Each spring, young male black bears emerge from their dens and strike out to find new territories. While sightings of these misguided youths certainly grab the attention of people living in neighborhoods bordering bear country, they often move on as long as people don’t give them a reason to stay.
Bears are part of Arkansas and have been since before the state was settled. In fact, Arkansas once was so rich with black bears that its official nickname was “The Bear State.” Unrestricted hunting for their fur and fat led to the bear’s rapid decline by the early 1900s. Thanks to the efforts of conservationists and biologists with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Arkansas again has bears throughout much of the state in the areas they once roamed. But living with bears requires a brief mention about bear biology.
Female bears will spend two winters with their cubs: the first when they are newborns, and the second as adolescents. In their second year, female cubs will be allowed to stay in a portion of their mother’s territory, but male bears are forced away to find a new home on their own.
“It’s nature’s way of ensuring genetic diversity,” said Myron Means, bear program coordinator for the AGFC. “The young males will wander for a while until they find a new home with good food resources.”
Unfortunately, that search may land young bears in some sticky situations. Open trash cans, bowls filled with pet food and areas where people have dumped cooking grease or table scraps often attract these wayward bears. Wildlife feeders also act as magnets to these young bruins, who will take advantage of the free meal.
“The first thing we tell anyone to do when they have a nuisance bear in the area is to put away any possible foods, including deer feeders, bird feeders and dog food, and to keep trash cans locked or put away where they are inaccessible for a couple of days,” Means says. “That’s usually all it takes for the bear to move on.”
Just like grandpa told you about snakes and other scary critters, bears are much more scared of people than we are of them. But if a bear is allowed to stick around, it can begin to associate people with a free meal, and that’s when trouble starts. Means suggests people who see bears where they don’t want them, make it clear they need to move on.
“Making noise, yelling and throwing a rock or two at the bear will give it the message that it’s not welcome,” Means said. “Bears aren’t aggressive animals and they don’t have a desire for revenge or anything. They just realize the area isn’t comfortable to stay in and will go away.”
More information about bear awareness and bear safety can be found on the cooperative website www.Bearwise.org. This site was developed by bear biologists throughout the Southeast and includes information specific to Arkansas.
Although you might know me from my involvement with the baseball team and Greenwood athletics, do you really know who I am and what I stand for? This involvement over the past several years has inspired me to want to do more—beyond athletics—to include what’s best for all Greenwood students, staff, teachers, administrators, and even the parents… all of these people make up who we are in Greenwood.
Throughout my life, I have had a deep conviction to serve and be a part of impacting the next generation. I want to serve on the Greenwood School Board to help be a catalyst in the vision, growth, and development of the Greenwood School District. My children are all elementary-aged and I feel it is time for me to be able to step in and serve my family and our community in this capacity. I will stand on the shoulders of those who have served before me that have created an outstanding foundation to build upon.
Regarding the attributes that I can contribute to the community of Greenwood and the School Board that represents it are: proven leadership, loyalty to the community, service, un-matched work ethic, and a voice for teachers, staff and families. Throughout my 21-years of military experience as both an officer and enlisted Airman, I have had the privilege of serving alongside hundreds of the Nation’s best Service men and women. Many of those individuals reside in the Greenwood School District, and through that I have managed millions of dollars in assets and fiscal budgets. That experience enables me to understand how to lead in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment which mirrors the realm of education in terms of personnel, pace, and change. I am a self-starter who is able to cast vision and manage the details. I am blessed to have young children who are currently coming up through Greenwood School District, so I am vested in the future and will be around to see projects through to completion. By being a young parent who is heavily involved in the community, I have a unique perspective on the interests of the next generation of students, parents, and leaders within the Greenwood community and I look forward to demonstrating that for years to come.
If elected, I will truly be humbled and honored. Accountability, transparency, honesty, and continuous process improvement will be the keys to success as a board member. First, I will listen to the needs of those who elected me to this position by developing a clear line of communication so that they know and understand that I truly am available to them so that when needs arise, I will be there to answer. Secondly, I will focus on what’s best for all students as a whole in the district, not just those in a select group. It is crucial that the school district remains balanced in its focus on the future in academics, athletics, and the arts. It is widely known that Greenwood is an athletic town and our student-athletes are challenged on the playing field day in and day out, and we are extremely proud of that. However, we have to continue to build upon that excellence in the classroom and in the arts as well. We want to ensure that we develop well-rounded students who are having rich and engaging experiences across multiple educational disciplines. This type of preparation will ensure they have diverse experiences they need to have the foundation required to launch into the world our students currently face.
The path to success for our children is a “full-spectrum” approach. Parents, Teachers, Coaches, Administrators, and School Board members must be on the same page, which includes the students to ensure we are providing elements necessary for their success in the classroom, on the field or wherever life leads them. To ensure we provide a world-class education for our students and parents, I will ask the hard questions when needed, make sure that we are fiscally responsible in how our community’s money is dispersed, drive our school toward reaching key milestones in the realization of our District Strategic Plan, ensure that our teachers, staff, and administrators are supported and appropriately funded, and help be an asset to the future growth of our community. One of the most important aspects of hiring high-quality and new talent to local businesses is the quality of the school system in the community, and I will ensure that it is the best and a place to be proud of. We are all a part of what makes Greenwood such an incredible place to live. Let me be the spark and the voice that creates new change and growth within our schools.
Arresting agency – Arkansas State Police Troop H: Ty Daniel Allen of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on April 29 at 10:51 p.m. and released on legally sufficient bond April 30 at 1:28 a.m. Allen was charged with driving while intoxicated 1st offense.
Arresting agency – Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office: Lauren Carrol Nicole Briley of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on April 29 at 8:02 a.m. and released on May 2 at 9:03 a.m. Briley was charged with contempt-failure to comply w/ court a misd.
Phillip James Orick of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on April 26 at 11:52 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond April 26 at 6:35 p.m. Orick was charged with theft of property <$1k.
Ron Allen Peerson of Bonanza was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on April 29 at 4:24 p.m. and remains at the SCADC. Peerson was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia – felony.
Arresting agency – Greenwood Police Department: Billy Joe Duncan of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on April 28 and remains at the SCADC without bond. Duncan was charged with fugitive from justice out of state, and obstructing governmental operations – ID.
John Michael Mashburn of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on April 25 at 2:54 a.m. and remains at the SCADC. Mashburn was charged with failure to appear – class B misdemeanor, and failure to appear – class C felony.
Brian James Mathisen of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on April 29 at 8:14 p.m. and remains at the SCADC without bond. Mathisen was charged with failure to appear – class A misdemeanor.
Bobby Lee Rhyne of Fort Smith was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on April 25 at 1:42 a.m. and released on legally sufficient bond April 26 at 11:01 p.m. Rhyne was charged with delivery of methamphetamine or cocaine >10g.
Calvin K Ward of Hot Springs was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on April 30 at 2:06 a.m. and remains at the SCADC. Ward was charged with possession of controlled substance – schedule IV / V misdemeanor <28grams.
Arresting agency – Fort Smith Police Department: Gary Edward Knotts of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on April 30 and remains at the SCADC without bond. Knotts was charged with parole violation, possession of controlled substance – schedule I/II felony <2g, and contempt – willful disobedience (failure to pay fine).
**The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.**
The Sebastian County National Day of Prayer Task Force will be hosting an event on the lawn of the Sebestian County Courthouse on May 5th, 2022, 12 p.m.-1 p.m. at 35 South 6th Street.
This event will be a time for all of our citizens to come together and pray for our community, including our government, churches, families, military, first-responders, businesses, and media.
The event will be presided over by Sebastian County Court Judge, David Hudson. Many local pastors and elected officials are scheduled to pray publicly, including Mayor George McGill.
Providing music will be members of the Northside High School choir. Also singing will be the children’s choir at Union Christian Academy. Our city’s fire department color guard will post the colors. Plus, their bagpipe corps will close out the ceremony.
The National Day of Prayer is an annual observance held on the first Thursday of May, inviting people of all faiths to pray for the nation. It was created in 1952 by a joint resolution of the United States Congress and signed into law by President Harry S. Truman. The 2022 National Day of Prayer theme prays: “Exalt the Lord who has established us!” We are praying and praising God in our theme verse, Colossians 2:6-7, “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”
Sebastian County National Day of Prayer Task Force: Judge David Hudson Scott Ward Johnny Clayton George O’Neel SEBASTIAN COUNTY NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER
The Mansfield Alumni Association came together for their annual meeting on Saturday, April 30. This year’s sponsor, the graduating class of 1972.
The alumni scholarship was presented to two graduating seniors, John Branche and Aaron Brewer.
John Branche is the son of John and Jackquiya Branche. He attended Mansfield from Kindergarten through 12th grade. John plans to attend the University of Arkansas of Fort Smith and major in biology. He is active in Beta Club, Student Council, FFA, FCLA and is student council president. He is also a member of the Mansfield High School Track Team.
Scholarship recipients John Branche and Aaron Brewer are pictured with MHS Alumna Linda Udouj.
The scholarship recipients are pictured with representatives of the class of 1972, and Steve Hattabaugh.
MHS alumnus, Steve Hattabaugh
The high school cafeteria was abuzz with laughter and talk. Fellow Tigers for life, enjoying the company and reminiscence of days gone by.
Aaron Brewer is the son of Tommy Brewer and Raven Jackson. He attended Mansfield from 1st through 12th grade. Aaron plans to attend the University of Arkansas of Fort Smith and major in Business and Automotive Computer Science. He is active in Beta Club and is a member of the High School Baseball Team.
After a move to Hackett High School due to wet fields for the semifinals on Thursday, the 3A-4 district baseball tournament returned to its host site at Cedarville High School on Friday for the championship games in both baseball and softball. And on a night where the rain began right on cue and just as the trophy presentation had concluded, the Paris Eagles defeated the Danville Little Johns 9-5 for the 3A-4 district tournament championship. The Little Johns were the regular season conference champions, and Paris finished as runner-ups, but it was the Eagles taking the district tournament championship on Friday night.
The Eagles will now move on to next week’s regional tournament on Thursday where they will be a number one seed and will play the Greenland Pirates, a four seed, at 10 a.m. The Eagles need to defeat Greenland to advance to the following week’s state tournament. The Danville Little Johns will enter the regional tournament as a number two seed and will play the Lincoln Wolves, a three seed, at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. Hackett, the number four seed from the 3A-4, will play the number one seed from the 3A-1, the Elkins Elks, at 3 p.m. And the Booneville Bearcats, the number three seed from 3A-4, will play the number two seed from the 3A-1, Bergman, at 12:30 p.m.
Congratulations to all four seeds from the 3A-4 conference and best of luck to all schools in their quest to secure a state playoff spot. It is a great time of the year as high school athletics wrap-up the 2021-22 school year, and RNN will bring you all of the action!
Mansfield High School found just the right blend of experienced seniors, aggressive juniors, spirited sophomores, and maturing freshmen. That lethal combination of Tiger track talent proved way too much for an overmatched 2A-4 conference.
On April 26 at their home venue, Mansfield’s senior girls track team powered past 300 points on their way to a second consecutive conference championship. The Mansfield men, at the same district finals, put up a great fight but eventually fell short of the defending state champions Acorn.
Faith Rainwater, Jadelynn Wood, Laney Wood, and Trinity Triska enjoy the winning time (4:41.21) in the women’s 4x400m relay.
The MHS Lady Tigers posted 29 points within the first 20 minutes of the meet on their way to a 307 point total for the night. In comparison, the league’s remaining five teams only accumulated 326 points when added together.
Acorn (118), Mountainburg (90), and Magazine (69), district women’s teams who are ranked inside the state’s top 15, finished the conference race in second through fourth places respectively. Lavaca (40) and Westside (5) rounded out the league’s final team standings.
Mansfield’s Faith Rainwater, Sadie Roberts, Trinity Triska, and Laney Wood landed the early haymaker with a sweep of the opening pole vault event. The four All-District performers joined 11 more All-District Lady Tigers along with other teammates to put forth the pounding.
Senior Tyler Escalante works the sprint relays for Mansfield.
Brooklyn Adams, Addie Bowman, Shelby Cole, McKenzie Griffin, Raine Hecox, Darby Jones, Hope Rainwater, Seven Sanderson, Azlynn Stover, Carter Whiley, and Jadelynn Wood all finished top two in an individual event or relay to earn 2A-4 All-District honors.
For the Tiger men, 10 players made the All-District roster by virtue of their high placement in the conference finals. Those included John Branche, Boston Elmore, Tyler Escalante, Ryan Hayslip, Peyton Martin, Trey Powell, Axel Ravnsborg, Austin Ruiz, Sammy Sellers, and Tyler Turnipseed.
Acorn won the men’s title with 201 points behind the strength of its number one ranked distance runners. Mansfield punched hard in the early going with valuable field events points and early sprint races. The MHS Tigers couldn’t match Acorn’s late surge through the 800m and 3200m runs and ultimately dropped the lead.
Trey Powell wins the men’s 300m hurdles at the senior high district track meet.
Mansfield’s men finished second in the conference standings with 169 points. A tightly grouped trio finished in the next three spots. Magazine (95), Lavaca (91), and Mountainburg (90) closed in those third through fifth place positions. Westside (18) finished last.
Jadelynn Wood was Mansfield’s top female and high point candidate with 41 total points. The junior athlete won the triple jump and 300m hurdles for 20 of her individual points. She served on the winning 4x100m and 4x400m relays for 5 split points. She acquired 16 additional tallies off a pair of individual second place finishes in the high jump and 100m hurdles.
Darby Jones leads a group of Mansfield distance runners including Laney Wood, McKenzie Griffin, and Ashley Martin in the women’s 1600m start at the district finals.
“Jadelynn has been working for this moment all season long,” said Mansfield’s John Mackey, the 2A-4 Conference Women’s Coach of the Year. “She made state last year in a couple of relays. She was determined this year to qualify to state in some individual events. She exceeded expectations and qualified in all six of her regular events.”
Fourteen Lady Tigers scored double digit points. Roberts had the next highest point total for Mansfield with 30.5. The senior won the high jump and was a member of the winning 4x100m relay. She also scored in the 100m dash, 200m dash, pole vault, and long jump. Roberts qualified to state in the high jump and 4x100m relay.
Faith Rainwater made the state roster as the district pole vault champion. She also earned a state ticket as a member of three relays (4x100m, 4x400m, and 4x800m).
Cole (100m hurdles), Sanderson (shot put), and Triska (400m dash) all won individual events to send them to state. Jones punched her tickets in the 800m, 1600m, and 3200m races while Adams made her first trip to state with a second place discus throw.
Hope Rainwater, Hecox, Stover, and Bowman won the 4x200m relay. That was the first of three relay victories for the Lady Tigers.
Freshmen Austin Ruiz and Boston Elmore wait their turn at the pole vault. The Mansfield pair qualified to state for the high school team in that event.
Faith Rainwater, Jadelynn Wood, Roberts, and Whiley won the 4x100m relay. Faith Rainwater, Laney Wood, Triska, and Jadelynn Wood won the 4x400m co-op.
Griffin, Triska, Laney Wood, and Faith Rainwater took second in the 4x800m relay.
The Mansfield men had a great meet through their sprint relays. Ravnsborg, Branche, Escalante, and Martin got things started with a gold medal run in the 4x200m relay. The group of four bettered their 2A-4 league record by running the 2 lap co-op in 1:39.54.
Ravnsborg and Martin doubled back on the short relays, joining Turnipseed and Powell in the 4x100m relay. That speed team won going away in a time of 48.72 seconds.
Finally, Ravnsborg, Branche, Escalante welcomed Ruiz to the 4x400m relay team to close the night with another victory. That high caliber finish brought the baton home in 3:56.53.
Hayslip closed the deal in the men’s pole vault. The 2A state indoor champion jumped a modest 8” 6’ to win the event and conserve energy for other events. Martin, Ruiz, and Elmore did the same tying for second place at 8’ 0” and qualifying to state.
Powell won the 300m hurdles (45.27) in only his second try over the intermediate barriers. He was a silver medalist in the 100m dash to qualify to state in both individual events.
Escalante won the 200m dash (24.25) while teammate Sammy Sellers was second in the men’s discus throw (98’ 5”). Both advance to the state round.
For over four decades, education has been the center of her life. At the conclusion of the 2022 school year, however, Mansfield school teacher, Sue Ward, will retire.
Ward received her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics in May of 1973. After student teaching at Greenwood High School, Ward would secure a job with the Mansfield School District. In 1990, after teaching for several years, she returned to school to attain a Master of Education degree.
“When it came time for my student teaching, I had the opportunity to go to Greenwood and that was great to study under Mrs. Young’s leadership,” shared Ward. “She was really strict and hard on me, but I learned what to do. The job at Mansfield became available and I went for an interview with Mr. Brewer. He hired me and I was so excited to come back to my old Alma Mater and teach. I graduated from high school here in 1959. He (Mr. Brewer) made it clear what he wanted, which was someone who would stay here for a while. The last few teachers that he hired only stayed one or maybe two years and left. I think I fulfilled his wishes. I started teaching that fall with two little boys, Dax, age five, and Michael, age three. There was no kindergarten program at Mansfield then. I needed a babysitter that I could depend on, so Joann Escalante took the job, and she was great with them. Unbelievably, I got pregnant that first year of teaching and had another boy, Shannon Colby, who was born in April. I had my hands full of responsibilities, but I loved it all. That next fall they started a kindergarten program at Mansfield Elementary, which was a blessing.”
Her years in education have afforded her many experiences and innumerable memories. “Some of my most memorable moments include having students elected to State or District Officers. Michael Ward was the first boy elected to District President and he worked his way right into the State Department, where they loved him and assigned him several responsibilities. Another area for highlights was having students compete in Star Events and place first or second with the opportunity to go to Nationals. Mallory Ward, Brandi Norris, and Hanna Johnson were among those. Another group was Austin Bingham, Kylie Ward, Addison Goetz, and Jana Coplin. These groups have all received the opportunity to compete at the national level, two years each. They won trips to Washington, D.C., San Diego, California, Anaheim California, Orlando, and Miami Florida, and went to two different National Conventions.”
Ward went on to add that “the most rewarding thing for me is when I get an email from a former student and they thank me for teaching them how to do something they are always doing now. Or, they will say something like, I learned that in Home Economics and I can do it better than my Mom can.”
Ward has taught basic Family and Consumer Science classes, which cover Family Dynamics, Personal Finance (Money Management), Life Span Development (formerly known as Child Development), Food Safety and Nutrition, Housing and Interiors, Clothing Management, Nutrition and Wellness.
“These were the courses required of us to teach,” shared Ward. “I loved teaching all of them because they were very practical and needed for this generation. Every class was something important to survive or raise a family today. The state has always given us opportunities and equipped our programs with the latest information needed to teach and be up to date.”
She has sponsored the student leadership group FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America), formerly known as FHA (Future Homemakers of America), for grades 9 -12. Throughout that time, she has led several workshops for state meetings.
In 2011, Ward was the recipient of the Arkansas FACS Teacher of the Year. Additionally, Ward has served on the ATFACS (Arkansas Teachers of Family and Consumer Science) Board for four years. Here, she helped plan and organize the State Meetings and worked on committees to develop new curriculum guides. For the past eight years, Ward has served as District I Star Event Coordinator. She has led the planning of events for competitions and judging for the district. Ward remains the District 1 Bursar.
“I worked hard organizing the classes and getting FHA activities planned for students to do. I remember the first time I had a sewing class- I was scared to death, afraid I would tell the students the wrong thing to do and they would mess up the material that parents had purchased for them to use. If that happened the parents would be mad at me, but thank goodness, that never happened. I got better every year at planning things to sew, and we received more equipment and more technology from the Coop. Today we have the most recent technology available in embroidery machines and kitchen equipment.”
Ward admitted that her husband, Dewayne, who is already retired, is anxious for her to join him. The couple has been married for 57 years, and look forward to spending more time together. “We were both still going to school when we were married, then Dewayne got drafted in the Army and left me. His tour took him to Ft. Polk, Louisiana. Then to Ft. Knox, Kentucky, where I was able to go with him, but not for long when he was sent to Anchorage, Alaska. He came home and took me back with him, and we drove the Alaskan Highway to Anchorage. We were there for two years and drove back down the Alaskan Highway with a Husky dog and a baby boy, Dax. The next year another baby boy was born, Michael Shawn. We bought a trailer and both of us went back to school to finish our degrees. I could not have done this without my mother’s help. She would keep the boys for me when I had finals, so I could study.”
Ward realizes that it will be a big adjustment for her, not returning to the classroom after 49 years. But, she is looking forward to spending more time with her grandchildren. “I look forward to going to their school programs and competitions. Michael’s children are in Little Rock and Heather’s is in Rogers, so we can travel when we get ready to visit them. The older grandchildren are working but we still want to visit them and see if they can cook me a meal, ha! We just want to keep in close contact with their lives.”
Dewayne and Sue Ward plan to relax and enjoy the country life, work in their garden, ride their side-by-side up in the mountain, swing in a hammock, and relax. “We plan to go back to Alaska and enjoy some of the areas since Dax was born there. It would be nice if Dax and (his wife) Tari could go with us.”
Ward concluded that if she gets too bored, she can always return to school as a substitute teacher! “I love my job and know that my replacement will carry on with what is required in our community.”
The Mansfield School District will be hosting a retirement party for Ward on Thursday, May 26 at 4 p.m.
The Mansfield Baseball and Softball programs went through their regular season play unnoticed by the rest of the state. Although Mansfield plays in the 2A-4, which is considered by many as a “weak” conference on the diamond, winning is winning and no one can deny championship gold no matter how the competition is perceived. The Tigers and Lady Tigers knew that respect had to be earned so gold is what they gathered. Mansfield dug up more gold on Friday, April 29th as the Tigers defeated Acorn 11-1 and the Lady Tigers defeated Lavaca 7-0 giving both teams a complete sweep of the 2A-4 for both the Conference and District Championships.
Alyson Edwards drills down another Lavaca batter for a strike.
The Lady Tigers took to their game in a slow but methodical fashion. They weren’t the home run mad bombers that fans are used to seeing, but the plan was to not become a one-trick pony going into the Regional Tournament. Therefore Mansfield worked on their in-the-park hits and overall defense to smooth out their game. Alyson Edwards had a “pitch-perfect” game as she threw a three-hit shutout along with 10 strikeouts against Lavaca. If by chance Lavaca did connect on an Edwards pitch, the Lady Tigers were there to shut it down. Infield hits were cut off by Ambria Whittaker, Cole Smith, Trinity Triska, and catcher Brooklyn Adams. The outfielders did their job also with Kynslee Ward, Natalie Allison, and Harley Fuller snagging any softball that dared to come their way. A dominant performance by Mansfield in a 7-0 shutout of Lavaca kept the Lady Tigers undefeated in 2A-4 conference play and earned them the Conference and District titles.
Kynslee Ward zeros in on a sure shot to the outfield
Head Coach Donnie Eveld had nothing but good to say about his team after the win. “The girls played really well last night and were focused on the task at hand. Offensively we put the ball in play and got big hits when we needed them. Brooklyn Adams went 2-3 with a two-run double, Kynslee Ward was 1-2 with an RBI and scored, and Trinity Triska stepped up to go 1-2 for our offense. Alyson did what she does best by pitching 10 strikeouts and our defense showed that they have really come around quite well since the start of the season.”
The Lady Tigers celebrate after another Golden Arrow out.
Mansfield’s baseball team completed their 2A-4 gauntlet Friday night also with an 11-1 route of the Acorn Tigers. The Tigers jumped out to a 2-0 lead over Acorn in the first inning and never looked back from there. Base hitting and base stealing are what got the Tigers to the District Championship game, so that’s exactly what the Tigers continued to do. The entire batting lineup seemed to take advantage of Acorn’s mistakes to jump ahead base by base. The offense was clicking so well around mid-game that a Mansfield batter even dropped the bat at the plate and move out of the way for Peyton Martin to slide into home. Line drives by Braxton Byers and Trey Vaughan helped Mansfield continue working the bases throughout the game. The Tigers ace pitcher, Drew Elmore, threw an impeccable game for the Tigers as he painted every corner of the batter’s box in each inning leading to strikeout after strikeout. The Tigers’ win sets them up for a good Regional Tournament run as well as earning them the Conference and District Championships to tack on to the 2A-4 undefeated season.
Pitcher Drew Elmore sending the heat to an Acorn batter.
“Last night was probably one of our more complete games of the year. We pitched well, played great defense, and did well with our bats last night,” said Head Coach Layton Robinson. “Everyone in the lineup made an impact whether it was at the plate, pitching, or on the mound.”
Peyton Martin with a line drive hit to center field.
If teams across the state didn’t think Mansfield was a contender for the baseball and softball State Championships, they’d better look again. Mansfield’s overall diamond program is a back-to-back Conference and District Champion program that has set up and knocked down every 2A opponent they’ve faced. Next up for the Tigers and Lady Tigers will be the Regional Tournament. Mansfield will host the Regionals and both teams will be aiming to solidify their place in the minds of all 2A baseball and softball teams in the great state of Arkansas.
Nothing gets past Mansfield catcher Fisher Willsey
Photo: 1st place Non-Living Color – Landon McCorkle, Sebastian County
By Rebekah Hall U of A System Division of Agriculture
At first glance, 10-year-old Arabella Edrington’s photo appears as a splash of water on a wood plank. A closer look reveals contrasting textures and tones that draw the viewer into a landscape within the water, where light and shadow showcase towering bare tree branches against the sky.
For her efforts, the Benton County 4-H member’s black and white photo earned Best in Show in the 2022 Ross Photography Contest, a competition that drew more than 300 photographers. Sponsored by Arkansas 4-H, the contest asked 4-H members to submit black and white or color photos of living or non-living subjects in Arkansas. Forty counties participated this year, and of the 316 photographers who entered, 156 were new participants.
Other category winners entered close-ups of pets and farm animals, and non-living subjects included flowers, fungi and vistas of wide-open spaces. (For the purpose of the contest, “living subjects” were limited to people and animals.)
One judge appreciated Edrington’s effort to capture something much more than a snapshot.
“I liked the creativity of the composition; it was something you don’t see all the time,” the judge said. “It took some work and a creative eye to get that photo. It wasn’t readily available, and I liked that some thought went into it.”
Kerry Rodtnick, extension photographer and videographer for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, coordinates the annual competition. He said he was excited by the number of new entrants.
“We had a lot of photographers entering images for the first time this year,” Rodtnick said. “That shows growth within the photography project area. It’s exciting to see these kids out creating imagery they can be proud of.”
Rodtnick said the contest’s theme was intentionally broad to encourage participants’ unique perspectives.
“Our contest theme is purposefully wide open. The entries embrace many forms of inspiration,” Rodtnick said. “Their photos are across such a wide spectrum of visual interest that judging can be difficult. Each year, the talent level gets deeper as more photographers turn in great entries. We hope that they all continue to refine their craft to push their abilities to new peaks.”
At the state level, prizes were awarded in four categories to the first-, second- and third-place winners. The Best in Show winner was selected among the category winners. Winning photographs can be viewed in the UADA Flickr album.
This year’s Ross Photography Contest winners are:
Color Living
1st – Ridge Whitley, Logan County
2nd – Braxton Strecker, Perry County
3rd – Elijah Keller, Saline County
Black and White Living
1st – Payten Hendricks, Pope County
2nd – Kacie Clark, Faulkner County
3rd – Catherine Zeunges, Washington County
Black and White Non-Living
1st – Arabella Edrington, Benton County
2nd – Kailynn Garis, Conway County
3rd – Caden Strecker, Perry County
Color Non-Living
1st – Landon McCorkle, Sebastian County
2nd – William DeSalvo, Conway County
3rd – Caden Strecker, Perry County
Best in Show
Arabella Edrington, Benton County
The Arkansas 4-H youth development program is operated by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the Division of Agriculture.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit www.uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram at @AR_Extension. To learn more about Division of Agriculture research, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station website: https://aaes.uark.edu. Follow on Twitter at @ArkAgResearch. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit https://uada.edu/. Follow us on Twitter at @AgInArk.
