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Tuesday, June 30, 2026
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Greenwood Chamber of Commerce To Sponsor Candidate Forum

The Greenwood Chamber of Commerce will sponsor a “Candidates Forum” for the contested races for County offices in the Sebastian County Republican primary. The event will be held on May 10th, at 6:30 pm in the Home Economics Building at the Sebastian County Fairgrounds in Greenwood.

The contested races in the forum are: Sebastian County Judge, Sebastian County Circuit Clerk, Sebastian County Treasurer/Collector and Sebastian County Quorum Court District 4. The event will not be a debate but rather a moderated forum where the candidates for each office will be asked the same questions. The questions will be related to the offices being sought. Candidates will have the opportunity to introduce themselves to the public and let the public know their backgrounds and qualifications for the office they seek.

Written questions from the audience will be taken in advance and passed on to the moderator if time permits. The moderator for the evening will be Dr. Tom Wing, Assistant Professor of History at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith. The timekeeper for the event will be Republican Committee Member, Jim Reynolds. The event is open to the public and free of charge.

For further information:
Bob Purvis
Greenwood Chamber of Commerce
(479) 996-6357

bpurvis@greenwoodarkansas.com

2A-4 Jr District Crowns Come In Matched Set

Mansfield’s junior high track teams found that the 2A-4 District crowns came in a matched set. At least, that’s how it seemed. For the second consecutive season both the Tigers and Lady Tigers claimed the top conference jewel with convincing wins to end their 2022 season.

The Mansfield thinclads packed the bus for an early afternoon road trip to Acorn on Tuesday, April 19. The trip home was even more congested with a heavy bag of medals, ribbons, and all the trophies offered at the 2A-4 District finals.

The Tiger teams scored almost identical points in similar fashion. Behind fast sprints, hardy relays, and stellar field events the pair posted totals of 253 and 252.2 on their way to the dual championships.

For school wide bragging rights, the girls edged the boys by eight-tenths of a point. However, the boys had the larger margin of victory over rival teams.

Mansfield’s women held off a stubborn and talented Magazine Rattler team fortified by one of the best freshman distance runners in the state. Their team margin of victory closed at 89 points.

The Tiger men tallied a huge lead after the field events and kept their distance most of the afternoon. The defending champs went on to spank Johnson County Westside by 129.6 points.

Leading the way with high point honors were Mansfield natives Laney Wood and Trey Powell.

Powell was impressive for the Tiger men. The freshmen sensation brought home 5 gold and 1 silver medal through an event schedule built on sprints and jumps.

Wood, another Mansfield freshman hailing this time from the Lady Tiger team, did her doctoring through 3 distance races, 2 jumps, and a long sprint relay. 

Mansfield’s sprint core destroyed the competition. Take the women’s 4x100m relay as a prime example. The combination of Kayla Bieker, Carter Whiley, Addie Bowman, and Daisy Nelson whisked out of sight 7.47 seconds ahead of the nearest relay team.

That baton pass special of the day was served hot off the grill between a pair of 1-2-3 finishes in the 100m and 200m dashes. Nelson, Whiley, and Bieker set those two delicious desserts on the top shelf well out of reach from league foes.

Equal to the task were the Tiger men. The boys in red served up a similar 7.47 second slice in the 4x400m relay. That punctuated the best of three sprint relay victories for the MHS men none of which were closer than 4 second differentials.

Braxton Bartlett, Josiah Williams, Gunner Williams, and Austin Ruiz peppered that final production. Dawson Robinson, Toby Towe, Dominic Shores, Bartlett, and Powell seasoned the other two dishes.

All the Mansfield players mentioned thus far earned All-District credentials by virtue of their high end performances. Several more Tiger participants also made the All-District team by finishing either first or second in their particular events.

Among those, Ethan Martin and Kaylee Ward won the men’s and women’s shot put respectively. Cadien Ore won the men’s discus competition while Kaylie Lowery came in second in the women’s discus.

Boston Elmore was second to gold medal teammate Ruiz in a near sweep of the men’s pole vault.

Molly Beck, Madison Hearron. Azlynn Stover, and Danielle Lowery added to the relay stronghold as the Lady Tigers also won all three sprint cooperatives.

Trinity Triska was top of the class in the women’s triple jump. Her All-District effort may have turned into even more awards for the dual sport freshman had time constraints forced her home early for an all important conference softball game versus Lavaca.

Jonah Martin, Rylan Nichols, and Joseph Carter made the top tier conference team as part of the second place 4x800m relay squad.

Disney Tea and Crumpets and Disney Production

By Kimberly Boyd
On Sunday, April 24th, the Mansfield Choir hosted a “Disney Tea and Crumpets” party and had over 80 people that attend the tea party.  Elementary students along with siblings and friends were able to meet all the Disney Princesses as well as some of their favorite characters. Students had a traditional tea party in which they received their very own tiara as well as an autograph book to get all the Disney attendees’ signatures.   Students learned how to bow and curtsey as well as ballroom dance.  Mansfield Choir would like to thank everyone who came out to support their fundraiser!  The choir will be presenting, “A Disney Production,” this Saturday, April 30th at 6 p.m. in the MHS cafeteria.  Tickets are $5 for adults and children 12 and under are free.  Tickets can be purchased by any choir member or at the door on the night of the production.

Tips for Driving Safely Around Large Trucks

Whether you’re new to driving or a veteran on the road, driving around giant semi-trucks on the highway is a stressful ordeal. Their size makes them intimidating, and they get into more accidents than standard vehicles. However, you can use these tips for driving safely around large trucks to keep everybody safe on the road.

Keep Your Distance

The worst thing you can do for yourself is get too close to a semi-truck on the highway. Many drivers try to pressure cars they feel are going too slow by decreasing the following distance, but that’s not a great idea with semi-trucks.

Many trucks don’t even have rearview mirrors due to the giant trailers they haul, so at best, you’re putting unnecessary pressure on them, and at best, the driver can’t even see you, which puts undue risk on yourself. When it comes to trucks, it’s better to maintain a safe and respectable following distance.

Avoid Their Blind Spots

As already mentioned, many trucks don’t have rearview mirrors, so drivers rely heavily on the side mirrors attached to the leading truck for vision. Due to their reduced visibility, an essential tip for driving safely around large trucks is to stay in their blind spots as little as possible. A common way to know if you’re in the blind spot is to remind yourself that if you can’t see the truck driver, they can’t see you.

Know Where the Truck Will Be

When it comes to maneuvering around large trucks, it helps to keep their space in mind. Trucks make incredibly wide turns, so when you see a truck slowing down or putting on its blinker, give them room to turn. When you see one attempting to merge onto the highway, getting into another lane and allowing them to get in is safer for all parties involved.

Know What To Do if an Accident Happens

Accidents are something everyone actively tries to avoid. However, understanding the necessary actions to take in the event of an accident is just as important and potentially lifesaving as knowing how to prevent them. Ensuring that everyone can get immediate medical attention is vital, and contacting law enforcement allows them to provide a detailed report of the incident. Once you and everybody else involved in the accident is OK, you can collect the information from the authorities for any legal issues that may arise after the truck wreck.

How to Dry Flowers

Spring is the time for flowers! A dear friend suggested I preserve the flowers my boys pick me in resin (thank you Cassie Coben!). I researched how to do it and found the flowers have to be dried. 

I turned the boys loose with a pan and asked them to pick whatever kind of flower they wanted out of the yard. Then I tried 3 drying methods to see what worked best.

First was air drying- I didn’t press these, I simply left them out in the house in a metal pan. It took about a week, but they dried and look okay. The colors aren’t very vibrant and some of the dandelions turned into the white fluffy kind. It required no effort, though.

The result of leaving the flowers alone in the pan they were picked into.

Then I did some in the microwave- 4 minutes in paper towels with a plate under and a plate on top. This provided the most vibrant of color! It also made them flat which seemed to keep the petals intact the best.

Flowers after being dried in the microwave.

Last I did the oven- 1 hour at 200*. I laid everything on a pan and set it in. I was least impressed by this method. It turned out so crunchy and I lost the most petals with this method. I wouldn’t do it again, or recommend it.

Flowers after being dried in the oven.

I haven’t yet used any resin as I decided we could still give fresh flowers gifts right now and I would rather wait until Christmas. So for now, I have dried flowers and the knowledge of how to do it again- in the microwave!

Obituary – Jerry Keith Parish (1977-2022)

Jerry Keith Parish, 45, departed this life for his eternal home on Friday, April 22, 2022. Jerry was born April 11, 1977 to Jerry and Janie Parish of Mansfield.
Jerry was a 1995 graduate of Mansfield, a proud uncle, beloved son and brother. He had an amazing heart, sweet spirit and gave teddy bear hugs. He was a quiet man, much like his father whom he lost at an early age.

Bub, as he was so lovingly called, was diligent to call daily to check on his mother who resides at Pink Bud Nursing Center in Greenwood. He visited her as often as he could.

He spent many summers babysitting his niece and nephew, simply to ensure he was as much a part of their lives as he could be. Jerry enjoyed the company of his family, especially the morning hugs from his great-nephew. He also enjoyed the company of his cousin, Mike Parish, who was always faithful to help in any way.

He is survived by his mother, Janie Parish; a sister and her husband, Joy and Kevin Jolley; two nieces, Tiffany Gateley (Michael) and Harper Jolley; a nephew, Cody Jolley (Emily); a great-nephew Conner Reed Jolley; Cousin, Mike Parish and a host of family, and friends.

He is preceded in death by his father, Jerry Parish and a brother, Gary Parish.

The Celebration of Jerry’s life will be held at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, April 30, 2022 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Bro. Justin Weaver officiating. Arrangements and cremation are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas.

Reasons To Get a Golf Cart for Your Farm

With farm vehicles, you can enjoy driving to the top of a hill and admiring the sunset with your loved ones after a hard day’s work. Life on the farm has its challenges, but picking the right vehicles to help get you around can make completing every daily chore fun. Explore these reasons to get a golf cart for your farm and discover how upgrading your transportation can improve your operation.

No Need To Walk All Day

Walking is good for you, but too much can cause pain and drain you faster than driving around on a buggy. The first reason to get a golf cart is that it gives you more opportunities to rest your legs while going around the property to get things done.

A golf cart makes doing chores effortless, especially if you need to work the entire day on the pasture or in your garden. It even helps if you have a mailbox along the highway or across the street.

Ditch the Gas Fumes

The best part about vehicles on the farm is they can get you to where you need to go. However, to prevent toxic fumes from entering the atmosphere, you can opt for an electric automobile to get around and avoid creating harmful gases that affect your produce or animals.

Since they don’t emit fumes, you don’t need to worry about how your cart usage impacts anything, like soil health or livestock well-being. Also, you no longer have to trek back and forth from the gas station for fuel. Simply plugging your cart into an outlet charges it for use the following day.

Golf Carts Aren’t Complex

Golf carts are a better vehicle choice because they don’t require much work. For example, you only need to charge your electric vehicle once every few days to keep going. There’s a lot of longevity as well, especially with many batteries operating close to 90 hours a charge. Ultimately, operating and maintaining a golf cart is simple.

Buggies are Completely Customizable

Farms have many rugged areas that are difficult to operate on. Even with the problematic nature of these roads, many farmers find it challenging to purchase reasonably priced equipment. By investing in a golf cart, you can solve many of these issues. You can avoid making costly repairs by installing a lift kit, which allows you to drive over rough terrain without worry.

You can check if your golf cart needs a lift kit by looking at the size of your tires and analyzing the type of surfacing you have to traverse each day. It’s good to have a lift kit on most farms so that you don’t accidentally trap your vehicle in mud or a ditch.

There are many reasons to have a golf cart on your farm, from expediting the work you do to adding a touch of character to your farm as a whole. If you’re ready to make farm life even better, consider adding a golf cart to your equipment collection!

The Great Depression and Mayo

Mayonnaise cake sounds crazy. The thought of mayonnaise, which is delicious on a sandwich or in potato salad, in a sweet like cake is just… bizarre. But during the Great Depression simple and easy to find ingredients for us, oil and eggs had rations placed on them.

When you think about what’s in Mayo- eggs, vinegar, and oil it makes sense that it was used in cake. It’s like combining the ingredients into one and shortening the recipe. Most cakes call for eggs and oil, and some call for buttermilk which is similar to vinegar in a recipe. It’s important to also note the no salt in the recipe is due to the salt in mayonnaise. A fun fact is during the Great Depression this recipe could be found on the Mayo jar!

When I told my husband I was making this he snarled his nose like I had lost my mind. Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I had but I knew I wanted to try. The result was the most moist chocolate cake I’ve ever made. The topping was extremely rich, but delicious. 

Ingredients

Cake

-2 cup flour

-1 cup sugar 

-6 tablespoons cocoa powder

-2 teaspoons baking soda

-1 cup water

-1 cup mayonnaise

-1 teaspoon vanilla

Fudge Sauce

-3/4 cup heavy cream

-1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Mix together dry ingredients, add in water, mayonnaise, and vanilla. Mix until evenly combined.
  3. Pour batter into greased pan. Bake for 40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Fudge sauce

  1. Heat heavy whipping cream, dump chocolate chips in and let sit for about 5 minutes. Stir together until smooth.
  2. Pour over cake while warm, and serve warm. Excellent served with vanilla ice cream!

Obituary – Christopher “Scott” Dillard (1975-2022)

Christopher “Scott” Dillard, age 46, of Rogers, Arkansas, was eternally healed on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, surrounded by his loving family. He was born July 28, 1975, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to Johnny and Debbie (North) Dillard. Scott was preceded in death by his Father, Johnny, paternal Grandparents Loyd “Chief” and Claudine Dillard, and his maternal Grandparents Jeff and Naomi (North) McElroy.

 Scott was an honorable and passionate individual who will be sorely missed. He is survived by his wife Jennifer (Sinele) of twenty-one years; his children Kristen, Madden and Kaitlyn Dillard; his mother Debbie North of Fort Smith; his sister, Jennifer Ham (Joseph) of Fort Smith; his half-brother, Patrick Dillard (Rachel) of Rogers; and his half-sister, Elizabeth Cain (Cameron) of Alexandria, Virginia. He also has five nieces Reagan, Addison, Madelyn, Zoey and Piper; and three nephews Landry, Luke and Connor.

Scott graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 1998 with a degree in Management and Leadership. He also earned a Master’s degree in Business Management and Leadership from Webster University in 2000. He worked as a government contractor, having founded Central Research Inc., with his father in 2002 and most recently served as its Executive Chairman. In 2019, he was honored to be the Graham/Tucker Award recipient from the Rogers-Lowell Area Chamber of Commerce for his contribution to the betterment of the Lowell community.

Most of all, Scott took great joy and pride in his role as a husband and a Dad. His oldest daughter, Kristen, will cherish marathoning tv shows and movies and going on dinner dates with him. His son, Madden, will remember his Dad cheering him on at every game he played and their shared love of baseball. His youngest daughter, Kaitlyn, will miss the bedtime snuggles and reading stories with her Dad. Scott also enjoyed biking on trails, was a big music fan, and was a sports enthusiast. He was a member of Cross Church Pinnacle Hills. 

Visitation with the family will take place at 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 27, 2022, at Cross Church Pinnacle Hills, with a funeral service beginning at 2:00 p.m. A private burial will take place at Pinnacle Memorial Gardens under the direction of Nelson-Berna Funeral Home Rogers. To leave an online tribute please visit www.bernafuneralhomes.com

April Showers Tigers In Titles

Pictured are Braxton Byers and Alyson Edwards

The month of April has been good to the diamond Tigers and Lady Tigers. Very good. So good that the Tigers and Lady Tigers have showered in winning streaks, metals, and championships on the diamond as they continue to set the bar higher for the 2A-4 competition. Their latest accomplishment was defeating JC Westside to win both of the Conference Championships for the second year in a row.

The Lady Tigers softball team cleaned house in the 2A-4 also as they finished regular season play by sweeping JC Westside in a double header on Friday, April 22nd. Alyson Edwards solidified the final game against the Lady Rebels by hitting a home run over the fence and possibly into Mansfield City Lake earning the Lady Tigers two scores. Mansfield completed a perfect 10-0 record against conference opponents and their win Friday night earned them the 2A-4 Conference Championship for the second consecutive year.

“The team played great in both games last night to finish out the regular season,” said Head Coach Donnie Eveld. “Cole Smith stepped up big time for us by giving us some awesome pitching in both games. Our defense has really picked up and been playing well lately. Alyson Edwards hit two big shots for runs to get the offense fired up in the second. The girls are playing really good right now and we hope to keep our momentum up going to districts.” 

Mansfield’s Baseball team caught the final trophy shower by defeating JC Westside Friday, April 22nd. Braxton “Boomer” Byers and Trey Vaughan signed JC Westside’s pitchers up for the Navy as Byers sailed a home run out of the park and Vaughan sent a missile to the back of the park’s fence. The Tigers went undefeated against conference opponents going 10-0 and finished the regular season with an 18-4 overall record.

Head Coach Layton Robinson had nothing but praise for his team after the game. “Last night we got 2 great pitching performances from Zayne Dugan and Drew Elmore. Both threw complete game shut outs for us. Our defense stepped up big time and played smart baseball. We started off a little slow offensively but when Westside did a couple of things to get our guys fired up, then we came alive and put them away.”

Peyton Martin

“It’s been a great year so far,” Robinson continued. ”The guys come out and work every day looking to get better than the day before. We finished 18-4 while playing some good non-conference opponents. The team knows what it takes to win and feels like we have a chance to win every time we step on the field. We’ve been battle-tested for sure but never get our heads down when we fall behind early. They’ve proved that never give up attitude by going 5-1 in two run games and coming back from behind to win 8 games. We’re excited to start postseason play and see where the chips fall.”

Mansfield will load up the buses next week and travel to Magazine as both teams hope to keep their winning streak alive at the District Tournament. The tournament begins on Wednesday, April 27th and Mansfield will face all of the same familiar foes from the 2A-4. With both teams being the #1 Seed in the tournament, both will play the winner of the #5 and #4 Seed game as their Game1 on Thursday, April 28th. This isn’t the Tigers and Lady Tigers’ first rodeo though. The Lady Tigers won District, Regionals and finished as State Runner-Up Last year while the Tigers earned the District and Regional Titles in 2021. They’ll be ready to take on all comers at the District Tournament.

Photos courtesy of Crystal Thomas