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Cost-Effective Curb Appeal Ideas for Your Home

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Fans from both schools cheered for their teams in a great tournament championship game atmosphere at Cedarville High School (Resident Press Photos / Jim Best)

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.

Both Cedarville and Paris played extremely hard in what resulted in a Pirates victory (Resident Press Photos / JIm Best)

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

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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

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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.

Mansfield School District Receives AEDC Award

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Mansfield School District Receives AEDC Award

Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications

The Arkansas Economic Development Commission Division of Rural Services has awarded grants totaling $502,838.41 to promote wildlife education and improve school conservation programs to 183 schools, school districts, and conservation districts in 65 Arkansas counties. These grants are funded by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission through fines collected from hunting and fishing violations. Only money collected in the county where the violation occurred may be used as grant funds for that county.

Among those schools, the Mansfield School District received $3,757.87 in funding to purchase materials to rehab their outdoor classroom: picnic table, mosquito netting, trash can and play charcoal. Additionally, $2,101.54 in funding to purchase AYSSP materials. Wages for bus drivers was not approved.

“Contrary to what some Arkansans may think, the AGFC never sees a single penny from citations our officers write,” AGFC Director Austin Booth said. “Instead, that money is invested in the children of that county to help instill that love of the outdoors that makes Arkansans unique.”

All schools in the state are eligible to participate in the program. The funding has helped schools create and maintain archery, fishing, and competitive shooting sports programs. Schools also have used the money to help improve wildlife education by purchasing educational materials, materials for the creation of indoor and outdoor habitats, lab supplies, and field trips to AGFC nature and education centers. Conservation districts have used the funding to help promote wildlife conservation awareness in the communities by hosting environmental education days and fishing derbies for children of all ages. 

“Arkansans are fortunate to live in a state with abundant wildlife and outdoor recreational opportunities,” said Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston. “There is so much we can learn just by getting out and experiencing the wonders found in nature all around us. These grants not only help broaden minds and economic development, but they also provide opportunities for volunteerism and community involvement, all of which make us a more attractive state for business and pleasure.”

Outdoor education plays a vital role in understanding the need for conservation and participation in the outdoors, according to AGFC Chief of Education Tabbi Kinion. 

“The AGFC is happy to partner with Rural Services on this program,” Kinion said. “Thousands of Arkansas students will be outdoors or having hands-on experiences in nature centers, learning and perfecting skills. These grants offer the opportunity to learn about wildlife habitat and conservation as part of the Arkansas school experience.” 

For more information, including a complete list of award recipients and program narratives, visit https://www.arkansasedc.com/Rural-Services/division/grants/grant-recipients.

27,803 Feral Hogs Removed by Feral Hog Eradication Task Force

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27,803 Feral Hogs Removed by Feral Hog Eradication Task Force

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is pleased to report that 27,803 feral hogs have been removed from the state of Arkansas since January 2020 by members of the Arkansas Feral Hog Eradication Task Force.

The Feral Hog Eradication Task Force was initially created by the Arkansas Legislature during the 2017 general session and was directed to create a plan for the eradication of feral hogs in Arkansas. The Task Force is made up of 21 federal and state agencies and non-government organizations.

A list of Task Force members can be found at https://bit.ly/FeralHogTF.

The feral hog removal efforts over the past two years have assisted more than 650 individual private landowners and public properties across the state of Arkansas, including within the Buffalo River Watershed. Members of the Task Force have also hosted eight landowner workshops to raise awareness of the damages caused by feral hogs and available resources to assist with removal.

“The feral hog removals by the Task Force members reflect the continued collaboration and commitment of our county, state, and federal partners to address and minimize damages associated with feral hogs across the state,” said J.P. Fairhead, Feral Hog Eradication Program Coordinator. “The removals and the feedback received from landowners indicate that the efforts of Task Force members and landowners have led to population and damage reduction in areas where our county, state, and federal resources are allocated.”

Feral hogs are an invasive species that are especially destructive to agricultural crops, native wildlife, and young domestic livestock. Feral hogs are found in 39 states and may carry at least 45 bacteria, diseases, and parasites, including Pseudorabies and Brucellosis. Nationally, feral hogs are estimated to cause more than $2 billion in damages each year. In Arkansas, the latest survey by U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimated that feral swine cause at least $41 million in agricultural damages every year, including $34 million in damages to soybeans, corn, cotton, wheat, hay, pecans, and rice, and $7.3 million in damages to livestock.

The Department is dedicated to the development and implementation of policies and programs for Arkansas agriculture and forestry to keep its farmers and ranchers competitive in national and international markets while ensuring safe food, fiber, and forest products for the citizens of the state and nation.

State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Terry Rice

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State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Terry Rice

The legislature completed the first week of the 2022 fiscal session, approving budgets for numerous state agencies and advancing reforms of public health insurance systems.

For almost a year a group of legislators has been working on the complex task of reforming state employee and teacher health insurance systems, which have experienced financial problems to the extent that lawmakers last year replaced their governing board.

One goal of the reforms is to prevent spikes in health insurance premiums that would eat up much of the pay raises that teachers and public employees get. In the past, the state has had to shore up the systems’ finances with extra funding in order to avoid sharp premium increases.

Another goal is to provide legislators with more oversight authority over the systems. Another proposed bill would require fiscal impact statements when benefit changes are proposed, to avoid unexpected consequences.

Other measures would require the systems to increase reserve funds, so they’re better able to remain financially solvent. They would spell out the financial thresholds that would require members to increase contributions into the systems.

One bill modifies retirees’ eligibility for health insurance, requiring them to have participated for at least five years in order to get benefits.

Another bill sets new rules for health insurance coverage of morbid obesity through the use of bariatric surgery.

Most of the health insurance bills have an emergency clause, so they will become law on the day they are signed by the governor.

The Senate made excellent progress on a long list of appropriation bills that will set budgets for state agencies and determine how much state aid will go to public schools and institutions of higher education.

One reason the budget bills moved so swiftly through the legislative process is that lawmakers began working on them months ago. The legislature held budget hearings in January, but all last year lawmakers met regularly to monitor state government spending. They also met regularly to review state agency personnel decisions and transfers of money within departments.

Homeowner Assistance

Arkansas homeowners can now apply for assistance if they have experienced financial hardships due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The state has $54 million to award people struggling to make mortgage payments or utility bills.

The program is administered by the Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) and it is called the Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF).

Eligibility depends on your income and where you live. To apply, and to determine whether or not you’re eligible, go to the HAF page on the ADFA website. Search the Internet for arkansashaf and you’ll get to the ADFA site.

The program is for homeowners who have lost their jobs or businesses due to the pandemic, and is meant to prevent foreclosures or delinquent payments. Homeowners can also use grants to stay current on their utility bills.

In addition to the website, you can call ADFA at 888.698.0964 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

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“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

Hello everyone! Hope everyone had a wonderful Valentine’s Day. Always tell your loved ones how much you love them and never take them for granted.

I have been so busy this week. I have been gone every night doing something. I still had time to make dessert for our church’s Valentine party. Last night, I made banana bread and brownies.

Do y’all remember when we were kids and always trying to pull a fast one over on our parents? Well, I was a pro at it, or so I thought. My mom always knew. I always wondered how she knew. When I became a parent I figured it all out. Moms have special powers and they are better than a bloodhound about sniffing out things their children do. Shannon would get so mad because I usually knew what she had done before she got home.

Back in the late 1970s, once again, Lisa Smith Favela and I were up to something. Her parents were going to take the kids to the lake and we begged to stay home, and they let us. As soon as they got out of sight, we found the keys to the Impala and drove all over Mansfield. We drove down every street, we thought we were something. Neither one of us had a license. We eased the big four-door car into the driveway right before they got home. We were so proud of ourselves, we had pulled a fast one on the folks. They pull in the driveway and we are all outside, and we are in the clear. We were smiling on the inside. Then, all of a sudden, Jackson Smith leans on the hood of the car and it was still warm from us roaming the town. We were busted. He said, “who’s been driving this car?!” We had to fess up, we were caught. We got in trouble, and you would think this would have stopped us from pulling any more stunts. Of course, it didn’t. Oh, the good old days, driving that car was fun, it was worth getting in trouble. Can I say that I could talk Lisa into pretty much anything? I was the instigator. I can just imagine the shock on your faces.

This week’s recipe is another quick cake recipe. It comes from my friend, Ronna Watts. She is one of the best cooks I know. She can tackle anything and make a meal out of the leftovers and just about anything.
Now don’t think this won’t work because it will and I made it with blueberry and it was good. I am going to try it with cherry next time.

BLUE BERRY ANGEL FOOD CAKE
1 dry angel food cake mix
1 regular size can of blueberry pie filling (you can use any flavor you like)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, mix the dry angel food cake mix (do not add the water) and the pie filling till it’s mixed together good. You do not have to grease the pan. Pour the batter into a 9×13 cake pan and bake for 25 to 30 minutes, depending on your oven. One of my ovens gets hotter than the other. It will puff up while cooking. Let cool, you can top with cool whip or icing of your choice. I just put butter on mine and ate it like a blueberry muffin. Enjoy!

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