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.”
The opening concerts of A String Fort Smith’s 2022-2023 Season—two (2) Fall concerts which are FREE and open to the public—will take place on Thursday, November 17, 2022 at 6pm at ARCOM (Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine), 7000 Chad Colley Boulevard, Fort Smith, and Friday, November 18, 2022, at 7pm, at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, 2701 Old Greenwood Road, Fort Smith, respectively. The Friday, November 18 performance will be recorded and offered virtually in perpetuity, on A String Fort Smith’s YouTube Channel. Repertoire to be performed, includes: Allegro, from Brandenburg Concerto No. 6; Allegro, from Violin Concerto in a minor, BWV 1041; Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring; Sheep May Safely Graze; Bist du bei Mir; and Allegro, from Brandenburg Concerto No 5 for Piano, Flute, and Violin—all by one of the greatest and most influential composers in the history of Western music, Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750).
“As we embrace the arrival of the beautiful late fall and early winter here in Fort Smith—marking our third season since the establishment of A String Fort Smith in 2020—I’m thrilled to share the accomplishments of this truly remarkable ensemble of young musicians, faculty, and guest artists, in two public performances! Both programs offer a variety of beautiful and captivating music by one of the foremost composers of all time, Johann Sebastian Bach. Our performances are free and open to all, and I look forward to welcoming everyone on these two occasions!” states Lori Fay, Founder and Director of A String Fort Smith.
Lori FAY, ASFS Founder & Director – photo credit Angela Kiefer
A String Fort Smith, founded in the summer of 2020 by Lori Fay, is aimed at fostering excellence and unprecedented performing opportunities for junior- and high-school aged students interested in pursuing careers in the performing arts. Assisted by four devoted colleagues—Anthony Verge, Assistant Director, violin, and viola; Barbara Godette, violoncello; Sean Lewis, double bass; and Cory Winters, viola—A String Fort Smith participants are selected based on an audition.
The ensemble consists of the most advanced and dedicated students—approximately eight to fourteen (8 to 14) participants per semester—who make a commitment to rehearse for one hour once per week, on Monday evenings at St. Bartholomew’s Church in Fort Smith. Members of A String Fort Smith’s 2022 Fall Semester— all of whom won a spot in the ensemble based on an outstanding audition—are from a combination of Southside and Northside High Schools.
Participants include Southside High School students Myles Flanders, violoncello; Hieu Le, violin; Andrea Ortega, violin; Iana Perry, violin; Adren Stahl, double bass; and Samuel Tran, violin. Participating Northside High School students include: Angel Duron, viola; Adrian Mazariegos, violin; Vanesa Parga, violin; Emaline Pendleton, violin; and Rylee Whittaker, violoncello. Special guests—all formerly members of A String Fort Smith—include: Gregory Allen, violin, and Blair Ranells, violin, both presently enrolled at UAFS; and college graduate Casey Teoh, violin.
Friends and fans have come to cherish performances by A String Fort Smith, not only because of Fay’s striking programming and the talented student participants, but because of an impressive array of guest artists and student soloists. The upcoming November 17 and 18, 2022 performances will be no exception.
Among the many highlights of the upcoming concerts by A String Fort Smith, will be appearances by guest artists Ginny Hudson, flute, and Shalon Lester, piano. Ginny Hudson is the Senior Instructor of Music and Flute at the University of Arkansas—Fort Smith. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in music, magna cum laude, from Arkansas Tech University and a Master of Music in flute performance from the Longy School of Music. Hudson is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Higher Education and Community Leadership at Southern Arkansas University. Her principal teachers were Robert Willoughby, Karen Futterer, and Mary Posses. Ms. Hudson currently performs with the Mockingbird Quartet and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SONA) and is frequently featured as a performer with the Fort Smith Chorale. As a chamber musician and recitalist, she specializes in performing and bringing a spotlight to music by female composers. She is a five-time winner of the National Flute Association’s Professional Flute Choir Competition and has been featured as a soloist at the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic. In addition to her performance schedule, Ms. Hudson maintains a large private flute studio in Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley, placing numerous students at the top of All-Region and All-State bands and orchestras in both Arkansas and Oklahoma each year.
Shalon Hsin-I Lester was born in Tainan, Taiwan. She started playing piano at the age of three when her mother recognized Shalon’s love for music. Shalon attended the Tainan University of Technology and Music where she completed a five year junior college music program. During this period, she earned the distinction of “Excellent Performance” many times in her solo performance exams. In 2007, she moved to the USA and continued to fulfill her passion for the piano at Oklahoma City University. While at OKCU, she studied under Dr. Amy I-Lin Cheng and Steinway artist, Dr. Sergio Monteiro; Ms. Lester eventually earned both her Bachelor and Master Degrees in Piano Performance. While studying, Shalon successfully participated in several competitions earning high marks for her interpretive and emotive performing. She has also performed and collaborated with many artists at the Interharmony International Music Festival in Germany. Shalon currently resides in Van Buren, Arkansas, and teaches at UAFS, Community School of the Arts, and maintains an active private piano studio. She is the staff accompanist at Heritage Church and occasionally performs with the Fort Smith Symphony.
Founder and Director Lori Fay, is a widely respected violinist, and brings years of symphony orchestra, chamber music, solo performing, and recording experience to the Fort Smith area where she resides. Ms. Fay received a Master of Music in Violin Performance from the Shepherd School of Music at Rice University (Houston, TX), as well as a Master of Music in Teaching from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music (Oberlin, OH). Since settling in Fort Smith over 15 years ago and establishing a career as Associate Concertmaster of the Fort Smith Symphony, Co-Founder and Co-Director of DuoBrava (www.duobrava.com), private violin, viola, and piano instructor, and more, her passion remains working with young string players interested in improving their skills and deepening their love of music.
A String Fort Smith concerts are FREE and open to the public. Both venues—ARCOM and St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church—are accessible for the physically impaired. For patrons who cannot—or chose not to—attend a performance by A String Fort Smith, the Friday, November 18, 2022 performance taking place at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church, will be offered virtually in perpetuity, on A String Fort Smith’s YouTube Channel.
For more information about the work of A String Fort Smith, or for string players interested in auditioning for A String Fort Smith, please send an email to office@astringfortsmith.com
Here’s an interesting statistic: Some 72% of retirees say one of their biggest fears is becoming a burden on their families, according to a 2021 survey by Age Wave and Edward Jones. Both before and during retirement, what steps can you take to avoid burdening your loved ones in the future?
Here are a few suggestions:
• Build your retirement savings. The greater your financial resources, the less likely it becomes that you’d ever have to count on your grown children for financial support. You may have access to a 401(k) or similar retirement plan at work, so take advantage of it. Even with an employer-sponsored plan, you also may be eligible to contribute to an IRA. In addition to offering a variety of investment options, a 401(k) and IRA provide potential tax advantages. And once you do retire, be careful about how much you withdraw each year from your retirement plans and other investments.
• Plan for health care costs. Once you are retired, health care costs will be a significant expense. You may have Medicare, but you’ll also want to consider your need for supplemental health insurance to cover traditional medical costs. And you’ll want to consider another potential health-related expense: long-term care. You may never need the services of a home health aide or a stay in a nursing home, but no one can predict the future.
Medicare does not cover most costs for long-term care, which can be quite high. In 2021, the annual national median cost for a private room in a nursing home was over $108,000, while the median cost for a full-time home health aide was nearly $62,000, according to a survey by Genworth, an insurance company. You may want to consult with a financial professional on strategies for protecting yourself from these costs.
• Create necessary legal documents. If something were to happen to you, and you didn’t have the appropriate legal documents in place, your loved ones could be placed in a bind, both financially and emotionally. That’s why it’s a good idea to create documents such as a durable financial power of attorney, which lets you name someone to manage your finances if you became incapacitated, and a durable power of attorney for health care, which allows someone to make medical decisions on your behalf if you can’t make them yourself. You’ll want to work with a legal professional to develop the documents appropriate for your needs.
• Evaluate your housing needs. As you enter retirement, you may want to evaluate your living situation. Could you downsize to a smaller home, or perhaps a condominium or apartment? Not only might you save money with such a move, but you could also end up relieving your grown children of the responsibilities and hassles involved in clearing out and selling your home should you become unable to do so yourself during the later years of your retirement.
By taking these measures, along with others, you can go a long way toward maintaining your independence and putting yourself in a place where you won’t burden your grown children. And that’s a good place to be.
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
Rivalry games tend to always create some buzz. Most of the time the buzz is created by an intense action packed sports event between two teams. There was definitely a buzz on Friday, November 4th but that buzz’s intensity came from sirens early in the evening as high winds, heavy rain, hail, and even tornados struck the town of Mansfield. Once the storms passed and everyone was safely accounted for, the original purpose for the buzz fired back up with just three words. Mansfield versus Hackett.
As both teams took to the field, you could hear some old-timers in the stands say “now this is football weather”. This was not going to be a clean surf and turf layout, no siree bob. This game would be a muddy slip-and-slide pig sty with the ol’ pigskin. Mansfield took the opening kickoff and the game was underway. The Tigers started off looking strong behind running backs Tyler Woolbright and Fisher Willsey. Mansfield drove 26 yards downfield behind the dynamic duo before the offense began spinning their tires as Hackett’s defense bowed up to force a Tiger punt. The Tigers defense was eagerly waiting their opportunity to light up the Hornets offense and did just that. With the high winds preventing Hackett from passing the ball early on in the game, defensive linemen Kindel Noblitt, Braxton Byers, Trey Vaughan, and Samuel Burton pinned their ears back and feasted on the Hornets backfield. Hackett would try to convert a fourth down to get some momentum going in their direction, but the Tigers defense is ranked second in the conference for a reason and quickly forced a turnover on downs. With the rain pouring down and neither teams offense able to gain any traction, the first quarter came to a close with a score of 0-0.
The dismal conditions in the first quarter proved to everyone that this would not be the high flying shootout that Mansfield and Hackett usually displays, rather it would be a game of field position and some all-out gutsy plays. The Tigers offense was still stuck in the mud as the second quarter began and Mansfield would be forced to punt again. Fortunately for the Tigers, Peyton Martin was able to big boot a 63 yard punt that pinned Hackett back at the one-yard line. Field possession? Check. It just took two plays for the Tigers defense to capitalize on Hackett’s offense as Trey Vaughan tacked a Hornets running back in the end zone for a safety and the first points of the game. All-out gutsy plays? There’s another check. After the safety, the Hornets were forced to kick the ball back to Mansfield and none other than the ever-dangerous Andrew Burton finally got his hands on the ball. Burton ran faster than the wind gusts on the field for a 52-yard Tiger Touchdown. Unfortunately, though, the touchdown was called back on a penalty setting the Tigers back at the twenty-five-yard line. The setback deflated Mansfield’s momentum as the Tigers couldn’t punch the ball in and went three and out on the possession. Hackett took over and went 53 yards on 12 plays before the clock ran out in the half. The score at halftime stood at a whopping 2-0 Mansfield lead.
Photo courtesy of Sara Leonard Kindle
Halftime was shortened to five minutes due to the weather delay so adjustments by both coaching staffs and players had to be made on the fly. Hackett would get the chance to show their changes to the game plan as they received the kickoff in the second half. It didn’t take long for the Hornets to get back in the game as they took their opening drive 60 yards in nine plays to score a touchdown. With the wind still howling, the Hornets went for a two-point conversion but failed as they met a wall of red jerseys instead of points. With the Hornets having a 6-2 lead and momentum, Mansfield began to make mistakes that cost them penalty yards as the game seemed to slip away. That’s when some light of some senior leadership appeared as Tyler Woolbright took the work load on his own shoulders and pounded his way in for a Tiger touchdown. The Tigers would also go for the two-point conversion due to the conditions but failed to convert giving them a slim 8-6 lead over Hackett to end the third quarter.
It all came down to the fourth and final quarter of the game. Both teams had weathered the storm and put their all on the line up to that point and the scoreboard was proof of that. So what team would make the big play to shift everything their way? Mansfield’s defensive safety Tyler Turnipseed answered that question as he picked off a Hackett pass on the Hornets first drive of the final quarter. Just in case some couldn’t hear Turnipseed’s big play answer, Tyler Woolbright took the ball 41 yards downfield on the Tigers first offensive play to put Mansfield in scoring position at the three-yard line. The Tigers couldn’t capitalize on the ensuing plays though and turned the ball over on downs. Now it was up to the defense and they didn’t disappoint. Mansfield put the Hornets in a fourth-down situation and senior Drew Elmore mopped up the mud with a huge quarterback sack giving the Tigers one more shot at a touchdown. With a two-point lead, the Tigers put running back Fisher Willsey at quarterback and leaned hard on their senior heavy offensive line. Behind linemen John Broadaway, Braxton Byers, Reegan Emery, Austin Quinalty, and junior Turner Wright, Willsey ran a quarterback draw and followed his blockers into the end zone for a Tiger touchdown. The two-point conversion was no good but the touchdown put the game out of reach for Hackett to come back as the Tigers stormed to a 16-6 victory.
The victory gives Mansfield a 7-3 overall record and concludes their conference play with a record of 4-3. But wait, there’s more. The Tigers are also heading to the State Playoffs for the first time in two years as a #4 Seed. Not too bad for a team picked to finish dead last in the 3A-1 in the preseason polls. As good as all of that may seem, the Tigers are not still satisfied. They started the season wanting to prove a point and making the State Playoffs is merely the beginning of what they want to prove to everyone. This program wants to make it clear to the football world that Mansfield Tiger football can never be counted out nor underestimated. The next step in that goal will be a road trip for Round1 of the State Playoffs. The Tigers will travel to central Arkansas on Friday, November 11th to take on the Fordyce Redbugs.
On a stormy Friday night in the River Valley and in Northwest Arkansas, high school football teams experienced a variety of obstacles as they tried to play the final week of the regular season. Some schools took a safe approach to the potential severe weather on Friday by playing on Thursday, playing earlier on Friday, or, moving games to Saturday. Either way, the uncertainty of the delays forced players and coaches to be flexible when they are normally in a set routine on game day.
The Charleston Tigers were scheduled to play at Lavaca on Friday at 7 p.m. Earlier in the day on Friday, the kickoff was moved to 8 p.m. But starting around 6 p.m. on Friday, severe weather moved into the area. A tornado touched down briefly just west of Mansfield, and the outer edge of the storm brought a deluge of heavy rain onto the field at Lavaca around 6:30 p.m. At 7 p.m., another line of storms moved from southwest of Booneville toward Paris. All in all, it was a long and frustrating night.
There are many factors that are considered for the cancellation or the postponement and eventually rescheduling of a high school football game. In fact, the Booneville Bearcats were scheduled to play at Cedarville on Friday night at 7 p.m. That game was not moved or adjusted in its start time. Eventually, the Pirates forfeited the game to Booneville, and the Bearcats team and fans went home with the win.
I will not attempt to second guess any school on why or why not they chose to re-schedule or not re-schedule a football game. In fact, as a retired school administrator, I have been in their shoes before, and I will tell you from experience there often seems to be no good solution that most people will agree with or think is a good decision.
So, long story short, the game at Lavaca was re-scheduled a second time to start at 9 p.m. on Friday. And just a few minutes after 9 p.m., the game finally kicked-off.
During the delay and the stormy weather, the Charleston Tigers remained on campus at Charleston High School, waiting to see if and / or when the game would be played. Not until the last moment did the Tigers board buses to make the trip down Highway 22 to play the 9 p.m. game. But when the Tigers finally arrived at the stadium, they did show up…and in a big way.
Charleston entered the game undefeated in conference play with at least a share of the conference title in hand. A win over Lavaca would give them the outright title and the number one seed in the playoffs. The Tigers needed to take care of business Friday night at Lavaca, and that is exactly what they did on the way to a convincing 48-0 victory over the Arrows.
The Charleston defense produced another shut-out for the Tigers at Lavaca on Friday (RNN Sports Photo / Ronni Tate Young)
Charleston jumped out to a quick 21-0 and eventual 28-0 first quarter lead, and the game was never in doubt. The Tigers’ defense pitched another shutout on the year, and the top-ranked team in Class 3A, the Charleston Tigers, claimed their third consecutive conference title and their fourth consecutive trip to the state playoffs under current head coach, Ricky May.
After the game, Coach May, proud of his players, said, “I was really proud of our kids on the way they handled the conditions before the game, as far as the ups and downs of when we will start, or even play. There was no let down despite all of this and they came out ready to play and got after them.”
The stellar Charleston senior class would not allow the Tigers to suffer a let down due to the uncertainty before their game with Lavaca. In fact, the way the game was handled before kickoff seemed to motivate the Tigers even more. Regardless what happened, Charleston won in convincing fashion under very trying circumstances, and those experiences they had in Lavaca may benefit them in the playoffs in the coming weeks. The Tigers now know they can overcome any circumstance, and that confidence will be huge in the playoffs.
Going into week ten, and I do not anticipate the top rankings to vary much after last night’s results, the top ten rankings statewide in Class 3A according to Max Preps are as follows:
Charleston
Prescott
Booneville
Melbourne
Rison
Newport
Camden Harmony Grove
Glen Rose
Bismarck
Centerpoint
In conference 3A-1, the final standings are:
Charleston
Booneville
Greenland
Mansfield
Lavaca
West Fork
Cedarville
Hackett
Charleston will move on to next week’s state playoffs that will begin on November 11. The Tigers, by earning a number one seed, will be at home all through the playoffs until the state title game in Little Rock in December. The first test for the Tigers will be the Gurdon Go Devils. Charleston will host Gurdon on Friday at 7 p.m. at Alumni Field. Watch for a special preview of this game next week in RNN Sports!
And RNN Sports will be there to bring you all of the state playoffs action from Charleston! If you have not yet subscribed to the Logan County weekly newspaper that includes Charleston football, now would be a good time to do it! Just go to residentnewsnetwork.com and click on the subscription link.
Congratulations to head coach Ricky May and the Charleston Tigers on winning another conference championship, and congratulations to the Charleston faithful who endured the elements last night to cheer for their Tigers!
We will see you next Friday when Charleston hosts the Go Devils!
