Eligible single parents are invited to apply for Summer 2023 scholarships at aspsf.org/applynow. The deadline to apply is March 15. Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund (ASPSF) awards scholarships up to $1,200 to eligible single parents who are attending college or obtaining technical training. A full list of eligibility guidelines is available at aspsf.org/eligibility.
“ASPSF has helped me by showing support, lending an ear, and taking me as I am. I do not have to worry about hiding who I am and my troubles. Being a single mother can feel lonely sometimes but it’s good to know this organization exists to help support and uplift parents,” said recipient Myranda, who’s studying psychology at the University of Arkansas–Fort Smith.
ASPSF recipient Myranda with volunteer Dave Stevens.
If awarded, recipients can use the funds for any combination of school and/or household expenses that remove a financial burden and help the student stay in school.
Scholarships are combined with wraparound services — including workshops, mentorships, and tutoring — to create a support system helping single parents along their higher education journey to graduation and professional employment.
If a single parent is not attending summer school, he or she can apply later for another semester. Here are upcoming ASPSF scholarship application openings and deadlines: • Fall 2023 Semester: Apply between April 15-June 15, 2023 • Spring 2024 Semester: Apply between Aug. 15-Oct. 15, 2023 For more information about Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund — which has awarded more than $30 million in scholarships across the state to single parents since 1990 — contact ASPSF Program Manager Sandy Nelson at snelson@aspsf.org or (479) 551-2134.
About Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund: Arkansas Single Parent Scholarship Fund works to create stronger, more educated, and more self-sufficient families. Through scholarships and services, ASPSF opens doors for low-income single parents, helping them pursue education, secure employment, and transform the future for their families. With the help of volunteers and community support, ASPSF creates multigenerational change, transforming lives for both single parents and their children. For information about scholarships, volunteer opportunities, and ways to give, visit www.aspsf.org.
Linda Alice Robertson of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life, Sunday, January 15, 2023 in Waldron, Arkansas with family by her side. Linda was born April 9, 1951 in Waldron to Theo Pete Leeper and Catherine (Rogers) Leeper. She was 71 years old.
Linda loved to watch cooking shows on television. Linda’s most precious gift was spending time with her family and especially her great-grandsons. Being a Granny to them meant the world to her.
Linda leaves behind to cherish her memory, 2 bonus grandsons: Kevin Schafer, and Brent (Amy) Riddle, two great-grandsons: Anthony and Axle Schafer, two sisters: Jody (Loyd) McDaniel and Larrain Smith all of Waldron, Arkansas and special caregiver and daughter of the heart Dawn Payne Taff. Linda, better known to most as Meme, will forever remain in the hearts of a host of extended family and friends she loved dearly.
Linda was preceded in death by her husband David, one son Christopher and one granddaughter Mallorie Schafer as well as her parents, Pete and Catherine Leeper, and siblings: Cathy Payne, Rogers Leeper and Glen Leeper.
Linda’s family will host a private memorial service at a later date. Arrangements and cremation are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas.
You may leave words of comfort and remembrance for Linda’s family by visiting: www.heritagememorialfh.com.
FAYETTEVILLE- If you have not yet caught the Lady Razorbacks in person or on television this season, you are missing a real treat. Arkansas is off to its best start in almost fourteen years, and the Lady Razorbacks are shooting their way into contention in the SEC.
In a dramatic contrast to the Lady ‘Backs last home game that saw Arkansas rout Florida, the Vanderbilt Lady Commodores, led by head coach and former UConn assistant, Shea Ralph, gave Arkansas all they wanted before the Lady Razorbacks finally won on a buzzer beater by Makayla Daniels. Daniels’ shot from approximately 35 feet out with one second remaining in a tied game, banked off the backboard and into the net for an explosive win for Arkansas.
Senior veteran Makayla Daniels delivered when the Arkansas women’s basketball team (17-3, 4-1 SEC) needed her, banking a shot at the buzzer to elevate the Razorbacks to an 84-81 victory. With Arkansas up by three points with 10 seconds left and no timeouts for either team, Vanderbilt tied the game off a banked 3-pointer, their 13th triple of the night. Daniels took the ball down the other end and banked a halfcourt shot with one second on the clock to call the game, The win matches last year’s regular season win count at 17, while marking the best start for the Razorbacks in SEC play since 2005-06. All five starters reached double digits in scoring for the second time in three games.
Vanderbilt kept earning second-chance opportunities off attacking the glass, leading the Razorbacks 7-4 just four minutes into the game. With the Commodores still ahead, Chrissy Carr knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game at 9-9. Both teams were held into a scoring drought for over two minutes, but Arkansas broke its drought first with a Maryam Dauda layup to help the Razorbacks lead for the first time in the game. Vanderbilt hit a 3-pointer for the last score of the quarter, as the Razorbacks trailed, 12-11.
Saylor Poffenbarger tied the game in the opening minutes of the second quarter with a free throw, and on the next possession, Carr hit her second triple after reaching 500 rebounds in her career shortly before that. Vanderbilt tied the game off a successful and-1, but Makayla Daniels answered on the other end with a triple. The Commodores responded again with another 3-pointer, showing that once Arkansas started to get in a groove offensively, Vanderbilt would answer. At the media timeout, Arkansas had the slight 23-22 advantage. Arkansas closed out the quarter making 5-of-7 field goals, including an Erynn Barnum layup, but a Vanderbilt jumper just before the half cut the deficit and Arkansas led 27-26 at the half.
The lead changed twice until Vanderbilt tied the game at 31 with a 3-pointer. Arkansas pulled ahead once again, but Vanderbilt responded again with a triple. At the media timeout, the game was tied at 37. Arkansas went three of four from the charity stripe to go up by three, but once again, Vanderbilt knocked down a 3-pointer to tie the game. Samara Spencer went up to double digits with a layup to pull the Razorbacks back ahead. Another Barnum layup and two Spencer free throws elevated the Razorbacks ahead by six, but a Vanderbilt 3-pointer cut the lead to three, as Arkansas went into the fourth quarter with a 50-47 edge.
Vanderbilt opened the final quarter with a jumper, but Spencer responded with a deep 3-pointer. Spencer did it once again with another deep 3-pointer after the Commodores cut the lead to one once again. After Spencer’s second triple, Vanderbilt called a timeout and Arkansas led 58-54 with 7:53 left in the game. Carr hit a huge 3-pointer and after an empty possession by Vanderbilt, Spencer came up with a layup, as the Razorbacks led 63-54 with seven minutes remaining in the game. Vanderbilt scored three unanswered points to cut into the lead with Arkansas leading 63-57 with six minutes and some change to go. A Barnum free throw put the Razorbacks up by eight with 4:31 left in the game. Vanderbilt would not go away, continuously cutting the deficit by making 3-pointers. The Commodores would go 7-for-7 from beyond the arc in the fourth quarter. With Arkansas up by three, 78-75, with 20 seconds left in the game, the Commodores banked a 3-pointer to tie the game at 81 with 10 seconds left in the game. Daniels charged the ball down the court to knock down a tough shot to send the Razorbacks out with an 84-81 win.
Samara Spencer (2) led Arkansas in scoring on the night with 23 points (RNN Sports Photo / Jim Best)
HOG HIGHLIGHTS
All five starters earned double digits in scoring for the second time in the last three games
Spencer led the Razorbacks with 23 points on 9-of-15 shooting from the floor. She added five rebounds and three assists
Barnum had a solid night with 18 points, nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. She continues to perform on both ends of the floor
Daniels, the hero of the night, finished with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists
Poffenbarger logged 13 points and five rebounds
Carr reached 500+ rebounds in her collegiate career, finishing with four boards on the night. She also put up 11 points, four rebounds and two blocks
Arkansas went 25-for-35 from the free throw line
UP NEXT
Arkansas is up to its biggest tests of the season, starting with a road game at No. 3/5 LSU on Thursday, Jan. 19. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, with coverage of the game being broadcast on SEC Network.
Watch for more photos from Arkansas’s win over Vanderbilt later this week on RNN Sports’ “Team Press Pass” page on Facebook!
Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kylie Magar.
The Shawn Gauthier lead Impact included a High School 7v7 tournament with their Youth Showcase program
A vision that started as an alternative fall league, then a spring league, and now youth showcases. Has evolved once again. Included in this weekends Showcase at Greenland High School is a High School 7v7. While slightly an 11th hour decision it still brought in several of Northwest Arkansas and River Valley talent. Gentry All-Conference QB Senior Chris Bell and Elkins All-State RB Junior Da’Shawn Chairs joined Rogers All-Conference Freshman Linebacker Braxton Lindsey being the notables from Northwest Arkansas. Out of the River Valley a host of Greenwood Bulldogs made the trek up I-49.
Split into three teams Red, Black, and White. Team Black looked to be the most complete set of athletes that had played together at their local school with all but one member (FS Northside) hailing from Greenwood.
In the first game Da’Shawn Chairs quickly showed why he was an All-State selection for the Elks finding his way through the Team Black secondary and handling defensive duties. The Kane Archer led Team Black would show the same prowess that Greenwood fans saw a few times this past fall. Cash Archer made his presence known early with a couple QB rushes (a rule that was quickly changed) and then an interception. An interesting fold to the 7v7 tournament was a One on One competition to decide the winner of Game 1. Team White would pit their best receiver against Greenwood’s All-Conference Cornerback Landon Nelms. An underthrown pass was broken up by Nelms. Team Black had to score to win the game as Greenwood Sophomore Isaiah Arrington would get the pass from Archer for the T.D.
The 2nd game had Team Black facing the Chris Bell led Team Red that included Braxton Lindsey and Van Buren’s Jadyn Johnson. Chris Bell would go to Braxton Lindsey several times, but it was a catch by Isaiah Arrington that set the tone for the game. Jumping one handed in the back of the end zone while covered for the score got the biggest reaction. Team Black would go on to win Game 2.
Game 3 was Team Red vs Team White. Bristow, Oklahoma’s Darien Dansby would be the go to receiver early on mounting a large lead that would be erased with Chris Bell finding Braxton Lindsey several times in the end zone. This set up a Team Red vs Team Black Championship.
In the 4th game, Team Black and Team Red traded scores with Archer and Bell trading touchdowns. From there Team Black took a convincing win with TD passes to Arrington, L.J. Robins, Kaylor Jasna, and Cash Archer. Noah Chaser and Northside’s Issac Wright would have several clutch catches throughout the tournament as well. Team Black would be crowned the Champions of the first Impact 7v7 Tournament.
While the Tournament still has some kinks to work out, it accomplished the biggest part of the vision of Impact Sports. To bring something different for the Athletes of the four state area.
The Greenwood Lady Bulldogs added another 5A West Conference win with a 89-32 win.
Tuesday night the Lady Bulldogs beat the Van Buren 60-28. The Harrison Lady Goblins took the nearly 3 hour trip to the legendary H.B. Stewart Arena and did not fair much better.
In the first period Greenwood jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead until Harrison’s Brooklyn Mitchell would get them on the scoreboard. Greenwood would get a 26-4 lead at the end of the period with Anna Trusty getting 16 points, Brooklyn Woolsey with 6, Mady Cartwright had 4, and Carley Sexton and Izzy Smith adding 2 each. On the defensive side they absolutely stifiled Harrison from mounting any sort of consistency in shooting.
The 2nd period saw the starting 5 of Cartwright, Trusty, Woolsey, Sexton, and Adriana Rusin rotate out for the remainder of the half at the 4:59 mark. It did not slow down the Greenwood bench from showing how deep it was, adding 8 points to push the lead to 55-15. Freshman Kylah Pearcy got 6 points and Liddie-Ann Adams with 2 points.
Coming out of halftime saw the starting 5 putting up 17 more points to push the Greenwood to 72. They gave way to the bench again and with Pearcy taking advantage of the opportunity to get 7 more points.
4th period the Lady Bulldogs went deeper on the bench getting everyone on the 23 athlete roster in the game. Pate Jones came in a let her presence known with a 6 point effort, Madelyn Wilkinson added 2 points and Soraya Garcia also added 2.
Anna Trusty led with scoring 19 points, with Mady Cartwright getting 18. Brooklyn Woolsey and Kylah Pearcy with 13 each. Carly Sexton and Adriana Rusin both had 5 points.
“We came out and played well. We’ve got great kids that work hard everyday. We compete in practice, we’ve got a lot of players that can play and they all compete against each other every day.” Coach Reeves said after the game. “Fortunately, tonight, we played all 23 players. A lot of them scored and got up and down the floor a lot.”
Asked about the depth of bench coming in and being able to make an impact. “We mix ours up every day. If you’re not ready, our players in practice. If you are not focused and ready, somebody will take it from you. We try to stay after them to play hard, play defense. Always be ready, because you never know when your chance will be there.”
Up next the Lady Bulldogs take on Siloam Springs on Tuesday.
The 9th Grade Bulldogs drop one against the Siloam Springs Panthers
Thursday night the Freshmen Bulldogs took on the Panthers in Northwest Arkansas/River Valley Conference action.
The Bulldogs came out slow and saw themselves down 12-4 in the 1st period. Shelton Lewis and Cooper Bland would have the only points in the 1st with two a piece. The ‘Dogs would start to make their comeback in the 2nd period with several players getting to the net. Lewis would add 4 more points with Jakson Overton, Blake Christiansen, Malaki Efurd, and Benton Hossley adding 2 points a piece. Greenwood would go into the half down 25-16.
Coming out of the halftime break the ‘Dogs defense would hold the Panthers to 7 points while offensively adding 13 to bring the score closer at 33-29. Shelton Lewis added 7 points in the rally. Lawyer Thornsberry would get his first points of the night with 3 pointer. Kane Archer gets two buckets for 4 points.
4th period the ‘Dogs had several opportunities to pull past the Panthers but the ball did not bounce their way. The Panthers would get a 10 point run to Greenwood’s 7 to put them up 43-36 with 2:04 left in the game. The Bulldog defense over the next minute and a half held Siloam to just one point getting four of their own pulling within 4 points of the Panthers 44-40 with 26.4 seconds left. Greenwood would foul Silloam with them getting one more point and then the rebound as time would expire.
Shelton Lewis finished with 16 points on the night. Kane Archer had 11 and Malaki Efurd and Lawyer Thornsberry with 3.
Superman has kryptonite. Green Lantern has the color yellow. Ironman has, well, low batteries. The point is, even the mightiest heroes have weaknesses. The Mansfield Lady Tigers have been a dominant force on the hardwoods only losing two games leading up to their Friday nights Homecoming game. In their two losses though, physicality was a defining weakness in the Lady Tigers downfalls. It didn’t take long to see that the Lady Tigers Homecoming opponents, JC Westside, definitely did their homework and were prepared to use the big guns to take down the mighty Mansfield Lady Tigers.
Alyson Edwards (#12) barrels through traffic for earning the points while drawing a foul.
Both teams began banging into each other right from the opening jump ball. Mansfield had the height advantage early and was able to block the Lady Rebels shots, but JC Westside had the determination and attitude. This was quickly turning into a “foosketball” game as even the first points of the game came from a Natalie Allison free throw due to a foul. Allison was also able to put up a board bucket for a 3-0 lead, but the Lady Rebels closed the gap to one point by sinking two free throws and then called a time-out at the 5:24 mark. Alyson Edwards gave the Lady Tigers a little bit of breathing room with a powerful put-back and tacked on a free throw to boot. Now with the game sitting at 7-2 in Mansfield’s favor, the Lady Rebels again came back and this time sank a long range three-pointer forcing the Lady Tigers to call a time-out and regroup. Seven Sanderson subbed in after the short break and didn’t waste any time breaking the backboards with back-to-back rebounds and put-back buckets. With just a few seconds left in the first quarter, Kynslee Ward took a steal the full length of the court for a layup giving Mansfield a 14-5 lead at the buzzer.
Harlie Fuller (#3) sticks to Blue like glue in an impressive defensive coverage.
After a rough and tumble first quarter, the Lady Tigers realized that JC Westside wanted a hardwood war. So, Mansfield suited up for battle and handed the game over to their very own battle horse, Alyson Edwards. Edwards fired off with rebounds and put-backs to draw fouls on the Lady Rebels. If the aggressive nature of JC Westside wasn’t evident on the court itself, all you had to do was look at the stat book. With 4:47 still left in the half, the Lady Rebels had already pounded their way to 9 team fouls which forced them to pull back the reigns on their hardnosed defense. Now the Lady Rebels defense had to play hesitant which was exactly what Mansfield’s offense wanted. Trinity Triska and Kynslee Ward both took steals down the court for breakaway layups giving the Lady Tigers good momentum for the first time in the game. JC Westside was able to knock down a three-point shot, but back-to-back board buckets by Alyson Edwards and a sweet assist from Natalie Allison to Trinity Triska for a layup nullified Westside’s attempt at getting back in the game. The foul bug spooked the Lay Rebels so much that they only committed one foul in the last 3 minutes of the half which allowed Mansfield to rack up 15 points as the teams headed to halftime with Mansfield leading 25-8.
Seven Sanderson (#40) goes above and beyond Lady Rebel defenders for a board bucket.
The third quarter was all Mansfield. The Lady Tigers melted the lights on the scoreboard with 28 points while only allowing JC Westside to gain 5 points. Alyson Edward’s remained red hot coming out of the half with a pair of free throws and an assist to Harlie Fuller for a layup. The Lady Tigers “Sister-2-Sister” act of Kynslee and Kaylee Ward took center stage as the pair began dishing out jump shots, layups, steals, put-backs, and even assisting each other in points. JC Westside had no choice but to call a time-out with the score now sitting at 42-13 with 4:41 left in the quarter. The Lady Tigers continued their tremendous teamwork methods with steals that turned into assists and points for the remainder of the quarter. An Alyson Edwards steal was passed to Kynslee Ward who dumped the ball off to Natalie Allison for a layup showcased a Lady Tigers team unselfishly having fun. Mansfield kept it going with more assist points like Natalie Allison giving an assist to Kaylee Ward, Alyson Edwards making a sweet shovel pass to Kaylee Ward, and Harlie Fuller with a steal and bonus assist to Kynslee Ward. All of the passing left the Lady Rebels gassed and waving a white flag as the teams headed into the fourth quarter with Mansfield in charge of a commanding 53-13 lead.
Skylynn Harris (#24) swats away a Lady Rebel would be layup.
JC Westside mounted a slight comeback in the fourth quarter outscoring the Lady Tigers 11-2, but the surge only delayed the inevitable as Mansfield rolled on to a 55-24 victory. The Homecoming victory puts Mansfield atop the 2A-4 Conference with an undefeated 5-0 record in the first half of conference play. But there will be no rest for the Lady Tigers if they plan to keep their conference prominence alive against another very physical team. Mansfield will next face a rough and tumble Hector Lady Wildcats team on January 17th. The Lady Tigers narrowly defeated Hector at home in early December and with their only one conference loss being to Mansfield, the Lady Wildcats definitely haven’t forgotten. Unlike the previous meeting though, Mansfield will travel to Hector as the two top teams battle for conference supremacy.
Hello everyone! We have had the best spring weather until today, Thursday. It’s very, very cold today. Winter is back again. Makes me want to bake and make a big pot of soup. Good old comfort foods.
We all love our children and our furbabies. Jacob Hopkins was spoiled but he was always a good kid, that’s this mom’s opinion. Jacob’s dad passed away when he was 21 years old. I was 18 when my dad passed, so I know how hard it is. They were very close and I know he misses him dearly. After his dad passed we would do lots of stuff together. We would take little road trips together. One time we were on our way to Eureka Springs to see the Great Passion Play. If you have not been it’s worth the drive. We were on some back road and Jacob is going to put the address into his phone for GPS. So he says, “Sheri take us to such and such address, to the Passion Play.” I can’t tell you how touched I was. I said, “you named the girl in your phone after your momma, how sweet of you Bub.” He looks at me like I’m crazy and he says, “mom I said Siri, not Sheri.” Busted my bubble, so her name was Siri, not Sheri.
I got him back one day. He came home from work and I had cut the face of Little Debbie off the box and put her picture on the fridge. He sees it and says “mom this is not even a magnet it’s cut from a box.” He also says, “your crazy” and “…there’s not one pic of me on the fridge.” I guess he was jealous of my Debbie pic on the fridge. If I would have had a daughter, I would have named her Debbie. Just want ya’ll to know I have a pretty good size Little Debbie magnet on my fridge now, a Little Debbie coffee mug, a Little Debbie keychain and a Little Debbie ink pen. I guess ya’ll know by now my family loves Little Debbie cakes.
On a healthier note, let’s make some soup! How about broccoli cheese soup in the crock pot?
CROCK POT BROCCOLI CHEESE SOUP 4 cups broccoli diced small 2 tablespoons butter 4 cups cheddar cheese shredded 1/2 cup onion diced 2 teaspoons minced garlic (I but the one in the jar) 1/2 cup celery diced small 4 cups chicken broth 1 cup of heavy whipping cream 1 teaspoon pepper 1 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup cornstarch Cut the broccoli into small pieces and place the broccoli, butter, onion, celery, and minced garlic in the crock pot. Mix the chicken broth with the cornstarch and stir the mixture into the crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours. After this cooking time, stir in the cream and shredded cheese. Cover and cook on high for 30 minutes until the cheese is melted. Stir thoroughly right before serving and enjoy. Have a great week!
Hartley DuCharme of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life, Sunday, December 25, 2022 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Hartley was born November 25, 1963 to Ned Charles DuCharmeand Lois (Vassar) DuCharme. He was 59 years old.
Hartley grew up in and around Waldron and graduated from WHS. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and hanging out with his friends. However, his real love was that for his family. Spending time with his nieces and nephews making everlasting memories.
Harley leaves behind to cherish his memory, his mother Lois DuCharme of Waldron, Arkansas and his siblings: Barton Ducharme, wife Debbie of Waldron, Arkansas, Marie Himes and husband Bill of Waldron, Arkansas, Glen DuCharme of Butler, Missouri and Mark DuCharme and wife Kate of Las Vegas, Nevada. Hartley will forever remain in the hearts of his nieces and nephews. Hartley will be missed by all that knew him and the many whose lives he impacted including a host of extended family and friends he loved dearly.
Hartley was preceded in death by his father, Ned Charles and one sister, Odett.
Hartley’s family will hold a private memorial service at a later date.
