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Positive Progress at Waldron Schools

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Tammy Teague

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6:32 pm

The regular monthly meeting of the Waldron School Board was held in the Central Office Building Monday, September 12, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were TammyeSherrill, Clay Woodall, Konnor McKay and Angela Hunsucker. School Board member Mac Davis was not present. Others present were Superintendent Daniel Fielding, Misty Owens, Kim Solomon, Zack Taylor, Darla Jeffery, Ryan Walker, Lisa Allen, Keith Brigance, Toni Dozier, Kristi Sigman, Lance Stinson, Tonya Cluck, Cheyenne Smith, Ethan Millard and Kurt Banta

President Tammye Sherrill called the meeting to order at 6:32p.m. McKay began the meeting with a word of prayer. Hunsucker led the Pledge of Allegiance.

A motion was made by Woodall and seconded by Hunsucker to add item F) Approve Invoice for Guy Fenter Education Service Cooperative for 2022-23 K-6 Virtual Consortium, to the Consent Agenda items. Motion carried 4:0.

A motion was made by Hunsucker and seconded by McKay to approve the Consent Agenda items: A) Approval of the August 8^th and August 10^th Minutes; B) Approve Financial Reports and Expenditures; C) Approve Purchase Order for Nearpod, Inc; D) Approve Invoice for Guy Fenter Education Service Cooperative for 2022-23 Professional Development Consortium; E) Approve Invoice for Guy FenterEducation Service Cooperative for 2022-23 Early Childhood Special Education Preschool Program; F)Approve Invoice for Guy Fenter Education Service Cooperative for 2022-23 K-6 Virtual Consortium; Motion carried 4 -0.

Kurt Banta addressed the School Board and audience concerning strategies and possibilities to take to deter school shootings from happening.

A motion was made by Woodall and seconded by Konnor McKay to approve the Petition for Transfer of Students. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Hunsucker and seconded by McKay to approve the Active Educator Retention Incentive in the amount of $3000 for Certified and $1700 for classified employees paid out by the end of September, 2022. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Woodall and seconded by Hunsucker to approve the Novice Teacher Mentoring Program. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Hunsucker and seconded by McKay to approve the Attendance Incentive Opportunity. Motion carried 4-0.

Ryan Walker, ABC/Adventure Online Academy Principal, reported to the Board that there are now 30 students enrolled in the virtual online school. Mr. Walker also stated that ABC and First Step are both almost at capacity. Mrs. Darla Jeffery informed the board that the Book Fair will be this week, as well as Grandparents Breakfast. Jeffery also stated that Elementary took their iReady assessments last week. Elementary will close this week off with a pep rally on Friday. Zack Taylor, Middle School Principal, reported that 388 parents attended “Meet the Teacher” night. Middle school is hosting the Book Fair this week. Mr. Taylor also wanted to thank Joe and Beverly Richmond for donating the volleyball net to the Middle School playground. Kim Solomon, High School Principal, stated that FFA had a huge turnout for the fair this year, she commented on the outstanding job that Laura Kitchens is doing with the program. Homecoming will be October 21^st.

A special thanks to Joe and Beverly Richmond for their time and effort to install the volleyball poles/net and the tether ball poles on the Waldron Middle School playground.

Superintendent Fielding reported to the board that Kristi Sigman secured a grant that would enable the school to purchase sensory items. He also discussed with the board members a date to approve the 2022-23 budget.

A motion was made by Woodall and seconded by Hunsucker to accept the resignation from Kandace Espinoza as High School Paraprofessional, effective August 11, 2022. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Woodall and seconded McKay to add 1 years’ experience to Amber Scott’s contract, retroactive back to August 11, 2022. Amber should have been given 7 years’ experience when hired instead of 6. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Woodall and seconded by McKay to adjourn. Motion carried 4-0.

Meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m.

2022 Scott County Fair

Madison VanRavensway

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6:51 pm

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Scott County Fair Association held their 100th annual fair September 7-10, 2022. For its hundredth birthday the fair saw record breaking number of livestock, exhibitors, and money from the premium sale. Walking the livestock barn was sure a sight to behold. There were 105 animals present in the barn, shown by 71 exhibitors. Of the 105, about half (56) went into the premium sale. Buyers showed up and showed out, rewarding the exhibitors with great payouts.

The poultry and rabbit barn saw great numbers, too. There were 133 birds and 6 rabbits shown by 41 exhibitors. Honking, clucking, cock-a-doodles, turkey calling, and quaking noises were all taking place.

To be eligible to show at the Scott County fair kids need to be involved in FFA or 4H. Showing animals teaches responsibility, discipline, and self confidence. It can be an expensive venture to purchase and upkeep an animal, but the memories and lessons learned far outlast the show ring. The future of agriculture looks bright for Scott County seeing the excellent turnout of its youth for the fair, and their eagerness to work.

The Scott County fair board is responsible for the fair each year. The board this year was President- Caleb Free, Vice President, Rusty Craig, Treasurer- Heather Hale, Secretary- Amy Free and board members: Amber Craig, Sandra McEntire, Sue Williams, Betty Overturf. To be involved in the 2023 Scott County fair attend their meetings on the third Monday of each month.

Thank you to Jamie Goff, Cora Ozuna, Cheyenne Pottridge, Kimberley Lane, and LeighAnn Reynolds for sharing photos.

Timepiece:The Lovely Story

Featured

Tammy Teague

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5:31 pm

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Historians are always checking out cemeteries and old gravestone to discover history but one little expects to stumble across those stones right in the middle of a state park! Yet, there they sat, two stones side by side right in the middle of Dardanelle state park inscribed with weathered lettering designating the life and death of William Lovely and his wife Persis.

Little known today, the choices made by Lovely greatly influenced, not only the development of the River Valley, but of all the western frontier. A migrant from Dublin, Ireland, Lovely arrived in what was to become the U.S. just in time to fight in the Revolutionary War. He rose to the rank of Captain and was provided some 4,000 acres of bounty land for his service. Settling in Tennessee, he was appointed a position as an agent to the Cherokee tribe. In 1809, in order to prevent problems with settlers, many of the Cherokee requested and were given land in the new Louisiana Purchase and settled in an area along the Arkansas River from around Morrilton into present day Oklahoma. The chief and many leaders lived in an area around Spadra (Clarksville) and eventually Dwight Mission, a religious school for Cherokee children, was established near present day Russellville. William Lovely and his wife, as Indian agents, set up his home close to the mission on the east bank of the Illinois Bayou. Other tribes were assigned land in western Arkansas as well, resulting in a virtual Indian territory that extended west to the Rockies.

Located 300 miles from the nearest post office, Persis described the site as lonely, desolate, and dangerous. Her few neighborsand friends included the Witts, the Stinnetts (Stinnetts Station), Kirkbridge Potts (Pottsville), and the more famous Raven (Sam Houston) who was married to Cherokee Chief John Jolly’s daughter.

From the beginning, the western Cherokee clashed with the Osage tribe of north Arkansas. Violent warfare between the two groups threatened peace on the frontier. In 1815, Lovely came up with a plan to prevent this warfare, he purchased some three million acres of land from the Osage to serve as a border between the two tribes. Called the Lovely Purchase, this land included what is now Washington, Madison, and a portion ofCrawford County as well as a big part of eastern Oklahoma extending nearly to Tulsa.

At the time, there was no western boundary to Arkansas. As settlers began moving into western Arkansas, infighting between the various Indian tribes created a necessity to establish a western border. In Scott county, settlers and Choctaw eventually settled on a border along the Poteau River. North of that, a huge diamond shaped area of Arkansas extended far into what is now Oklahoma and the river valley was Cherokee Nation land. In 1928, to prevent clashes with settlers, the Cherokee gave up rights to all land in the River Valley to a straight line running from the western border of Missouri to the Arkansas River in exchange for Lovely’s Oklahoma Purchase. The boundaries of the state as we now know it was established by this little known individual, buried alongside his wife and a small adopted Indian girl, at our own Lake Dardanelle State Park.

Who knows, without him we might be talking about Clarksville, Indian Territory and Tulsa, Arkansas and the complete history of the Arkansas River valley would be forever altered.

Brace Yourself! Bobby Petrino Returns to Razorbacks Stadium!

Resident News Network

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1:54 pm

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Brace Yourself! Bobby Petrino Returns to Razorbacks Stadium!

Social media is buzzing with the satirical news of former Hogs coach Bobby Petrino returning to Razorbacks Stadium this Saturday. Petrino will bring his Missouri State Bears to DWR Razorbacks Stadium for a 6 p.m. kickoff with the Razorbacks. It will be the first time he has been in Razorbacks Stadium since his abrupt firing in April of 2012.

Social media is having a good time with his return, offering “advertisements” for neck braces, similar to what he wore at one of his final press conferences, for fans to wear to Saturday’s game. And for Hogs fans, it may be a joking matter now, directed to a polarizing figure in the Razorbacks football program history, but on Saturday, I would guess that Petrino has had this one circled on his calendar for a long time. Expect the high-flying bears to come out throwing the football all over field, much like his Hogs did more than ten years ago.

Here are some Missouri State notes as released by the University of Arkansas:

DATE: Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022
TIME: 6:00 p.m. (Central)
LOCATION: Donald W. Reynolds Razorback Stadium
(76,000), Fayetteville, Ark.
SERIES: Arkansas leads 7-0
Last Mtg: Arkansas 51, MSU 7 (9/3/11)
TV: ESPN+ / SEC Network+
(Jay Alter, Stanford Routt, Tera Talmadge)
RADIO: KWTO 101.3 FM | MSU Bears Radio Network
(Art Hains, Dennis Heim)

♦ Missouri State returns to the road this week when the No. 5-ranked team in FCS travels to Fayetteville, Arkansas to take on the No. 10 (FBS) Arkansas Razorbacks at 6 p.m. (ESPN+/SEC Network+). It will mark the first meeting between the clubs since 2011, while Arkansas represents the second-highest ranked FBS team the Bears have ever played (No. 6 Oklahoma in 2020).

♦ The Bears are off to a 2-0 start for the first time since 2016 and for just the ninth time in the program’s Division I era (since 1982) — 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 2002, 2004, 2007 and 2016. Only the 1983, 1989 and 2004 Bears were able to start the season 3-0.

♦ QB Jason Shelley (Sr., Frisco, Texas) is the Missouri Valley Football Conference Offensive Player of the Week after he completed 19-of-24 passes for 297 yards and a career-high 5 touchdowns in last week’s home win over No. 14 UT Martin. The 2021 MVFC Offensive Player of the Year is one of 35 players on the 2022 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List, which recognizes the top offensive player in the FCS ranks.

♦ This week’s game marks the 200th career game as a head coach for MSU’s Bobby Petrino who brings a 134-65 (.673) ledger in his 17th season as a head coach. Petrino was 34-17 in four seasons as head coach at Arkansas (2008-11), including wins over Missouri State in 2009 and 2011.

♦ RB Jacardia Wright (So., Decatur, Ill.), a transfer from Kansas State, was named MVFC Newcomer of the Week for his efforts in Week Two. Wright logged his first career 100-yard rushing game in MSU’s win, carrying 23 times for 120 yards (5.2 yards per carry) in a breakout effort. He also scored on a 19-yard pass from Shelley with 35 seconds left in the first half, helping him rack up 162 all-purpose yards for the game. He ranks 35th nationally in rushing yards per game (79.0).

♦ This week’s game at Arkansas is Missouri State’s only game on grass this season and its first contest on a natural surface since the 2020 season opener at Oklahoma (9/12/20).

♦ Jason Shelley’s 5-touchdown passing effort last week vs. UT Martin was Missouri State’s first since 10/15/16 (Brodie Lambert vs. Western Illinois). Three of the other four players ever to throw 5 TD passes at Plaster Stadium ultimately became NFL quarterbacks — Sean Payton (1986), Carson Wentz (2014) and Easton Stick (2018).

♦ Milestone Updates: Montrae Braswell (CB, Avon Park, Fla.) is 3 tackles away from 100 (21g) at MSU … Jason Shelley is 90 passing yards away from 4,000 (14g) for his MSU career and would be the 7th Bears QB to do so.

♦ MSU’s defense is among the FCS national leaders in 3rd-Down Efficiency (3rd); team sacks (12th); tackles for loss (20th). The Bears .182 third-down efficiency also leads the MVFC.

♦ Braswell leads the nation (FCS) in kickoff return average (55.0). His career average (31 attempts) is up to 31.8.

♦ Led by Shelley’s exemplary start to the 2022 campaign, the Bears rank 4th nationally in passing efficiency (192.8), 13th in completion percentage (.685) and 17th in passing offense. Individually, Shelley ranks 3rd in passing efficiency, 6th in passing TDs (6) and 8th in points responsible for (42), all of which lead the MVFC. His 281.5 passing yards per game ranks 12th among all FCS players.

♦ Ty Scott (WR, Estill, S.C.) continues to set the standard for MSU receivers, ranking 3rd nationally in receiving TDs (3), 6th in receptions per game (8.0), 6th in receiving yards per game (128.0), 8th in receiving yards (256), and 31st in all-purpose yardage (129.0). He leads the Missouri Valley in receptions and receiving yards per game.

♦ Grant Burkett (P, Joplin, Mo.) boasts a 40.3 punting average so far this season, but is just shy of the minimum number of attempts (has 3.5 attempts per game – minimum is 3.6). He would rank 31st nationally with that average. Last season, Burkett ranked second in the nation with a school-record punting average of 46.2 per attempt, while helping the Bears rank second nationally in team net punting (42.81). He had 16 punts of 50 yards or better with 15 attempts downed inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

2022 BEARS SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER
Thu. 1 at (RV) Central Arkansas ESPN+ ………….W 27-14
Thu. 8 (14) UT Martin ESPN+ ………………………..W 35-30
Sat. 17 at (10) Arkansas SEC+ …………………….. 6:00 p.m.
Sat. 24 South Dakota State* ESPN3 …………….. 2:00 p.m.
OCTOBER
Sat. 1 at North Dakota* ESPN+ …………………. 12:00 p.m.
Sat. 8 Southern Illinois* ESPN+ ………………… 2:00 p.m.
Sat. 22 at Northern Iowa* ESPN+ ………………….. 4:00 p.m.
Sat. 29 Western Illinois* ESPN+ (HC) …………… 2:00 p.m.
NOVEMBER
Sat. 5 at South Dakota* ESPN3 …………………… 1:00 p.m.
Sat. 12 Youngstown State* ESPN3………………. 2:00 p.m.
Sat. 19 at Indiana State ESPN+ ………………….. 12:00 p.m.

*Missouri Valley Football Conference games (0-0);
Television designations in bold. Times listed are Central time.
Home games (bold) at Robert W. Plaster Stadium, Springfield.

#10 Arkansas
RAZORBACKS
2-0
Missouri State Record vs. Arkansas …………………………. 0-7
at Home……………………………………………………………. 0-0
at Fayetteville ……………………………………………………. 0-5
at Little Rock …………………………………………………….. 0-2
First Meeting ………………………Ark. 100, MSU 0 (9/30/1911)
Last Meeting ………………………….Ark. 51, MSU 7 (9/3/2011)
Date Site W/L Score
9/30/1911 ……. at Fayetteville, Ark…………….L……… 0-100
11/22/1918 ….. at Fayetteville, Ark…………….L……… 6-12
10/4/1924……. at Fayetteville, Ark…………….L……… 0-47
9/2/2000……… at Little Rock, Ark. …………….L……… 0-38
9/3/2005……… at Fayetteville, Ark…………….L……… 17-49
9/5/2009……… at Little Rock, Ark. …………….L……… 10-48
9/3/2011 ……… at Fayetteville, Ark…………….L……… 7-51
n PF – 40 (5.7); PA – 345 (49.3)

BEARS IN THE FCS POLLS
Preseason …………………………………………………..*5 8
9/5/22………………………………………………………….. 5 7
9/12/22………………………………………………………… 5 6
*Team’s highest preseason Top 25 ranking; Consecutive weeks in Top 25: 21

Arkansas’s defensive secondary will face a stiff challenge from the Bears’ passing attack. The Hogs hope to have Myles Slusher back this week. His return is much needed to improve an Arkansas secondary that has shown its vulnerability in the Hogs’ first two games this season. The Hogs should have a significant advantage on both lines of scrimmage, and the defensive front will be looking to put pressure on the MO State quarterback and not allow him time to find his receivers.

Razorbacks fans, if you live in Franklin or Logan counties, you will want to subscribe to the Logan County RNN weekly newspaper. You can subscribe by going to residentnewsnetwork.com and click on the subscription link.

So, the former Hogs coach will surely have a new wrinkle in the Bears’ offense….just for the game with Arkansas. So, Hogs fans, brace yourselves!

Note to Our Readers: The information in this story was sourced from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Kyle Parkinson, Associate AD / Communications

Tiger Distance Runners Take High Medal Count

Sports

Tammy Teague

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11:57 am

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Tiger Distance Runners Take High Medal Count

Addie Bowman and Trinity Triska are top two Lady Tiger finishers at Elkins.

It wasn’t quite a bus load of medals. However, Mansfield took its fair share of the awards offered at the Magazine Invitational Cross Country Meet on September 6.

With an 86% success rate, nearly every Tiger runner involved in long distance running at the Rattler pit came home with a medal. Twelve out of 14 Mansfield participants posted times worthy of a top 20 finish.

“It was a good day to be a Tiger,” said Mansfield head coach John Mackey. “Every division ran the same distance this meet. The familiarity with the conference course really helped.”

MHS senior girls take seocnd at Magazine XC race. Drop title to Waldron by 1 point.

Fact was Mansfield secured medal placements from every runner that had previously navigated the course in past seasons. The only two Tiger players not reaching qualifying times were a pair of novice runners stepping foot on Magazine’s 1.5 mile route for the first time in their careers.

MHS freshman Joey Williams blistered the shorter distance in the fastest time of any Tiger. An All-Conference runner the past two seasons, Williams was second overall in the junior boys race.

Williams won the 2A-4 district title along the same course in 2021. Although not the individual champion this time out, the rising star did set a personal course record along the familiar grounds in a time of 8:35. Only Jakrys Munoz of DeQueen ran a better time (8:28) for the junior high boys race.

“Joey has been working at a level three clip in practice,” stated Mackey. “That means he’s basically putting in the mileage of a high school senior. So far, his efforts are starting to pan out.”

Mansfield’s junior boys ran the table on medal rewards. All six entries on the Tiger team placed inside the top 20 with many running times similar to the top 20 in the senior high race.

MHS junior girls send all seventh graders to compete at the large Elkins Invitational 2-mile run.

For their collective efforts the Tiger cubs cobbled together a second place team score. Only DeQueen did better, pushing past Mansfield 40 to 44 in the team standings.

Gunner Williams (8th), Jonah Martin (9th), Hunter Whittaker, and Braxton Bartlett (18th) joined their team lead runner as the scoring five. Joseph Carter (19th) offered a blocker position to secure the runner-up plaque for the group.

Sisters Laney Wood and Jadelynn Wood gave the Mansfield senior girls their best boost in secring another runner-up team trophy for distance squad.

Laney Wood claimed fourth place overall in a time of 10:46. Jadelynn Wood came across one place behind that in 11:02.

Raine Hecox (11th), Ashley Martin (16th), and Addison Bowman (17th) joined the sister act for the team rankings. Altogether the senior girls scoring five finished with 31 points. That was only one point away from Waldron’s first place mark in the women’s division.

Sophomore Austin Ruiz scored a sixth place medal for the Mansfield men. As the only Tiger runner in that division, Ruiz’s well placed effort of 8:44 could not qualify for any type of team award. He competed as an individual instead of a five person squad.

Expectations Run High for Mansfield Jr Boys

Sports

Tammy Teague

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11:47 am

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Expectations Run High for Mansfield Jr Boys

Four of the Mansfield junior boys are in their third season together as a cross country team. Seasoned at an early age, the experienced distance racers are starting to see positive results. This past week the crew enjoyed a pair of runner-up team plaques at two different races.

Fresh off their second place team total in Magazine on Tuesday, the young Tigers did it again in an even larger meet in Elkins on Saturday, September 10.

“Elkins hosted one of the largest meets in the area,” stated Mansfield coach John Mackey. “Our players were not intimidated by the sight of over 200 runners in the race. These freshmen have been battling since the seventh grade. Their experience is starting to pay off.”

Mansfield’s junior boys cobbled together their second trophy run of the week in the very large 1A-3A divisional race in Elkins. The squad was supposed to run at Ben Geren Park in Ft. Smith but that race was canceled due to the unexpected death of Southside High School cross country coach Aaron Kareus.

“We didn’t want to lose a meet,” expressed the coach. “We completely understood the circumstances that canceled the meet in Ft. Smith. When that tragic news broke, we tried to keep some semblance of normalcy and looked for another opportunity to race. Elkins, although two hours away, was very accomodating.”

Mansfield’s young guns were led by ninth grader Joey Williams. The team’s number one ranked runner for the last two seasons finished in second place for the two mile course in 13:02.77. His compadres added to the mix helping accumulate 82 points in a 10 team setup.

Because of the large number of scoring squads, points were at a premium. West Fork took the winner’s trophy with 42 points. St. Joseph crossed in third at 102 points.

Jonah Martin, Braxton Bartlett, and Joseph Carter were the other three freshmen running for the Tiger’s junior team. All are in their third season having established league credentials from past seasons.

At Elkins, Martin (18th) and Bartlett (45th) finished in the squad’s scoring five. Carter (46th) maintained a blocker’s position for the second consecutive meet.

Eighth grader Gunner Williams medaled with a sixth place small school finish. His time was 14:08.62. Seventh grader Hunter Whittaker climbed to 25th with his first two mile mark in 15:15.82.

Mansfield’s Trinity Triska was the only other Tiger athlete to secure a medal at the Elks Invitational. The sophomore All-Star completed the season’s first 5K race in 23:59.58 for 8th place in the senior girls division.

Teammates Addie Bowman and Ashley Martin crossed in 23rd and 26th place for the MHS women.

The trio did not qualify as a team as the squad was reduced due to the venue change.

Abby Smith, a seventh grader competing in her first meet, ran well for the Lady Tiger junior girls. The diminutive runner started fast, helping push the pace of the top competitors. Her unfamiliarity with the longer two mile race brought her back in the pack leaving her outside the top 15 at 27th position.

“Abby has a lot of talent for this sport,” expressed Mackey. “She has the build and the desire to be good. The more running reps she gets you’ll see that time shrink and the rewards increase.”

Smith was not alone in her debut race. Classmates Adeline Bray, Miley Clopton, and Bailey Quick also toed the line for their first cross country race.

“These girls have a lot of pride and a desire to compete,” continued the coach. “I’m proud of how they took on the challenge of such a big race. There were 184 runners in their heat alone.”

Lilly Young, another Mansfield seventh grader who was in her third race of the season, joined the debut racers.

Together the MHS junior girls had their first chance to score as a team this season. They finished ninth overall.

What stood out was the fact that Smith and Bray finished as the second and fourth fastest runners among 1A-4 conference opponents in attendance.

Waldron FFA Says “Goodbye to Summer!”

Featured

Tammy Teague

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4:08 am

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Contributed by Laura Kitchens

Over the 2022 summer your local FFA chapter was up to a lot! We had a sweetcorn fundraiser, where we supplied fresh picked Webbers Falls’ sweetcorn to our community for the Independence Day Weekend. It was a HIT and we intend to make it a yearly event! Alll of our livestock show kids worked with their show animals in preparation for fair season. On July 9th, Mr. Scoots Hames from Tuttle, OK, came to our ag barn and did a showpig workshop. 15 kids attended the workshop, and we would like to think: Waldron Farmers Co-Op, Poteau Farmers Co-Op, and The Cattlett Brothers feed store for their outstanding support in this event.

Now that school has started back, FFA members have started working in the barn to make sure that all the animals are going to be all prepared for shows. We had a very successful day on August 26th, with the Calloways coming and trimming cattle hooves to get us all set for the show ring! We are excited for this school year and ready to see what all we can accomplish!

Home Sweet GHS – 2022 Football Homecoming

Sports

Tammy Teague

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12:08 am

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Home Sweet GHS – 2022 Football Homecoming

Greenwood High School’s 2022 Football Homecoming will be celebrated Friday, September 23. The homecoming ceremony will take place prior to the game at approximately 6:30 p.m.

Sophomore Maid
Zoe Caldwell, daughter of Ty and Zach Caldwell

Escorted by Logan Taylor, son of Laura and Christopher Taylor

Sophomore Maid
Liddie-Ann Adams, daughter of Nikki and Stewart Adams

Escorted by Hayden Webb, son of Amanda and Lee Webb

Junior Maid
Brielle Burnett, daughter of Liz and Ross Burnett

Escorted by Storm Scherrey, son of Mitzi and Josh Scherrey and Cooper Young, son of Kelly and Chris Young

Junior Maid
Claire Roberts, daughter of Liz and Gabe Roberts

Escorted by Javon Williamson, son of Mary Adams and Josiah Spicer, son of Candace and Johnny Spicer

Senior Maid
Ireland Cooper, daughter of Danae and Chris Warnock

Escorted by Jake Glover, son of Jennifer Nesbit and Grant Glover and Brett Wood, son of Audra and Tommy Wood

Senior Maid of Honor
Grace Aishman, daughter of kKristin and Robert Malenshek and Bri and JD Aishman

Escorted by Tanner McKusker, son of Brandie and Johnny McKusker and Steven Duran, son of Raquel and Darin Swearingen

Queen
Bailey Malenshek, daughter of Danielle Malenshek and Andrew Malenshek

Escorted by Evan Williams, son of Mandi and Justin Williams, Hunter Houston, son of Alison and Scott Houston, and Aiden Kennon, son of Sally and Terrence Wilson and Jeffrey Kennon

Photo credits: Kim Singer Photography

Hogs Defeat South Carolina 44-30 in SEC Opener

Resident News Network

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11:26 pm

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Hogs Defeat South Carolina 44-30 in SEC Opener

The Arkansas Razorbacks made it two in a row by defeating the South Carolina Gamecocks at Razorbacks Stadium by the score of 44-30. The game was a tale of two halves as the Hogs dominated the first half and misfired on both offense and defense to allow the Gamecocks back into the football game. But just as in Week One versus Cincinnati, Arkansas was able to overcome the mistakes and move on to secure the win. The victory over South Carolina improves Arkansas’s record to 2-0 overall, and 1-0 in Southeastern Conference play. Arkansas entered the game ranked number 16 nationally by some outlets, up three spots from their preseason ranking.

RNN Sports is pleased to share with you some comments and statistics from the game, courtesy of the University of Arkansas Office of Communications.

Raheim Sanders rush of 1 yard.TOUCHDOWN | 1Q | 6:42

Raheim Sanders rush of 11 yards.TOUCHDOWN | 2Q | 14:28

Rashod Dubinion rush of 1 yard.TOUCHDOWN | 2Q | 8:13KJ Jefferson rush of 2 yards.TOUCHDOWN | 4Q | 14:55

KJ Jefferson pass to Warren Thompson complete for 23 yards.TOUCHDOWN | 4Q | 12:09TOUCHDOWN | 4Q | 6:00

Arkansas has won consecutive SEC openers for first time since 2003 & 2004.

»RB Raheim Sanders recorded his third career multi-rushing TD game. Dating back to last season, Sanders has rushed for two TDs in three of the last four games.

»RB Raheim Sanders has rushed for 100+ yards in back-to-back games (117 in game 1 and 156 in game two). He’s the first Arkansas rusher to run for 100+ yards in back-to-back contests since RB Rakeem Boyd (2019).

»QB KJ Jefferson registered his fifth career game with at least one passing touchdown and at least one score on the ground.

»Jefferson completed 85.7 percent of his passes (18-of-21 passes) for 162 yards and one TD. His completion percent-age ranks second in school history (min of 20 att). The record is held by Ryan Mallett at .875 (21-of-24) vs Tennessee Tech in 2010. Jefferson and Mallett have combined for each of the top four single-game passing percentage marks.

»Since 2020, the Razorbacks have totaled 28 interceptions in 25 games – the most among all SEC teams in that span. »Arkansas scored on its first three possessions (TD, TD, TD). The last time Arkansas scored on its first three pos-sessions came in last season’s win against Texas A&M (FG, TD, TD). Last time Arkansas scored TDs on its first three possessions was 2019 vs Colorado State.

»Arkansas has scored 30+ points in 11 of QB KJ Jefferson’s 17 career starts: 48 at Missouri (2020), 38 vs. Rice (2021), 40 vs. Texas (2021), 45 vs. Georgia Southern (2021), 51 at Ole Miss (2021), 45 vs. UAPB (2021), 31 vs. Mississippi State (2021), 35 at Alabama (2021), 34 vs. Missouri (2021), 31 vs. Cincinnati (2022), TBD vs. South Carolina (2022).

»Dating back to the 2021 season, Arkansas has rushed for three or more touchdowns in three of the last four games.

»RB Raheim Sanders registered a career-long rush of 47 yards in the third quarter.

»RB Raheim Sanders became one of five Razorbacks who have rushed for 100+ yards with multiple scores in a game against South Carolina: : Madre Hill (1995 – 178 yards, 6 TD), Darren McFadden (2006 – 187 yards, 6 TD), Felix Jones (2007 – 166 yards, 3 TD), Knile Davis (2010 – 110 yards, 3 TD) and Raheim Sanders (2022).

»Four different Razorbacks rushed for a TD (Raheim Sanders, K.J. Jefferson, Rashod Dubinion and AJ Green). The last time Arkansas had three players rush for touchdowns was against Georgia Southern in 2021 (Telon Smith, Domi-nique Johnson and Malik Hornsby).

»The Razorbacks tallied their first five-rushing touchdown game since 2016 against Mississippi State.

»The Hogs have charted three straight games of 200+ rushing yards (295 vs USC) as a team and five-straight games of 400+ yards of total offense (457 vs USC).

»LB Drew Sanders logged career-highs in total tackles (11) and tackles for loss (3.0). Sanders’ 3.0 TFL are the most in a game by an Arkansas defender since Bumper Pool totaled 3.0 TFL against Texas A&M in 2020.

»Sanders added two forced fumbles to tie a school single-game record (based on available stats). 12 others have also forced two fumbles in a game since 2000 with the last being McTelvin Agim who did so in 2018 vs Colorado State and in 2017 vs Mississippi State. Overall, Arkansas forced five fumbles, tying for second-most in school history (dating back to 1998). The record is six forced fumbles vs Eastern Illinois in 2018.

»Arkansas recorded a safety with 1:33 left in the game. It was the Razorbacks’ first safety since 2015 vs Toledo

After the game, Arkansas head football coach, Sam Pittman said, “A lot of respect for South Carolina, their program and Coach Beamer. They play the game like it’s supposed to be played. I was really proud of our offensive line. We asked them to control the game and I felt like they did at least until the last series of the first half. We were a little slippery on pass protection but I think the offensive line wore them down. We made a lot of big plays on defense; a lot of sacks, hurries, this that and the other. We gave up a lot. Three hands to the face and things like that. We certainly haven’t had that in practice but we had it out here today and we’ve got to clean that up as well. I thought the defense made some big plays and (Raheim) Rocket Sanders and the backs ran well. I thought we used our wideouts a little bit better today. We used all of them and each one of them contributed certainly in the blocking aspect but to the win as well. It feels really good to be 2-0 and 1-0 in the SEC. It’s a line of scrimmage game in this league. It depends on if you want to make it that or not. We do. We want to make it a line of scrimmage game. It feels good to be honest with you. I think everyone in the stadium felt good on the first three possessions. We didn’t make a 4th and 1 in the third or the fourth quarter down there but we made close fourth downs and third down and ones. There weren’t really any great, big plays out there. It was really just churning four and five yards out. It feels really, really good. We have a lot of work to do but I’m really pleased with where we are as a coaching staff and as a team.”

When asked about the crowd and the early 11 a.m. kickoff time, Coach Pittman commented,

“I thought there were a lot of people here. It seemed like it. I love the student section. They here have a lot of fun. I think they pretty much sold out that area of the stadium both weeks. It’s a lot of fun for the kids to come, especially when we are winning. I have no idea what an 11 a.m. party would look like, but I hope they had a good time.”

Commenting on KJ Jefferson’s performance:“I thought he played better today than he did last week. I thought he was more accurate today. I thought he ran the ball well both times, but I thought he was more accurate and in total control. When it was third-and-two on the goal line, I told him… if we don’t make it here, I’m taking a field goal to go up eight. I was challenging him, but KJ looked up at me and said, ‘don’t worry about it, call the extra point team on.’ And he did. He can pretty much take over the game when he wants to. He ran the ball 19 times today and took a lot of big hits.

Quarterback K J Jefferson added, “Football is a physical sport. Playing the QB position, you’re gonna get hit whether you got the ball or not. You gotta have a dog mentality and then go in and get treated. Recovery is real big on my part, just making sure that I’m feeling 100%.”

On starting 2-0 on the season and 1-0 in SEC play, Jefferson said, “It’s real big, Coach Pittman put an emphasis on starting off SEC play. We knew it was gonna be a long, physical game. We just wanted to come out and be the more physical and dominant team and then just show the state that this program is still on the rise.”

Dalton Wagner shared that Coach Pittman put the responsibility of the game on the offensive line. “Absolutely, Coach Pittman pretty much called out the O-Line and said, ‘The game is on our backs. The game will be won in the trenches by us.’ O-Line took it really personally this week to make sure we could run the ball… Protection still has to get better still to make sure KJ’s comfortable back there throwing. I think for the run game, couldn’t have asked for a better game.”When you have a QB making runs like KJ and Jadon threw a guy down, is there a physicality that permeates throughout the whole team. Coach Pittman emphasizes it, we go pads 3 times a week. 3 days a week we’re getting after it and hitting each other and he emphasizes physicality. You got a runner like KJ who can throw a shoulder in there and you got the O-Line pushing a pile trying to knock it over and KJ’s still running after we knock the pile over, it’s just physicality. We love it, he loves it, and I think the whole state loves it.”

Yes, the whole state does love it, and the crowds at Razorbacks Stadium are a reflection of the success and enthusiasm the program has brought to the state of Arkansas. And now, the Hogs will return to non-conference play next week when they welcome former Arkansas head football coach Bobby Petrino back when he and the Missouri State Bears visit Razorbacks Stadium. It will be Petrino’s first appearance at Razorbacks Stadium since his firing in April of 2012. His dismissal sent the Arkansas football program into a tail spin that some have argued that it set the program back nearly ten years. Kickoff next Saturday is slated for 6 p.m.

Note to Our Readers: This story was sourced directly from the University of Arkansas Office of Communications, Mike Cawood, Associate Communications Director.

Over Twenty Years Later, A Nation Vows to Never Forget

Resident News Network

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6:31 pm

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Over Twenty Years Later, A Nation Vows to Never Forget

Each of the past three years that I have had the privilege to write this story, each time I have found myself becoming increasingly emotional from an event that I thought I had compartmentalized in my mind several years ago. But the events of September 11, 2001 are so compelling, it is simply not something you can put in the back of your mind and try to forget. In fact, we shouldn’t forget. For so many reasons, we must never forget.

The documented facts of this terrible day have been repeated each year in television documentaries, the news, and throughout online and social media. Terrorists attacked the U.S. cities of New York City, Washington, DC, and Shanksville, Pensylvania. People died on this day; thousands of people. And for the first time since the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the United States was under attack on its own soil. But the first attack on the U.S. mainland was unique; it was not a formal military attack by a foreign nation, but an attack of terrorist who hated us and wanted to inflict as much damage, death, and destruction that they could in the most unspeakable way. Civilian jet airliners were hijacked and flown kamikaze style into buildings killing hundreds, if not thousands at one time.

As a retired educator, my perspective is through the eyes of the scores of young people who have been students in schools that I have overseen throughout my career. Twenty-one years after the attack means that no K-12 student was alive when the attacks occurred, and now, we are just one to two years removed from college students having grown up in a post 9/11 world and not knowing what life was like before the attacks. So much has changed in reaction to the attacks, and younger people today have no frame of reference to know the world any differently.

But, out of the ashes of death and destruction, one positive thing may have came out of this terrible day. As a nation, we seem to have greater respect and appreciation for our service men and women, as well as emergency personnel and first responders. For those of us who remember September 11, we remember, among other things, the repeated images on television showing firemen, police, and paramedics going into the dangerous areas when all others were fleeing away as fast as they could move. And that is the premise for this story. In this writer’s opinion, 9/11 has become not only a day of remembrance of those who died, but a reminder of how much we owe our emergency personnel for protecting us and being there when we need them the most.

Throughout the Paris community, like most rural communities, are tributes to our fallen service men and women. There are signs of patriotism, a loyalty to our nation that is not lost in small town America.

But there is also a local connection to the paramedics and emergency personnel who responded in New York City, Washington, DC, and in Shanksville on that dark September day. Our local emergency medical technicians, fire and rescue, police, and county Sheriff’s Office. All, I would dare say, are not fully appreciated, until we are in a time of dire need.

There are pictures of New York City firemen, for example, who were photographed that day on the highway moving toward the World Trade Center complex, and according to reports, none of the firemen on the truck survived the response and the subsequent collapse of the towers. And on a local level, we honor our emergency responders who today, throughout Logan County, don’t always know what they are walking into when the respond to a call.

Mr. James Green is the director of EMS services in Logan County, and last week I had the opportunity to visit with him regarding county EMS services and how the events of September 11 have affected his industry. “Since the events of 9/11, there has been a lot more training involved to be prepared for situations such as 9/11.” I asked Mr. Green if he thought people had forgotten about 9/11, and he said, “I believe we will never forget about it.”

James Green, Director of EMS Services, Logan County (RNN Photo / Jim Best)

And I believe Mr. Green is right. Of course, we all get caught up in the events of our daily lives, but the simple fact is, we can never forget the horror, the despair, and the near-panic that we all felt on the day of the attacks. We all remember where we were and what we were doing; in a very similar way that our families may recall what they were doing on the day that President Kennedy was assassinated.

Since that day, the number of people looking to become paramedics has decreased, according to Mr. Green. When I asked why he thought this was the case, he said, “A lot of it is the pay. There are related fields that pay more.”

Covering Logan County on a daily basis are approximately six trained persons on a total of three trucks. If one is taken out of service to transport a patient, say, to a hospital, that leaves fewer people to respond. And when those highly trained individuals respond to a call, they never know potentially what type or how dangerous of a situation they may be responding to, such as someone who pulls a gun on a crew. It is a dangerous job, and although the Logan County crews may not be responding to something as dramatic as the collapse of the World Trade Center, their job is very dangerous and is an act of bravery by everyone who serves.

A very wise person once quoted that all news is local, and even though the news of the 9/11 attacks on the east coast were far away and a long time ago, their effects resonate locally. Airport security standards, emergency personnel training, insurance rates and coverages, all have experienced reactions from the terrorists attacks that day.

So, this Friday night, if you are at a high school football game, without doubt, the home school will likely present some sort of 9/11 tribute and remembrance. When they do, please take a moment to vow that you too will never forget. Never forget that terrible day, and never forget the brave people both then and now who responded and continue to respond for the safety and welfare of us all.

And finally, we should never forget how blessed we are to live in this great nation. The day that saw us in a rare moment of unity, regardless of politics, united for just one cause…the protection of our great land.

Our great nation…we vow to never forget.

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RESIDENT NEWS NETWORK