There’s nothing worse than a cramped space that doesn’t function well. While having a large home for all your needs is nice, not everyone has that luxury. Luckily, other options are available if you want to improve your home’s livability.
Rather than spending money to upgrade to a bigger space, consider these four tips you can use to make a space look bigger.
Paint
One common trick for making a room feel larger is to use light-colored paints. Bright walls reflect the light, giving the room a more open feel.
You might want to use darker paint on one wall to distribute its visual elements for narrow rooms. Using contrasting colors, borders, and shades will add a sense of depth that can have a pleasant effect on the viewer.
Furniture
The furniture in a room can play a significant role in how big the space feels. The wrong layout can block major pathways and views, making it feel cramped and uncomfortable.
If you want a good home layout, think carefully about the furniture you’re using to fill it. Consider the scale of each room and choose items that will work best. By putting things up against the walls, leaving space between objects, and staying away from large pieces, you’ll be able to maximize your space.
Lighting
Another thing to consider when setting up a space is the available lighting. Whether natural or artificial, lighting can significantly impact how someone feels when entering a room.
Many types of lighting are available for homeowners who want to make a space feel bigger. When using recessed or low-profile lighting, you can have modern LEDs that don’t make the room feel crowded. Homeowners looking for unique ways to make their living room more comfortable can use lighting to create that effect.
Decor
You don’t always have to commit to a big project to increase the perceived size of a space. Focusing on a room’s decorations and design elements is a simple way to maximize available space.
Everything from mirrors to drapes can make a room look bigger. Keep in mind that emphasizing vertical lines will make it feel taller and horizontal lines will generally make it feel wider.
It’s Easy To Improve Your Home’s Livability Without Spending a Lot
You don’t have to spend a fortune to make your home feel more comfortable. If a room feels too crowded, you can use some simple tips to make the space look bigger.
Whether it’s a fresh coat of paint, a new layout, or improved lighting, there are many things that you can try and see what fits best.
FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas women’s basketball team (17-6, 4-4 SEC), fell short to Alabama (16-5, 6-3 SEC) on Thursday night, 69-66, as the Razorbacks dropped its third straight game. Makayla Daniels tied the game with a 3-pointer with 33 seconds left in the game, but Alabama’s Hannah Barber hit a go-ahead 3-pointer to pull ahead by three and win the game. Arkansas committed 20 turnovers in the game, which looked to be the deciding factor in the game. Erynn Barnum led the Razorbacks with 20 points and nine rebounds.
Alabama got things started with a 3-pointer, but Saylor Poffenbarger responded with one of her own, which started an 8-0 run for the Razorbacks in less than a minute. Alabama was in a scoring drought for over two minutes but dug out with a layup. That basket initiated a 10-3 run for the Crimson Tide, which elevated Alabama ahead, 13-11, at the media timeout. Arkansas was held in a scoring drought for the remaining 6:50 of the quarter, while the Razorbacks shot 0-for-10 from the field and committed five turnovers that span. Alabama added five unanswered points, as Arkansas’ struggles from the field continued, and Alabama led 18-11.
The Tide continued to score, getting a layup off a Razorback turnover. Barnum broke the Razorbacks’ nearly eight-minute scoring drought with a layup. After another Barnum layup, Alabama extended their lead with a triple to lead Arkansas 27-15 with 5:16 left in the first half. Daniels got fouled on the basket and knocked down two free throws to put it back to a 10-point game. At the media timeout, Alabama led 27-17. Barnum broke another long-extended field goal drought for the Razorbacks, three minutes and some change, with a layup. That layup sparked a 6-0 run for the Razorbacks to inch within six of the Tide with 3:15 remaining in the second quarter. Samara Spencer nailed a 3-pointer for her first field goal of the game to break another drought for Arkansas from the field, but Alabama responded with another triple to lead 36-26 with less than a minute left in the half. Arkansas scored four unanswered points in the final minute to trail 36-30 at the half.
Barnum made her way to double digits in scoring for the seventh straight game with a jumper and after a Chrissy Carr 3-pointer and a Spencer layup off a steal, Arkansas took the lead for the first time since over six minutes left in the first quarter. That run sparked Alabama to take a timeout, as the Razorbacks now led 37-36 with 8:24 left in the third quarter. Alabama sparked a 5-3 run to steal the lead from the Razorbacks, 41-39, at the media timeout. The Tide made three of their next basket attempts, but after a Maryam Dauda 3-point play, the Razorbacks trailed by two. The Razorbacks cruised on a 7-0 run, which was capped off by a Spencer 3-pointer to retake the lead, 50-49, temporarily until the Tide made two free throws, and it was a 51-50 game in favor of Alabama heading into the final quarter.
Poffenbarger scored the Razorbacks’ first basket of the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer. The Razorbacks took a timeout before the media, and with 7:21 left in the game, Arkansas was behind 55-53. Arkansas tried to close in on the lead, but turnovers on back-to-back possessions made that tough. Barnum came up with a big 3-point play to bring the Razorbacks within one point, but Alabama went to the line to make one of two freebies. After two Daniels free throws, the Razorbacks tied the game at 58 with less than five minutes left in the game. The Razorbacks did not make a field goal for three minutes, as Alabama went on a 6-0 run. Barnum came up with a big layup, and with 1:16 left in the game, Alabama led 66-63. With 33 seconds left in the game, Daniels came up clutch once again to tie the game at 66 with a triple. That shot would be overshadowed, as Alabama was able to come up with the go-ahead 3-pointer with eight seconds left in the game. Arkansas had a shot to tie the game with eight seconds on the clock with two chances to do but could not get it done.
Hogs’ Erynn Barnum (4) had 20 points on the night vs Alabama (RNN Sports Photo / Ronni Tate Young)
HOG HIGHLIGHTS
Barnum logged 20 points, nine rebounds and two steals. That 20-point game was Barnum’s seventh of the year and in her career, and she is now three rebounds away from 500 in her career
Daniels followed with 13 points, while shooting 8-of-10 from the free throw line. She added five assists and two steals to her statline
Poffenbarger registered 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and two blocks
Spencer recorded 12 points and her two assists elevated her to 100 dimes on the season and she is now one of 19 Razorbacks in history to log 100 assists in a season
UP NEXT
Arkansas will stay home to host Ole Miss on Sunday, Jan. 29 for a 4 p.m. tipoff. The game will be broadcast on SEC Network. Ole Miss defeated Mississippi State on Thursday night by the score of 78-63.
Arkansas will be looking to break a three game losing streak against Ole Miss as the Lady Razorbacks drive to finish in the top four of the regular season conference standings. Teams finishing in the top four will enjoy a double-bye in the SEC Tournament seedings.
Note to Our Readers:Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kylie Magar.
Trees shaded the small lane, casting shadows on the dust and gravel I was traversing. Miles from anywhere and traveling on a four-wheeler, I came to a fork in the road bisected in the middle by a solitary building; the old deserted Mt. Salem school house. Built in 1909 to replace an older school, the building is representative of the many older educational facilities that now stand abandoned across the state. Once surrounded by a vibrant community of farmers, the one-room school house served as a church, a community meeting place, and the local school. For most of its existence as a school, it had one teacher for all grades and was primarily supported by the people of the community.
In 1900, education was on the back-burner for a rustic, backward state with an economy centered on agriculture. The state of Arkansas saw little reason to invest in education, primarily leaving that up to the churches and to the families. Wealthy families would place their children in academies and then send their children out of state if they desired extensive education or finishing. Poorer and middle class families scrambled to provide the basic 3 r’s of an education that often terminated at the middle school level.
According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas, in 1920 only two-thirds of the state’s students were enrolled in school and less than 25% attended regularly. In rural areas, students attended a split term, coming during the winter months and during July and August when the crops were “laid by.” Seventeen counties did not have a high school and in no county were high schools available to all students.
Small rural schools, like that of Mt. Salem dotted the landscape and provided what little educational opportunities were available for students of the area. In 1920, the state only supplied $2.60 per student for education and the state average expenditure for student, including local taxes, was $23.63. This left parents and church responsible to supply any additional funding needed for schools.
In 1947, there were 1,589 of these school districts. The next year, forced consolidation reduced that number to 424 districts and schools like Mt. Salem consolidated with larger schools and left buildings deserted and decaying.
My father bought and moved the old school building from Rich Mountain and used it for years for antique storage. A few years ago, it had deteriorated to a point, we decided to tear it apart. As the news got out that we were taking it apart, people began to call, some wanting to take one last photograph, others wanting pieces of the building where they or their parents had spent many pleasant days. One gentleman from California came by to get lumber from an interior wall to make a memento. Later, we were taking apart the interior wall and my brother-in-law held up a paper he had found between the boards. Yellowed and crumbling with age, the simple wording said; I love you, do you love me? It had two boxes to check below, one for yes and one for no.
As I looked at that fork in the road, the memory of that paper returned. Kids at this school were like those I grew up with. I could see images of kids running and playing beside the building. In my mind I heard the happy sounds of them playing hop-scotch in the dirt, the voice of the teacher leading instruction, and saw a little freckle-faced girl shyly handing a note to a young boy in overalls. I turned to the left, the sounds of the school bell diminishing as I drove down the road.
The Mt. Salem school is a state registered historical site and is located in rural Logan County off 109 Highway and Spring Lake Road.
It has seemed to many residents of the River Valley that for the past few years, winter snowfall has occurred in the time period of late January to mid-February. This year has proven to be no exception.
After a period of bitterly cold temperatures in late November to early December, residents were treated to unseasonably mild temperatures to start 2023. But that all changed last week when both cold and moisture hit the area to produce the first measurable snowfall of the winter season.
Although the snowfall that hit most of western Arkansas and the River Valley was a beautiful, large, flaky snowfall, the winter precipitation did not come without causing problems. Power outages were reported for thousands of customers ranging from just a few hours to days until power was able to be restored. Area schools closed, utilizing AMI (alternative methods of instruction) days on Wednesday and Thursday of last week. Area basketball games were also postponed.
At press time for this story, the Weather Bug forecast for this week was predicting high temperatures ranging from 36-46 degrees to low temperatures ranging from 28-33 degrees. A chance of freezing rain was forecasted on Wednesday, February 1.
If history holds true again this year, we may be in store for one more round of wintry mix weather before schools are out for spring break. But, who knows?
AGFC staff and Polk County recently gave Lake Wilhelmina in Polk County a thorough cleaning after wildlife officers were informed of a growing trash problem accumulating around the 200-acre AGFC-owned lake.
Chris Crawford, a wildlife officer in Polk County, received complaints from a homeowner who lived near the picturesque Ouachita Mountain lake about a large quantity of trash left behind by campers. Upon further inspection, five locations around the lake had accumulated not only garbage left behind by campers but also materials that were illegally dumped on the property. Crawford contacted fisheries staff in the AGFC’s Hot Springs Regional Office as well as Polk County Judge Brandon Ellison about the situation. Ellison offered the use of a front-end loader, dump truck and two county personnel to help with a cleanup effort.
After several hours, AGFC staff Brett Hobbs, Andy Yung, James Rogers and the two Polk County workers worked with officer Crawford to remove nearly ¾ of a large dump truck from the land surrounding Wilhelmina.
Minnie Katherine Ledbetter Crutchfield, 98, passed away on January 23, 2023. She was born June 27, 1924 in Hartshorne, Oklahoma to Charles Fredrick and Katherine (Silva) Ledbetter and graduated in 1942 from Heavener High School. After attending Hill’s Business College of Oklahoma City she was employed by The Kansas City Southern Railroad.
On December 11, 1953, Katherine and A. C. Crutchfield were married and spent their honeymoon in Florida, later moving to Alaska and then to San Jose, California. In 1958 they came home to Waldron, Arkansas and began a cattle business before purchasing the OTASCO store. Later they purchased The Exxon distributorship before retiring.
Katherine enjoyed all sports to the fullest including tennis, basketball, football, baseball and the Olympics. She was a fan of such notables as John Daly, Wes Welker, Rafel Nadal and could talk sports with the best of them.
Of special interest to her is the annual July 4th Crutchfield reunion. At the age of 65, Katherine took up golf, joining the Waldron Country Club and eventually becoming a board member. She played golf at many of the courses in Arkansas and Oklahoma as an avid lover of the game. She enjoyed the many friends she made because of golf.
Katherine relished traveling, touring Europe several times.
Later in life, she encountered congestive heart failure, a broken hip and colon cancer. She survived each one living a full and meaningful life with the help of Mercy doctors, nurses and staff along with Concordia Senior Living staff and friends and family. Good Shepherd Hospice comforted her in her last days.
She is survived by sister Sylvia Ann Ledbetter and husband James L. Monk of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma several nieces, nephews, friends such as Marta McGaugh and Linda Goodner.
She was preceded in death by her husband A.C. Crutchfield, her parents Charles Fredrick and Katherine (Silva) Ledbetter, sister Sara Jane Ledbetter & Bernard (Tut) Bartzen, Alberta & Floyd Ward, L.R. & Ruth Crutchfield, Doris & Kenneth Deatherage, Quida & R.M. Blackwood and Leah Fern & Buddy Campbell.
Katherine’s life celebration will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 28th, 2023 at Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas and will be laid to rest at the Sehorn Cemetery.
You may leave words of comfort and remembrance for Katherine’s family by visiting: www.heritagememoriafh.com.
Nicole Michele (Gonzales) Benward, 47, of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life on Thursday, January 19, 2023. Nicole was born on March 27, 1975 to Jeffrey and Christina (Marling) Gonzales in Oceanside, California.
Nicole was married to Robert Benward on January 7, 2018. Nicole was loving, she had a big heart and loved her children, James, Julie and Brittany. Nicole was funny and was always trying to prank people and make them laugh. There was a joyful spirit about her, she loved animals and always helping others.
Nicole leaves behind to cherish her memory, her husband Robert Benward. Three children; James Bolton, Julie Lour and Brittany Bolton. She will forever remain in the hearts of her seven grandchildren: Justin Lour, Brianna Crow, Jason Crow, Hunter Lour, Elizabeth Crow, Kyle Lour and Emily Lour. Nicole will be missed by all that knew her.
Nicole was preceded in death by her parents, Jeffrey and Christina Gonzales.
A private family memorial will be held at a later date. Cremation arrangements are in the care of Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory.
You can leave words of remembrance for Nicole’s family by visiting www.heritagememorialfh.com
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Marsha and Marty Martin Family has made a $5 million gift to the Razorback Foundation in support of Arkansas Athletics. In recognition, the Basketball Performance Center on the University of Arkansas campus will be named in their honor and unveiled on March 4, 2023.
The name of the facility was formally considered and approved by the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees at its scheduled meeting on Thursday.
“We are humbled by the generosity of the Martin family for this extraordinary gift,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek said. “For more than four decades, the Martins have displayed their passion for our program in numerous ways, including in investing their time and energy into cheering on our teams while also providing the support to help ensure our student-athletes and coaches are positioned for success. Our men’s and women’s basketball teams are fortunate to train and compete in one of the best basketball performance centers in the nation. It is certainly appropriate that this spectacular day-to-day Home of Razorback Basketball will now also honor this special family of Razorback fans.”
The Martins are long-time supporters and members of the Razorback Foundation with more than 40 years of consecutive giving. As members of Cardinal & White, the Razorback Foundation’s major giving society, their gifts support Razorback student-athletes in the most valuable ways including scholarships, nutrition, personal and professional development, and medical care.
“On behalf of the Razorback Foundation, we are most grateful to the Marsha and Marty Martin Family for their years of steadfast support, and this amazing gift which will benefit Razorback Athletics in numerous ways,” Razorback Foundation Executive Director Scott Varady added.
“We are lifelong, avid Razorback fans and we could not think of a better way to show our support than with this gift,” Marsha Martin said. “We look forward to continuing to cheer on both the men’s and women’s basketball teams and all other Razorback sports to much future success.”
The Martins have also demonstrated their generosity through their financial support of other organizations such as American Heart Association and Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
The Marsha and Marty Martin Family Basketball Performance Center is home to both Razorback men’s and women’s basketball teams and serves as their training facility. The 66,000-foot facility opened in 2015 and includes two full-court gymnasiums, locker rooms, a weight room an athletic training room, coaches’ offices, team meeting rooms, student-athlete lounges, study areas and an equipment room.
The naming of the facility will be officially celebrated at a ceremony on March 4, 2023, prior to the Arkansas-Kentucky men’s basketball game at Bud Walton Arena.
Note to Our Readers: This story was sourced directly and in its entirety from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications.
Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office: Megan Nicole Billy of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 19 at 4:51 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Billy was charged with failure to appear – class C felony.
Carlton Deshane Mathews of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 15 at 4:47 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Mathews was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Felony, and Return To Testify.
Christopher Lee McNees of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 19 at 12:23 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. NcNees was charged with Petition to Revoke – Felony, Contempt of Court–(child support), FTAS, FTRespond Subpoena, FTComply WCO, Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree > $1,000 but < $5,000, and Fleeing -Vehicle.
Brandon Townsend of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 21 at 1:49 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Townsend was charged with Petition to Revoke – Felony.
Arresting agency – Mansfield Police Department: Andrea Rayne Brown of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 21 at 8:59 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Brown was charged with Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely.
Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department: Eric Samuel King of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 18 at 8:20 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. King was charged with Failure to Appear – Class A Misdemeanor.
Pamela Jo Presock of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on January 18 at 12:23 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Presock was charged with Obstructing Governmental Operations-ID, Criminal Trespass, Failure to Appear – Class A Misdemeanor, and Failure to Appear – Class A Misdemeanor.
Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office: Jarrad Davis, 30 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 16 at 4:32 p.m. Davis was charged with body attachment.
Bryan Starnes, 33 of Delaware, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on January 20 at 2:26 p.m. Starnes was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.
**The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.**
Robin B. Barker, of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life on January 20, 2023 in Waldron, Arkansas. He was born on January 15, 1959 in Mena, Arkansas to Lone and Mildred (Simkins) Barker. Robin was 64 years old.
Robin grew up in and around the Boles area. He married the love of his life, Brenda McEntire. Together they grew up and started their life. Robin joined the Air Force for some time yet returned home and became a Master Carpenter at the ripe old age of 17 doing odd jobs with his Big brother Bill. He felt he needed new scenery in his profession so he ventured up North to form a partnership and lifelong friendship with Bilt Rite Framing where he worked tireless hours providing for his family, he was a hard working man. He would later retire some 26 years later and make his final resting place at home spending all of his time with his children and grandchildren that he loved so much.
Robin leaves behind to cherish his memory, his loving wife Brenda of the home; daughters Emily (punkin) and husband Lance, Jessie and husband Bobby all of Waldron, Arkansas, one son Barrett and Amber of Oregon. Papa (Poppy) will forever remain in the hearts of his grandchildren: Brendan (Jessica Holt), Addison, Victoria , Kaylee , Lidge (Daleigh Hunt), Elam ,and precious Stella . Robin is also remembered by one sister Patsy Slagle and husband Bill of Boles, Arkansas and one brother Bill Barker also of Boles, Arkansas. And a Host of nieces and nephews that he cherished so much. Robin will be missed by all who knew him and the many whose lives he impacted including a host of extended family and friends he loved dearly.
Robin was preceded in death by his parents, Lone and Mildred Barker, siblings: Loyd “Bub” Barker, William “Mack” Barker, Roseann Barker Isham and June Barker Hawkins Horton.
Robin’s celebration of life will be 11:00 a.m., Friday, January 27, 2023 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Pat Ray Biggs officiating. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Robin’s visitation will be Thursday, January 26, 2023 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home.
