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Driver Test Online Scheduling Tool Statewide; CDL Testing Added to Service

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4:37 pm

Driver Test Online Scheduling Tool Statewide; CDL Testing Added to Service

An online scheduling tool will soon be available to anyone preparing to be tested for the written knowledge portion of the Arkansas driver’s license exam. Beginning next Monday (November 1st) the online scheduler can be accessed statewide at https://telegov.egov.com/aspdlskills/

The scheduling tool for written examinations has been in an initial testing phase and was limited for use at northwest and central Arkansas driver testing sites. The skills portion of the test has been available as part of the scheduling tool for more than a year.

Test applicants, along with parents or guardians of teenagers preparing to take the test, can learn more about the process of using the scheduling tool at ar.gov/dlprep

“The Arkansas State Police is constantly working to streamline the driver testing process and assist parents to prepare their teenage children to become Arkansas drivers,” said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police. “The online scheduling tool is intended to help parents and guardians avoid rearranging their work or personal schedules while accompanying a child to take the written or skills drivers tests.”

The scheduling tool is expected to eventually eliminate the long lines of test applicants and the complications parents frequently experience when the test sites are open to one and all, but, operating with limited examiner personnel or insufficient time to accommodate everyone on a particular day. The online scheduling tool will send a text or email message to a parent or guardian should an unexpected change occur during the daily testing schedules.

Additionally, the online scheduling tool is being made available to commercial driver license applicants ready to take either the written or skills tests.

Test applicants who do not have a pre-arranged appointment will be accommodated by examiners at state police testing sites as the schedule and personnel availability may permit.

Anyone planning to take either the written or skills portion of the Arkansas driver’s test, including parents or guardians of teenagers studying for the test, are strongly encouraged to be familiar with updated information about the requirements and testing process. The latest driving test information can always be found at https://www.dps.arkansas.gov/law-enforcement/arkansas-state-police/services-programs/driver-examination/

State 3A Volleyball Tournament Underway at Paris

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12:04 pm

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State 3A Volleyball Tournament Underway at Paris

The Arkansas Class 3A state volleyball tournament is underway at Paris High School. Paris is the site for the first three rounds of the state tournament. The final will be held in Hot Springs at Bank OZK Arena on Saturday at 11 a.m.

In the first games of the day, Little Rock Episcopal is playing Charleston, and Bergman is playing Hoxie. Resident Press will keep you updated throughout the tournament until the semifinalists are known at the end of the day on Thursday, October 28.

Stay with Resident Press today for more updates from the 3A state volleyball tournament!

After Winning 3A West Tournament Championship Over Hackett, Lady Eagles Play Today in First Round of State Tournament

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10:46 am

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After Winning 3A West Tournament Championship Over Hackett, Lady Eagles Play Today in First Round of State Tournament

It was a district tournament final that felt more like a state championship match. In fact, it was a rematch of the finalist in the 2020 state tournament that saw Hackett win its second consecutive state title. But on this night in Booneville, the match had a much different feel to the fans that were in attendance. In this match, it was Paris being the aggressor and making great saves on defense for crucial points that eventually led to a 3-2 come back win for Paris.

The 3A West tournament championship for Paris also gave the Lady Eagles a number one seed in the state tournament that begins today at Paris High School. The Hackett loss relegated the Lady Hornets to a two seed, and like last year for Paris, will mean that Hackett will have a little more challenging path to the state final. In tournament play, anything can happen, and usually does. But on paper, it appears that the Paris path to the finals will likely be Mayflower, Atkins, and Little Rock Episcopal. Hackett’s path as a two seed will likely mean that the Lady Hornets will play Jessieville, Hoxie, and Little Rock Baptist Prep to return to the finals. A much more difficult path playing last year’s quarterfinalist Prep and semifinalist Hoxie on the way to Hot Springs. Of course, all of this is meaningless, but on paper, it is very interesting to consider.

Hackett is scheduled to play today at 2 p.m. versus Jessieville, and Paris will play at 4 p.m. vs. Mayflower. The first game of the tournament will be the four seed Charleston Lady Tigers versus the Little Rock Episcopal Lady Wildcats. Resident Press will provide updates twice each day on this year’s state tournament.

So, it is the most wonderful time of the year! Come out to Paris Gymnasium and see outstanding Arkansas high school volleyball action!

Waldron School Board Meets

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9:44 am

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The regular monthly meeting of the Waldron School Board was held in the Central Office Building Monday, October 25, 2021, at 6:30 p.m. Board members present were Clay Woodall, Konnor McKay, Mac Davis and Angela Hunsucker. Board member Tammye Sherrill was not present at the meeting. Others present were Superintendent Daniel Fielding, Misty Owens, Ryan Walker, Darla Jeffery, Toni Dozier, Tonya Cluck, Josh Atchley and Zack Taylor.

Vice-President Woodall called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m. Davis began the meeting with a word of prayer. Hunsucker led the Pledge of Allegiance.

A motion was made by Hunsucker and seconded by Davis to approve the Consent Agenda items: A) Approval of the September 20^th Minutes; B) Approve Financial Reports and Expenditures: C) Approve Purchase Orders for EL Achieve. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by McKay and seconded by Hunsucker to approve the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education Minority Teacher and Administrator Recruitment Plan. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Davis and seconded by McKay to approve the Extra Duty Pay Due to Covid for the point of contact, a certified staff member, at $25.00/hour. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Hunsucker and seconded by Davis to table Item C) Discuss and Approve Increasing Purchase Price Threshold for Bidding Commodities. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Davis and seconded by Hunsucker to approve the Waldron High School Track Drainage Proposal (North End) from Hellas Construction, Inc. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Davis and seconded by Hunsucker to accept the resignation of Bobby Cagle as of 11-15-2021 from Maintenance. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Davis and seconded by McKay to hire Holley Cole as ½ time ABC Paraprofessional and ½ time First Step Paraprofessional retroactive back to September 20^th, 2021, with 1 years’ experience. Motion carried 4-0.

A motion was made by Hunsucker and seconded by Davis to adjourn. Motion carried 4-0.

Meeting adjourned at 6:50 p.m.

Obituary – Alla Merle (Langston) Taff (1941-2021)

Obituaries

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9:32 am

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Obituary – Alla Merle (Langston) Taff (1941-2021)

Alla Merle (Doyel) Taff of Fort Smith, Arkansas, formerly of Waldron, Arkansas went to be with her Lord and Savior, Thursday, October 21, 2021 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Alla Merle was born August 5, 1941, in Waldron, Arkansas to Tom Langston and Annie (Johnston) Langston. She was 80 years old.

Alla Merle leaves behind to cherish her memory, husband Raymond G. Taff of Ft. Smith, Arkansas, daughter Cheryl Muldoon of El Dorado Arkansas, son David Doyel of Waldron, Arkansas, son Ronald Doyel and wife Vickie, of Alma, Arkansas, and step daughter Stacey Omo and husband Allen of Colorado. Granny will forever be missed by her grandchildren: Cassandra McGriff, Michael McGriff, Kirk McGriff, Brandi Barnes, Avery Denton, Brittney Doyel, Jennifer Gonzales, Ryan Doyel, Regan Omo, Christopher Omo and great grandchildren: Danielle Jones, Gabby Jones, Sarah Jones, Aaron Jones, Essence Jones, Timothy Jones, Freddie Barnes, Jailyn Barnes, Bryson Barnes, Brian Barnes, Kayla Gonzales, Kallen Gonzales, Addisyn Denton, Damien Denton, Dominik Denton, Tristan McGriff, Emery McGriff, Abby McGriff, Deklan McGriff as well as 8 great great grandchildren. Alla Merle is also survived by one sister Sharron Goodner, and two brothers: Tom Langston Jr., and Bernie Langston. Alla Merle will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host of nieces and nephews and more true friends than most people could even imagine.

Alla Merle was preceded in death by her parents Tom and Annie Langston, husband of 46 years L. D. Doyel, one daughter Angela Kaye Doyel, sister Della Meredith, brothers: Lee Langston and Delmer Langston, grandson Andrew David Doyel, great granddaughter Patience Jones and great grandson Lewis Jones.

Alla Merle’s life celebration will be 2:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Rickey Hunt officiating. Interment will follow in the Birdsview Cemetery in Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Alla Merle’s pallbearers will be Ray Langston, Eric Meredith, Nathan Goodner, Allen Omo, Michael McGriff and Ryan Doyel. Honorary pallbearers will be Kirk McGriff, Avery Denton, Wes Goodner, Dean Langston, Aaron Jones, Timothy Jones, Freddie Barnes, David Elkins, Bobby Owens, and Troney Langston.

Alla Merle’s visitation will be Tuesday, October 26, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

You may leave words of comfort and remembrance for Alla Merle’s family by visiting: www.heritagememorialfh.com.

Best Outdoor Apps

Madison VanRavensway

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6:15 am

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In 2021 there is an app for most everything! Including a variety of outdoor activities. From hiking and biking to exploring the night sky there’s an app for that!

1. AllTrails- With this app you gain access to over 200,000 trails. When you GPS location on your phone and the app access to your location you can ensure you are staying on the trail.

2. Cairn- a great app for anyone in the outdoors! Download a map of the area you will be going to, assign a safety circle to be notified if you are gone too long, and start your adventure! Cairn comes with a 30 day free trial, and after that it requires a membership. The price is $4.99 a month or $26.99/year. That seems like a good deal for those who are often outside of cell range!

3. Sky Walker 2-if viewing constellations in augmented reality for free is your cup of tea this is a great app for you! Great for exploring the night sky whether indoors our out!

A look at stars in the Sky Walker 2 app.

4. HuntStand- allows users to map their hunting location, determine if land is public or private, and mark game sightings. Built in weather shows wind speed and direction.

5. iNaturalist- an app to identify the flora and fauna around you. Once a user uploads an image the app works to give possible answers based on image recognition. For us it has worked really well!

Using the iNaturalist app to identify flowers.

6. First Aid:American Red Cross- having a basic knowledge of first aid procedures is imperative in case of an emergency. Having an app that can teach you anything you might not know is the ultimate way to be prepared!

A look inside the app, what to do for asthma attacks.

With so many apps and so little phone space we want to make sure the apps we are using are helpful. These six apps can add to your outdoor experiences.

Birthday Gift Ideas for Your Senior Friends and Family

Lifestyle

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8:09 am

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Birthday Gift Ideas for Your Senior Friends and Family

Many people think it’s hard to shop for gifts to give your senior friends and family for their birthdays, but it can be easier than you think. Individual preferences and needs play a huge role in your present selection, but there are a few universals that most people will appreciate and get some use out of. With these simple but practical gifts, you can get them something they’ll enjoy for a long time to come.

Non-Slip Socks

The older people get, the more appreciative they are of a good pair of socks. As we age, it gets harder for our bodies to regulate temperature and blood flow, so older people typically feel colder. A lot of heat loss happens from the feet, and wearing socks is a reliable way to trap that warmth.

But for many older adults, socks also serve as a slipping hazard, especially on tile or hardwood floors. Taking a spill on those surfaces can send someone to the hospital, so non-slip socks are the best option. Without the risk of slipping and falling, your friend or family member can walk around their home both warm and safe.

Personal Audio Amplifier

In addition to challenges with body temperature regulation, most older adults will experience some form of hearing loss. The severity can vary, from missing a few words every now and again to needing a hearing aid to understand just about anything. But for most, a personal audio amplifier is enough to eliminate the hearing issues.

An audio amplifier is one of many devices that can make a senior adult’s life easier, solving many challenges people face every day. Whether they want to listen to their TV without raising the volume or hear any alarms or alerts, an audio amplifier will be extremely helpful.

A Sound Machine

People of all ages can struggle to fall asleep, but it’s far more common as people age. Getting a good night’s sleep is critical for a productive following day, and a sound machine provides the right environment for sweet dreams.

White noise and natural sounds help the mind relax, helping it drift off to sleep faster by distracting it with constant, monotonous noise. It may seem like a distraction that’ll keep people away, but the sounds have a way of clearing thoughts and releasing tension.

Know What They’ll Use

When looking for birthday gift ideas for your senior friends and family, make sure you know what they’ll get the most use out of. In theory, you know what they may or may not struggle with regularly, like if they have issues keeping warm or trouble hearing others in conversation. Pick out something they’ll use and appreciate—something that makes their lives that much easier.

Factors for Choosing a Game Camera

Madison VanRavensway

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7:16 am

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For hunters wanting to scope out an area a game camera is the best additive to their hunt. Since coming out in the 1980’s the technological advancements have been astounding. Gone are the days the camera would shoot on 35mm film that needed taken out and developed. Now we have a variety of options and features to consider when purchasing a trail cam.

Photo Resolution-in cameras the quality of the image is measured by megapixels. A camera that shoots at 24mp will produce clearer photos than one shooting at 5mp for example. There are game cameras designed to take photos that have enough megapixels to be massive. However, most hunters aren’t looking to put their sightings on billboards, so at some point the price of the megapixels won’t really benefit your hunting.

Video-Do you want video capabilities on your cam? If that intrigues you know there are several options on the market now that are capable of doing it. The resolution at which video can be taken is what those wanting these need to look at. 640×640 resolution is standard, with higher end options like 720p or 1080p producing high definition videos. Additional considerations for cameras that shoot video are the length of clips. Thirty seconds seems to be standard, while some can go minutes and some shoot in shorter thirty second bursts. If you are using your camera at home for security, or just want to hear what happens in the woods- check to see if your camera selection is capable of recording sound as well.

Detection Range- does the subject have to be right at the camera to be detected, or is the camera able to detect movement from more of a distance? The need for close up vs more long range detection is going to depend on where a hunter is wanting to use the camera. If surveying a large field a longer detection range is necessary to know what is entering the field. Alternatively, anyone hunting in thick woods will likely not need such distance since there is more underbrush to contend with. It is recommended to look for 50-foot (or longer) range so hunters can get the most use out of their camera and utilize it in various locations.

Trigger speed– with those 35-mm game cameras more game photos were of rumps than racks. Now the trigger speed on cameras has improved greatly. For best results try finding a camera with a half-second or less trigger speed. Recovery time is also important, and follows the same faster is better rule.

Batteries- a dead camera does nothing. There are some solar powered options, but many take standard AA batteries. Pick a strong brand of lithium batteries for use to promote the longevity of your camera.

Flash/night time capabilities- since deer move at different times depending on the moon a camera that can only work during daylight is much less helpful. There are three types of flashes- white flash, low glow, and no glow. White flash is the standard flash we are used to on cameras. It’s bright and startling for animals usually. However it doesn’t seem to startle them so much that they won’t return to an area. Low glow uses infrared which produces a red glow. No glow keeps the animal from knowing anything is going on as it produces no lights at all. Both low glow and no glow produce black and white photos only.

Remote Access- game cameras used to rely on SD cards for storage, but some now have the ability to send photos wirelessly to a phone. For those with trail cameras placed very remotely, or they just don’t have the free time to go grab the memory card this feature is especially ingenious. It also keeps from adding unnecessary trips in that might disturb game.

Searching ‘game cameras’ on the Walmart app produces 1,000+ results. It’s safe to say some will be duds, but with proper research finding the right, most useful game camera for each hunter is possible.

College Career Ending For Former Tiger Rose

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5:45 am

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College Career Ending For Former Tiger Rose

Hard to believe the college running experience for the 2018 T. Franklin Boyd Tiger of the Year is almost over. Four years of postsecondary schooling seemed to fly by in a blink as the former Mansfield long distance runner wrapped up her final Great American Conference Race.

Megan Rose, the highly regarded former MHS athlete, laced up the running shoes for her final GAC conference meet on Saturday, October 23. True to form and living for the moment, the college senior pulled off her career best 5K time to end her conference race schedule.

Megan Rose holds her GAC Distinguished Scholar Award for high achieving scholar athletes.

Rose went 19:36.8 to place as Southeastern Oklahoma State’s fastest runner on the day at the GAC conference finals in Searcy, Arkansas. The mark was only 33rd in the overall standings but a terrific way for the former Tiger to end her 5K career.

“I just wanted to let you know I ran my last college 5K race today,” said an emotional Rose in a phone conversation with her high school coach John Mackey. “It’s over. I feel pretty happy with the way it all went down. I have a 6K run at Regionals in a couple of weeks then I’m officially done.”

Rose could have redeemed a “super senior” season and run next year, but she admitted she was ready to hang up her running shoes. The four year college participant will trade in her competition shoes for a coach’s whistle. Her plans are to remain at Southeastern one more year as a graduate assistant and earn her master’s degree in education.

Megan Rose with parents Heidi and Jeff Rose enjoy the college senior’s last 5K race for Southeastern Oklahoma State.

“Megan had a crack in her voice,” said her high school coach John Mackey. “I could tell it was an emotional day for her when she called to express her best college day. I just said how proud I was of her and how her name comes up all the time when talking about determination to our current Mansfield team.”

To further accentuate the terrific day, Rose announced she was the only Savage Storm runner to be awarded the prestigious Distinguished Scholar Award. For the second consecutive season, Rose walked away with the coveted prize honoring those players that have achieved 70 credit hours and a 3.75 GPA.

Southwest Regional Titles Claimed by MHS Runners

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8:43 pm

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Southwest Regional Titles Claimed by MHS Runners

The Tom Stuthard Top 25 Southwest Regional Championships were up for grabs for local cross country teams on October 20 at the Mena Lions Club. With no pun intended, Mansfield got its lion’s share by taking two of three contested titles.

The Mansfield junior girls team followed quickly by their senior high teammates both claimed the first-place plaques at the Southwest Regionals hosted by Acorn. Mansfield’s junior boys were close in their division with a runner-up plaque.

The breakout star of the day had to be Mansfield’s Laney Wood. The freshman phenom won the opening 2400m junior girls race followed by a move up to the senior high ranks to take fifth in the longer 5K race.

Wood heard positive cheers from meet officials once they realized the dynamic runner pulled double duty. The motivated freshman pulled away in a tightly contested junior high race to win by 7 seconds with a time of 10:55.10. After a short 30 minute break, she rounded the prescribed course two more times for an All-Region marker, a senior high top 5 medal, and her first official 5K time of 22:49.50.

“Laney said she could hear the timers and scorekeepers cheering for her,” said Mansfield coach John Mackey. “It’s pretty cool to win over the respect of others when attempting a feat such as this.”

For the Tigers, the precedent wasn’t too far removed from a similar accomplishment senior Faith Rainwater made when she was a freshman four seasons ago. Rainwater ran two races at the 3A-1 West Conference race, taking second in the younger division before moving up to finish fourth in the older group.

“Mansfield prides itself on having players with that type of toughness,” continued the coach. “Laney fits the mold modeled by many outstanding players from our past. That includes Megan Rose who just finished her senior year of college with her team’s top time at their conference championships.”

Behind Wood’s efforts, the Lady Tigers took home the two team titles in the two divisional races for the women. The junior team scored 37 points to outpace Waldron’s 62 and Acorn’s 69 out of the top three scoring teams. The senior team scored 32 points to edge Acorn’s 43 and Waldron’s 56.

Darby Jones, Mansfield’s top runner on the senior team all season long, continued her terrific pace at the regionals. The senior posted a 21:28.20 5K time for second place behind foreign exchange student Miriam Garcia of Acorn at 20:41.80.

“Darby may have felt the hills a bit more than Miriam today,” confessed Mackey. “Those two have built up a good rivalry over the last few weeks. Miriam may have had a slight advantage being on a more familiar terrain.”

In order of scoring, Mansfield’s senior squad placed Jones (2), Wood (5), Jadelynn Wood (8), Rainwater (10), and McKenzie Griffin (11) as their top five. Hope Rainwater (12) and Katlynn Moore (14) came across as displacers but still within the Top 25 All-Region rankings.

For the junior team, Wood (1), Trinity Triska (5), Aidan Fildes (10), Danielle Lowery (12), and Addison Bowman (15) formulated the winning score. Ashley Martin (18) and Azlynn Stover (21) figured into the blocker positions and earned Top 25 All-Region medals like their teammates.

In the boy’s 2400m race, Josiah Fildes nearly went wire to wire for the win. The eighth-grader looked determined to close the deal but fell short by less than seven seconds to finish runner-up. Acorn’s Chance Reagan found his second wind in the final 100 meters to move ahead down the stretch.

Fildes did go 9:17.90 for the silver medal. Teammates Gunner Williams (13), Rylan Nichols (13), Holden Powers (18) and Joseph Carter (21) populated the final team margin to give the Tigers second in the Regional team standings.

All five Tigers received Top 25 All-Region medals. Braxton Bartlett (29) and Leland Powers (37th) offered blocker points.

Scott County rival Waldron took the junior boys team title with 39 points. Mansfield finished second at 68 points. Centerpoint (88) Booneville (95) and Cossatot River (102) completed the top five scoring schools.

Mansfield now moves to the 2A-4 District Championships to be held at Magazine High School on October 30 at 10:00 AM. The season ends there for the junior high teams. The senior high and qualifying freshmen advance beyond districts to the class 2A State Finals in Hot Springs on November 4.

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Non-Slip Socks

Personal Audio Amplifier

A Sound Machine

Know What They’ll Use

RESIDENT NEWS NETWORK