Resident News Network

Arrest Reports 10/16

Police Reports

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2:52 am

Arresting agency – Bonanza Police Department:
Sherry Lea Adams of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 21 at 8:19 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond October 23 at 10:53 a.m. Adams was charged with Refusal To Submit To a Chemical Test-adult, and Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office:
Michael Ryan Capps of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 18 at 10:36 a.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Capps was charged with Fugitive from Justice Out of State.

Kelley L Chitwood of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 22 at 2:06 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond October 22 at 5:39 p.m. Chitwood was charged with Refusal To Submit To a Chemical Test-adult and Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Summer Nickole Green of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 17 at 9:04 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond October 18 at 3:33 a.m. Green was charged with Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely.

Steven Andrew Hunt of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 19 at 2:05 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Hunt was charged with ADC commitment hold.

Ernest Munson Jasper III of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 17 at 9:01 p.m. and released on signature bond October 18 at 12:13 a.m. Jasper was charged with Obstructing Governmental Operations-Impair.

Sean Patrick Ohearn of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 19 at 8:33 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond October 19 at 12:37 p.m. Ohearn was charged with Domestic Battering in the Third Degree – Purposely.

Dillon Joe Yandell of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 17 at 9:47 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond October 20 at 3:10 p.m. Yandell was charged with Failure to Appear – Class A Misdemeanor.

Arresting agency – Arkansas Parole:
Timothy Gene Fox of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 17 at 2:16 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Fox was charged with Drug Court Sanctions.

Arresting agency – Hackett Police Department:
Dustin Lyn Hall of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 18 at 12:09 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Hall was charged with Fugitive from Justice Out of State.

Arresting agency – Lavaca Police Department:
Raymond Dale Lockridge of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 19 at 1:26 a.m. and released on signature bond October 19 at 2:18 a.m. Lockridge was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Jeremy Joe McKnight of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 20 at 5:13 p.m. and released on October 21 at 11:25 a.m. McKnight was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Misdemeanor.

Brandon Shane Townsend of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 21 at 11:33 a.m. and released on signature bond October 21 at 4:08 p.m. Townsend was charged with Public Intoxication – Danger to self or others.

Arresting agency – Barling Police Department:
Russell Wayne Moore of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 19 at 6:55 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Moore was charged with maintaining a premise for drug activity, possession of methamphetamine with the purpose to deliver >2g, possession of drug paraphernalia – felony, possession of schedule I/II controlled substance with the purpose to deliver <2g, parole violation, and Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H:
Lee Joseph Pruitt of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 21 at 8:18 p.m. and released on October 25 at 12:59 p.m. Pruitt was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Kalon Samuel Tuck of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on October 21 at 9:47 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond October 22 at 12:14 a.m. Tuck was charged with Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office:
Joshua Farnam, 33 of Subiaco, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on October 17 at 3:38 p.m. Farnam was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Robert Yarberry, 38 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on October 17 at 3:47 p.m. Yarberry was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Cheyenne Smith, 28 of Cove, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on October 17 at 3:52 p.m. Smith was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Raynal Polk, 35 of Fort Smith, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on October 17 at 4 p.m. Polk was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Patricia Jackson, 54 of Mena, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on October 17 at 4:06 p.m. Jackson was charged with hold for U.S. Marshal.

Felix Hererra, 67 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on October 18 at 3:02 p.m. Hererra was charged with two counts of delivery of a schedule I or II controlled substance, and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.

Elam Hicks, 40 of Booneville, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on October 19 at 9:22 p.m. Hicks was charged with violation of an order of protection, aggravated residential burglary, false imprisonment in the first degree, interference with emergency communication in the first degree, terroristic threatening in the first degree, and terroristic threatening in the first degree.

Corey Butler, 50 of Waldron, was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on October 22 at 2:49 p.m. Butler was charged with hold for another agency.

**The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.**

Special week provides chance to better understand, appreciate bats

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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2:31 am

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Special week provides chance to better understand, appreciate bats

Jim Harris Managing Editor Arkansas Wildlife Magazine

LITTLE ROCK – Bat Week, an annual international celebration of the role of bats in nature, runs all this week and, naturally, through Halloween, Oct. 31. It also affords the opportunity for Arkansans not only to think about these creatures and their role in our outdoors, but what people can do to reverse some dangers haunting some bat species in The Natural State.

Two species in Arkansas have seen their populations take such precipitous drops that they are on the proposed list of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for categorization as endangered. In a study in the Ouachita National Forest by the U.S. Forest Service, the northern long-eared bat has seen a 98 percent fall in numbers. In September, the USFWS proposed listing the tricolored bat as endangered. Both species have been harmed in great numbers by white-nose syndrome, a fungus found in caves.

The tricolored bat “commonly was found in Arkansas caves, but the population has dropped 70-80 percent, which are numbers similar to what has been seen nationwide,” Blake Sasse, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s statewide nongame mammal program coordinator, said. “Both were very common in Arkansas before white-nose syndrome arrived.”

White-nose syndrome is a fungus that originally was found in caves in Europe and Asia. Fungus gets on the bats while they are hibernating in caves during winter. “It causes damage to their tissues and it makes them wake up more often than they normally would,” Sasse said. “When they’re awake when they should be hibernating, they use more energy than they normally would and they end up starving to death.”

He said white-nose syndrome most likely made it to these shores by being carried via spores on clothing of spelunkers, who then explored this area’s caves, and it’s been in Arkansas about 10 years, harming previously unexposed bats. The fungus can grow in any cave-like environment, Sasse said, and it has been found on bats hibernating in culverts as well.

“Before white-nose, the northern long-eared bat was probably the most common bat found in the Ozark and Ouachita national forests. The tricolored was fairly common,” Sasse said. The tricolored bat is named for the three different bands of color found in each strand of hair on the bat, he said.

Humans’ best efforts now are to do whatever they can to stop spreading the fungus. Hence the many posted protocols that cave visitors will find such as on trips to Blanchard Springs Caverns north of Mountain View in Stone County to decontaminate their shoes and clothing before and after entering. “If people go into any caves or mines, there is a protocol for cleaning their clothes, gear and equipment to make sure they don’t spread it,” Sasse said.

Visit whitenosesyndrome.org for info on how to clean clothes and gear when exploring caves or mines.

“Other things that people can do for bats if they want to help them is to build and put up a bat house,” Sasse mentions. www.agfc.com has a document under its free brochures page (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R52Z4KbgSfchcavtnWczCszzdxYfPYO0/view) that provides a good starting place to providing a summer home for bats.

Around the state, the little brown, big brown, southeastern, small footed, gray and Indiana bats have been found with white-nose syndrome or have died from the disease. For other Arkansas species – eastern red, silver-haired, Rafinesque’s big-eared and Ozark big-eared bat have been found with the fungus but have not been confirmed to have white-nose syndrome. The big brown bat, along with the Mexican free-tailed bat, are often seen in urban settings.

Another bat in Arkansas that has been on the endangered list, the gray bat, is seeing populations rise due to protections in place in caves where they spend their summers, Sasse said, adding, “Not all the news is bleak.”

The gray bat’s decline wasn’t due to white-nose syndrome, but rather to humans driving them out of caves during hibernation or during maternity periods with their young. Unlike many other bats, gray bats use caves year-round. To help the gray bat, biologists have put up fences, or “bat gates,” in openings of caves that consist of a horizontal bar where bats can fly through but people can’t squeeze in.

“Once you keep people away from them, they are fine,” Sasse said.

Worldwide, there are more than 1,400 species of bats — nearly 20 percent of all mammal species. According to Bat Conservation International, they are vital to the health of the environment and economy. Most bats in North America, including all 16 Arkansas species, eat insects, including moths, beetles, aquatic insects and flies. A single bat can eat up to its body weight in insects each night. Eating these insects helps protect food crops and forests from insect pests, saving farmers and forest managers billions of dollars each year.

Many bats eat pollen, nectar or fruit and are vital for pollinating flowers and spreading seeds that grow new plants and trees.

Bats are also the only mammal that can fly (some other mammals can “glide”). The bat’s wing is actually a modified “hand.” And, contrary to popular belief, bats have good eyesight, though the main technique for most species for navigating or locating prey is using echolocation: emitting high-pitched sounds that bounce off obstacles in their path, like trees, other bats, buildings and food.

Although nearly 70 percent of bat species feed primarily on insects, some are carnivorous and will eat rodents, frogs and fish. And, in case the Halloween trick-or-treaters who were wondering when they go out Monday evening, only three species of bats feed on animal blood (two of these specializing in bird blood), none of which reside in the United States.

For more information on Bat Week, which officially started Oct. 24, visit https://batweek.org/.

Timepiece: Halloween Tales

Featured

Tammy Teague

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12:47 am

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By Dr. Curtis Varnell

Halloween was approaching and everyone was getting into the mood as Mrs. Todd and I returned with a group of students to the Future Business Leaders from a conference in Little Rock. A few days prior, ghost stories of Arkansas had just come out in local papers and a couple of the stories involved local sites. Mrs. Todd waxed eloquent as she expounded on the story, “guys, this happened right off the interstate at Pottsville. There is a really old bridge on highway 64 across Galla Creek. Just last week, a man approaching the bridge saw a young girl in a white dress sitting at the end of the bridge. Being a really cold and bleak night, much like right now, he stopped to help. The young girl was freezing and told him she had been involved in an accident and needed to go just up the road to get home. He wrapped his large coat around her, placed her in the back seat, and drove rapidly to the nearby home. Running to the door, he knocked furiously until it was answered by an elderly man. When he asked for help, the man told him he was the third one that week and sadly, the girl would not be in the car. Years previously, a car had left the road and had overturned in the frigid water beneath the bridge, resulting in the untimely death of the teen-aged girl. For years, she had haunted the bridge, constantly looking for a way back home and to the parents who were awaiting her arrival. He was right, returning to the car, the man found his coat carefully folded and placed on the car seat.” The kids, scattered in seats throughout the bus, guffawed at the story. Following her cue, I turned off at the Pottsville cutoff and onto the old road over Galla Creek. Leaves danced across the deserted road, accompanying the slight wind and drizzle of the winter night. Fog rose from the beneath the bridge as we approached, spidery wisps and tendrils drifting over the cold, black asphalt. The sign loomed out of the darkness, Galla Creek bridge. I slowed the bus to a crawl as we drifted through the fog and over the bridge, headlights creating spooky images and figures in mist. Suddenly realizing where we were, a mass exodus began as kids leaped to their feet in a suddenly desperate effort to get to the front of that bus with we teachers. For miles, all we heard was nervous whispers.

Mrs. Todd knew how to have a good time. On another trip, she had me visit a huge marble building near Clarksville that she explained had demonic and gargoyle like figures appear in the rock after it was used to clad the outside of the building. The telephone pole identification for the road was 666. Might have been imagination or simple weathering, but her description was very accurate and was sure to inhabit the dreams of many of her students for nights to come.

Halloween brings out the best of those stories. Every community has them. I once assisted a crew film part of the old T.B. sanitarium at Booneville. I had been there during the day and the huge imposing building with silent halls that echoed with your footsteps was spooky enough during the daytime. At night, it was ghastly and I made every effort to ensure that I had plenty of company around at all times.

Nearly everyone has a few superstition and fears, perhaps a part of our heritage and there are so many spooky and unexplained events that it keeps us fretting, especially on Halloween as we reflect back on those stories. One of my uncles explained that he had no superstitions and was afraid of nothing. Renting a house near New Blaine that was said to be haunted, he explained with bravado that nothing would bother him. He lasted one night. Sound asleep in his bed, every light suddenly came on. Getting up and heading to check the switch, the lights went off. Minutes later, the cycle repeated. Two cycles later, his clothes were loaded in his car and he was on his way elsewhere to sleep.

Halloween and fall are great family times. Start up a campfire, tell some spook tales while roasting some hot dogs and making s’mores, and enjoy our beautiful autumn weather.

Hogs Return to Auburn and Site of Controversial Incomplete Pass Call in 2020

Resident News Network

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7:29 pm

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Hogs Return to Auburn and Site of Controversial Incomplete Pass Call in 2020

Arkansas takes the trip to the plains of Alabama on Saturday to take on the Auburn Tigers at Jordan-Hare Stadium. The confines of Jordan-Hare was not friendly to the Hogs on their last trip in 2020 when the game was won in the final seconds by Auburn in part due to a controversial officiating call that went against Arkansas.

In the final seconds of the game, Auburn quarterback Bo Nix attempted to kill the clock on a final desperation drive with Arkansas leading 28-27. Nix intended to spike the ball to kill the clock, but fumbled the snap from center. Instead of the play being ruled a fumble, the officiating crew ruled the botched-snap from center as an incomplete pass. After the game, Arkansas coach Sam Pittman said, “The ball went backward six yards. I saw a fumble and a spike that went backward six yards. They blew the whistle before we recovered the ball so they couldn’t review it. That is the explanation that I got.” The play resulted in an intentional grounding call by the officials and also resulted in a ten second run-off the clock. With less than 20 seconds remaining in the game, Auburn was able to kick a field goal to win the game.

After the game, the Southeastern Conference issued a statement in part that read, “…During the subsequent replay review, there is conclusive video evidence that the pass was backwards. However, because the recovery of the football was not clearly made in the immediate continuing football action, the ruling on the field was determined to stand.” I am not sure that I understand the SEC’s statement, but it is there for anyone who cares to look it up.

That is all ancient history now and has no bearing on Saturday’s game at Auburn, but in the minds of Arkansas fans, it is not forgotten. For the Razorbacks, the mission is to win a critical conference road game and start a string of potential victories that could increase the quality of bowl bids that may come their way in December. Auburn has struggled this year, but they are a dangerous team that can certainly win at home for their embattled coach, Bryan Harsin. Hogs quarterback K. J. Jefferson was impressive at BYU in his return, having a career- best day against the Cougars, and he will need another good outing at Auburn.

WESTERN DIVISION

Conference Overall

Alabama 4-1 7-1

LSU 4-1 6-2

Ole Miss 3-1 7-1

Miss State 2-3 5-3

Arkansas 1-3 4-3

Auburn 1-3 3-4

Texas A&M 1-3 3-4

The Hogs are coming off of a bye week and an impressive non-conference road win at Brigham Young. Arkansas has had time to rest, heal from mid-season injuries, and perhaps make some defensive adjustments, particularly in the secondary where the Hogs have struggled all year. Auburn is embroiled in a coaching controversy as to perhaps not if, but when Harsin will be replaced. Saturday’s game could be significant for the Auburn coach, regardless of its outcome.

Here are some game notes on Arkansas’s game at Auburn as provided by the University of Arkansas:

AUBURN TIGERS (3-4, 1-3 SEC)
AP/Coaches Poll: NR/NR
Head Coach: Bryan Harsin (Boise State, ‘00)
Career Record: 85-35 (10th season)
Record at Auburn: 9-11 (2nd season)

ARKANSAS RAZORBACKS (4-3, 1-3 SEC)
AP/Coaches Poll: RV/RV
Head Coach: Sam Pittman (Pittsburg State [Kan.], ‘86)
Career Record: 16-14 (3rd season)
Record at Arkansas: Same

• Fresh off the bye week, Arkansas will conclude its three-game road swing against SEC West foe Auburn. Kickoff between the Hogs and Tigers is set for 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, in Auburn, Ala., at Jordan-Hare Stadium on SEC Network.

• Last time out, Arkansas went on the road to take down FBS Independent BYU, 52-35, with an explosive offensive ffort. It was the first time the Razorbacks had scored 50+ points on the road against a non-conference foe since 1910.

• With the win, Sam Pittman became the first Arkansas head coach to emerge victorious in each of his first eight games against non-conference opponents. He surpassed legendary former Arkansas head coach Lou Holtz, who won each of his first seven games against non-conference foes.

• QB KJ Jefferson continues to wreak havoc on opposing defenses through the air and on the ground. Jefferson has completed 109-of-161 passes (67.7%) for 1,463 yards and 14 touchdowns with one interception while rushing for 344 yards and four scores in six games. Despite missing one
contest, Jefferson is one of four SEC quarterbacks to throw for over 1,400 yards and run for over 300 yards this season.

• RB Raheim ‘Rocket’ Sanders is the Hogs’ leading ball carrier through seven games, totaling 870 yards on 140 carries (6.2 avg.) with seven scores on the ground. He leads the SEC in both rushing yards (870) and rushing yards per game (124.3), and he ranks second in all-purpose yards per
game (151.3) this season. Sanders, who is responsible for five of Arkansas’ program-record eight consecutive 100-yard rushing games, has also caught 15 passes for 189 yards and a touchdown. He is currently the only FBS player with 800+ rushing yards and 100+ receiving yards this year.

• WR Jadon Haselwood leads Arkansas’ receiving corps with a team-high 31 catches for 406 yards (13.1 avg.) and a pair of touchdowns. A transfer from Oklahoma, Haselwood has caught three or more passes in each of his first seven games as a Hog and has tallied at least one catch in 19
straight games dating back to the start of the 2021 season.

• LB Drew Sanders has emerged as one of the top defensive playmakers in college football, racking up 63 total tackles with a team-leading 7.5 tackles for loss and a team-high 6.5 sacks through seven games. Sanders, who leads the SEC and is tied for 10th nationally in sacks, has four double-digit tackle games this season, most among all Hog defenders.

So, Hogs fans, get up early to catch this game on T.V. on Saturday, and perhaps this year the game will not come down to another controversial call.

Note to Our Readers: Portions of this story were sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kyle Parkinson. SEC Western Division standings provided by the Southeastern Conference.

SR Tigers Roar Back With Stunning Win Over Lavaca

Networks

Adam Hecox

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6:24 pm

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SR Tigers Roar Back With Stunning Win Over Lavaca

The Mansfield SR Tigers started out super hot running the table with an impressive 4-0 start to the 2022 season. Impressive victories over Magazine, Paris, and Waldron followed by a nail-biter win against West Fork had Tigermainia running wild in Mansfield. As with every season though, the Tigers hit the “Skid Row” section of their conference schedule. A close loss to Greenland nipped the Tigers in the tail for their first loss of the season. Then came games against the top two teams in the entire 3A where Mansfield fought valiantly but still failed against Charleston and Booneville. The Tigers 4-0 went to 4-3 overnight it seemed and just like that the honeymoon was over. After losing three straight games, things didn’t look to be any easier for Mansfield as they headed into their game against the 6-1 Lavaca Golden Arrows on Friday, October 21st.

Photo courtesy of Shelly² Photography Videography and Design

The stakes of the game versus Lavaca were pretty cut and dry. Win and have a chance at making the State Playoffs. Lose and all chances of making the Playoffs would be out the window. To make matters worse for the Tigers, they stepped onto the field missing starters on both sides of the ball, and those who were suited up were still banged up pretty badly from previous games. This would be a game of who wants it more. Early on it seemed as if Mansfield was going to just lay down and accept defeat as Lavaca jumped out to a 14-0 lead on the Tigers. Mansfield’s offense continued to struggle as they did in their previous losses and their usual high-end defense was nowhere to be found.

Time to chalk up the “L” for the Tigers right? Not so fast. With Lavaca rolling downfield again, Mansfield’s defense finally took charge. The Golden Arrows put the ball on the ground and defensive end, Trey Vaughan, came up with the recovery. The Tigers then found an offensive groove in their run game as Tyler Woolbright and Fisher Willsey found gaps in Lavaca’s defense and exploited them for yards. With the Golden Arrows focused on the Tigers new found run game, quarterback Cole Kindle hit Clint Stovall on a 26-yard pass setting Mansfield up at the one-yard line. Fisher Willsey proceeded to punch the ball through for a would-be Tiger touchdown, but a flag negated the score. Cole Kindle then hit Peyton Martin at the one-yard line to again set the Tigers up for a possible score. But Mansfield again would be flagged and lose more ground. Mansfield Head Coach, Tim Cothran, didn’t want to give Lavaca’s offense any more chances so he opted to run the clock down to one second before calling a time-out. The Tigers stepped out of their time out facing fourth down at the six-yard line with one second left in the half. That’s all it took too as Cole Kindle found a double-covered Daniel Burton on a slant route for a Tiger touchdown. Just like that, the Tigers were back in the game as they headed into the half down 14-7.

Remember earlier in the article where it said that this would be a game of who wants it more? Well, Lavaca showed how much they wanted it as they started off the second half with the ball and marched downfield like a tank to score on the Tiger’s defense. The Golden Arrows couldn’t come up with the extra point but still stretched the score out to a 20-7 lead over the Tigers. This could have been the point that the Tigers submitted and accepted their fate. But fate had something else in store for Mansfield. Tyler Woolbright kickstarted the Tigers offense with a pair of big runs right down the pipe of Lavaca’s defense. Mansfield continued to pick apart the Golden Arrows defense but just as the offensive momentum was building, a fumble gave Lavaca the ball right back. Mansfield’s defense stepped up again and this time poured on the pain. Samuel Burton pinned his ears back and stuffed Lavaca on back-to-back plays and then sacked the Golden Arrows quarterback on fourth down to give Mansfield’s offense another shot. The Tigers ran two positive yard plays before the third quarter ended with a 20-7 score.

It all came down to the infamous fourth quarter. Mansfield’s offense came out with a playoffs-or-bust attitude as Tyler Woolbright again attacked the center of Lavaca’s defense for positive yards. That set up a Fisher Willsey run around the corner for a 15-yard Tiger touchdown. Jeremy Strozier split the uprights for the extra point putting Mansfield only one score away from upsetting Lavaca. The Tigers defense began to look like the Mansfield fans are used to seeing as they again shut down the high-powered Lavaca offense forcing the Golden Arrows to punt. Mansfield went back to the ground and pound game that had been successful up to that point. Woolbright and Willsey took turns plowing their way with a fierce determination down to the 15-yard line. The Tigers had been in the position to put points on the board all season but couldn’t execute most of the time. Most of the time wasn’t this time though as Cole Kindle found an open crease in Lavaca’s defense and zipped the pass to Peyton Martin for a Tiger touchdown with 5:51 left in the game. Jeremy Strozier kept his perfect extra-point streak alive as he again kicked the ball through putting Mansfield ahead 21-20.

Lavaca went right back to work though and threatened the Tigers possible win by getting downfield quickly. That’s when disaster struck. Lavaca’s quarterback fumbled a snap on second down and dove for the ball at the same time as Mansfield defenders Kindel Noblitt and Braxton Byers. The three heads simultaneously struck sending all three players to the ground. The game came to an abrupt halt as fans and players from both sides sent prayers up for those involved. When things kicked back up, the ball was Lavaca’s at midfield. The Golden Arrows connected on a pass for the first down setting themselves up for a go-ahead victory. With time running out and Lavaca down by one point, the Golden Arrows took aim and put the ball in the air. There are moment’s that move in slow motion and an eternity passed as the ball was in the air. All or nothing. Playoffs or bust. Who wants it more? Mansfield senior cornerback Tyler Woolbright showed without a shadow of a doubt that he wanted it more as he intercepted the slow-motion pass. The pick gave Mansfield the ball again and the Tigers offense lined up in victory formation and took a knee to run the clock out. When the clock hit 0:00, the Mansfield Tigers were victorious 21-20, broke a three-game losing streak, and kept their State Playoff hope alive.

The win sets Mansfield up in a favorable position to earn the four seed in the State Playoffs. Favorable, but not guaranteed. Mansfield will face Cedarville and Hackett to end the regular season. Both teams have combined for one conference win on the season and that one win was Cedarville beating Hackett. But don’t let the records fool you. Cedarville and Hackett are rivals and anything can happen in rivalry games. The Tigers still sit behind Charleston, Booneville, Greenland, and Lavaca in conference play so they will have to win out to have a chance at being State Playoff bound for the first time since 2019. That being said, Mansfield proved against Lavaca that they’ll leave every once in their being on the field to win. The Tigers will travel to Pirates Cove on Friday, October 28th to again lay it all on the line for a coveted Playoff birth.

Historic Race Results Energize Tiger Titles

Sports

Tammy Teague

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4:42 am

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Historic Race Results Energize Tiger Titles

Mansfield takes all four divisions of the 2A-4 District Cross Country Championships on Saturday.

Magazine Coach Randy Bryan has been the meet director of the 2A-4 District Cross Country Championships since 2007. Since that time he has yet to see a school sweep all four divisional races. That ended on Saturday as Mansfield conquered all by winning every team race at the conference showdown.

Lady Tiger Raine Hecox leads a second wave of Mansfield runners at Saturday’s conference meet.

Not only did Bryan admit to never seeing a school sweep the league titles, he also admitted that no male runner has ever won both the junior high and senior high races on the same day. That too changed.

MHS freshman Joey Williams take the lead all day long as he wins both men’s event at the 2A-4 Conference Championships.

Tiger freshman sensation Joey Williams ran away with the 1.5 mile junior boys race in a remarkable 8:08 clocking. After about a 45 minute break, Williams moved up to the senior high division to take that 5K course in a winning time of 18:07.

“It was an emotional day to say the least,” expressed Mansfield Head Coach John Mackey. “In particular, it really meant the world to our lone senior, Jadelynn Wood. She offered her heart and soul to this championship day. And, Joey’s two runs were phenomenal. To do something that hasn’t been done in at least 15 years is pretty remarkable.”

Joey Williams lead temamates Braxton Bartlett and Joseph Carter at Magazine.

Mansfield’s title sweep began by winning the closest contest of the mid-morning race slate. The junior girls took down host Magazine with a 47 to 52 margin. Despite only placing two players inside the Top 10, Mansfield prevailed against the depth of the Rattler racers.

The momentum swelled as the Mansfield junior boys tallied a near perfect score en route to their team victory. Bringing home six players inside the Top 10, Mansfield’s youngest men’s squad ran roughshod over Johnson County Westside to the tune of 17 to 47.

Saturday had a star power sighting as Ouachita Baptist cross country runner Darby Jones makes a visit to her old teammates as Mansfield’s senior girls ready for the district meet.

“This was a veteran group as far as junior high teams go,” explained Mackey. “Four of these boys were on our previous district championships. Today, it was a 3-peat for them.”

Both MHS senior teams followed suit winning their races in similar dominating fashions. The Lady Tigers easily topped runner up Western Yell County. The senior boys took over Johnson County Westside in a near rematch of the junior high race.

MHS junior girls take a timeout from warming up for the district finals in cross country.

The first ten finishers in each race at the conference meet earned All-District status. Mansfield filled its collective coffers with 14 athletes with such acclaim.

Count Laney Wood (2), Jadelynn Wood (3), Raine Hecox (7), and Trinity Triska (9) as recipients of those conference credentials for the senior high girls. The first three of those Lady Tigers all posted season best times for the 5K race.

Laney Wood went 22:11 for the individual runner-up finish at the conference course in Magazine. Jadelynn Wood completed the district race in 23:13 which dropped her career best by 28 seconds. Finally, Hecox shaved another minute and a half for the third consecutive meet with a 24:52 marker at the conference showdown.

Mansfield’s junior Tigers win the conference XC meet for the third consecutive season on Saturday.

For the junior girls, Rylan Jones (4) and Abby Smith (7) made that All-District category. Jones went 10:21 to better her September Magazine effort by a minute and ten seconds. Smith was 16 seconds behind that at 10:37.

The Mansfield All-District lists for the junior and senior high boys teams were very similar. The Tiger freshmen were elevated to the senior high upon the conclusion of their earlier junior high race so their top finishers were nearly identical.

Tiger freshmen Joey Williams (1), Jonah Martin (4), Alex Hecox (7), Braxton Bartlett (9), and Joseph Carter (10) made the junior list before doubling up in the varsity event. Eighth graders Gunner Williams (3) and Holden Powers (8) worked within the mix as the Mansfield junior high sported seven of the ten medal winners.

Senior Jadelynn Wood gets support form former teammate Darby Jones as Mansfield preapres for the cross country sweep at district.

Sophomore Austin Ruiz (3) climbed into All-District position among Williams (1), Martin (4), Hecox (5), Bartlett (7) and Carter (8) who continued domination even at the senior high level.

“It was good to have complete team rosters for a change,” noted the coach. “The full time cross country players prepare everyday and are seeing huge results. We don’t see all of our athletes on a daily basis because of the schedules of the dual sport kids. So, this was really special putting all the pieces together in one place.”

Austin Ruiz and Joey Williams await the start of the senior boys race.

Addie Bowman completed the senior girls scoring five at 11th place. Ashley Martin and Carter Whiley served as blockers. Carrisa Vaughan ran her first 5K of the season to boost the MHS Lady Tiger depth.

Adeline Bray (15), Lilly Young (16) and Miley Clopton (22) completed the junior girls scoring five. Whitley Boyd (27) was their lone blocker.

Raihan Islam (19), Matthew Knight (21) and James Drews (22) ran as alternates for the first place Mansfield junior boys team at the district meet.

Top Tiger Laney Wood approaches her All-State time form a year ago at this season’s conference 5K.

Mansfield Assistant Coach Susan Martin and Head Coach John Mackey display all four divisional champinships their teams earned at the district XC finals.

Dramatic Win Enjoyed By Honorary Captain

Sports

Tammy Teague

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4:41 am

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Dramatic Win Enjoyed By Honorary Captain

Mrs. Sue Ward assists in the coin flip as honorary captian of the Mansfield verse Lavaca football game.

Friday night’s dramatic come from behind football victory was not the first nor will it be the last enjoyed by Mansfield’s most recent honorary team captain.

Mrs. Sue Ward has witnessed many such contests over her 49 year teaching career at Mansfield High School. This however, was her first donning the digs of the team’s honorary captain.

Last week’s nailbiter between the home town Mansfield Tigers and the visiting Lavaca Golden Arrows was indeed one for the ages. Junior Cole Kindle connected with birthday boy Peyton Martin in the fourth quarter to secure a pivotal conference matchup 21 – 20 in favor of the Tigers.

Honorary Mansfield team captain Sue Ward wears jersey 49.

What was unique from the start was that Mansfield head coach Tim Cothran and athletic director John Mackey asked Ward to be a part of the show. The two men have headed a committee that’s invited notable Mansfield patrons to walk with the traditional coin captains each home contest this season. This past week, it was Ward’s turn to be so honored.

Signifying her 49 consecutive years of service to MHS before her retirement last May, Ward sported a number 49 captain’s shirt.

Typically asked to stop at the hash mark as the true team captains move to midfield, this most recent honorary captain was allowed by the “white hat” official to proceed all the way to the coin toss area. In fact, Ward was allowed to flip the ceremonial coin.

Perhaps a hint of good luck, Mansfield won the coin flip. After that, Ward enjoyed the rest of the marquee matchup from the stadium rim among family and friends that came to celebrate her moment under the lights.

Ward was recognized in the pre-game announcements as not only a Mansfield graduate but also one of the first women’s basketball players at Arkansas Tech University. She spent two years after that working in Washington D.C. for the FBI. From there she returned to Fayetteville, Arkansas and earned her bachelor’s degree in Home Economics at the University of Arkansas.

Beginning a teaching career after college graduation, Ward taught Home Economics, sponsored the award winning FCCLA membership at Mansfield, and served as the school’s varsity cheer coach for 10 years. During all that time, this was the first time she walked onto a football field as a captain of the team.

To date this season, Mansfield has invited little league football coaches Steven Moore and David Moore as honorary captains. 2020 T. Franklin Boyd award winners Layton Howard and Maggie Strunk joined the list of dignitaries. “Concrete guy” Butch Martin has also made the list.

Mansfield will announce its last honorary captain of the 2022 season on November 4 when the Hackett Hornets come to town on senior night.

VB Fans Reminded Online Tickets Only

Sports

Tammy Teague

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4:40 am

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Mansfield will host the 2022 Class 2A Centennial Bank State Volleyball Tournament presented by Everett Buick on October 25 – 27. As such, local fans are reminded that only online tickets will be available for purchase for entrance into the games.

Patrons will need to visit GoFan.Co to order daily tickets. There will absolutely be no money transactions for tickets at the door. Only AAA passes will be honored.

An online ticket is only good for one admission for one day. Anyone leaving the venue will be required to purchase another ticket. New tickets are required for each new day of competition.

First round games begin on Tuesday at noon. The 8 opening round games will be split between the Mansfield High School Gym and the Mansfield Middle School Gym. Quarter finals and semi-finals action will continue the follow two days exclusively at the high school gym.

Tournament host and 2-time defending state champs, Mansfield, will play on court one at MHS. That contest will begin at 4:00 PM versus Magnet Cove.

2A West Conference Runner-up, Lavaca, begins its tournament on court two at the Mansfield middle school campus. That contest will be against England at 2:00 PM.

For complete bracket updates visit ahsaa.org and search for volleyball state brackets.

JR Tigers Break Golden Arrows And Losing Streak

Networks

Adam Hecox

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5:43 pm

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JR Tigers Break Golden Arrows And Losing Streak

Nelson Mandela once said “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” The Mansfield JR High football team started out their season 5-0 before stumbling against Charleston and Booneville. Many saw the losses as just that, losses. But a select few saw a Tigers team that battled with all they had and even improved during the two-game losing streak. The schedule still didn’t favor Mansfield as on Thursday, October 20th the Tigers traveled to Lavaca to take on another top-notch conference opponent in the Golden Arrows.

Tigers defensive end, Matthew Burton (#4), takes down Lavaca’s quarterback for the first sack of the game.

Unlike every game the Tigers previously played, Mansfield lost the coin toss and had to open the game by kicking off to Lavaca. The Golden Arrows had a quiver full of bigger players on the field than Mansfield and used that advantage to drive the ball down to the Tigers 32 yard line. Mansfield finally forced a fourth down on the Golden Arrows offense and Lavaca went for the fourth down conversion, but Tiger defensive ends Braxton Bartlett and Matthew Burton cut down the Golden Arrows quarterback for a turnover on downs. Now with the ball in their hands, Mansfield wasted little time getting momentum going. The Tigers started their drive with a pass from Cooper Edwards to Ethan Martin who rumbled 36 yards downfield into Lavaca territory. Zander Walters and Cooper Edwards made a couple of powerful runs to set Mansfield up at the five-yard line, but the Tigers couldn’t capitalize and turned the ball over on downs. Lavaca would gift the ball right back to Mansfield though with a fumble at the two-yard line and defensive lineman Logan Ore was there for the recovery. Again with the ball, the Tigers gave a quick handoff to Zander Walters who popped into the endzone for a Tiger touchdown. Walters tacked on the two-point conversion setting the Tigers up with an 8-0 lead over Lavaca at the end of the first quarter.

Mansfield’s Zander Walters (#6) shucks off a Golden Arrow defender en route to a Tiger touchdown.

The Tigers started off the second quarter much better than the first as Manfield’s defense forced a three-and-out on Lavaca’s offense. It only took two plays by running backs Ethan Martin and Zander Walters for Mansfield to find the endzone again, but unfortunately, a holding penalty negated the score. No matter though, the Tigers pounded their way downfield again and this time capitalized with a score by Zander Walters from nine yards out. The Tigers two-point try came up unsuccessful leaving them with a 14-0 lead over the Golden Arrows. With the lead in their favor, the Tigers seemed to soften up their effort as Lavaca ate up yards and the clock by driving the ball 62 yards on nine plays to score. The Golden Arrows couldn’t add on the two-point conversion but still, put Mansfield on notice by making it a one-possession game. Once Mansfield got the ball back, Cooper Edwards zeroed in a pair of passes to Ethan Martin with racked up 25 yards and 17 yards on his receptions to get the Tigers in scoring position. Unfortunately, the Tigers ran out of time in the half before they could score again as Mansfield entered halftime with a slim 14-6 lead.

Tiger Coaches Tim Cothran and Keith Stovall coach up Mansfield’s defense before halftime.

Mansfield received the opening kick of the second half and showed that they wouldn’t go down without a fight. Lavaca’s kick went to returner Gunner Williams who played a slide-of-hand trick on Lavaca as Williams ran with the ball in one direction and then handed the ball to Ethan Martin on a reverse. Martin rumbled, bumbled, and stumbled down the field for 54 yards on the return setting Mansfield’s offense up with great field position. The Tigers then used their triple threat in the backfield as they targeted the Golden Arrows with runs by Zander Walters, Ethan Martin, and Dawson Robinson to get down to the one-yard line. Ethan Martin was the one to cross the goal line from one yard out behind the lead blocking of Dawson Robinson for a Tiger Touchdown. Cooper Edwards zipped a pass to Joseph Carter for the two-point conversion to jump the Tigers lead to 22-6.

Mansfield running back, Ethan Martin (#24), works for extra yardage after catching a pass from Cooper Edwards (#1).

The Tigers defense finally shook off the rust and started shining in the second half. Lavaca was unable to get past Cadien and Logan Ore, aka the “Brothers of Destruction”, as the Ore’s created chaos in the Golden Arrows backfield on each snap of the ball. Mansfield’s linebacker corps consisting of Ethan Martin, Alex Hecox, and Dawson Robinson also chewed up Lavacas running backs and receivers seemingly at will. Missing in the Tigers linebacker corps though was Mansfield’s star running back and linebacker Zander Walters. Walters was injured on the Tigers previous drive so Tigers head coach, Tim Cothran, plugged up the void with ninth grader Logan Newman. Newman came into the game with a point to prove and boy did he excel in doing so as the freshman tallied up multiple solo and assisted tackles in the second half. Although the Golden Arrows didn’t pass deep much, defensive backs Cooper Edwards and Dominic Shores were on the spot when they did knocking down any passes in their direction.

Logan Newman (#16) sizes up his next Golden Arrow victim for a tackle.

With the Tigers defense rallying and the Golden Arrows off target, Mansfield’s offense was able to zone in on the endzone again. The Tigers took over possession after a Lavaca turnover on downs and in just one snap of the ball, Cooper Edwards slung a 29-yard touchdown pass to none other than Ethan Martin for another Tiger touchdown. Mansfield couldn’t score the two-point conversion which set the scoreboard at 28-6 in the Tigers favor. The closing touchdown may have been by the hands of the Tigers offenses, but the true game closer came from the defense. Lavaca’s offense worked their way down to the Tigers 20-yard line and set up for a shot at the endzone. As the Golden Arrows quarterback dropped back for a pass, Matthew Burton came in for a big hit which sent the pass sailing into the waiting arms of Mansfield’s Joseph Carter for a Mansfield Tigers interception. The turnover allowed the Tigers offense to chip away at the clock and end the game with a 28-6 final score for the victory.

Mansfield’s Joseph Carter (#2) heads downfield after intercepting a Lavaca pass.

Mansfield’s win over Lavaca not only broke a two-game losing streak, but it also set the 2022 JR High team to do something that hasn’t been done in almost a decade. The JR Tigers now sit with an overall record of 6-2 on the season and a 4-2 conference record making them one of the winningest Mansfield JR High teams in recent memory. Mansfield will look to solidify their record-setting claim when they host the Cedarville Pirates on Thursday, October 27th for the final game of the season.

Meet City Attorney Candidate Alex Gustafson

Tammy Teague

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1:46 am

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Meet City Attorney Candidate Alex Gustafson

Hey Greenwood, my name is Alex Gustafson, and I am running for Greenwood City Attorney. I am married to my wife Stephanie and am a proud stepfather to her son Colton. I grew up in Dallas Texas and moved to Fayetteville in 2010 further my education at the University of Arkansas. I moved to Greenwood in 2018 and joined the Walters Law Firm. During my time at Walters, I handled a wide range of legal matters and was able to learn from prominent attorneys in the area and gained important relationships. My experience at Walters helped me understand how to successfully try cases and to vigorously represent clients.

After discussions with my mentors about my future, it was determined that my talents could be best suited in representing the City of Greenwood where I live. Thereafter, I started my law firm, ALEXGUS LAW, LLC, where I currently share office space with Michael Hamby who has served as the Greenwood City Attorney for the last 30 years. I have shadowed Mr. Hamby for the past year, learning the ends and outs needed to adequately represent the City.

As City Attorney, I feel that I am obligated to protect the integrity of Greenwood and to keep its interests as my main priority. I aim to help the City be transparent and to adequately advise the local government concerning any important issues.

I am the most qualified candidate because I get things done. Throughout the past year, I have helped spearhead the sidewalk litigation and successfully obtained an order allowing the City to begin the much needed sidewalk construction. Further, I aided in the annexation of the Curve at the corner of Hwy. 10 and 71, which expands Greenwood’s borders and allows for future businesses to take foothold. Currently, I am serving on a special committee for the Water Commission to help negotiate and draft a new contract with James Fork.

The City Attorney position is a multifaceted role that I have spent my legal career preparing for. For me, having my family in Greenwood, working in the City, and serving the people of my community is a great honor that I hold near and dear to my heart. That is why I ask that you vote for me, Alex Gustafson, for Greenwood City Attorney so that I may truly focus on Greenwood’s future and making it the cornerstone of the River Valley.

-Submitted by Alex Gustafson, candidate for Greenwood City Attorney

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