John Robert Deer of Greenwood, Arkansas, formerly of Waldron, Arkansas, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Saturday, October 9, 2021 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. John was born May 5, 1976 to Marion and Margaret (Hawkins) Deer in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He was 45 years old. John was a member of Bokoshe First Assembly of God Church in Bokoshe, Oklahoma where he served as Associate Pastor. He was strong in his faith and loved the Lord.
John was a graduate of Waldron High School. He enjoyed basketball, baseball and really all sports. John’s true love and passion was being with his children. He cherished every minute he got to hug them, laugh with them and make precious memories with them.
John leaves behind to cherish his memory, his children: Aubrey Deer of Waldron, Arkansas, Makenzie Deer and Joshua Deer both of Alma, Arkansas. John is also survived by his father, Marion Deer of Greenwood, Arkansas and his siblings: Melinda Horn (Randy) of Greenland, Arkansas, Angie Turner (Marty) of Tulsa, Oklahoma, Sonya Rogers (Sonto) of Rogers, Arkansas, Keith Deer (Teresa) and Mark Deer both of Greenwood, Arkansas. John will be missed by all that knew him and the many whose lives he impacted including a host of extended family, friends and loved ones he held dear to his heart.
John’s life celebration will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, October 15, 2021 at the Bokoshe First Assembly of God Church with Rev. Doyle Martin officiating. Interment will follow in the Greenwood Memorial Cemetery in Greenwood, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
John’s pallbearers will be Keith Deer, Travis Deer, D.J. Pyles, Mike Hesson, Tylor Cox and Billy Cox.
John’s visitation will be Thursday, October 14, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas.
Fall is plenty upon us, and the changes of the season are clear, from the color of the trees to the presence of the deer. If you have a backyard or community pond that is starting to see the effects of fall as well, it’s time to start taking action to protect it. Here are a few tips on how to keep a large pond clean in the fall.
Make a Habit of Removing Debris
The most immediate issue for your water will be the added debris that comes with the season. Leaf litter and branches that fall in or around the water can interrupt the biome and cause harm to the fish inside. The decay of this organic debris also creates sludge at the bottom of unaerated, natural ponds that will start to smell in time.
Unless you plan to use leaf netting on the surface of the water, taking some time each week to skim the surface until ice forms will help keep the fish inside healthy.
Begin Limited Fish Feedings
If you or your family enjoy stepping out to feed the fish in the local pond, it’s important to know that you should cut back on the amount you feed them before winter starts. If the temperature is below 60 degrees, their metabolism will slow down, and any additional food beyond what they’re capable of eating will just rot in the water.
Keep Livestock and Wildlife Out
Wildlife becomes more active in the fall during the mad dash to prepare for winter, even in Arkansas. Increased animal activity across the state can spell trouble for your pond, especially if you’ve curated the fish housed inside yourself.
Birds, raccoons, and bobcats might try to use your pond as a source of food. The more active wildlife around your pond, the more you’ll have to contend with fish remains, animal feces, and oils in your water.
In early fall, before the temperatures cool further, local livestock is another issue to be aware of. Cooling off in the pond or grazing through the foliage around it is a temptation for domesticated animals as much as it is for wildlife, and farm animals bring with them the same problems for your pond.
Making sure to keep a large pond clean in the fall only does half of the work needed to keep the body of water healthy. There are several other factors of the season that can impact a pond’s health and will need to be addressed to keep your pond at its best. Taking the time now to help your pond thrive through the fall will only make it stronger for winter later!
At this time last year, the “nay sayers” were questioning Paris’s undefeated record, citing their non-conference schedule. Many believed that the game at Atkins last year would be the Eagles’ first real test of the season. But quickly after the start of the game in front of a big crowd in Atkins, Paris struck quickly on a deep pass down the sideline for a touchdown, and the Red Devils appeared to go into a state of shock that last all game. And when the night was over, Paris had satisfied the “nay sayers” with a lopsided victory over the Red Devils at Atkins.
This season, it will be Akins who will travel into hostile territory and will be focused on evening the score with Paris. Atkins has a proud football tradition, and they do not enjoy losing football games. For Paris to win, they must play their game, and play it well.
Paris is undefeated in the 3A-4 conference and has Atkins at home this Friday and will be at home again on October 25 to play Perryville in another critical conference game. If the Eagles can win this week and next, they will again be in position for another epic showdown in Booneville for perhaps the conference title. But the Eagles must focus on Atkins; they cannot afford to overlook the Red Devils by looking ahead to Perryville or Booneville.
The Eagles will also be playing to increase the value of their playoff seeding, and just as the case was last season, a finish of number one or two in the conference could give the Eagles the home field advantage in the first and second rounds. An undefeated conference season could mean having home field advantage in the first three rounds, and possibly facing another undefeated team to the west, the Charleston Tigers, deep in the state playoffs.
The weather forecast is dicey for this Friday with a significant chance of both rain and thunderstorms. If the weather holds at game time, I look for both teams to attempt to score quickly to take the lead in the game before conditions worsen. That is sometimes easier said than done, but the Eagles’ quick striking capability could be a plus for them early.
Resident Press will be in Paris for the Eagles game with Atkins, and we will bring you a recap of the game in the weekend edition of Resident Press.
So, bring your rain gear and your Eagle spirit! This should be a good one!
Waldron Mayor David Millard announced on Tuesday evening, October 12, that the city had been awarded the Arkansas Rural Connect Grant totaling more than $4 million dollars.
Millard made the announcement during the regular meeting of the Waldron City Council.
“It was a little over a year ago, the Municipal League hosted an online conference. To be honest, I almost didn’t do it,” Millard stated candidly. “They talked about how people are moving out of the larger cities into towns like ours. In fact, I know several who have done that and are now living in Waldron.”
Millard added that as the city looks to grow and prosper, bringing in vital utilities like high-speed broadband services is essential. “It is one of the things people are looking for,” he added. “If you don’t have it (broadband), they won’t come.”
One of the stipulations of the grant award is a partnering broadband service. “We tried several, Suddenlink, and Centurylink. However, neither were interested,” stated Millard. “I was almost to the point of giving up when I heard from a representative at Extreme Broadband.”
Millard met with the company representatives and knew it was a perfect fit. He noted that the company, although it originated in Florida, has a footprint here in Arkansas. “In fact, the gentleman that founded the company did so because he was from a small town like ours with unsatisfactory internet.”
The Mayor credited the work of Amanda Falconer, the city’s finance director, and Brandon Nelson, Public Works Director, in securing the $4,004,218.00 grant.
Extreme Broadband representatives Tracy and Chanda Jones were present at the meeting. Jones stated that the engineering for the project is already underway and that they will be in search of centrally located real estate in order to provide the most number of houses with initial service. He added that with the local infrastructure, they will be looking to hire 7-12 employees.
“We will roughly follow the city limits with the service, but that will be fine turned with a blueprint or map of service from the engineers,” stated Jones. In total, the service area will be approximately 29 miles.
The City of Waldron will be among the first cities to receive the service in the state. Jones noted that work is currently underway in Ashdown and Sulphur Springs.
“It is the best internet service out there. There literally is none better…,” Jones stated. “The state has partnered with us as a broadband company, and the City of Waldron is the beneficiary. We are so excited to bring this to Waldron.”
The company will offer three price point packages, $29, $59, and $99. Additionally, bundles of TV, telephone, and broadband.
There’s a myriad of reasons someone might need to cut down on their monthly expenses. Maybe something huge just happened in their life. They have had a baby, graduated from school, or bought their first house. These are all milestones that tend to stretch budgets thin. Maybe they lost their job or quit to look for something more promising. Or perhaps they want to temporarily live beneath their means to save money for something, such as vacationing or retirement.
Cutting down on monthly expenses might seem challenging, but it’s easier than you think. It requires creativity, an iron will, and perseverance. But as long as you can set a plan and stick to it, you have this in the bag. Here are some easy ways to save money on monthly expenses to help you on your cash-saving journey.
Set a Monthly Budget
The first step to cutting down on expenses is to set a monthly budget. Determine how much money you’re bringing in each month and how much you’re spending. Then, find areas you can cut back on.
You can’t skimp on your rent or student loan payments without heavy repercussions. But maybe you’re spending an outrageous amount of money on your hobbies each month or dining at fancy restaurants multiple times per week. You can limit your hobby money to a lower amount per month and commit to cooking and eating at home a specific number of days per week.
Cutting back on the small things can save you a ton of money in the long run.
Embrace the Heat and Cold
Another easy way to save money on monthly expenses is to fiddle with your thermostat. Did you know that adjusting your thermostat by 7 to 10 degrees for a minimum of 8 hours per day in the summer and winter months can lower your annual energy bill by 10 percent?
If you don’t mind slightly chilly or toasty weather, you can save lots of money this way. Raise your thermostat in the summer and lower it in the winter for instant cash savings.
Be Crafty
Sometimes, maintaining your budget means having to think creatively. Need new clothes but don’t have a ton of money left in the budget? There are plenty of ways to shop for fashionable items frugally. You can visit secondhand stores or even swap clothes with a friend or family member.
Want to treat yourself to an expensive meal? Go ahead, but don’t scarf down all of it in one go! Eat half and save the other half for tomorrow’s dinner.
Do you need to go shopping for presents during the holiday period? Seasonal sales and discounts are your best friend. Also, don’t be afraid to clip and use coupons.
After an emotional loss earlier in the week to the Hackett Lady Hornets, the Paris Lady Eagles bounced back to defeat conference opponent Waldron in straight sets. The win not only put Paris back in the win column for the week, but it came on Senior Night for the Paris volleyball program. Paris honored eight senior players and student manager that have made significant contributions over the past four years to the Lady Eagles program. Resident Press will have more on these seniors in the last few weeks of the season.
Over the weekend, Paris also hosted an Invitational Tournament that included schools in classes 3A- 5A. And after a long day of pool play and tournament play, the Lady Eagles emerged victorious, winning the Paris Invitational. The tournament, combined with Thursday night’s win over Waldron were big for Paris as it regroups for the stretch run that will see the end of the regular season and the start of post-season play. Paris will travel to Northwest Arkansas on Thursday to play the West Fork Lady Tigers.
Tonight, the Lady Eagles will host the Class 4A Pea Ridge Lady Blackhawks in a non-conference match at Paris Gymnasium. Games played today will include junior A, junior varsity, and varsity matches starting at 4:30 p.m. The match has been scheduled to help Paris prepare for the post-season that will begin in two weeks.
Photos from the Waldron match, as well as individual photos of the Paris seniors honored on Senior Night are now available on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports. Resident Press will be in Paris tonight to bring you coverage of the Lady Eagles match with Pea Ridge. Look for this story on Thursday in Resident Press.
Paris honored an outstanding senior class on Senior Night, but, their work is not done. The Lady Eagles showed a sense of renewed enthusiasm and commitment over the weekend, and I look for this group to gain momentum over the next two weeks and possibly hit its peak in the state tournament. The first three rounds of the state tournament will be on the Lady Eagles home floor, and if all things go the way they could go, we could be headed for yet another Paris / Hackett state final that weekend in Hot Springs.
But first things first. See you tonight for the Pea Ridge match!
This 2021 cross country season is winding its way down at a fever pitch with the last of the regular season concluding this month. With only a handful of regular season meets remaining, Mansfield caught the right kind of cough at the UA Rich Mountain hosted Buck Fever Showcase on October 5.
MHS runners give their usual prayer before their next race.
Darby Jones, Faith Rainwater, Laney Wood, Trinity Triska, and Joey Fildes all made house calls to the medallion tent as their names were called among the top runners at the Mena based college’s home course.
Lady Tiger Trinity Triska closes in on the bronze medal at Buck Fever Showdown.
Jones and Rainwater were second and fourth respectively in the big showcase 5K senior girls division. The two seniors, who are being recruited to run next season at UA Rich Mountain, posted times worthy enough to warrant offers after the race.
“These two (Jones and Rainwater) have been on Coach Samantha Shores radar all season,” announced Mansfield head coach John Mackey. “It was one of the reasons that we went to their cross country meet. We could have gone to a closer venue on a different day, but it was important to allow our kids the exposure they deserve. No decisions on their part have been made. It’s just nice to be wanted at this point.”
Jones went 22:19.30 for the second-place prize. That mark was roughly 29 seconds behind regional rival Miriam Garcia, a foreign exchange student that landed in Acorn this season.
Rainwater came across at 23:42.30. That time was just south of Maria Grano, a well thought of Sebastian County rival from Waldron.
“Our times were pretty solid considering the elevations the players had to run,” noted the Mansfield coach. “Coach Shores showed me a picture of the topographical map. There were some legitimate hills to contend with this day, and the senior high ran it twice.”
Mansfield freshman Laney Wood sprints to the finish line in Mena.
Mansfield’s Laney Wood felt the strain of those same hills in the junior girl’s division. Fortunately for her and her younger teammates, the junior high only had to navigate the mounds once.
Wood did the best out of all junior girl racers. The freshman sensation won her fifth meet of the year and third consecutive race with a stopped watch showing 10:17.10 for the 1.5-mile course.
Wood was 13 seconds better than Cossatot River’s number one player and second-place finisher Laci Dixon. She was 33 seconds faster than Mansfield’s second qualifier, teammate Trinity Triska, who came in third place at 10:50.20.
Mansfield senior girls cross country are proud of their new campsite pictures.
The Tiger’s top junior boy was once again Joey Fildes. The eighth grader rounded the same smaller loop as the girls did. He clocked in at 9:17.60.
Fildes’ mark placed him sixth overall. That kept alive his streak of eight consecutive meets this season in which he’s earned a top 10 medal.
Mansfield Tigers representing the junior boys cross country team.
For the team scoring, Mansfield came away with runner-up status for both the junior and senior girls races. DeQueen won both team titles with 42 and 34 points respectively.
McKenzie Griffin (15), Hope Rainwater (18), and Katlynn Moore (19) summed up the Mansfield senior girls 43 point total for second place among full teams. Jadelynn Wood (23) was the group’s blocker.
Danielle Lowery (23), Addie Bowman (27), and Ashley Martin (31) finished off the junior Lady Tiger team scoring. Aidan Fildes (32) and Azlynn Stover (38) were the displacers.
For the men’s rankings, Mansfield’s junior boys fell behind four class 4A schools for fourth place. DeQueen (42), Nashville (58), and Dardanelle (105) eclipsed the Tiger total of 108.
Gunner Williams (20), Rylan Nichols (28), Jonah Martin (33), and Joseph Carter (41) joined Fildes for the team ticket. Braxton Bartlett (45) and Holden Powers (48) were the displacers.
Joey Fildes collects his eighth medal on the season.
It was December 3, 1942, when Robert Lee and Betty (Hahn) Lee welcomed their son, Jerry Bob Lee into the world in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Jerry passed away at home in Waldron AR., surrounded by his children on Friday, October 8, 2021.
Jerry joined the United States Navy as soon as he was legally allowed to and traveled the world. He had an exceptional 22-year career and left his family with many stories and memories which they will treasure and pass on to their children. Considered one of his greatest adventures was meeting and marrying his wife of 56 years, Clara Lee. They were married April 1, 1964, and were blessed with two children, Thomas and Carol. Jerry was unapologetically and authentically himself, he lived life on his terms and left this world having lived a good life loving his family.
Jerry was preceded in death by his wife Clara Lee, parents, and grandson Gregory Godfrey Jr. He is survived by his children, son Thomas Lee and wife Jeanie of Waldron, Arkansas, and daughter Carol (Lee) Johnson and husband Kenneth of Hot Springs Village, Arkansas. Grandsons David Lee, and Danny Lee, both of Waldron, Arkansas, granddaughters Brandy (Lee) Dixon and husband Scott, of Dover, Arkansas, Heather Kelley and husband Zach of Waldron Arkansas, many great-grandchildren, extended family and many other friends in the community.
Cremation arrangements were entrusted to Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron Arkansas.
Jerry and Clara will soon be reunited as they spend their eternity watching romantic sunsets together.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Jerry Bob Lee, please visit our floral store.
The 15th annual Arkansas alligator season came to a close early Monday morning, September 27, with a nearly full ticket. Hunters harvested 161 alligators during this year’s two-weekend season.
Eric Tobey from Hartford was among those who had a successful hunt. “It was awesome,” shared Tobey. “We had trouble getting close to them in the beginning, so we changed our tactics the second weekend and were finally able to get within range…We got the boat about five yards from the one I killed. He was floating on the surface and he started to go under so I threw the harpoon and luckily stuck him in the back! He swam around with my buoy for about 20 minutes before we could catch up to him and pull him up close enough for me to take a shot. Anyone who loves to hunt and be on the water at night I’d recommend them putting in for a tag. It’s not easy but it’s well worth the preparation and trouble it takes to get one in the boat!”
Pictured from left: Eric Tobey, Tyler Hearron, and Beau Olive
Tobey’s alligator was 7’9″ in length. He is also having the head mounted. “I couldn’t have done it without the help of my buddies.” Tobey added. “It’s definitely not a one man job!”
Mark Barbee, AGFC wildlife assistant regional supervisor in southeast Arkansas who coordinates the alligator hunts, said the hunt went very smoothly, and for hunters in the private land zones, it went very quickly.
The harvest falls short of last year’s 174-alligator record, but that was primarily by design. This year’s quota on private land was reduced to continue managing the alligator population with an eye on conserving the species as well as controlling nuisance issues and providing hunting opportunities.
“This was the second year of the new private land quota system, and it was the second time in a row that the private land zones reached their quota by the end of the opening weekend,” Barbee said. “I imagine quite a few of the gators taken on private land are landowners wanting to remove an alligator for nuisance purposes, so they’re ready that first weekend and have the animal pretty well patterned by the time the hunt begins.”
Public land zones did see a few tags go unfilled by the end of the hunt, but Barbee says nearly everyone he’s talked to had good opportunities for an alligator.
“Some people in the public land hunts hold out a little for a bigger gator,” Barbee said. “With only two weekends to seal the deal, some of those hunters don’t find a gator they want to take or wait too late to go back and get one of the smaller alligators.”
Barbee said one hunter unfortunately was not able to take advantage of his harvested alligator.
“We had one incident where a hunter harpooned an alligator, but it submerged and hung up underneath a bunch of logs and limbs,” Barbee said. “The hunter thought he had lost it, but it floated to the surface a couple of days later. They were able to recover the head for taxidermy and check the gator, but the meat and skin had already begun to decompose. I really appreciate them calling and checking the animal even if they didn’t get to use it. It’s a great example of the sportsmanship and ethics we see in our hunters here in Arkansas.”
The harvest by zone was as follows:
Alligator Zone 1
Public Land — 5
Private Land — 62
Alligator Zone 2
Private Land — 5
Alligator Zone 3
Public Land — 10
Private Land — 79
In 1973 the American alligator was listed as a federally endangered species, but thanks to the efforts of biologists in many states, healthy populations now exist in many Southeastern states. The AGFC was involved in the reintroduction of alligators in southern Arkansas from 1972 to 1984, relocating more than 2,800 alligators to repopulate wetland areas along the Arkansas River and Red River in the southern corners of the state.
Modern-day alligator hunting began in 2007 under the guidance of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to maintain alligator populations at healthy levels and offer additional hunting opportunities to Arkansas sportsmen and sportswomen. During that first season, 32 permits were issued to hunt, and 21 alligators were harvested.
Visit www.agfc.com/alligator for more information on alligators and alligator hunting in Arkansas.
This semester, six area students attending UAFS will receive $1,000 in financial aid from the Alumni Legacy Scholarship for the 2021-2022 academic year. This is the most scholarships granted from the fund in one year.
“We are proud to be able to help these students because we understand how important a college education can be,” said newly appointed Alumni Director Jasmine Smith. “As a UAFS graduate, I have a special insight into what a UAFS education means.”
The Alumni Legacy Scholarship Endowment was established in 2015 to encourage the children or other immediate family members of alumni of the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith to attend the university.
This year’s scholarship students are Hannah Green, Katelyn Sosebee, Jillian Cochran, Raquel Spencer, Mary Roberts, and Hannah Michiala Deaver. Green, Cochran, Roberts, and Deaver received the scholarship last year as well.
The Alumni Association’s annual fundraiser for the scholarship endowment is the Roarin’ on the River Low Country Shrimp Boil. The June event traditionally offers delicious low-country food and all the entertainment guests can experience, but the last two years have been hard on traditions. The 2020 Shrimp Boil was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 feast was a drive-thru event.
“We were glad to see all our friends as they came by to pick up their dinners,” Smith said. “But I sure hope we can have this event in person in the summer of 2022.”
Here are the scholarship awardees.
Hannah Green, who graduated from Magazine High School as valedictorian, is a sophomore in the Bachelor of Nursing program. Her father, Lyndol Green, is a member of the Class of ’81 from Westark Community College. Her mother, Alisa Green, was an Alumni Scholarship recipient in 2017-2018 and 2018-2019 and is now a fourth-grade teacher. “This scholarship is special because of the people it represents – people like my family who have worked hard to better themselves by graduating as a UAFS Lion,” Hannah said. “I am grateful for what I already have been given and will be glad to continue to represent the UAFS Alumni Association.”
Katelyn Sosebee, a graduate of Greenwood High School, is a junior Media Communication major whose heart lies in the theater. Sosebee began her college career as a theater major, but the pandemic helped her decide to increase her employment options with a Media Comm degree. Her mother and brother are both alumni and, she said, her biggest supporters even though switching majors required her to pick up extra course hours. That’s why the financial support of the Alumni Legacy Scholarship matters. “Help from generous donors and the university means I don’t have to have a full-time job to pay for tuition, and that means I can continue to be a stage manager.”
Jillian Cochran, who graduated from Poteau Senior High School, is a sophomore Biology major. She is following both her parents and her sister in attending UAFS. She works as a pharmacy tech while attending school full-time and hopes to become a doctor of osteopathic medicine and return to her community to practice rural medicine. “My goal is to come back to this area and help residents build happier and healthier lives,” Cochran said.
Raquel Spencer, a graduate of Southside High School, is a sophomore Chemistry major. She, too, hopes to become a doctor. When Spencer was in high school, she volunteered at the Mercy Health summer program, and she has taken part in extra-curricular activities and research. Working in the Mercy summer program gave her insight into her future, as did some medical procedures she recently underwent. “With this experience, I understood the importance of the assistance medical professionals give to patients,” Spencer said.
Mary Roberts is a senior Business Administration major and Northside High School graduate. Roberts said she grew up watching her father take many steps to provide for his family, including completing his Associate of Applied Science in Electronics Technology from Westark College. She sees her own college experience in the same light as she works to complete her degree while working and raising a family. Her time at UAFS has given her not just “a new skill set but also with a fresh outlook.” Although she has not decided if she wants to attend graduate school or if she should keep on her current career path or change industries, she is sure of one thing: “I know that my experience at UAFS will help me with any direction I decide to go.”
Hannah Michiala Deaver is a senior in the Bachelor of Nursing Science program. She was homeschooled and is the sixth of her siblings to graduate from UAFS, and she has a little brother close behind. She and her siblings have studied Biology, Automotive Technologies and Electrical Engineering, Math Education, Nursing, Legal Studies, and Radiography. Receiving the scholarship means she can quit her job and work full-time studying for her nursing boards and finishing her last year in nursing strong.
