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Bulldogs Face Rematch With Bruins

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2:35 pm

The Class 6A State Championship will be decided this Saturday at 6:30 as the Greenwood Bulldogs take on the Pulaski Academy Bruins.

A combined 20 Football State Championships, 10 each all won since 2000. Two tradition rich programs. One known for producing Razorbacks with names like Wilson, Morgan, Noland, and Holt. For being FasDogs during the summer. The other being known the world over through articles and documentaries about their unorthodox approach to special teams and unworldly numbers in the passing game. Both with legendary coaches that joined the college ranks and promoted within. One coach with a legendary last name that has blazed his own path and been a part of all of the schools 10 State Championships. The other coach a Razorback receiving legend. Both Coaches won State Championships in their first year. Two programs vying for one thing, the 2022 Class 6A State Championship.

When looking at Arkansas High School Football programs in this century that is still young at 22 years, it is hard to escape the two that are the Greenwood Bulldogs and the Pulaski Academy Bruins. Two teams that as mentioned above have won 20 State Championships together. It is also interesting to note that they have only met once before in the State Championship. More on that in a few sentences or paragraphs.

This Saturdays matchup is just the 6th time these two have met. A week 9 game against Pulaski this season saw the Bulldogs coming out on top 33-23. Before you start getting excited, Pulaski’s starting QB went down early in the game followed by Hunter Houston leaving the game as well. The stout Greenwood defense and Freshman QB Kane Archer were able to come away with a 10 point victory. Kel Busby and Hunter Houston are healthy and look poised to lead their teams to hoisting the trophy written in gold on Saturday evening.

This is Greenwood’s mind boggling 16th trip to the State Championship game dating back to 1996. What happened for Greenwood to becoming a perennial favorite year after year.

1996 – Watson Chapel 35-13 Loss: Sophomore QB Brooks Coatney led the Bulldogs to their first State Championship game after game winning touchdown in the fog at Smith-Robinson against Malvern. A talented receiving corps with National Record holder Kris Weible and tough running back and future Razorback Tatum Owenby, were no match for the running back duo of Watson Chapel’s Ron Johnson and Bobby Jett.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/MICHAEL WOODS The Greenwood Bulldogs Josh Bell breaks around the corner for a gain in Friday nights game against the Northside Grizzlies in Fort Smith. 9/1/00

2000 – Hope 30-2 WIN: At the time Greenwood posted the largest margin of victory with rout of the Hope Bobcats. First drive of the game one of the Hope defenders would snag Josh Bell’s jersey and spin him around hoping he would go down, Bell would score a TD on that play setting the tone for the rest of the game. Josh Bell would become the MVP of the game after getting a unanimous vote. Head Coach Ronnie Peacock would get that elusive State Championship then take a job at Rogers High School.

2004 – Wynne 28-26 Loss: This was Head Coach Rick Jones’ first trip to the Arkansas State Championship after a successful run in Broken Arrow, OK. Coach Jones took over a program that went 23-11 under Harv Welch from 2001-2003. The game foreshadowed what was to come for the next 15 years with Coach Jones at the helm. The ‘Dogs would let Wynne score to give them the ball back with enough time on the clock to set up a game winning drive. They would get the TD and then go for two when Daniel Stegall would throw to future Razorback Lucas Miller, but it would go through his hands.

2005 – Morrilton 35-32 WIN: Redemption. The Bulldogs march back to The Rock with William Ridener winning the State Game MVP. Daniel Stegall would be the first player in Arkansas history to rush for 1000 yards and pass for 2000 yards in back to back seasons.

2006 – Pulaski Academy 56-55 WIN: This was Greenwood’s version of Miracle on Markham, well it would be one of the first of those. This is was just the beginning of what would be two teams at the beginning of their dynasties. Tyler Wilson would throw for a crazy 563 yards in the game. Cornerbacks Coach and Freshman Center Assistant Principal Travis Sandifer was a junior on that squad.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BENJAMIN KRAIN 12-01-07 Greenwood quarterback Tyler Wilson escapes Little Rock Christian defenders during the 5A state championship high school football game.

2007 – Little Rock Christian 27-6 WIN: The win avenged a 44-7 loss in the regular season to LR Christian. Greenwood would beat Pulaski Academy 57-50 in the Semi-Finals to earn a trip to War Memorial. Tyler Wilson would be named State Game MVP, to complete the Three-Peat

2010 – Camden Fairview 36-35 WIN: Another Miracle on Markham moment. Greenwood was down with two minutes in the game and was able to score 15 points in that time span to win the game, start the second three-peat and score the 10th win in the 50 game win streak. Current Co-Offensive Coordinator Stephen Hogan was the QB for Greenwood that year throwing for 2,888 yards.

2011 – Batesville 53-11 WIN: The ‘Dogs had to overcome a 21 point deficit in the Semi-Finals against Camden Fairview to get a shot at the Rock. Their 24th win in a row was a dominate one for the Championship with future Razorback Drew Morgan. This was the last Championship in Class 5A.

Greenwood quarterback Jabe Burgess looks looks to pass during the first quarter of Friday night’s game against Parkview at War Eagle field in Little Rock. Special to the Democrat-Gazette/JIMMY JONES

2012 – Pine Bluff 51-44 WIN: With the move to the hybrid 6A/7A Greenwood did not skip a beat. Jabe Burgess would take the helm of the Bulldogs following in the steps of cousins Brooks Coatney and Tyler Wilson. The 38th win in a row would give Greenwood a second Three-Peat. In their bid for a 4th consecutive State Championship and 51st victory, Pine Bluff would become the spoiler the following year kicking a last second Field Goal ending the Bulldogs 2013 season.

Arkansas Democrat Gazette photo – Drew Morgan

2015 – Pine Bluff 28-21 Loss: Those pesky Zebras, but this Greenwood team was not short on talent itself. Two future Razorbacks in Senior Grant Morgan and Sophomore Connor Noland. Future UCA Bear QB and Head Junior High Coach Luke Hales, another future UCA bear in Sophomore Kenny Wood. This was the first of 4 trips in a row for the Bulldogs.

2016 – Russellville 37-23 Loss: Greenwood was up 16-13 at halftime of the State Championship game when Russellville held Greenwood to 7 points.

2017 – Pine Bluff 52-14 WIN: 26 Seniors went into the season looking to turn around the last two years of coming up short. Connor Noland would pass for 2,801 yards and 34 Touchdowns en route to an undefeated season. Noland and Jon Womack would sweep the Farm Bureau Insurance Class 7A/6A Offensive and Defensive players of the year.

2018 – Benton 45-14 WIN: After an early season loss to Northside, Greenwood’s defense took charge and got two shutouts, two one score games, and three two score games. Just as Coach Jones had done previously, Receiver turned QB Peyton Holt would show how much of a game changer he could be. A spinning TD in the state game, coupled with a one handed catch by Lazaro Angel sealed the deal for the Bulldogs and their 9th State Championship. Coach Jones would coach one more season at the school in South Sebastian County. Greenwood’s shot at a 5th trip in a row to the State Championship in 2019 was stopped short in Searcy.

RNN Sports Photo – Lazaro Angel “The Catch”

2020 – Lake Hamilton 49-24 WIN: Number 10. Coach Chris Young was promoted to Head Coach as Coach Rick Jones took a position at the University of Missouri. Shortly after taking the position the world nearly came to a halt and the fall season was put in jeopardy due to Covid. The schedule took a few turns with Northside and L.R. Parkview having to cancel due restrictions. In their place Springdale Har-Ber and Bentonville West in their place. The Greenwood machine never stopped. In the state Championship Greenwood did start slow going down 10-0 but then rallied back on the performance of State Game MVP L.D. Richmond and Current Arkansas Tech players Jayden Jasna and Hunter Wilkinson. Jasna would set a State Championship game record with a 98 yard Kickoff return.

RNN Sport Photo – Coach Chris Young after the 2020 State Championship Game

2021 – El Dorado 27-17 Loss: Going for one State Championship is tough, going for 11 on your 15th trip…. The expectation is easy to figure out at Greenwood, they are going to come home with a trophy at the end of the season. The Senior laden El Dorado proved to be Greenwood’s Kryptonite in their chance to get another Back to Back Championship. Hunter Houston would go out due to injury and the now Elkins QB Slade Dean stepped in and almost pulled off the win. Two Turnovers in the 2nd half kept Greenwood from winning their 11th and had to watch El Dorado hoist the Gold Trophy.

There you have it 15 trips. 10 wins. Legendary names. Legendary Games. If history is any indicator Saturday nights game will add to the lore of both Greenwood and Pulaski Academy.

Charleston Routs Rison 27-0 to Advance to State Championship Game

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7:37 am

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Charleston Routs Rison 27-0 to Advance to State Championship Game

After three straight wins in the state playoffs at home, some fans wondered if Charleston could take their dominant play on the road and beat a good Rison football program that has won eight state titles in its program’s history. The Charleston defense had been stellar throughout the playoffs, but, the Tigers were about to face a very physical and talented rushing attack from legendary Rison Coach Clay Totty. And on a perfect evening weather-wise in south Arkansas, it didn’t take long for the questions to be answered.

After stopping the Wildcats on their first offensive possession, it was clear that the defensive line and linebacker corps for Charleston were there to play. The Tigers forced a Rison punt, and Charleston would take possession of the football for the first time.

On the first Charleston snap, senior running back Brevyn Ketter took the handoff from Brandon Scott and raced the distance to the end zone to score a touchdown for Charleston. The point after touchdown attempt was blocked, but the Tigers led 6-0 early, and never looked back. The stop on defense and the lightning strike score on the first Charleston offensive play seemingly put Rison in shock, and the Tigers went on to win the state semifinal game, 27-0.

Charleston’s Brevyn Ketter (4) races to the end zone on the first offensive play of the game for Charleston (RNN Sports Photo / Jim Best)

The Tigers will now advance to the Class 3A state championship next Saturday, December 10, 6:30 p.m., at War Memorial Stadium. Charleston will face the Booneville Bearcats who also won their state semifinal game at Melbourne on Friday night by the score of 41-36. The rematch from their regular season game in October will be for a state championship and will match the numbers one and three ranked teams in Class 3A according to Max Preps. The top-ranked Tigers will face a Booneville team that will be at full-strength on Saturday. The Bearcats had several players and starters, including their record-breaking running back, Dax Goff, unavailable in their first meeting. Boneville and Charleston have clearly been the best two teams in 3A this season, and the rematch will be a fan’s dream, featuring the best two teams competing for the state title.

Rison is a team that likes to run the football, pounding defenses into submission, and striking with the occasional pass when the defense sells out to stop the run. As tough as the Wildcats’ rushing attack can be, they are not built to score quickly or to come from behind. Ketter’s touchdown run early forced Rison to play catch-up all night against a very tough Charleston defense. The Wildcats did have two possessions inside the red zone, but on both possessions, Rison would not be able to score due to turnovers. The Wildcats’ running backs were capable of exploding for big plays, and at times they seemed like they were on the verge of breaking a run from scrimmage for a long gain, but, they never did. Charleston was physical on the offensive and defensive lines, and the Tigers’ secondary was able to stop the pass all night.

Charleston took a 12-0 halftime lead into the locker room with possession of the ball to start the second half. The Tigers began to put the game away when the Charleston offense took their first possession of the third quarter and marched down the field, overcoming a couple of controversial calls and penalties against them, and scoring a touchdown to extend their lead.

As the game clock ticked down in the fourth quarter, a focused Charleston head coach, Ricky May, began to allow himself to smile with approximately four minutes remaining and the Tigers up by 27 points. In fact, in one experience that this reporter will never forget, we glanced at each other on the sideline with about four minutes, each hesitating to smile, and then broke out into big smiles and a congratulatory hug. Coach May has done a very good job as the Tigers coach since his arrival in 2019, and he always gives all of the credit for the program’s success to his players. He is truly a class act.

Watch for photos from this game next week on Facebook at Charleston Tigers Sports. And yes, RNN Sports will be on the field next Saturday in Little Rock to bring you coverage of the Tigers state championship game.

Congratulations to the Charleston Tigers, coaches, fans, and the community of Charleston on the Tigers’ appearance next week in the state championship game. This is a very special team, and the many seniors on this roster will end their high school careers at War Memorial on Saturday. They deserve a huge turnout by the fans and the community to see them compete for a state title.

See you Saturday at War Memorial Stadium!

Timepiece: Today’s Prices are Tomorrow’s Bargains

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Tammy Teague

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3:07 am

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Timepiece: Today’s Prices are Tomorrow’s Bargains

By Dr. Curtis Varnell

It takes a lot of peas to make a hundred pounds!!! That thought was constantly in my mind as I crawled down the row shoving dried pea shells into the canvas sack I was pulling. Leroy Wade had planted acres of the peas and was paying us a whole $3.50 cents per hundred to pick them. As soon as school was out, our entire clan would head down the road and work till sunset picking the peas. On a good afternoon I might make $2, not bad when you could pay a week’s school lunch for a dollar or buy a pop cola and a hamburger at the small stand just off campus for twenty-five cents.

Later, I started working at Warehouse Market grocery store and my starting salary was $1.45 an hour. Months later, the minimum wage went up all the way to $1.60 an hour. I remember clearly the day I interviewed for my first teaching job. Mr. Ehren, the superintendent questioned prospective employees about all kinds of stuff, most of which wouldn’t be allowed today but, he wanted only the best to work with his school kids. Did I live in the community? Was I a church member? Would I assist with duties not assigned such as chaperoning groups, work ball games, or sponsor clubs? Then came the hard question, “do you owe a lot of money.” I had worked my way through college and paid as I went. “Mr. Ehren,” was my worried reply, “my son was recently in the hospital with pneumonia and I owe them $400.” He laughed, “Ninety-nine percent of the people in this town would like to change their debts for yours.” Four-hundred might not seem like anything but it seemed a mountain of debt to me at the time. I was hired on the spot making $8,800 dollars per year.

People are always sharing history with me and I received the old 1930’s menu from the Buckman Inn on Magazine Mountain. Room and board was $2 per day or $8.75 per week. Food prices at the Lodge included $2.50 for a sirloin steak dinner, plate lunch for 65 cents, and desserts for a dime.

Gerald Rice shared an old grocery add from the 1970’s newspaper. It is hard to believe prices were ever that cheap. The center of the add had a large rocket and was entitled a rocket of values at .29 cents. This include pie filling, picnic hams, regular box of tide, lunch meats, dozen eggs, and a two-pound box of oleo. At the time, hamburger was three pounds for a dollar, soda a dime a bottle, gas was 29 cents a gallon, and milk was 59 cents a gallon. What a bargain, but we were making a whooping dollar and fifty cents an hour if we were lucky.

Why the sudden interest in prices? I was recently in Los Angeles. Gas was $5.69 cents per gallon! Engaging in conversation with a person I sat next with on a boat tour, I found that he was mechanic, made six figure plus a year, paid a house payment of $3,900 per month, and lived from pay check to pay check. Minimum wage in California was $15 per hour but people making that were living in their cars or on the street. Even in Arkansas, with much smaller expenses, inflation rates were staying way ahead of salary increases. I make multiples of any salary I dreamed of in my youth but my standard of living, in comparison, is about the same. The twenty-nine cent a dozen eggs are now two dollars, the twenty-nine cent gas is now three dollars, and soda is over a dollar a bottle. Another facet of inflation is that many of the starter jobs have been eliminated. There are no grocery sackers and, in most stores, you must check out your own purchases.

Wages go up, prices go up, and I have found it a necessity to have a good work ethic and keep your nose to the grindstone to survive.

Financial Focus: Time for Tax-Loss Harvesting

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Tammy Teague

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2:57 am

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Financial Focus: Time for Tax-Loss Harvesting

By Jeffery O’Neal, Financial Advisor

For a variety of reasons, such as higher interest rates, rising inflation and supply chain issues, the financial markets were volatile in 2022 — and this volatility probably showed up in your investment statements. Yet, while you may have been less than happy about your investment returns this year, the volatility and depressed prices may offer you some opportunities at tax time.

Specifically, you may be able to take advantage of tax-loss harvesting. Using this strategy, you sell securities at a loss to offset capital gains, which you may have if you’ve held some investments for years and they’ve greatly appreciated in value. And if your total losses exceed your gains, you couldoffset up to $3,000 of ordinary income per year and carry over the rest to future tax years.

Tax-loss harvesting isn’t just a tax issue — it also can be part of your investment strategy. What investments should you sell to take the capital gains? Which ones should be sold to take the losses?

To answer these questions, consider a few different factors:

Diversification – Portfolio rebalancing is important for investors. If you have too many investments that have essentially the same characteristics, your portfolio might be under-diversified — and diversification is necessary to help you achieve your long-term goals. If your assets are concentrated in a single asset class or a single stock, yourportfolio could take a big hit during times of market volatility, but a diversified investment mix can reduce this impact. Consequently, when looking at ways to take advantage of tax-loss harvesting, you could consider selling an investment that’s similar to several others you may own. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification can’t prevent all losses or guarantee profits.)

Performance – Investment performance can be looked atin a couple of different ways. If you’ve held an investment for many years and it has gone up greatly in value, you might be motivated to sell it and take the profits. Conversely, if you have an investment that’s consistently under-performed and has lost value, you might feel you’re better off selling it and applying the losses against capital gains.

• Holding period – When you sell investments that you’ve held for a year or less, your gains are taxed at your ordinary income tax rate; for investments held longer than a year, you’ll pay the long-term capital gains rate, which is based on your income and ranges from 0% to 23.8%, which includes a 3.8% net investment income tax for high earners. Short-term losses offset short-term gains first, while long-term losses offset long-term gains. Once losses in one category exceed the gains of the same type, you can use them to offset gains for the other category.

Here’s one more point to keep in mind: If you want to sell an investment for tax purposes, but you might like to reacquire it, you’ll have to meet the “wash sale” rule, which prohibits you from writing off an investment loss if you or your spouse buys the same investment, or a substantially identical one, in the 30 days before or after the sale.

To take advantage of tax-loss harvesting, you’ll need to act before the end of the year. And consult with your tax advisor. This strategy can be effective — but you’ll need to be sure it’s right for you.

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

Stay On The “Nice” List: Donate Blood!

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Tammy Teague

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2:06 am

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‘Tis the season to help save lives by donating blood and taking home a holiday-themed long-sleeved T-shirt!

Donors who show their giving spirit by donating blood will receive their choice of holiday-themed long-sleeved T-shirts. Choices include the “Cotton Headed Ninny Muggins” version, inspired by the classic Christmas movie “Elf”, or the festive “Be A Deer” T-shirt.

Join Lavaca Community for a blood drive with Arkansas Blood Institute from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., on Saturday, December 17, at Steffy’s Pizza.

“Arkansans have continued to donate and ensure that the local blood supply is able to meet the demand of local patients,” said John Armitage, M.D., President and CEO of Arkansas Blood Institute. “This year, we continued to face unprecedented challenges and obstacles. As we enter the holiday season, we encourage you to take just an hour out of your busy schedule to give the precious gift of life this holiday season.”

Arkansas Blood Institute is the local, non-profit blood supplier, supporting the inventory for patients in more than 40 hospitals, medical facilities, and air ambulances statewide. Anyone who is healthy and 16 years old* or older can give blood.

Blood donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives. Appointments can be made by calling 1-877-340-8777 or visiting arkbi.org.

*16-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds and provide signed parental permission; 17-year-olds must weigh at least 125 pounds; individuals over the age of 18 must weigh at least 110 pounds. Photo ID required.

Paris Girls Fall in Hard Fought Game at Lavaca in Invitational Tournament

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1:06 am

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Paris Girls Fall in Hard Fought Game at Lavaca in Invitational Tournament

The Paris basketball program played in the week long Lavaca Invitational Tournament last week at Lavaca High School. Both the senior boys and girls teams played tournament games.

The Paris senior boys lost two close games to both Pea Ridge and Providence Academy. Paris played without starter Jesse Wells for both games, but were very competitive in both games. The Eagles are looking ahead to having Wells back in time for the start of the conference schedule.

The Lady Eagles opened the tournament with a blowout win over West Fork in the first round. On Thursday evening, Paris faced the home team Lavaca Lady Golden Arrows in the winners bracket to have the opportunity to advance to Saturday evening’s tournament championship game. Like the Paris boys team, the Lady Eagles were playing at less than full strength due to senior Brailey Forst having sustained a lower body injury the previous week of Thanksgiving in their game at Dover. Forst did not dress for the West Fork game and had limit practice leading up to the game with Lavaca. Playing almost the entire game, Forst was obviously limited in her ability to play and was in pain for the entire game. Paris fought hard, but the combination of being a less than full strength, along with foul trouble that included senior Jayden Wells having four fouls before the end of the third quarter, was too much for Paris to overcome in front of a raucous Lavaca home crowd. Lavaca went on to defeat Paris by the score of 70-56.

But in the middle of all of the cheers and rants from the crowd from both schools, there were two seniors who were playing with a renewed sense of appreciation for the opportunity to play. Lavaca senior Anna Davis, who RNN brought you a feature story on this summer, was burned badly in a fire aboard a church van in Tulsa this summer. At one point this summer, there was significant doubt that the senior would be able to play. And for Paris, Brailey Forst, a senior as well, fresh off of an injury the week of Thanksgiving was battling through pain to play her senior year.

For athletes, it can all end way too soon. And for both Davis and Forst, they are both the epitomy of how much the games mean to them, and how precious it is to have the opportunity to play the games they love. RNN Sports wishes both Anna Davis and Brailey Forst the best for the 2022-23 season.

SR Lady Tigers Win Cat Fight Against Acorn

Adam Hecox

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9:57 pm

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SR Lady Tigers Win Cat Fight Against Acorn

In the world of SR High Girls basketball, few games have lived up to the hype as Mansfield versus Acorn. The two programs have ripped up the hardwoods, set them on fire, and torn down buildings over the past few years with some truly epic games. Unfortunately, the two Lady Tiger teams will not face off in conference play this season due to conference realignments. But there’s nothing that says these two pinnacle programs still can’t square off in a tournament format. So, on Wednesday, November 30th Mansfield and Acorn met up to let the claws fly like old times in Round2 of the Booneville Classic.

Trinity Triska looks to dish the ball down low.

The Lady Tigers started off the game a little slow as Acorn was able to put up points first on the scoreboard. Mansfield was able to get multiple shots off but couldn’t seem to get those shots on target with the basket. Acorn would again get an easy layup in on the Lady Tigers, but Alyson Edwards answered back with a smooth jump shot to get Mansfield on the board. Trinity Triska followed Edwards up by swooping in with a steal and score to tie the game up at 4-4 forcing Acorn to call a time-out. Even though there was a brief spirit of action, the normally high-scoring basketball game everyone expected wasn’t anywhere to be found. After a slew of missed shots, fouls, turnovers, and just downright sluggish play by both teams, the first quarter ended with a mere 6-4 Acorn lead.

Alyson Edwards with a classic fadeaway jump shot.

Acorn jumped quickly on the Lady Tigers to begin the second quarter with an unopposed layup. Alyson Edwards came right back with some solid defense though by swatting down an Acorn shot sending the Mansfield benches into a frenzy. With a defensive stop by Edwards, it was time for some offense and Natalie Allison was just the player for the job. Allison took aim and the “whoosh” sound of nothing but net rang out as she drained a three-point shot. Acorn hit a three of their own to regain the lead, but Alyson Edwards would not allow Mansfield to be shown up and reared back and sank a three-pointer of her own. In a rush to slow down the Lady Tigers momentum, Acorn decided to quickly get their ensuing inbound passed fast in but instead of the ball finding a blue jersey, the pass went straight to Harlie Fuller who dished the ball to Kynslee Ward for yet another Lady Tiger three-pointer. Mansfield was still down though as the clock ticked toward halftime. If Acorn thought they could extend their lead before the half, they were dead wrong. Mansfield forced a turnover and Kaylee Ward was able to dish in a layup to close the gap to one point on the scoreboard. Although Mansfield didn’t have the lead going into the half down 17-16, it was clear that they were starting to get hot.

Natalie Allison drives to the basket against a stiff Acorn defense.

Mansfield came out of the half and now faced a full-court press by Acorn. The defensive move by Acorn worked at first, but once the Lady Tigers found the gaps in Acorn’s armor, it was all but over. Alyson Edwards tattooed her name on the backboards by snatching rebounds and earning put-back points at nearly every turn. Kynslee Ward snatched a rebound and passed to an open Natalie Allison for an easy layup. After a steal and another three-pointer was swished by Natalie Allison, Acorn had to call a time-out to regroup. The regrouping seemed to be more beneficial to Mansfield though as the fans watched Alyson Edwards, Kaylee Ward, and Natalie Allison go in sync for layups. Things were rolling downhill fast and Acorn was desperate to score. One of their players loaded up for a three-point shot with one second left on the clock but once the ball was released, Kaylee Ward drilled the ball back to the floor with a massive blocked shot. On that note, the buzzer sounded at the ending of the third quarter with Mansfield leading Acorn 30-24.

Even with three against one, Seven Sanderson will not be denied the boards.

The Lady Tigers kicked off the fourth and final quarter with a seven-point run led by two Seven Sanderson board buckets and a Natalie Allison three-pointer. Mansfield continued their dominance all the way down to the 2:03 mark before Acorn scored their first fourth-quarter points. The Lady Tigers didn’t slow down any with Acorn’s basket though as Alyson Edwards and Kaylee Ward continued to pass the ball down low to Seven Sanderson who would power her way for points. Kynslee Ward sank another Lady Tiger three-pointer to give Mansfield a 20-point lead in the game. Acorn tried to make a comeback, but Mansfield was just too strong as the Lady Tigers extended their record to 6-0 with a 48-32 win over Acorn. Mansfield senior Natalie Allison led the team in scoring with 15 points in the game followed by Alyson Edwards who finished with 11 points. Kynslee Ward and Seven Sanderson paired up for 8 points apiece while Kaylee Ward and Trinity Triska closed out the scoring with a combined 6 points. Mansfield will continue their Booneville Classic tournament run on Saturday, December 3^rd when they take on the Dover Lady Pirates in the tournament championship game.

Buyer’s guide for first-time hunting firearms

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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8:46 pm

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Buyer’s guide for first-time hunting firearms

Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications

LITTLE ROCK — Black Friday sale flyers have been circulating for weeks, and many sporting goods stores are dropping prices like a rock on rifles and shotguns people will be purchasing for youth hunters and adults who recently discovered how much fun hunting can be. But trying to muddle through all the calibers, gauges, actions and accessories can be a true endurance test to people who are not in the know about the latest and greatest firearms choices.

Grant Tomlin, Assistant Chief of Education for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission who oversees shooting range development and shooting sports programs, says buyers should pay attention more at the fit and function of the gun than the price tag, however.

“There are some good deals to be had out there, but you really need to make sure the firearm fits the purpose, and fits the hunter.” Tomlin said. “If the firearm does not fit then it won’t be as accurate or enjoyable to use.”

Two main categories of firearms — rifles and shotguns — cover the vast majority of hunting needs. Each has its strengths and weaknesses which make it shine in certain situations. Shotguns excel at hitting moving targets, and are required for hunting small game birds such as doves and waterfowl. Rifles provide one projectile at longer ranges with more precision, making them perfect for deer hunting. Rimfire rifles also make excellent squirrel rifles at long ranges, but require a steady hand.

“A shotgun is going to have more room for error for first-timers shooting at squirrels as well, and you can get slugs to use for deer hunting with a shotgun, so it is more versatile, but you sacrifice distance and accuracy,” Tomlin said.

Tomlin suggests first-time hunters who are interested in duck hunting, turkey hunting and small game to start with a pump-action shotgun; 20-gauge for youths and 12-gauge for adults.

“You could drop down to a .410 bore shotgun for younger shooters, but 20-gauges are going to be more versatile and a wider range of ammunition is available,” Tomlin said. “And you can choose a lighter, low-recoil load that would be pretty comparable to a .410 to start them out with.”

Tomlin says the pump-action is an affordable, and extremely functional firearm for all sorts of conditions. Semi-automatics do soak up a little recoil from the gun, but have more moving parts that could fail in bad conditions and can be less safe in the hands of a new shooter.

If the person is going to hunt deer, a good rifle is an excellent option as well. Again, the choices are nearly limitless, which can be daunting to someone looking for their first gun.

“For a youth, I would stick to a solid, bolt-action rifle in either .243 or 7mm-08 (calibers),” Tomlin said. “It’s legal to go with a .223 in Arkansas, and it will work on deer with the right shot placement and proper bullet type, but I would suggest someone start with a caliber at least as large as .243 to give them a little more room for error. Or you could choose a lever action rifle in a .30-30 like what many of us started with decades ago. There’s still nothing wrong with that gun as long as you keep your shots within 200-yards or so, which is more than enough range for almost all first-time hunters.”

Again, Tomlin says the ruggedness, simplicity and added safety of the bolt-action and lever action make them a great option for first-time hunters. In the case of the bolt-action, he also says you can usually get much more quality for your money with the simpler design because manufacturers are able to focus more on shot performance than the inner-workings of the action.

“It’s just a solid design that lends itself to the precision needed for long-range shooting when manufactured well,” Tomlin said. “And the bolt usually can be cycled quickly enough to load a second round if needed.”

No matter if you are looking for a first-time shotgun or rifle, Tomlin says the most important thing is to make sure the firearms fits the user.

“We could go on and on about this brand or that brand, but the most expensive rifle won’t shoot well if it doesn’t fit the shooter,” Tomlin said. “It’s best to take the person you’re shopping for with you to let them hold and shoulder the guns before you decide on one.”

Another strong suggestion from Tomlin is to shop at stores that specialize in hunting firearms.

“The person behind the counter of a good gun store or sporting goods store is going to be able to help you out with the right sorts of equipment,” Tomlin said. “Once you’ve shot for a while and know what’s comfortable, you can look at some of the more general big box stores for deals. But the experience of men and women working at a reputable gun store is worth the extra few dollars it may cost sometimes. They’ll also be able to help set up a scope, aftermarket recoil pad and other accessories to make shooting more enjoyable.”

123rd annual Christmas Bird Count begins Dec. 14

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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8:45 pm

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123rd annual Christmas Bird Count begins Dec. 14

Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications

LITTLE ROCK — Waterfowl hunters aren’t the only people watching the skies during the holiday season. Birdwatching enthusiasts will be catching the winter migration of songbirds, shorebirds and all sorts of avian species during this year’s annual Christmas Bird Count, Dec. 14-Jan. 5, coordinated by the National Audubon Society.

The Christmas Bird Count is the longest-running wildlife survey in the world, employing tens of thousands of bird-loving volunteers to gather data on the number and type of bird species found during the peak of migration.

Individual counts take place in a 15-mile-wide circle and are led by a compiler responsible for organizing volunteers and submitting observations to Audubon. Within each circle, participants tally all birds seen or heard that day — not just the species, but total numbers to provide a clear idea of the health of that particular population.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission reminds birdwatchers that Arkansans are seeing many birds across the eastern portion of the state exhibiting signs of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). This fatal viral disease has been observed in many migrating waterfowl, but may also be present in other bird populations throughout the state. Anyone who sees concentrations of dead birds or birds behaving abnormally is encouraged to report the sighting to the AGFC through the reporting tool on the front page of its website, www.agfc.com. While the risk for humans contracting HPAI is extremely low, dead or sick birds should be left where they are found and not handled in any way. Visit www.agfc.com/avianflu for more information about this disease.

Data from Christmas Bird Counts have been used in more than 200 peer-reviewed, scientific articles, including Audubon’s landmark, “Birds and Climate Change Report.”

There is no fee to participate, and the quarterly report, “American Birds,” which posts results of the count, is available online. Counts are open to birders of all skill levels, and Audubon’s free Bird Guide app makes it even easier to chip in. For more information and to find a count near you, visit www.christmasbirdcount.org.

Obituary – Natalie Lopez (2019-2022)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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8:42 pm

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Natalie Lopez, 3 years old, of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this earth on Wednesday, November 30, 2022 surrounded by her loving family. Natalie was born on June 12, 2019 to Ana Maria Urieta and Santingo Lopez Mendoza in Mena, Arkansas.

Natalie loved to watch her favorite shows: Cocomelon, Coco, Moana and Frozen. She was the most lovable little girl who loved to give hugs and loved dancing. Her brother and sister held a special place in her heart.

Natalie leaves behind to cherish her memory her mom and dad, Ana Maria Urieta and Jose Santiago Lopez Mendoza; her sister, Esmeralda and brother Santiago of the home. Her adoptive grandparents Tom and Lela Stewart of Waldron, Arkansas. Maternal grandfather, Mariano Urieta of Mexico. Paternal grandmother, Ines Mendoza of Mexico. Natalie will be misled by many aunts, uncles, cousins and all that knew her.

Natalie was preceded in death by her maternal grandma, Nicandra Ochoa and paternal grandpa, Felimon Lopez Martinez.

Natalie’s life celebration will be at 10:00 am on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at the Heritage Memorial Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas. with Father Les Farley officiating. Interment will follow in the Square Rock Cemetery in Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangments are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Natalie’s visitation will be Friday, December 2, 2022 from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

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