Resident News Network

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

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2:22 am

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.

How To Pursue a Career in Law Enforcement

Lifestyle

Resident News Network

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4:23 pm

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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

Lifestyle

Tammy Teague

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11:04 pm

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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!!!

Waldron School Board Meets in Regular Session

News

Tammy Teague

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10:17 pm

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Waldron School Board Meets in Regular Session

The regular monthly meeting of the Waldron School Board was held in the Central Office Building Monday, March 13, 2023, at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were Clay Woodall, Angela Hunsucker, Mac Davis and Konnor McKay. Board member Tammye Sherrill was not present. Others present were Superintendent Daniel Fielding, Misty Owens, Kim Solomon, Chris Lipham, Ryan Walker, Kristi Sigman, Josh Atchley, Tonya Cluck, Zack Taylor, Toni Dozier, Cheyenne Smith and Randi Hickman.

President Woodall called the meeting to order at 6:31p.m. and welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Mr. Konnor McKay began the meeting with a word of prayer.

Angela Hunsucker led the Pledge of Allegiance.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to add item G. Approve Invoices to Plumb Construction, to the consent agenda items. Motion carried 4:0

A motion was made by Konnor McKay and seconded by Mac Davis to approve the Consent Agenda items: A) Approval of the February 20^st Minutes; B) Approve Financial Reports and Expenditures; C) Approve Purchase Orders to ITSAVVY; D) Approve Purchase Order to Solution Tree; E) Approve Jana Pschier, SLP Contract for 2023-24 SY; F) Approve Bid for Braith Cabinets; G) Approve Invoices to Plumb Construction. Motion carried 4-0.

Kurt Banta came to addresses any questions the school board members and administrators have pertaining to school security and the program he offers.

A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Mac Davis to update the names on the Safe Deposit Box signature card at Chambers Bank, removing Gary Wayman, Cody Parks, and Zack Galinato and adding Daniel Fielding, George Kenneth Landon and Grace McPherson. Motion carried 3-0.

Each of the principals reported on the happenings at their buildings. Mr. Walker stated that Read Across America Week was a success at Pre-K. Mr. Walker also informed the board that there are now 33 students enrolled at Adventure Online Academy. Mrs. Smith reported for the Elementary School, she also stated that Literacy Week was a success and they had many activities for the students. She also stated that the GT program presented their Living Wax Museum again this year with 92 adults in attendance. Kindergarten Registration will be on April 6^th. Mr. Taylor stated that FCA will be hosting “Courts of Faith” on March 29th. Progress reports will be going out this week. Middle Schools Spring pictures will be March 31^st. Mrs. Solomon recognized the Waldron High School Band for making 1^st and 2^nd Division and the Quiz Bowl for winning the Regional tournament. April 6^th will be CAP conferences for High School students. Prom will be on April 22^nd. The High School will be having an ACT Aspire pep rally on April 27^th. She also informed the board members that the 11^th graders just finished taking the ACT test. Mr. Lipham stated that baseball and track are starting in full force. Cheer tryouts will be this week as well.

Superintendent Fielding informed the school board members that our administrators have done an excellent job getting the students ready for test day.

Adjourned to executive session. Time dismissed: 8:04 Time returned: 8:40

A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Mac Davis to accept the resignation of Danielle Barnett as Elementary Teacher, effective as of March 15, 2023. Motion carried 3-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to accept the resignations of Andrea Duhon-Piechocki as Elementary Teacher as of the end on the 2022/23 SY. Motion carried 3-0.

A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Mac Davis to accept the resignation of Debbie Rogers as Elementary Teacher as of the end of the 2022/23 SY. Motion carried 3-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to accept the resignation of Judy Smittle as Bus Driver as of the end of the 2022/23 SY. Motion carried 3-0.

A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Mac Davis to hire Brooke Yandell as High School Paraprofessional as of April 3, 2023. Motion carried 3-0.

A motion was made by Mac Davis and seconded by Angela Hunsucker to hire Cain White, Head Football Coach, as of March 27, 2023. Motion carried 3-0.

A motion was made by Angela Hunsucker and seconded by Mac Davis to adjourn. Motion carried 3-0.

Meeting adjourned at 8:43 p.m.

Dandelion Jelly

Madison VanRavensway

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7:54 pm

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Dandelions are bees first food of the year! Now that other flowers are popping up and bees and butterflies have other food sources it’s time to make dandelion jelly!

I claim everyone in our homeschool group as my friend. So my friend Lauren Rebert (Rebert Ranch) shared dandelion jelly and I shared with my 5 year old. He loves picking flowers, and the prospect of getting to pick flowers and make something with them was fascinating to him.

Ingredients

-2-3 cups dandelions

-4 cups boiling water

-1 box fruit pectin

-4 cups sugar

-1 tablespoon lemon juice

Directions

Forage for your dandelions, then snip off the green part, use your fingers to remove as much of the green as you can. Separate the dandelion petals if desired. Place dandelion petals in a jar and cover with 4 cups or boiling water. Once the jar is cool to the touch place in the fridge for 24 hours.

After steeping the dandelions to make dandelion tea, drain with a fine mesh strainer, and pour 3 cups of liquid in a pan. If need be add water to make up the difference. Add sugar and lemon juice, bring to a boil for 5 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in pectin.

Pour mixture into hot, sterilized jars, cap jars and lower into a hot water bath. Allow to process for 10 minutes then sit for 24 hours or until tops seal. The result is a sweet honey like jelly. Happy foraging!

Meat Shopping at Harps

Madison VanRavensway

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10:00 am

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If you have been in a Harps store you may have noticed the 5/$25 deal on meat they have every day. Upon noticing it maybe you wondered “is that a good deal?” and the short answer is sometimes.

The long answer is some things are a good price, while others really aren’t. This is a time when knowing your prices is really important. A couple years (and kids) ago I knew what a good deal was off the top of my head with little effort. Now I honestly have little idea. But there is hope for us, in the form of math. I’m sure you’re thrilled.

Before we go further let me make it clear I would always recommend looking at clearance meat before moving to this. Clearance meat is most likely to be your best deal. Always look for those yellow tags!

Ground beef and bone in chicken is going to be a better price just on the shelf. I shopped on 2/20/23 and saw ground beef for $3.98/lb. With that in mind you may note a lot of the ground beef in the 5/$25 area is around 1lb and even with the deal that’s $5/lb or thereabout. We aren’t saving with those prices. Chicken legs are another example, watch for sales on those and pass on them in this section.

Now to figure out what is a good deal on the fresh meats we need to look at the weight. Anything in the $7+ range is more likely to be a decent deal. Steaks, boneless chicken, and some pork are what we are going to be looking for and looking for high amounts on the current price. I got boneless chicken thighs that were originally $4.49/lb making the package of 1.94lbs $8.71. To figure out the cost with the deal we will divide $5 by the weight 5/1.94 = $2.58/lb. Of course this isn’t the best price ever on boneless chicken thighs but it is better than what’s on the shelf elsewhere. Top blade steaks are $8.29/lb regular, so the package of 1.02lb is $8.46. With the 5/$25 deal that makes them .60/lb! If you bought nothing but 5 steaks you saved money. Granted you would have to have need for 5lbs of steaks.

If you are thinking well that’s great, but I don’t know what is a good price on anything! That’s fair. Check around in the meat department to see if there are any more of the same cuts of meat. Then get out your calculator, unless you are a mental math wizard; and see what the price will be with the 5/$25 deal. Look at the new price per pound not the overall!

For me personally I don’t pay much attention to anything other than the fresh meat in this area. I can’t say much about the prepackaged frozen foods, because I haven’t paid attention. $5/lb of lunch meat is a good enough price that I did grab a pound of lunch meat when shopping.

Remember when shopping the 5/$25 deal to watch at the register to ensure the price adjusts. I have heard of several people having to go back in or alert the cashier to the discount not applying.

Pro tip- if it’s a particularly awesome day with lots of $7+ items you can keep stacking those deals! To my knowledge there is no limit, every item after 5 is still $5!

Arrest Reports 3/5

Police Reports

Tammy Teague

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12:40 am

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Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police, Troop H:
Christopher Ray Beaty of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 10 at 8:07 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 10 at 9:53 p.m. Beaty was charged with Driving While License Cancelled/Suspended/Revoked, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Ingest, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Ingest Meth/Cocaine, Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule VI Misdemeanor <4oz, Possession of Methamphetamine <2g, and Theft by Receiving.

Allen Ray Miner of Paris was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 5 at 6:34 p.m. an transferred to an outside agency on March 6 at 9:04 a.m. Miner was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Felony.

Arresting agency – Bonanza Police Department:
Christopher Leonard Black of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 5 at 12:36 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Black was charged with Possession of Fentanyl with the Purpose of Deliver, Class A, and Petition to Revoke – Felony.

Michael Steven Ledbetter of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 5 at 3:49 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Ledbetter was charged with Possession Drug Paraphernalia – Felony, and Possession of Fentanyl with the Purpose of Deliver, Class A.

Melissa Sueann Montgomery was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 5 at 12:28 p.m. and released on March 7 at 5:17 p.m. Montgomery was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule I/II Felony <2g, Possession Drug Paraphernalia – Felony, and Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Arresting agency – Arkansas Parole:
Brandie Cumbie of Midland was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 10 at 4:42 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Cumbie was charged with absconding, parole violation, petition to revoke – felony, failure to appear – class C felony, and theft by receiving.

Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office:
David Ray Davidson of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 7 at 5:18 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Davidson was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

Jacob Vinson Davis of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 6 at 3:14 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 6 at 5:30 p.m. Davis was charged with Theft by Receiving.

Miranda Leah Gibson of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 7 at 3:42 a.m. and remains at the SCADC. Gibson was charged with two counts of aggravated assault – firearm.

Shawn Paul Hill of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 6 at 6:46 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Hill was charged with return to testify, Assist Outside Agency-Felony, Failure to Appear – Class A Misdemeanor, Petition to Revoke – Felony, and Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

Ricky Lee Perry of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 7 at 3:47 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 8 at 12:06 a.m. Perry was charged with Possession Drug Paraphernalia – Felony, and Possession of Cocaine (2-10g).

Jeffrey Bryant Stephens of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 8 at 12:37 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 8 at 4:41 p.m. Stephens was charged with Domestic Battering Purposely.

Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Regina Dawn Daws of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 9 at 12:50 a.m. and released on bond March 9 at 3:14 p.m. Daws was charged with Possession of [Schedule I/II Controlled Substance] <2g-inmate, Possession of Methamphetamine <2g, and Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
Matthew Lee Slater of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 9 at 11:02 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond March 10 at 4:09 a.m. Slater was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 2nd offense.

Brenda Leigh Speer of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 11 at 4:57 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Speer was charged with ADC Commitment Hold, Assist Outside Agency-Misd., absconding, parole violation, and fugitive from justice out of state.

Arresting agency – Lavaca Police Department:
Amber Noale Van Meter of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on March 10 at 8:13 p.m. and released on March 11 at 3:46 p.m. Van Meter was charged with Failure to Appear – Class A Misdemeanor, Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine), Petition to Revoke – Felony, and Contempt of Court–(child support), FTAS, FTRespond Subpoena, FTComply WCO.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office:
Allen Miner, 26 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 6 at 10:56 a.m. Miner was charged with two counts of failure to appear, and body attachment.

Hayley Willis, 30 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 7 at 10:59 p.m. Willis was charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution, possession of open container containing alcohol in a motor vehicle, and drinking in public.

Haskal Swanson, 33 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 7 at 11:07 p.m. Swanson was charged with fleeing, resisting arrest, possession of open container containing alcohol in a moto vehicle, drinking in public, reckless driving, driving while intoxicated, refusal to submit to a chemical test DWI, and driving while license suspended or revoked for DWI.

Michael Hurst, 39 of New Blaine, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 9 at 5:05 p.m. Hurst was charged with possession of a controlled substance, and possession of firearm by certain persons.

Aaron Klein, 41 of Paris, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on March 11 at 5:22 p.m. Klein was charged with public intoxication, and disorderly conduct.

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

Don’t Rely on Luck This St. Patrick’s Day; Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

News

Tammy Teague

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10:55 pm

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Don’t Rely on Luck This St. Patrick’s Day; Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over

For many, celebratory drinks and St. Patrick’s Day go together like corn beef and cabbage. To help keep roadways safe throughout the State this St. Patrick’s Day, Arkansas law enforcement officers are teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving. If your plans for the holiday include alcohol, make sure you plan for a sober driver – Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

“Arkansans will join people from across the globe in celebrating St. Patrick’s Day on Friday, March 17. While St. Patrick’s Day has cultural and religious significance to many, it is also associated with widespread binge drinking,” said Arkansas Public Safety Secretary Colonel Mike Hagar. “If you’ve been drinking, make the smart choice to plan for a sober driver or ride-shar app to get you and your friends home safely. Before you put your keys in the ignition, remind yourself: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.”

According to NHTSA, 11,654 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes in 2020. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020 — one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020. This is why Arkansas law enforcement is working with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, but also a matter of life and death. As you head out to the festivities, help us spread the word: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

St. Patrick’s Day is one of the deadliest times on our nation’s roads. During the 2016-2020 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18), 287 lives were lost in drunk-driving crashes. In 2020 alone, 37 people were killed in drunk-driving crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18). Drivers should also keep an eye out for pedestrians who have been drinking. Walking while intoxicated can also be deadly; lack of attention to surroundings could put pedestrians at risk of injury or worse.

If you’re the designated driver, make sure you keep that promise of safety to yourself and your passengers. It can be a long night, but your passengers are counting on you, not to mention the other drivers, passengers, and pedestrians on the streets that are entitled to a safe roadway. Take the role of designated driver seriously — you are making a difference.

Celebrate with a Plan

— Before heading out, it’s vital to plan ahead. Be honest with yourself: You know whether you’ll be drinking or not. Arkansas law enforcement recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:

— It’s never okay to drink and drive. Even if you’ve had one alcoholic beverage, designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation to get to your destination safely. Plan a safe way home before you leave.

— If you’ve been drinking, call a taxi, ride-share service or a designated driver to drive you home.

— If you see an impaired driver on the road, call 9-1-1.

— If you know someone who is about to drive or operate a motorcycle or any other vehicle while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.

— Always buckle up. Your seat belt is your best defense against a drunk driver.

Always remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

For more information on impaired driving, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136, and go to https://www.tzdarkansas.org/ to learn about Arkansas’ Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities.

County Line Finishes Improbable Perfect Season at 45-0 and a State Championship

Resident News Network

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5:46 pm

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County Line Finishes Improbable Perfect Season at 45-0 and a State Championship

HOT SPRINGS- Too often, the much-anticipated championship game, in all sports, turns out to be anti-climatic. Perhaps the best game occurred in the semifinals, or, in some cases, the game was just a dud. But not in this case. The Arkansas Class 1A state championship between County Line and Marked Tree was a classic that will live forever in the minds of high school basketball fans everywhere.

It is well-documented that County Line entered the championship game with a perfect 44-0 record. That is amazing in itself; many programs don’t play 44 games in a high school season. And while some fans may question the strength of schedule for the Class 1A Indians, I will argue that it is tough to win 44 consecutive games at any level and at any classification. The pressure mounts with each game, and sometimes, “Lady Luck” has to intervene. No team can play its best game every time they take the court, and that to me is what makes County Line’s achievement so remarkable. They are a disciplined team that is very sound in basketball fundamentals, and their coach, Joe Brunson, is cool, calm, and collected….and his team reflects his personality.

How many times have you heard that good teams can win games when they are not playing their best in any particular game? That may have been the case last weekend in Hot Springs. And I certainly don’t want to take anything away from a talented Marked Tree team that played their hearts out and very easily could be the state champions today. But County Line was taken out of their game early on with the talented Marked Tree defense, and about half way through the third quarter, found themselves down by 11 points. Fans were curious to see how County Line would respond on the big stage when they had not been seriously challenged for much of the year, including the first three rounds of the state playoffs.

But in true championship form, County Line clawed back into the game by hitting free throws and reducing the deficit while the clock was stopped. Marked Tree, who had been scoring often from both inside the paint with their talented forward, Jonah Walker, and from outside the three-point arc, suddenly went cold late in the quarter and into the fourth. County Line’s energy on defense had increased from their play in the first half, and the Indians challenged the Marked Tree shooters on every attempt.

Marked Tree took a 21-15 lead into the locker room at the half, and County Line would have to make adjustments to stay in the game in the second. And that’s what the Indians did…Coach Brunson’s team stepped up their energy on both ends of the floor and outscored Marked Tree 18-12 in the third quarter to tie the game going into the fourth quarter. And the stage was set for a finsih tht people will talk about for generations.

The two teams went back and forth like heavyweight prize fighters in the fourth. County Line took a late lead, one of their few leads of the game, with less than 30 seconds remaining when Marked Tree was able to score and tie the game at 44 with less than 10 seconds remaining. Then, for some reason, and a question that people will have forever, the baseline on the Marked Tree end was left wide open, and having played tremendous defense all night. County Line’s Cooper Watson took the ball on the right side of the Indians’ offense and drove the baseline, shooting an underhanded layup with less than one second remaining to give County Line the state championship. Marked Tree appeared to call time out, and for whatever reason, that time out was not granted, and the clock expired. The County Line bench rushed the floor in celebration while the Marked Tree coaches screamed for a time out.

With Watson’s epic basket, County Line completed the most improbable season by winning 45 games and losing none…and most importantly, the state championship. The Indians’ Aundrae Milum was named Most Valuable Player, completing a sweep of what was a dream season in 2022-23 for the County Line basketball program.

Watch for a special championship edition of RNN’s Logan County Edition weekly newspaper next week. This special edition will have photos from the epic state championship game. Additional photos from the game will also be posted later this week on RNN’s “Team Press Pass” Facebook page (approximately March 16).

And if you have not yet subscribed to the Logan County Edition that serves all of Logan and Southern Franklin counties, you will certainly want to! To subscribe, just go to residentnewsnetwork.com and click on the “subscribe” link.

Congratulation to the County Line Indians for winning the state championship! Now, let the coffee shop stories begin!

Hogs Power Past Louisiana Tech on Sunday 15-6 to Complete Weekend Sweep

Resident News Network

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6:53 am

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Hogs Power Past Louisiana Tech on Sunday 15-6 to Complete Weekend Sweep

FAYETTEVILLE – No. 8 Arkansas (13-2) used a nine-run third inning to bury Louisiana Tech (8-7) early and never looked back, completing the weekend series sweep with a 15-6 win on Sunday afternoon at Baum-Walker Stadium.

The Razorbacks, winners of eight straight games, have won 26 consecutive non-conference home weekend series dating back to the 2014 season. Arkansas’ three-game series sweep was its second in as many weekends.

Louisiana Tech took advantage of an error and jumped out to a three-run lead in the top half of the second, but the Bulldogs’ hot start would quickly cool off. Arkansas scored a run on an error in the bottom of the second before breaking through for nine runs in the third to open a commanding 10-3 lead.

Jared Wegner and Kendall Diggs each hit two-run homers during the offensive onslaught in the third. Wegner’s homer was his team-leading seventh of the year, while Diggs’ blast was his second in as many games and sixth of the season.

Five consecutive walks resulted in three runs before Brady Slavens drove home two more with a single to center. The nine-run third inning gave Razorback starter Hunter Hollan all the support he needed to finish his outing strong.

Hollan twirled five innings of two-hit ball, allowing three runs (one earned) while striking out a season-high seven. The left-hander improved to 3-0 in the win, lowering his season ERA to 2.18 over 20 2/3 innings on the year.

Offensively, four Razorbacks finished with multiple hits and five carded multiple RBI in the win. Wegner, who went 1-for-2 with three RBI, drew five walks to match a single-game school record held by Jake Dugger (vs. Alabama, 2006) and Jim Kremers (vs. Northwest Missouri State, 1985).

Tavian Josenberger extended his team-leading hit streak to eight games, racking up a pair of base knocks, including a double, and an RBI with two runs scored and three walks. Peyton Stovall’s seven-game hit streak came to an end in Sunday’s win, but the Razorback captain still managed to drive in three runs.

Greenwood’s Peyton Holt celebrates after sliding safely at third base for the Hogs on Sunday (RNN Sports Photo / John D. James)

Jace Bohrofen, meanwhile, continued to rake, going 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI and a walk. He raised his season slash line to a team-leading .447/.578/.872 in Sunday’s win and now has 15 runs batted in through the Hogs’ first 15 games.

In relief of Hollan, right-handers Cody Adcock (2.0 IP), Gage Wood (1.0) and Christian Foutch (1.0) closed out the final four frames. Wood, a native of Batesville, Ark., struck out three of the four batters he faced, while Foutch, who was making his collegiate debut, logged a strikeout in his scoreless inning of work.

Arkansas’ final tune-up before SEC play comes against UNLV. The Hogs will host the Rebels in a two-game midweek series, which gets underway at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 14, at Baum-Walker Stadium.

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

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