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Runners Score Seven At Stuthard Stampede

Tammy Teague
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Runners Score Seven At Stuthard Stampede

Mansfield’s top trio of Trinity Triska, Laney Wood, and Jadelynn Wood take home Top 20 medals from Acorn’s Tom Stuthard Stampede.


Mansfield distance runners scored a total of seven medallions at the Tom Stuthard Stampede in Acorn on September 13. Behind solid runs from their most experienced runners, the team had another good showing as the early season has begun to take shape.

Freshman Joey Willimas once again showed why he is becoming one of the top runners along the local circuit. The long distance specialist rallied across the 1.5 mile landscape in a time of 9:35.10 for third place overall against 121 total finishers.

“Joey can be one of Mansfield’s best known runners if he stays connected and focuses on the task at hand,” noted Mansfield head coach John Mackey. “It’s pretty cool that opposing coaches already know his name and cheer for his successes.”

With Williams fronting the lead ship, the MHS junior boys paddled with force to take the team to a third place finish. Teammates Gunner Williams (11th) and Jonah Martin (20th) gave a medal effort in the cause. Each finished as Top 20 medalists to boost the Tiger score.

“Jonah’s form is really taking shape,” pointed out his excited coach. “He’s starting to use his long legs. His running form is becoming more and more efficient as he regularly reaches the medal stand as a rising freshman star.”

Completing the Mansfield junior boys score was Joseph Carter (40th) and Hunter Whittaker (41st). Holden Powers and Braxton Bartlett offered displacer credits to the team score.

As a unit the younger Tiger men finished third in the team standings with 96 points. Big school DeQueen ran away with the title with 73 points. Waldron closed in second place with 75 points.

Mansfield’s Laney Wood, who’s quickly becoming a veteran despite her sophomore status, checked in at 9th place overall along the longer Acorn senior girls 5k race. Having moved up to the high school team at the regional finals last season, the Lady Tiger’s typical number one runner rounded the Stuthard Stampede in 24:39.80.

“This is Laney’s first 5k race of the season,” offered Mackey. “This was a good round to knock off the rust. She knows she’ll need to drop about three minutes to get to her best time from last season.”

Wood’s effort at the Polk County based race still stood tall among the 91 entries. The sophomore’s time was only bettered by seven big school runners, six of which hailed from Ft. Smith Southside, and another racer ranked as the state’s top 2A runner.

As a group Mansfield fell behind only Southside and DeQueen in the team rankings. Mansfield was the top small school team in attendance.

Mansfield’s Jadelynn Wood crossed in consecutive order just behind her younger sister Laney. The senior’s time was 25.08.00 for 10th place.

That score along with Trinity Triska (19th), Addison Bowman (45th), and Raine Hecox (49th) placed the MHS senior girls team in third place with 90 points.

“The season is way too early with only a few 5k races in the books,” said Mansfield’s long time coach. “But, the early numbers have Quitman and Mansfield as one and two in the class 2A state team rankings. We need our top seven to get dialed into practice and target the prize.”

Triska, based upon her Elkins 5k run from the previous week, ranks as the number three runner in the 2A state with a mark of 23:59.58. Laney Wood comes pegged at 12th with a 24:39.80 finish for the slightly longer Acorn 5K. Jadelynn Wood stands in at 14th along the 2A pecking order with her 25:08.00 Acorn clocking.

The Lady Tiger top trio all earned top 20 medals at the Stampede.

Mansfield’s seventh race reward at the Acorn invitational cross country meet was earned by seventh grader Rylan Jones. Jones placed 14th overall in a time of 12:16.10.

This was Jones’s third medal out of four cross country meets this season. The rookie runner has steadily positioned herself as the team’s top junior girl.

Today’s Bank XC Race Ready For 19th Edition

Tammy Teague
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Today’s Bank XC Race Ready For 19th Edition

Mansfield products Laney Wood (left) and Trinity Triska (right) were among the top finishers at last years Today’s Bank Mansfield XC Invitational.

The first race kicks off at 9:00 AM on Saturday, September 24. So says the schedule as the 19th Edition of the Today’s Bank Mansfield Cross Country Invitational readies for local runners.

Mansfield High School will play host to the long standing racing tradition sponsored by Today’s Bank.

“This partnership has been a good one,” announced meet director John Mackey. “We’re really excited that Today’s Bank allows us to add the extra amenities to make it a fun experience. The Mansfield Invitational typically draws a big crowd and brings some really talented runners from across the region.”

Mansfield brothers Gunner Williams and Joey Williams prep for the start of the Stuthard Stampede.

Among the many schools scheduled to attend will be West Fork. The Northwest Arkansas small school has been the standard of class 3A cross country in recent years. Last season their team made national news as West Fork twelve year old Rebel Hays guided blind runner Paul Scott through Mansfield’s 3.1 mile senior high course.

Hays, not officially a participant, served as the “eyes” of then sophomore Scott who finished 21st in the small school division of the senior boys race. Hays went on to win the 2021 Musial Award honoring acts of extraordinary sportsmanship and character.

Video of that incredible story that laid out along the perimeter of Mansfield High School can be found at https://musialawards.com/honorees/rebel-hays/ website.

That’s just one of the fascinating storylines that have come out of race results at the Today’s Bank races.

“If you are a fan of talented runners, this is the meet for you,” said Mackey. “We’ve had many college caliber runners come run our course over recent years. I can name nearly a dozen just from last year.”

“If you want local flavor,” the coach added. “This meet is also for you.”

Mansfield medalist Rylan Jones (center) adjusts her bib number before the Acorn 1.5 mile cross country race. Jones was the first of seven Tigers to score a Top 20 medal.

Ft. Smith, Southside and Northside are among teams scheduled to attend. It was 6A Southside that dominated the senior girls division at Acorn last week.

Bentonville West, a 6A school coming down the I-49 corridor, brings a talent rich team that finished runner-up at Mansfield two seasons ago. Greenwood with a seemingly endless pipeline to running talent also joins the fray. 

Magazine who sports the top ranked female runner in class 2A will join the mix. Scott County rival Waldron returns. Likewise, Lavaca who coincidentally is being coached by former West Fork assistant coach and former guide runner Justin Wyles makes a return trip.

For the home team Tigers, Mansfield’s senior girls rank among the top two teams in class 2A. Lady Tigers Trinity Triska, Laney Wood, and Jadelynn Wood are listed among the top entries from the small school division.

Senior Jadelynn Wood has already received interest from some colleges about running opportunities next season.

Mansfield has had six cross country runners move on to the college ranks over the last 10 seasons.

The MHS junior boys are poised for a strong finish at the Today’s Bank Invitational. Their squad has been populated by a veteran group of runners seasoned by back to back conference championships. 

The Mansfield Lady Tigers finish third behind Southside and DeQueen at the Acorn cross country event.

Tiger freshman Joey Williams leads that squad. Brother Gunner Williams, an eighth grader, and freshman Jonah Martin are among the team’s leading finishers each week.

Mansfield’s junior girls should expect a full team as four members of the school’s volleyball team make their way over to the cross country course. Rylan Jones, Abby Smith, and Adeline Bray are among the top three finishers for the MHS junior team in recent events.

Four races are on tap for the Mansfield hosted meet. A rolling schedule will begin with the senior girls 5k race at 9:00 AM followed by the senior boys 5k, junior girls 3k, and junior boys 3k. 

All races begin at the northeast corner of the high school campus. The running route follows along the perimeter of the school grounds with the finish line directly behind the main campus at the practice football field.

Awards for the Top 15 runners of each division will be presented at the conclusion of each race. Today’s Bank trophies will also be awarded for the top team winners.

SR Tigers Underdogs No More With Win Over Waldron

Adam Hecox
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SR Tigers Underdogs No More With Win Over Waldron

The Mansfield Tigers know all about rivalries. Depending on who you talk to and what Tiger era they are from, the rivalry game can change. You’ll hear teams like Hartford, Hackett, Lavaca, Cedarville, etc. But a certain foe you’ll hear mentioned every time is the Waldron Bulldogs.

Although the Tigers had an overall series record of 13-7 from 2001 to the present, the past two years have been a rough go at it versus Waldron. There was the 41-0 shutout in 2020 and then a canceled game in 2021. Mansfield finally got their shot at redemption on Friday, September 17th when they welcomed the Bulldogs to The Jungle to settle the score. 

Tigers quarterback Cole Kindle fires a rocket downfield as Braxton Byers (#71) and Tyler Woolbright (#22) provide protection.

After two years of pent-up frustration, the Tigers started off the game on kickoff return and began to vent on offense. Within the blink of an eye, Mansfield was on the board with a Cole Kindle pass to Daniel Burton for a 52-yard Tiger touchdown. Braxton Byers kicked through the extra point to give Mansfield a quick 7-0 lead. Mansfield’s defense did their job to perfection forcing a turnover on fourth down to give their offense the ball back. Unfortunately, the Tigers second possession was cut short by a tipped pass that was intercepted by Waldron for a touchdown. Just like that, the ball game was everything everyone on both sides of the stadium had anticipated as the score stood at a 7-7 tie ball game. Both teams’ defenses stood strong in the next few series. Mansfield’s Braxton Byers, Trey Vaughan, and Jeremy Strozier led the way for the Tigers defense to force another three and out then followed that up by making Waldron punt. With the defense building momentum for Mansfield, the Tigers offense finally found its groove again. Cole Kindle zipped a pass to Peyton Martin for a 17-yard score sending the neon-filled home stands into a frenzy. The extra point was missed which set the score at 13-7 to end the first quarter.

The Tigers defense shows what the true definition of “team tackle” really is.

The Tigers came out in the second quarter slinging the ball like they were old west gunfighters. Cole Kindle found Tyler Turnipseed and Fisher Wilsey for big gains before hitting Daniel Burton with a quick draw pass for a 29-yard Tiger touchdown. Braxton Byers tacked on the extra point kick and Mansfield was rolling with a 20-7 lead over the Bulldogs. The Tigers defense again ate the Bulldogs offense up but this time it was all the defensive line. The rotation of Trey Vaughan, Kindel Noblitt, Sam Burton, Braxton Byers, Caleb Collier, and Dakota Deer were all masterful at using their speed and quickness to get by Waldron’s monstrous offensive linemen which created chaos in the backfield. Chaos creates mistakes and Waldron again turned the ball over on fourth down. The Bulldogs got payback though with another Mansfield pass tipped and intercepted by Waldron on the Tigers next possession. Unfazed by the interception, Mansfield’s defense caused the Bulldogs to flatline with batted down passes, Waldron penalties, and eventually a failed fourth down attempt. The Tigers ran the clock out on the half behind the shoulder pads of running back Tyler Woolbright and walked into the locker room with a solid 20-7 halftime lead.

Tyler Turnipseed (#10) sprints past Waldron defenders for another Mansfield Tiger first down.

Mansfield kicked off to the Bulldogs to start the second half, but no one must have told the Tigers defense it was a new half. Mansfield’s defense didn’t let up at all as defensive end Trey Vaughan made a lights-out hit on Waldron’s quarterback which forced a pass off target for the Bulldogs but on Target for the Tigers. Peyton Martin picked off the Waldron pass and sprinted 21 yards before being knocked out of bounds. Mansfield’s offense began to spread the ball out to keep Waldron from zoning in on one player. Passes to Clint Stovall and Tyler Turnipseed along with powerful runs by Fisher Willsey and Tyler Woolbright opened up another Cole Kindle to Daniel Burton pass for a 23-yard Tiger touchdown. Braxton Byers added an extra point kick to extend the Tigers lead to 27-7. The Tigers defense again short-leashed the Bulldogs to end the third quarter with a commanding 27-7 lead.

Wide receiver Daniel Burton (#4) showing some “ups” while making a high-flying catch.

It takes four full quarters to win a game. Mansfield stepped out on the field in the final quarter prepared for not only four quarters, but even another four if needed. Need proof? Waldron’s offense tricked the Tigers with a quarterback draw and the Bulldogs quarterback screamed downfield for what looked to be a touchdown. But right before the quarterback crossed the goal line, Tyler Turnipseed was able to catch up and strip the ball out and Tyler Woolbright recovered the ball for Mansfield. With the ball in their hands, the Tigers marched 80 yards downfield behind the runs of Tyler Woolbright and Andrew Burton along with catches by Clint Stovall and Tyler Turnipseed. Cole Kindle capped off the drive with a one-yard Tiger Touchdown run. The extra point was missed, but the Tigers were in firm control of the game 33-7. Mansfield subbed out their entire defense on Waldrons next offensive drive. The Tigers defense still held strong as ever in each respective position. The clock soon ran to 0:00 and the two-year build up of Mansfield versus Waldron was over with the Tigers victorious with a 33-7 final score.

Runningback Fisher Willsey (#15) plows his way through Waldron’s defense.

Head Coach, Tim Cothran, couldn’t be happier with his teams overall performance in such a big game. “The players played with a tremendous amount of heart and emotion last night. We had an outstanding show of support from our fans and community. It was just an electric atmosphere for our team to play in. We played hard and physically all game with every player showing extreme intensity on each snap. I’m very proud of these young men and how hard they’ve worked to get to this point. As great as we played, we still have a few things to iron out and get better at. This team continues to show a lot of promise.”

Defensive players Sam Burton (#23), Caleb Collier (#35), and Drew Elmore (#18) prepare to create chaos in Waldron’s backfield.

Mansfield has played like a team that has never seen a losing season as their 3-0 start has matched the total win of the past two years combined. The Tigers have taken each step forward in their non-conference schedule by beating a 2A, 3A, and 4A teams with a combined score of 109-13. In each game, they’ve proven that they can overcome obstacles and showed that their depth is seemingly endless.

Every player on the team has stepped foot on the field in each non-conference game. But the Tigers will now go into what really matters. Conference games.

Mansfield will travel to West Fork on Friday, September 23rd to seek redemption for last season’s blowout home loss to the West Fork Tigers. 

The Great Wall of Mansfield: Trey Vaughan (#24), Treyshon Powell (#21), Sam Burton (#23), Tyler Woolbright (#22), Daniel Burton (#4), and Austin Oldham (#6)

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

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

Hello everyone! Sorry I missed last week, I have been sick as a dog but having the time of my life. Those are the words of Gomer Pyle from the Andy Griffith Show. I watched a lot of Andy while I was sick. Love that show.

This week’s topic is a little touchy to some people, but I’m going ahead and talking about it anyway.

Funerals, nobody wants to talk about funerals. I have always told my friends Debra Overton and Gina Epperson to make sure I have a nice funeral because Jacob cannot plan a funeral. It would be some Mickey Mouse goings on. I decided all this before my husband passed because I knew he couldn’t plan a funeral either.

Now me, I can plan a funeral…the whole works. My mom’s family is buried at a cemetery out in the sticks close to Knoppers Ford, out past Booneville. That’s where my mom and dad are buried. The name of the cemetery is Bud Davis Cemetery. It’s nice, quiet and peaceful. It’s a real pretty cemetery, too.

Well one day out of the blue, Jacob says to me, “mom have you ever thought about being buried somewhere closer that’s not so far away?” I mean you get one funeral, usually, and my son doesn’t want to make the trip to Bud Davis Cemetery because it’s too far?! I mean who cares what a woman’s last wishes are? Let’s just find any old cemetery that will take me and put me in it as long as it’s close by. I act like I’m thinking about it. Well, I don’t know. I mean most people don’t want to be buried with complete strangers. I guess what I’m trying to get around to asking is, does anybody out there have an empty plot that I at least know, don’t have to be related to? Oh, another qualification. It has to be close so my only son, Jacob, who I went through 15 hours of labor to have, so he won’t have to drive far. Enough of that situation.

Another thing about my burial is, that I’m going to write my eulogy. I’m going to have instructions for my nieces and nephews and greats. I want an open casket so everyone can say, “doesn’t she look good?” I would come home from funerals when Chuck was alive and I would say, “they sure looked good.” He would always act upset and say, “How could they? They are dead.” I’d say, “dead people can look good!”

I always want my friend Debra Overton to get a good seat up front. I have already talked to Sam Callahan at Heritage Memorial and I told him if I’m laying in that casket with three chins, I will come back and haunt him. I told him whatever it takes to make sure I only have one chin. If you want to know what you will look like, get a hand miror and when you lay in bed at night, look at yourself and that’s what it will be.

I’m a little mean, but I make up for it by being healthy. Words of Earnest T Bass. Enough about funerals, let’s move on to good food. Oh, and I want everyone to have plenty to eat after my funeral, also.

This recipe comes from a friend of mine, Shelia Hill. This is good for any meal, not just breakfast. Enjoy and have a great week.

HASHBROWN CASSEROLE
2 pounds of shredded hashbrown potatoes (in freezer section)
1/2 cup melted butter
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 pint of sour cream
1 can cream of chicken soup
2 cups grated cheddar cheese

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl Make sure potatoes are thawed. Pour into a greased casserole dish and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 45 minutes.

Charleston Travels to Greenland to Open Conference Play

Resident News Network
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Charleston Travels to Greenland to Open Conference Play

At deadline time for this story, the Charleston Tigers were getting ready to play the Nashville Scrappers in their final non-conference game of the season. Depending on the outcome of that game, Charleston will go into this week’s conference opener either undefeated or with a 2-1 record. Either way, it has been a very successful start to the season for Charleston, and the Tigers will now begin their conference march toward their showdown with Boonville in October that will likely be for the 3A-1 conference championship.

But Lee Larkin’s Pirates will have a lot to say about that. Larkin’s teams are always very well-prepared, and he has been very good at keeping Greenland competitive each year. And this year, it appears that Greenland will once again be in the upper tier of teams fighting for playoff spots in the 3A-1.

I asked Charleston head football coach Ricky May for his assessment of Greenland, and he responded by saying, “Greenland has been playing well. The last two games they have gotten after their opponents, outscoring them 92-16. Their quarterback, Meridith (senior Max Meredith) has been lights out and producing points, and putting his team on his back. Their defense has been playing well too. They have only given up 16 points. They are very well-coached; Lee Larkin has been producing great teams for a while. We will have to be ready to play.”

There is a respect between the two coaches, it is evident when you talk to both of them. In 2019, I covered the Greenland game at Charleston, and the Tigers won a thriller that night with Greenland running out of time for the go-ahead score just inside the Charleston red zone. The following year, I spoke with Larkin on the sideline during a state playoff game at Paris. The Greenland coach mentioned Coach May by saying that he liked him very much, even though he beat him that year. Tongue and cheek humor, but nevertheless, a deep respect for each other between the two coaches.

Greenland returns seven starters each on both offense and defense from a year ago. The Pirates will throw the ball around the field from the spread formation and will fly to the ball on defense with good team speed. According to Hootens‘, the Pirates have good and experienced skill players, but their lack of depth could be an issue. For Greenland, the Pirates defense will have to find a way to contain the Tigers’ All-State senior quarterback Brandon Scott. Scott is a highly effective passer who also leads his team in rushing yardage. He finds a way to be creative and make things happen on the run, and in the words of his coach, “He is a winner.”

Kickoff in Greenland on the new artificial turf is set for 7 p.m. on Friday. Fall weather is here, and it should be a great night for a good high school football game. Week one conference winners will quickly have the lead on half of their conference, so the first week of conference play is extremely critical to not only qualifying for the state playoffs, but earning the highest possible seeding.

Good luck to the Tigers, and watch for a recap of this game next week in the RNN online platform at residentnewsnetwork.com.

Glen Rose Brings Stifling Defense to Eagles Stadium on Friday

Resident News Network
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Glen Rose Brings Stifling Defense to Eagles Stadium on Friday

Conference 3A-4 favorite Glen Rose pays a visit to Eagles Stadium on Friday to play Paris in the opening game of the 2022 conference season. It is the opener of the “second season”, and regardless what has happened, good or bad, in the three-game non-conference portion of teams’ schedules, the start of conference play is the beginning of the push to qualify for the state playoffs.

For Paris, that push will begin by hosting the favorite to win the 3A-4 by many publications. The Glen Rose Beavers finished the 2021 season at 9-3, and gave up less than seven points in most of their 2021 opponents in the first half of the season. The Beavers have five returning starters on offense and six on defense from that team. They finished second in their conference a year ago. Their season ended in the third round of the playoffs at Booneville when they went down to defeat to the Bearcats by the score of 49-21.

Glen Rose, according to Hooten’s Arkansas Football publication, have a lot of returning talent, but, have a lack of size and speed. That is an unusual combination, but, the Beavers know how to win and that will be a key factor when they travel to Paris.

Glen Rose, as mentioned earlier, is predicted to win the 3A-4 conference. The preseason predicted order of finish is:

Glen Rose

Jessieville

Paris

Bismarck

Magnet Cove

Danville (has canceled remainder of season)

Two Rivers

But for this conference, it has already been a season of unpredicted events. Last week, Danville announced that it is forfeiting the remaining portion of their season due to injuries and not having enough players available to finish the season. Jessieville has recently had to deal with four of their players being involved in a car crash in Garland County recently. It will remain to be seen what effect these events may play as conference play heads toward the post-season. Most importantly, we all hope that players from both schools that have suffered injuries will heal quickly and completely.

The Paris defense will have to contain Glen Rose junior quarterback Rein Bland who started seven games last year as a sophomore. Perhaps his best game last year was in a win over Pine Bluff Dollarway in the state playoffs. Bland was 12 of 13 for 186 yards passing in that playoff win for the Beavers.

Glen Rose runs the spread offense and the 4-2 on defense. They are coached by Mark Kehner, and the school is located southwest of Little Rock and just east of Hot Springs. In recent years, the Beavers have been living in the shadow of Prescott, finishing runner-up to the Curley Wolves. This year, Glen Rose has moved into the 3A-4 with Paris, and gone are Booneville, Baptist Prep, Perryville, and Mayflower. It is a new conference that will require several long-distance travel trips during conference play throughout the season.

Paris is coming off perhaps their best effort of the season so far. The Eagles fell two weeks ago to an experienced Tigers team at West Fork by the score of 13-0. Paris did not play during their bye week last week, and the Eagles should be healed and rested when they return home on Friday. Offensively, Paris must find a way to win the line of scrimmage and to sustain a rushing attack to take the pressure off of junior quarterback Maddox Watts. Defensively, the same holds true; Paris must win the line of scrimmage and prevent the Beavers from getting more than three yards per rushing attempt and to get off the field in three downs.

The Eagles need their fans to turn out big and support their team in this opening conference game against a very good Glen Rose team. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. on Friday.

See you there!

Bearcats Play at Hackett for First Time in Program History on Friday

Resident News Network
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Bearcats Play at Hackett for First Time in Program History on Friday

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

The Bearcats have never played a game in Hackett. That changes Friday night when the Bearcats and Hornets square off at William R. Mills Field in Hackett.

That’s not to say Booneville and Hackett have never played. They did so just two years ago.

Hackett opted to play in the playoffs in 2020, then went to and won at Mountain View in one of the few opening round games, earning a trip to Booneville the following week.

The Bearcats won that game 41-12 which means current seniors, and possibly juniors, on the respective rosters have somewhat of a history against one another, as they were sophomores or freshmen in mid-November of 2020.

In fact, Peyton Tatum, now the starting quarterback for the Bearcats threw a 64-yard touchdown pass to Brooks Herrera in the playoff game.

That will not happen tonight as Herrera, though working diligently toward doing so, has not made his 2022 debut due to a summer baseball injury.

Hackett comes into the game off an open date, having closed their nonconference slate with a win over Panama, Okla., after losses to Centerpoint and Pocola, Okla..

Hackett won eight games and was a playoff team in 2021 and was picked third in the 3A-1 in a preseason poll of league coaches.

The Bearcats tangled with Harding Academy last week to complete their nonconference schedule.

While it is the first trip to Hackett for a senior high game, it is not the venture into the stadium whose field is named for a Booneville graduate who was a coach in the Hackett School System for 15 years.

While Mills was at Hackett the schools occasionally met in junior high and or seventh grade games, the most recent occurring when Allen Ray’s class were freshmen (1996).

The game will be livestreamed on www.boonevillebearcats.com

Financial Focus: Look Closely at Open Enrollment Choices

Tammy Teague
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Financial Focus: Look Closely at Open Enrollment Choices

By Jeffery O’Neal
Financial Advisor

Once again, it’s the season for football games and back-to-school activities. And if you work for a medium-size or large employer, it will soon be open enrollment season – the time of year when you can review your employee benefits and make changes as needed. What areas should you focus on?

Actually, it’s a good idea to pay close attention to all your benefits. Some of the offerings may have changed from last year — and you might have experienced changes in your own life, too, which might lead you to look for something different from your existing benefits package. 

You may want to start with your health insurance. If you’re satisfied with your coverage, and it’s essentially the same as it’s been, you may well want to stick with what you have. However, many employers are increasingly offering high-deductible health plans, which, as the name suggests, could entail more out-of-pocket costs for you. But high-deductible plans may also offer something of benefit: the ability to contribute to a health savings account (HSA). Your HSA contributions are made with pre-tax dollars, so they can reduce your taxable income for the year. Also, your earnings grow tax-free, and your withdrawals are tax-free, provided the money is used for qualified medical expenses. (Withdrawals taken before age 65 that aren’t used for qualified medical expenses are taxable and subject to a 20% penalty; once you reach 65, the penalty no longer applies, although withdrawals are still taxable as income if not used for a qualified expense.)

Your next benefit to consider: Life insurance. Your employer may offer a group life insurance plan, but you’ll want to evaluate whether it’s sufficient for your needs, especially if you’ve experienced changes in your personal situation over the past year, such as getting married or adding a new child. There’s no magic formula for how much life insurance you need — you’ll need to consider a variety of factors, such as your income, family size, mortgage and so on — but it may be necessary to supplement your employer’s coverage with a private policy.

Your employer may also offer disability insurance as a benefit. Some employers’ disability policies are fairly limited, covering only short periods of time, so you may want to consider a private policy. 

Beyond the various insurance policies your employer may offer, you’ll also want to closely look at your 401(k) or similar retirement plan. Typically, you can make changes to your 401(k) throughout the year, but it’s important to make sure your investment selections and contribution amounts are still aligned with your risk tolerance and goals. Also, are you contributing enough to earn your employer’s match, if one is offered? And if you’ve already receiving the match, can you still afford to put in more to your plan if such a move makes sense for you?

Your employee benefits package can be a valuable part of your overall financial strategy. So, as open enrollment season proceeds, take a close look at what you already have, what’s being offered, and what changes you need to make. It will be time well spent.

​​

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

Edward Jones, its employees and financial advisors cannot provide tax or legal advice. You should consult your attorney or qualified tax advisor regarding your situation.

Grandparents Day Celebration Held in Paris School District Last Week

Resident News Network
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Grandparents Day Celebration Held in Paris School District Last Week

The Paris Schools recognized Grandparents Day last week as a tribute to the positive influences that grandparents have on their students. Grandparents today are taking on even bigger roles in the lives of young children for various reasons. For this and many other reasons of appreciation, the Paris Schools held special activities to thank grandparents across Paris.

RNN covered the Grandparents Day lunch that was held at Paris High School last Wednesday. PHS had an excellent turnout of grandparents on the day with, unofficially, over 45 grandparents attending two lunch periods at the school. Photos were taken of the grandparents with their students, and members of the PHS faculty and staff, including superintendent Jim Loyd, circulated around the cafeteria dining room to visit and thank the grandparents.

So, grandparents, thank you for all that you do, and for being such a positive and supportive force in the lives of your grandchildren!

Area School Offers Students Unique Learning Experience

Tammy Teague
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Area School Offers Students Unique Learning Experience

By Dr. Curtis Varnell

Magazine High School offers students a usual opportunity to explore the world of work while earning their high school diploma.  Given permission by the Arkansas Department of Education, Magazine developed their own version of preparing kids to explore the world of opportunities offered through vocational education.

Students who choose the new vocational route explore area occupations as they learn the traditional math, science, and literacy expected of a high school graduate.  In a recent class, instructor Lance Holt allowed students to explore occupations available in forestry such as forest ranger, forestry department employee, pulp wood supplier, and lumber supplier.  In science, students learned tree identification and growth. They learned math by triangulating the tree and figuring the weight of the tree by the circumference and height.  They also look at typical pay and yearly salaries and often write about the occupations after researching what they offer to employees.  Instruction is offered across the curriculum with the career as a basis for study. 

The most recent trip was to Petite Jean Mountain.  Students were to develop an explanation of the phenomena that has shaped the mountains over time.  How were turtle rocks formed? How did the large boulders separate from the Hartshorne layer and form the many cracks, caves, and overhangs found along the trail?

At Rock House cave, students searched for Native American drawings as well as studied the various plants and animals found along the trails.  

Mr. Holt believes strongly that students learn best by seeing, doing, and exploring the real world.  They use the activity based lesson as a hook to get students interested and then further the study across the curriculum within the classroom after they return to Magazine schools.

Future lessons will include an investigation of rock quarries, air and history museum, game and fish eagle watch, Magazine mountain geology and history, and the Huckabee Nature center.  Thinking and exploring out of the traditional box allows students to develop their own vocational interest.  According to Mr. Holt, many of the students want to live and work in Arkansas but do not know the various jobs that are available or the skills needed to pursue that career.  Most high schools prepare students for college careers and that doesn’t fit most of our kids.  We here at Magazine try to prepare our kids for life!

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