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Obituary – Wilma Jean (Slater) Smith (1938-2022)

Tammy Teague
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Obituary – Wilma Jean (Slater) Smith (1938-2022)

Wilma Jean Smith of Waldron, Arkansas went to be with her Lord and Savior, Wednesday, May 18, 2022 in Hot Springs, Arkansas with her loving family by her side. Wilma was born in Waldron, Arkansas on March 11, 1938 to Roy Slater and Alcie (Brown) Slater. She was 84 years old.

Wilma enjoyed watching soap operas on TV especially the Young and the Restless. She was always up for a good milkshake, playing a game of rummy, pitch or Phase 10 with her family or going camping. Wilma also enjoyed singing gospel and bluegrass music with her husband Floyd. No matter what Wilma happened to be doing, she was never more content or happy than when surrounded by grandchildren and great-grandchildren, extended family, friends and those who were family by heart. She was kind and welcoming to everyone. 

Wilma leaves behind to cherish her memory, one daughter, Diane Vaughn and husband Tony, two sons: Jerry Bob Smith and Brent Smith all of Waldron, Arkansas. Granny will forever remain in the hearts of her grandchildren: Kerry, Angie, Jason, Jennie, Christine, Heath, Sarah, Ryan, Hannah, Bethany, Jacey, Emily, and Jackson as well as 12 great grandchildren. Wilma will be missed by all those whose lives she impacted including a host of nieces and nephews, friends and neighbors she loved dearly.

Wilma was preceded in death by her husband Floyd, one daughter Rema Smith and one grandson Anthony Vaughn. Wilma was also preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Alcie Slater and siblings: Jewelene Lovett, Eva Denney, Betty Boman, Verna Valentine, Leroe (Goat) Slater, Donnie Slater and Joe Slater.

Wilma’s life celebration will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 21, 2022 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Jerry Isham and Travis May officiating. Interment will follow in the Lamb Cemetery near Waldron, Arkansas.  Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Wilma’s pallbearers will be Bill Lovett, Rick Hudson, Sam Slater, Roger Slater, Josh Norris and Richard Morris. Honorary pallbearers will be Jim Lovett and Robert Slater. 

Wilma’s visitation will be Friday, May 20, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas. 

Paris’s Cinderella Post-Season Run Ends in State Semifinals

Resident News Network
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Paris’s Cinderella Post-Season Run Ends in State Semifinals

The Paris Eagles baseball team rattled off seven straight post-season wins in the district, regional, and state tournaments before losing to last year’s Class 3A state champion, Harding Academy, in the state tournament semifinals last week in Harrison. The Eagles run was bolstered by outstanding play in all phases of the game including pitching, defense, and timely hitting with runners on base. It was a run that was historic in the Paris baseball program, and for the seniors who played their last games of their high school careers, it was a fitting ending for a class of athletes who also had great runs in the Eagles’ football and basketball programs, as well.

The Harding Academy Wildcats are unquestionably, in this writer’s opinion, the best team in Class 3A. In fact, if the Wildcats were forced to play in Class 4A, they may be the best team in that classification as well. In last week’s semifinal game with Paris, the Wildcats pitched University of Arkansas baseball commit, Kade Smith. Smith, a junior who committed to the Razorbacks during his sophomore season, did not give up a hit to the Eagles for the first four innings of his seven inning complete game. And if that was not enough, Smith also showed his dominance offensively by contributing to his own win with a home run in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Harding Academy and Razorbacks baseball commit Kade Smith dominated Paris in the state semis (RNN Sports Photo / Jim Best)

But although last weekend’s loss was heartbreaking for the Eagles, it was a day in which the players, coaches, and fans could hold their heads high. Paris was a scrappy team that was never out of any game they played, regardless of the score or deficits they may have faced. In fact, the Eagles overcame a five run deficit in the first round of the state tournament to come back to defeat a good Rose Bud team by the score of 8-6. And in a big inning outburst in the second round versus Prescott, the Eagles took the lead for good in the middle innings and defeated the Curley Wolves for the right to move on to the Final Four of the state tournament.

After the heart-stopping win over Prescott in the quarterfinals that saw a big Paris lead shrink to the point that stopper Mason Bradley was called upon to get the final two outs of the last inning, Paris coach Josh Hart commented, “Another awesome win for our boys! They came out swinging it today. This group of young men have no quit in them and that’s what’s special about them. All of their hard work is paying off. We aren’t done yet; still more work to be done. It is one game at a time for us with one goal in mind.”

Paris senior Nate Henderson hustles down the first baseline to beat out a base hit for the Eagles vs. Harding Academy (RNN Sports Photo / Jim Best)

And as Coach Hart said, this was a very special group of Eagles, and they did not have an ounce of quit in them.

Paris was ranked in the top four in Class 3A for the second half of the season, and finished the season ranked third, as well. All of this despite the Eagles not having a player named to the All-State team with the exception of Duke Walker being named as honorable mention. In this writer’s opinion, it was a slap in the face to Paris, and it is hard to explain why conference coaches and administrators allowed it to happen. But, that may be a story for another day.

RNN Sports Photo / Jim Best

But now the season is over, and the Eagles who finished the season as district tournament champions and regional tournament champions, and made a Final Four appearance in the state tournament, will always be remembered as the most successful baseball players in program history to date. After the loss to Harding Academy, Coach Hart summed up the season and his affection for his players by saying, “This group of guys are so special. They have showed all season that they have no quit in them. During Saturday’s game (vs Harding Academy) we got into an early deficit. They could have easily just quit but they didn’t. They fought tooth and nail until the umpires said “ballgame.” We were being no-hit for most of the game and finally got something going late after freshman Chris Lensing broke up the no-hitter. It was just too little too late. Harding is a good ball club and we gave them everything we had. Mason Bradley (started on the mound the next day vs Harding Academy) gave them all he had and kept us in a position where we could still strike and make a game of it. We never shyied away from them and give it our all. As Coach Crane (former Paris coach) said, “You know what an Eagle does when a storm approaches? When everything else runs and hides and seeks shelter? An Eagle will fly to the highest peak it can find, turn it’s face into the storm and when the words of the storm gets there, the Eagle takes off. It goes into the eye of the storm and soars high! Well, that is this group. They never ran and found shelter; they faced the storm and took it on head first. This group was their divisional (conference) top seed. They are district champs, regional champs, and state tournament semifinalists. What a year they had. I am so proud of each and everyone of them. This season will be one that I remember forever.”

RNN Sports Photo / Jim Best

Yes, it will be a season that the players, coaches, and Eagles fans everywhere will always remember. Congratulations to Paris on an outstanding season, and we look forward to the 2023 baseball Eagles and the next phase of Paris Eagles baseball!

Arrest Reports 5/8

Tammy Teague
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Arrest Reports 5/8

Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office:
Kimberly Joyce Boyd of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 13 at 8:16 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Boyd was charged with Contempt of Court–(child support), FTAS, FTRespond Subpoena, FTComply WCO.

Douglas Dewayne Brunson of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 9 at 3:06 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond on May 9 at 9:39 p.m. Brunson was charged with petition to revoke – felony.

Randall Wayne Fletcher of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 13 at 5:01 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Fletcher was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Misd., and Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule I/II Felony <2g.

Dempsey Newton Jeremiah Junior of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 8 at 4:42 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond May 11 at 3:41 p.m. Jeremiah was charged with Driving While License Cancelled/Suspended/Revoked, Refusal To Submit To Arrest Misdemeanor, and Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense.

Kash Colby Knight of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 9 at 4:46 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Knight was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor, Petition to Revoke – Felony, and Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

James Michael Shoemake of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 10 at 7:58 p.m. and transferred to an outside agency on May 14 at 7:04 a.m. Shoemake was charged with return to testify, ADC commitment hold, and rape <14.

Jeremy Dwayne Spencer of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 8 at 10:44 p.m. and released on cash bond May 9 at 7:50 a.m. Spencer was charged with Failure to Appear – Class C Felony.

Arresting agency – Hackett Police Department:
Erica Reni Elmore of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 10 at 8:31 p.m. and transferred to an outside agency on May 11 at 9:06 a.m. Elmore was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Misd.

Jesse Everett Orman of Cameron, OK was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 8 at 6:45 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond on May 16 at 10:12 a.m. Orman was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia C Felony, and Domestic Battering in the Second Degree – Serious Physical Injury.

Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department:
Ronnie James Freeman of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 14 at 4:21 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Freeman was charged with petition to revoke – misd., Criminal Mischief in the First Degree > $1,000 but < $5,000, and Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department:
Justin Ray Scott of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 12 at 10:23 a.m. and released on signature bond May 12 at 8:28 p.m. Scott was charged with Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Zachery Taylor Swafford of Booneville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 11 at 12:11 a.m. and transferred to an outside agency on May 11 at 8:23 a.m. Swafford was charged with Assist Outside Agency-Felony, and Contempt-willful disobedience (Failure to Pay Fine).

Steward Cole Wallace of Glen Rose was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 10 at 12:20 a.m. and transferred to an outside agency on May 10 at 4:41 a.m. Wallace was charged with two counts of Assist Outside Agency-Misd.

Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police, Troop H:
Christian Howard Tate of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on May 11 at 1:07 p.m. and released on signature bond May 12 at 1:09 p.m. Tate was charged with Failure to Appear – Class B Misdemeanor.

**The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.**

Arkansas Turkey Harvest Inches Up

Tammy Teague
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Arkansas Turkey Harvest Inches Up

Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications

LITTLE ROCK — Natural State turkey hunters saw an uptick in checked birds during this spring’s three-week turkey hunting season, which ran from April 18 to May 8. Hunters checked 7,578 turkeys, an 8 percent increase from last year’s 7,013-bird total.

That number also includes harvest totals from the state’s youth hunters who enjoyed a preseason youth hunt April 9-10. Despite high winds and a cold snap in most of the state, youth hunters set the tone for the upcoming season for a weekend harvest of 887 birds, an increase of 8 percent over the previous year’s youth hunt total of 821.

Only 253 jakes (immature gobblers) were checked, which was roughly 3.3 percent of the overall harvest. (Youth hunters are allowed one jake in their two-bird bag limit.) This is in line with the average of 4 percent jake harvest since the “No Jakes Rule” was put in place. From 2000-2010, all hunters had been allowed one jake as part of their harvest, which resulted in up to 25 percent of the harvest being immature birds. Before that, jakes could make up a hunter’s entire bag limit for the season, and 40 to 60 percent of the annual harvest was made up of these first-year gobblers.

This year’s uptick was expected according to Jeremy Wood, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Turkey Program coordinator and other biologists who track turkey reproduction through annual brood surveys and observation surveys throughout the state.

“The surveys indicated good reproduction in 2020, which is when the majority of gobblers harvested this year were likely produced,” Wood said. “We were cautiously optimistic that we would see a better harvest this year, and the harvest result was a good indication that the metrics we use continue to be good indicators of the population’s status.”

The news comes as a pleasant surprise to many turkey hunters who saw lower success rates last year. Wood said the decrease and rebound can be explained by a few factors, some within the AGFC’s control, but the vast majority of which are outside the control of public land managers.

“We put a lot of conservative regulations in place in 2021, which were designed to balance hunting pressure with the turkey population and help turkeys get some breeding done before people entered the woods and disturbed breeding activity,” Wood said. “But there were other factors that likely had greater contributions to last year’s decline.”

Another factor that played into last season’s dropoff was poor reproduction in 2019 due to rainfall during the peak of hatching season.

“Turkey poults can’t thermoregulate for their first few weeks of life, so they are dependent on the hen to keep them out of the elements,” Wood said. “Four of the five lowest reproductive years on record occurred in the last decade, all of which saw similarly poor weather conditions at this critical time of a poult’s life.”

The large increase in hunters and hunting effort during 2020 as a result of COVID-19 likely compounded the issue.

“We saw an increase in 2020’s harvest, but that had more to do with the perceived increase in hunter effort masking the effects of poor reproduction two years prior,” Wood said. “That large harvest on the decreasing population was another factor that likely led to the decrease in 2021.”

Wood is hopeful that this year’s stabilization of turkey numbers continues into next season as well.

“Through the annual brood surveys, we estimated that 2021 also had decent reproduction, and many hunters have commented to biologists and land managers that they called up a lot of jakes this season,” Wood said. “Those birds will hopefully result in another good season next year when they are mature enough to harvest.”

Wood says it’s too early to tell if this year’s breeding season was successful, but encourages all hunters and wildlife watchers to help with the monitoring effort.

“This year’s hatch will be peaking from now through early June, and weather conditions during these next few weeks will be critical,” Wood said. “One of the best ways the public can help is by contributing to the annual turkey and quail population survey. They can visit agfc.com/turkeysurvey and record sightings. They can also download the app Survey123 to their phone. When they see a turkey, whether it’s a gobbler, single hen or hen with poults, simply add it to the survey. This helps fill the gaps in data and enables biologists to continue making informed decisions on the state’s turkey management.”

Hackett Teacher named Western Arkansas Teacher of the Year

Tammy Teague
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Hackett Teacher named Western Arkansas Teacher of the Year

Gayle Pelham of Hackett was named the Western Arkansas Teacher of the year.


Mrs. Gayle Pelham, elementary teacher at Hackett schools has been named the Western Arkansas (Guy Fenter Education Service Cooperative) teacher of the year for 2022. 

Mrs. Pelham has taught a total of 35 years in the Hackett School system, most of those years teaching 5th and 6th grade science and social studies.  The award was presented to Mrs. Pelham in front of the student body by Dr. Curtis Varnell of the educational coop.  In presenting the award, Dr. Varnell commented on the dedication and commitment exhibited by Mrs. Pelham in obtaining and exhibiting the best and most current teaching practices available.  “When we held educational training and meetings, you could always depend on Mrs. Pelham being there.  On several occasions, she gave up two weeks of her summer schedule to attend meeting every day at the coop.” “ On Monday nights, Steve Brodie at U/A Fort Smith held teacher training sessions.  Same thing, Mrs. Pelham was there learning and bringing back best teaching practices to her “kids.”  

Mrs. Pelham practiced hands-on learning.  Her kids could be seen making rockets, designing mouse-trap cars, and making systems to filter water.  Her success in teaching showed up at several regional STEM competitions in which her kids received awards, competing against thousands of students from around the state.  

Students and teachers stood and clapped in appreciation as the plaque was awarded, followed by dozens of hugs from current and former students.  As Mrs. Pelham remarked, the studentsappreciation was the biggest reward you could receive for years of teaching. 

Awarded annually, the Teacher of the Year is selected from the several thousand teachers who make up the 22 public school districts and more than 50 schools which comprise the Guy Fenter Education Cooperative region. The teacher is nominated by a fellow teacher and selected by their peers.  Mrs. Pelham is the first teacher from the Hackett School district to receive the award.

Timepiece: All-American Sport

Tammy Teague
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Timepiece: All-American Sport

1958 Scranton Baseball team

By Dr. Curtis Varnell
Drive through any small town in Arkansas on a spring and early summer night and you will see banks of lights illuminating small and large baseball fields crawling with youngsters and their parents.  Hilarious to watch, the small kids might be chasing fireflies in the outfield, laying down in the base paths, or even running around the bases in reverse.  Warm weather, lawn chairs, popcorn, baseball, and family are an integral part of American life.

Now primarily a sport for children, baseball was once the primary sport of adults in America.  Every community had one or more teams of athletes who represented the town or workplace.  Organized into leagues, the men would travel throughout the area playing in tournaments or leagues of very competitive teams.  Mining towns like Paris, Altus, Ozark, Clarksville, Charleston, and Greenwood would have company teams complete with equipment, uniforms, and travel supplied by the company.  If you were good enough, the mine might provide you release time or even a salary to compete.  

I grew up listening to my father talk about the athletic ability of John Needham, James and Harold Hatcher and others.  Several of them had enough ability to play minor league and even try out for the majors.

My dad never played but he was a true fan.  Dad’s cousin, Lindal Parsons, was a left-handed phenomenal hitter who had played military baseball in Europe.  With demands for his abilities, he played for Midway, Paris, and Scranton teams. During one tournament in Dover, he hit so many home runs, they took the right field fence down during mid-tournament.  The controversy this move created was nothing new for the sport.  Men and teams took winning seriously.  High inside fastballs that resulted in players dropping to the ground for protection was a norm; although hitting someone would result in retaliation or even brawls.  

Many Sunday afternoons were spent watching baseball in Scranton.  Dressed in purple with pinstripe pants and caps bearing a large gold S symbol, the team looked every bit a professional group.  One of my favorites was Ross Rogers.  A large and strong guy with a most unusual stance and wind-up, when he connected with the ball, it would sail forever.  Bill Beshoner, although my age, often played with the team.  Watching them try to hit a Travis Cooper curveball was a treat.  The ball started at eye level and then disappeared, leaving the batter swatting futilely.  I tried it years later with about the same type of luck!

My dad loved to listen to the Cardinals on KMOX radio.  We cheered for Bob Gibson, Lou Brock, Curt Flood and all of those stars of the 60’s and 70’s.  Didn’t matter that we were from the South and that they were Afro-American; race and ethics had little to do with it, they were ball players.  Beginning with Jackie Robinson, I believe baseball has been one of the great things that have united us as a people. 

Travel through Waldron, Hackett, Dardanelle, Ozark, or Booneville during this time of the year and life is much the same. A warm spring evening, the smell of fresh-cut grass, the crack of a bat, and the excited cries of children having fun. Whether you have a child playing or not, go out to the ballpark and share the joys of life in small town America.

Top Tips To Help You Keep Your Water Filter Clean

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Top Tips To Help You Keep Your Water Filter Clean

Reverse osmosis filters, while being some of the most effective at filtering, are quite hard to maintain if you don’t know what you are doing. Here are some of our top tips to help ensure that your water filter is kept clean!

Change Your Filters Regularly

Whether you use sediment filters, carbon filters, or pool filters, you can’t avoid the reality that they will need a replacement at some point. Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. One thing you should do is change them when the time comes. It will be a waste of money to replace them too soon. Similarly, leaving them in your water for too long can cause difficulties—imagine the taste! So, what is the maximum amount of time you should go without changing the filter? There isn’t a definitive solution to this question. Some commenters from one source claim that updating them every few weeks is sufficient. Maybe once or twice a month.

Have a Regular Cleaning Routine

You must ensure that contaminants do not accumulate in your filter system. Keeping it clean on a regular basis is the simplest way to achieve this. Many systems, fortunately, will come with instructions on when and how to clean them. You may be fortunate enough to have one that already includes a cleaning kit. In any case, you should clean them regularly to keep them in good working order so that they can continue to give the output you require for longer.

Let the Water Settle

Check to see if there is any sediment in your water before pumping it. If there is, one suggestion is to wait for it to settle. Apart from not drinking contaminated water, one of the benefits of doing so is that it prevents dirt from clogging your filters. Having a little patience is the key to keeping your water and system clean. Before you use it, wait for the water to settle and become clearer.

Store Out of Sunlight

You do not want your filters exposed to direct sunlight for too long. This appears to contradict the earlier remark about allowing it to air dry after cleaning. It’s fine to leave it out in the sun for a short while. However, exposing it to the sun for an extended period will shorten the filter’s life. Anyone who has ever left a plastic item out in the sun for an extended period knows what can happen. The same goes for your filters.

We hope you have enjoyed our recap of our top tips to help ensure that your water filter is kept clean. While it can be hard to know how to maintain your UV water filter or RO water filter, learning how to properly support its functions will ensure that your water purification system stays in working condition for a long time!

Greenwood Native Retires After Three Decades in the Banking Industry

Tammy Teague
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Greenwood Native Retires After Three Decades in the Banking Industry

Greenwood native, Greg Stanfill, officially retired from the banking industry after three decades of service.

Stanfill retired from his role as Executive Vice President with Arvest Bank on May 2, 2022.

He began his career with the banking giant in 1992 as a branch manager in Lowell. Later, he would be promoted to President of that location. In 2012, Stanfill would become Executive Vice President and Community Executive at the Rogers branch. Finally, before retiring, Stanfill would be named Regional Director of Community Banks.

Stanfill has a storied career, which includes two gubernatorial appointments to the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Development Finance Authority. He is also celebrated as the “face of the financial institution” and a staple within the banking community.

Mercy Shows Interest in Property Adjacent to Westwood Elementary

Tammy Teague
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Mercy Shows Interest in Property Adjacent to Westwood Elementary

The Greenwood School Board met in regular session at 6:00 p.m. Thursday, May 12, 2022 in the Administration Building. Members present were Dr. Brad Johnson, Mr. Jeff Turner, Mr. Greg Hasley, Dr. Kelli Henning, Mr. Cliff James, Mrs. Rozanne Sterling, Mrs. Stephanie Griffith and Superintendent, John Ciesla.

CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by President, Brad Johnson. The Board and audience recited the Pledge of Allegiance. (6:00 p.m.)

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
The consent agenda was approved as submitted. (6:01 p.m.)

SPECIAL PRESENTATION
Dr. Brad Johnson recognized Rozanne Sterling and Jeff Turner for their years of service to the Greenwood School Board. Mrs. Sterling and Mr. Turner are retiring from service this year. (6:04 p.m.)

WESTWOOD PROPERTY
Mr. Kevin Holleran, Executive Director of Mercy Real Estate appeared via Zoom and discussed Mercy’s interest in the property adjacent to Westwood Elementary. Mr. Holleran explained in order for Mercy to pursue a building site evaluation, a contract would be needed to conduct the necessary suitability protocol. Holleran said Mercy would be willing to pay $1.50 per square foot for three acres of property and asked for an agreement to be confirmed to let them move ahead with feasibility studies on the property. On a motion by Mr. Greg Hasley and a second by Mr. Jeff Turner, the Board voted 7-0 to authorize Mr. John Ciesla, Superintendent to review and enter into a contract on behalf of the Greenwood Board of Directors. (6:14 p.m.)

PURCHASE OF LEASE VEHICLES
Mr. Kevin Hesslen, Deputy Superintendent requested Board approval to purchase the three Chevy Equinox vehicles leased by the district for approximately $16,000 each. He reported that the lease will expire soon and the residual payoff is
exceptionally low. He noted that each of the vehicles have fewer than 32,000 miles each. On a motion by Mr. Cliff James and a second by Mrs. Stephanie Griffith, the Board voted 7-0 to approve the purchase of the lease vehicles for approximately $16,000 each. (6:17 p.m.)

COVID LEAVE POLICY EXPIRATION
Mr. Kevin Hesslen, Deputy Superintendent requested Board approval of removing
the Certified and Non-Certified Covid Leave Policy from the current School Board policy. He explained that the Arkansas Department of Health has loosened its quarantine and isolation protocol and both PPC’s unanimously voted to remove
policies 3.56 and 8.45 Covid Leave policies from Board Policy. On a motion by Mr. Cliff James and a second by Dr. Kelli Henning, the Board voted 7-0 to remove Covid Leave policies 3.56 and 8.45 from Board Policy. (6:19 p.m.)

2022-2023 SPECIAL EDUCATION BUDGET
Mr. John Ciesla, Superintendent presented the 2022-2023 Special Education Budget for the 2022-2023 school year. He explained the Special Education department is required to submit their budget prior to the close of the current fiscal year due to state and federal requirements. Mr. Ciesla requested formal approval from the Board. On a motion by Mrs. Rozanne Sterling and a second by Mrs. Stephanie Griffith, the Board voted 7-0 to approve the 2022-2023 Special Education Budget. (6:20 p.m.)

2022-2023 PURCHASED SERVICE CONTRACTS
Mr. John Ciesla, Superintendent requested formal Board approval of the 2022-2023 Purchased Service Contracts. He explained the contracts are for services such as Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Pediatric Therapy, Physical Therapy, School Based Mental Health, Psychological Services, and BCBA for the upcoming school year. On a motion by Mr. Cliff James and a second by Dr. Kelli Henning, the Board voted 7-0 to approve the 2022-2023 Purchased Service contracts as presented. (6:21 p.m.)

2022-2023 SALARY SCHEDULE PROPOSALS
Mr. John Ciesla, Superintendent presented the 2022-2023 Salary Schedule Proposals to the Board for consideration. He recommended a 2.3% increase to the base salary of the certified and administrator salary schedules. Mr. Ciesla recommended a 2.3% increase to all non-certified salary schedules and a 2.7% increase for hourly employees. Mr. Ciesla noted that the district health insurance contribution rate will increase to $300 per month to comply with state law. He informed the Board that all salary schedule adjustments have been voted on and approved by the certified and non-certified personnel policy committees and the staff of Greenwood School District. Mr. Ciesla requested Board approval of the 2022-2023 Salary Schedule recommendations.

Mr. Jeff Turner made a motion to approve salary schedules as presented. Haley seconded the motion. Dr. Brad Johnson inquired whether the 2.3% increase will be applied to all
administrators including Central Office administrators. Mr. Jeff Turner amended his original motion to approve salary schedules to include a 2.3% increase to the base for certified teachers and all administrators. Mr. Greg Hasley seconded the motion and the Board voted 7-0 to approve the salary schedules as amended to the 2022-2023 school year. (6:25 p.m.)

PURCHASE ORDERS
Mr. John Ciesla, Superintendent presented the following purchase orders for Board approval.
Acme Janitorial 69,627.72 (Purchase of qualifying supplies and equipment to assist in preventing the spread of transmissible viruses and diseases from an Arkansas Department of Health Grant for the ELC Reopening of Schools. Grant totaled $62,84)
Presidio $114,932.77 (Upgrade to the Greenwood School District network. E-rate funding will cover 60% of the cost of the upgrade project. E-rate reimbursement $68,959.66) IT Savvy $207,368.49 (Five hundred ten Chromebooks) On a motion by Mr. Cliff James and a second by Mr. Jeff Turner, the Board voted 7-0 to accept purchase orders as presented. (6:29 p.m.)

EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Board retired to Executive session. Upon return to the open meeting, the Board voted to approve the following personnel items:
On a motion by Mr. Jeff Turner and a second by Mr. Cliff James the Board voted 7-0 to accept the resignations of Bruno Bloede, Kaytlan Scott, Jake Hindman, Ronnie Sockey, Allison Angel, Amber Quillman, and Leslie Cook. (7:02 p.m.)

On a motion by Mr. Jeff Turner and a second by Mr. Cliff James the Board voted 7-0 to hire Tommy Coleman, Teacher and Coach, Rhonda Black, Secretary, Christina Crenshaw, Para, Jonnie Iglesias, Teacher, Danielle Durbin, Special Education Teacher, Crystal Demon, Para, James Vines, Para, Emmanuel Maya, Para, Melissa Melton, Para, Troy Jarrell, PAC and Teacher, Lorrel Thompson, Teacher, Berkley Cooper, Teacher, Autumn Mendenhall, Para, Jennifer Baker, Para, Kelsey Porter, Teacher, Jillian Hollinsaid, Para and transfer Rachel Fontenot to SPED Designee. (7:04 p.m.)

ADJOURNMENT
The Board voted 7-0 to adjourn on a motion by Mr. Jeff Turner and a second by Mr. Cliff James. (7:04 p.m.)

Tips for Being Safe When Working in the Yard This Summer

Resident News Network
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Tips for Being Safe When Working in the Yard This Summer

You work in the yard throughout the year but it always seems as if it needs the most work done in the summer. Everything is growing and needs attention, but you always need to be careful when you are out and about. Here are some tips for being safe when working in the yard this summer.

Do Some Stretches

Yard work is by no means easy, and if your body is not ready to do some heavy lifting or bending over, you will have a bad time. Be sure to do some stretches and get your body flexible. You will protect yourself from any accidental muscle tears or general soreness. Not only will you be protected from hurting yourself, but some stretches can also help you work outside longer and not feel worn out as quickly.

Stay Cool

Summer is one of the hottest periods of the year, and you need to be sure that you protect yourself from the extreme heat when you are working outside. It’s easy to quickly become dehydrated or suffer from heatstroke, and if you are working for too long without proper protection, you can potentially develop skin cancer. Avoid this by staying hydrated, wearing loose and breathable clothing, taking frequent breaks in the shade, and wearing proper sunscreen.

Protect Your Knees

A lot of work that you will end up doing outside will have you sitting on your knees, and any extended period can hurt you after a while. There are a lot of alternatives, such as knee pads and garden pads, that you can use to protect yourself. However, if you only think that you will be working for a short time, other options are available. For example, you can fashion a doormat or blanket into a knee protector. This way, after a day of working, your knees will feel less stiff and sore.

Keep Your Equipment Protected

Another thing that comes up a lot when you start to do summer work is that your equipment may be faulty. Your equipment likely hasn’t been used in a year and likely has lots of dirt and dust on it. Check all your equipment before you use it. This way, you won’t use something faulty that can end up hurting you or your landscaping.

These were only a few tips for being safe when working in the yard this summer, but the main thing that you need to know is to take your time. It’s easy to quickly overwork yourself, convincing yourself you must do a job in one day. Instead, go at a reasonable pace. Your body will thank you.

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