RNN Sports will be on the court tonight in Fayetteville when the Lady Razorbacks host Florida. Game time is 7 p.m.
Watch for RNN Sports action photos from tonight’s game this weekend on RNN Sports’ Team Press Pass page on Facebook! Tonight’s game is part of the continuing RNN coverage of Razorbacks athletics. Fans can download and share the photos at no cost. Just credit RNN Sports Team Press pass when you share the photos!
See you at Walton Arena tonight!
Earthwork and construction are well underway for two new Dollar General Store locations in our area.
According to a public relations spokesperson, Dollar General plans to relocate and upgrade its current Mansfield store at 305 Huntington Avenue to a DG Market store at 520 North Caldwell Avenue. At this time, the new location is currently under construction and plans to open in late spring 2023.
“In addition to the general merchandise selection our Mansfield customers trust Dollar General to provide, our DG Market store will offer shoppers a wide assortment of grocery items, including dairy products, fresh produce, fresh meats and perishable foods. Dollar General’s produce set is a curated assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables including lettuce, tomatoes, onions, apples, strawberries, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lemons, limes, salad mixes, and more. The fresh fare selection offers the top 20 items typically sold in traditional grocery stores and covers approximately 80% of produce categories most grocery stores carry.”
Additionally, DG is also currently under construction on a new traditional Dollar General location at 131 Highway 71 Southwest in Huntington. At this time, a store opening is slated for early winter 2023.
It was noted that the official opening dates at both locations are subject to construction progress.
By Dr. Curtis Varnell
“I am loved. I am important. I can learn anything.” The teachers voice echoed down the hallway of Waldron elementary. The teacher paused at the end of each sentence as the entire class responded back in enthusiastic unison to each statement. Mrs. Atchley’s class were ready to learn! She starts each period by affirming to the students that they are in a place where they are loved, appreciated, and focused on learning. We have exceptional teachers in our region and I was visiting one of the best.
Mrs. Le Anne Atchley teaches STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) to every student, k-4 at Waldron Elementary. Every student in the school rotate through her classroom weekly and are introduced to hands-on, activity based education where the focus is on the student developing and improving skills across the curriculum.
Mrs. A as she is known to her students, grew up assisting her family in raising cattle and poultry. As her kids grew up, she took a job in a local bank and then transitioned into obtaining her bachelor of science degree at ATU. She began her teaching career at Booneville and, in 2008, returned to her home school at Waldron. She taught various grades in the regular classroom but her classes were never the norm. With her enthusiastic and interesting approach to teaching, she brings out the best in her students. Realizing her special qualities, she was chosen to begin the STEAM program for the school and, according to her administrators, she was even better than advertised. She quickly began writing and obtaining grants from every available source, some that no-one else in the region had even heard of. Dole, Harps, Farm Bureau, ARVEST, and General Motors assisted Waldron in developing one of the best equipped STEAM classrooms in the state. Making complex learning age appropriate is a real skill and Mrs. A has a knack for it. Her students can be observed coding robots, developing new designs for ships, airplanes, and rockets, operating drones, and wiring electrical circuits.
This past year, she obtained funding to construct a school garden and students are busy preparing the ground, germinating starter plants, and getting ready for spring.
Today, we are doing skittles science. Students excited voices echo across the room as they number and graph the flavors found in each bag. Laughter fills the classroom as blindfolded students hold their nose and try to guess the flavor of candy just by taste (skittles relies of smell and color to determine taste). This is the way a classroom should be. Students are engaged, they are excited about learning, and they are learning to work together to solve problems.
Exceptional teachers make a difference in the life of students. Teacher knowledge is important, loving and truly caring for a student is even more important, best of all is the teacher like Mrs. A that demonstrates both.
Each month, we will focus on outstanding area educators. Don’t forget to thank that “special” teacher in your life.
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
During the cooler months in Arkansas, there are many opportunities for outdoor fun, such as hunting, camping and riding all-terrain vehicles. While enjoying these activities in the Natural State, it’s important to follow safety guidelines to avoid accidents and injuries.
Jesse Bocksnick, extension 4-H outdoor skills coordinator for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said safely operating guns and ATVs can minimize the risk of accidents.
“Accidents happen — we can’t be 100 percent safe all the time,” Bocksnick said. “But the main thing is to practice good, safe operation of ATVs and safe gun handling so that when an accident does happen, we can minimize it and it’s just a scare – not a tragic story that we talk about years later as a teaching tool.”
Proper firearm handling
When it comes to safe gun handling, Bocksnick said three elements are key: muzzle control, action open and trigger control.
The muzzle is the part of the firearm where the bullet exits the gun. Keeping the muzzle pointed in a safe direction at all times can help prevent accidents or minimize the damage of an accident.
“Every year it seems like somebody gets hurt with an ‘empty gun,’ and that’s because they think it’s unloaded, and it’s not,” Bocksnick said.
The action on a gun is the part where the ammunition enters the chamber and is then extracted when the gun is fired. By keeping the action open, the user indicates to others that the gun is unloaded until it is time to shoot.
“When that action is closed, nobody knows if there’s a bullet in the chamber,” Bocksnick said. “You just assume that it’s loaded. We assume that all guns are loaded all the time – it just keeps things safer that way.”
Trigger control means “you keep your finger off the trigger until your sight is on the target,” Bocksnick said.
“A lot of folks, especially young folks, when you hand them a firearm, the first thing they do is wrap their hand around the grip and they’ve got a finger on the trigger,” Bocksnick said. “We don’t want to do that.”
For adults who are excited to introduce hunting and shooting sports to the young people in their lives, Bocksnick said it’s important to brush up on safety skills, as many adults develop poor safety habits over time.
“People are usually excited about training young folks and getting them out there,” he said. “It’s a family pastime, and they want to pass that tradition along to their family members, but sometimes they have unsafe habits, or they don’t realize how unsafe they actually are with a firearm. When they’re talking to kids and teaching them the basics of hunting, sometimes they may skip over or take for granted some of those basic firearm controls.”
When training youth on proper firearm handling, Bocksnick said another issue is handing off firearms to young people too soon.
“If they can’t physically work the action, hold the gun up, or handle the recoil, they’re too small,” he said. “You need to wait until the next year, or maybe the year after that. I see a lot of parents push kids too fast. They want them to be that hunting buddy so badly that they give them a little too much responsibility for their age.”
ATV and UTV safety
Riding ATVs and UTVs, or all-terrain and utility task vehicles, can be a fun way to explore the outdoors. But these vehicles can be very dangerous for riders if not handled safely.
Bocksnick said that for ATVs and UTVs, the “number one thing to remember is to wear a helmet.”
“It is the single most important piece of safety equipment that a person – adult or youth – can wear,” he said. “It must be a Department of Transportation-approved helmet.”
It is also critical to follow the age recommendations of the vehicle’s manufacturer, Bocksnick said.
“Most ATVs and UTVs are 16 years old and up,” Bocksnick said. “Just because a youth can steer a machine or push the throttle doesn’t mean they are capable of driving that machine. ATVs are ‘rider active’ machines that require the operator to use their body weight and active movement to properly ride the machine and make it handle properly. With UTVs, if a youth cannot sit in the seat properly with their back against the seat, buckled in, and reach all the controls, they are too young.”
Bocksnick said a common misconception about UTVs is that they are safe for children because they have a roll bar or rollover protective structures. But youth must be buckled in and using the seatbelts or harness systems for these protective measures to work.
“Unfortunately, ATV and UTV accidents are a major cause of head trauma, death and major injuries in the state among youth,” Bocksnick said. “Youth riding machines they are not old enough for, not wearing helmets, or carrying passengers on ATVs increases this problem exponentially.”
Hunting and campfire safety
During hunting season, many people get injured from their deer stands. Becky McPeake, extension professor and wildlife specialist for the Division of Agriculture, said scouting for the proper deer stand location before the hunt is important.
“Find a tree which is strong enough to support your weight,” McPeake said. “Sometimes the tree nearest an opening is smaller in diameter, and it is tempting to use that tree, but don’t. Be safe.”
McPeake said being in good shape is also key to successfully navigating a deer stand, as it takes physical strength to get in and out.
“If there are physical limitations, ground-hunt to be safe,” she said. “You can build your own blind using natural features or purchase a tent blind.”
Wearing a harness is also an “essential safety feature” for those using deer stands, McPeake said.
“Use a climbing rope, climb a little higher than your stand, and slip into the stand,” she said. “Then, use a rope to lift or lower your supplies and your unloaded firearm, and clip yourself in the tree once in place.”
Be sure to get plenty of rest and stay awake while in a deer stand, and let others know when heading out for a hunt.
“Tell your family or friends when you go hunting and when you expect to return,” McPeake said. “Leave them a map of where you will be hunting, since cell service sometimes doesn’t work in remote locations.”
While hunting, camping or simply spending time in the backyard, campfire safety guidelines should also be followed to avoid injury or an out-of-control blaze. Creenna Bocksnick, extension 4-H camping coordinator for the Division of Agriculture, said the first step to a safe campfire is checking the fire regulations in one’s area.
“Some locations don’t allow for open flames, and seasonal burn bans also need to be considered,” Bocksnick said. “Campers also need to remember general fire safety concerns: burns, keeping flammable liquids and materials away from the fire, and not leaning or stepping over the fire.”
Bocksnick said people should also pay close attention to their surroundings for other potential fire hazards, including “dead trees above their fire that can fall, tinder on the ground near their fire that can catch on fire, and tree roots under their fire that can also catch on fire without them knowing.”
People camping in a wilderness setting should also aim to “leave no trace” of their presence at the campsite after leaving.
“Campers should build, douse and cover remnants of their fires so that the next person doesn’t know they were there,” Bocksnick said. “They should also not put items in the fire that will not completely burn and turn to ash during their stay.”
For more information about the 4-H shooting sports program and Arkansas 4-H ATV safety, visit the Arkansas 4-H Outdoor Skills website or contact Jesse Bocksnick at jbocksnick@uada.edu.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on five system campuses.
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H:
Ari Blake Abshire of Booneville was booked in the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 30 at 3:56 a.m. and remains at the SCADC. Abshire was charged with two counts of Battery in the Second Degree – Officer, Criminal Impersonation in the Second Degree – False ID, Resisting Arrest Misdemeanor, Obstructing Governmental Operations-ID, Assist Outside Agency-Misd., and Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.
Lisa Ann Taylor of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 31 at 2:24 a.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond Taylor was charged with Parole Violation, Obstructing Governmental Operations-ID, Possession Drug Paraphernalia – Felony, Possession of [Schedule I/II Controlled Substance] with the Purpose to Deliver >28g, absconding, Petition to Revoke – Felony, and Obstructing Governmental Operations-info.
Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Bradley Sean Brewer of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 31 at 6:37 a.m. and released on signature bond December 31 at 8:04 p.m. Brewer was charged with theft of property <$1k.
Crystal Michelle Corgill of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 27 at 6:37 p.m. and is on a parole hold. Corgill was charged with absconding and violating parole.
Chase Ian Hattabaugh of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 29 at 9:04 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond December 29 at 8:05 p.m. Hattabaugh was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.
Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office:
Phillip Dale Craig of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 27 at 5:24 p.m. and released on signature bond December 29 at 10 a.m. Craig was charged with Possession Drug Paraphernalia – Felony.
Sidney Allen Craig of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 27 at 5:21 p.m. and transferred to an outside agency on December 29 at 3:13 p.m. Craig was charged with two counts of Assist Outside Agency-Misd., Possession Drug Paraphernalia – Felony, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Ingest.
Doyle Matthew Fuller of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 28 at 3:22 p.m. and remains at the SCADC on cash bond. Fuller was charged with two counts of Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.
Eudale Gaines of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 26 at 6:18 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond December 26 at 10:59 p.m. Gaines was charged with Criminal Mischief in the Second Degree – Damage, and Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree.
Gabrielle Elizabeth Goldman of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 26 at 7:53 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Goldman was charged with DWI court sanctions.
Daniel Vincent Guess of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 28 at 2:31 a.m. and remains at the SCADC. Guess was charged with Refusal To Submit To Arrest Misdemeanor, Fleeing -On Foot-Misd., Breaking or Entering- – Building, Structure or Vehicle, and Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.
Wizdom Renee McMurray of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 30 at 3:07 p.m. and released to another agency on January 2 at 12:49 p.m. McMurray was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Misd., and Contempt of Court–Disorderly, contemptuous or insolent behavior committed during court.
Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
Casina Marie Farrow of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 29 at 3:33 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond December 29 at 5:24 p.m. Farrow was charged with two counts of Petition to Revoke – Felony.
David Nathanal Sage of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 25 at 4:20 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond December 25 at 8:02 p.m. Sage was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense, and Driving Left Of Center/Improper Overtaking or Passing.
Arresting agency – Hackett Police Department:
Stacy Diane Howard of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 27 at 5:27 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond December 27 at 9:46 p.m. Howard was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia – Ingest Meth/Cocaine.
Terrell Marquis Lawson of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 31 at 7:35 p.m. and released on signature bond December 31 at 9:45 p.m. Lawson was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Misdemeanor.
Arresting agency – Barling Police Department:
Johnny Allen Sory of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on December 31 at 1:58 a.m. and released on signature bond December 31 at 3:30 a.m. Sory was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Misdemeanor.
Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office:
Boniface Ramos, 37 of Mulberry, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 26 at 3:11 p.m. Ramos was charged with two counts of violation of probation/suspended imposition of sentence, parole hold, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance.
Joshua Featherston, 40 of Subiaco, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 28 at 9:06 p.m. Featherston was charged with two counts of failure to appear.
Vera Gilmore, 66 of Havana, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 29 at 9:25 a.m. Gilmore was charged with criminal trespass.
Gary Owens, 35 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 30 at 5:22 p.m. Owens was charged with assault on family or household member in the first degree, criminal mischief in the second degree, false imprisonment in the second degree, terroristic threatening in the first degree, and resisting arrest.
William Spears, 34 of Camden, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on December 30 at 11:15 p.m. Spears was charged with theft by receiving.
**The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.**
Have you heard of the 1,000 hours outside movement/project/challenge? Studies show that kids spend an average of 1200 hours a year looking at screens, and the focus should be shifted to spending more time outside.
The idea is in a year’s time to have your kids spend 1,000 hours being outdoors. That’s the only rule- be outside. Any other rules and constraints can be added that are determined by the individual families but the main idea is outside time, fresh air!
I heard about this a few years ago and thought it was a great idea, but then doubt started creeping in. When I first heard about it the oldest was a baby, and I was still working full time. “Nope, not placing unrealistic expectations on myself because we will inevitably fail and not get 1,000 hours and I’ll feel guilty”, I told myself. I’m not big on resolutions if you can’t tell. I don’t like failing, so sometimes I don’t try. Now I have a 5 year old, 2 year old, and 13 month old who isn’t yet walking. If we go outside she has to be contained in a stroller, swing, or on my back. I’m a free spirit parent for the most part, but I can’t put my wild girl down to consume whatever she sees fit while I help the other two.
So going into 2023 I didn’t have plans to take on this project. We play outside any chance we get, and that was just fine.
Then I saw a reel on Instagram and she shared that they had failed at getting 1,000 hours outdoors for 2022. I thought yep, that’s me, that’s why I didn’t do it. And then she shared clips of what they gained by failing- 900+ hours outside hiking, biking, playing in dirt, swinging, adventuring, and on and on. Oh, and her kids ages are similar to my babies ages. She also has kids close in age and both are toddlers.
During their over 900 hours outside in 2022 they bonded as a family, boosted their immune system through play in the dirt, got their bodies moving and found fun ways to exercise, and beyond that they made memories and documented their lives together.
Kids learn through play, and outside presents unique opportunities for learning. That coupled with fresh air having many health benefits for kids and adults it makes sense why the idea came about.
When I decided I was going to write this article I began researching the 1,000 Hours Outside starters, the rules, how to track your hours, and all the technical details. I’m writing this article outside with my boys currently, and in trying to get us out here I grumbled “why does it take so long to get outside? How does anyone spend 1,000 hours outside with small children?” And I realized the technical details may not be what people need from me. Many people may feel like I do and just go oh no, we aren’t doing that. We have enough going on and don’t need the added task of tracking hours. Is that you? That’s okay! We don’t have to track our hours. I’m still undecided on if I will. We are on day 2 of 2023 and I have no idea how long we were outside yesterday, but I would guess 2 hours. I’ve already failed at keeping track and continue debating if I correct it. Maybe just spending time outside and knowing we are doing it is enough for our family for this year. The lessons and memories are worth immeasurable amounts.
If you want to do 1,000 hours outside for yourself or your family, you can find an app in the AppStore to help track your hours, or download a free printable on https://www.1000hoursoutside.com. There you will also find all the technical details and history without the long winded writing from me.
Happy 2023!
The Bill Frye Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament sponsored by Today’s Bank came to a rousing conclusion on Friday night with championship play in both the girls and boys brackets. Consolation games were played earlier in the day, and championship finals were played on Friday evening. All in all, it was a great week of holiday basketball to end 2022. Fans were left wanting more, and that is what they will get when the teams return to their respective conferences in January and continue play that will eventually lead to post-season in February.
In the girls championship, the host school Mansfield Lady Tigers defeated Paris for the tournament title before a raucous crowd at the Mansfield High School gymnasium. Paris played well against the talented Lady Tigers, but the talent and depth of Mansfield proved to be too much for the Lady Eagles. After a closer than anticipated half time score, the Lady Tigers shut down the Paris scoring in the third quarter and went on to defeat the Lady Eagles, 57-35.
Mansfield’s Kynslee Ward was named as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player on the girls side of the tournament. She and her Lady Tigers teammates dominated Paris in the second half to win the championship.
In the boys bracket championship game, the Waldron Bulldogs defeated the Wolverines of Vian, Oklahoma in a double-overtime thriller. It was a seemingly appropriate end to what was a great three days of good basketball play in a very good holiday tournament. Waldron pulled away late in the second overtime to defeat Vian, 53-48.
The Bulldogs and the Wolverines battled on every possession, and each time one team seemed to be ready to pull away, the momentum would swing to the other team, and both schools would fight back and forth for the entire game. Vian pushed hard and fast up the court on offensive transition opportunities, but the height and length of Waldron, combined with their athleticism and intensity carried the Bulldogs to the championship.
Waldron’s Lidge Stinson was named as the tournament’s Most Valuable Player on the boys side of the tournament. Several players from both Waldron and Vian could have been named to the award, but Sinson’s performance stood out among all players on both teams. Waldron is now set to have a big remainder of their year leading up to this year’s district tournament.
The tournament began on Wednesday with play in boys and girls games. Winners advanced to the next round of the winners brackets, and losers of first round games moved to the consolation brackets where games would eventually be played for third, fifth, and seventh place in the tournament. There is some debate as to the popularity of holiday tournaments; some believe the tournaments allow their teams to keep playing and to avoid an extended layoff during the holiday break. Others may doubt the importance of playing in a tournament and choose to take the time to allow their players to rest, practice, and heal from nagging injuries before continuing conference play in early January.
It all depends on who you talk to. But one thing can be said for this year’s Frye Classic…the teams that played in both championship games on Friday night will benefit later on in their schedules by having played in tough, competitive games in the finals. All four teams will be stronger as a result of having played good competition this past week in Mansfield.
The tournament’s namesake is former Mansfield basketball coach, Bill Frye. Frye was one of the most successful coaches in Mansfield history. He and his family still live in the community and can be seen often supporting the school and the sports teams at Mansfield High School. He has touched many lives throughout his career, but on Friday night, it was Coach Frye who seemed to be touched by the honor of the tournament and its recognition of him and his career. Coach Frye and members of Today’s Bank who sponsored the tournament were on hand and presented trophies on the court at the conclusion of both the girls and boys championship games.
In full disclosure, most people know that I retired from Mansfield in 2019. The week was like a “homecoming” week for me. It was a lot of fun to be back on campus and to see the many former colleagues and friends from the community. But I say that to add this observation; there have been many great coaches and staff that have worked the tournament in the past. And now, there is a new generation of excellent coaches and administrators that are doing a great job. This week’s tournament was extremely well-ran and continues to be one of the best holiday tournaments in the state. Congratulations to everyone in Mansfield who had a hand in making the Frye Classic an overwhelming success.
It takes many people donating their time and resources to make a tournament a success. Starting with the tournament’s sponsor, Today’s Bank, and going down the line with the many coaches, administrators, parent volunteers, and district employees, it is a huge effort that goes unnoticed by many who may not be aware of what is required to host the tournament. Mansfield has been doing it for many years, and they do an excellent job. On behalf of RNN Sports, thanks for all you do, and thank you for making us feel at home. RNN Sports had four photographers present on Friday night for the finals, and we were all treated with great hospitality. Thank you Mansfield!
We would also like to congratulate the tournament runner-ups who had a great run in the tournament and should be proud of their effort and success in the tournament. On the girls side of the tournament, the Paris Lady Eagles finished second in the tournament and now have a very good experience to springboard their team into the remainder of their schedule starting next week.
On the boys side of the tournament, we congratulate the Vian Wolverines who made the trip over to Mansfield from Vian, Oklahoma to play in the tournament. The Wolverines lost a very close double overtime battle and could have very easily been getting on their bus and going back to Oklahoma with the boys championship. RNN Sports wishes the Woverines all the best in the remainder of their conference schedule.
So all in all, everyone had a great time at the Frye Classic. Fans were waving towels, dancing in the isles, and living on every point of each game. The fans came in all ages and sizes, but everyone seemed to be enjoying a night of great high school basketball!
So Happy New Year from RNN Sports! It has been both our pleasure and privilege to bring you regional and statewide sports coverage in 2022, and we look forward to doing it again in 2023! May your new year be a happy and fulfilling one for you and your loved ones. We will see you next week as high school and Razorbacks basketball resumes in January.
In a thrilling end to a great week of holiday basketball, the Waldron Bulldogs won a very hard-fought game with a talented Vian Wolverines team to win in double overtime in the Today’s Bank / Frye Classic Holiday Basketball Tournament. In a back and forth game that resemble a heavy weight fight, the Bulldogs defeated the Wolverines by the score of 53-48. The Bulldogs’ Lidge Stinson was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
Earlier in the evening, the host school Mansfield Lady Tigers defeated Paris to win the tournament championship. The Lady Eagles battled Mansfield the entire game and were within striking range at the half, but a good third quarter for Mansfield made it very difficult for Paris to score, and the Lady Tigers pulled away to a 57-35 win. Mansfield’s Kynslee Ward was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.
RNN Sports will have a complete recap of the championship finals in print edition next week. If you have not yet subscribed to any of three print editions serving the many communities of western Arkansas, just go to residentnewsnetwork.com and click on the subscriptions link!
Congratulations to both Waldron and Mansfield on their tournament championships! The Frye Tournament proved yet again to be a classic, and thanks to everyone at the tournament and in the community of Mansfield who donated their time and resources to put on a great week of holiday basketball.
Happy New Year from RNN Sports!
It’s that time of year when many of us promise ourselves we’ll go to the gym more, or learn a new language, or take up a musical instrument, or any number of other worthy goals. But this year, when making New Year’s resolutions, why not also consider some financial ones?
Here are a few to consider:
• Don’t let inflation derail your investment strategy. As you know, inflation was the big financial story of 2022, hitting a 40-year high. And while it may moderate somewhat this year, it will likely still be higher than what we experienced the past decade or so. Even so, it’s a good idea to try not to let today’s inflation harm your investment strategy for the future. That happened last year: More than half of American workers either reduced their contributions to their 401(k)s and other retirement plans or stopped contributing completely during the third quarter of 2022, according to a survey by Allianz Life Insurance of North America. Of course, focusing on your cash flow needs today is certainly understandable, but are there other ways you can free up some money, such as possibly lowering your spending, so you can continue contributing to your retirement accounts? It’s worth the effort because you could spend two or three decades as a retiree.
• Control your debts. Inflation can also be a factor in debt management. For example, your credit card debt could rise due to rising prices and variable credit card interest rate increases. By paying your bill each month, you can avoid the effects of rising interest rates. If you do carry a balance, you might be able to transfer it to a lower-rate card, depending on your credit score. And if you’re carrying multiple credit cards, you might benefit by getting a fixed-rate debt consolidation loan. In any case, the lower your debt payments, the more you can invest for your long-term goals.
• Review your investment portfolio. At least once a year, you should review your investment portfolio to determine if it’s still appropriate for your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. But be careful not to make changes just because you feel your recent performance is not what it should have been. When the financial markets are down, as was the case for most of 2022, even quality investments, such as stocks of companies with solid business fundamentals and strong prospects, can see declines in value. But if these investments are still suitable for your portfolio, you may want to keep them.
• Prepare for the unexpected. If you encountered a large unexpected expense, such as the need for a major home repair, how would you pay for it? If you didn’t have the money readily available, you might be forced to dip into your long-term investments or retirement accounts. To prevent this, you should build an emergency fund containing three to six months’ worth of living expenses — or a year’s worth, if you’re retired — with the money kept in a low-risk, liquid account.
These resolutions can be useful — so try to put them to work in 2023.
This article is provided by Jeffrey O’Neal, Financial Advisor
Edward Jones
20 N Express St, Paris, AR 72855
479-963-1321
jeffrey.o’neal@edwardjones.com
edwardjones.com/jeffrey-o’neal
Edward Jones, Member SIPC
By Sheri Hopkins,
Lifestyle Contributor
Hello everyone! We had freezing temps last week and today it’s almost summertime again. Enjoy it while we can, it won’t last long.
My big kids, Jacob and Loren, got me a Fitbit for Christmas and a big Stanley cup to drink water out of. First of all, I asked for the Fitbit, so I can use it on my three-day diet from January first till January third. Sometimes I make it to 9 a.m. on January first. When you start a diet, don’t it seem like time just drags by and I watch the clock and it’s only 9 a.m. and it feels like it should be noon? This high-tech Fitbit as soon as I put it on, a message came across the screen that says “low water.” I’m looking for a place to put water in it like a radiator and couldn’t find one so I guess it was meaning me. Now tell me how this watch knows I don’t drink water? How does it know I drank a Diet Coke instead of water? I have talked to this Fitbit so much I’m sure when people see me they think I’m nuts. I will walk, and I will drink water when I get good and ready. I wonder if this is actually a secret life alert that Jacob got me to trick me into wearing one.
The three E’s got me a seal a meal vacuum sealer and a few other things. We had a great Christmas.
Talking about gifts reminds me of the time about four years ago I bought Ethan and Evan a push mower for them to mow the yard. These boys had never mowed. So they were going to take turns mowing and Evan goes first and I go out to check on his progress. I still laugh thinking about it, he was just going in circles and making all kinds of odd shapes. It never occurred to me to show him how to mow in a straight line. That is not even the funniest thing that he did. He looks at me serious as he can be and says “Nana, why did you buy this lawnmower in the hot summertime, why didn’t you buy it when it was cold in the winter? I rolled he had no clue the grass doesn’t grow in the winter months. These three grands of mine sure keep me entertained. I love having them they keep me young, crazy and busy. I might have already been a little crazy. Hope everyone has a wonderful New Year. Go outside like we do and get your pans and wooden spoons and wake everyone up in the neighborhood.
This week’s recipe is Gina Epperson’s Taco Soup and it’s really good. I’ve made it before.
TACO SOUP
1 ½ to 2 pounds of hamburger meat
1 onion, chopped
2 cans of pinto beans
1 can of whole-kernel corn
1 can Rotel (I put mine in the chopper and chop)
2 cans diced petite tomatoes
1 1/2 cups of water (more if it’s too thick)
1 small can of tomato sauce
1 dry Ranch mix
1 taco mix
Cook the meat with the onion and drain the grease off and all other ingredients and simmer till it’s hot. I like it over Fritos with shredded cheese and a little sour cream. You can eat it with crackers or tortilla chips, whichever you prefer. Make you a pot on a cold day and enjoy. Have an awesome week!
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