There are many options for furnishing a house on the market these days. While there’s a fairly even spread across all types of furniture, solid wood options tend to be one of the lower-selling choices. The biggest reason for this usually comes down to price, but there are many benefits that most people overlook when considering solid wood furniture. That’s why we’re taking the time today to explore why you should consider buying this type of furniture for your home.
It’s Extremely Durable
The most notable benefit of wooden furniture is its exceptional durability. Wood furniture is a generational part of the home. Thanks to the material’s structural integrity, you can pass it down to your kids, and they might even be able to pass it down to the next generation. You’ll rarely have to worry about parts of the furniture breaking; even if a crack does occur, wood is extremely easy to fix. Granted, some types of wood are stronger than others, but most variations will hold strong for many years.
It’s a Worthwhile Investment
As previously mentioned, the high price tag of solid wood furniture can scare people away. Once you consider the wood’s durability, that investment becomes worth every penny. When you buy a wooden table or desk, you can rest easy knowing you’ll never need to buy one again.
Even if the day comes when you no longer want this piece of furniture, you’ll be able to make most of your money back, if not more. People recognize that this secondhand product won’t break and value that investment. It will last them as long as it lasted for you, if not longer.
It Adds a Touch of Nature
Most of today’s furniture options lend a more modern or industrial look to a space. While this isn’t necessarily bad, homeowners who prefer a more simplified, natural look should opt for wood furniture instead. There’s a reason why using furniture pieces featuring wood is one of the main ways to make your home feel more rustic. Allowing wood to be the centerpiece of your home adds warmth and familiarity to a living space.
It’s Environmentally Friendly
The final reason you should buy solid wood furniture for your home is that it can be the most environmentally friendly option. While people don’t like the idea of cutting down trees to craft furniture, the bigger problem is what happens after people throw furniture items out. Most synthetic materials used in other furniture aren’t biodegradable, unlike wood.
If you want to avoid contributing to deforestation, you can still pursue alternatives when obtaining wooden furniture. Some companies only use reclaimed wood for their new furniture, while others only sell preowned wooden pieces. Regardless of which option you go with, you can rest easy knowing that your choice didn’t hurt the environment.
Vacationing growing up did not have the same connotations as it does today. My children think vacation means a week-long trip to the beach, a journey on a cruise boat, or Disneyland. I am not sure they would appreciate the great times we had as a family growing up.
Like many families at that time, we had more children than money so most of our trips were restricted to small one-day journeys or to staying at homes of relatives. I was twenty-two years old and a teacher before I spent my first night in a hotel.
Our first big theme park vacation was a one-day visit to Dogpatch. We loaded up the car with parents, five kids, and Connie, our next door neighbor. I am not sure how we managed in the days before the mini-vans but we definitely had togetherness.
Dad liked to leave early; probably because we were half-asleep and quiet and then, he would bring us back late when we were too tired to fuss. Traveling north of Dover, we journeyedthrough metropolitan Booger Hollow with its fame to notoriety of having seven inhabitants counting the one coon dog. We would stop at some of the overlooks, stretch and find a restroom and, eventually, we would find a location with a picnic table to use for lunch. Bologna sandwiches, soda, chips followed by watermelon was a real treat. Stopping in a sit-down restaurant is just not the same as sharing a picnic table while looking out over the deep valleys far below the Ozark mountain peaks.
What Dogpatch lacked in size, it made up for in availability. After arriving, a tram delivered you to the charming hillbilly village of Dogpatch, made famous from a cartoon strip created by Al Capp. Complete with moonshiners, hayseeds, and lazy backwoods hillbillies, the town offered a variety of rides and entertainment.
No standing in lines for a half-hour or more, we often could get off and right back on many of the rides. My favorite ride was Hairless Joe’s Kickapoo barrel. Rotating rapidly, the centripetal force of the barrel would force you against the wall and hold you firmly in place while the floor below you disappeared. Once, after two or three consecutive ride, one of my friends threw up with typical results. Vomit clung to the wall until the machine slowed, at which time it slowly slid down the wall with us. Needless to say, several others on the ride developed the same stomach symptoms. The log ride, stage coach, and the Po’kChop railroad were prime entertainment followed by blue-grass music in one of the several theaters.
Daisy Mae Scragg, Li’l Abner, Mammy Yokum and other characters from the comic strip wandered around the park, presenting short skits and generally entertaining the crowd. I could never, ever understand Li’l Abner trying to escape from the beautiful Daisy; I guess that demonstrated that the boy just wasn’t all there.
On a later, longer trip, we traveled to Silver Dollar City. An overnight trip, we spent the night camping at Marvel Cave, sleeping under the stars in pallets. Whipoorwills sang in the darkness, joined by a myriad assortment of insects, and the gentle snores of family members.
My kids are typical in that they travel in a mini-van, i-phones in hand, and with a video player in the back seat. Interstate highways, chain hotels, and fast food are major components of today’s vacations but I sometimes feel my family miss out on some of the best opportunities to share life together as a family.
Arkansas Blood Institute is on the hunt for blood donors to make a lifesaving difference for their fellow Arkansans.
Join the Walmart Greenwood at a blood drive with Arkansas Blood Institute from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., on Saturday, November 19, on the bloodmobile.
Successful blood donors will receive a free limited-edition, Bigfoot-inspired t-shirt.
“Blood donation has always been an easy way to help a neighbor,” said Dr. John Armitage, President and CEO of Arkansas Blood Institute. “While the search for Bigfoot continues, in the meantime you can find him on our t-shirts while helping save lives in our local hospitals.”
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 16 years old* or older is encouraged to donate. Appointments can be made by calling 877-340-8777 or visiting arkbi.org. Blood donation typically takes only about an hour, and one donation saves up to three lives.
Tornados aren’t common in all areas. But if you live in Tornado Alley, chances are you frequently experience storms with the potential for tornados, especially in the spring and summer. For reference, Tornado Alley starts in the southern plain region and stretches up through the Midwest of America. If you live in tornado-prone areas, it’s necessary to take precautionary steps to stay safe. Here’s how to prepare your family for a tornado.
Build an Emergency Kit
Building an emergency kit is essential in any natural disaster. You want to ensure that you have the necessary tools and supplies in the event of an emergency, accident, or injury. There are several helpful tips for building an emergency kit on a budget. You don’t necessarily have to spend a lot of money on your supplies, but you should make sure you have the essentials. You should include things like bandages, gauze, medical tape, scissors, antibacterial ointment, flashlights, batteries, and a radio.
Create a Safety Plan
Another way to prepare your family for a tornado is by creating a safety plan. Having a plan ensures that you and your family will know what to do if a tornado occurs in your area. Your plan can include things like what to do, what to grab, and where to go during and after a tornado. It’s helpful to write this plan down so you can reread it if you ever need to.
Determine a Shelter
Determining a shelter is another important preparation tip for tornados. A safe shelter is one of the most important elements of preparing your family for this type of natural disaster. Tornadoes cause a lot of damage and destruction, so it’s necessary to find a safe place to go during one of these storms. When choosing your shelter, avoid upper floors and rooms with windows. You should always stay on the ground level of your home if possible. Basements are also a fantastic choice if that option is available.
Practice Tornado Drills
It’s also beneficial to practice tornado drills. At-home drills are a great way to prepare your family for emergencies, especially fires and tornados. Run through your tornado safety plan with your loved ones at home and practice what you would do in the event of a tornado. Make sure everyone knows where the emergency kit and the designated shelter are, and practice hiding in the shelter together. Going through these drills will help you to prepare and work out any kinks in your plan so you can make it more effective.
Now that you have some essential safety tips for preparing your family for a tornado, you can utilize these strategies in your home today. Make sure everyone you live with knows what to do in these situations so you can keep your family safe and secure during emergencies and natural disasters.
How often do we replace the lighting in our homes? Depending on when your place was built, it may have been decades since anyone made any upgrades or adjusted the fixtures. Here are a few signs that you may need to upgrade your light fixtures to try and illuminate your home in a more vibrant way.
You Don’t Have Enough Light
If your home is using older fixtures, it’s likely that you’re not getting as much light as you’d like. You might be able to get a little more by upgrading your bulbs to a higher lumen. However, if it seems like no matter where you’re standing in a room, it’s just not getting enough light, you may want to consider getting some new fixtures. You can swap out existing lights and work with an electrician to possibly install a few extra ones to shine some light on darker parts of the room.
They Clash With Your Design
Many residential areas come equipped with flush-mount dome lights. Plenty of people don’t enjoy these lighting options. Many homes have them because they’re often a cost-effective option, but that doesn’t mean they go well with your home décor.
When you design your home, you want complete control over the aesthetic. We recommend finding some lights that work for your style.
Old and Faulty Lights
One of the most telltale signs that you may need to upgrade your light fixtures is when you notice they’re not performing as well as they used to. The fixtures in your home or apartment have likely been there since the home was built. Do you ever notice your lightbulbs buzzing or flickering? These symptoms could be a sign of worn-down fixtures. Even if you decide to upgrade to something in the same vein or style as what you have, you can rest easy with modern fixtures installed by a professional electrician.
Many people tend to assume that owning and caring for animals will be a walk in the park. After all, how difficult can it be? However, one thing barn owners will tell you is that owning animals comes with a plethora of responsibilities you must know before getting into this lifestyle. Animals can be finicky and high-maintenance, requiring as much attention and care as a human. That is why it is useful and important for you to consider certain things before getting barn animals.
Consistent Commitment
Whether you are thinking about obtaining barn animals for business or personal use, one thing remains the same: they are a huge commitment. If you have ever owned a house pet, you can understand that there are no days off when it comes to caring for them. When you own barn animals, that sentiment increases tenfold. As such, it is useful to ask yourself if you are ready, able, and willing to take on the 24/7 commitment that barn animals require.
Choose Best Shelter
One important thing to understand before getting barn animals is that the most unassuming choices you make could negatively affect their health. Something as simple as choosing the right shelter size for your animal is important, as there are several aspects to consider.
For example, owning barn animals comes with the ever-present danger of exposure to toxic levels of ammonia. That is why you must choose a shelter with natural ventilation or ensure you take the proper actions to have a high-quality ventilation system in your shelter.
Consider the Costs
A huge aspect that many people miss is the fact that owning barn animals can be quite expensive. That is why you should consider the potential costs down the line before getting barn animals. Keep in mind the continual costs of feed, vet visits, barn repairs, and overall care that your animals will always need.
Moreover, unexpected situations can always arise with animals, so you can find yourself having to spend hundreds of dollars on an emergency vet visit. It is important to ascertain whether you can accommodate the various costs associated with owning farm animals.
The Drama Club at the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith will be presenting an original, student-written, devised theatre performance in November.
“Hartseer” will be performed Nov. 17-19 at the Breedlove Auditorium on the UAFS Campus, 5210 Grand Ave.Performances will be at 7 p.m. each evening with an additional matinee performance on Saturday, Nov. 19, at 3 p.m.
In devised theatre, a group working together creates the script and performs it, often with improvisation.
“Devised theatre is a vital and enriching step in any actor’s education,” said Cody Banning, adjunct theatre professor. “Shows like these teach the true value of ensemble and improv in a narrative setting. These shows also allow the cast and crew to truly be creative, collaborative, and let their talent soar above a common bound.”
“Hartseer” explores themes of grief and trauma and highlights the importance of support structures, coping, and coming out on the other side of the process.
Students involved in the production are
Griever 1: Laura Bennetzen, Poteau, Oklahoma; Isabel Cenobio, Green Forest, Arkansas; Morgan Whalen.
Griever 2: Robert Montgomery, Fort Smith; Tate Carnley, Patterson, Louisiana.
Griever 3: Kenzi Sutherlin, Baltimore, Maryland.
Griever 4: Bradyn Sanders, Velma-Alma, Oklahoma.
Chorus: Ace Motley, Fayetteville, Arkansas; Zoe Russ, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Hat: Jamarion Davidson, Poteau, Oklahoma.
Scarf 1: Shayla Woodley, Greenwood.
Scarf 2: TJ Dudley, Miami, Florida.
Boot 1: Alyssa Foley, Greenbrier, Arkansas.
Boot 2: Res Smith, Poteau, Oklahoma.
Tickets are required and can be purchased at uafs.universitytickets.com or 479-788-7300. General admission tickets are $10 and $8 for seniors. Tickets are free for members of the UAFS community but must be reserved.
The Bulldogs may have graduated the winningest class in school history, with the class of 2022 being a part of 76 wins and three league titles, but this year’s squad look to add to their resumes as well. Coming off a 24-10 record and their second consecutive state tournament appearance, these Bulldogs are on the move from 3A to 4A. Waldron finds itself in the ultra-competitive 4A-4 conference that has featured five state champions within the last ten years. “Just like any challenge these guys face, they aren’t going to back down. These dudes don’t care who they get to play, they just want to compete,” added Coach Josh Atchley concerning their new league.
Returning for the Dogs are all-conference players seniors Lidge Stinson and Ethan Mayberry, as well as junior Chris Lopez. In addition to an all-conference selection, senior Trenton Hunt also earned all-state honors a season ago. “I’m looking forward to watching these guys take a bigger leadership role this year.” Kason Moudy, ForrestEfurd, Payton ‘Petey’ Justice, Trevor Hunt, and Jacob Daggs add to the already sizable senior class. “This group is full of guards who have high basketball IQs and athleticism. Each player possesses a different strength and brings toughness to the floor. True competitors! Some of them will play multiple positions this year to add some range across the floor.”
Steven Newman, Lucas Nix, Kason Davis, Kaiden Johnson, along with Chris Lopez makeup the junior group. They all will see increased roles from last season and Coach Atchley thinks their length and athleticism will prove beneficial in the 4A-4. “This group is full of great competitors and they never miss a day to work on their game. Length, toughness, and athleticism is the makeup of the juniors and I’m excited to see what the year holds for them as a group.
The sophomore group moves up to senior high after capturing a conference title last season as members of the junior high team. In addition to bringing that championship experience, they also own a great skill set and have worked to add those skills to this year’s team. Roky Avila, Aden Allen, Prestan Hutchens, Caden Hunt, Driften Wagner, Cole Bailey, Levi Brown, Keegan Lynch, and Landon Defoor all have been working this off-season to add value to this year’s squad. “The sophomores are a nice large group that loves the game of basketball. I really saw a ton of growth as a group. Coach Twigs worked those guys every day and they were playing some of their best basketball by the season’s end. Need those guys to keep that fire as we tip off this year.”
There will be no stoppage from football to basketball season for the Bulldogs. The season tips off with the annual Orange and Black scrimmage on Monday, November 7th. The night will start at 5:00 o’clock with junior girls, followed by junior boys, senior girls, and senior boys. Admission will be a $2 donation at the door and those proceeds will go to the basketball programs. The rest of the week will continue to be busy at the Waldron Activity Center. Defending 2A state champion Lavaca will visit on November 8th, the junior high Bulldogs will play rival Mansfield on November 10th, and the week will conclude with the Paris Eagles visiting on November 11th. “If you get a chance, catch some action the first week as we host a defending state champ for the first time in a decade, and showcase all these dudes who have been working so hard. Fly the W!”
Mansfield’s Joey Williams receives his Top 10 All-State medal in Hot Springs. Williams is among 50 All-Stars headed to Mansfield’s home course for the Farm Bureau River Valley on Saturday, November 12.
On the heels of a very productive cross country season, Mansfield continues to keep the home fires burning by hosting the 2022 Farm Bureau River Valley All-Star race on Saturday, November 12. The 10:00 AM start along the MHS campus will bring together 50 of the top small school distance runners in the greater River Valley area for a two race lineup.
Among the top 25 women and top 25 men invited to participate will be Mansfield products Joey Williams, Laney Wood, and Jadelynn Wood. On the short list of alternates that have potential to move up to All-Star status are three more Mansfield players. Trinity Triska, Raine Hecox, and Jonah Martin are on that waiting list.
This is the fourth consecutive year Mansfield has elected to play host to this exclusive event. As the original brainchild of Magazine Coach Randy Bryan, the postseason finale is conducted one week after the state finals. It brings together some of the best small school runners from classifications 1A – 4A for one last competition for the season.
Farm Bureau Insurance agent Roger Thompson is the exclusive sponsor of team uniforms and awards for the FBRV All-Stars. The River Valley FCA and the Mansfield FCA Huddle group will provide the post race All-Star luncheon.
Mansfield sisters Laney Wood (center) and Jadelynn Wood (right) are among the FBRV All-Stars scheduled to compete at Saturday’s All-Star Event. Trinity Triska (left) is among the first alternates list.
A larger radius of schools stretching from DeQueen to Clarksville was included in the invitation pool. A weekly watchlist was generated from that collection of 35 schools. As the weeks moved along and top times were monitored. A final ranking of seasonal bests was established after the state meets last Thursday and Friday to determine the final invite list.
The Top 25 women accepting invitations will run the first race. The Top 25 men accepting invitations will run the second race.
All players will be introduced and awarded participation medals and keepsake uniform tops before their particular race. Runners will be divided equally among three competing teams for a chance to win a team award as well as a Top 10 race medal.
The top five scoring players from each winning team will appear on a perpetual trophy to be housed by the host team. Individual overall champions will take home an exclusive Farm Bureau medalist trophy.
Mansfield along with schools from their district and region will be well represented. Magazine, Mt. Ida, and Clarksville all offer individual state champions to the mix. Acorn, Bigelow, DeQueen, and Pottsville bring players off their runner-up state team finishes in their respective divisions.
“This event has really evolved over the years,” said meet director John Mackey. “Mansfield has tried to upgrade the experience from its origins. We’ve added a team element to this year’s race along with even more individual accolades.”
Mansfield freshmen Joey Williams brings with him the sixth best qualifying times among the men All-Stars at 17:47.80. Sophomore Laney Wood is rated 11th among the women while older sister Jadelynn Wood comes in at 20th position.
Among the women runners are 11 All-State athletes, 2 individual state champions, and a state runner-up. Magazine’s Elizabeth Merritt and Mt. Ida’s Peyton Macejewski are the class 2A and 1A state champions respectively. Acorn’s Bella Tedder was the class 2A runner-up.
The men’s race is equally populated by star power. Seventeen All-State runners, a state champion, and a state runner up are among the top 25 invites. Clarksville’s Matthew Dunsworth headlines the group with the top time at 16:01.90. Scranton’s Peyton Jones is the fastest 1A competitor at 18:13.35. Class 4A DeQueen has seven All-Star invitations.
General admission is free. Races begin near the MHS storm shelter.
Mansfield’s cross country finalists at Hot Spring’s Oaklawn Park at the 2022 State Championships.
Mansfield ran hard. It just wasn’t enough. With limited experience on their side, the Tiger cross country teams “got close but no cigar” at Friday’s AAA Class 2A State Championships in Hot Springs.
On the infield of Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Mansfield and the rest of the Arkansas high school cross country teams gathered for the 2022 state finals. The Mansfield women fought hard but fell seven points shy of their third consecutive team trophy. They walked away in third place. The Mansfield men, competing as a team for the first time in years, came away in sixth place.
Two Mansfield runners made real noise landing in the top 10 for their individual races. Freshman Joey Williams surprised the field staying with the leaders for most of the race to finish in fourth place overall. He brought home All-State honors. Sophomore Laney Wood ran a solid race and a seventh place individual finish. She too brought back All-State credentials.
“We just didn’t have enough depth and enough experience to get to the podium as a team,” expressed Mansfield head coach John Mackey. “We had some solid pieces, progressed well, but in the end just didn’t have enough.”
Mansfield Joey Williams, far left, goes out with the top four runners at the state cross country finals.
Williams stole the show for the Tigers. The Mansfield product pushed the front runners and stayed connected to the top three finishers for most of the race. Eventually, the freshman’s unfamiliarity with the Oaklawn infield kept him at bay as two seniors and a junior finished ahead in the individual standings.
“Joey did great,” spoke his excited head coach. “He fought hard and proved he belonged. That was only his third senior high race at the senior high distance. You have to remember he was competing at the shorter junior high distance up until these last three weeks. Very impressive, now on to the All-Stars.”
Williams set a personal record for the 5K distance at 17:47.80. His time was one of five that underpinned the 18 minute mark at the class 2A state finals.
Senior Tate Stacks of Quitman took the men’s title at 16:43.81. He was followed closely by junior Jacen Heiner of Haas Hall Bentonville (16:49.85) and senior Christian Kratz of Ouachita (17:20.66) just before Williams completed his first state finals race.
Lady Tiger Laney Wood went out fast and held strong among the top three in the women’s race for the first two loops. The 2021 All-State athlete faltered a bit down the stretch losing contact with the lead.
Lady Tiger Laney Wood pushes towards the finish line at the class 2A state xc championships.
Wood, Mansfield’s number one female runner throughout the season, finished in a time of 22:08.99. The mark confirmed her second consecutive All-State award.
“Laney was terrific as usual,” detailed Mackey. “Last season, she ran the shorter junior high distance and had that muscle memory of a faster pace. Her 2021 finals time was actually a bit faster but she still ran a terrific race today. I’m really proud of Laney and Joey both for getting All-State medals. They have the talent and desire to keep getting better.”
Mansfield’s senior girls targeted Quitman and Greenland, the predicted top two team finishers, as schools to beat for a trophy. They also had Bigelow on the brain but the Panthers hadn’t been hot since early in the season.
Realistically, MHS knew Quitman was going to need a total meltdown to not repeat for the third consecutive season as state champs. As predicted, they finished first with an incredibly low score of 18.
MHS freshman Jonah Martin forges ahead in Hot Springs. He was the fourth fastest freshman to compete at the state finals.
Mansfield kept the guard up against Greenland clawing past the Pirates 77 to 116. While the Lady Tigers and the Pirates continued the scuffle for second place, a pack of close connected Panthers slipped through the cracks undetected.
Bigelow, without a runner in the top 10, sent a steady stream past the finish line for 70 points and the state runner-up trophy. Their five scoring runners stayed within a 3:01 minute window to post an average team time of 24:01.
MHS coaches Susan Martin and John Mackey offer encouragement before the senior girls race at the class 2A xc championships.
Mansfield had a larger gap to overcome as their scoring five were split by a 4:03 minute margin. Their average team time was 24:18 for third place. The previous two seasons, Mansfield tightened up the team differential and came away with two consecutive state runner-up statues.
Sophomore Trinity Triska improved the team average with a 23:43.92 clocking. She completed the course in 18th place overall and produced 10 points for the Tigers.
Senior Jadelynn Wood had the third best team finish. She clocked in at 24:07.85 for 26th place.
“Trinity and Jadelynn both started strong and stayed inside the top ten for a long time,” announced Mackey. “The effort it takes to stay at that pace was a little overwhelming. They had to drop back a bit but still gave us quality times rivaling the Bigelow average.”
Mansfield’s men’s cross country team has produced 3 consecutive junior high conference championships, won the senior high district, and finished sixth at this year’s state finals.
“Jadelynn had a lot of responsibility as the team leader,” confessed Mackey. “She was our only senior and that carries an extra weight with no one to share the load. She was an awesome team captain, and had a very productive season. Her foundation is set for a terrific indoor and outdoor track season.”
Raine Hecox (36th) and Addison Bowman (42nd) completed the Lady Tiger scoring five. Ashley Martin (52nd) was the team’s lone blocker. All three competed in their first cross country finals.
The Tiger men saw Jonah Martin finish in a flurry to sport the team’s second best time. The freshman talent went a personal record of 19:41.75 for 21st place overall.
MHS’s Trinity Triska and Jadelynn Wood stay connected in the top 10 at state through the first mile.
“Jonah doesn’t realize how talented he is as a distance runner,” offered his coach. “He just proved he was the twenty-first fastest runner in the entire class 2A state today, and he was the fourth fastest freshman there.”
Freshman growing pains was the story for the Mansfield men. Five of their six representatives were ninth graders. The lone upperclassman was part time runner Austin Ruiz, a sophomore, who came over from basketball to ensure the team had a complete roster.
Teamed with Williams and Martin, Mansfield had Alex Hecox (52nd), Joseph Carter (54th), and Braxton Bartlett (62nd) populate the freshmen dominated Tiger ticket. Mixed in with Ruiz’s 41st place mark, the MHS men’s team finished six overall.
A closer look at the numbers reveals Mansfield’s five freshmen were among the best from the class of 2026 to compete at the state meet. Focusing the state field to just freshmen finishes, Mansfield’s five were 1, 4, 9, 10 and 13 in ranked order.
“This group has been building a team from the ground up,” noted Mackey. “They’ve won three consecutive junior high conference championships, took the senior high district this year after moving up, and were sixth at their first finals. There needs to be a hard look at keeping this band together for the reunion tour.”
