored 10 total points in the first half.

Illinois made two runs in the second half. Frist, the Illini used an 8-9 run to get to within nine (55-46) with 8:05 left.  Later, Illinois trimmed the Arkansas lead to five (62-57) with 2:39 left. Council, however, iced the game himself, scoring the next six Arkansas points to put the game out of reach.

Image Special to RNN Sports / Craven Whitlow

The Razorbacks’ free throw shooting in the second half sealed the game as the Hogs went 15-for-17 with Council going 6-of-6.

Council led Arkansas with 18 points, including 11-of-12 from the free throw line, to go with a team-high 10 rebounds for his first double-double as a Razorback and third for his career. Davis chipped in 16 points and Black 12. Jordan Walsh scored six points and had four rebounds with three steals but was an amazing +22.

Arkansas will face top seed and #4/5 Kansas in the second round on Saturday (Mar. 18). The time and TV station will be announced at a later time.

FIRST HALF: Arkansas: 36 – Illinois: 26

• Illinois scored first but Arkansas answered with an 8-0 run and never surrendered the lead.

• Arkansas led by as many as 14 (34-20) with 3:19 left.

• Arkansas only has two assists but shot 42.4% from the field. The Razorbacks held Illinois to 27.6% shooting.

• Ricky Council IV had seven rebounds and Kamani Johnson five as Arkansas outrebounded the Illini, 26-16.

• Council, who was 5-of-6 at the line and hit the Hogs’ lone 3-pointer, led Arkansas with 10 points.

• Terrence Shannon Jr., led Illinois with eight points.

SECOND HALF: Arkansas: 37 – Illinois: 37

• Arkansas shot just 33.3% from the field in the second half, but was 15-of-17 at the line to seal the win.

• Makhi Mitchell had seven points and six rebounds in the second half.

• Davonte Davis, who only played 9:37 in the first half due to foul trouble. However, he played all 20 minutes of the second half and scored 10 points, making 2-of-4 from 3-point range.

• Illinois shot 52.7% from the field, but only made two more field goals than Arkansas (12 to 10).

GAME NOTES

• Arkansas’ starting lineup was Anthony Black – Nick Smith Jr. – Davonte Davis – Ricky Council IV – Kamani Jhnson for the second time. Arkansas used that lineup in the SEC Tournament win over Auburn.

• Illinois won the tip.

• Illinois’ Coleman Hawkins scored the first points of the game at 19:03. Davonte Davis scored the first points for Arkansas, a layup at 17:43.

• Makhi Mitchell was the first Razorback sub.

• This was the first time Arkansas had ever beaten Illinois. The Illini won the previous five meetings (1949, 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004).

• Arkansas is 6-1 all-time versus current Big 10 teams in the NCAA Tournament.

• Arkansas is 49-34 all-time in the NCAA Tournament, including a 19-8 record in first round games.

• This is the first time since 1996, ’95 and ’94 that the Razorbacks have won three straight NCAA openers.

• Anthony Black had one steal, giving him 66 for the season, which is a program record by a Razorback freshman.

• Eric Musselman is 7-2 as head coach at Arkansas in the NCAA Tournament. Overall, he is 9-5 as a collegiate coach in the NCAA and is 24-12 in all postseason games (conference tourneys, CBI, NCAA).

• Ricky Council has made 155 free throws, three shy of the Arkansas single-season top 10.

• Arkansas had four blocked shots and have 177 from the season to rank 7th and five shy of #6.

For more­­ information on Arkansas Men’s Basketball, follow @RazorbackMBB on Twitter.

Note to Our Readers: The preceding story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Mike Cawood.

Razorbacks Defeat LA Tech 69-47 to Advance to Second Round of Women’s NIT Tournament

Resident News Network
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Razorbacks Defeat LA Tech 69-47 to Advance to Second Round of Women’s NIT Tournament

FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas women’s basketball team (22-12) defeated Louisiana Tech (19-13) in game in which the Razorbacks led wire-to-wire to cruise to a 69-47 victory in the first round of the Postseason WNIT. Arkansas held the Lady Techsters to just three points in the first quarter, a season-low defensively in a quarter, which set the tone for the Razorbacks in the victory. In a game where Arkansas led by as many as 23 points, Chrissy Carr led the way with 17 points. Samara Spencer also had a great night to capture her second career double-double with 14 points and a career-high 11 assists. The Razorbacks are now 8-0 in opening round Postseason WNIT games.

Arkansas’ first nine points came off three 3-pointers, as Arkansas got off to a 9-2 lead. LA Tech was empty on their first four possessions but converted on their fifth off a jumper, which would be their lone field goal of the quarter. Arkansas went on a 5-0 run, and at the media timeout with 4:45 left in the first quarter, the Razorbacks led 11-2. Out of the media timeout, Arkansas was held in a scoring drought for nearly four minutes, but luckily held LA Tech scoreless for over six minutes during that period. After going 0-for-6 from the field, Makayla Daniels knocked down a 3-pointer. Arkansas led 15-3 at the end of the first quarter, while holding LA Tech 1-for-15 for 7 percent shooting from the field. Three points is also the least amount of points Arkansas has given up in a quarter this season.

The Razorbacks kept rolling and started the quarter on a 4-0 run. After 8.5 minutes blanked from the field, LA Tech made a basket and followed that up with another layup. Saylor Poffenbarger knocked down a 3-pointer, Arkansas’ fifth of the game, but then LA Tech went on a 10-2 run, while the Razorbacks were held in a scoring drought for over two minutes. Arkansas led 24-17 with less than five minutes left in the quarter. Maryam Dauda dug the Razorbacks out of the hole with a jumper to start a 9-0 run and followed that up with a layup off a pass from Carr, who then knocked down a 3-pointer on Arkansas’ next possession. LA Tech scored two straight baskets, but Carr made two freebies before the half, as Arkansas led 35-21 at the half. Arkansas had 12 assists on 12 baskets in the first half.

LA Tech got on the board first in the second half with an and-1 and followed that up with a 3-pointer to start the quarter on a 6-0 run. Dauda got the Razorbacks on the board in the second half with two free throws, but Arkansas was still searching for their first field goal of the quarter. With less than five minutes left in the quarter, Spencer drove to the basket for a layup, but LA Tech responded with one of their own. Carr then drilled a 3-pointer on her first miss thanks to a big offensive board by Daniels. With less than two minutes left in the quarter, Arkansas led 46-37. Arkansas held LA Tech empty on their next three possessions, as Arkansas held a 48-37 edge going into the fourth quarter.

Arkansas came up empty on its first two possessions in the fourth quarter, but Carr delivered with a triple. Erynn Barnum then got to work, delivering three of the Razorbacks’ next four baskets. With a 6-0 run, LA Tech took a timeout, as Arkansas led, 59-40, with 6:28 left in the game. The Lady Techsters went on a 4-0 run, but Spencer found Barnum under the basket for another layup. The Razorbacks closed the game on an 8-3 run and outscored the Lady Techsters 21-10 in the final quarter. Arkansas earned the 69-47 victory.

HOG HIGHLIGHTS

  • Spencer was dominant on all areas of the floor with her second career double-double, doing so with 14 points and a career-high 11 assists. She also added six boards and a block in 34 minutes played
  • Spencer’s 11 dimes is also tied for the most assists delivered in a WNIT game by a Razorback. Her double-double in points and assists is her second of the season, marking the first Hog to have a double-double in points and assists since 2016-17 when Jailyn Mason did so
  • Carr led the game with 17 points with four 3-pointers and going 5-for-6 from the free throw line. She also added five boards
  • Barnum delivered 14 points off 7-of-12 shooting with six boards, three assists and a block
  • Poffenbarger registered 11 defensive rebounds and three assists. She now has 204 defensive rebounds on the season, becoming the first Razorback to ever log 200+ defensive boards in a season
  • All 12 players saw the floor, with the bench recording 16 points. Dauda was 3-for-3 from the field to finish with eight points, while Jersey Wolfenbarger had six points, three rebounds and two blocks
  • Rylee Langerman did great things on the floor, adding four boards and a block
  • Arkansas is now 8-0 in WNIT opening round games
  • The Razorbacks were 13-for-15 for 86.7 percent from the free throw line
  • Arkansas’ 22 wins is the most since 2019-20 when that team had 24

UP NEXT

Arkansas will play Stephen F. Austin in the second round of the Postseason WNIT. The game is set for Monday, March 20 at 7 p.m. at Bud Walton Arena.

Note to Our Readers: The preceding story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas, Office of Communications, Kylie Magar.

Arkansas Opens Women’s NIT Tournament Tonight vs Louisiana Tech

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Arkansas Opens Women’s NIT Tournament Tonight vs Louisiana Tech

FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas women’s basketball team (21-12, 7-9 Southeastern) has qualified for its fifth straight postseason tournament, as the Razorbacks will host Louisiana Tech (19-12, 12-8 Conference USA) in the first round of the Postseason WNIT. This marks the Razorbacks’ eighth WNIT appearance in program history (since the Postseason WNIT was created in 1998), as well as 26th postseason berth. Arkansas’ game versus the Lady Techsters is set for Thursday, March 16 for a 7 p.m. tipoff at Bud Walton Arena. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network+. Tickets are available to be purchased, $5 for adults and $3 for children.

GAME INFORMATION

Date: Thursday, March 16

Time: 7 p.m.

Opponent: Louisiana Tech

Location: Bud Walton Arena

Watch: SECN+

Listen: Razorback Sports Network from Learfield

STORYLINES

  • Arkansas received the automatic qualifying bid to the WNIT as the SEC’s highest finisher among teams not chosen for the NCAA Tournament
  • This first-round matchup between Arkansas and LA Tech marks the fourth game of the series and one in which the Razorbacks trail in, 0-3. Arkansas hasn’t played the Lady Techsters since 1983
  • The WNIT appearance marks the program’s eighth appearance, as well as 26th postseason berth. When including WNIT, NWIT and AIAW tournaments, this is Arkansas’ 13th non-NCAA postseason tournament
  • In the Mike Neighbors era, this is his fifth postseason appearance with Arkansas (three NCAA Tournaments including 2020 and now two WNITs)
  • Only three schools in the SEC have qualified for postseason tournaments in each of the past five seasons with Arkansas being one of them. Tennessee and South Carolina are the other two
  • The last time Arkansas made the WNIT in 2019, the Razorbacks hosted three games and made it to the third round. Arkansas defeated Houston (88-80 in OT) and UAB (100-52) before losing to TCU (82-78) in all games played in Fayetteville
  • Arkansas is coming off a quarterfinal appearance at the SEC Tournament for the fourth time in the last five seasons. The Razorbacks defeated Missouri, 85-74, in the second round, but fell to No. 1, eventual SEC Champion South Carolina, 93-65, in the quarterfinals
  • Arkansas’ win over the Tigers in the SEC Tournament marked the eighth SEC Tournament feat in the last six years
  • The Razorbacks are 21-12, which marked the program’s 22nd 20-win season, third under Neighbors
  • Arkansas finished the SEC slate 7-9 to come in eighth in the league. Historically for the program, seven wins is tied for the fourth most wins in SEC play. Only three other seasons have the Razorbacks had more wins in conference play, as Neighborsboasts two of the program’s four winning seasons in league games
  • The team started the season 13-0 and finished the non-conference slate at 13-2, with its win total leading the country for majority of the non-conference season
  • Erynn Barnum earned a spot on the All-SEC Second Team, while Saylor Poffenbarger was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team
  • Barnum leads the team in scoring with 15.7 points. Her .558 field goal percentage is third in the SEC. She surpassed 1,000 points in her career and became the 18th Razorback to join the 1,000 points/500 rebound club
  • Barnum was one of 10 candidates for the Katrina McClain Award, given to the best power forward in the country
  • Samara Spencer is the second leading scorer with 14.2 points per game and leads the team in assists with 138. Her 4.3 assists per game is fifth in the SEC
  • Makayla Daniels leads the team in steals with 54 and averages 13.0 points per game
  • Daniels keeps moving up in career top 10-20 lists for the program, sitting at No. 12 in points (1,405), No. 4 in career starts (118), No. 8 in career 3-pointers (169) and No. 14 in career assists (305)
  • Chrissy Carr logs 11.8 points per game and leads the squad with 77 3-pointers
  • Poffenbarger leads the team in rebounding with 6.7 per game and has 37 blocks. She is now the record holder for single-season defensive rebounds with 193
  • The team is second in least turnovers committed per game in the SEC with 13.7 per game
  • Arkansas gets to the line 23.96 times per game, which is second in the conference and sixth in the country. The Razorbacks’ 15.73 makes from the free throw line per game is second in the SEC and 13th in the NCAA
  • Arkansas leads the SEC in 3-point attempts per game (27.2), which is 10th in the country, and No. 2 in 3-pointers per game (8.2) in the league

SCOUTING LOUISIANA TECH

  • The Lady Techsters finished the season 19-12 and 12-8 in C-USA play to finish fifth in the league
  • Lonoke, Arkansas native Keiunna Walker leads the Lady Techsters with 17.9 points per game and 34 steals.  Walker is an All-C-USA First Team selection and All-Defensive Team honoree
  • Anna Larr Roberson leads LA Tech on the boards with 6.5 per game, while also averaging double digits with 12.7 points per game. Larr Roberson was named to the All-C-USA Second Team
  • The Lady Techsters’ leader in assists is Salma Bates with 109 (3.5 APG) and Mackenzie Wurm has a team’s most blocks with 45
  • LA Tech is coming off a 64-54 loss to UTEP in the C-USA Quarterfinals
  • Brooke Stoehr leads the Lady Techsters in her seventh season at the helm, going into Thursday’s game with 100+ wins at LA Tech and nearly 200 in her career
  • Stoehr has led her teams to two conference championships and now seven postseason appearances, including two in the NCAA, four in the WNIT and one in the WBI

HISTORY AGAINST THE LADY TECHSTERS

  • Arkansas trails LA Tech in the series, 0-3, with this being the fourth game of the series, first in 40 years, taking place Thursday
  • The last time these two teams met was in 1983, resulting in a 75-52 loss in Fayetteville. The other two games were In January 1983 (74-34 loss in Ruston) and 1978 (82-28 loss in Ruston)

LAST TIME OUT

  • Arkansas went 1-1 at the SEC Tournament to make it to the quarterfinals for the fourth time in the last five seasons
  • The Razorbacks dropped its quarterfinal matchup to No. 1 South Carolina (who went on to win the tournament and clinch the No. 1 overall seed in the NCAA Tournament), 93-66. In the loss, Poffenbarger registered 22 points and four assists, while Spencer had 16 points and three assists. Daniels recorded 12 points
  • The Razorbacks earned an 85-74 win over Missouri in the second round of the SEC Tournament. Arkansas was down by 11 with less than a minute left in the third quarter, but charged on a 16-0 run late in the fourth quarter to earn the victory
  • In that game vs. Missouri to claim the 10th straight win over the Tigers, Carr logged a career-high 34 points for #34 off 11-of-14 from the field, 6-of-8 from 3-point, while Spencer logged 19 points, five rebounds and four assists. Daniels added 17 points and Poffenbarger pulled down 11 rebounds

WNIT HISTORY

  • Arkansas has played in the WNIT/NWIT/AIAW 12 times, with this year marking the program’s 13th appearance
  • The Razorbacks are 16-6 in the WNIT with seven appearances, 4-2 in the NWIT with two appearances and 3-3 in the AIAW Tournament with three appearances
  • Arkansas is a perfect 7-0 in the first round of the WNIT
  • The team’s last appearance in the WNIT came in 2019, where Arkansas made it to the third round. Arkansas defeated Houston (88-80 in OT) and UAB (100-52) before losing to TCU (82-78) in all games played in Fayetteville. The program used the WNIT as a jump starter in which the team went on to qualify for three straight NCAA Tournaments
  • Arkansas won the WNIT in 1999 with its 67-64 win over Wisconsin in the championship game to break a Bud Walton Arena attendance record at 14,163, which is now the fifth best attendance in WNIT history
  • Past WNIT champions are programs that have fared well in the previous years. South Dakota State (2022) is now an NCAA Tournament team along with Arizona (2019), No. 1 seed Indiana (2018), Michigan (2017) and UCLA (2015)

UPCOMING

The winner of Thursday’s game will move on to the second round to face the winner of Texas State vs. Stephen F. Austin. Second round games will take place from March 18 to 21.

Note to Our Readers: The previous story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kylie Magar.

SR Lady Tigers Turn Little Mansfield Into A Big Deal In 2023

Adam Hecox
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SR Lady Tigers Turn Little Mansfield Into A Big Deal In 2023

Sometimes people look solely at the colors of wins and losses. Of course, that is the picture that is seen at the end of each season. But if you want the real picture, you have to look at the consistency of those W’s and L’s over a period of years. It takes time for the art of a program to become great. Rome wasn’t built in a day and the Sistine Chapel wasn’t painted overnight. The 2023 Mansfield Lady Tigers basketball team did not win the State Championship gold, but boy did they ever add some other serious colors to the basketball gallery.

The Mansfield Lady Tigers and their 2023 2A-4 District Championship.

In 2023, the Mansfield Lady Tigers brushed in a Bill Frye Invitational Championship, Booneville Classic Runner-Up, Co-Conference Championship, District Championship, Regional Runner-Up, and a State Final Four appearance onto their canvas en route to a 29-5 overall record. Mansfield was able to do it all on the court as the team played as one smooth unit in victory and in loss. From high-scoring games to nail-biters, you could tell that the Lady Tigers would bow down to no one. The Lady Tigers games against 2A-4 newcomers, Hector, were definitely must see basketball as the programs split regular season games and championships alike. If the Lady Tigers were looking for a rival in 2023, they definitely found it in the Lady Wildcats. Although they were not victorious in their State Championship goal, Mansfield’s final loss came to the eventual 2A State Champions themselves, Mount Vernon-Enola.

The Lady Tigers hustling down the court while at the State Tournament.

With all of that being looked at in retrospect, Mansfield did not have a season to thumb your nose at, especially when you consider that the team consisted of only four seniors. Seniors Skylynn Harris, Natalie Allison, Brooklyn Adams, and Seven Sanderson led the way to Mansfield’s immaculate masterpiece in 2023, but that’s nothing new to them. In their three-year senior high careers, the Lady Tigers “Fantastic Four” has accumulated one Conference Championship, two Conference Co-Championships, two District Championships, one District Runner-Up, one Regional Championship, one Regional Runner-Up, and three straight State Tournament bids. As end-of-season personal awards flowed in, Natalie Allison ended up with an All-State Tournament and All-Conference while Seven Sanderson earned All-Conference. Although they were not awarded individual accolades, Skylynn Harris and Brooklyn Adams on court presence could not be ignored. Adams face to face defense was spot on while Harris’s rebounds and three-pointers closed out many games for the Lady Tigers in 2023.

Coach Bowman and Lady Tigers’ Fantastic Four.

The Lady Tigers will lose their “Fantastic Four” to graduation therefore the Mansfield art gallery must be complete, right? Not by a long shot. The Lady Tigers haven’t gone to three straight State Tournaments by rebuilding. No, they merely reload. Mansfield will look to return their “Junior Juggernauts” who, like their senior counterparts, know a thing or two about winning. 2023 Lady Tiger starters Kynslee Ward (All-State & All-Conference), Alyson Edwards (All-Conference), and Harlie Fuller (All-Conference) are assured to keep the momentum of the program going. The trio by themselves proved their worth in 2023 as they drew the undivided focus of every team the Lady Tigers faced. They will not be alone in the 2023-24 season through. Junior, Raine Hecox, along with sophomores Trinity Triska and Meghan Emery showed opponents what serious defense looks like when closing out games this year and will provide vital roles in next season’s games. Mansfield might lose some size with the loss of Allison, Sanderson, and Harris but they will still have a powerful backboard game with sophomore Kaylie Lowery and all-star freshman Kaylee Ward (All-State).

Top left: Brooklyn Adams / Bottom left to right: Trinity Triska, Harlie Fuller, Skylynn Harris, and Kynslee Ward

“The 2023 season has definitely been one to remember,” said Head coach Ethan Bowman. “Ending with a 29-5 record, the Bill Frye Invitational Championship, Co-Conference Champions, District Champions, Regional Runner-Ups, and making it all the way to the State Final Four before losing to the eventual State Champion (Mount Vernon-Enola) makes me very proud of all of these girls. They continued to work hard throughout the long season which allowed us to take another big step forward in the development of our program. We had an exceptional group of seniors that will be dearly missed next season. We have high expectations for our program and to continue to play at a high level and continue to move forward to get better. We’ll work extremely hard during the off-season and pre-season as we transition toward the 2023-24 season. I’d like to thank everyone in the Mansfield School district and community for the overwhelming support they showed our girls this past season. Myself and the team as a whole noticed it and it was greatly appreciated”.

Coach Bowman takes the last cut of the net after winning the District Championship

The key to this year’s success and any future successes of the Lady Tigers basketball program is cohesiveness. The Lady Tigers even advertised their cohesiveness this year with their warm-up shirts stating “We, Not Me”. Nearly every player on the 2023 squad played together from grade school to now. You’d need a calculator to add up all of the championships this group has earned each and every year since picking up a basketball. That alone makes the 2023 Lady Tigers one of the most overall successful teams in Mansfield Lady Tiger basketball history. Although the 2023 season ended with a loss, there are many many more wins ahead of the Lady Tigers and the overall goal will remain the same. Paint the state RED, be the best there is, and bring home a 2A State Championship.

!!! WE NOT ME !!!

How To Pursue a Career in Law Enforcement

Resident News Network
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How To Pursue a Career in Law Enforcement

Despite the change in public opinion in recent years, plenty of young people seek a job in law enforcement. It’s hard to blame them. The pay and benefits are decent, and you won’t have to worry about your job getting outsourced. The inevitability of advanced robots might change that a bit, but we are still a long time from that happening.

Either way, a job as a public defender is a good option for many people. If you want to pursue a career in law enforcement, though, there are a few things you’ll need to do first, and we’re here to show you how to do them.

Meet the Minimum Requirements

Depending on the state or individual precinct you apply to, you must be 18 or 21 years old to become a cop. You must also be a U.S. citizen with a valid driver’s license. If you don’t yet meet these requirements, you can work to meet them in the future.

However, if you’ve ever committed a felony, you can never become a police officer. Some minor offenses could also bar you from this career path, but felonies are never allowed, so keep that criminal record squeaky clean.

Get the Right Education

As a baseline, all future law officers must either have a high school diploma or a GED. Associate’s or bachelor’s degrees are sometimes preferred and will help your chances, but typically aren’t required.

A college degree of some form is necessary if you want to become something more than a simple officer. To reach detective or work for the government, you need to have a degree in some form of law enforcement to stand a chance.

Pass the Entrance Exam

One thing to note is that pursuing a career in law enforcement isn’t as simple as applying for and getting the job. First, you need to pass the enforcement entrance exam. These tests vary from district to district, so the rules for passing might differ, but once you pass, you have to make it through the police academy.

Graduate From the Academy

The academy is where you’ll receive all of your essential training. From learning about the various criminal statutes to firearm training, you’ll do it all here. This is also when you’ll learn about all the gear every officer needs while on patrol.

Despite all of your hard work up until this point, if you don’t make it through the academy, you won’t become a police officer. Fortunately, you can try again later, but it still won’t be easy, so you’ll need to take the time to dedicate yourself to making it through.

Timepiece: Small Town Arkansas

Tammy Teague
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Timepiece: Small Town Arkansas

By Dr. Curtis Varnell

A winding road, a beautiful drive, and a million-dollar view accompanies the drive north from Clarksville to the small town of Oark.  Nestled in the Ozark mountains and bordered by the scenic Mulberry River, it is the epitome of small-town Arkansas.  The town meanders along Arkansas highway 215; a scattered house here and there, a post office, a small school, and the famous Oark Café.  A visit to the café alone is worth the trip.  Built in 1890, it is the oldest continuous operation store in Arkansas.  Stepping inside is a step into history.  The building has the original floors, walls, and ceilings and is bedecked with old shelving and scattered tables.  Like stores of the past, they serve a little of everything including groceries, camping supplies, hunting and fishing license, and even serve as a check-in station during hunting season.  The Café offers home cooked food with everyone favorite home-made pies.

A lesser known area attraction is the “Tri-Centennial Tree”- an ancient southern red oak tree located in front of the local school.  The tree is over 300 years old and is commemorated by an historic marker.

With a population of 43, Oark has had a difficult time keeping open the local school.  Even with bussing, the school population fell below the magical state requirement of 350 students in k-12.  In small towns, virtually everything is centered around activities in the school.  Athletics, school plays, summer activities, and even social gatherings occur within the schools and a town loses its identity when the schools are closed and consolidated with larger districts.  Like many isolated districts in the mountainous area of Arkansas, kids face several hours’ travel, often on hazardous roadways, when they consolidate.  

Many of the small mountain communities face this same difficulty.  They wish to keep their schools open, their communities vibrant, and their towns alive.  Oark, realizing other small districts faced the same difficulty found a unique approach.  In 2004, Oark along with the Kingston School District, merged with Jasper with each town maintaining their own campuses but with a central administrative staff and office.  Deer, Mount Judea, St. Paul, Hartford, and other small districts followed suit. 

Many of the teachers in these districts are people who grew up in the region or who love small-town life.  For the schools to succeed, it took a lot of work on their part because, even though a small district, they still had to offer the same courses and opportunities for the students that were offered by larger schools.  Many of the teachers went back to school to obtain multiple accreditations so a smaller staff could still offer the required courses.  The teacher I worked with taught music, science, and was the gifted/talented teacher.  A delicate balancing act, she was exceptional at all three.

Lunch time at the Oark store and I am enjoying a huge slice of apple pie and ice cream along with my coffee.  Enjoying the hum of conversation around me; I hear hunting stories, the problems with this year’s hay crop, and local politics. Hearing a rattle on the porch, I am astonished as I look out.  A huge hog has wondered across the front of the store and is meandering down the street.  “There’s a loose pig out there wondering down the street,” I exclaim.  The clerk barely raised his head, “Oh, that’s just the town pig.  He wonders around like that all the time.  It’s ok, he’s just a big pet.”  No-one else in the store acted surprised at all.

Only in small town Arkansas!!!

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