Now is the time to change an unsafe practice. Beginning Monday (May 23rd) law enforcement will have patrols across Arkansas watching closely for motorists not using their seat belts. The stepped-up enforcement operation will continue through June 5th as part of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Click It or Ticket defined enforcement action plan which spans the Memorial Day holiday period. The Arkansas Highway Safety Office reminds drivers and their passengers that the regular practice of using seat belts is a proven lifesaver. “The objective is to change the ways of so many drivers and passengers who never use their seat belts,” said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “We want the act of buckling up to become instinctive for everyone anytime they get in a car or truck to travel.” As a part of the Click It or Ticket plan for 2022, NHTSA has asked authorities in every state to participate in the kickoff event, Border to Border (B2B), a 4 hour national seat belt awareness event coordinated by participating state highway safety offices and their respective law enforcement liaisons scheduled for May 23rd. The B2B program is intended to increase law enforcement participation by coordinating highly visible seat belt enforcement involving drivers at heavily traveled, highly visible, state border locations. “During the Click It or Ticket campaign, we’ll be working with our fellow law enforcement officers across local and state lines to ensure the message is getting out to drivers and passengers,” Colonel Bryant said. “Buckling up is the simplest thing you can do to limit injury or save your life in a crash, and it’s the law.” According to NHTSA statistics from 2020, there were 10,893 unbuckled passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes in the United States. More than twice the number of males died in crashes as compared to females. Additionally, the use of seat belts was lower among males. More than half the males who died in motor vehicle crashes (55%) were not wearing a seat belt. Among females who died in crashes during the same reporting period, 43% weren’t buckled up. The 2020 statistical analysis indicates 58% of passenger vehicle occupants killed in crashes at night (6 PM – 5:59 AM) were not wearing seat belts which has led to additional attention to be directed by troopers and other law enforcement officers to seat belt enforcement seat belt enforcement during the evening hours during the upcoming campaign. Participating law enforcement agencies will be taking a no-excuses approach to seat belt law enforcement, writing citations day and night. More information about the Click It or Ticket mobilization can be found at https://www.nhtsa.gov/campaign/click-it-or-ticket or by calling the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136. News and facts about Arkansas’ ongoing Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities can be found at https://www.tzdarkansas.org/
“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor
Hello everyone! As I write this it is Friday the 13th.
I’m not superstitious as a rule, but my mother-in-law sure was. If you brought a new pair of shoes in the house, you better not put them on the table, because that meant someone was going to die. If a black cat crossed the road in front of you while you were driving you had to turn around and go back the other way. Never walk under a ladder…the list is endless. I used to tease her so bad about putting shoes on the table. I also used to tell my sister Pam that she was born on the 13th just to aggravate her. I bet that shocks y’all. It would make her so mad.
I saw an old classmate of mine today, John David Moore. I haven’t seen him since we were in high school. We had some good laughs talking about some of the teachers and stuff we did. Now I really don’t want to tell this story, but I’m going to let the cat out of the bag. When we were in about the eighth or ninth grade, we had a teacher named Mr. Massey. He was as nice as he could be, but an easy target. I’m so sorry for how rotten I was, but it’s water under the bridge. One day at lunch, they had English peas. John David, Lonnie Efurd, and I decided to take some English peas back to class. We had Mr. Massey after lunch. I’m going to blame this one Lonnie Efurd, it was his idea and we went along with it. Lonnie was so, so, funny. We sure used to have lots of laughs.
It started out as one of us throwing an English pea at someone. Needless to say, it got out of hand and it ended up being a sort of food fight in class. We got called to the office. That was the first time in my life I got suspended for three days. But, we only got suspended from Mr. Massey’s class. Do you think my mom got onto me or grounded me? Nope, I got away with it. It was worth getting suspended over. It was so funny. So were the spit wads that got thrown at the film screen in Mr. Blanton’s class. I was a class clown and went to school to socialize.
This week’s recipe comes from another one of my classmates, Shelia Williams Carson. She is an excellent cook, and she makes the best cakes around. She stays busy with Shelia’s Sweets, Give her a call if you need a cake for a special occasion.
Peachy/Strawberry Delight
1st layer:
1 cup of flour
1 tablespoon of sugar
1/2 cup butter softened
1/4 cup chopped nuts (your choice)
Mix flour, sugar and softened butter. Then mix in the nuts. Spread in the bottom of a 9×13 pan and bake for 20 minutes in a 350-degree oven. Let it cool.
2nd layer:
1 cup sugar
1 9oz. Cool Whip
1 8 oz. cream cheese softened
3 cups sliced peaches or strawberries, whichever flavor you are making. To prepare this layer, mix cream cheese and sugar, then fold in the Cool Whip.
Spread this over the cooled crust layer. Top with the peaches or strawberries.
3rd layer:
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons corn starch
1 1/2 cup water
1 small package of peach or strawberry Jello. To prepare this layer, mix sugar, corn starch and water. Cook this mixture until thick. Mix in the Jello. Cool this mixture then spread this on top of the fruit.
Sanderson Represents MHS at Meet of Champs
Mansfield’s Seven Sanderson took the 2022 track season to the limit. By winning the class 2A state discus event, the Lady Tiger athlete represented the high school track team at the prestigious Meet of Champions in Russellville on May 11.
For the second consecutive year a Mansfield discus thrower won the individual state title. Having studied with former teammate Brooke Wright, the 2021 discus champ, Sanderson made the elite level MOC in her junior season.
“Seven had all the tools,” described Mansfield head coach John Mackey. “This year we needed her to step up in a big way, and she did. She practiced with Brooke (Wright) for the last few seasons and this year during spring break. Those rehearsed habits really clicked in these finals weeks as Seven became the champ.”
According to her coach, Sanderson gained much confidence with an individual state championship in the shot put at the ATCA Indoor Track Finals in February.
“Seven worked extremely hard through the winter,” announced Mackey. “She found time during off hours and around basketball practice to perfect her shot technique. That gave her the necessary reps to make a big throw in Fayetteville for her first state title. As soon as basketball was over she went to work on the discus for another opportunity and another state title. It worked out well.”
Sanderson took the 2A outdoor track title in the discus with a career best 100 feet even throw. That came on May 3 at the Quitman hosted state championships in a back and forth battle with Jailynn Sims of Magazine.
Sims won the 2A Region 4 conference championship a week earlier to punch her ticket to the state finals. At that district meet, Sanderson admittedly held back due to the fact she had already pre-qualified to state. It would also open the door for current teammate Brooklyn Adams to slide into second place earning the automatic advancer pass to the state.
No holds barred as Sanderson put in her best effort at the state finals. Having training partner Adams alongside seemed to give both security in numbers. The Lady Tiger throwers each had great days offering up their respective personal bests on the day.
Adams finished seventh in the finals at the state meet with a discus toss of 89’ 1”. Sims climbed to second place with a personal best of her own at 99’ 1”.
Sanderson’s 100 foot distance put her into a whole new classification of throwers and advanced her to what amounts to the All-Star meet of track and field. At the meet of champs one week later, Sanderson saw every discus thrower there owning credentials of 100 feet or better.
“It was pretty intimidating to say the least,” offered Mackey. “You could tell in warmups that most of the girls that advanced were nervous. It’s a little different having a familiarity with district and state competition. At the meet of champs you’re facing the unknown with elite talents from all classifications. You’re talking six state champs and the next 10 best throwers in all of Arkansas.”
Sanderson was the first competitor in the field of 16 at the MOC. Her top toss out of six attempts was only her second best career mark. Her 98’ 8” measured distance placed her 13th among all participants.
“I was proud of Seven for holding her own,” expressed the coach. “She was steady and threw one of her best marks all season. Others in the field came way down in their numbers. You could see the pressure weighing down some of the other throwers.”
With the completion of the Arkansas Activities Association Meet of Champs, this year’s track season ends for Sanderson. For the record the 2022 season brought the homeschool product the outdoor state championship in discus, the indoor state championship in shot put, and the second place distance in outdoor state shot.
Upon the MHS thrower’s season exit, it was clear that the soon to be senior was setting her sights on next year’s premiere track events. Her recent success seemed to wet her appetite for more. Already discussions have revolved around offseason weight training, and plans to get summer reps with last year’s state champ, Wright, to refine the full spin technique.
How To Prep Your Home in Case of a Storm
Unless you’re a meteorologist, you probably don’t keep a constant eye on the weather. However, you probably keep some things around just in case things change. For example, you might keep an umbrella in your car for when rain strikes or boots handy to keep your nice shoes away from puddles.
You need to have precautions in place for your home too. Read on to learn how to prep your home in case of a storm to stay safe and secure.
Create a Basic Storm Kit
A storm kit does what you might expect it to do! This kit ensures you have what you need when a storm hits. Include any item you think you may need in an emergency. The supplies should get you and your family through 48 hours without electricity and access to essential services.
You need to store the kits in a place you can access quickly. Make sure everyone knows the location of the kits. Store items in airtight plastic bags and put all the supplies in one or two easy-to-carry duffle bags.
In your kit, consider including:
- Water (one gallon per person for drinking and sanitation)
- Food (non-perishable)
- Hand crank flashlights
- Batteries
- A battery-powered radio
- A first aid kit
- Whistles
- Blankets
It’s also smart to keep some safety money with you and prepare any prescription medications. Order these in advance if necessary but remember to keep track of the expiration dates!
Seal All Entry Points
If you live in areas prone to hurricanes or tornados, you need to have a way to seal all windows and doors. One of the benefits of tinted window treatment is that it can enhance the security of your home. In the event of a natural disaster, the security film holds the glass together longer, ultimately decreasing the chance of injury. Know which furniture or items you have around to brace your doors and your garage door as well.
Strategize an Evacuation Plan
Create and strategize a safety or evacuation plan ahead of time. Never wait for the day of a disaster to devise a strategy. Gather your family and discuss where you all should go during a natural disaster.
Specify distinct locations for each type of disaster that provide specific safety measures. You also want to ensure that everyone has all necessary contact information in case you separate, including young children.
Some homeowners go as far as to design a safe room on their property. This room provides extra security and can act as a bunker for an extended period. Check with local emergency management officials to see if your action plan is suitable and learn what local resources you can rely on.
No one knows when or where the next natural disaster will come. That is why you need to prepare for any situation. Don’t hesitate to start planning so you can correctly prep your home in case of a storm. Stay ready and stay safe!
Mistakes To Avoid in Your Agricultural Business
Farming is an essential operation that benefits countless communities. However, turning your hobby farm into a thriving enterprise is easier said than done. Hobby farmers need to thoroughly prepare for any and all circumstances if they want to succeed. For those looking to move up the ladder, learn about some mistakes to avoid in your agricultural business.
Ignoring Gaps in the Market
Commercial farming is more than taking care of livestock and growing produce; it’s a market-dominated industry with complex data that farmers need to know how to interpret. Take a look at local trends and see where you can make a real difference. Professional farmers need to find the right balance between filling gaps in the market and meeting industry demands.
Being Financially Unprepared
It’s easy to get finances wrong when first starting your agricultural business. Many new farmers either over- or underinvest in their operations from the get-go, leaving them in difficult positions down the line. Investing too little in your farm will leave you without essential tools and supplies to run your business. Expanding too soon can deplete your resources before you’ve had a chance to gain a profit. Consider speaking to a financial advisor to build a financial plan that works for you.
Failing To Keep Accurate Records
In any business, accurate record-keeping is key to improving your operations. You need to keep precise documentation regarding every aspect of your farm. For example, take note of equipment maintenance so you can see which tools aren’t serving you best. Failing to keep detailed notes can lead to overspending and poor business decisions that could seriously harm your farm.
Using Improper Equipment
Running a small hobby farm requires different equipment than a commercial agricultural business. If you want to take your farm to the next level, you need to make sure you have the right tools at your disposal. Having the wrong equipment is a common mistake to avoid in your agricultural business because it can immediately set you on the wrong path. Invest in large-scale seeders and cold storage units to ensure that your farm can handle the workload.
Forming Poor Relationships With Third Parties
Farming has the unusual benefit of creating most of its own resources. However, it’s impossible to run a successful agricultural enterprise without outside assistance. For example, you’ll need to choose a waste service that knows how to dispose of agricultural waste the right way to avoid breaking federal and local laws. Failing to form good relationships with your third-party vendors will make your job harder than it needs to be.
With the right preparation and resources, you can turn your small farm into a booming business. Keep these points in mind when you start to expand to maximize your profits, growth, and overall success.
Easy Fire Starter
We have lived in our house for almost five years, and used the wood stove through the winter for all of those years. Somehow, I am still horrible at getting a fire going. But I think I’ve finally found the solution!
Of course, it is May, and it’s already hot so I don’t need this trick for my wood stove. It is still helpful for campfires, brush burning, or any other fire that needs to be set through the summer.
This DIY fire starter is also super easy, and uses things most likely around your house already. It takes just a few minutes and provides quite a bit of fire starters.
Get a cardboard egg carton, dryer lint, and an old candle. Melt your candle down, I put mine in a pan of water and boiled it until it was all melted wax. Place your dryer lint in the carton and poke down in the holes. Drizzle the wax over the top.
Break apart the egg carton and you have ready to light fire starters! If using a scented candle and cooking over the fire let burn until the wax is all gone to avoid any odd taste transfers.
Letter to the Editor: Politics and Public Service
Ask any candidate or elected official about why or how they want to serve and you will get some form of a response about them wanting to be a “public servant” or “to serve the best interest of their constituents.”
The purpose of this “Letter” is to place before all current or future candidates, and before all present or future office holders who claim the mantle of “public servant” the opportunity to step up and think about what true “servitude” really means.
Basically, being a “servant” means putting the needs and desires of others before your own needs and desires. This concept is part and
parcel of the thinking and writings of many of this nations founding fathers, and is certain a part of the concept of “government of, by, and for the people.”
I urge all candidates and elected officials when choosing a position on any new or existing policy or considering an up or down vote on any legislative issue to consider your decision in light of “public service”, not “political expediency.”
I would also like to remind every voter that your responsibility to choose the best possible “public servant” candidate is just as great as their responsibility to be one after they are elected.
-Vestal Lee Hutchens
5/6/22
Find every AGFC fish attractor with your phone or fishfinder
Last month Jon Stein, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission fisheries biologist in northwest Arkansas, had the opportunity to present to AGFC commissioners and the public the highlights from the latest large-scale habitat project at Beaver Lake. Biologists created 145 new fish attractor locations during the project, but it’s only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to habitat and fish-attracting cover the AGFC has placed in the last five years. Thanks to the AGFC’s interactive map, you can get the exact GPS location of each fish attractor to load to your smartphone or fishfinder to get a head start on the search for more fish.
According to Jason Olive, AGFC assistant chief of fisheries, AGFC staff have added 7,335 new fish attractor sites across the state during the last five years.
“We added 735 sites in large-scale projects where we brought many hands together during a short window of a few days in a coordinated effort, and those get a lot of attention,” Olive said. “But staff are always busy building more on their own, and 6,600 sites were created in smaller projects handled at the local level. Each one of those sites had multiple trees, pallets or PVC structures, so the actual amount of individual brush piles, trees or structures ranges in the tens of thousands.”
Fish attractor locations as well as fishing access points to most lakes and rivers in the state can be found through the AGFC’s interactive map at www.agfc.com/maps. Click on the Interactive Map tab and zoom in to the areas that pique your interest. Fish attractors are labeled with a symbol of a white fish inside a blue square. Zooming in closer may reveal multiple attractors within the location. Clicking or tapping on the fish icon will open a box that describes the attractor’s location and construction materials. The latitude and longitude may be copied and pasted to your GPS device or Google Maps on your phone to take you to the attractor you are interested in. If you have a good cellular data signal where you fish, you can also click the “locate me” pin button in the upper left portion of the screen to place a blue dot where you are on the map.
For people who have a GPS-enabled fishfinder, the entire list of all fish attractors for each lake the AGFC manages also is available for downloading and easy navigation. Visit www.agfc.com/fishattractors from your home computer and you will be able to download data files compatible with most major fishfinder and GPS units. A list of videos on the AGFC’s YouTube pagecan walk you step-by-step through the download process to help you get on the fish faster than ever before.
Obituary – Huntley Taylor Maxell (2022-2022)
Huntley Taylor Maxell of Waldron, Arkansas gained her angel wings, May 4, 2022 in Fort Smith, Arkansas with loved ones by her side. She was born May 3, 2022 to Jimmy Lee and Heaven Maxell in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Huntley leaves behind to cherish her memory, her dad and mom, Jimmy and Heaven Maxell, her Mamaw, Dawn Boman Boyd, Pops & Gigi Tim and Lisa Maxell, great grandmother, Barbara Morphew, Aunt Meagan Maxell, and Aunt Nonna, Rhonda Brumbelow. Huntley was loved by many who will forever keep her close to their hearts including a host of extended family and friends.
Huntley was preceded in death by her uncle Taylor Boman, great grandparents: Jim and Judi Boman, Jimmy Lee and Edna Maxell and Paul Skaggs.
Huntley’s graveside celebration of life will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, May 12, 2022 at the Sehorn Cemetery near Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Konnor McKay officiating. Interment will follow. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Huntley’s visitation will be Wednesday, May 11, 2022 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Arkansas squirrel season opens May 15
Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications
With turkey hunting season wrapped up, many hunters will be putting away their shotguns until fall, but there’s another spring season that gives Arkansas hunters plenty of reasons to keep the scattergun cleaned and ready. Arkansas’s squirrel season opens May 15, and for those who enjoy chasing these treetop targets, it’s a great excuse to be in the woods.
Spring squirrel hunting has been an Arkansas tradition for decades, and typically was available from mid-May through mid-June. In 2013 the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission voted to extend the season for those who wanted to continue pursuing squirrels from May 15 to the end of February, making it one of Arkansas’s longest hunting seasons.
Fall season hunters have a few options when it comes to hunting styles: they can find a patch of hickories that are producing particularly well and sit a spell, or they can stay mobile, walking between patches of oaks and other hardwoods and keep a sharp eye for the small animals as they make their way from tree to tree. In spring, however, hunters should focus on one thing: mulberries.
It’s not uncommon to find squirrels in spring that have chests and chins stained purple from all of the red mulberries they’ve gorged themselves on as these small berries ripen. The key to identifying the trees that hold these magical mulberries is to focus on the leaves. Mulberry trees will have broad, pointed leaves that resemble a heart shape with a flat base. But the leaf also may have a depression in its margin that creates multiple lobes. In fact, a red mulberry tree is one of the only Arkansas trees that typically has a few unlobed leaves, a few leaves with two lobes and other leaves with multiple lobes all at the same time. The mulberries themselves look similar to small blackberry fruits.
The main precautions for hunters looking to explore the spring squirrel woods are the same as those for turkey hunters. Ticks, gnats, mosquitoes and other biting insects can be waiting to hop aboard anyone who isn’t prepared. A good bug suit combined with insect repellent is the best route to take. If a bug suit seems too expensive or cumbersome, hunters may want to substitute for it by spraying their clothing with permethrin, an insecticide that will help deter some insects. But a good bug spray using the chemical compound DEET is almost a requirement to keep the bugs at bay.
With the exception of the bugs, the only real thing to worry about is caring for your squirrels once they’re harvested. Keeping the carcass cool is more of a factor than in cooler weather. Wearing a vest with a mesh game pouch like those used during dove season works well to offer air circulation around your squirrel. If that isn’t available, carrying your squirrels by hand or hanging them from a game tote like duck hunters use is a good alternative to keeping the meat fresh and ready for a pot of squirrel and dumplings when you get home.