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Lady Bulldogs Wrap Up Their Season

The Waldron Lady Bulldogs saw their season come to a close at the hands of the Lady Hornets of Hackett Monday evening in the opening round of the 2022 3A-4 District Tournament. Hackett captured the victory by a score of 48-32 at Cedarville High School to end the Lady Bulldog’s season. Waldron found themselves in a hole early, as Hacket raced out to a 17-7 advantage after the first period. Much like the entire season, the Lady Dogs did not go away easily scoring seven points in the 2nd quarter, with Hailey Stidman netting three points and an aggressive Molly Richmond adding four points. The defensive intensity was evaluated to start the second half as the Lady Dogs applied full court man to man pressure which cause Hackett to turn the ball over three consecutive trips, while also earning several attempts at the free-throw line. Entering the final period, Waldron had managed to cut the deficit to single digits with a chance to tighten the game even further, but the Dogs left some key free throws at the line and never could quite pull ahead. Hackett advanced to the 2nd round, as Waldron saw their season come to a close.

Leading the Lady Dogs in scoring was senior Bianca Hinojosa, who finished the night with 9 points and 8 rebounds, senior Hailey Stidman added another 8 points and 8 rebounds, and senior Molly Richmond threw in 4 points and 9 rebounds. Aaliyah Escoffier scored a game-high of 16 points with 5 rebounds and Teonna Best had 13 points and 5 rebounds as well for Hackett.

waldron-bulldogs-women-basketball-booneville-bearcats
Lady Bulldogs Molly Richmond, Daliegh Hunt, Hailey Stidman, Bianca Hinojosa, Rheagan Adams Coaches Tracie Adams and Erica Richardson

 Waldron did not have the record they had hoped for but battled through several obstacles. Coaching change, COVID, and injuries all played a part in the make-up of this year’s squad. “These girls have been through a lot; we had a great summer of practice and preparation but was bitten by the injury bug and suffered lots of illnesses throughout the season. Just never could quite get rolling,” Coach Tracie Adams went on to say. In several contests this season the Lady Dogs either had a lead in the second half or was within striking distance and never could get over that hump.

“Lady Bulldog This Year:  Lady Bulldogs did not grab many scoreboard wins in 2021-22 season, but what they did achieve was recognizing even when you have played the game of your life, it is the feeling of teamwork that you will remember. You will forget the plays, the shots, and the scores, but you will never forget your teammates. Of course, there will always be those heartbreaking losses and underdog wins that will stick with us forever, but the bonds we form will be some of the greatest relationships in our lives. The last game of the year for anyone is tough, for our team it was no different. The Lady Bulldogs dropped their final game of the season to Hackett Lady Hornets in the district tournament. Our seniors left all they had on the floor that night.  These three girls were positive leaders and role models. They will definitely be missed!”

Best Tips To Prevent Eye Strain From Computers

Working, watching, or playing on your computer can mean being glued to the screen for several hours. Unfortunately, the number of times you blink reduces when looking at your computer screen. Less blinking can lead to irritated eyes. What’s more, staring at the computer exposes you to significant levels of blue light, which also contributes to eyestrain. Do your eyes feel dry, sore, tired, itchy, or blurry? Or maybe you’re having a hard time focusing or keeping your eyes open? It could be that your eyes are strained. We’ll share the best tips to prevent eye strain from computers in this post.

1. Give Your Eyes a Break

The effective way to go about this is to practice the 20/20/20 strategy. Make it a routine to move your eyes away from the screen at least every 20 minutes. Then, keep your eyes focused on an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds or more.

2. Purchase Blue Light Glasses

Wearing blue-light-blocking glasses is a good way to prevent eye strains when on the computer. Your retina is light-sensitive, but the cornea and lens protect it.

However, these structures only keep UV rays out, not blue light. Blue light glasses are designed with special lens coatings and tints to filter or reduce the blue light waves that reach your retina.

3. Moisten Your Eyes With Artificial Tears

Reduced blinking can mean less tears. This leads to decreased lubrication on the outer surface of your eyes. To compensate for the deficiency, ask your healthcare provider to recommend the best eye drops to use when your eyes start to feel dry.

When experiencing other eye symptoms, there are likely a sign that you need blue light glasses. So, discuss with your doctor to request a prescription for a pair of blue light glasses.

4. Adjust Computer Brightness Settings

When your computer is brighter than the surrounding lighting conditions, it can cause eye strain. The screen brightness needs to be adjusted according to your room brightness.

Adjusting the display brightness level to 60 is usually enough in most office conditions. Ideally, whether at home or office, you’ll want to change your screen brightness to match the brightness of a paper under the lighting in the room.

5. Stay at an Even Distance

It’s highly recommended to keep the display screen approximately 25 inches away from the eyes. Screen level also matters in avoiding eye strain. In line with that, make sure you adjust the screen, keeping the top of the monitor level with your eyes.

Although avoiding using your computer might not be an option, you can still make an effort to protect yourself from eyestrain with these simple-to-implement tips to avoid eye strain on the computer.

Officer Fletcher Promoted to Corporal

The Mansfield City Council met in regular session on Thursday evening, February 17 at 6 p.m. After approving the minutes and financials from January, the council heard the city services reports.

In matters of unfinished business, the council discussed paving the road at Mansfield City Lake Park. The city will provide the gravel for the project, and the county will provide the labor.

The last item of unfinished business discussed: police car repairs. One of the Dodge Chargers is currently in the shop and may need a new motor. The council took no action on the matter.

In matters of new business, the appointment of Dylan Thomas as a reserve officer. The matter was tabled, pending a background check.

Next, the council discussed the police department policy for vacation days. No action was taken, however, the council will meet in a study session to discuss the policy.

Before moving on to discuss personnel matters, the council voted to go into executive session. Upon reconvening, the council voted to promote Officer Chelsea Fletcher to Corporal with a $1,000 per year pay increase.

With no other items on the agenda, and no public comments or announcements, the meeting of the Mansfield City Council was adjourned.

First Responder Communications Strategies

Emergency situations are highly stressful environments, which makes it challenging to communicate effectively. Nevertheless, first responders must practice effective communication in order to collaborate with authorities and medical experts and direct bystanders to safe havens.

First responders must learn the right strategies to use in these situations if they want to focus their efforts on saving lives. With this in mind, here are some helpful first responder communication strategies.

Always Remain Calm

The most essential tip that a first responder must remember when they are communicating is to always stay calm. Whether they are interacting with emergency responders or trying to help a bystander, they can reduce feelings of anxiety for everyone involved by always staying calm. In these types of situations, a first responder should always look people in the eye when they are talking to them, avoid looking panicked or shocked, and consider their body language when communicating with others.

Build Trust With Those Around You

If you are a first responder, people will tend to listen to you better if they think that you care about them. Therefore, if you want to have more productive conversations with these people, you need to build up a rapport with them.

Some ways that you can do this are by focusing your attention on them, using active listening to show that you are paying attention, and always telling the truth. In addition, make sure to validate their feelings if they are scared or stressed, but reassure them that help is on the way.

Showcase Your Competence in This Field

One way to build trust is to establish yourself as an authority on a given subject. To do this, you can showcase your competence as a first responder by offering solutions to time-sensitive problems, advice for those who are struggling, and tips to other first responders. How first responders communicate during an emergency is critical for the outcome of the event, so establishing yourself as a competent individual will allow you to control the situation more precisely.

Overall, first responders save countless lives during emergencies, thanks in no small part to their distinct communication abilities. Now that you know a few first responder communication strategies, you can use these to your advantage the next time you need to help out those in need.

Cost-Effective Curb Appeal Ideas for Your Home

First impressions matter, as you can’t take them back. Give visitors to your home a bright and appealing welcome by improving your house’s exterior. These cost-effective curb appeal ideas for your home will make it a warm and inviting place before visitors even step inside.

Add Lush Plants

Bring a little bit of spring to your front porch! Plant bright, eye-catching flowers and other plants in boxes and hanging planters. The happy colors will bring a smile to your visitors’ faces. If you prefer more greenery, then plant some ivy, succulents, or even herbs for the kitchen.

Fly a Flag

What better way to show pride in your state or country than by hoisting a crisp flag in your front yard? When positioned correctly, a discreet flagpole and your flag of choice can bring a sense of pride to your property. You need to know what to look out for when placing your residential flagpole, though. Watch out for its height, and be mindful of any power lines nearby.

Paint the Door

Grab a can of paint in your favorite outdoor color and make your front door pop. Make sure that color harmonizes with the rest of your exterior, but don’t be afraid to go bold. A rich red door offers a sense of warmth to your front porch, while ivy green provides a rustic feel.

Wash It Up

At least twice a year, bring your power washer outside and give your driveway, front walkway, and porch a good cleaning. You’ll be amazed at what a difference this makes! Bright, pristine paving shows visitors that you take great pride in your home, both inside and out.

Update the Hardware

Add character to your front door by installing a creative knocker. And what about those porch lights? Exterior light fixtures are inexpensive, easy to install, and can add a homey touch to your front door area. Install lightbulbs in a warm, gentle yellow.

To boost your curb appeal without a lengthy renovation, choose a few elements to elevate. Whether it’s a hanging garden or an inviting porch light, those quick and easy changes will instantly brighten up your home’s look. Remember these cost-effective curb appeal ideas for your home, whether you’re selling or simply redecorating.

How To Prepare for Your First Fly Fishing Trip

If you’ve never been fly fishing before, you’re in for a treat! Fly fishing can be a bit trickier than conventional fishing. But when you know how to prepare for your first fly fishing trip, you will find it more enjoyable than stressful! Nothing beats going out on the water on a nice day and enjoying time in Mother Nature. Before you head out on your first excursion, make sure you prepare by reading these tips.

Practice Casting in Advance

Casting is the name of the game with fly fishing. If you learn how to cast well, you’ll have more luck. Work on being able to pick up 30 feet of line. When you do so, make a few false casts. Learn to put it down where you want it. You will need practice before you get the hang of it. Give it a shot in your yard if you can. By practicing the reach cast, you can develop better drifts and have more luck with the fish.

Get Used to Wading

Will you be fishing at a high elevation? Wading into the water will help boost your chances of catching a fish, but it takes some practice. Practice wading in advance so that you can spend less time getting used to it when you’re on the water. Of course, you’ll want to have the appropriate attire for wading, especially in areas with colder water. Don’t forget the waders!

Check Gear in Advanced

Don’t wait until the last minute to check out your gear. Do you have everything you’ll need? This means more than just a fishing rod, line, and hooks—you want to have the proper attire, too. The weather can change rapidly, and if you are in the water, you’ll want to have ample protection to keep you warm. It’s generally a good idea to have several layers so that you can adjust as needed, especially during months when it’s chilly in the morning but hot in the afternoon.

Deck Out the Fly Boxes

The last tip on the list of how to prepare for your first flying trip is to fill your fly boxes. Are you a fly tier? If so, contact your guide or outfitter to figure out the right patterns. Otherwise, consider checking the local fly shop where you fish. They can hook you up with the flies, leaders, appropriate licenses, and anything else you’ll need on your trip. You’ll be enjoying the weather and possibly protecting the environment from invasive species in no time.

Mansfield Completes District Title Run With Lady Tigers 2A-4 Tournament Title Win Over Mountainburg

Megan and Adam Hecox contributed this story and photos special to the Resident Press. Thanks to you both for bringing Mansfield coverage to Resident Press and our readers!

The Mansfield Lady Tigers have spent their season proving everyone wrong. They went from a nobody team early in the season to the head of the 2A-4 table as Conference Champions and earned the number one seed in the District Tournament. Everyone loves an underdog story…unless you’re Mansfield at the District Tournament. The Lady Tigers walked into a hostile environment for the 2A-4 District Championship as they were facing not only a tough Mountainburg team for the third time this season, but with Mountainburg hosting the tournament, they would be playing on the Lady Dragons home court. There was also a home fan advantage as the boy’s teams from Acorn and Lavaca, who would play after the girl’s game,  joined the Mountainburg student section to root against Mansfield. All of the negative scenarios didn’t change the fact that the Lady Tigers had a game to play and so the battle began.

Image Special to Resident Press / Adam & Megan Hecox

Alyson Edwards won the tip-off giving the Lady Tigers the ball first and in the blink of an eye, Natalie Allison sank a three-point shot to put Mansfield on the board first. Mounatinburg showed the Lady Tigers that it would take more than a mere blink to win as they hit a three-pointer themselves to tie the game at 3-3. Mansfield responded with another Natalie Allison three-pointer followed by Kysnlee Ward hitting a three from downtown. The game started with the makings of a sniper show with both teams on target with three-point shots. Guess what happened next? A three-pointer from Mountainburg and another one from Mansfield’s Ward. Ward was on fire hitting three threes in the first quarter and showed how important this game was to Mansfield as she also dove into the stands attempting to save a loose ball at one point. All of the Lady Tigers first-quarter points came from Kynslee Ward and Natalie Allison’s as the pair combined for five three-pointers closing the quarter with a 15-8 lead over the Lady Dragons.

The second quarter set the tone for the game as things switched from a precision shooting game to an all-out brawl for all. Seven Sanderson was fouled quickly on a put-back then hit both of her free throws to extend the Mansfield lead to 17-8. Skylnn Harris then found a gap in the Lady Dragons defense for a smooth layup but Mountainburg found a way to resolve the Lady Tigers as they applied full-court pressure. The pressure put Mansfield in a pickle and the Lady Tigers turned the ball over leading to another Mountainburg three-point shot. There was a lot of bumping and banging going on on the court as the physicality of the game increased with every score by each team. That type of game is what Mansfield’s Alyson Edwards lives for and Edwards suited up for some board fights. Edwards fought her way to back-to-back scores, then was fouled going in for two more which led to a couple of free-throw shots. Aggressiveness often leads to mistakes and Mansfield’s Harlie Fuller exploited the Lady Dragons mistakes often late in the quarter. Fuller got a steal and made an assist to Natalie Allison for the score then got down and dirty in the paint battling with the big girls for a defensive rebound. As the clock went under ten seconds in the half, Skylnn Harris blocked a Mountainburg three-point shot to end the second quarter with Mansfield ahead 32-12.

Both teams got a break at halftime, but as the third quarter ensued it was evident that the games physicality level didn’t take the same beak. Mountainburg started the quarter with the ball, but Seven Sanderson was the mountain Mountainburg couldn’t move as she stuffed a Lady Dragons layup attempt. Mountainburg would continue going at Sanderson though forcing the Mansfield powerful post to get into foul trouble The fouls helped the Lady Dragons, just not on the scoreboard as they missed multiple free throws off of those fouls in the quarter. Momentum was anyone’s for the taking so Mansfield’s Kynslee Ward took charge…..literally. Ward stood tall as a Mountaiburg player ran over her going for a layup and giving the Lady Tigers a charge call along with the ball. As Mansfield went blow for blow with Mountainburg, the crowd and benches went wild. Unfortunately for Mountainburg, some of that wildness on their bench cost them a technical foul sending the Lady Tigers momentum tank all the way to full. Free throws became the name of the game as Mountainburg continued their aggressive defense sending Alyson Edwards and Seven Sandeson to the line after being fouled on offensive rebounds. The Lady Tigers had stretched the lead to 44-22 with 3:47 left in the quarter as all seemed to be going their way. Natalie Allison hit a long-range three-pointer but Mountainburg wasn’t going to quit on their game plan. The Lady Dragons sank back-to-back threes on Mansfield after some impressive defensive steals forcing Mansfield to take a time out. After the time out, the Lady Dragons drilled another three with 11.4 seconds left to cut the lead to ten points as the quarter closed 48-38. 

Image Special to Resident Press / Adam & Megan Hecox

Mansfield quickly stretched the score out again to start the fourth quarter with Skylunn Harris gaining a quick two-point bucket. If it looked like the Lady Tigers had it in the bag, but it wasn’t as it looked. Mountainburg seemed to have a master plan all along though and it was finally starting to materialize for them. The plan was apparently to use their aggression to get Mansfield into foul trouble. Seven Sanderson fouled out early in the fourth quarter which took a big weapon off the board for the Lady Tigers. Mountainburg began hitting more shots as Mansfield was still getting called for fouls. Kynslee Ward got caught with her fourth foul and Natalie Alison along with Skylnn Harris got called for fouls on shots they blocked. This made it possible for Mountainburg to get within 7 points of the Lady Tigers forcing Mansfield to call a time out with the score at 57-50 and three minutes left in the game. With foul trouble and a lead falling fast, Mansfields Alyson Edwards and Skylnn Harris stepped up. Edwards fought for offensive rebounds and got three straight scores and free throws tacked on from being fouled on her put-backs. Harris was able to block the Lady Dragons shots on multiple occasions and any shots that she didn’t block, she was sure to rebound for Mansfield. The wild play of both teams led to a crazy final minute of play as the score sat at 61-56 at the 1:03 mark. Only down by five points, Mounatinburg kept giving Mansfield all they had but Alyson Edwards extinguished the Lady Dragons firey comeback hopes with a final board bucket at the 12-second mark. At the final buzzer, the Mansfield Lady Tigers were crowned the 2A-4 District Champions with a final score of 63-56.

The Lady Tigers won the game with a team mentality. Not only did they have multiple players scoring points for them, but they also rolled up 43 total rebounds and 17 total assists. Mansfield and Mountainburg put on a classic game for the entire state to see. Was it wild and crazy at times? Absolutely. But they put out a notice to all other conferences that the 2A-4 isn’t going to be walked over by anyone going into the Regional Tournament. For Mansfield, it was the closing of another chapter in their 2022 Comeback Cats novel as they defeated Mountainburg for the third time, were crowned Conference Champions, and earned the District Championship with the deck stacked against them. The victory now opens yet another chapter as the Lady Tigers go into the Regional Tournament in Eureka Springs as a number one seed. Mansfield will start the Regional Tournament against Life Way Christian on Wednesday, February 23rd with a tip-off of 7:00pm. If the Lady Tigers win, they will automatically be State Tournament bound. That’s would be nice, but as Mansfield has shown this season, nice doesn’t win Championships and the Lady Tigers want to add Regional Champions to their 2022 book of records. 

Gritty Paris District Tournament Effort Lands Eagles in Regionals as a #2 Seed

It was a great week of high school post-season basketball last week at Cedarville. In the 3A-4 district tournament, the fifth seed Paris Eagles won three games and advanced to the tournament championship game to face the host school Cedarville Pirates. Both the Eagles and Pirates played hard in a tightly contested game, but it was the Cedarville Pirates, the number two seed going into the tournament, defeating Paris by the score of 54-48. Cedarville advanced to this week’s regional tournament that will be hosted by Booneville High School as the top seed from the 3A-4 conference, and Paris will advance as the number two seed.

The Eagles played four games in five days and won games against Danville, Hackett, and the tournament’s number one seed, Waldron. It remained to be seen if the Eagles would have the energy to play a fourth game versus a team that was playing just their second game of the tournament. But the Eagles fought hard against the home standing Pirates, and both fan bases packed their respective sides of Pirates Gymnasium with enthusiastic fans and students from both schools. It was a great night of basketball, and both schools should be commended for the great support they showed to both teams. In fact, the Cedarville administration and coaches should be commended on a well-ran tournament. Both Cedarville and Paris should be strong contenders in the regional tournament to advance to next week’s state tournament that will be hosted by Valley Springs. Joining Cedarville and Paris in the regional from the 3A-4 will be Waldron and Charleston in boys bracket play.

Paris began the week with a decisive victory over Danville on Monday in the first round of the tournament. On Tuesday, the Eagles avenged a late-season loss at Hackett with a second round victory over the Hornets that sent the Eagles to the regional tournament, and set-up a match with the tournament’s top seed, Waldron. The top two seeds of the tournament had byes to the semifinals that were played on Thursday.

On Thursday, the Eagles played their third game in four days against a rested and number one seed Waldron Bulldogs team. The Eagles played hard and hit clutch free throws in the final two minutes to upset the Bulldogs and send Paris to the finals. Cedarville, on that same night, defeated Charleston to set up the finals match with the Eagles.

Paris entered the finals having lost both prior matches with Cedarville, hoping to upset the Pirates on their home court for the top seed going into this week’s regional tournament. But it was not to be; Cedarville is a very good team and is virtually unbeatable at home in front of their home fans. The Pirates have a great home court advantage that is a tribute to the fans, cheerleaders, band, and others who all come together to support their team. Resident Press congratulates Cedarville and wishes them the best as the top seed in Region 1 in this week’s regional tournament.

Paris concluded a great week at the district tournament by finishing as 3A-4 runner-ups (Resident Press Photo / Jim Best)

But even though the Eagles fell short, everyone can be very proud of their efforts and accomplishments in the district tournament. And at the top of that list is their coach, Josh Ferrell. After the game, Ferrell commented, “I am so proud of my guys. We had a tough road in the district tournament but we never backed down. I felt like we played as hard as we could each and every game in the tournament. We had some runs and deficits to overcome in almost every game and we battled it out and found ways to win. We played some of our best basketball this week. Ran into a great Cedarville team in the finals in a very good atmosphere at their place. We came up a little short, but we fought until the end. We had everyone contribute to each game, and that’s what we need this time of year. I’m excited to see us bounce bounce back next week in the regionals and hopefully extend our season one more week into the state tournament.”

Cedarville Pirates: 2022 3A-4 District Tournament Champions (Resident Press Photo / Jim Best)

The Class 3A Region 1 Tournament will be hosted this year by Booneville High School. The Eagles’ first game will be versus Valley Springs who is also the host for next week’s state tournament and will be playing Paris for the right to play in the state tournament on their own floor next week. So Valley should have extra motivation going into the game with Paris, and the gritty Eagles will have to be rested and ready to once again give a maximum effort to win this very important first game in the regional tournament. The game is set for Thursday at 8:30 p.m.

Congratulations to the Paris Eagles and to their coach, Josh Ferrell, for a great season and an outstanding district tournament performance. Best of luck to the Eagles and their bid to return to the Class 3A state tournament!

Top Caregiving Tips When You Live With Aging Parents

Living with aging parents can be a burden, no matter how much you love them. Whether they’re just aging or dealing with a particular disease such as Alzheimer’s, it’s essential to know how to cater to their needs without getting stressed yourself. In the following, we’ll be listing the top caregiving tips when you live with aging parents.

Find a Care Provider

In order to avoid the stress of caring for an aging parent, it’s advisable to find a care provider for them. Care providers know how to properly care for aging individuals such as your parents while giving them everything they need. This also ensures the peace of mind that you know they’re being taken care of, even when you’re away at work. Of course, you should still find a care provider you trust with your entire being.

Manage Their Transportation

Traveling with your aging parents can indeed be challenging, but this is why it’s essential to manage their transportation. You have to properly assess the different transportation available to avoid being as frustrated or stressed throughout the trip. Ensure that the vehicle you choose, such as a private car or transport, can make the trip much easier to bear for them. If your parents have special conditions such as Alzheimer’s, know the best ways to transport them to maximize comfort.

Provide Prepared Meals

Malnutrition is a tendency for many aging individuals, so having prepared meals can be so beneficial. You can order ready meals for them online, so all your loved one has to do is heat the food up. On the chances they can’t, a care provider can do this for them. It’s important to still ensure your aging parents are getting the proper nutrition, after all.

Encourage Physical Activity

This is a tough one for aging individuals, but it’s necessary. They’re at the most fragile stage of their lives, so getting even a 10-minute walk each day can benefit their overall health and well-being. Whether you assist them or a care provider, you must ensure that your aging parents get the physical activity they need to stay healthy.

In conclusion, this is everything you need to know about the top caregiving tips when you live with aging parents. These tips can make your daily life less stressful when it comes to providing your aging parents with the care they need. Whether you do these tips or hire a care provider to help them, what matters is that you’re adequately still catering to their needs.

Timepiece: Circuit Riders

By Dr. Curtis Varnell

“You people from Arkansas must be mighty religious,” my friend exclaimed while I was showing him around the river valley.  “You have a church on every corner.” I took that as a compliment!  We had just journeyed up Highway 22 and traveled by beautiful St. Benedict’s church and abbey at Subiaco, passed four churches in one block in Branch, and saw several more along the highway to Fort Smith.

Arkansas was not always so blessed.  During frontier days, churches and ministers were few and far between, so much so that many rural communities had to share facilities and ministers.  Hardy pioneers and their family moved west as soon as land became available and, after the Louisiana purchase, they poured into the valleys and bottomlands along Arkansas rivers and streams.  As soon as the community became large enough, they built schools for their kids and began to look for a suitable minister to serve their small communities.  Scattered with sparse populations, it was difficult to find ministers, especially seminary-trained men, to fill the pulpits.  To fill the gap, dedicated ministers began traveling from one church to another ministering to multiple churches on a set cycle once or twice a month.  Many of the buildings were multi-purpose, used as school buildings during the week and church on Sundays.  Each week, a different denomination circuit rider would deliver the message.  These became known as Union schools and communities and they are scattered across the country. 

The most active circuit riders were the Methodists and Presbyterians but even the Catholic communities had traveling wagons that delivered the Gospel.

Unable to find seminary-trained ministers from the East, Presbyterians from the mountainous regions separated from the main denomination and allowed lay ministers to begin the establishment of churches throughout the South.  To provide training, they established a college at Cane Hill in 1826.  That college is the oldest existing college in the state and is now the University of the Ozarks at Clarksville. 

Circuit riding was a dangerous and difficult task.  Roads were often no more than pathways carved through the wilderness connecting small rural communities.   Riders faced swollen streams with dangerous currents that could carry horse and rider to their deaths.  One rider described his encounter and escape from a panther crouched on a boulder beside the trail.  Reverend John Bingaman lived in the Ellsworth Community of Logan County.  As a circuit rider, he helped found Cumberland Presbyterian Churches throughout Yell and Logan County.  Mr. Bingaman would often have to leave his family on a Saturday, stay the night with a parishioner, and then preach the following day.  If the churches were close enough, he would minister at one early service, travel to another church and hold an evening service.  He would then remain there a night and arrive back home on Monday.  On one such trip, he left in a snowstorm, riding his little pony up shoal creek and over the mountain.  He arrived back home a couple of days later, hands frozen and lips blue from the cold.  His offering from those services were three silver quarters.  

As Sunday morning arrives and the church bells peal across the mountains and valleys calling the faithful to worship, we can be grateful that we were blessed by the dedicated service of the many men and women who gave of themselves so we can enjoy the freedom and ease of worship we enjoy today.