Resident News Network

SR Lady Tigers Downplay LifeWay

Sports

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12:23 pm

The hype is always high after winning a State Championship, but over time that hype begins to fade. People start to question things because pieces of “that” Championship are different or missing. Some players graduate, some players are added, players are shuffled around, etc. For the Mansfield Lady Tigers volleyball team though, those questions no longer need to be applied as Mansfield defeated LifeWay Christian three sets to one on Tuesday, August 23rd in a 2021 State Championship rematch.

After a victory over Ozark last Tuesday, Mansfield was eager to step up to the nets again. The Lady Tigers jumped out of the gate quickly handing LifeWay a swift 25-18 whipping in the first set. But with volleyball, to win one doesn’t mean that you’re done. The Lady Warriors pulled together and battled even harder in the second set but were finally put down with a commanding spike by Mansfield freshman Kaylee Ward for a 25-23 Mansfield victory in the second set. With the ol’ one two punch handed to LifeWay, one would think the Lady Tigers would have LifeWay on the ropes begging for life support. But that was not the case.

The Lady Warriors took Mansfield by surprise in the third set of the night with a back and forth edge of the seat volleyball showcase for the ages. LifeWay had Mansfield down 10-15 early on until Alyson Edwards rolled up three straight points to build up some momentum for the Lady Tigers. Natalie Allison would tie the game at 18-18 as she charged the net aiming to drill the ball through the wooden floor only to possum the Lady Warriors and softly tap the ball into a LifeWay dead zone. The Lady Warriors would retake the lead only to have Kynslee Ward bring Mansfield back to tie again. Alyson Edwards would give the Lady Tigers their first lead in the set at 22-21 but LifeWay wouldn’t lay down. Back and forth the teams went making more ties than a Boyscout troop. From 22-21 to 22-22, 22-23, 23-23, 23-24 (you get the point) until the Lady Warriors ended the set with a 25-23 win over Mansfield.

Although Mansfield still had a two set to one lead on LifeWay, the lost set put the Lady Tigers in a place they hadn’t seen in a while. How would Mansfield handle losing such an exhausting hard-fought set? Simple. Like Champions. The Lady Tigers came out in the fourth set with their tails on fire and racked up eleven points before LifeWay even got on the board. The early charge forced LifeWay to call a timeout with the score set at 16-4 in Mansfield’s favor. If the Lady Warriors were looking to catch their breath, they would have to look harder as Seven Sanderson slammed the volleyball to the floor through double team right after the timeout. Kynslee Ward followed suit by knocking down back-to-back points and the Lady Tigers cruised from there with a 25-9 final score to the set and a three sets to one overall victory.

So is the hype legitimate? With a full season ahead of them, anything could still be in store for the Lady Tigers. That’s why the games are played. But when a defending Champion repeats success over their previous year’s State Finals opponent with authority, the hype can be hard to ignore. All Mansfield can do is take it one game at a time. That next game though will come sooner than later as the Lady Tigers will only get a day’s rest before going back into action as they welcome Founders Academy to the Jungle on Thursday, August 25th.

River Valley Regional Food Bank Joins Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month Campaign to Ensure Food Isn’t an Impossible Choice

Featured

Tammy Teague

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7:59 pm

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River Valley Regional Food Bank Joins Feeding America’s Hunger Action Month Campaign to Ensure Food Isn’t an Impossible Choice

For Hunger Action Month® this September, the River Valley Regional Food Bank will join Feeding America and other member food banks to inspire people to join the fight to end hunger and raise awareness of people experiencing food insecurity across the United States. Food banks around the country are working to make a real and lasting impact on hunger in their communities, and they are asking for the public’s support.

September marks the 15th year Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger-relief
organization with a nationwide network of 200 food banks, including the River Valley Regional
Food Bank, and 60,000 partner food pantries and meal programs, has organized the annual call
to action. This year’s campaign presents the impossible choices that millions of people in America are often forced to make between food and other basic needs.

“Many people may not give a daily meal much thought. For people facing hunger, a daily meal is
not as simple,” said Claire Babineaux-Fontenot, CEO of Feeding America. “Instead, it becomes
a different type of choice – an impossible decision between food or other crucial needs, such as
electricity, childcare, or medicine. Nobody should be forced to make a choice to go hungry. With
the public’s support, we can come together to help increase food access for all people, so they
no longer have to make such tough decisions.”

During the month of September, people across the River Valley can get involved by learning,
committing, and speaking up about ways to ending hunger.
• Make a monetary contribution, where $1 = 10 meals to a family in need
• Volunteer for a shift at the food bank
• Host a food drive

“We have all been HUNGRY at some point, but for many of our neighbors, hunger is an issue
that isn’t easily solved by going to your kitchen pantry and grabbing food,” River Valley Regional
Food Bank Director Tracy Engel said. “It is a daily struggle and worry of where your next meal
will come from and how you will attain it. They wake up hungry and they plan their day on just
how to survive.”

Hunger Action Month is a time for everyone across the country to collectively act against
hunger. You can choose to donate or advocate. You can choose to volunteer or raise
awareness. You can choose to help end hunger. Learn more about how you can join the fight to
end hunger by visiting https://www.rvrfoodbank.org/hunger-action-month/

Charleston Opens 2022 Season with Hard-Fought Loss to Class 5A Alma

Resident News Network

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6:29 pm

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Charleston Opens 2022 Season with Hard-Fought Loss to Class 5A Alma

Note to Our Readers: RNN Sports introduces our first student intern writer, Ms. Amalyn Aloon of Charleston High School. Amalyn is a senior at Charleston and will be our student reporter following the Lady Tigers volleyball team this fall! We are excited to have Amalyn as part of our staff, and this story is her very first! We are so proud of the great job she did with this story, and we look forward to her reporting this year! Great job Amalyn! We are proud of you!

CHARLESTON (Amalyn Aloon)

The Lady Tigers started their season facing off against the Alma Airedales. Junior Jenna Womack hustled and worked hard for every ball. Womack plays the libero position and is a great team player, encouraging her fellow teammates and showing enthusiasm throughout the entire game. The Tigers unfortunately took their first loss of the season tonight. However, they did not go down without a fight. These girls pushed for every point all the way up to the final score of 26-28 in the third set.

The crowd was getting excited as the two teams fought back and forth for that final score. The lady tigers really showed teamwork tonight. To these girls it’s not just about winning, it’s about the dedication and hard work put into the game. In the words of new Assistant Coach Tanner Gilliaum “The girls worked really hard tonight and they showed up. That’s all that I can ask. It was a really good start to the season. I don’t want to be the best one out there in the beginning and that’s where we are right now, a work in progress and there’s more to come.” We are all extremely proud of the Lady Tigers and can’t wait to see what they have in store for us this season!

The Lady Tigers travel to Pottsville today to take on the Lady Apaches from Class 4A. Good luck to the Lady Tigers!

And if you have not yet subscribed to Logan County’s newest weekly print newspaper that has Charleston sports as part of its coverage area, you can do so by going to residentnewsnetwork.com and clicking on the subscription link.

Thanks to our Charleston fans for reading RNN Sports!

Stinson Appointed to Scott County Quorum Court

Tammy Teague

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8:37 pm

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Stinson Appointed to Scott County Quorum Court

On August 16, 2022, Lance Stinson was appointed by the governor as Scott County Justice of the Peace, District 8.

Stinson accepted the appointment to fill the vacancy left following the passing of quorum court member, Donnie Hill. That appointed term will expire on December 31, 2022.

“First of all, I would like to send my condolences to the Hill family. I am sorry for their loss,” shared Stinson. “Although it was an unfortunate vacancy, I feel honored to receive the governor’s appointment to fill the seat of the District 8 JP position. I look forward to the opportunity to serve our community, and to be a part of Scott County’s growth and success.”

On Monday, August 22, Stinson took the oath of office.

Paris American Legion Field of Heroes

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Tammy Teague

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8:23 pm

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American Legion Post 121 of Paris is offering an opportunity to honor our heroes with their annual “Field of Heroes” beginning September 16, 2022 and continuing through Veterans’ Day on November 11, 2022. The flags will be on display next to Express Rx Pharmacy on Walnut in Paris. Orders for the flags will be taken through November 11, 2022.

Flags may be purchased in honor of or in memory of active duty or retired or deceased military from any of the services, as well as law enforcement officers, firemen, wildlife officers, and any other first responder, all of whom are considered under the banner of “HEROES”.

The cost of the flags will be $40.00 each and will include a card with an emblem indicating the service of the hero as well as a ribbon indicating the status of the hero (active duty, retired, deceased, etc.). Information not on the form may be submitted on a separate sheet of paper attached to the order form. This may include any special medals received, wars served in, rank, POW or MIA, or any other information that you want to include about the hero.

You may honor several people on one flag by including $4.00 for each additional name. The flag will be folded and given to the sponsor after Veterans’ Day. You may have the flag sent to you for an additional $8.00.

To purchase a flag, send a check for $40.00 (plus $4.00 for each additional name, ribbon, and certificate) payable to FOH Legion Post 121 to PO Box 244, Paris, AR 72855. Please be sure to include a valid phone number in case we need to contact you.

Profits from the “Field of Heroes” project will assist the support of our local Post and community. You may contact Steve Shepherd at 479-934-4386 or 870-662-0485 or Randall Zimmer at 479-438-0029.

Underclassmen Stepping Up For Paris Volleyball as 2022 Season Starts Tuesday

Resident News Network

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1:03 am

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Underclassmen Stepping Up For Paris Volleyball as 2022 Season Starts Tuesday

To many observers close to the Paris volleyball program, the Lady Eagles entered last winter and the spring with several question marks going into the 2022 season. As a team that faced a heavy number of graduating seniors, virtually every position on the team was “up for grabs” and players had the opportunity to compete in practices and summer camps for open positions. From the coaches’ standpoints, it was a matter of which underclassmen and others who did not receive much or any playing time last year would step up to fill big roles for the Lady Eagles this season.

After following Paris throughout the summer and watching them compete against some of the best programs in the state at all classification levels, it is phenomenal in my opinion how much progress this team has made since June. And the one aspect that fans will notice immediately when the season opens is how cohesive this team is; their happy personalities and positive attitudes, and the number of inexperienced players that have stepped up and are playing good volleyball. It is a joy to watch this Lady Eagles team. They all seem to enjoy and have fun playing the sport, and they are a tight group that works hard and displays great teamwork every time out.

One of the unsung heroes of last year’s state championship team was J.C. Hart. Hart, who played most of her career on the front line, was asked to move to the setter position to fill a crucial need. The team was deep on the front line, and the Lady Eagles could afford to move Hart to the setter position, while still having her to fill in on the front line if needed. Hart’s graduation left the setter position open again this year, and one of the biggest question marks going into this season was who was going to step up and play this important position that has a direct impact on the front line.

Paris junior Abbigail Walker has answered the call for the Lady Eagles. Walker, along with a host of sophomores and juniors playing on the team have filled crucial gaps left open by graduation from a year ago.

And anyone who has watched Paris play over the past few weeks has undoubtedly noticed that Paris is flying to the ball on the return / receive, is serving the ball well, and has played magnificently backing up the front line, as was evidenced in the Little Rock Christian match on Saturday. In short, the Lady Eagles are not letting anything hit the ground, and the combination of Walker and the front line are setting up great kills at the net for Paris.

Paris coach Jordan Devine has done, in my opinion, perhaps her best coaching job so far this season. Any coach who loses as many key players as Devine did from a state title team a year ago, and then, in very short time, brings the program back to the level that it is today, deserves a lot of credit and recognition. In fact the entire Paris coaching staff, who unselfishly stays late after practices, as long as an hour or more, to help players develop skills, is dedicated to winning and putting each player in a position to succeed. That is truly impressive.

So all of the preseason prep is over now, and staring tomorrow, it is the first game week of the new season. Paris will open at home this week when they host Russellville on Tuesday and Pulaski Academy on Thursday. And in the “way too early to count the days to Hackett” countdown, the Lady Eagles will travel to Hackett just after the Labor Day holiday to play the season’s first match-up with the team that many have predicted will win this year’s Class 3A state title. But for now, it is one game at a time for the young Lady Eagles, and the first game up is Tuesday with Russellville.

Paris fans, this will be a fun team to follow this year. Come out Tuesday and fill the gym to get the season off to a soaring start! RNN Sports will be there on Tuesday and throughout the season to bring you Paris Lady Eagles volleyball.

Good luck to Paris and all of the River Valley volleyball teams this season! And if you have not already subscribed, do so today! You will not want to miss a week of coverage. Just go to residentnewsnetwork.com and click on the subscription link!

Obituary – Dana J. Magill (1971-2022)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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4:47 pm

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Dana J. Magill of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life, Tuesday, August 16, 2022 in Ft. Smith, Arkansas surrounded by her loving family. Dana was born November 19, 1971 in Ventura, California to Ronald G. Sasse and Jo Ann (Sales) Farley. She was 50 years old.

Dana was married to the love of her life Ted for 30 years. Together they raised their children and enjoyed life as grandparents. She was always up for camping and fishing. Dana’s favorite pastime was going to concerts of any kind. While Dana enjoyed many things including cooking, her true passion was taking care of her family and being surrounded by those she loved and being a Gammy. Her bond with each family member was unique and special in it’s own way.

Dana leaves behind to cherish her memory, her devoted husband, Ted Magill of the home, one daughter, Tandra Jewell and husband Archie, three sons: Tyler Magill, Devin Magill and Gage Nichols as well as her parents, JoAnn Farley of Waldron, Arkansas and Ron Sasse of Mulberry, Arkansas and siblings: Redonna Stafford and husband Gary and Kenny Lynch and wife Nancy all of Waldron, Arkansas. Gammy will forever remain in the hearts of her grandchildren, Adasha and Elijah. Dana will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host of extended family and friends dear to her heart.

Dana’s graveside life celebration will be 10:00 a.m, Saturday, August 20, 2022 at the Pleasant Grove #3 Cemetery near Waldron with Rev. Konnor McKay officiating. Interment will follow. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Dana’s visitation will be Friday, August 19, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas.

Paris Perfect at Preview Party

Resident News Network

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11:15 pm

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The Paris Lady Eagles faced five teams from last year’s state volleyball tournament in a series of five, one-set, exhibition matches as the final preseason match-ups for the 2022 season. On the day, Paris faced Atkins, Walnut Ridge, Little Rock Episcopal, Hoxie, and Little Rock Christian. And when the day was over, Paris had defeated all five schools in their one-set matches.

The young Paris Lady Eagles continue to make great progress each week and will now get ready to host the Russellville Lady Cyclones at Paris Gymnasium on Tuesday, August 23.

RNN Sports will have a recap of the day’s events tomorrow night on its online platform at residentnewsnetwork.com . Readers will be able to access this story free of charge.

And watch for photos from the day on Monday night on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports!

Congratulations to the young Lady Eagles on a great day at the AAA’s Preview Party!

Timepiece: Arbuckle Island

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Tammy Teague

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4:08 am

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By Dr. Curtis Varnell

Wandering north of Lavaca on highway 96, I observed the sign directing toward Arbuckle Island. The name at once conjured up images of John Wayne, Indian raids, and wagon trains. Arbuckle was the man referred to when the military was needed to ride to the rescue of settlers, put down rebellions, or escort wagon trains headed to the gold field.

General Matthew Arbuckle was a career soldier and the son of a Revolutionary War hero by the same name. Born in 1778, he entered the military at an early age and is said to have been present with Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans. By the early 1820’s, he became commanding officer at Fort Smith and was in charge of maintaining peace between the natives and the settlers who were flooding into Arkansas. Deciding it would be easier to do his job further west, he established Fort Gibson and Fort Towson in Oklahoma Territory.

Arbuckle’s job not only included maintaining peace in the region but also in establishing roads and assisting wagon trains as they traveled to Santa Fe and later to the California gold rush. Locally, the military road that runs from Ft. Gibson, through Fort Smith and on to Dardanelle and Little Rock was built under his direction and with the assistance of his troops. For more than thirty years, he was the controlling military force on the frontier. For his service, he was awarded twenty thousand acres of land in Arkansas, most of it in Sebastian County. Arbuckle island comprised a large portion of that property. The family, Arbuckle never married but had numerous nephews and nieces, constructed a large two-story clapboard house, a slave quarters, and a cook house on what was known as the Arbuckle Plantation. The Crawford County courthouse, later moved to Van Buren, stood nearby. Many famous people, on their way westward, was said to have spent the night on the island.

Upon Arbuckle’s death in 1852, he was buried on the island and the property was shared between relatives and later sold and divided into several independent farms. By 1925, there were 75 homes, a school, a store, and several other businesses on the island. Rich farm land produced abundant produce and cotton. Picnics and events held on the island drew hundreds of people from communities in the area.

The problem with living on the island was the persistent flooding that occurred as the water levels of the river rose and subsided. One could reach the island by crossing a bridge on the east end or by catching a ferry to Mulberry or Dyer. When river levels rose to high, the slough under the bridge covered the road and made travel impossible. In 1916, the Arkansas river topped out at over ten foot above the flood stage. A big part of the island was inundated with water and boats had to evacuate the residents. Sand covered much of the land. Those that returned faced additional floods in 1923, 1926, and 1927. In 1926, the river cut a new channel through the middle of the island and left huge cliffs on the north side of the island. The eventual final nail in the coffin occurred in 1943 when the island was completely flooded and everything except a few foundations were destroyed.

Today, little is left on the island and much of the land is controlled by the Corps of Engineers. Former residents and family return to the cemetery on Decoration Days and recall the lives and times they once enjoyed. General Arbuckle, one of the most colorful and famous residents of Arkansas, resides, virtually unknown, under a nearby monument.

New Book Being Compiled on the “True Grit” Trail

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Tammy Teague

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3:18 am

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New Book Being Compiled on the “True Grit” Trail

The Yell County Historical Society in Dardanelle is sponsoring a new coffee-table book that will document the popular True Grit Trail along AR 22 between Dardanelle and Fort Smith.

The forthcoming book will feature spectacular new photography of the scenic beauty along the trail and historic sites. It will also serve as a practical guide to the trail for tourists.

Paying tribute to the 1968 novel, the original film production starring John Wayne, and the 2010 remake, The Trail represents the path fictional character, Mattie Ross, might have taken in “True Grit.”

Tom Shay and Bob Gray, creators of the True Grit Trail concept and program, have wanted a book like this for years fully documenting the scenic wonders along the historic highway.

Acclaim Press of Sikeston, Missouri, will be publishing the book, which will be available nationwide upon its release.

(photo credit: Arkansas.com)

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