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

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4:51 am

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

Resident News Network

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5:51 pm

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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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2:22 am

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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.

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.

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