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2022 Arkansas Century Farm Applications due May 31

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture (Department) is now accepting applications for the 2022 Arkansas Century Farm program. This program recognizes Arkansas families who have owned and farmed the same land for at least 100 years.
“Arkansas Century Farm families have persevered for at least ten decades and have contributed greatly in making Arkansas agriculture the success story that it is today,” said Arkansas Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward. “As Arkansas’s largest industry, agriculture contributes $19.4 billion to the state’s economy annually and provides one in six jobs.”
To qualify, Arkansas farms must meet the following criteria:

  • The same family must have owned the farm for 100 years by Dec. 31, 2022. The line of ownership from the original settler or buyer may be through children, grandchildren, siblings, and nephews or nieces, including through marriage and adoption.
  • The farm must be at least ten acres of the original land acquisition and make a financial contribution to the overall farm income.

Online and printable applications are available here. Applications must be received via email or postmarked on or before May 31, 2022 to be eligible for designation as a 2022 inductee. There is no cost to apply for the program.
Qualifying Arkansas farms will receive a personalized Arkansas Century Farm certificate and metal sign listing the farm name and year established. Contact Beth Moore at 501-539-4027 or beth.moore@agriculture.arkansas.gov with questions.
Arkansas is home to more than 42,200 farms, of which 96 percent are family owned and operated. Since the program began in 2012, 526 farms have been certified. Find a list of previously inducted Arkansas Century Farm families here.

Arkansas School Garden Grant Program, Arkansas Taste Test Grant Program Recipients Announced

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce that a total of 88 grants have been approved for funding of $37,500 through the Arkansas School Garden Grant Program and the Arkansas Taste Test Grant Program.

“School gardens and taste tests have proven to be valuable tools in teaching children about agriculture, nutrition, and a variety of skills. The lessons learned through these programs can have a lasting impact on children, their families, and entire communities,” said Secretary of Agriculture Wes Ward.

The Arkansas School Garden Grant Program was established to help schools start or expand gardens on school grounds. The Department will award $500 grants to the schools to purchase soil, specialty crop seeds and plants, and gardening equipment. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture recognizes the following 62 schools as grantees of the Arkansas School Garden Grant Program:
● Cook Elementary School, Fort Smith
● Cotter High School, Cotter
● Crestwood Elementary, North Little
● Anne Watson Elementary, Bigelow
● Archford Crossroads West, Atkins
● Armorel High School, Armorel*
● Baseline Bilingual School, Little Rock*
● Bayyari Elementary School, Springdale
● Bobby Barrett Elementary, Mount Ida*
● Bright Beginnings Learning Center, Inc., Arkadelphia*
● Butterfield Trail Elementary, Fayetteville
● Cabot High School, Cabot
● Cabot Middle School South, Cabot*
● CCCEC Step by Step EIDT, Perryville
● Cedarville Elementary School, Cedarville*
● Centers for Youth and Families, Little Rock*
● Charleston Middle School, Charleston
● Civilian Student Training Program, North Little Rock
● Clarksville Head Start, Clarksville
● Clinton High School, Clinton
● Clover Community School, Bentonville
● Des Arc High School, Des Arc
● Drew Central Elementary, Monticello*
● Early Childhood Education Program at Trinity Cathedral, Little Rock*
● Elmdale Elementary School, Springdale
● Emmanuel Learning Center for Children, Jacksonville
● Eureka Springs Middle School, Eureka Springs
● Flightline Upper Academy, Little Rock
● Genoa Central School District, Texarkana
● Good Earth Learning Center, Austin*
● Greenwood Preschool Center, Greenwood
● Health Wellness and Environmental Studies Magnet Elementary, Jonesboro
● Hope Academy of Public Service, Hope
● Hot Springs Child Care Center II, Hot Springs
● Hoxie School District, Hoxie
● Jasper High, Jasper
● John Tyson Elementary School, Springdale
● Kindergrove, Rogers
● Lake Nixon Outdoor Preschool, Little Rock
● Little Scholars Schools, Little Rock*
● Manila Elementary, Manila*
● Marvell-Elaine Elementary School, Marvell*
● Monticello Intermediate School, Monticello
● Monticello Middle School, Monticello
● Mountain View Middle, Mountain View
● Nettleton Junior High, Jonesboro
● Ozark High School, Ozark
● Ozark Junior High, Ozark*
● Pike View Early Childhood Center, North Little Rock
● Pine Bluff High School, Pine Bluff
● Pinnacle View Middle School, Little Rock*
● Quitman Elementary School, Quitman*
● Salem Elementary School, Benton*
● Spring Hill High School, Hope
● Stagecoach Elementary, Cabot
● The Delta School, Wilson
● The Farm at Pediatrics Plus, Conway
● The New School (TNS), Fayetteville
● Two Rivers School District, Ola*
● Vilonia Pathways Academy, Vilonia
● Washington Elementary, Fayetteville
● White Hall High School, White Hall
*Recipients marked by an asterisk were also recipients of the Arkansas Taste Test Grant Program.
The Arkansas Taste Test Grant Program was established to help schools lead cafeteria taste tests of locally grown, specialty crops. The Department will award $250 grants to the schools to purchase kitchen equipment and utensils, serving materials, and specialty crop seeds and plants. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture recognizes the following 26 schools as grantees of the Arkansas Taste Test Grant Program:
● Alma School District, Alma
● Armorel High School, Armorel
● Baseline Bilingual School, Little Rock
● Bobby Barrett Elementary, Mount Ida
● Bright Beginnings Learning Center, Inc.,
Arkadelphia
● Cabot Middle School South, Cabot
● Cedarville Elementary School, Cedarville
● Centers for Youth and Family, LittleRock
● Drew Central Elementary, Monticello
● Early Childhood Education Program at
● Lincoln Elementary, Lincoln
● Linda Childers Knapp Elementary, Springdale
● LISA Academy Springdale, Springdale
● Little Scholars Schools, Little Rock
● Manila Elementary, Manila
● Marvell-Elaine Elementary School, Marvell
● Nemo Vista FCS High School, Center Ridge
● Ozark Junior High, Ozark
● Pinnacle View Middle School, Little Trinity Cathedral, Little Rock
● Good Earth Learning Center, Austin
● James R. Tate Elementary, Van Buren
● Kiddie Town Learning Center, Little Rock
● Quitman Elementary School, Quitman
● Salem Elementary School, Benton
● SAU Tech ABC Preschool, Camden
● Two Rivers School District, Ola

The farm to school grant programs were available to public and private K-12 schools, early childhood education facilities, and alternative learning environments. In addition to the funding, the Department’s Farm to School and Early Childhood Education Program staff will provide technical assistance to grantees upon request. The grant programs were developed using funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Specialty Crop Block Grant Program to increase production and consumption of specialty crops in schools. Specialty crops, as defined by the USDA, are fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, dried fruits, horticulture, and nursery crops.

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

By Sheri Hopkins
Lifestyle Contributor

Hello everyone! By the time you read this the ice and snow should be gone. It was pretty and thank the Lord I didn’t lose electricity. We made snow ice cream. If you’re a Wagoner it’s cream cream. We have names for everything. Ketchup is keppy, any kind of dip is lapa lapa. That’s how we roll. Everyone has nicknames, I will have to tell them in a later story.

This recipe is one I like to make in the summer. Since it’s so cold, I am going to give it to y’all now. And, since I am on the summer recipe, I am going to tell you a summer story.

Every year we always went to Dogpatch USA. Daddy took us, and my brother Larry and his wife always went with us. Daddy took a big ice chest full of pop and snacks. We had the best time. So many fond memories of those trips. I loved the characters and shows.

Have you seen a chicken play a piano? Daddy always went trout fishing. We would drive the old-timey cars I’m sure all of y’all have made a trip or two there. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end. Dogpatch USA closed.
That’s when we started going to Magic Springs. I always had to tag along with my brother Larry, a.k.a. Toby, and his family on trips.

This particular trip, Lisa Favela went with us also. Does anyone remember the roaring tornado? You had to climb all these stairs to ride it. It was a roller coaster that looped and turned you upside down. Larry, Michael, Lisa and me, all got up the nerve and rode it. We screamed the whole time. I bet my mouth was wider than anyone’s. I know it can open big because one time I rode buzzsaw falls at Silver Dollar City. Before I could get off, Chuck was in line to buy the picture they took of me with my mouth wide open. He was so proud of that picture, he showed everyone.

Back to roaring tornado. We rode it, and when we got back, we were all scared to death. As my brother joked, as he always does, said “that was so much fun, let’s do it again.” As I am yelling at the top of my lungs, “NOOOO” the man operating the coaster, pushed the button, and off we went again. That was my first and last ride at roaring tornado at Magic Springs. Fun times with the Wagoner crew.

You know Jason Wagoner was not about to ride that ride. I am not going to say he was chicken, just smart.

This recipe is an easy peasy, fun cake to make and you can make many varieties, just use your imagination and go wild.

STRAWBERRY CAKE
1 strawberry cake mix (dry)
1 can strawberry soda pop, 12 oz.
Mix together with an electric mixer for two minutes. Spray a 13×9 cake pan with nonstick spray and cook in a 350-degree oven for 30 minutes. Let it cool and put Cool Whip on top. Add sliced strawberries on top. It’s a pretty cake and very tasty. The best part is, it’s easy.

Tax Tips from a Local CPA

By Anita Mize, CPA

Do you have a farm or business, or do you have a hobby?

Each year, many people want to start filing a business or farm on their taxes so they can write off losses.   On the other hand, some taxpayers don’t want to file a business or a hobby because they didn’t make any money.  Unfortunately, whether you make a profit, or not, doesn’t determine what you need to file for your taxes!  It’s important to understand what you have and how to report it for tax purposes.

A business or farm is defined as an activity that operates to make a profit.  You can’t just say you have a business or farm so you can write off all the expenses.  There must be an intent to make a profit.

A hobby is an activity you engage in for sport or recreation, not to make a profit.  Although this activity wasn’t started to make a profit, income earned from hobbies must be reported on your tax return.

So, here are the things to consider, to help you determine if you have a business, farm or just a hobby.

  1. Are you carrying out the activity in a businesslike manner – keeping complete and accurate books and records?
  2. Do you put in the time and effort needed to show that you intend to make a profit?
  3. Does this activity provide money to assist in your household living expenses?
  4. Are any losses in the startup phase typical of a business of this type or beyond your control?
  5. Do you adjust your operations to improve your profitability – make changes so you don’t continue to lose money?
  6. Do you have the knowledge to carry out this activity in a businesslike, profitable manner?
  7. Have you been successful and profitable in similar activities in the past?
  8. Did you have profit in some years or were all years losses?
  9. Do you have assets that will appreciate in value and result in profits in future years?

The general rule is that a business or farm must be entered into with plans to make a profit in future years.  The IRS wants to see a business profit within 5 years and a farm profit within 7 years.

My recommendations:

  • Have a written business plan that outlines your steps to grow the business and when you plan to make a profit.  Documentation is a key factor in convincing the IRS you have a legitimate business or farm.  Most businesses won’t make a profit in year one, but you should know when you plan to make a profit.
  • Keep good records – what did you do to get the business going, changes made to increase profitability, education you took to get more informed, clubs you joined to network with other similar business or farm owners.
  • Get organized – keep all receipts for expenses and records of income.  Even if you have a bank transaction for an expense – you still need the receipt for proof of what you purchased.
  • Be neat and organized so you have the information readily available to answer any questions that may arise during an audit.  
  • One bank account!  If you want to start a business or a farm – open a checking account for all expenses and income to run through.  One place for all income and expenses makes record keeping much easier than trying to track down expenses from multiple accounts or credit cards. 
  • Talk to a professional before starting the business.  Business entity (type of business structure) is very important so be sure you choose the correct one.

Good Luck to all you entrepreneurs out there!!   

Obituary – Darlene (Pope) Wood (1950-2022)

Darlene Wood, 71, of Waldron, AR, passed from this life on February 1, 2022 with family at her side. Darlene was born on April 25, 1950 in Lampasas, TX.

A memorial service is scheduled for Saturday, February 12, 2022 at Southside Baptist Church in Waldron. She was an active member of her church, loved photography, and dancing to the music of the band, where Dale played bass guitar. Known as Mama D by friends and family, she had many bonus kids and grandkids that she claimed as her own, and will be dearly missed by all.

She is survived by her husband of 53 years Dale Wood, son Kevin (Kimberly) Wood, daughter Chrissy Wood, sister LaJuan Wheeler, brothers Mack (Nancy) Pope and Harvey (Janet) Pope, sisters-in-law Jennie Pope, and Bernice Wood, grandchildren Alex (Summer) Mashburn, great-granddaughter Avery Mashburn, nephew Robert (Lisa) Wood, niece Cassie (Bill) Coben, great-nieces Bethany (Keith) Brigance, Danica (Guy) Taylor, and multiple other beloved nieces and nephews. 

Darlene was preceded in death by her parents, John and Leila Pope, father and mother-in-law Arvel and Adell Wood, son Tony Wood, brothers Gene (Imogene) Pope, Rayford (Byrdie) Pope, Kenneth Pope, Boyd Pope, and brothers-in-law James Wood and Dean Wheeler.
 
 Darlene was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She doted on her family and was loved in return. 

Visitation with family will be Friday, February 11 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron.

Charleston Sweeps Paris at Tiger Center; Winter Weather May Affect Games Later This Week

The Paris basketball program traveled up Highway 22 on Tuesday night to take on Charleston at Tiger Center in boys and girls 3A-4 conference match-ups. And when the night was over, it was Charleston getting the sweep of both games over Paris.

The Lady Eagles, again playing with a reduced roster and without junior Brailey Forst who is out for the season, dropped the game to the Lady Tigers who played one of their better games of the season. Charleston coach Jason Rucker has his team playing good basketball as the regular season comes to an end. Look for the Lady Tigers to be a tough out in this year’s district tournament. Charleston has had its obstacles just as Paris, playing with reduced numbers due to injury and COVID. But Coach Rucker seems to get the most out of his talent and numbers every year, including two years as Class 3A state champions, and as a state semifinalist in 2020. His team appears to be peaking now just at post-season tournament time. On Tuesday, the Lady Tigers defeated Paris, 46-21.

The Charleston boys led the Paris Eagles for the entire game on way to a conference victory that will solidify their standing of third place in the conference. Outstanding play from Ransom Merechka and Brandon Scott led the way for the Tigers. Charleston defeated Paris 45-37. Tigers coach B. J. Ross has his Tigers playing good basketball as they look forward to a huge showdown with Waldron on Friday.

The Tigers will host Waldron on Friday night in a very important conference game for both schools that could have implications in the final regular season standings and in district tournament seedings for both schools. Charleston has historically played very well against Waldron at Tiger Center, and Friday night’s game will be another epic game between the two powerhouse programs. Of course, all of this is now up in the air due to winter weather, much like last year’s district tournament that interrupted play after the first round.

On Friday, the Eagles are scheduled to host Cossatot River in a 3A-4 conference game for both the boys and girls, and for Paris Senior Night. And just as the upcoming Charleston / Waldron game, the Paris / Cossatot River games may be postponed depending on Friday’s weather conditions. Eagles fans should watch social media and the Paris Schools website (parisschools.org) for the latest information on scheduling information for basketball games slated for the remainder of this week.

Photos from last evening’s games at Charleston will be posted on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports and at Charleston Tigers Sports on Thursday night, February 3.

So, if games are played this week, Resident Press will be there to bring you all of the action!

Groundbreaking Held for Greenwood’s New Housing Development

A groundbreaking ceremony was held on Tuesday, February 1, to commemorate the City of Greenwood’s newest housing development, East Village.

According to the development group, Brownstone, the East Village subdivision will be one of a kind, featuring beautifully landscaped entrances along Hwy 10 East.  When completed, the subdivision will consist of 251 new homes, approximately 2.5 miles of paved walking trail, and several pavilions located in the common areas.

Mayor Kinslow (R) is joined by local dignitaries and developers. (Photos courtesy of Peggy Barger)

Brownstone touted the subdivision’s curb appeal, noting the superior craftsmanship of unique homes with timeless style and modern amenities from farmhouse to craftsman style and more.

“Our homes are designed to meet your family’s needs from the Cottage Style (starting at 1,200 sf.) to mid-level homes (starting at 1,500 sf.) or estate-sized homes (starting at 1,800 SF.) A home is not just about the “house” but also the location and Greenwood just ‘Feels Like Home.'”

Area dignitaries, including Mayor Doug Kinslow, joined the team of developers for the event.

Local businessman, and candidate for State Representative District 47, Wade Dunn, was in attendance at the groundbreaking ceremony. Pictured with Dunn are Buddy Lloyd, Sean Lin, and Jamie Brown. (Photo courtesy of Peggy Barger)
Mayor Kinslow addresses those in attendance. (Photo courtesy of Peggy Barger)
Chamber of Commerce President Bob Purvis (photo courtesy of Peggy Barger)

Obituary – Donna Lee Nelson (1943-2022)

Donna Lee Nelson of Waldron, Arkansas went to be with her Lord and Savior, Monday, January 31, 2022 in Waldron, Arkansas surrounded by her loving family. Donna was born December 19, 1943 in Scottsdale, Arizona to Russell Edward Lovern and Jerri Ruth (Lewis) Lovern. She was 78 years old. Donna attended Winfield Baptist Church for many years and as of lately attended Haw Creek Baptist Church in Waldron, Arkansas.

Donna worked many years at Tyson Foods holding many different positions and working in many areas of production and eventually retiring. It was here she made many lifelong friends. Donna was a kind person with a sweet spirit. She enjoyed reading and gardening. However, her greatest love was that for her family. She cherished the time she got to spend with each of them making treasured memories and good laughs.

Donna leaves behind to cherish her memory, four sons: Rusty Nelson and wife Cindy, James Nelson and wife Lisa, Matthew Nelson and Brandon Nelson and wife Heather all of Waldron. Nanny will forever remain in the hearts of her grandchildren: Kandi Nelson, Nikki Perkins, Bailey Nelson, Emily Nelson, Brianna Nelson, Bently Nelson and Logan Nelson as well as three great-grandchildren: Alli Perkins, Garrett Perkins and Abigail Holt. Donna will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host of extended family, friends and loved ones dear to her heart.

Donna was preceded in death by her parents, Russell and Jerri Ruth.

Donna’s family will have a private family memorial at a later date. Arrangements and cremation are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas.

4 Tips for Choosing the Right Range Hood

Are you tired of kitchen smoke setting off your fire alarms? Are you sensitive to smoke and other irritants? Is your kitchen covered in grease? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then it may be time to invest in a range hood.

A range hood is a device that removes airborne grease, fumes, heat, smoke, steam, and more from the air in your kitchen. It can help keep your kitchen clean, keep allergies to a minimum, stop false alarm trips, and more!

If you’re thinking about getting a range hood for your kitchen, here are four tips for choosing the right range hood.

Consider the Exhaust

You have three options when it comes to your range hood’s exhaust. The first is a vented exhaust, which connects to the outside of your home. You can also choose a non-vented exhaust system. These exhaust systems have a filter. Contaminated air flows through the filter and returns to the kitchen once clean. You need to change the filter every few months for the best results. Finally, there’s the convertible range hood. You can set these hoods up to be vented or non-vented. The choice is yours!

Consider the Look

Of course, you want your range hood to look good and be functional. You want to mount your hood 24 to 30 inches above the stovetop for optimal results. You can mount it on the wall, incorporate it into your cabinets, or even get a suspended hood that hangs from the ceiling.

Hoods come in various types and materials. Choose the one you like the look of, but don’t put too much stock in appearance—you can always remodel your range hood later! Some options for this include painting it, staining it, or paneling it. You can also use an onlay to give your range hood character.

Consider the Noise

Some range hoods are silent. Others are so loud you’ll feel like you’re living next to a train station or an airport. If you’re sensitive to sound, look for hoods that work by drawing air to the perimeter of the hood instead of the center. Look at the range hood’s sone rating, or sound rating, as well. The lower the number, the quieter the hood.

Consider the Strength

The stronger the range hood, the better it will remove irritants from the air. The unit of measurement for the power of the air movement in range hoods is cubic feet per minute (CFM). If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, you’ll want a range hood with a rating of 350 CFM or more. However, keep in mind that the higher the CFM, the louder your range hood will be!

With these tips for choosing the right range hood, you can go shopping for one feeling more confident. Equipped with your newfound knowledge, set out to find the model that’s best for you and your kitchen.

“Just Roll with It” Serving up Recipes and Humor

By Sheri Hopkins
Lifestyle Contributor

Hello everyone! Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t. With this week’s cake, I feel like a nut.
Let me tell ya, since I had the rona, I had problems tasting and smelling certain things. It’s about to drive me nuts. I cannot smell bath and body lotion, but I can smell skunk, and a roast cooking in the Crockpot.

Picture it, 1982, Lisa Smith Favela and I decided to go to Vo-Tech in Ozark. We took business classes. To say that was one of the best years of my life, is an understatement. We met two of our lifelong friends, Debra Whitman and Sharon Kendrick. We also had two good friends, Bev Stephens and Virginia Schluterman. We sure had some fun times and learning was not at the top of the list. How we managed to pass everything and graduate is beyond me and mine. We had to drive to Booneville and we could catch a bus and ride to Ozark, which was a good deal and you could save gas. But, what fun is there in that? Sometimes we would drive my car to Ozark instead of riding the bus. This one particular day we left and got ahead of the bus, between Ozark and Booneville. I ran out of gas in the little Plymouth Horizon I was driving. I was bad about forgetting to get gas. Just so happened that a nice State Trooper came by and stopped to see what the problem was. He said, “get in the back of the car, and I will take you to a station, get you some gas and bring you back.” So he is putting us in the back of the police car when the Vo-Tech bus came driving by. All of the students on the bus think we are being arrested and going to jail. Tongues were waggin’ the next day at school wanting to know what we had done to get arrested. It was hilarious. I can’t remember if we made up a story or told the truth.

Oh the memories and good times we had. Charlie Little even rode with us about six months. We probably scared him a little.

To the present, Jacob was taking accounting in college and I said “oh, I took college accounting.” He didn’t seem impressed. I said “would you like me to help you with your homework?” He said “that’s OK.” He was not impressed at all. His loss, I could have helped him.

OK, here is the mounds cake recipe. I will be doing cake recipes that are from cake mixes. It makes it easier to make a delicious cake that tastes like homemade.

ALMOND JOY CAKE
1 chocolate cake mix (I use devil’s food) bake according to package directions
1 cup evaporated milk
1 cup sugar
26 large marshmallows
14 oz. shredded coconut
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup white sugar
1 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup of almonds
Bake cake according to package directions. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until smooth. Pour batter into the cake pan sprayed with non-stick spray.
Bake in 350 degree preheated oven for 26-31 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Mix 1 cup of evaporated milk, 1 cup sugar and marshmallows together in a large pot. Stir over medium heat until marshmallows are melted. Stir in coconut and pour over hot cake.
Combine 1/2 cup of evaporated milk, butter and 1/2 cup sugar in a saucepan. Bring it to a boil, stirring constantly. Fold in chocolate chips, and almonds. Spread over the coconut layer. Cool cake until set, about 30 minutes. Enjoy.