The Paris Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting for June last Tuesday (June 7) with a full agenda that contained a variety of administrative recommendations that ranged from facilities repair and improvements to policies approval and both student and employee personnel recommendations. The meeting was the first conducted by the board who was forced to run for re-election under the new election zoning requirements for members of school boards across Arkansas. As part of the Paris board’s agenda of business, the five members also voted to appoint board officers for the 2022-23 school and fiscal years.
At the forefront of the board’s agenda was the topic of mental health support for its students. The board considered recommendations for both online and in-person mental health support, as well as technological additions for both referrals and billing for the services. The Paris district is taking significant steps to take a leading position among school districts who are reacting to a movement and increased pressure to address mental health and school safety that has become a priority nationwide in light of the events in Uvalde, Texas, most recently. The board discussed how to improve mental health services for its students, as well as the long-term effects on safety within its schools. The district is already providing school resource officers for its schools; the actions under consideration by the board will address the mental health of students and protect student and staff safety, as well. Mental health issues have been a concern of school districts nationwide following the COVID pandemic and the subsequent quarantining of students that has taken place over the past two years.
Sarah Lasiter of the Paris School District Presented a Mental Health Services Proposal Tuesday Night to the Paris School Board (RNN Photo / Jim Best)
In another highlighted action taken by the Paris Board of Education, the board approved a recommendation and bid to replace the roof at Paris Elementary School. Depending on the arrival of materials, the project to replace the PES roof could be completed this summer prior to the start of the new school year in August.
From minutes taken at the meeting, the five board members emerged from executive session and announced the election of board member Cory Wells as its President. Tracy Richey, who had served the board for several years as its President, was announced as the new Vice-President of the board. Beth Ulrich remains as the board secretary, and board member Dustin Schluterman was announced as the liaison for the board. The motion on the officers was approved by a unanimous 5-0 vote. The 5:30 p.m. meeting officially adjourned at 8:20 p.m.
The Paris Board of Education’s regular monthly meetings are usually held on the second Thursday of each month at the Paris Schools Administration Building.
It has become an annual occurrence for Paris basketball over the past four years; the naming of a new boys basketball coach for the upcoming season. Andrew Tencleve, former coach of the Cedarville Lady Pirates, was recently named as the new boys basketball coach at Paris. Tencleve will succeed Josh Ferrell who has moved on to take a position at Lincoln High School outside of Fayetteville. Tencleve becomes the fourth Eagles coach in as many years.
Recently I had the opportunity to visit with the new coach and to get his feelings on the move to Paris and the future of the team. In the 2021-22 season, the Eagles returned to the state playoffs, losing to eventual state champion Osceola. Two big pieces from that team, Jude Simmons, and Mequeill Ellingberg, have graduated. Their loss to the team represents significant size and inside presence that will not be there at the start of the 2022-23 season. The team will return three starters: senior Jesse Wells, senior Sam Muldrow, and junior Konnor Edwards. Other notable returners for the upcoming season include junior Juan Santos and junior Matthew Mainer. It will be important for other returning players to step-up as well next season. Coach Tencleve will also have to place a priority on developing player personnel from last year’s junior high team that struggled for most of their season in 2021-22.
But, summer in basketball is similar to spring in major league baseball; hope springs eternal, as they say. Everyone is optimistic this time of the year as teams participate in summer camps and workouts to develop new team chemistry with new combinations of starting line-ups, and, as seems to be the case with Paris, introduce a team to a new coach and a new system to learn before the November start to the season. This year, the Eagles and Lady Eagles basketball teams will again feature new head coaches at seasons’ start.
Paris’s Jesse Wells (24) and Konnor Edwards (5) along with senior Sam Muldrow (not pictured) will be counted on heavily in the 2022-23 season (RNN Sports File Photo / Jim Best)
I spoke with new Eagles coach Andrew Tencleve by telephone last week, and I must say, I was very impressed with his remarks. Coach Tencleve indicated that he is excited to be in Paris and is looking forward to the challenge of the upcoming season. I started off our conversation by sharing with him that I was impressed with seeing his team at the end of the season that lost a lopsided game to the Lady Eagles, and then return a few days later in the district tournament and avenge the loss to Paris. I thought he made significant progress with a very young team that was showing huge potential for the next season. So, I asked Coach why he chose to leave Cedarville to coach at Paris. Coach responded by saying, “It was a combination of things, really. As far as what drew me to Paris, it is a good location for my family and myself. I grew up just down the road (attended high school at Subiacco). My high school days were most spent running around Paris with Paris guys. So, this is kind of my second home, although I did not go to school here. I was at Cedarville for 14 years. So, it (coaching stint at Cedarville) was a long time and was hard to leave that place. In that kind of time you are going to develop a lot of really close relationships. You know, ten years ago, if you were to ask me if I was going to retire there; but times kind of changed, and this opportunity arose, we took it, and we are ready to roll.”
Coach Tencleve was the boys coach at Cedarville for 12 of his 14 years there in the Pirates’ basketball program. The last two years, he guided the Lady Pirates’ program. “I enjoyed my two years of coaching girls basketball. But, with my son going to be a ninth grader this fall and getting to be of the age that he is about to start playing high school basketball, it was definitely very appealing to flip back to boys and be able to coach him while he is in high school.”
With Coach Tencleve now being the fourth head coach in as many years for the Paris boys program, I asked him what the team’s reaction and reception to him have been since he was named as the new head boys coach. Coach Tencleve commented, “Yes, it’s tough. When I got to Cedarville 14 years ago, it was the same situation there. I was at the time the fourth coach in as many years, and, you get a little “new coach fatigue” from the kids. It is really important that you are sincere with them and try to build relationships with them as quickly as you can. So far, so good. I has gone really well. We went to camp yesterday and we seem to be getting along really well. We have just got to get down to work and get better.”
After our conversation, I came away respecting Coach for the one simple reason that he places a great importance on being honest with his players as he coaches them. To this point, Coach stated, “I think one of the things that helps me connect with my players, whether it is coaching girls or boys, is that I am always honest with them. They know that I am going to be honest with them. And it is like we always talk about, I am going to tell you some things that you might not necessarily like or want to hear at times, but it is for your own good, and it is because I love you and we’re trying to turn you into the best human and best basketball player you can possibly be. Sometimes, that means some uncomfortable conversations have to happen.”
Looking ahead to the 2022-23 season, Coach reflected, “We graduated two big pieces (Simmons and Ellingberg) and that was the extent of the size we had under the basket. So, we are going to be small this year. We are going to be athletic and we are going to be able to do a lot of the things that I like to do, minus having a post presence on offense. We are going to play really, really hard. I wish our numbers were better; right now, we only have ten out, and that kind of limits what we can do in practice. But, I think they are buying in and I think that we have a chance to have a very good year. It is going to depend on how much we progress defensively and how we rebound the basketball. With our size issues, we are going to have to put a lot of work in that area (rebounding). When we went to camp yesterday, our need to work on rebounding showed early. And as we got tired, it became a huge issue.”
So, as the new season approaches next fall, all of us at RNN Sports with Andrew Tencleve and the Paris Eagles the best of luck next season. And watch for more summer sports coverage in RNN Sports as we move on summer football and volleyball coverage, all leading up to the start of the seasons beginning in August.
And one last note…thanks to everyone in Logan County who has welcomed RNN to your hometowns. You have responded in a big way with your subscriptions to Logan County’s newest weekly newspaper, and RNN is honored to bring you LOCAL coverage of both news and sports that interest all of you…thanks again for your subscriptions and readership!
Risk is a normal part of investing. If you didn’t take on any risk, you wouldn’t have the potential to achieve higher returns. But how much risk should you accept? ​You don’t want to incur unnecessary risk. So, you’ll need to assess the amount of risk you’re comfortable taking and then determine if this risk level supports your ability to achieve your long-term goals. ​Here are some of the key factors in determining your own capacity for investment risk:
​• Personality – We all have different personalities. And your individual personality can certainly affect your comfort level with risk. If you enjoy taking chances or pushing yourself outside your comfort zone in other aspects of your life, you could be more likely to accept greater investment risk, too, because you know that greater risk means greater potential reward. Conversely, higher-risk investments also carry greater potential for volatility, including steep short-term declines.
​• Time – Risk tolerance can change over time. When you are first starting out in your career, with decades to go until you retire, you may feel comfortable with a certain degree of investment risk, knowing you have time to potentially overcome the inevitable downturns in the financial markets. But as you near retirement, you might consider lowering your risk level and investing more conservatively, because once you do retire, you’ll likely have to start withdrawing money from your retirement accounts, which means you may need to liquidate some investments – and, ideally, you won’t want to have large fluctuations in value at that time. However, even during retirement, you may want your portfolio to include some growth-oriented investments to help keep you ahead of inflation.
• Type of goal – You might have different risk tolerances for different goals. For example, if you know you need a specific amount for a particular goal in two years – such as buying a new car or taking an overseas vacation – you may want to put away money in a low-risk, liquid vehicle. This type of investment might not have much growth potential, but for this goal, you are less interested in achieving a high rate of return than you are in being reasonably sure the money will be there when you need it. So, in this instance, you may have quite a low tolerance for risk. But for a long-term goal, such as a comfortable retirement, you may be prepared to take more risk in the hopes of greater returns, given the longer time horizon.
By understanding your risk tolerance and knowing how it can change over time and under different circumstances, you can be better prepared to face investment volatility. And there are certainly things you can do to mitigate risk. By owning a variety of investments – domestic and international stocks, bonds, mutual funds, government securities and so on – you can reduce the impact of market volatility on your portfolio. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification can’t prevent all losses or guarantee profits.) In any case, the biggest risk of all is simply not investing. If you are going to achieve your financial goals, you need to invest for them.
By understanding your own risk tolerance, and by making wise choices along the way, you can stick with an investment strategy that can work for you in the long run. ​​​​​​​​​​
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
You’ve dreamt of adding something new to your home for a while, and now you want to make it a reality. Not to accidentally burst your bubble, but some kitchen features have the potential to hurt the resale value of your home—here’s a list of the best and worst choices.
The Best Projects
To start, here’s a list of valuable enhancements to make to your kitchen. These are the projects that won’t hurt your resale value.
New Paint Color
Painting is a good step up, but painting your kitchen any random color can tarnish its appearance. You want a lively, bright space, not one that’s dull and gray. Colors such as these work best, but make sure your choice goes with your home’s theme:
Baby yellow
Light brown
Burnt orange
Improving Lighting
Lighting is a great way to show off your home’s most desirable focal points. You can’t go wrong with new lighting fixtures. Choose LED bars for cabinets and spotlights for the ceiling. You’ll love walking into a room with light that doesn’t blind.
Adding Fixtures
Enhancing the kitchen often means new fixtures. This is the where you can add value with upgrades such as a new refrigerator, new countertops, or an island you’ve been wanting to spruce up the space.
The Worst Projects
There are also some projects to avoid doing if you want a good return on investment. Here are projects to approach with caution:
Islands
Add an island only if you have the right amount of space for it—you don’t want to add it anywhere else but the middle of the kitchen. If the space doesn’t allow for it, don’t bother putting in an island.
Cheap Cabinets
If you want to replace the cabinets, ensure the material of your new cabinets is of good quality. The best-quality cabinet types to buy include plywood and timber-faced. Both are solid materials that add character and stability to the kitchen.
Built-In Anything
Some built-in features work well, but most families won’t need them. As great as it is to have a built-in stove, some people might want to change it out for something else anyway, meaning the kitchen will need another expensive remodel.
Kitchens are fun to make over, but some upgrades can depreciate your home’s value. Focus on renovations that improve your home but leave room for prospective buyers to imagine their lives in the house. Take these recommendations on the best and worst kitchen features when you’re working on your upgrades.
The housing market is often affected by economic factors, such as the availability of jobs and the cost of building materials in a particular area. While these are important, many additional factors can affect the housing market. If you are interested in selling your home or are looking to buy, it is essential to understand the following factors and how they affect you and this country.
Rising Costs
Inflation and supply chain issues can affect the housing market directly. In fact, many things that happened in the broader economic climate have implications for the housing market. The cost of everything is rising exponentially, from paper goods to gas. If the materials cost your contractor more, they will often factor that into the cost of the home, passing those price hikes on to you as the consumer. Home prices tend to keep pace with inflation as prices go up. Housing prices tend to at least keep pace, if not exceed inflation.
Supply and Demand
Prospective buyers are trying to keep up, but demand is soaring with such a limited supply of homes available. Home prices are rising at their highest rate in 15 years. In fact, some homes are selling within hours of going on the market. Prospective home buyers can often find themselves in bidding wars or with their dream home vanishing from the listings right before their eyes.
Two factors are causing this demand spike. First, not enough homes are being built to keep up with the population growth. Second, more people can work from home now and don’t need to commute. Many city dwellers have now chosen to leave for the space and square footage that the suburbs provide.
There are other options, such as building your own home, that could help to combat the issue of supply, but is the modular home market going up as well? We will have to keep our finger on the pulse of the home market to know for sure.
Supply Chain Issues
The supply chain delays from COVID-19 are suppressing supply in key industries related to the production of homes. Everything from screws to glass can be hard to come by, and if you purchase domestically, there is often a higher cost involved. The supply chain issue should balance itself out, and we should expect that prices will eventually level out as we work to combat the delays; however, for now, expect to see higher costs in everything you purchase, including your next home.
Home Sweet Home
The economic factors affecting the housing market can affect your ability to purchase your dream home. Job availability and the cost of living are just a few factors to consider. Current and prospective homeowners will need to keep their eyes on the state of the housing market over the next few years.
Twenty-one Arkansas State Police Recruits received their trooper commissions on Thursday evening, June 16, during a graduation ceremony in the rotunda of the state capitol. The graduates were among an initial field of 227 applicants who were tested and interviewed during 2021.  On January 23rd this year, 38 recruits assembled at the state police training academy in Little Rock to form Recruit Class 2022-A and began a rigorous 21 week-long training stint. The graduates received 1,160 hours of specialized instruction in the academy classrooms and through practical training exercises outside the classroom. The graduates were sworn under oath as Arkansas State Troopers by North Little Rock District Judge Randy Morley. Lieutenant Colonel Shawn Garner, Deputy Director of Enforcement for the Arkansas State Police and Jami Cook, Secretary of the Arkansas Department of Public Safety addressed the class. State police senior command staff, troop and company commanders, the training section cadre and Arkansas State Police commissioners were among those attending the graduation.  The recruit graduates and their first post assignments are listed as follows:
Brandon Neal, 29, 2022-A Class Leader, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County. He is a graduate of Vilonia High School and Drury University in Chicago.
Zoey Baldwin, 22, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop J, Johnson County. Â She is a graduate of Russellville High School and Arkansas Tech University.
John Bucher, 21, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Woodruff County. He is a graduate of Russellville High School.
Ana Elisa Escamilla, 28, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County. She is a graduate of Warren High School.
Aaron Killian, 21, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County. He is a graduate of Lakeside High School (Garland County).
Peter Kootz, 25, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop B, White County. He is a homeschool graduate from Sharp County and a graduate of Lyon College.
Jessica McCord, 28, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County. She is a graduate of Lake Hamilton High School, Marion Military Institute and Southern New Hampshire University.
Zachary Means, 24, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop E, Desha County. He is a graduate of Carlisle High School.
Caleb Miller, 23, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop L, Benton County. He is a graduate of Siloam Springs High School.
Shabby Moore, 25, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop F, Union County. He is a graduate of Ville Platte (Louisiana) High School.
Cade Padgett, 21, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop J, Perry County. He is a graduate of Danville High School.
Solomon Phifer, 30, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop G, Miller County. He is a graduate of Crossett High School, University of Arkansas (Little Rock) and Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary in Cordova, Tennessee.
Candice Pike, 38, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop I, Searcy County. She is a graduate of Clinton High School.
Grant Pruitt, 21, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop C, Mississippi County. He is a graduate of Elkins High School.
Landan Reather, 23, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop H, Sebastian County. He is a graduate of Mansfield High School.
Tyree Sampson, 29, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop K, Garland County. He is a graduate of Hot Springs High School and National Park College in Hot Springs.
Jackson Shumate, 25, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County. He is a graduate of Sherman (Texas) High School.
Gavin Chance Taylor, 21, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop D, Monroe County. He is a graduate of Hazen High School.
Connor Vrooman, 25, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop B, White County. He is a graduate of Searcy High School and Arkansas State University (Beebe).
Daniel Walcott, 22, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop J, Van Buren County. He is a graduate of Penn Foster High School (Scranton, Pennsylvania).
Christopher Weatherly, 22, will be assigned to Highway Patrol Division, Troop A, Pulaski County. He is a graduate of Cabot High School and the University of Arkansas (Little Rock).
Special recognition and awards were presented to the recruits who attained the highest overall academy scores within the respective curriculum and training categories:
ACADEMICS 1st place – Jessica McCord 2nd place – Peter Kootz 3rd place – Brandon Neal
PHYSICAL FITNESS 1st place – Brandon Neal 2nd place – John Bucher 3rd place – Cade Padgett
FIREARMS 1st place – Peter Kootz 2nd place – Chaice Weatherly 3rd place – Zoey Baldwin
Over the next month the new troopers will begin reporting to their respective assignments across the state. They will receive an additional 5 – 9 weeks of instruction working alongside a Field Training Officer before being released from their training regimen.
On June 14, 2022 Scott County Fairgrounds was the location for the second annual Scott County flag disposal ceremony. Waldron Volunteer Fire Department assisted with the lighting of the fire. Danville Cub Scouts Troop 170 presented the colors. Owen Ridenhour performed as the bugler.
Danville Cub Scouts Pack 170, Waldron Cub Scout Pack 59, Ouachita Mountain VFW Post 1345, and The John Tolleson American Legion Post 46 were in attendance to assist with the disposal of the retired flags. Chaplain Greg Shively led opening prayer.
According to the U.S. Flag Code “The flag, when it is in such condition that is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” Most flags can be machine washed with mild detergent and hung to dry to prolong its life. It is up to the flags owner to decide when the flag is too tattered to properly fly.
Flag day takes place annually on June 14th to commemorate the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States.
On Tuesday, June 15, three suspects led Arkansas State Police on a high-speed chase in Logan County.Â
An ASP Trooper attempted a traffic stop in Booneville when the vehicle attempted to flee. ASP pursued the suspects from Booneville, east on State Highway 10, and through the city of Magazine before executing a PIT maneuver (pursuit intervention technique) just east of the Magazine city limits. The successful maneuver caused the suspects’ vehicle to leave the roadway and crash into the ditch. The vehicle then became engulfed in flames. The suspects had to be pulled from the vehicle. Two of suspects required medical treatment.
The reason for the initial traffic stop or the current condition of the suspects is not known at this time. Arkansas State Police is still conducting their investigation and have not released any details.
Sue Soderling Bice of Waldron, Arkansas went to be with her Lord and Savior, Wednesday, June 15, 2022 in Waldron, Arkansas with her loved ones by her side. Sue was born December 24, 1952 in Waldron, Arkansas to William H. Soderling and Virginia (Hunter) Soderling. She was 69 years old. Sue was a member of Temple Baptist Church in Waldron, Arkansas. She was a strong faithful Christian woman.
Sue worked for many years at Wal-Mart when it was in Waldron. She was a department manager and enjoyed seeing her friends and family when they would come shop. After retirement, Sue enjoyed spending every chance she had going to grandchildren’s activities. She was always happy for her family to be close by and spending time with grandchildren and great grandchildren curled up in her lap sharing a hug and a giggle.  Â
Sue leaves behind to cherish her memory, her loving husband Rick of the home, daughters: Teresa Davis and husband Tommy of Ola, Arkansas and Becky Staggs and husband Terry of Waldron, Arkansas and one son Steven Yandell and wife Camille of Waldron, Arkansas. Sue is also survived by her siblings: Sandee Carr of North Carolina, Marcy Allen of Texas, Shirley VanDeWiele of Waldron, Arkansas, Glen Soderling of Waldron, Arkansas and Dan Soderling of Texas. Nanna will forever remain in the hearts of her grandchildren: Meagan Burke, Emily Davis, Paden Davis, Tyler Staggs, Tori Staggs, McKayla Strozier, Shauna Johnson, Landon Avery and Triston Avery as well as 10 great grandchildren. Sue will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host of extended family and friends she loved dearly.
Sue is preceded in death by her parents, William and Virginia Soderling, one grandson, Dalton Davis, 4 sisters and 2 brothers.
Sue’s life celebration will be Saturday, June 18, 2022 at the Temple Baptist Church in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Jackie Smith and Rev. George Barham officiating. Interment will follow in the Square Rock Cemetery near Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Sue’s pallbearers will be Steven Yandell, Tyler Staggs, Paden Davis, Michael Burke, Landon Avery and Charles Strozier. Honorary pallbearers will be Gary Shaddon and Tim Maxell.
Sue’s visitation will be 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Friday, June 17, 2022 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas.
Donald Joe Hill, better known as Wolfie, of Waldron, Arkansas went to be with his Lord and Savior, Tuesday, June 14, 2022 in Parks, Arkansas with his loved by ones his side. Wolfie was born July 29, 1960 to Donald Gene Hill and Carolyn (Harris) Hill. He was 61 years old.
Wolfie married the love of his life Angie Marie Jett in October 1979. Together they lived, loved and enjoyed 42 years of life. When Wolfie wasn’t working to provide for his girls, he enjoyed hunting, fishing, and farming. Papa was happiest when all his girls were around. No matter if they were outside doing something, working on a project, or just hanging out, making ever lasting memories he cherished the most.
Wolfie leaves behind to cherish his memory, his loving wife Angie of the home, two daughters Darlynda Tallmadge and Wendi Edwards and husband Josh all of Waldron, Arkansas and one uncle Ken Harris of Waldron, Arkansas. Poppa will forever remain in the hearts of his granddaughters, Hallee Tallmadge and Rilee Jo Edwards and one grandson Lane Tallmadge. Wolfie will be missed by all that knew him and the many whose lives he impacted including a host of extended family, friends and loved ones he considered family.
Wolfie was preceded in death by his parents Donald Gene and Carolyn, paternal grandparents WT Thornton Hill and Edna Hill and maternal grandparents Marion and Audrey Harris and one sister Jean Hattabaugh.
Wolfie’s graveside life celebration will be held 10:00 a.m. Friday, June 17, 2022 at the Duncan Cemetery Pavillion in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Pat Ray Biggs officiating. Interment will follow. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Wolfie’s pallbearers will be David Jett, Tim Jett, Carl Long, Rusty Craig, Mikey Johnston and Rick Owens. Honorary pallbearers will be Ken Harris, Robert Jett and Pat Edwards.
Wolfie’s visitation will be Thursday, June 16, 2022 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
