93.2 F
Fort Smith
Monday, June 29, 2026
type here...
Home Blog Page 365

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

Tammy Teague
-
0
“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

By Sheri Hopkins
Lifestyle Contributor

Hello everyone! Beautiful weather we are having, just need some rain.

Curtis said since I’m making such a big deal out of my funeral, he is going to sell tickets. He’s crazy, I wouldn’t charge anyone admission.

I welcomed a great, great-niece to the family this week. Rachel and Tyler James had a beautiful baby girl, Rawlings Blaire. She weighed 8 lbs. 1 oz. She is beautiful. Now I have always said I have more chins than a Chinese phonebook, baby Rawlings took after me, she has more than one chin.

I’m old school in a lot of ways, I still like to send out paper Christmas cards, send out birthday cards, send out get-well cards, talk on the phone, make homemade birthday cakes, buy my own groceries, listen to CDs, speak to complete strangers, all kinds of wild and crazy things that young people think we are crazy for doing. One year I sent my sweet Aunt Royce a Christmas card and this was after Chuck had passed. I signed it Sheri, Jacob and JR (my little dog). A week or so later, I got one in return from her and it said, “I’m so glad you have found a boyfriend, but why does his name have to be JR?” I rolled laughing. Then one day I posted on Facebook saying that me and JR went to Mcdonald’s and got us a cheeseburger. Well, low and behold the next week a customer came in and wanted to know who this JR guy was that I was dating. Well let me tell ya, first of all, if I go on a date, it won’t be to Mcdonald’s. Wait a minute they have those new adult happy meals, I might change my mind and go on a date if the guy buys me an adult happy meal with a toy. The things I get myself into!

That same child of mine that I was in 14 hours of labor with said, “if you get a boyfriend, I am not calling him dad!” Well hello, Jacob you are a little old to be calling some guy dad. Crazy kid of mine.

I just left the Dollar store and I saw Ronnie Black and he’s always got a good story you can laugh about. We were joking around with someone about shoplifting and he tells the story about Minnie Pearl (for you young people she was famous at the Grand Ole Opry) now I guess I need to tell you what the Grand Ole Opry is, haha! One time Minnie Peal got frisked by a mugger and he said “give me all your money!” She said, “I don’t have any money, but if you do that again I will write you a check.” We all laughed, it was funny.

This week’s recipe is cake mix brownies. You can do so many variations and add chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, nuts, Reece’s chips, M&M’s or Heath Bar chips. The strawberry would be good with white chocolate chips. Easy and even your kids can make them and pick out different varieties. I’m a lemon girl myself.

CAKE MIX BROWNIES
1 cake mix of your choice
2 eggs
1/3 cup oil
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees, line an 8×8 pan with parchment paper and spray with non-stick spray. Mix together cake mix, oil and eggs until combined. Stir in your chocolate chips or whatever you decide on. Spread batter into prepared pan and bake for 20 to 25 minutes, depending on your oven. They are thick so you may want to go ahead and do 25 minutes. Let them cool completely. If they seem like they are not done, don’t overcook, them because when they cool they will set. Enjoy and have a great week!

It’s Eagles and Gators on Friday for Annual Paris Homecoming Football Game

Resident News Network
-
0
It’s Eagles and Gators on Friday for Annual Paris Homecoming Football Game

Fall is in the air along with cooler temperatures. Leaves on the trees are beginning to change colors and football season is nearing the halfway mark. All of this adds up to homecoming time for colleges and high schools across the country.

Homecoming is a time when alumni and former students return to their schools for reunions and celebrations of their school days pasts. It is a local tradition that has even extended down to youth sports, which, honestly, I do not understand. But it is fun for all, and that is the most important aspect.

This year’s homecoming game opponent for Paris will be the Two Rivers Gators. The game with Two Rivers is a 3A-4 conference game. The Gators have struggled with their football program over the past several years. The program has won just one game in the past three years, and just three games in the past seven years. And that has been the unfortunate football culture for Two Rivers High School. But, as I always say, make no mistake, the Gators will come into Eagles Stadium on Friday believing they have a chance to win against the winless Paris Eagles.

New Gators coach Jonathan Ellis has four returning starters on offense and six on defense. This year’s Two Rivers team is challenged by a lack of roster depth along with returning talent. It is difficult to rebuild or revitalize a football program. Football is a talent and manpower sport; a few good athletes are not enough to win. It will take time to develop a large pool of athletes in both numbers and in strength and development to become competitive.

But the Paris Eagles are also struggling this year after having won 23 games the previous two seasons. The Eagles graduated a large and talented class in 2021, and this year’s team has been comprised of several young players who are playing their first year of varsity football. The Eagles have been over-matched all season by virtually everyone they play. As I wrote in last Friday’s column, the Eagles continue to battle hard on every play. They need a good, supportive, homecoming crowd to show up and support them on Friday.

It should be a beautiful night for football. Come out and cheer for the Paris homecoming court, and support the Eagles!

Charleston Hosts Hackett at Alumni Field on Friday

Resident News Network
-
0
Charleston Hosts Hackett at Alumni Field on Friday

The Charleston Tigers’ march toward a showdown later this month with the Booneville Bearcats continues on Friday when the Tigers host Hackett in a 3A-1 conference game. At deadline time for this story, the Tigers were making the trip over to Scott County to take on conference rival Mansfield. Mansfield, after losing at home the previous week to Greenland, had the backs against the wall going into their game with Charleston. Depending on the outcome of that game, this Friday’s game between Charleston and Hackett could have big playoff implications for both teams.

Going into this season, Hackett appeared to many as a strong contender for the number three seed in the conference behind Booneville and Charleston. The winner of the Booneville vs. Charleston game will likely be the top seed in the conference, as well as the likely conference champion. The loser could be the number two seed. But Hackett will have something to say about that. The Hornets are very talented at the skill positions. Hackett can score a lot of points offensively, putting tremendous pressure on the opposing teams’ defenses, as well as their offenses to both score points and to control the time of possession.

When asked about the Hornets, Charleston head football coach Ricky May said, “Hackett is very well coached by Coach Meador and their staff. They play hard and get after you pretty good. Their quarterback is really dangerous as he is a dual threat. He came in last year and led them on a couple of drives. They scored 46 points on Booneville so we know they can score. Their defense is really good at containing.”

The Tigers are undefeated so far in the 3A-1 conference with a road win at Greenland and a home win versus Cedarville. At press time for this story, Charleston was traveling to Mansfield for a critical road conference game with the Red Tigers. This Friday’s game with Hackett will bring the conference race more into focus as teams move into the second half of the season. At deadline time for this story, the Hornets were preparing to host Cedarville on the new artificial turf in Hackett.

Hackett is loaded at the quarterback position. Junior Cole Ketchum was an all-conference selection in 2021, and he is backed-up by sophomore Brycen Hamilton who led a very talented junior high team last year that went 6-3 on the season.

The Hornets’ head coach, Michael Meador, runs the spread offense that is capable of scoring a lot of points at any time. Defensively, the Hornets run the 3-4 set, and, according to Hootens’ Arkansas Football publication, may be vulnerable on the back end of the defense at the secondary positions.

Hackett finished the 2021 season with a 8-3 record, finishing third in their conference. The Hornets will undoubtedly go into the game with Charleston seeing it as a chance to improve in both their record and conference finish as a possible runner-up to Booneville if they can upset Charleston.

Charleston’s Brevyn Ketter (4) runs for big yardage after a pass reception last week vs Cedarville (Image Special to RNN Sports / Ronni Tate Young)

Charleston soundly defeated the Cedarville Pirates on September 30 by the score of 48-6. As I have mentioned in previous weeks, the Tigers played a very tough non-conference schedule and, again, it appears to be paying dividends for Charleston as they continue to play well in 3A-1 conference games. The biggest challenge for Tigers coach Ricky May could be maintaining his team’s focus each week and avoiding the temptation of looking to the Booneville clash on October 21. Hackett is a very dangerous team, and the Tigers must focus squarely on the Hornets to avoid the upset in front of the home fans.

Kickoff at Alumni Field in Charleston is set for 7 p.m. on Friday. The weather is perfect for high school football, and fans will not want to miss this exciting game. RNN Sports will have a recap of this game on its website at residentnewsnetwork.com and on social media next week. RNN Sports would also like to take the opportunity to again thank Mrs. Ronni Tate Young of Charleston for her continued great work and contributions of Charleston football images for our readers! Thanks again to her, and if you see her on the sidelines, tell her how much you appreciate her contributions to Tigers football!

Image Special to RNN Sports / Ronni Tate Young

Subscriptions to RNN’s Logan County weekly newspaper are available by going to our website at residentnewsnetwork.com and clicking on the subscription link.

Thank you to all of our subscribers! We LOVE serving YOU!

Financial Focus: What should Alzheimer’s caregivers know?

Tammy Teague
-
0
Financial Focus: What should Alzheimer’s caregivers know?

If you have a family member who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, or is starting to show symptoms, you will face some real challenges. Navigating the Alzheimer’s experience involves a long journey, and there’s no easy answer for how you can cope with your emotions. But you can at least address some of the financial issues involved to help give yourself a greater sense of control.

Here are some moves to consider:

• Plan for care costs and identify insurance coverage. The list of Alzheimer’s-related medical expenses is long and includes ongoing medical treatment, medical equipment, home safety modifications, prescription drugs and personal care supplies. As a caregiver, you’ll want to know the extent of your loved one’s health insurance: Medicare, supplemental policies, veteran’s benefits if applicable, and so on. One big question is how much coverage they might have for adult day care services, in-home care services and full-time residential care services, and other long-term care options. Long-term care is one of the largest health care costs not covered by Medicare, so you’ll want to determine if your loved one has a long-term care policy or another insurance policy with a long-term care rider.

• Identify assets and debts. You’ll need to know your family member’s financial position, both what they own — bank accounts, investments, property, etc. — and what they owe, such as credit card debt, a mortgage, lines of credit, and so on. This knowledge will be essential if you’re granted power of attorney to take over your loved one’s finances.

• Look for tax breaks available to caregivers. If you’re a caregiver, you may have to pay for some care costs out of pocket. Consequently, you could receive some tax credits and deductions. These benefits vary by state, so you’ll want to consult with your tax advisor to determine your eligibility.

• Ensure necessary legal documents are in place. As a caregiver, you may need to ensure some legal documents are in place, such as a durable power of attorney for finances, which lets you make financial decisions for your loved one with Alzheimer’s, and a durable power of attorney for health care, which lets you make health care and medical decisions on their behalf. It’s important to have these and other necessary documents drawn up before someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s or when they’re just starting to exhibit the earliest signs of the disease, so they can understand what documents they are signing. If you wait until they no longer have this cognitive ability, things will get much more challenging. You could apply to

become a conservator, which grants decision-making abilities similar to a power of attorney, but the conservatorship process takes time and could involve court procedures. To avoid this potential difficulty, work with your tax and legal professionals to ensure all the relevant legal documents are in-force and updated.

Finally, you don’t have to go it alone. To help deal with the emotional challenges of caregiving, you can find local Alzheimer’s support groups at alz.org that can offer practical suggestions for coping. As for the financial issues, consider working with a financial professional who can look at your family’s overall situation and recommend appropriate actions.

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s will change the lives of everyone in your family. But as a caregiver, you can help ease the burden.

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

Paris High School Announces 2022 Homecoming Court

Resident News Network
-
0
Paris High School Announces 2022 Homecoming Court

Paris High School has announced the 2022 football homecoming court. Homecoming Day is Friday, October 14. The Eagles will host the Two Rivers Gators for the annual homecoming football game on Friday at 7 p.m.

Members of the homecoming court are:

Freshmen Maids: Lauryn Friemel and Abby Yarnell

Sophomore Maids: Payge Arnold and Ashley Arredondo

Junior Maids: Carsyn Johnson and Kendri’Anna Martines

Senior Maids: Alisson Biggs, Caroline Fields, Anna Hart, Rachel O’Neal, and Emily Owen

Escorts: Mason Bradley, Chance Brousseau, Tanner Floyd, Christiaan Hoen, Cameron Reed, Juan Santos, Maddox Watts, Andrew Wells, Sebastian Wells, James Yang, and Connor Yarnell

Attendants: Nylah Cole (Tierney Redding and Shawn and Kim Vickers), River Cozens (Jennifer Cozens), and Wyatt Hart (Josh and Stephanie Hart)

The homecoming ceremony will be on the night of October 14 on the football field before kickoff.

Homecoming events schedules of public interest for Friday, October 14 are:

9:15 a.m. Homecoming ceremony and pep rally at Paris Gymnasium

11:15 a.m. Homecoming parade

6:30 p.m. On-field homecoming and coronation ceremony

Mansfield Travels to Booneville on Friday for 80th Meeting Between the Two Schools

Resident News Network
-
0
Mansfield Travels to Booneville on Friday for 80th Meeting Between the Two Schools

Note to Our Readers: The following story was sourced in its entirety from Mr. Glenn Parrish, Director of Communications, Booneville School District. Mr. Parrish is a RNN Sports contributor and we thank him for bringing this story to our readers!

The Bearcat roster has been riddled with injuries in 2022, but the coaching staff has been able to welcome some of those players back during the conference portion of the season.

Out since the scrimmage, Brett Welling made his debut in Hackett for a few snaps and he started against West Fork.

It was welcomed with a new face wearing jeans with his jersey.

Brendan Dove, who left in the first quarter of the first game, made his way back against West Fork, but yet another player took his place in street clothes.

Regardless whether the Bearcats get any of the recently sidelined or those who have yet to play back on the field, the preseason projected lineup will never make it back to full strength due to at least one season ending ending injury.

With the fluid situation that is the Bearcat roster, it is unclear exactly which players will be able to participate in the 80th meeting between Booneville and Mansfield Friday night at Bearcat Stadium.

In terms of opponents the Bearcats have met the Tigers more than anyone except Paris (91), Ozark (85), and Waldron (81).

The series has been largely one-sided with the Bearcats winning 60 times. The Tigers have 16 wins and there have been three ties, a winning percentage of .778 for the Bearcats.

Seventeen of those meetings have been at Bearcat Stadium in Booneville. The Bearcats have won them all. The teams last met in Bearcat Stadium in 2018, a 55-6 Bearcat win.

The teams last met in 2019, a 48-27 Booneville win in Mansfield. That marked the 22nd straight win in the series for the Bearcats.

Booneville’s Dax Goff Sets Single Game Rushing Record in Lopsided Homecoming Win Over West Fork

Resident News Network
-
0
Booneville’s Dax Goff Sets Single Game Rushing Record in Lopsided Homecoming Win Over West Fork

Note to Our Readers: The following story was sourced in its entirety from Mr. Glenn Parrish, Director of Communications, Booneville School District. Mr. Parrish is a RNN Sports contributor and we thank him for bringing this story to our readers!

Dax Goff set a school record with 307 rushing yards Friday night in a 48-21 Bearcat homecoming win over West Fork.

Goff needed just 16 carries to set the record, two of which went for a combined negative 16. He had touchdown runs of 70 and 75 yards and had another run of 63 yards.

In becoming the first 300-yard rusher in school history Goff surpassed Colton Waters previous record of 298 yards against Pottsville in 2008.

Besides his rushing performance Goff also caught two passes for 48 yards and had two kickoff returns for 25 yards for a 380 all-purpose yardage night as the Bearcats moved to 4-1 overall and 2-0 in Conference 3A-1 play.  

The Bearcats had 552 rushing yards and 600 total offensive yards – hitting the 600-yard mark for the second straight week. Prior to the past two weeks there had been just  two 600-yard nights in program history.

Before Goff could get his record-breaking night started, the Bearcat defense took the field first against a short field and surrendered a five play, 42-yard drive to give the Tigers (3-2, 0-2) a 7-0 lead.

Goff returned the ensuing kickoff to the Bearcat 30, then took a handoff from Peyton Tatum and went 70 on the first Bearcat offensive play.

The Bearcats forced a punt on West Fork’s next possession and again scored in one play.

This time it was Trace Hall getting loose for a 76-yard run to make it 14-7.

Hall would run for 132 yards on nine carries.

After another Tiger punt the Bearcats were within a yard of making it three scores in three plays but a group of Tigers finally managed to get Goff on the ground at the 1 after a 63-yard gain.

Cody Elliott scored two plays later and it was 21-7 with the Marcos Mullor point after kick.

West Fork threatened to get right back in it on the strength of 51 yards through the air but the Tigers got greedy on a first down at the Bearcat 22 and a pass into coverage by Tatum and Hall was picked off by Tatum in the end zone.

The Bearcats were unable to take advantage of the turnover and punted but would again force West Fork to give up the ball after a third down pass break up by Tatum.

An 11-play drive that saw one touchdown taken off the board would eventually see the Bearcats go up 28-7.

Goff had a 40-yard run in the drive and would score the touchdown from the 12 with 4:32 left in the first half.

With 1:00 left in the half the Tigers got on the board again on a fourth down completion from 7 yards out but David Hicks blocked the extra point try to keep it 28-13.

The Bearcats started the second half with the ball and converted a fourth down on the way to the West Fork 23 before a lost fumble gave the Tigers the ball.

A Tiger punt had the Bearcats at their 34-yard line where a hold and an offensive face mask — both teams were charged with the infraction in the game — would push them back to their 17 with a first-and-27.

Tatum connected with Goff for 43 yards and the Bearcats went on to complete the 66-yard drive with a 3-yard Elliott scoring run and it was 34-13 with 1:59 left in the third quarter.

West Fork would punt again on its next possession and it finally rolled dead after 61 yards to pin the Bearcats at their 14.

Elliott bolted for 11 and Goff went 75 on the next play to make it 41-13 with 46 seconds still remaining in the third quarter.

With Goff at 269 yards at that point he got 10 yards on the first play of the next Bearcat possession, then carried again but a holding penalty wiped out the play.

After Hall got 15 yards, Goff got 3 more to get to 282. Elliott got seven yards and a first down to the Tiger 40 and the Bearcats went back to Goff

The junior rumbled for 25 yards to the 15 setting the record in the process.

Hall would get his second touchdown three plays later and it was a sportsmanship clock level of 48-13 with 7:17 to go.

West Fork cut into the deficit with a 7-yard run with 4:00 to play then got a two-point conversion pass to make it 48-21.

Content, the Bearcats sent Jace Washburn out with reserves to finish it and after a 9-yard run by Garrick Garr got the Bearcats ia first down and n position to end it in victory formation.

The Bearcats are on the road next week to face Greenland. The Pirates knocked off previously unbeaten Mansfield 19-13 lsat Friday.

Most Notorious Cold Cases in the United States

Resident News Network
-
0
Most Notorious Cold Cases in the United States

True crime stories are as disturbing as they are fascinating, which is why the public gravitates toward them. Many folks want to dive deep into the most notorious cold cases in the United States, hoping they can crack the case like Michelle McNamara did with “The Golden State Killer.”

Lizzie Borden’s Axe Whacks

Although Lizzie Borden has a nursery rhyme highlighting her alleged crimes like she’s Freddy Kruger, the case is still open. Lizzie, her parents, and a maid were alone in the home on August 4, 1892, where Lizzie claimed her father and stepmother died. Considering Lizzie bought poison before this event, it seemed clear-cut that Lizzie and the maid, Bridget Sullivan, were the culprits. Yet, the court exonerated Lizzie, claiming that the evidence was circumstantial, and the case remains unresolved.

Where in the World Is Jimmy Hoffa?

If anyone watched The Sopranos, you know how integral union leaders were for organized crime. Jimmy Hoffa was the leader of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters for 13 years until he vanished from the planet in 1975.

Hoffa’s ties to the mob landed him in prison for 13 years, but he got released thanks to a Richard Nixon pardon in 1971 on the promise that he’d steer clear of any wrongdoing. Hoffa scoffed at that notion, jumping right back into it while gaining support in Detroit. But four years later, Hoffa disappeared, and the mystery behind it led to many theories, including that his final resting place was under Giants Stadium.

The D.B. Cooper Mystery

There were more shenanigans in 1971 as the world became acquainted with a flight passenger named D.B. Cooper. A man boarded a one-way flight to Seattle on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving for a mere $20. Cooper didn’t seem suspicious, wearing a suit and tie as most travelers did during that time, but he was up to no good.

Cooper gave a flight attendant a note that she initially ignored, causing Cooper to remind her to take a look. The note stated he had a bomb and wanted $200,000 in cash. As it played out, Cooper didn’t blow up the plane. Instead, he jumped out of it and vanished in the night sky. No one knows if Cooper survived the plunge, making it even more puzzling.

The Tragedy of JonBenét Ramsey

There isn’t a case that gripped and confused the country more than what happened to JonBenét Ramsey. While there have been a few false confessions and accusations, no one knows who killed the young beauty queen in her Colorado home. Even when you know all the details about the case, you walk away more confused than you were before. Sadly, we’ll likely never find the answers to this disturbing case.

The Zodiac Killer

Despite whom many conspiracy theorists think is the perpetrator, the Zodiac killer remains unknown. While there are compelling cases for certain suspects, the book is still open. Based on their ways of taunting the police through complex ciphers, the interest in finding the true Zodiac killer continues to this day.

Fortunately, with advances in technology and forensics, there likely won’t be more notorious cold cases in the United States that future generations look back at from this period.

Collared bear, deer OK to harvest 

Tammy Teague
-
0
Collared bear, deer OK to harvest 

Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications

LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas hunters hitting the woods may notice a few deer and bears sporting some new neckwear this fall, but that shouldn’t deter anyone from legally taking that animal.

“The collars are part of ongoing research taking place in certain portions of the state,” Cory Gray, AGFC chief of research, said. “In Northwest Arkansas, we’ve partnered with the University of Georgia-Athens, Colorado State University, the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service and various other agencies and conservation partners in a five-year study about the effects chronic wasting disease may be having on our deer population. Researchers are collaring deer, performing live tests for CWD and following their movements. When the deer die, they’ll track it down and perform necropsies on them to determine the cause of death.”

Deer collared in the project include individuals that tested positive for CWD as well as deer that did not test positive. It is recommended that all deer harvested, regardless of their appearance or the presence of a collar, be tested for CWD using one of the many testing locations available through the AGFC.

A few female bears also are wearing collars. Some have the same radio-location collars that have been used by the AGFC for decades to locate females with cubs when they are denned to measure productivity, but a few in south Arkansas are sporting some new-age GPS-enhanced collars. 

“The new collars are being placed right now on female bears in the newly opened bear zones (Zones 3 and 4),” Dr. Jenn Ballard, state wildlife veterinarian with the AGFC, said. “This is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to track bear movements in response to these newly opened hunting seasons in an area that has seen no hunting pressure since modern bear hunting was reinstated 42 years ago.”

Just as with the deer research, hunting mortality and pressure are part of the overall landscape where the research is taking place, so truly valid data must account for such variables. 

In years past, collared bears were protected because of the need to study reproductive effort and the amount of work involved in trapping and safely sedating the bears, but that regulation was removed to ensure the quality of the research.

“Ideally, we want hunters to ignore whether there is a collar there or not,” Gray said. “If it’s a deer or bear that you want to harvest, and it’s legal to do so, go ahead. We only ask that hunters contact the AGFC as soon as they recover the animal so we can collect the collar to be reused.”

Fifteen new wildlife officers join AGFC enforcement efforts 

Tammy Teague
-
0
Fifteen new wildlife officers join AGFC enforcement efforts 

Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications

LITTLE ROCK – Some new faces will be joining the ranks of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife officers this fall. The latest class of wildlife officer cadets celebrated graduation from the AGFC’s training program Friday at The Church at Rock Creek.

The process to become a wildlife officer began May 16 when 21 individuals were selected from several hundred applicants to participate in the AGFC’s wildlife officer training program. All applicants chosen underwent extensive background checks before beginning their training.

During the next 18 weeks, cadets spent most of their waking hours at the H.C. “Red” Morris Training Center east of Mayflower on Lake Conway. They received 835 hours of training in self-defense, firearms, first aid and rescue, drug enforcement, physical conditioning, criminal law and wildlife code enforcement.

Capt. Sydney Carman directs the cadet-training program, with many AGFC enforcement officers serving as instructors. Other experts teach specialized topics.

“We handle most of the training in house, but special agents from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service teach a special course on federal wildlife law instruction,” Carman said. “We also typically have instructors with Arkansas State Police come in to assist with training on child abuse and domestic violence situations.”

Carman explains that the intense training regimen and variety of topics is a requirement for all wildlife officers because of their duty to enforce all state laws in addition to wildlife laws.

“There’s no telling what sort of situation a wildlife officer may find him or herself in while working, so we want to make sure our cadets get the training they need to be prepared for what may come.”

Upon being exposed to some of the harsh realities that come with the job, some cadets eventually decide to pursue other interests.

“The reality is that most of our officers will likely come across a life-threatening situation during their career in one form or another,” Maj. Brian Aston, AGFC assistant chief of enforcement, said. “We always try to explain that during the application process, but it sometimes doesn’t strike home until a cadet is going through the training program.”

Each of the 15 remaining cadets celebrated during a formal graduation ceremony before heading to their assigned duty stations. Each officer is assigned to a duty station based on the current needs of the Commission, but accommodations can be made to ensure officers that are familiar with certain areas are assigned near them if possible.

“We always try to place officers in counties where they are already part of the community,” Aston said. “But we also have to ensure vacancies are filled across the state. Sometimes an officer will work in a county far from home for a few years until a vacancy opens up closer to their hometown. Sometimes they decide to stay at their original duty station once they become a part of that community.”

The 2022 graduates and their county assignments are:

  • James P. Amis of Timbo, assigned to Marion County
  • Ethan R. Angel of Glenwood, assigned to Sebastian County
  • David A. Bennett of Helena, assigned to Phillips County
  • George L. Bethell of Wynne, assigned to St. Francis County
  • Levi H. Bingham of Bella Vista, assigned to Washington County
  • Brody D. Davis of Lake City, assigned to Cross County
  • Charles C. Greeno of Malvern, assigned to Jefferson County
  • Robert T. Lisenbee of Searcy, assigned to Cleburne County
  • John C. Lynch of El Dorado, assigned to Bradley County
  • Wesley N. Miller of Rison, assigned to Ashley County
  • Tanner C. Mills of Taylor, assigned to Lafayette County
  • Griffin L. Reed of El Dorado, assigned to Calhoun County
  • Anthony D. Romero of Conway, assigned to Lee County
  • Lincoln E. Smith of Cabot, assigned to Arkansas County
  • Tray D. Werner of Lavaca, assigned to Bradley County

The AGFC has already begun accepting applications for the next class of cadets to fill vacancies throughout the state. For more information on becoming a wildlife officer, visit www.agfc.com/enforcement/becoming-wildlife-officer.

1...364365366...1,055Page 365 of 1,055

© Resident News Network | 2015 - 2026 | All Rights Reserved | Baggett Enterprises LLC | Isaiah 43:18-19