Mansfield Elementary 4th Nine Weeks & 2nd Semester Honor Roll/Principal’s List
Third Grade 4th Nine Weeks Honor Roll:
Blake Campbell, Ava Davis, Averi Davis, Claudia Davis, Addelyn Dobson, Avery Edwards, Landon
Gann, Cailynn Garrison, Cambree Gentry, Samuel Harris, Aiden Hutchens, Paislee Jackson, Lily
Johnson, Jaxson Lang, Ryleigh McEntire, Jace Miner, Keaton Morgan, Brantley Oldham, Crystal
Rassasombath, Journey Silva, Katlin Strozier, Kinlee Winters, Jade Xiong
Third Grade 4th Nine Weeks Principal’s List:
Angel Duong, Ava Elmore, Lucas Hensley, Parker Sanders
Third Grade 2nd Semester Honor Roll:
Ava Davis, Claudia Davis, Addelyn Dobson, Avery Edwards, Riley Fry, Landon Gann, Cailynn
Garrison, Cambree Gentry, Aiden Hutches, Paislee Jackson, Lily Johnson, Ryleigh McEntire,
Jace Miner, Keaton Morgan, Crystal Rassasombath, Journey Silva, Katlin Strozier, Kinlee Winters, Jade Xiong
Third Grade 2nd Semester Principal’s List:
Angel Duong, Ava Elmore, Lucas Hensley, Parker Sanders
Fourth Grade 4th Nine Weeks Honor Roll:
Colt Allbritton, Patrick Burton, Jason Davidson, Tucker Hattabaugh, Gabe Haysmer, Jasmine
LeCompte, Allie McLaughlin, Abbi Neal, Ryder Pennington, Daymian Powell, Aria Schefe, Enya
Trinh, Brantley Whittaker
Fourth Grade 2nd Semester Honor Roll:
Colt Allbritton, Patrick Burton, Samuel Cooper, Jason Davidson, Daniel Elmore, Kasen Eyerman,
Alexis Gavelis, Kyson Gregory, Tucker Hattabaugh, Gabe Haysmer, Jasmine LeCompte, Abbi
Neal, Ryder Pennington, Daymian Powell, Aria Schefe, Enya Trinh, Brantley Whittaker, Leonidus
Xiong
MES 4th 9 Weeks & 2nd Semester Honor Roll/Principal’s List
IAFS Research Symposium Winners Announced
The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith has announced the 15 best research presentations delivered at the 15th Annual Student Research Symposium.
Research projects presented at the conference included both oral and poster presentations. Among the research disciplines represented were animation technology, biology, chemistry, computer science, dental hygiene, education, electronics, engineering, English, finance, geoscience, healthcare administration, history, imaging sciences, nursing, media communication, music education, and rhetoric and writing.
The students whose presentations were selected by judges for recognition received monetary awards in addition to their accolades.
The winners include UAFS students from 17 cities across Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Alma:
Drew Montgomery (team of 5), “Lunar Terrain Vehicle,” faculty sponsor Dr. Kevin Lewelling;
Emilee Rogers (team of 2), “Splenosis: A Case of Spontaneous Spleen Regrowth Following Splenectomy,” faculty sponsor Dr. Brandy Weidman.
Cameron, Oklahoma:
Makayle Stone (team of 2), “Vaginal Seeding: A Literature Review,” faculty sponsor Dr. Jackie Carver.
Coweta, Oklahoma:
Cambrie Keel (team of 2), “Splenosis: A Case of Spontaneous Spleen Regrowth Following Splenectomy,” faculty sponsor Dr. Brandy Weidman.
Edmond, Oklahoma:
Avreigh Watson, “Women Support Women: A Vindication for Protofeminists,” faculty sponsor Dr. Lindsy Lawrence.
Fort Smith:
Sarah Goyne (team of 4), “Look to the Future: A Periodontal Disease Vaccine,” faculty sponsor Dr. Bonnie Branson;
Jeason Lopez, “Chester”: A Song of Tyranny and Revolution,” faculty sponsor Dr. Alexandra Zacharella;
Mariah Thomas (team of 4), “Investigation of a Recent Landslide in Fort Smith, Arkansas,” faculty sponsor Dr. Dave Mayo;
Nicholas Thompson, “The Effects of Pandemics on Stock Market Returns and Volatility,” faculty sponsor Dr. Jim Wollscheid;
Ashley Wilson (team of 4), “Look to the Future: A Periodontal Disease Vaccine,” faculty sponsor Dr. Bonnie Branson.
Gentry:
Ben Philpott (team of 5), “Lunar Terrain Vehicle,” faculty sponsor Dr. Kevin Lewelling.
Greenwood:
Rylynd Bullington (team of 5), “Lunar Terrain Vehicle,” faculty sponsor Dr. Kevin Lewelling;
Alex Burns (team of 4), “Investigation of a Recent Landslide in Fort Smith, Arkansas,” faculty sponsor Dr. Dave Mayo;
Emily Clem, “Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls: From “Killers of the Flower Moon” to the Present,” faculty sponsor Dr. Ann-Gee Lee;
Alexis Groves (team of 2), “Perceptions of Heart Healthy Behaviors in Homeless Women,” faculty sponsor Dr. Patricia Conard;
Rebecca Martinez (team of 5), “Lunar Terrain Vehicle,” faculty sponsor Dr. Kevin Lewelling;
Faith O’Mahony (team of 2), “Perceptions of Heart Healthy Behaviors in Homeless Women,” faculty sponsor Dr. Patricia Conard.
Lavaca:
Brittany Mize (team of 4), “Look to the Future: A Periodontal Disease Vaccine,” faculty sponsor Dr. Bonnie Branson.
Mulberry:
Paul Gambill (team of 3), “The Effects of Biochar on Turf Grass,” faculty sponsor Dr. James Brandli.
Muldrow, Oklahoma:
Melissa Hayden, “Conductor, Composer, Philanthropist: The Life of Emma Roberto Steiner,” faculty sponsor Dr. Alexandra Zacharella.
Norman:
Julton Sword, “Deep-Seeker: Autonomous Robotic Path-Recognition Network,” faculty sponsors Dr. Andrew Mackey and Israel Cuevas.
Pocola, Oklahoma:
Bryan Elam (team of 3), “The Effects of Biochar on Turf Grass,” faculty sponsor Dr. James Brandli.
Poteau, Oklahoma:
Jenny Dixon (team of 4), “Look to the Future: A Periodontal Disease Vaccine,” faculty sponsor Dr. Bonnie Branson.
Rogers:
Kairy Galvez, “Testing of Quinazolinone-Based Drug Candidates as Treatments for Antibiotic Resistant Bacterial Infections,” faculty sponsors Roger Lightner, Dr. Jeff Shaver, Dr. Souvik Banerjee, Dr. Sandhya Baviskar, and Dr. Sayo Fakayode.
Sallisaw, Oklahoma:
Payton Karr (team of 4), “Investigation of a Recent Landslide in Fort Smith, Arkansas,” faculty sponsor Dr. Dave Mayo.
Van Buren:
Andrew Edmonds (team of 4), “Investigation of a Recent Landslide in Fort Smith, Arkansas,” faculty sponsor Dr. Dave Mayo;
Anthony Ming (team of 5), “Lunar Terrain Vehicle,” faculty sponsor Dr. Kevin Lewelling;
Logan Perez (team of 3), “The Effects of Biochar on Turf Grass,” faculty sponsor Dr. James Brandli;
Ian Schweizer, “The Redesign and Implementation of the Coupler Controller,” faculty sponsor Dr. Kiyun Han.
Vian, Oklahoma:
Alexis Kleman (team of 2), “Vaginal Seeding: A Literature Review,” faculty sponsor Dr. Jackie Cavner.
Local Summer Reading Programs
With summer comes reading programs at the library. Lucky for our area, the libraries put on great ones!
Sebastian County (Greenwood library), Mansfield Public Library, Westwood Elementary School Library, Scott County Library, Hartford Public Library, and Lavaca Public Library’s reading programs begin 5/31. Open from Birth to 17 years old, youth can enter to win weekly prizes. Birth-11 year olds get an entry for every 5 books read, and 12-17 get an entry for ever 5 hours spent reading. Each library has story time and activities weekly for the duration of the reading program.
The Logan County Public Library reading program begins on June 1st and is open to all ages. Their calendar is full of activities and summer fun.
Timepiece: School Days
By Dr. Curtis Varnell
The scent of yeast rolls baking rolled up the stairway and down the halls. In a short time, my class would be escorted down the hall for lunch. My hopes were for the fried chicken, mashed potato and gravy, rolls and, the best of all desserts, homemade cinnamon rolls. With my extra nickel, I planned to purchase an extra bottle of chocolate milk and another cinnamon roll. Food was prepared to be delicious, filling, and nutritious without regard to how much fats, butter, or sugar was used to make it tasty and wholesome.
The lunchroom was in the basement of the old, three-storied brick building. The walls were covered with paintings of Humpty-Dumpty, Jack and the beanstalk, and other folk tales. Within minutes, lunch would be consumed and we would have the rest of the noon hour to play marbles, tops, or ride the rickety merry-go-round or walk the monkey bars.
Virtually everyone outside of the town limits rode school buses, often for hours, to get to school. The busses were packed, often with kids standing in the aisle shifting forward and back as the bus gained or lost speed. Sounds echoed around the bus from all the excited kids, especially when the occasional argument or fight broke out. Discipline was often immediate and, in today’s world, would probably get you fired. On one trip, one overactive, argumentative boy was put off the bus to walk home. When his older sister objected, she was also put off the bus followed by an additional three siblings. The bus driver shifted into gear and we drove off in a cloud of dust, all of us waving at the five vagrants who now had six miles to walk to get home. Once during a heavy rain, the wooden bridge we were to cross was covered by water. An older student volunteered to check the depth, walked about five steps onto the bridge, and all of him except his cap disappeared. Swimming back to the bus, he was dried off and we turned to find another route to school. Today, we would have twenty videos of either incident on line within minutes and the school board would be in immediate session to fire the driver, principal, and superintendent who hired him.
The high school looked like a Holiday Inn. The aisles were outside and exposed to the elements. When it rained or snowed, we received a bath just getting to class. On hot spring and summer days, the rooms became sweat boxes with temperatures reaching into the 90s. Four fans circulated the sweltering air, carrying with it the unpleasant odor created by teenage boys just exiting physical education classes. As a hoax, one of the practical jokers on staff left a box full of Styrofoam chips sitting on my desk. When the box was lifted, Styrofoam chips joined the air stream circulating around the room which now resembled a snow globe.
Clothing was tightly regulated. Until 1970, all girls were required to wear dresses. The mini-skirt fad changed that tradition. It was much more modest to allow long shorts than to continue with skirts made from two handkerchiefs!! The sixties for the boys were bell-bottom pants, bright colored shirts, and long hair.
Integration of schools occurred in the late ’60s and, at our school, occurred without undue problems. A few years later, I returned to teach and the school president and two of the cheerleaders were Afro-American. Progress in that realm is ongoing but the sixties integration got the process in gear.
Forty years later, school facilities have improved. Teachers still go about the business of educating our kids and, by and large, do a good job. Kids are much the same as when I attended school years ago and I have great faith in their ability to manage our world in the future. Public education is not perfect but it continues to be the best venue available to give all kids the opportunity to prepare for life.
Arrest Reports 5/15
Arresting agency – Bonanza Police Department:
Kyler Ray Cathey of Cameron, OK was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 19 at 9:57 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Cathey was charged with contempt of court (child support), FTAS, FTRespond Subpoena, FTComply WCO and petition to revoke – misd.
Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office:
Reba Sue Chandler of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 18 at 11:43 a.m. Chandler was charged with petition to revoke – felony.
Benjamin Odell Deer of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 21 at 3:51 a.m. and transferred to an outside agency on May 21 at 7:44 a.m. Deer was charged with assist outside agency – felony.
Anthony Clinton Eatmon of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 15 at 2:57 p.m. and released on May 22 at 9:02 a.m. Eatmon was charged with ACT 570 – parolee, assist outside agency – misd., and failure to appear – class B misdemeanor.
Darlys Dee Fowler of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 20 at 9:30 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Fowler was charged with failure to appear – class B misdemeanor and failure to appear – class C felony.
Arthur Lee Miller of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 19 at 3:19 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Miller was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.
Justin Warren Nave of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 16 at 4:46 p.m. and released on signature bond May 16 at 11:13 p.m. Nave was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.
Benjamin Karl Stewart of Paris was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 15 at 2:14 a.m. and released on May 19 at 1:30 p.m. Stewart was charged with assist outside agency – misd., driving while intoxicated – 4th offense, refusal to submit to a chemical test – adult, and failure to appear – class A misdemeanor.
Rachel Louise Stinson of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 16 at 2:55 p.m. and released on signature bond May 16 at 6:20 p.m. Stinson was charged with petition to revoke – felony.
Georgiana Mae Wheeler of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 18 at 12:40 p.m.and remains at the SCADC. Wheeler was charged with petition to revoke – felony, parole violation, possession drug paraphernalia – felony, and possession of schedule I/II controlled substance with the purpose to deliver >2g.
Rebekah Lynn White of Charleston was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 20 at 10:25 p.m. and released on signature bond on May 21 at 2:23 a.m. White was charged with two counts of Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).
Arresting agency – Arkansas State Troopers, Troop H:
Mason Kyle Hernandez of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 15 at 12:26 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond May 15 at 3:35 a.m. Hernandez was charged with driving left of center/improper overtaking or passing and driving while intoxicated, 2nd offense.
Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Austin Dean Jones of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 16 at 1:27 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Jones was charged with fugitive from justice out of state, criminal impersonation in the second degree – false ID, domestic battering in the second degree – pregnant (purposely), fleeing on foot – misd., failure to appear – class A misdemeanor, and petition to revoke – felony.
Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
Amber S McGrath of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 15 at 6:26 p.m. and released on signature bond May 15 at 10:43 p.m. McGrath was charged with failure to appear – class B misdemeanor, and contempt – willful disobedience (failure to pay fine).
Arresting agency – Logan County Sheriff’s Office:
Jeanette Macias of Magazine was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 24 at 9:06 p.m. Macias was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while driver’s license canceled, suspended or revoked, criminal mischief in the second degree and theft of property.
Kelsey Knight of Magazine was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 24 at 4:37 p.m. Knight was charged with aggravated assault on a family or household member, endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree and terroristic threatening in the first degree.
Kathryn Kemp of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 24 at 3:42 p.m. and was charged with failure to appear.
Jason Michael Hilburn of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 24 at 11:36 a.m. Hilburn was charged with contempt of court, battery in the third degree, and terroristic threatening in the second degree.
Clayton Holbrook of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 24 at 11:06 a.m. and charged with battery in the third degree, and criminal mischief in the first degree.
Garrison Rutherford of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 21 at 8:26 p.m. and charged with failure to appear.
Darrell Reedy of Delaware, AR was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 21 at 7:49 p.m. Reedy was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine or cocaine with the purpose to deliver controlled substances – offenses relating to records, and maintaining premises, etc.
Benjamin Deer of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 21 at 9:21 a.m. and charged with body attachment.
Kenny Lynch of Waldron was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 20 at 9:23 p.m. Lynch was served with a warrant.
Ben Flanagin was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 20 at 4:01 p.m. and remains on hold for another agency.
Zachary Hatton of Booneville was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 19 at 3:51 p.m. Hatton was charged with possession of a schedule I or II controlled substance with purpose to deliver, possession of a schedule VI controlled substance with the purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of firearm by certain persons.
Blaine Duvall of Scraton was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 18 at 9:21 p.m. and charged with hindering apprehension or prosecution.
Shane Austin Quillman of Paris was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 18 at 9:01 a.m. Quillman was charged with contempt of court, probation revocation, and contempt of court.
Allen Thompson of Marietta, OK was booked into the Logan County Detention Center on May 17 at 9:12 p.m. and charged with failure to appear and contempt of court.
**The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.**
RNN Welcomes New Magazine Area Reporter
Resident News Network is proud to announce the addition of a news reporter, who will be covering the Magazine community.
Brandy Young is a perfect fit for our brand and embodies the spirit of locally focused news. A lifelong resident of Magazine, Young and her family have strong roots in the community. “My family and my community are everything to me, and I am always looking for ways to give back,” shared Young. “I currently serve on the school board for the Magazine School District, have previously served on the Magazine Little League Board, coached little league basketball and softball, and served on countless committees for community events.”
When Young isn’t volunteering, she is spending time with her daughter and coaching her travel basketball team.
Founder, Jason Baggett, noted that he’s elated to have Young covering news and events in for the newly launched Logan County Edition of Resident Press.
Be watching for Young’s locally focused content in the Logan County edition! Go Rattlers!
Enjoy summer fun while practicing sun safety tips to avoid skin cancer, sunburn
By Rebekah Hall
U of A System Division of Agriculture
As temperatures warm up and the school year winds down, Arkansas families are preparing to spend more time outside during the summer months. While the Natural State offers plenty of opportunities for fun in the sun, it’s important to practice sun safety by using sunscreen, avoiding prolonged sun exposure and wearing protective clothing.
Skin cancer is the biggest long-term risk from sun exposure, and it is also the most common type of cancer. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 5 million adults are treated for skin cancer each year.
There are two types of ultraviolet rays that damage skin and cause skin cancer: UV-A and UV-B rays. While UV-B rays have more energy and are a more dangerous type of UV light, individuals should protect against both types.
Choosing the right protection factor
Bryan Mader, assistant professor and health specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, said it’s important to use a sunscreen that has an SPF – sun protection factor – of at least 30 and to reapply according to the manufacturer’s guidelines.
“All sunscreens are formulated a little bit differently, so the manufacturers are the ones who can best tell us how often it needs to be reapplied to provide that consistent protection,” Mader said.
The SPF number indicates how much UV radiation – that of both UV-A and UV-B rays – the sunscreen blocks. For example, Mader said a sunscreen with SPF 15 blocks about 90 percent of UV rays, while an SPF of 50 blocks about 98 percent of rays.
Mader also said it’s important to check a sunscreen’s expiration date before applying.
“Checking your sunscreen’s expiration date should be done on an annual basis, around springtime, before you begin spending lots of time outdoors, because sunscreen can expire and lose its effectiveness,” he said.
Any child older than 6 months should use sunscreen, and children younger than 6 months should be kept out of the sun and covered up with comfortable clothing.
Additional protection
No sunscreen provides complete protection from the sun, so it’s important to use additional forms of sun protection as well. Other ways of protecting against sun exposure include sunglasses with a UV protection factor; wide-brimmed hats that provide coverage of the ears, neck and top of the head – unlike a visor or baseball cap, which leaves some of these areas unprotected; and tightly-woven clothing that covers the arms and legs.
Loosely woven clothing, such as cotton t-shirts, still allows the sun to get through the fabric. Check a fabric’s sun safety by holding it up to the light. If one can see through the item, UV rays can easily penetrate the fabric and reach the skin. Dark colors or bright, saturated colors – such as vibrant reds or blues – also offer better protection than lighter shades, such as white or light pink.
Some garment makers design clothes specifically with an Ultraviolet Protection Factor (UPF) that indicates how much UV radiation can reach the skin. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, a garment with a UPF of 30-39 offers “very good” protection, and a UPF of 50 and up rates as “excellent” protection.
The when and the where
The most effective method of sun safety is avoiding direct, prolonged sun exposure during the times when the sun’s rays are strongest and most harmful. In Arkansas, these are the hours between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. UV rays can affect the skin even on cloudy days, and the reflectivity of surfaces can also exacerbate one’s exposure.
“The reflectivity of whatever surface you’re on can also have an effect on how intense the UV-A and UV-B rays are,” Mader said. “If you’re playing on something like grass, then it’s going to be a little better able to absorb that light and those rays, whereas if you’re on water or any light-colored surface – such as concrete or sand – it’s going to reflect from below you up to you.”
If one does get sunburned, Mader said the most important step to take is to avoid the sun for a few days afterward.
“Your body can only handle so much exposure at a time, so avoiding the sun for a few days afterwards is going to be the most important thing that you can do,” he said. “If you do have other outdoor activities to participate in after you’ve gotten a sunburn, make sure that you’re wearing a hat or wearing some protective clothing, or that you’re under a tent, or a gazebo, or an awning of some kind so you don’t continue to soak up those UV-A and UV-B rays that are damaging to our skin.”
Burn care
For relieving sunburns, aloe vera gel and other moisturizing lotions can help soothe the skin. Anti-inflammatory medications, such as ibuprofen, can also help relieve “some of that initial pain and swelling that our skin has when it’s trying to recover from a sunburn,” Mader said.
Mader said that if skin is very swollen or blistering even after spending time out of the sun, that may be an indication to contact one’s health care provider.
“If you reach that stage of a sunburn where you are blistering, or it makes you feel ill, or you’re dehydrated as a result of it – which could feel like headaches or dry mouth – all of those types of symptoms could mean that you do need to consult a healthcare provider,” he said. “But especially if, after an initial cool down period of staying out of the sun, the skin is still very swollen and dark red and blistering, that would be my indication to seek further care.”
For more information about sun safety and summer skincare, visit the Sun Safety page on the Cooperative Extension Service’s website.
“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor
Hello everyone! We got a good rain and now the sun is shining and it is humid and warm. I’m not complaining, just stating facts.
Do y’all remember the things your mom used to tell you when you were kids? I remember mom telling us not to hang upside down on the monkey bars because our liver would turn over. What does that even mean? Of course, when she was gone, we would hang upside down on the swing set, and guess what happened to me? My liver didn’t turn over, but I fell and broke my arm. Yes, I did, the summer before third grade.
If you crossed your eyes, they would stay that way. That only happened to my sister Pam. Just kidding! But, I always told her that her eyes were crossed. We also could not spin in circles. That would also turn your liver over. Don’t swallow your gum, it will take seven years to digest, and you will get plugged up. I believe you know what that means! Don’t bite your fingernails they will go to your appendix and you will have to have it removed. That must be true because I had my appendix removed in the fifth grade. You can’t swim after you eat because you will get cramps and drown. If you sit too close to the TV it will ruin your eyes. What kid doesn’t want to be right up on the TV? Don’t pick up a frog because if it pees on you, you will get warts on your hands. Let me tell you when I got peed on by a frog, I scrubbed my hands because I was scared I would get warts. If you eat carrots it will help you see better. Hello, I wasn’t falling for that one. Santa knows when you’re naughty or nice. Especially, naughty. Don’t crack your knuckles, you will have bad arthritis when you are old. Like a kid cares about when they are old. If you tell a lie, your nose will grow. Pinocchio scared me to death.
The list is endless. Funny how we believed all that nonsense. I’ve heard my mom’s voice come out of my mouth many times. Mom is gone now, but I can still hear her voice. The time I told Ella she would turn her liver over was priceless. I wish I had a video of her face. Sure had some fun times when we were kids. As adults, we have had some fun times also. When all us Wags are together, it’s a big laugh fest and fun times. One time, long ago, we found out we had a sister in California, and my brother Larry and I were going to tell my sister Pam. We get together and Larry says, “we have something to tell you” and as serious as she could ever be, she says “I’m not pregnant am I?” We rolled and have never let her live that down. How would we know anyway?
This week’s recipe is four layer delight. One of my favorite desserts of all time and you can make it with any kind of pudding you want. My favorite is chocolate and coconut.
Layer one:
1 cup of flour
1/2 cup butter or margarine (softened and slightly melted)
1/4 cup sugar
1 cup pecans or nuts of your choice
Layer two:
1 cup powdered sugar
8 ounces cream cheese
1/2 container of Cool Whip
Layer three:
2 six-ounce boxes of Jello-O (any flavor you like)
3 cups of cold milk
Layer four:
The rest of the Cool Whip
Mix the first three ingredients and add the pecans and press into a 13×9 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes. Soften the cream cheese, then blend in the powdered sugar and Cool Whip. Spread over cooled crust. Mix pudding and milk, and spread on the cream cheese layer. Spread the rest of the Cool Whip on top.
Mail Carrier Phil Stevens Retires
One of the faces at the Mansfield Post office will be greatly missed on June 1st. Phil Stevens, one of our wonderful carriers, is retiring May 31st. He has served his patrons with the upmost respect, going that extra mile, with many laughs, a lifetime of stories and many happy memories. Phil even went so far recently during recent floods in our area to take a very nice lady home after she lost control of her car. Phil is one of those people you are always glad to see coming in good and bad weather.
Phil is from the Hackett area and after graduating high school, enlisted with the US Air Force. His 20 years of service taught him many trades to carry on into his life after leaving.
Unsure what to do after, he decided to apply for a postal position. He was hired as a City Carrier at the Mena Post Office, but did not feel like this was a good fit for him at the time. He then worked for his brother driving a truck and other jobs before deciding to try the post office again.
Phil came back to work for the Post Office when Postmaster Bruce Tanner hired him for an open position at Mansfield. After working here for some time, a position became available in Waldron where Phil lived at that time. Phil then transferred to Waldron Post Office where he was trained to work all four routes there. Eventually, Phil was promoted to a full-time position in that office.
A couple of years ago, looking to retire soon, Phil liked the idea of coming back to Mansfield. Sabrina Ison, full-time carrier at Mansfield, who actually lives in Waldron, was looking to move closer to home. Both Phil and Sabrina pondered over the decision to swap offices, pros and cons, etc. before a final decision was made. Under the supervision of Mansfield Postmaster Bettye Barnes, Phil and Sabrina mutually switched their carrier positions between Mansfield and Waldron. Phil’s outstanding personality and caring attitude has since complimented our Mansfield Post Office crew.
Phil’s sense of humor, jokes, and witty comebacks, as well as bringing food goodies will be missed. He once told about two Great Pyerenes that wait for him faithfully on his route just to run beside him after putting mail in the box for fun. Famous quotes when thinking of Phil include – A wise Postal Worker once said “I’m out of here” and lived happily ever after”; A legendary Postal Worker has retired; A truly great postal worker is hard to find, difficult to part with, and IMPOSSIBLE TO FORGET. Postmaster Mary Graber Seratt, as well as the Hartford, Huntington, and Mansfield Post Office crews all agree that it has been a real pleasure and honor to work with Phil.
Phil and his wife Dee, plan on catching up on their to do list at home in Mena, as well as travel, and just enjoy life. We will miss you, but wish you the best for the future!
Submitted by Sherri Keener
ASP Troopers Receive Lifesaving Award
The Arkansas State Police recently held their honors and awards ceremony. Among the award recipients, Troopers (Sgt.) Greg Smith and (Cpl.) Michael Bowman, both assigned to the Highway Patrol Division, Troop H.
Troopers Bowman and Smith received The Lifesaving Award, which is presented to department employees who, through direct personal intervention, including the application of CPR, the Heimlich maneuver or any other lifesaving measures performed on a victim, prevents immediate death.
The troopers were awarded Life Saving Awards for their valiant efforts on April 13, 2021 that ultimately prevented a man standing at the edge of the Interstate 540 bridge across the Arkansas River from taking his own life.