There’s never a wrong time to have a picnic. With many different foods, there’s a picnic option for everyone, especially if it’s sweet! As much as you love sugary drinks and tasty foods, there are things to avoid taking with you next time. You may love some of these items, but they’re wasteful foods you need to avoid bringing on a picnic.
Sweet and Carbonated Drinks
A nice cold drink is a staple item to bring on a hot summer’s day; most people prefer not just any beverage, though—soda is a favorite. The sweet taste feels good and relaxes you, but it damages the environment if you leave the bottle in the open or dump the drink in the grass.
These sweet and carbonated drinks taste better in places with garbage cans nearby. By dumping them into the grass and leaving them open, you invite sweet-loving insects to your area. Plastic and glass bottles also create safety hazards for the soil and wildlife.
The next time you tote drinks, bring a bag to make cleaning up easier. A bag keeps everything sealed and prevents endangering wildlife from stepping on or consuming the bottle’s material. Alternatively, bring along your reusable water bottles and rehydrate in the heat!
Chocolate Foods
Chocolate’s a quick treat and savory dessert to enjoy after a meal. However, it melts in the heat. When eating chocolate bars or anything that melts fast, have plates out and use the proper utensils.
Don’t discard the wrappers or small fragments of chocolate; animals don’t process chocolate the same way we do, and it can pose a threat to wildlife and visiting pets. Keep this food in a safe place to eat later and avoid littering, or opt to bring along something else entirely.
Condiment Bottles
Condiment bottles, whether glass or plastic, are seemingly great for every outing; however, they don’t look great when left on tables or in grassy fields. It’s essential only to bring what you need, especially if you purchase food from a fast-food restaurant.
Instead of bottles, consider pouring all condiments, such as mayo and ketchup, into small, portable plastic containers. The lids keep them from spilling out and prevent animals from trying to eat the sauces.
Cheese
Cheese is one component that’s easiest to travel with and pairs well with any picnic style. However, there are some that you shouldn’t bring with you at all, including mild cheddar and American cheese. The cheese you want shouldn’t melt right away, nor should it have a strange odor once you’ve started eating.
Some cheeses to think about bringing include aged gouda and Montgomery cheddar. These cheeses soften slower so you can enjoy eating and making sandwiches without creating messes. In addition, keep the cheese in separate containers to maintain its flavor and form.
While learning what foods to avoid bringing on a picnic, it’s also essential to know that illegally discarded trash has dire consequences. Pack sustainably to reduce littering and enjoy your meal with portable, picnic-friendly foods.
By Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications
Twenty-five Arkansas Game and Fish Commission enforcement officers and a K-9 were recipients of the division’s top honors Thursday at a special presentation held at the AGFC Headquarters Auditorium in Little Rock.
This was the first award ceremony for the AGFC Enforcement Division since 2019, as the last two years were suspended because of COVID-19 protocols. Awards were presented by AGFC Director Austin Booth, AGFC Enforcement Chief Col. Brad Young, Major Nakia Crims and Major Brian Aston.
“Duty is a calling, it is a heavy burden, and it is an honor,” Director Booth said. “It is one of the greatest privileges that I have to say that you wear that duty not with self-pity or martyrdom, but you wear it well. You wear it with excellence, with commitment to everyone else in this agency. Today is about celebrating not only these officers, but the entire Enforcement Division and the impact it has on law and order, the impact on public safety throughout the state, and most importantly the impact it has on conservation.”
Seven officers received the Warden’s Star for acts of heroism involving unusual situations or occurrences that demanded immediate action, exceptional tactics or engenuity to overcome.
Cpl. Mac Davis received two Warden’s Stars for separate events in which he showed unfaltering courage in the face of adversity. In March 2020 at the assistance of local law enforcement agencies, he located and apprehended an armed assailant in Scott County who was wanted in connection with an assault on a police officer with a firearm. He acted quickly to subdue the subject as he was reaching for a loaded firearm in his pocket. Davis’ second Warden Star recognition came from his swift action in rescuing a woman whose truck was swept off a bridge during a flood event in Scott County in September 2021. During the rescue, Cpl. Davis waded into the swift water to the nearly submerged truck, removed his own life jacket and gave it to the flood victim who stated she could not swim well. Once assistance from other officers arrived, he was able to put on another life jacket and work with the woman to get her to safety using a rope line before finally crossing the swift water again to make it to safety. Sgt. Brian Bailey and Wildlife Officer Tyler Staggs also received Certificates of Commendation for their work in this emergency situation.
Davis assisted in a separate flood event, this time in January 2021, but it was Sgt. Brian Bailey whose actions merited a Warden’s Star recognition. During the flood a driver had attempted to cross a low-water bridge and the car was swept away with three people inside. While two occupants were able to get to safety, a 13-year-old boy had climbed into a fallen tree and was stuck in the near-freezing water. Although they were able to get him a life jacket and safety rope, the boy had been exposed to the cold water for so long that he was unwilling to enter into the swift water to cross to safety. After being tied in with a safety line to other rescuers, Sgt. Bailey waded into the swift water and grabbed the young man. Both were pulled to safety and to an emergency medical services crew. Cpl. Davis received a Certificate of Commendation for his role in the event as well.
Cpl. Ray Hines and Wildlife Officer Chris Crawford also received Warden’s Star recognition, also for a swift water rescue. In June 2020, flash flooding in Polk County had swept a vehicle 200 yards from a bridge. The officers found the individual’s vehicle, which was completely submerged. The occupant had managed to get to a nearby tree, where he was clinging for his life. Officers Hines and Crawford swam to the distressed man, secured a life vest to him and a rope to the tree he was in, and safely guided him to shore.
Wildlife Officers Cody Stone, Jake Stanford and Clint Park also received the Warden’s Star for their fast thinking and response to a near tragedy when an 8-year-old boy and his father were swept into swift current on the Buffalo National River. The trio was conducting swift-water rescue training with other officers, enforcement cadets and Van Buren County Search and Rescue. The boy was swept away by the current, and his father jumped in to save him only to be pulled into the swift water himself. Officers Stone, Stanford and Park jumped into the water while Wildlife Officer Kent Slape threw a rope to the individuals. Once they reached the individuals, Stone, Stanford and Park used the rope to pull them to safety. Officer Slape and Wildlife Officers Eric Rawls, Stephanie Carter, Renner Smith, Caleb McClanahan and Doug Martisek also received Certificates of Commendation for their actions in rescuing the two individuals.
Three Lifesaving Medals also were awarded. Recipients for these medals included Lt. Adam Baker, Sgt. Jeff Black and Cpl. Troy Faughn.
Lt. Baker’s fast actions saved the life of a girl who was choking on a foreign object at a youth sporting event in Bryant, where he was volunteering.
Sgt. Black was able to save the life of a 21-year-old man in Montgomery County who was found in his bed struggling to breathe. Black was able to administer the NARCAN issued to his first-aid pack to sustain the man’s life until EMS arrived.
Cpl. Troy Faughn saved the life of an Arkansas County resident who had accidentally shot himself with a handgun and was suffering from extensive bleeding and a broken femur. Faughn was able to control the bleeding using pressure and a tourniquet until paramedics arrived 20 minutes later.
Certificates of Commendation are awarded for actions above and beyond normal duty requirements and demonstrate such traits as courage, resourcefulness and unselfishness in situations that otherwise could escalate into a tragic one. In addition to previously mentioned officers, the following officers received Certificates of Commendation:
Cpl. Ray Hines and Wildlife Officer Chris Crawford received commendations for their fast response in rescuing a man trapped underneath his tractor, which had crushed his leg.
Sgt. Tom Pointfield, Cpl. Gary Don Stell and K-9 Lucy received commendations for the successful search and rescue of two missing boys, aged 8 and 10, who had gotten lost while riding an ATV and fell into a creek in 39-degree weather.
Sgt. Joe Williams, Wildlife Officer Aaron Dillard, Wildlife Officer Eric Rawls, Wildlife Officer Stephanie Carter and Cpl. Chris Lynch received commendations for their work in freeing a man from an 18-wheeler that had been struck by a train near Wilmot. The man was extracted from the cab of the vehicle and air-lifted to a hospital in Jackson, Mississippi.
The following wildlife officers also received special awards for their efforts in specialized areas of wildlife law enforcement:
Cpl. Bernie Soliz was recognized as the 2022 Boating Enforcement Officer of the Year. In addition to making 3,260 contacts with boaters, resulting in 133 citations and three boating-under-the-influence arrests, Soliz is routinely called upon to help in boating- and fishing-related interviews with Spanish-speaking individuals and public relations efforts to Spanish-speaking communities. Soliz also volunteers to serve as a liaison to families during times of crisis after boating incidents and fatalities.
Wildlife Officer Aaron Dillard was honored as the 2021 National Wild Turkey Federation Officer of the Year for Arkansas. In addition to locating and monitoring 16 illegal baiting sites, Officer Dillard worked with two different organized youth hunts and has improved digital forensic efforts at the agency to identify possible poaching violations.
Cpl. Ryan Hollowell of Woodruff County received the 2022 Waterfowl Officer of the Year from the Mississippi Flyway Council. During the last year, he coordinated two youth hunts, met with numerous hunters and hunting clubs to clarify waterfowl regulations, assisted in two searches for lost or stranded hunters, and investigated two boating accidents on wildlife management areas that involved injuries and required transport of the hunters to medical services.
Wildlife Officer Kurt VanMatre of VanBuren received the 2022 Monty Carmikle Arkansas Wildlife Officer of the Year at the conclusion of the ceremony. Although being with the AGFC for only five years, Officer VanMatre has already made a mark on the outdoors through enforcement, public relations and partnerships with other agencies. In addition to participating in public events on Facebook Live on boating safety, he also participated in-person in kayaking safety classes for children, turkey calling and firearms safety classes, duck hunts for the Arkansas Becoming an Outdoors-Woman workshop and Concerns of Police Survivors retreats. He also was involved in 441 citations for wildlife regulations violations, 122 being considered major violations, such as night hunting and hunting out of season. He also was involved in 19 felony drug arrests and 23 misdemeanor drug cases while working public land in Arkansas, helping keep the public safe while enjoying the outdoors. He also has worked with scientists outside the AGFC to submit samples of antlers and teeth from Arkansas deer to research the ability to pinpoint origins of these types of artifacts, which will aid greatly in future law enforcement efforts.
Last year’s state title for the Lady Eagles is old news, and the 2022 edition of Paris volleyball is a glimpse into the next two to three years for the program. And yesterday, the Lady Eagles played a very challenging camp schedule at Benton High School in preparation for the upcoming season. For Paris, it was more about re-establishing the competitive culture in the program’s young team that will compete in the 3A West this fall. And boy did they find plenty of competition in Benton!
Paris played two-set matches against perennial 5A power Valley View from Jonesboro, Little Rock Christian, and 5A power and host Benton Lady Panthers. The talent in the gym was awesome and represented as tough of a competitive schedule strength that the Lady Eagles will face all season.
As an example of the talent on the floor, Romani Thurman, daughter of Razorback basketball great, Scotty Thurman, was on the floor for Little Rock Christian. Scotty Thurman was in the stands to watch her talented daughter, as well as the many other talented athletes that morning. Thurman’s daughter, Romani, committed in October 2021 to play Division 1 volleyball at the University of North Carolina.
On the day, the Lady Eagles lost two sets to Valley View, losing a close first set by the score of 25-21. The Lady Blazers won the second set as well, this time with the set being called by time limit and the set score of 24-20.
In the second match, Paris took on Little Rock Christian. The Lady Tigers defeated Paris in the first set by the score of 25-21. In set two, Paris was in position to win late, but committed critical serving errors and lost the set by the score of 25-18.
To the credit of the young Lady Eagles, they were very competitive in their first two matches. In fact, it wasn’t until Paris played a very strong and athletic team of Benton Lady Panthers until it was quickly apparent they were over-matched. Benton defeated Paris in both sets, 25-17 and 25-18. Benton’s size and muscular athletes were simply too much for Paris.
But the day was not done for Paris. After a one hour break for the teams to have lunch, Paris faced the remainder of their touch camp schedule with matches against Bryant, Pulaski Academy, and Little Rock Episcopal. The young and scrappy group of Lady Eagles rebounded to defeat Pulaski Academy and Little Rock Episcopal. Not a bad day’s work for a very young team.
At the day’s end, I spoke with Paris head coach Jordan Devine by text, and she made the following comments on her team’s play: “Great team camp today! I thought that we showed some grit against some very competitive teams We got better as a team today. I am really excited about this group. They are going to be fun!”
Coach Devine has had some great teams in the past, and has had teams that have won state titles and have been extremely competitive in other years. But, this may be the best coaching job she has done to date. There is good talent on this team, but they are young, and Coach Devine is doing a very good job of teaching, boosting their confidence, and instilling the competitive fire in each player on the roster.
The Lady Eagles will play next week at Greenwood high school in their final camp appearance of the summer. RNN Sports will be there to bring you complete coverage. Additional photos from the Benton camp will be posted on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports this weekend.
Arresting agency – Arkansas Parole: Reba Sue Chandler of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 18 at 9:59 a.m. and released on July 25 at 10:33 a.m. Chandler was charged with drug court sanctions.
Arresting agency – Barling Police Department: Richard Victor Fourth Glasener of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 20 at 1:58 a.m. and released on bond July 21 at 1:56 p.m. Glasener was charged with two counts of contempt – willful disobedience (failure to pay fine), possession of drug paraphernalia – ingest, driving while license cancelled/suspended/revoked, and possession of drug paraphernalia – ingest meth/cocaine.
Chandler Aneecia Myers of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 22 at 9:30 p.m. and released on signature bond July 23 at 2:25 a.m. Myers was charged with contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).
Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department: Chase Tyler Hughes of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 22 at 11:30 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Hughes was charged with absconding, parole violation, and petition to revoke – misd.
Russell Fulton Jones Junior of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 19 at 6:47 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond July 19 at 9:15 p.m. Jones was charged with two counts of Delivery of [Schedule III Controlled Substance] >28g.
Xavier Hayden Lyle of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 23 at 5:57 p.m. and released on signature bond July 23 at 11:07 p.m. Lyle was charged with two counts of Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).
Matthew McDonald Wertheimer of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 22 at 10:34 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond July 23 at 10:37 a.m. Wertheimer was charged with interfering with emergency communications – 2nd degree, endangering the welfare of a minor in the third degree, and domestic battering in the third degree – purposely.
Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sherriff’s Office: Matthew Chad McClain of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 20 at 9:18 p.m. and released on signature bond July 20 at 10:43 p.m. McClain was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).
Logan Renee Nelms of Bloomer was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 19 at 10:19 a.m. and released on signature bond July 19 at 12:38 p.m. Nelms was charged with failure to appear – class B misdemeanor.
Christopher Ryan Potter of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 19 at 6:36 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Potter was charged with parole violation and absconding.
Daniel Lee Thorpe of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 23 on 1:06 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Thorpe was charged with petition to revoke – felony, and Contempt of Court–(child support), FTAS, FTRespond Subpoena, FTComply WCO.
Allen Michael Welling of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 20 at 8:54 a.m. and was released on signature bond July 20 at 9:47 a.m. Welling was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).
Arresting agency – Mansfield Police Department: Phillip Edwards Wilkins of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 17 at 10:40 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Wilkins was charged with assist outside agency – felony, two counts of failure to appear – class B misdemeanor, petition to revoke – felony, and contempt – willful disobedience (failure to pay fine).
Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office: Richard Ihde of, 38, of Russellville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 18 at 6:11 p.m. Ihde was charged with body attachment.
Allen Campbell, 45, of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 19 at 2:33 p.m. Campbell was charged with possession of a controlled substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Aaron Smith, 31, of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 20 at 2:57 p.m. Smith was charged with body attachment.
Gregory Smith, 52, of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 20 at 3:04 p.m. Smith was charged with violation of probation/suspended imposition of sentence and failure to pay.
Anthony Profitt, 65, of Jessieville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 22 at 12 a.m. Profitt was charged with theft of property, possession of a schedule IV or V controlled substance with the purpose to deliver, driving while driver’s license cancelled, suspended or revoked, possession of open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle, failure to register motor vehicle, no insurance, public intoxication and theft by receiving.
Cale Kuykendall, 24, of Branch was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 22 at 8:19 a.m. Kuykendall was charged with hold for drug court.
Tabetha Emberson, 43, of Magazine was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on July 22 at 7:22 p.m. Emberson was charged with disorderly conduct.
**The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.**
The United States’ cattle inventory has shrunk to its lowest numbers since 2015 thanks to the drought sprawling across the western half of the country.
James Mitchell, extension livestock economist with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, saidtotal cattle inventories stood at 98.8 million, “falling below 100 million for the first time since 2015.”
Mitchell said the numbers, which came out the U.S.Department of Agriculture’s June 22 Cattle Inventory Report,were somewhat better than expectations.
“While inventories posted a year-over-year decline, National Agricultural Statistics Service estimates were higher than pre-report expectations, with analysts expecting larger decreases in cattle numbers,” he said, adding that the NASS estimates were not a significant departure from pre-report expectations.
“Drought has been the main factor contributing to the decline in the number of beef cows and replacement heifers,” Mitchell said. “Total beef cow slaughter through June is 14.6 percent higher year over year.”
Mitchell said beef and dairy cow inventories were 2.4 percent and 0.5 percent lower compared to July 2022, respectively.
“The report confirms another year of beef cow herd liquidation with little evidence of anyone looking to expand,” he said.
“Regionally, drought pressure this month has been a big concern in the Southeast,” Mitchell said. “The effects of drought are shown in the auction data. For example, auction receipts for Arkansas show a 20 percent increase in slaughter cattle sales.”
For the first 30 weeks in 2021, 20,942 head of slaughter cattle went to auction. This year that number rose to 25,033.
To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uada.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk. To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu.
Cardboard boxes are a popular form of produce packaging. As a farmer or someone who likes ordering items online, boxes easily pile up. Instead of stacking up the boxes in the trash or recycling, use these four different ways to reuse cardboard boxes on a farm or in a garden.
Biodegradable Compost
Cardboard packaging continues to grow in popularity for numerous reasons. One main selling point is that cardboard boxes are better for the environment. Their natural composition makes them biodegradable and a more eco-friendly form of waste compared to other materials.
Reusing your cardboard for compost provides many benefits, including creating nutrient-rich fertilizer mixtures and minimizing landfill waste. Shredding and soaking the strips of cardboard before putting them into your compost bin breaks them down faster and makes your composting process more manageable.
Storage for Seeds and Tools
Boxes provide a means to carry and store items. Aside from using the boxes to transport and package your fruit and veggies, reusing them as storage containers provides them with added purpose on your farm. Along with the growing collection of boxes, seeds and tools also tend to come in abundance on a farm. Storing your various gardening accessories, tools, seeds, and extra soil in leftover boxes organizes your shed and puts the boxes to good use.
Raised Garden Bed
Filling your boxes with dirt creates a makeshift pot fit for various starter plants. They hold the soil in place and eliminate the need for plastic pots. On top of providing you with a DIY plant holder, breaking down the boxes into flat sheets creates an eco-friendly and efficient garden bed base.
Placing the cardboard sheets on the ground sets you up with a foundation that blocks weeds and offers a slightly raised platform. Layer up some soil or place a large box of dirt over the sheets, and you’ve got yourself a DIY raised garden bed that requires little to no craftsmanship. As a bonus, the cardboard will deteriorate over time and fill the soil with extra nutrient fiber for your plants.
Standing Plant Labels
Plant labels create an organized and efficient tracking system. They help those with an untrained eye or less-dedicated memory know what plant stands before them each time they visit the garden. Instead of buying new plant signs, transforming your cardboard box into a DIY label with tape, markers, and skewers saves you money and makes use of the tools already on hand.
There are numerous other ways to reuse cardboard boxes on your farm, from using them as an environmental alternative to plastic to makeshift garden edging. Reusing cardboard boxes allows you to minimize your waste, make the most of the items available to you, and implement more eco-friendly practices on your farm.
For many years, Americans provided for their retirement needs through three sources: employer-sponsored pension plans, Social Security income, and savings and investments accumulated through employer plans or individual accounts – the so-called “three-legged stool.” But today, that stool is shakier than it used to be. What can you do to strengthen it?
To begin with, all three legs of the stool are facing challenges. Let’s consider them:
• Employer pensions – A generation ago, workers employed in many companies could count on a set monthly pension income to help them through their retirement years. Today, pensions – also known as defined benefit plans – are mostly found in public sector employment, as most private-sector employers have replaced their pensions with 401(k) and similar plans. These plans can be quite effective at helping build resources for retirement, but they do place most of the responsibility for saving on the employee.
• Social Security – Social Security has come under financial pressure because the workers-to-retirees ratio has declined significantly, according to the Social Security Administration’s 2021 Board of Trustees Report. A number of proposals have been brought forward on how to improve the long-term financial security of the Social Security system.
• Personal savings and investments – In terms of building savings and investments for retirement, the picture is somewhat mixed. The national savings rate has increased in recent years, but more than half of American workers still say their retirement savings are not where they should be, according to a 2021 survey from Bankrate, a personal finance website. And the same survey found that just over half of investors with a 401(k) or IRA have taken early withdrawals – that is, they withdrew money before they retired. Furthermore, we may be waiting too long even to begin saving/investing for retirement. A survey from Age Wave and Edward Jones found that respondents began saving for retirement at an average age of 38, but the majority said they should have started saving a decade earlier.
You have options for improving some parts of your own three-legged stool. For example, no matter what happens to Social Security, you can still decide when to start taking payments. You can begin collecting benefits as early as 62, but your monthly checks will be larger if you wait until your “full” retirement age, which will likely be between 66 and 67. You can even delay taking benefits until they “max out” at age 70.
As for a pension, you can’t control what’s available to you through your employer, but you can create your own retirement income stream by contributing as much as you can afford
to your 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan and by increasing your contributions whenever your salary goes up. And you can also contribute to an IRA or other investment vehicle to further boost your retirement funds. Try to leave these accounts intact until you need them for retirement. This will be easier if you’ve built an emergency fund, with the money kept in a liquid, low-risk account, to pay for unexpected costs, such as those resulting from a major car or home repair. The three-legged stool may not be as universal as it once was – but you can still construct a sturdy structure to support your retirement needs in the future.
This article is provided by Jeffrey O’Neal, Financial Advisor
Edward Jones 20 N Express St, Paris, AR 72855 479-963-1321 jeffrey.o’neal@edwardjones.com edwardjones.com/jeffrey-o’neal Edward Jones, Member SIPC
It has been a summer of extreme heat throughout Arkansas and the Mississippi River Valley that has seen record high temperatures and many consecutive days of temperatures exceeding 100 degrees. Rainfall has been sparse, and many have found themselves simply trying to hang on until the fall season and the arrival of cooler temperatures. And on a late Sunday night in Paris, a welcomed hope for rain quickly turned into disaster for the entire town.
On late Sunday evening, July 17, 2022, weather warnings for thunderstorms and eventually a “very dangerous thunderstorm warning” began to arrive on our cell phones, smart watches, etc. And just after midnight, it hit. There were no tornado sirens sounding in the middle of the night, and the people of Paris were hit virtually without warning.
Image Credit: Facebook / Mayor Daniel Rogers
With the wind force of a small tornado, straight line, or a possible downburst associated with forced high speed winds rushed into the town of Paris. Trees, power lines, signage, and structural damage occurred within minutes. Approximately 2000 citizens immediately lost power around 12:05 a.m. on July 18. All of the sudden, everything was dark, and the immediate concern became the high temperature that would surely be upon everyone starting at sunrise without the possibility of electrical power for air conditioning. Refrigerated and frozen foods became an issue, and, if all of this were not enough, the pumping station for the city’s water towers were without electrical power. The reserve water levels in the tanks would begin to drop dramatically without being replenished. So, in a matter of just a few short minutes, the city of Paris was in a near state of disaster.
But as it often occurs, in the face of tragedy arises some of the most inspirational stories. The City of Paris, led by their mayor, Daniel Rogers, immediately took action to begin the long process of cleaning up the city and restoring power. The electrical restoration of the water system was the first priority, as the city needed water immediately, both for its citizens, and for fire fighting protection. But when Rogers and the rest of the city officials and maintenance initially assessed the damage in the early morning darkness, the estimate was approximately 20 downed power poles. When daylight finally came the next day, that assessment grew to many more; approximately 60 downed power poles. Rogers commented that the city was essentially rebuilding much of the city’s power grid.
Image Credit: Facebook / Daniel Rogers
In the meantime, the people of Paris were suffering from extreme heat. Many were without power for approximately 18 hours, and another significant number of homes were without power for days. The city successfully repaired the water towers to operation by noon on Monday, but asked its citizens to conserve water due to the water towers being nearly empty. According to the mayor, the tanks were within just a few feet of being dry.
Mayor Rogers was gracious enough to provide some remarks for RNN, although he was extremely busy each day leading the recovery effort for Paris. When I asked the Paris mayor for his comments, he began by saying, “This storm was the worst wind-related storm in decades for the city. Sixty plus poles are being replaced due to being broken by the high winds. The last big wind event was June 2008 and it destroyed 32 poles. In March of this year, the city council passed a resolution that I recommended to enter into a mutual aid agreement with other AMPA (Arkansas Municipal Power Association) cities. That agreement allowed us to ask for aid from those cities which really helped the city restore power within 72 hours despite the large amount of damage to the electrical system. I was able to reach out and get commitments from Jonesboro and Conway to assist in the power restoration. We also reached out to MDR Construction which is a contract crew that specializes in storm recovery.”
Indeed, the proactive and visionary leadership of Mayor Rogers, the city council, city attorney Cory Wells, and the outstanding support of the Paris Area Chamber of Commerce, led by its executive director, Tonya Fletcher, served all of the citizens of Paris well and served as a model of leadership in extreme crisis for all to see and follow. But perhaps most inspirational was the drive and determination of the citizens of Paris and the support the city received from communities surrounding Paris. Mayor Rogers commented, “I’m so proud of the citizens for showcasing the city in such a positive way to the state through their willingness to volunteer and come together to help one another. I love how our community responded.”
Tonya Fletcher, executive director for the Paris Area Chamber of Commerce, reinforced the mayor’s comments by adding, “The biggest comment I would make about the recent storms is the willingness from the community and surrounding areas to bring support to help our community has been heart warming. Everyone from the City of Paris, Paris school district, local businesses, neighboring communities, churches, law enforcement, outside agencies and individuals have stepped up in a big way to help those in need. The Chamber staff was able to help organize many areas of need from water, cooling stations, food preparation, food delivery, notifications to the community, donations for needed items, and so much more.” Local businesses, such as the restaurant “Smokin Taters BBQ” provided meals and hydration for the power line crews who were working hard to restore power to the city.
Image Credit: Facebook / Smokin Taters BBQ
Communities surrounding Paris, such as, but not limited to Scranton and Magazine have jumped in to provide aid and assistance to Paris in the aftermath of the storm. Many of those communities came to the assistance for Paris without being asked. It is just what good neighbors do, and Paris owes each of these communities a return of the favor if they are ever in need, as well.
Anyone who is familiar with Paris knows that the town is known for its beautiful trees. Unfortunately, many of those trees were damaged. Some fell on homes and businesses, some blocked streets and brought down both power lines and poles. Chism street was especially affected, but was certainly not alone as damage occurred all over the city.
As of press time for this story, much, if not all of the power for the town has been restored. The Thursday morning temperatures from last week cooled a little with much of the morning being overcast and providing welcomed cloud cover for the town and the many electrical crews that were still working to install new poles and power lines. But the morning clouds gave way to extreme heat again that afternoon.
All in all, the town of Paris and its people were blessed that the damage was not any worse that it turned out to be. In fact, I can’t help but to have a renewed sense of compassion and empathy for those people and towns who have gone through a devastating tornado. This event was bad enough; I cannot imagine it being any worse.
The town was blessed by so many who came running to us to help clean-up and restore our town. They possibly saved lives by restoring power, air conditioning, and water to the citizens of Paris. The out of town power crews worked many long, hot hours on a power system that was not that of their own home towns, but they came to our aid, and we are grateful.
And to our mayor and all of the civic leaders in Paris, thank you from a grateful town. Your actions were a model for great leadership, and we are lucky to have you serving our great town. Thank you for taking time to post video updates on social media each day, so that we were not left wondering what was happening, and when things would be better for all of us. And thank you to the great towns throughout Logan County and the surrounding region for being awesome neighbors and coming to our assistance. Each of you is why western Arkansas is such a great place to live.
Perhaps Chamber director Tonya Fletcher summed it up best by saying, “One thing is for sure, we as a community joined together as family in time of need. I hope that momentum continues and we all remain thankful.”
So, citizens of Paris, you have banded together to quickly restore your town from an unexpected, violent storm, and you have much to be proud of. Better times are coming as the fall and the start of a new school year are just around the corner. Hang in there, but take pride in how you have all persevered through a very tough time. You are…PARIS STRONG!
When Paris head football coach Jeff Weaver was hired in 2021, he brought with him the reputation of being a “program builder.” Since his hire, Weaver has brought several new events to Paris to help build interest and support for the Eagles football program. One of the most popular, and perhaps the most fun event for the coach, is its annual “Moms 101” Night.
“Moms 101” has been held each summer in late July, preceding the official start of practices for the upcoming football season. Weaver brought the event to Paris, along with another that will be held this week when the Eagles sponsor the two-night “Pee Wee Football Camp” at Eagles Stadium. In holding each of these events, Weaver is quickly building support from his football parents, interest and support from the community, and is building a base of football athletes for the future of the program. That point was illustrated again last week when the Eagles football moms turned out with near perfect attendance to run drills, offensive football plays, and hear a word from the head coach on what he wants from his players.
The Paris football moms and their sons who play on the team, had a great time. Smiles were abundant and laughter could be heard all over the gym. The event is normally held in the football stadium, but this year’s edition was held indoors due to the extreme heat.
RNN Sports / Jim BestRNN Sports / Jim BestRNN Sports / Jim Best
At the end of the night, players sat with their moms and reflected on the thoughts that Coach Weaver had about the program goals. Coach Weaver has repeatedly said that if all we are doing is teaching our players how to be good football players, then we have failed them. His desire to to see his players grow into fine men, treat women respectfully, and go on to becoming good husbands and fathers. If his players do that, then he feels like to program has met its goals.
As a reporter who has followed Coach Weaver and his staff over the past few seasons, I would simply add that he is meeting his goal. His kids love him and play hard for him, and he enjoys great support from the players families and the Paris fans. This is a program that everyone in the community can be proud of.
And by the way….players….your moms showed they have football skills too!
Hello, everyone! Hot is an understatement. We need to pray for rain. I feel so bad for those working out in this heat.
Don’t you just love it when your friends remind you of some of the crazy things you have done in your life? One of those friends would be Curtis Feimster. He had to remind me of how I ordered a pizza from Greenwood, Indiana. I’ve only been to Indiana once and I did not order a pizza. Let me tell ya’ll the story.
The three E’s wanted Domino’s Pizza one evening and I googled the phone number and just put in Domino’s in Greenwood. So, I called the number and ordered my pizza. I drove to Greenwood, Arkansas to pick it up. I go to the drive-thru and said “I’m Sheri Hopkins and I have a pizza order to pick up.” They disappear and return and said, “We don’t have a pizza order for you.” What? Yes, I ordered two large pepperoni pizzas. Disappears again and comes back and asks me how long ago, etc. Still, no pizzas. Well, I must be crazy. On my way back home I get a phone call and the guy says “You have a pizza order for pick up at Domino’s.” I noticed he was not from Arkansas. I asked, “where are you calling from?” Guess where he was calling from? Greenwood, Indiana! I said, “Sir, I live in Arkansas and I’m sorry I must have ordered from you instead of the Domino’s in Arkansas.” He was very nice, and he apologized and I guess they got to eat my two large pepperoni pizzas. I won’t make that mistake again. I get my states right now when I order pizza.
That’s just one on a list of many. How about the time Cathy Smith Barnett was going to beauty school and I let her “frost” my hair? For you young peeps, that is what we called highlights back in the golden days. Let’s just say platinum blonde is an understatement. Let’s try fluorescent blonde to be exact. People around me had to wear sunglasses to be able to look at me. It took forever for it to grow off. I will tell ya the old saying that blondes have more fun is a true statement. Cathy and I used to work together and we sure had a lot of fun and laughs together.
Back to Curtis Feimster, we used to work together when we got out of high school. We worked at TES, Inc. Curtis was always entertaining us. He would sing songs, dance and act crazy. Good times with good friends. Don’t take your friends and family for granted because time is short and make time to call, text, or get together.
This week’s recipe is meatloaf. I love meatloaf. Nobody at my house likes meatloaf, so I have to invite people over to get to eat it. Make this meatloaf, some mashed potatoes, and gravy, green beans, or corn whichever you prefer. Remember HeeHaw? We always watched that show with our daddy. Cousin Lou Lou said, “yum, yum.”
MEATLOAF 2 pounds of ground beef (I use ground chuck) 1 packet of Lipton Onion Soup Mix (You can use Beefy Onion Soup Mix also. I usually add half of another package, but that’s just me.) Bread crumbs or saltine crackers (If I use saltines, I crush them fine. I don’t use a whole sleeve, just use your best judgment. You don’t want the meat mixture to be dry.) 3/4 cup of milk 2 large eggs 1/3 cup ketchup (You can add a little more if you like) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. I just line a cake pan with aluminum foil and spray with Pam. In a large mixing bowl, combine the beef with the soup mix, and add the milk, eggs, and ketchup. Mix well, then add your crumbs or saltines. Mix well, then pour the mixture into your pan and make it into a loaf. Cook in the oven for 55-60 minutes. I know this is a simple recipe but some folks don’t know how to cook. This is easy and you can add a couple of veggies and have a meal.
