It was a last minute add to the summer schedule, new Paris coach Jonathan Vire has taken advantage of every opportunity this summer to give his new team plenty of practice and conditioning this summer. The latest was a last-minute addition that invited Lavaca and Dover to Paris for one last camp before the start of volleyball season and the beginning of the new school year. It is just a fact in Class 3A, especially in those 3A schools that play volleyball in the fall. But on last Monday night, the Lady Eagles basketball team took their shots against two good programs in the warm Paris Gymnasium.
All of the schools participating in the camp had players missing for various reasons. The travel ball circuit is winding down, and some players have family vacations right before the school year begins. So, it is difficult to gauge the progress of the teams. But one thing is for certain, the new Paris coach is working hard and giving the program every chance it has to improve in the upcoming season.
The Lady Eagles have a long way to go, but this is a talented and hard-working team that will improve once it has all of its players together and can begin to work together in preparation for the 2022-23 season.
Cedarville football doesn’t have a rich history of gridiron dominance. The Pirates struggled to rack up the W’s for a decade as they went without a winning record from 2008 through 2018. Therefore when those outside the Cedarville football program hear “Pirates Football”, they tend to just move on to another subject. But to some unbiased followers of high school football, the blue and gold Jolly Roger flag at Pirates Cove seems to be rising higher and higher up the mast.
If you’ve kept up with the upward trend of Cedarville’s recent W-L records, you’ll see why there’s a hype being built around the Pirates program. Since 2019, Cedarville has improved each season by one game in the 3A-1 conference. A 3 win season in 2019 was bumped up to 4 wins in 2020 followed up by a school best 5 wins in 2021. The Pirates overall record has eeked up by one win each season since 2016 as well. There’s been no plateau or downfall, they’ve only gone up. The Pirates aren’t merely aiming to get better though, they’re cannons are sighted in for the 3A-1 conference championship. Even perineal powerhouse, Charleston, has found themselves in the Pirates crosshairs over the past few years as the Tigers and Pirates have had some epic showdowns recently. Though Charleston has won those close contests, the Pirates still made it clear that they’re not a pushover anymore.
So where did this sudden Pirate push come from? Well, it all starts at the top with the head coach, Max Washausen. Washausen has done nothing but make the Pirates better in his six-year tenure at Cedarville. Being a charismatic players coach, Washausen has got the young men in Cedarville walking with their chins up and chests out. “We are building a football program where the kids believe they can win,” said Washausen. “They understand that they have to work hard to be successful and to earn the respect of every program they face. We’ve got some great young men this year who not only think they can win, they expect it. That’s something every coach wants to see in their program”. Although the coaching staff, players, and the entire Cedarville community believes in the program, most preseason polls still have the Pirates finishing towards the bottom of the conference this upcoming season. That’s not a knock on Cedarville either. It’s a fact that the Pirates lost quite a few heavily talented seniors to the 2021 graduation. Losing that much can push the reset button for most teams and the votes reflect that. Knock or not though, Cedarville is definitely planning on using those polls as tackling fuel for 2022.
To make sure Cedarville’s players don’t go soft with their recent success, Washausen has pitted the Pirates against some extreme competition throughout the summer. “We started the summer by hosting a team camp against Westville, Stilwell, and Muldrow. Then we followed that up with 7 on 7’s at Siloam Springs with 4A teams such as Gravette and Gentry. Most recently we attended a camp at Mena with Mount Ida, Hackett, Mena, and Mansfield. We scrimmaged against a lot of schools with larger classifications throughout the summer and held our own quite well”. That kind of hard work against larger programs could be demoralizing for teams who don’t have solid leadership at all levels. As already proven, Cedarville has good leadership at the coaching level. The player leadership is what’s putting extra wind in the Pirates sails. Whether it be in the weight room, 7 on 7’s, hot summer practices, or studying film, the Pirates are eager to show up and get better. “Our summer workout attendance has been great,” said Washausen.
Although the Pirates are growing by leaps and bounds, they still have to play in one of the toughest conferences in the 3A. The 3A-1 is usually headlined by the Charleston Tigers, but with this past springs AAA realignment, the conference will see the Booneville Bearcats enter an already loaded 3A-1 lineup. Booneville and Charleston may be the preseason favorites to win the conference title, but Cedarville isn’t alone in their race to the top with those two teams. West Fork, Greenland, Lavaca, Hackett, and Mansfield join the Pirates in showing extensive summer improvements also to vie for the conference title. 2022 could very well be anyone’s for the taking, but Cedarville isn’t concerned about everyone else right now. They’re too busy getting bigger, stronger, and smarter while continuing to build confidence in the program. The Pirates will light the first fuse of the 2022 season on August 16th against the Quitman Bulldogs.
Hello, everyone! I had the best birthday, I felt so loved and received so many nice gifts. I ate out three times. Ya’ll made turning 59 not so bad. I told Jacob last night there is only one thing that could make my birthday better and that would be if Loren was pregnant. He said, maybe next year. There is hope. Turning 60 may be the big one. My husband would say now you’re actually in your 60th year of life. That being said, I’ve decided to make some decisions for the 60th year of life. Sort of like I do on New Year’s Eve.
The first one is I’m going to lose weight. (Not going to happen but I like saying it.)
The second one is I’m going to try to visit friends and family more (My family is saying “ugg” right now as they read this.) Since losing my oldest brother Jerry, I feel like I need to be with family more.
The third one is I’m going to fly by the seat of my pants more. If someone wants to go do something, I’m going. No excuses, just grab my purse and head out the door.
The fourth one is to get organized. (Not going to happen but I like saying that, too.)
The fifth one is to make the three E’s have a family game night once a week. Ella would be jumping with excitement. The other two, not so much.
The sixth one is to do more good deeds. That’s a start. I will let ya know of my progress.
Speaking of good deeds, one Saturday night when I was young and running around I saw this guy that I knew and he was walking. He had one crossed eye. That doesn’t have anything to do with the story, but thought I would throw that in. So being my nice self, I stopped and asked if he needed a ride. He hops in and before I knew what was happening, he was hanging out my passenger car window and at the top of his lungs, making siren sounds like a police car. What in the world have I got myself into? Needless to say, I was trying to get him to his destination and I admit it went a lot faster with a police siren coming from my vehicle. I never gave that guy another ride. It’s funny now, but I was about to croak.
I think about things that I have done and most of the time it was not my doing. I can remember when I was a teenager a couple was hitchhiking by our house on 71 Highway and of course, my mom ends up talking to them. Before it was over I was driving them to Waldron. Honey, they could have knocked me in the head or something, geez, mom.
Chuck Hopkins stopped and asked a guy in Little Rock for directions and the guy jumped in the truck. Chuck was looking for the Clinton Library. Obviously, the guy didn’t know where it was and had Chuck going in circles. Well, finally Chuck had to pay him to get out of his truck. It’s a miracle we are alive. The good Lord watches over us.
This week’s recipe comes from Sue Moore. Nothing I like better than a good German Chocolate Cake.
GRANDMA’S GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE 4 oz. or 1/4 pound package German’s Sweet Chocolate (you can get this at Walmart) 1/2 cup water 1 3/4 cups sugar 1 cup butter softened 4 eggs 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon baking soda 1 cup buttermilk 1 teaspoon vanilla Melt the chocolate and water on top of the stove and let cool. Cream butter, sugar, and eggs. Beat well. Add cooled chocolate and water. Add flour, salt, soda, buttermilk, and vanilla. Mix well. You can make this in three 9” round cake pans in a preheated 350-degree oven for 30-35 minutes. I would check it before then because my oven cooks faster than some. Add the icing below on top and between layers. COCONUT PECAN FROSTING 1 cup sugar 1 cup evaporated milk 1/2 cup butter 3 eggs 1 1/2 to 2 cups shredded coconut 1 cup chopped pecans 1 teaspoon vanilla Beat eggs and add milk, sugar, and butter. Cook on medium heat for about 12 minutes until it bubbles and begins to thicken. Stir constantly because it can burn easily. Remove from heat and add nuts, coconut, and vanilla. Mix well and let cool. Spread on top of cooled cake.
It’s a milestone worthy of celebration, a 102nd birthday. The staff and residents at Dalton’s Place in Waldron joined Ruth Taylor and her family on Wednesday, July 27 to honor her.
Ruth Taylor was born July 27, 1920, in Cecil Arkansas. As a teenager, she worked as a seamstress to help support her family. As the oldest of eight children, Taylor did a lot of babysitting in her lifetime. At the age of 20, she married Carl Taylor. After Carl returned from the military, the couple would relocate from Ozark to Fort Smith. The couple had four wonderful children, Joyce, Carl Wayne, Lynn, and Randy.
Ruth Taylor
Ruth Taylor now enjoys extended family, including several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren.
As a stay-at-home mom, Taylor stayed busy juggling the needs of a family of six. She sewed for the public from her kitchen. The same kitchen where visitors always found biscuits and sausage, cornbread, cookies, and many other snacks.
Her sewing talents have yielded beautiful quilts, clothes for her children and even her daughter’s wedding dress. After her children were grown, she served her favorite charity, Stepping Stones, which helps special needs children. She made crib quilts and little vests with big buttons so children could learn to button their clothes, and cuddly stuffed animals for them to hug.
Taylor joined the Dalton’s Place family in February of 2017. She has touched so many lives throughout her time at Dalton’s. According to Dalton’s Place Administrator Amenda Naylor, Taylor immediately became Grandma to all staff and residents. “You can’t help but smile when she walks in the room. She has touched many lives at Dalton’s Place and we are truly grateful for the advice and funny stories she shares with everyone. Her optimistic outlook on life is so refreshing in a time like today. If every living creature could spend 30 minutes with Grandma Ruth, the world would finally accomplish world peace!”
Taylor’s family credited her successful and long life to activity, well-balanced meals, and the correct medication she receives at Dalton’s Place.
When asked about her secret to a long life, Grandma Taylor shared, ” It wasn’t me, it was the good Lord. I tell God every day that I’m his child and you take care of me.”
She went on to add that she always ate her vegetables from her beloved annual garden. “She was also always active doing something anywhere from gardening and canning to fishing and camping, along with sewing for the community,” continued Naylor. “She even stayed active as she got older. “She would walk, did a lot of church activities, and always keeps a good attitude for life, even during the challenging times. Grandma is just happy to be doing as good as she is and has no complaints. Grandma Ruth’s one wish for her birthday was to see her family, and that she did!”
We join all of Ruth Taylor’s family and friends in wishing her very happy birthday!
Do you struggle to stay on budget with your groceries? Are you meal planning?
If you aren’t meal planning, well that’s a great place to start. But if you are, and you still are struggling because of food prices, it could be time to take a look at your meal planning method. Start at your house, look in you fridge, freezer, pantry, cabinets, fruit cellar, wherever you have food!
Now is the time to make a master list if you find you are wasting food you bought, or if you have an overwhelming amount stored. If you’re like me and don’t have too much stored, it’s probably okay to just make mental notes and write out your dinners.
Once you know what you have, you can search allrecipes.com with ingredients you have on hand and find recipes to fit. Using what you have on hand can leave room in your budget to now go shop sales. Pull up the ad for where you are shopping, this doesn’t work at Walmart really, but many other stores have rotating weekly or biweekly sales. By restocking from sales, you are creating a system that allows you to hopefully stay on budget!
Walmart doesn’t have sales, but it does have a few things that are generally a pretty good price. If you are thinking well I have to go grocery shopping because I have no food storage, these are items that Walmart is going to have decent deals on even right now. Chicken leg quarters (found in the Walmart app for .82/lb!), pork loin roast (avg $2.47/lb), rolls of sausage (avg $2.32/lb), oatmeal (avg 9.5 cents/oz), frozen veggies ($1/12oz).
Check the meat sections for yellow tags- yellow tags are on meats close to their sale by date, overstocked meat, or meat that doesn’t look as fresh as others. Yellow tag meat is safe. Pay attention to use buy dates and cook up or freeze before. Check the clearance end caps, and look for bakery markdowns to stretch your budget.
Even with 2022 prices, there is some hope for your grocery budget.
Mansfield Lady Tigers Trinity Triska, Jadelynn Wood, and Laney Wood prefer to run the cooler hallways for cross country practice.
Mansfield freshman Joseph Carter didn’t complicate matters when asked how he was dealing with the summer heat. One of the returning runners for the Mansfield Tiger cross country team explained it about as simply as it gets.
“I drink plenty of water and take my rest,” offered Carter. “By the day, I feel like I’m getting stronger and more acclimated. Definitely feeling more confident.”
Carter’s even-tempered answer proved powerful in its message. Mansfield distance runners and its other sports athletes have navigated the hottest summer in years. To know the warning signs of heat illness and practice preventive measures shows a maturity level in the freshman’s thinking.
Freshman Joseph Carter does his after practice stretch routine.
You might say that Carter, who juggles morning pre-season football training with evening distance race conditioning, has a pretty deep awareness of what’s going on in the high heat arenas of both sports.
The Mansfield cross country runners and their coach in particular have been watching the thermometer rather close in recent weeks. Soaring temperatures have wreaked havoc with the usual pre-season training prompting the team to make adjustments. The group has adapted and even gotten a little creative with their practice plans.
Mansfield newcomer Abby Smith takes a break after running on the treadmill as part of her cross country workout.
“Other than running in the dark before the sun comes up or goes down,” started Mansfield coach John Mackey. “We’ve been using the treadmills inside or dodging desks left in the high school hallways due to summer custodial work. I’m fairly sure not many teenagers are willing to get up at 5 AM during the summer to run. We’ve had to find some conditioned air around campus to get much training done.”
“It’s a little cooler around 8:00 at night when we get done with indoor warm up,” continued the coach. “Even then, we’ve really limited any outdoor time. We’ve been paying attention to heat protocols.”
Senior Jadelynn Wood, an All-Star runner and the MHS track player of the year last season, gave her take on the hot weather workouts.
Some of the MHS runners take a water break from one particularly hot distance race practice.
“I feel like the heat has set me back,” said Wood. “It’s hard to get up in the morning. Hard to find a cool part of the day. But, I’m starting to bounce back.”
Wood, who has taken on a stronger leadership role within the team, has been adamant about making her senior season memorable despite the weather conditions.
“I really hope I make an impact on the little ones,” expressed Wood. “I want to make it more fun for everyone in general. It’s the beginning of the end for me. I miss my old team. They were really like sisters. But, I’m excited for the new season and to step up to be a leader no matter the conditions.”
Mansfield opened pre-season conditioning as a team in early July. The mandatory Arkansas Activities Association dead period left veteran runners to do individual training away from campus prior to that.
Hot weather immediately greeted the returning players. With it, true convictions of even the most dedicated distance runners were tested.
“It really takes some strong minded players to put on those shoes and prepare under these types of conditions,” sympathized Mackey. “The ones that prepared on their own are adjusting rather quickly. The new ones are realizing we try to take care of them and monitor their progress.”
First year junior girl runner Abby Smith has taken the elements in stride.
“I already see a lot of progress,” said the seventh grade rookie. “On the first day, I couldn’t last a mile even in inside with the cooler hallways. By the second week, I was able to do a mile on the treadmill in a little over six minutes.”
Smith, like Carter, has been excited to participate in a multitude of activities. With her first opportunity to enjoy school sports, the new Lady Tiger athlete has already joined the middle school volleyball team, cheer squad, and cross country team.
Smith’s newest coach recognized the level of commitment displayed so far by the seventh grader.
“Abby came straight off the summer softball circuit and joined our running club along with other sports,” explained Mackey. “In the early stages, she’s showing up as quite the little athlete. I see real potential. She’s also a heck of a recruiter. It seems like she brings a buddy to come join the fun nearly every day.”
So far, as the summer has dwindled towards the inevitable start of school, players like Smith have been enjoying the early experiences despite the conditions.
“I want to do as many sports this year as possible,” smiled Smith. “Today, I did volleyball, cheer, and cross country. I want to develop muscle and get in shape.”
According to the coach, Mansfield runners will continue to work from the high school storm shelter during the summer heat wave. Practices began at 7 PM on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. New players are encouraged to join. Sports physicals are required.
When many people hear the words “estate planning,” they assume it’s just for the wealthy. But that’s not the casebecause everyone can benefit from an estate plan. And when you’re creating one, you’ll want to avoid some common mistakes.
Before we look at those mistakes, let’s go over what estate planning is designed to accomplish. Essentially, an estate plan allows you to pass on your assets in the way you desire. But it can also specify other actions, such as naming someone to care for your minor children if you were no longer around. In creating an estate plan, several key documents are involved, including a will, a trust, a financial power of attorney and a medical power of attorney or a health care directive.
Now, let’s consider a few estate-planning mistakes:
• Not communicating your plans. You’ll need to inform your family about whom you’ve chosen as executor – the individual who will administer your estate – and whom you’ve named as the trustee – the person who will manage your trust’s assets. (You can also choose a trust company to handle this duty.) And to help avoid unpleasant surprises when your estate is being settled, consider letting your children or other close relatives know who will be receiving what.
• Not reviewing your plans periodically – Once you create your estate plans, don’t forget about them. Over time, your personal situation may change – you may experience a remarriage or bring in new children. Your interests may change, too – perhaps you’ll become deeply involved in supporting a favorite charitable organization. Given these and other potential changes, you’ll want to review your estate plans once in a while to see if they need to be modified.
• Not updating beneficiary designations – Every so often, you may want to review the beneficiary designations on your life insurance policies, investment accounts and retirement assets. As mentioned, changes in your life, such as remarriage and the addition of new children, may affect yourbeneficiaries. Beneficiary designations are powerful and can even supersede your will, so you’ll want to update them as needed. Also, if you have a 529 education savings plan, you’ll want to name a successor owner – someone who can take over your 529 if you were to pass away.
• Not re-registering assets placed in a trust – A living trust offers you many potential benefits, such as the ability to bypass the time-consuming and highly public process of probate when it’s time to settle your estate. However, just establishing the trust, by itself,
may be insufficient – you likely also need to re-register assets, such as your investments, so they are officially owned by the trust, not by you. This is essential for the trust to work as you intended.
Here’s one other mistake – not getting the help you need. Estate planning can be complex, so you’ll want to work with an attorney, and possibly with your financial advisor and tax professional, too.
By avoiding key mistakes and working with a qualified team of professionals, you can create and maintain an estate plan that will help you leave the legacy you desire.
This article is provided by Jeffrey O’Neal, Financial Advisor
Apartment life comes with its struggles, from decreased space to loud neighbors. On top of that, sometimes the oven, fridge, or sink gets damaged or malfunctions from constant use. These problems need resolutions quickly to avoid steep costs or issues with the rest of the apartment. These tips will help you find a solution.
Cleaning the Bottom of the Toaster
After a while, the toaster will have traces of crumbs left behind by toast or other cooked items. The toaster may start to release a burnt smell from the crumbs burning or making contact with the coils.
Some toasters have features that clear the crumbs from the bottom, but for those that don’t have a removable tray, you’ll need to clean it yourself. Simply unplug the toaster and use a damp cloth with water or vinegar to wipe away crumbs. Then, wait for it to dry before plugging it in.
Replace the Gasket on the Refrigerator Door
A refrigerator is a standard appliance in your apartment that needs maintenance. Every refrigerator has a gasket seal that keeps the cold air in to preserve temperature-sensitive foods. Over time, the rubber of the gasket loses its strength and may become brittle. When this happens, you will need to replace the gasket with a new one.
The gasket is normally held in place by hex-shaped bolts that need loosening to release the gasket. Soak the new gasket in warm water before installing it to make the rubber more flexible. Replace the gasket by placing it behind the metal retainer in the refrigerator door and securing it with the bolts. Use a fingertip of petroleum jelly to line the gasket to make it less difficult to open the refrigerator.
Changing the AC Filter
When you move into a new apartment, the air conditioner is one of the first appliances to check. Your AC is a vital appliance in the summer months, and it needs maintenance to keep you cool. The AC filter keeps dust and dirt out of the air but accumulates particles over time and loses its ability to produce clean air.
You’ll need to locate the filter to change it. The filter isn’t always in the same location, so you may need to explore. Make sure you check the condition of the old filter to see if it is reusable. If it has too many contaminates, dispose of it and get a new one.
Apartment maintenance takes consistent work, and you’ll need the right tools for the job. Each appliance has its own needs, and with the necessary knowledge, you will handle it.
Regardless of the manipulations I attempted, the cell phone refused to work. In a virtual panic, I wondered how I would find my way to an unfamiliar place, call for help if I broke down, or even find a place to eat. A few moments of reflection allowed me to calm down and even laugh at my worries. As a child, no one had a mobile phone and few even had the old dial phones that now serve as antiques. We shared a party line with four other families. For those unfamiliar with that, all of us could (and many did) listen in on every conversation conducted in the neighborhood. To make a call, you had to wait your turn and, if you wanted long distance which was often only a dozen miles from your home, you had to go through an operator.
So many changes in so short a time!!! As a child, going out meant possibly a one time a week travel to the county seat. Shopping was done by visiting many stores along main street; each catering to a particular need. We had OTASCO and Western Auto for hardware and general supplies, Sterling’s and Ben Franklins for general household and family needs, and then various family-owned stores for groceries, clothing, and shoes. Real entertainment might involve spending a quarter at the local theater or stopping for a hamburger at a mom and pop diner.
Sundays were church days and, whether you attended church or not, they were observed as days of rest. Blue Sunday laws passed by the state resulted in restaurants, stores, and business being closed. Alcohol, plentiful during the week, was not available on Sundays anywhere and was not sold at any time in restaurants or stores.
At school, dress codes were strictly enforced. Girls were required dresses until I was in high school. Due to the influx of the mini skirt, schools decided it might be more modest to simply allow girls to wear pants suits but the blouse had to be long enough to be grasped in the hand while the arm was fully extended. On the other hand, we often brought our guns to school to redo the stocks and to blue the barrels. Enforcement of rules, more often than not, resulted in getting three licks on the backside with a wooden paddle.
On a recent visit to my brother’s home in Oklahoma, he noted that five years ago his small hometown had two taverns. Today, it has no tavern’s but five medical marijuana stores. Growing up during the “hippie” generation, that was unheard of. Grown illegally throughout Western Arkansas, the local police spent hours and hours locating it and arresting the felons; many whom spent years in jail. One of the funnier stories of my childhood involved a relative raising pot illegally in his garden between rows of corn. His elderly but kind-hearted neighbor thought Jack was raising tomatoes. Visiting in the local store, he exclaimed, “that Jack is a good guy but he can’t raise a garden at all. He has tomato plants six feet tall and nary a tomato on them. I felt sorry for him and took him a peck over this morning.”
A few other observations: Schools and Boys Clubs did not play sports on Wednesday night, speed limits were 60 mph., television consisted of two channels, and downtown areas were alive.
I am not sure if I own a cell phone or if it owns me but it’s still not cooperating. Reflection has reminded me that change, whether we view them as positive or negative, is inevitable and we will survive.
Is your kitchen feeling drab, and you want to take it to fab? Modernizing your kitchen is the easiest way to add value to your home. If you don’t have a lot of money or aren’t ready to commit to a complete renovation, there are ways to give your kitchen new life.
Update Your Kitchen Appliances
Yes, this is a costly idea, but it will modernize your kitchen in monumental ways. It may not be in the budget to update the stove or refrigerator at the moment, and that’s okay. Stick to the less costly items and save up for the more expensive ones.
Upgrading your sinks and faucets will instantly modernize your kitchen space. There are touchless faucets and different finishes and styles. Do you want a deep sink, a divided sink, or a single large sink? Find a tap and sink that work with your lifestyle.
Switch Out Your Hardware
Cabinet trends change from year to year, and switching out your kitchen cabinetry hardware is a simple and innovative way to transform your kitchen. You’ll freshen up your space without breaking a sweat.
Kitchen hardware is a cheap way to add pizazz to the space. There are plenty of styles, designs, and finishes on the market. If you have older kitchen cabinets, your hardware is probably the same age. There are plenty of benefits of updating the knobs and pulls.
If your cabinets aren’t in great shape, consider replacing them. You can’t go wrong with any updates made in the kitchen. It’s an easy way to add value to your home.
Line Cabinets With Scented Contact Paper
Are you tired of looking into the same kitchen cabinets but don’t have the time to paint them or the money to update them? Contact paper is an excellent way to brighten a space without blowing the budget.
Many modern designs are available, and some are even scented to keep your kitchen smelling delightful. Plus, if you get tired of the style, there’s no need to feel bad because it’s easy and budget-friendly to change.
As you can see, it doesn’t cost much money to transform your kitchen. Innovative ideas will make the space feel brand new.
