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Mansfield School Board Meets in Regular Session

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Mansfield School Board Meets in Regular Session

RECORDS AND PROCEEDINGS

A meeting of the Board of Education of Mansfield School District No. 76

At the regular meeting of the Board of Education of the School District aforesaid, at the Administration Building, on September 27, 2021, there being present Rick Nicodemus (zoom), Michael Gipson, Lesli Baggett, and Jan Carlton; Absent: Dewayne Ward.

All members of the board, the following business were transacted to wit:

(Minutes were recorded by Carol Reano)

STAFF PRESENT:  Joe Staton, Donnie Eveld, Floyd Fisher, Kim Arnold, Tina Smith, Kandis Howard, Dimity Beran, and Carol Reano

The meeting was called to order by Michael Gipson, School Board Vice-President, at 6:00 p.m.

IN THE MATTER OF:    Consent Agenda Items

A motion was made by Gipson, seconded by Carlton, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to approve the consent agenda items as presented.

Voting for the motion:   Nicodemus, Gipson, Baggett, Carlton

Voting against the motion: 

Motion passed 4-0.

IN THE MATTER OF:    Covid-19 Emergency Leave Pay Policy

A motion was made by Gipson, seconded by Baggett, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to approve the revised Covid-19 Emergency Leave Pay Policy as presented by the PPC, Kandis Howard.

Voting for the motion:   Nicodemus, Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   4-0.

IN THE MATTER OF:    Meal Charge Policy Update

A motion was made by Baggett, seconded by Carlton, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to approve the meal charge policy with updates.

Voting for the motion:   Nicodemus, Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   4-0.

IN THE MATTER OF:    Minority Recruitment Plan

A motion was made by Nicodemus, seconded by Baggett, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to approve the minority recruitment plan.

Voting for the motion:   Nicodemus, Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   4-0.

IN THE MATTER OF:    Student Transfers

A motion was made by Baggett, seconded by Gipson, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to approve the transfer of Ethan Walker from Mansfield School District to Hackett School Disrict.. 

Voting for the motion:   Nicodemus, Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   4-0.

A motion was made by Baggett, seconded by Gipson, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to approve the transfer of Collin Wooten from Hackett School District to Mansfield School Distict pending release from Hackett.

Voting for the motion:   Nicodemus, Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   4-0.

A motion was made by Nicodemus, seconded by Gipson, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to  approve the transfer of Kaylie Cashat from Hackett School District to Mansfield School District.

Voting for the motion:   Nicodemus, Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   4-0.

A motion was made by Gipson, seconded by Baggett, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to approve the transfer of Jason Grow from Hackett School District to Mansfield School District.

Voting for the motion:   Nicodemus, Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   4-0.

IN THE MATTER OF:    Budget 2021-2022


A motion was made by Gipson, seconded by Baggett, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to approve the proposed budget for 2021-2022.

 Voting for the motion:   Nicodemus, Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   4-0.

IN THE MATTER OF:    Zoning Resolution      

A motion was made by Nicodemus, seconded by Baggett, to approve the school board zoning resolution.

Voting for the motion:   Nicodemus, Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   4-0.

IN THE MATTER OF:    Overnight Trip Requests

A motion was made by Gipson, seconded by Baggett, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to approve the overnight trip request for FFA to attend the national convention October 25th-October 30th in Indianpolis, Indiana.

Voting for the motion:   Nicodemus, Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   4-0.

A motion was made by Baggett, seconded by Carlton, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to approve the overnight trip request for Beta Club to attend the state convention on Jan20th-Jan21st in Hot Springs, AR.

Voting for the motion:   Nicodemus, Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   4-0.

IN THE MATTER OF:    Pet Policy       

A motion was made by Gipson, seconded by Baggett, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to approve the new pet policy, not allowing any pets on campus at any events including before, during, or after school event without the written permission from school administration.

Voting for the motion:   Nicodemus, Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   4-0.

IN THE MATTER OF:    Personnel

Executive session was requested at 6:56pm for personnel matters.

Nicodemus left the meeting at 6:56pm.

The meeting was called back to order at 7:25pm.

A motion was made by Baggett, seconded by Carlton, to approve Mr. Staton’s recommendation to accept the resignation of Ginger Daigle effective August 22, 2021.

Voting for the motion:   Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   3-0.

A motion was made by Baggett, seconded by Gipson, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to approve to hire Shenae Sanders as a para-professional.

Voting for the motion:   Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   3-0.

A motion was made by Gipson, seconded by Carlton, to accept Mr. Staton’s recommendation to appove to hire part-time bus monitors on an as needed basis at the rate of $20 per hour.

Voting for the motion:   Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   3-0.

IN THE MATTER OF:    Graduation Date

A motion was made by Baggett, seconded by Carlton, to approve May 9, 2022 at 7:00 p.m. as the graduation date and time for the Class of 2022.

Voting for the motion:   Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   3-0.

Superintendent’s Report

Staton gave an update on board trainings that are available.  He  is working on a date and time for Beardsley to come and do the board training, 4 hours credit.  October 4th, regional board training at Charleston at 5:30 p.m., 3 hours credit.  There is also online training services available.

Eveld, high school principal report:

Baseball field drains

September 29, 2021, Beta Club Induction at 9:45am

October 11, 2021, Rich Mountain representatives will be at the high school from 1pm – 6pm to help students complete their FASFA for college.

New water heaters were discussed for the dressing rooms in the gym.

Arnold, elementary principal report:

District flu clinic will be October 12 at the elementary for all students, faculty and staff.

Fisher, middle school principal report

Literacy garden is complete.

Mrs. Darneal’s art students have done a great job on painting the concession stand in the middle school lobby area.

Friday, October 1st, the district should hear if they will be awarded the grant for afterschool and summer programs.

Cochenour, technology, is working on submitting a grant to purchase chromebooks for at home use for students.

Staton thanked Smith, Arnold, Floyd, Eveld, and Reano for the extra hours worked on Covid related items, grants, budget and other items.  He also thanked the school board members for their service and what they do.

IN THE MATTER OF:    Adjournment

A motion was made by Gipson, seconded by Baggett, to adjourn the meeting at 7:45 p.m.

Voting for the motion:   Baggett, Gipson, Carlton

Voting against the motion:  

Motion passed:   3-0.

Bentonville Based Design Company Proposes Development Plan for Midland Park

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Bentonville Based Design Company Proposes Development Plan for Midland Park

Bentonville-based Progressive Trail Design has submitted a 50% complete master plan proposal for the development of Bob Boyer Park in Midland.

INTRO
Located in South Sebastian County, Bob Boyer Park is a hidden gem roughly 30 minutes from Fort Smith. The nearly 450-acre property has a variety of terrain, rare flora and fauna, and multiple waterfalls. Natural glades scatter the site along with beautiful rock formations. The aging trails make it hard to enjoy the site, hindering its amazing potential to be among the most beautiful places to enjoy outdoor recreation in Arkansas.

SITE HISTORY
Bob Boyer Park and the surrounding areas are laden with history dating back to the original settlement in the 1860’s. One of the most notable and documented figures of this era is Amos Johnson, the original and only homesteader on the site. Amos was the postmaster for Midland and had approximately 20 acres of cleared land that has since been
reclaimed by nature. Remnants of the homestead can still be found on-site in the stacked stone foundations and fence lines. The town of Midland also has an interesting history that includes the rise and fall of the coal industry in western Arkansas and eastern Oklahoma. Formerly known as Burma, the name changed to Midland when The Midland Railroad Co. laid the first tracks connecting the town to the nation’s railroad system. The town is said to have peaked in population around 1910 with over 3,500 residents, dwarfing the 2010 census data showing only 325 permanent residents.

EXISTING CONDITIONS
The current state of Bob Boyer Park is fair, with open space and parking limited to the southeast corner. Trail markers and signage are sparse, and the proliferation of hiking and horse trails makes navigating the site difficult. Users must travel deep into the property and then backtrack to get to several key points of interest. Currently all users (OHV, Equestrian, Hiking, and Biking) share the same trails. As a result, the existing state of the trails varies greatly from being well maintained to extremely steep eroded washes. The difficulty level of the trail system lacks consistency, with some trail sections starting with very relaxed grades that turn into steep climbs.

A PTD team spent two days exploring the trails. Accompanying them, Jay Randolph from Sebastian County Parks. “We
spent the day tracking along the main trails through the site and located a few of the larger waterfalls and sensitive areas. We climbed up to Annetta’s Overlook and the uppermost waterfall. The recent rainfall made the creeks and waterfalls a beautiful experience. On the second trip down to Bob Boyer Park, the PTD Team again joined Jay
for the day and dove deeper into the site. Exploring more of the northern portions of the property, we wanted to track as many of the known trails as possible. Locating additional points of interest, this second outing allowed us to hone in on some of the problematic areas and trails we didn’t get to look at in-depth on the first trip.”

PTD FINDINGS
The most obvious thing we found is the incredible beauty and potential of this site. Scattered with waterfalls, natural glades, and rare flora and fauna only located in this small region of the United States, it is clear that extra precaution and care should be taken to preserve the significant and sensitive areas of this site. We found that the lack of a consistent trail experience, appropriate wayfinding, and educational signage diminishes a user’s interaction with the site.

CONSIDERATIONS
Bob Boyer Park is a very unique project for PTD. The beautiful flora and fauna, natural glades, grade changes, and spectacular waterfalls on-site call for a different approach than we would normally take. Focusing more on preserving and highlighting the sensitive and significant areas of the site, our goal will be to create a National Park feel on a smaller scale. Proposing the appropriate amount of trail, the use of educational signage and wayfinding, and best trail construction practices will make this a world-class park and put the spotlight on this hidden gem of western Arkansas. Bob Boyer Park is key to providing trails for an underserved and underrepresented part of the state. With that in mind, we are proposing one main access trail through the property and smaller more intimate trails to get users to the scenic destinations on the property. Following best practices, horse-optimized and bike-optimized trails should be separated from other users and both bike and horse riders must dismount before entering the sensitive ecological zones.

The following outlines PTD’s priorities regarding the aspects of design and construction:
DESIGN
UNIFIED VISION: We will work closely with the key stakeholders to create a unified vision.
CONSERVATION: Through careful site assessment, we will identify areas of interest and concern.
We will synthesize our design to celebrate, not compromise, key areas of interest.
ACCESSIBILITY AND PROGRESSION: To ensure an accessible and progressive riding experience, this
project will service a wide variety of users and skill levels. From small tots to advanced riders,
there will be distinct opportunities for adventure through different trail experiences.
LONGEVITY: We will work with the existing terrain and environment to achieve a timeless design
that lasts for generations to come. Our attention to details inform the design, park flow and
proper drainage and will equip the site to handle the most adverse of natural conditions.

CONSTRUCTION
MINIMAL DAMAGE: PTD prioritizes the sustainability for all projects. We will disturb as little of
the natural environment as possible.
EROSION CONTROL AND DRAINAGE: PTD places major emphasis on preventing erosion, cutting
down maintenance costs, and ensuring proper drainage of trail and amenities. We will utilize
natural stone, rock, and rip rap erosion control methods, as well as piping to balance and enhance
this drainage.

ACCESS: By finding the most sustainable locations, we will establish temporary construction
roads* and staging areas to house equipment throughout the project. *Where applicable — some
projects will not require
TIME MANAGEMENT: We will utilize project management software to meet deadlines and maintain
efficient construction practices.

MAIN ACCESS TRAIL
The Main Access trail will allow users on foot or bike to comfortably navigate to the western most area of the property and gain access to the smaller and more intimate trails. Much like a National Park or CCC style trail, the tread would be approximately 6ft. wide and have relaxed grade changes. The terminus of the trail will have CCC style shelter and viewsheds looking towards the Northeast.

SECONDARY ACCESS TRAIL
The Secondary Access trail gets users into more intensely graded and sensitive areas on the property and will have a smaller tread of around 4ft. These trails will allow foot and bike traffic to get to the walking only trails. Off of the Secondary Access trails are smaller structures and bike posts for users to dismount and, if desired, lock up their bike before taking a hike.

FOOT TRAFFIC ONLY TRAIL
The Foot Traffic Only trail will allow users to get into more sensitive and intimate zones of the property. With a smaller tread than the Secondary Access Trail, the Foot Traffic Only trail will navigate hikers though the glades and around waterfalls. These trails provide an opportunity for educational signage and highlight the beautiful natural features and rare flora and fauna on-site.

BIKE
Users on bicycle will be allowed access on bike-specific trails to the southeast as well as the Main and Secondary trails. Riders will have stopping points to dismount, hitch (and lock if needed) their bikes up, and hike the foot traffic trails. The bike-specific zone to the southeast provides users a variety of loops, terrains, and difficulty levels. A proposed paved loop similar to the existing one but with some fun “pump zones” incorporated and a skills loop will allow riders to develop their skills from beginner to expert.

HORSE
The Horse Trails will provide equestrian riders an opportunity to get deep into the property and ride on a variety of terrain. Along the horse trail there will be stopping points at which they can dismount and hitch their horses to a post to further explore on foot. If approved, a connection to Annetta’s property would allow for the trails to be extended to the northwest.

“Progressive Trail Design is excited to work with Sebastian County on Bob Boyer Park. We strongly believe that Bob Boyer Park has an abundance of potential and we look forward to making sure it is used in the best way possible.”

Sebastian County Parks Administrator, Jay Randolph, stated that the planning is in very early stages. A stakeholders group continues to make recommendations for the Bob Boyer Park trail development. Those groups are comprised of three to four representatives with interests in mountain biking, equestrian and hiking. Members of the steakholders group are based locally and regionally.

“This could be really good for Midland,” stated Randoph. “The economic impact will be great for the area.”

Randolph stated that as a master plan continues to develop, the parks department will be seeking ways to fund the project.

(photos courtesy of Progressive Trail Design and Annetta Tinsman)

Top Factors That Affect Home Value When Selling

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Top Factors That Affect Home Value When Selling

Selling a home is no easy move. Whether you’re using a realtor or doing it alone, there are many things to realize. For starters, you can’t expect to see money flow in overnight. You first need to appraise your home so that you know its worth. Then, consider these top factors that affect home value when selling. Even if your home has a lower market value than expected, these considerations may help raise it to the value you want.

Location

Location is one of the most important decisions homebuyers consider when looking for a property. Therefore, it’s an essential factor to consider when it’s time to sell your home. Location means many things for different people. For some, it means being within the borders of the right school. Other people want to be closer to their work. Some people feel location is pivotal because they want to be near top-quality restaurants, stores, and markets. Of course, farming and ranching require ideal land right around the house itself. Ultimately, the quality of schools, employment opportunities, and proximity to shopping and entertainment can affect people’s decisions. So highlight your property’s strengths.

Size and Yardage

Size and yardage also play important roles. Bigger does not always mean better, but it certainly helps in real estate. People pay more for square footage than home sellers realize. Having more usable space in the home is a plus for many buyers. They want areas like garages, attics, finished basements, and guest rooms that not all homes possess. Houses with more bedrooms and bathrooms sell for higher prices than those with fewer. Also, great yardage easily increases market prices. Many homeowners value a big yard, so don’t neglect this as a potential selling point.

Age and Condition

Newer homes tend to have higher values than older ones. Hence, age and condition are some of the top factors that affect home value when selling. Many people believe an older home requires more maintenance. Plumbing, electricity, roofing, and appliances may need more repair and upkeep in older homes than newer ones. Still, that’s not to say older homes will never sell. In fact, there’s an aesthetic distinction between older and newer homes that many people seek. The rustic charm in older homes is harder to find now. So even if they require more repair, older homes may sell just as easily as newer ones in certain circumstances.

Upgrades and Renovations

Finally, consider upgrades and updates. Keep in mind, not every renovation will increase property value. Some projects, such as outdoor pools or finished basements, may cost more than their final worth. Other renovations consistently improve market values. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects are some of the most popular home upgrades that lead to substantial value increases for any home. Do your research before conducting any major home project to see if it’s worth the time and cost.

The Top 3 Hobbies for History Enthusiasts

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The Top 3 Hobbies for History Enthusiasts

Historians and history enthusiasts are incredibly important to our society. By keeping stories from our past alive, we are able to learn from them and implement those lessons into our future decisions. If you’re one of these people, you might be looking for more ways to engage with your hobby apart from reading books and watching documentaries. If this sounds like you, take a look at this list of the top three hobbies for history enthusiasts.

Reenactments

There are a great many local historical societies that put on reenactments all across the country. From small towns to major cities, these non-profit groups share their passion for and knowledge of history by dressing themselves up in the regalia of the time and doing the daily duties of someone from another era. Most famous are Civil War reenactments, where specific battles are played out on a much smaller scale but give you a sense of the struggles and hardships that every American faced during that time. If you live near a battle site, you may even be able to see that battle reenacted on the ground it first took place!

Restoration

In general, fixing up old cars is one of the most popular hobbies among men. There’s something about taking a beat-up hunk of junk and bringing it back to its former glory that is massively appealing. The same thing can be done with historical military vehicles as well. Military vehicle restoration is the perfect combination of DIY mechanic and history. Run-down Army Jeeps are very common and easily found online due to the mass manufacturing that created them in the first place. As such, there are also a wide variety of companies that produce parts for these types of vehicles as well. While it is an expensive hobby to get into, it allows you to learn a lot about the people that served by checking out what they were driving.

Volunteering

In addition to historical societies, many small communities also have museums dedicated to the history of their area. Because these institutions aren’t expected to make money hand over fist, there is usually a need for volunteers. This is where your love of history comes in handy. While most history enthusiasts tend to be more versed in military or national history, there are often similarly interesting stories about people from your area. Volunteering at a local museum is a great way to use your love of learning and share what you know with your fellow community members and visitors. The satisfaction of sharing what you love is what makes this one of the top three hobbies for history enthusiasts.

Jr Tigers Turn The Compass On West Fork

Megan Hecox
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Jr Tigers Turn The Compass On West Fork

After dropping their first conference game against Hackett last week, the Mansfield Jr High Tigers had a choice to make. They could complain about it and just lay down for the season or they could accept the loss as a challenge to step up and become the team they know they can be. On Thursday, September 23rd that choice was made evident to Tiger fans as Mansfield traveled north to fight, bite, claw, and scratch their way to a 22-20 victory over West Fork.  

#23 Trey Powell

Mansfield didn’t start the game with a bang as the Tiger’s defense was gashed for big yardage by the bigger West Fork offense for most of the first quarter. Offensively, the Tigers spun their wheels and were unable to move the ball very far downfield. It seemed like a preview of another inevitable loss to some of the Tiger faithful in the stands. But just when all seemed lost, that’s when the Mansfield defense forced a fumble and it was none other than the night’s team captain, Boston Elmore, who jumped on the loose ball to give the Tigers some life. But the fumble recovery wasn’t enough to get things going for Mansfield as the first quarter closed with a 0-0 score.  

#22 Zander Walters

The second quarter saw some life from both teams with West Fork scoring on a 52-yard quarterback dash at the 7:48 mark. The size of West Forks players wore heavily on the Tigers offense as they tried to find a way to outmaneuver their bigger opponents. As the clock ticked down to seconds before halftime, Mansfield quarterback, Jeremy Strozier, was flushed from the pocket and threw a pass up for grabs. The pass seemed to be in the air for minutes rather than seconds and landed in the hands of both wide receiver Cooper Edwards and a West Fork defender. Edwards ripped the ball off the defender’s hands, made a sweet spin, and set the field ablaze as he darted to the end zone for a Tiger touchdown. Strozier punched in the two-point conversion to give Mansfield an 8-6 narrow lead going into halftime.   

#7 Jeremy Strozier

With momentum on their side, Mansfield came out of halftime hyped and ready to roll. Unfortunately, the roll was the Tigers defense getting rolled instead. West Fork ran the ball up the gut of the Tigers defense play after play gaining big yards on each snap. West Fork kept up the pressure on the Tigers and eventually scored with 5:42 left in the 3rd quarter. Adding the two-point conversion after the score, the Tigers would see themselves down 14-8. Mansfield’s defense stepped up after being bullied early on as Dominic Shores made a touchdown-saving tackle and Ethan Martin sunk his teeth into the West Fork backfield for tackles on multiple occasions. Both teams then beat and battered each other for the rest of the quarter with neither gaining any more ground.  

#88 Toby Towe and #35 Alex Hecox

Remember at the beginning of the article where it said that the Tigers had a choice to make? Well, they made their choice in the 4th quarter and that choice was very evident. The Tiger’s defense bowed up to the powerful West Fork offense as Dakota Deer hunted down the West Fork quarterback on multiple occasions. Deer wasn’t alone though. Toby Towe was in the valley of the giants at nose guard and still found his way through them to drag down running backs while Zander Walters and Strozier stuck anyone in their area with pure aggression. The defensive sure gave Mansfield’s offense the energy they needed to get the show going. With West Fork keying on Mansfield running backs, Zander Walters and Dawson Robinson, the channel was switched to the Strozier and Trey Powell pitch and catch show.   

Dakota Deer

Strozier zipped back-to-back passes to Powell who smoked West Fork with each catch. After each pass to Powell, Strozier would roll out and run for big gains then go right back to a pass to Powell. Walters slid out to wide receiver where Strozier was able to dump a short pass to him for a Tiger touchdown. The two-point conversion was unsuccessful, and the game was tied up at 14-14. West Fork drove down for another touchdown with just 3:18 left in the game to take the lead again with a 20-14 score. The game is over. Time to lay down and accept it right? Wrong. The Tigers took less than a minute to drive downfield with Walters, Strozier, and Powell leading the charge. Powell jumped in the end zone for a Tiger touchdown which tied the game again at 20-20. It all boiled down to a two-point conversion for the lead which Strozier got, giving Mansfield a 22-20 4th quarter lead with just 1:07 left on the clock. West Fork got the ball back, but Toby Towe sealed the game when he stripped the ball from a West Fork running back allowing Strozier to recover the ball. The Tigers then ran the clock out to gain their first conference win over West Fork with a 22-20 final score.   

Jr High Cheerleaders

It was the Tiger’s offense that was the surprise of the night. Normally Mansfield leans on their ground and pound offense due to a lack of passing efficiency. That was not the case versus West Fork. Quarterback Jeremy Strozier was 8 of 15 passing with three passing touchdowns. Zander Walters caught 4 passes for 27 yards and a touchdown, Trey Powell snagged 3 passes for 58 yards, and Cooper Edwards gained 49 yards on his solo catch of the night. All three receivers scored too. The Tiger’s newfound balanced offense gained 134 yards total passing and 106 yards on the ground. “This was a good team win,” said Head Coach Tim Cothran. “The players showed an excellent work ethic and positive energy in the game. We still have quite a bit of work to do in some areas on defense, but I’m very proud of them overall.” The victory puts the Jr Tigers at a 2-3 overall record and a 1-1 conference record. The teams only get better from here and next up will be the Greenland Pirates. The Tigers are winless at home this season, but that could all change now that they have found their place in the football world.  

7th Grade Tigers Pounce Past West Fork

Megan Hecox
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7th Grade Tigers Pounce Past West Fork

The Mansfield 7th Grade Tigers have had to learn through the school of hard knocks so far this season. They have faced learning a new style of football, low numbers, huge opponents, quarantines, and more. On Thursday, September 23rd, the 7th Grade Tigers traveled to West Fork with exactly eleven 7th Graders in uniform for the first time this season. With an 8-0 win, Mansfield proved that they not only can but will stand against all forms of adversity without backing down.  

Facing down a West Fork team who had monstrous players, the 7th Grade Tigers quickly showed why it’s not the size of the Tiger in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the Tiger. Mansfield’s defense used their smaller stature to their advantage as they shot gaps in the West Fork offense to create chaos in the backfield. West Forks’ favorite play was a dive right up the gut of the field. Fortunately for the Tigers, middle linebacker Levi Langford stood strong to punch West Fork right back in the gut each time they tried to run the play. Being shut down in the run game up the middle, West Fork tried to pitch the ball and test the Tigers defense outside of the pocket. It was a good plan on paper, but what that plan didn’t include was the Tiger’s quick speed and excellent open-field tackling abilities. Tigers Gunner Williams, Billy Sellers, Holden Powers, and Brennon Collie were able to seal and stamp West Forks plans and hand it right back to them. The headhunter of the bunch though was Mason Sterling. Sterling was all over the field and if he wasn’t in on the tackle itself, he was merely inches away from being in on it.

The Tiger’s offensive line was dwarfed by the massiveness of West Forks defensive line. Dynamite comes in small packages though and the Tiger O-Line consisting of Noah Cole, Levi Langford, Braxton Turnipseed, Weston Harrison, and Nathan Dyer opened up lanes for their backs that were big enough for a Mac Truck to drive through. Taking advantage of those holes was running back “Stone Cold” Cordell Stone. It only took Stone three plays to gain 25 yards and two first downs for the Tigers in their opening drive. When West Fork began to catch on to Stones running patterns, Mansfield unleashed their not-so-secret secret weapon………quarterback Gunner Williams. Anytime Williams took aim with his feet, he hit the target. It was the combo of Stone being the rock and Gunner being the sling that struck West Forks Goliath defense right between the eyes. The dynamic duo teamed up on a quick pitch and Stone bobbed and weaved his way 31 yards downfield for a Tiger touchdown. Williams took the direct snap and went untouched for the two-point conversion to give the Tigers an 8-0 lead at the half. 

Mansfield’s defense was challenged to keep West Fork scoreless at the beginning of the game and they took that challenge to heart. The Tiger’s defense swarmed West Fork for the rest of the game. Two halves, eleven 7th Graders, and zero points allowed as Mansfield closed out the game with an 8-0 victory. With their first win of the season under their belt, the 7th Grade Tigers now know what it takes. Their schedule doesn’t get any easier though. Next up will be the Greenland Pirates on Thursday, September 30th and they are definitely not a pushover program. And with Mansfield growing the way they are now, neither are they.

Down Two Sets, Defending State Champs Lady Hornets Come Back to Defeat Paris 3-2 at Hackett

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Down Two Sets, Defending State Champs Lady Hornets Come Back to Defeat Paris 3-2 at Hackett

As a sports fan, how many times have you heard the expression that games are often a story of momentum and momentum shifts? On Thursday night, there perhaps was no greater example than the hard-fought match between Paris and the defending state champion Hackett Lady Hornets. After Paris defeated Hackett in the first two sets, the Lady Hornets showed why they are state champions by arching their backs and winning the third set to begin a comeback that would eventually end in a close fourth set victory for Hackett and a deciding fifth set to win the match, 3-2.

Thursday’s match was the first time the two programs had faced each other since the state finals in Hot Springs on Halloween in 2020. In that match, Hackett defeated Paris in three decisive sets. Many of the Paris players who experienced that loss returned this year, and in the first two sets, it appeared that it was Paris who had the resolve to win the match.

But in the third set, Paris seemed to lose their momentum, and the play of the Hornets who were determined to turn the match around had a lot to do with the Lady Eagles losing momentum. But both schools have proud volleyball programs that are quickly building traditions of excellence, and neither team was about to quit.

Paris appeared to regroup and fought their way to what fans thought was going to be a final set win for the match. But again, the state champions showed why they are champions, and fought their way back to eventually tie the set late and go on their way to win, 26-24. The match was tied, and for the second consecutive year at Hackett, the first game of the yearly series would go five sets.

In the fifth, Hackett took and early lead, and the best Paris could manage was to keep the margin at three points. Seemingly each time Paris would win a point and have an opportunity to make a run, the team would commit a serving error or otherwise lose the point, giving the serve and the advantage back to Hackett. The Lady Hornets went on to win the deciding set, 15-9.

The ramifications of this game are interesting, as has been the case over the past two seasons. The game played at Hackett last Thursday did not count as a conference game for either school. The two teams will play again on Tuesday, October 5 at Paris Gymnasium. The 3A West conference decided before the season to only play a single game, round robin conference season. So, bottom line, the October 5 game in Paris will be the match that counts toward the final conference standings and has an effect on post-season, conference tournament seedings.

The October 5 match will be the first time the Lady Hornets have played on the Lady Eagles’ home floor since joining the 3A West in 2020. That match may ultimately determine the final order of finish in the conference as well as seedings for the conference tournament. It is possible that the two teams could play each other three more times over the next four weeks if both teams were to meet in the district and state tournaments.

Hackett coach Bridget Freeman has built a powerhouse program in Hackett and could be in position to win three more state titles in as many years if her Lady Hornets are able to repeat as state champions this year. But Paris has experience and talent and could win the championship this year. It will remain to be seen how the Lady Eagles react to the devastating loss at Hackett. On Monday, Paris welcomes the 2019 state champion Little Rock Episcopal Lady Wildcats to Paris Gymnasium for a big non-conference match. If the Lady Eagles do not put Hackett out of their minds for now, Episcopal could hand them a second consecutive loss. Paris is loaded with a strong senior class, and now is the time for those seniors to take control of the team and refocus them on what is still obtainable and not on what could have been. This may be the most critical point of the season for Paris. Eagles fans will know much more about their team tomorrow when they play Episcopal.

Resident Press will be in Paris on Monday to bring you coverage of the Episcopal game in Wednesday’s online edition. Photos from the game will be posted on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports on Thursday.

The Lady Eagles need their loyal fan base to show up big on Monday to support their team against a 3A power Little Rock Episcopal team. So, wear your blue and show up big and proud for the Lady Eagles!

See you Monday!

Tigers Keep Title Home With Today’s Bank Win

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Tigers Keep Title Home With Today’s Bank Win

Things are shaping up for a special season for the five seniors off the Mansfield Lady Tiger cross country team. Already winners of two team titles this season before Saturday’s home meet, the senior team grabbed their most significant win so far this season.

Mansfield’s senior girls wanted to leave their mark by winning their final regular season run across the home campus. At the 18th annual Today’s Bank Mansfield Invitational on September 25, the experienced crew swept one-third of the medals on route to their third team championship of this season. 

Mansfield’s Darby Jones ranks third among all class 2A cross country runners in the state.

The MHS title team was configured by all seniors. Darby Jones and Faith Rainwater headlined the spirited bunch with strong finishes by McKenzie Griffin, Katlynn Moore, and Hope Rainwater. All five took medal placements among the top 15 small school scorers.

Jones set another personal record for the 5K distance with an amazing 20:59.38 finish. That mark placed her second overall in the 51 person race. It was nearly five minutes faster than her previous best time on the same course last season.

“Darby is really motivated to run fast this season,” said John Mackey, Mansfield’s head cross country coach. “She broke that 21 minute barrier for the first time today. That’s impressive. If I know her, she’s gonna be gunning for the 19’s real soon.”

Laney Wood and Trinity Triska take a break after finishing with silver and bronze medals.

Jones’s most recent career best now ranks her third among all class 2A runners in the state at the 5K distance this season. The top class 2A mark was posted by Kate Provence of Cedar Ridge on September 18 at 20:06.10.

Faith Rainwater also ran a season best and a near career best at the Today’s Bank home meet. The most decorated runner off the Lady Tiger squad went the 2 loop course in 23:01.66. It ranked her fourth among the small school finishers, and was five seconds shy of her All-State time at last year’s state finals.

Laney Wood and Trinity Triska are among the top 3 at the Today’s Bank home meet.

“Faith is starting to come on as well,” said the coach. “She now ranks eleventh in the state with room to grow. I believe she too will get a couple more minutes trimmed off her time.”

Mansfield’s other three seniors did their part. Among small school results, Griffin finished in ninth place at 25:06.31. Moore went for 11th place in 25:55.72 while Hope Rainwater crossed at 13th place in 26:31.75.

According to Mackey, who also served as meet director, the members of Today’s Bank Mansfield were impressed by the school’s runners and the overall organization of the event.

“Kellie Copeland of Today’s Bank came to me during the meet and let me know how well things were going,” smiled Mackey. “We appreciate Kellie so much for being our advocate. We’d also like to thank Nathan Hurst, the River Valley Market President, for participating in the awards. I think our kids put on a show as did all the runners from all the schools. The many volunteers from Today’s Bank and our school community made this work.”

The junior boys crowd the start at the Today’s Bank Invitational.

Mansfield’s other teams didn’t quite reach first place but they have solid showings. The junior girls finished third as did the junior boys.

Laney Wood, a freshman, pushed the pace with a second place small school finish. Her time was 12:35.00 for the 1.8 mile race. Trinity Triska, also a freshman, came just behind that for third place in the 1A-3A division. Her clock read 12:47.06.

The Lady Tiger junior team with 50 points were behind champions West Fork (29 points) and runner-up Magazine (49 points). The Mansfield team’s 5 player average time was about 2 seconds below the second place team finish and nearly a minute from the first place group.

Aidan Fildes was the team’s third best runner in 21st place. That was supported by Danielle Lowery’s 25th place score and Addision Bowman’s 29th position.

Joey Fildes catches his breath after a hard fought race.
Jonah Martin grabs a water after finishing in medal standing at the Today’s Bank XC Meet.

Joey Fildes off the junior Tiger’s men squad was stiller once again. The group’s leading scorer so far this season found the finish in 11:13.18. He was in fourth place among the 1A-3A division runners.

Gunner Williams came in 13th place. The seventh grader ran 12:07.87. With that mark a string of consecutive runners from Mansfield finished next. Rylan Nichols (14th in 12:16.08), Jonah Martin (15th in 12:16.54), and Trey Powell (16th in 12:21.94) all crowded the line for the Tiger score.

Fildes, Williams, Nichols, and Martin all medaled for the Mansfield men. Wood and Triska were the only Mansfield junior girls to take home individual hardware and stand atop the awards podium.

Mansfield junior boys gather at the Tiger’s home meet.
Mansfield’s Faith Rainwater prepares to pass a runner to start the second loop of the team’s home meet.
Volunteers wait for the next wave of runners to cross the finish at the Mansfield hosted Today’s Bank cross country race.

Eagles Cruise to 4-0 on the Season with 48-7 Conference Victory at Mayflower

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Eagles Cruise to 4-0 on the Season with 48-7 Conference Victory at Mayflower

For the second consecutive season, the Paris Eagles football program has opened 4-0 on the season. Paris (4-0, 1-0) defeated Mayflower on Friday night by the score of 48-7, and in doing so, opened the 2021 3A-4 conference season with a win. Once again, Paris took the lead early in the game, and finished its fourth consecutive game this year under the “sportsmanship rule” by leading opponents by wide margins going into the second halves of each game. Paris starters have yet to finish a game giving reserve players the opportunity to play significant minutes in each of the Eagles first four games this season.

The Eagles’ first score of the game took place with 8:13 remaining in the first quarter when Duke Walker took a hand-off and plunged over the goal line from one yard out. Just minutes later, Walker would rush for another touchdown of approximately 70 yards for the Eagles’ second score.

Paris senior quarterback had another big night throwing the football for the Eagles. Watts’s first touchdown pass was a 63 yard play in which he scrambled and found a receiver for the touchdown. In the second quarter, it was Watts again, scrambling and finding Bo Baine for a pass and catch that resulted in a 53 yard touchdown for Paris. Then it was Watts again, this time hooking up with Cooper Haley for a touchdown pass of approximately 40 yards, and the Eagles went into the locker room at half leading Mayflower 34-0.

On his final scoring play, Watts ran around end in the third quarter for yet another touchdown, and with 8:20 remaining in the third quarter, the Eagles lead had increased to 41-0. Paris played a lot of reserve players from this point forward to finishing the game, but it was starter Blake Martines intercepting a pass and streaking down the artificial turf for the Eagles’ final score. Mayflower was able to manage a scoring run against the Paris reserves for its only score, and that’s the way the game ended with Paris winning, 48-7.

After the game, a happy Paris coach, Jeff Weaver, commented, “This group (Paris) continues to impress me how they come out ready to play. Their (Mayflower) speed scared us, but we did a great job of neutralizing it and controlled the line of scrimmage. We wanted to come out and establish the run and once we did that it opened up everything.”

After the win at Mayflower, Paris goes back on the road again this Friday to Two Rivers for its second conference game of the season. Last season, Two Rivers cancelled their game in Paris due to COVID reasons, and the Paris administration quickly scrambled on game day to find a replacement game with Hector.

Photos from this game will be published on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports on Sunday night. Resident Press will be at Two Rivers next Friday to bring you game coverage. Look for a preview of this game next week in Resident Press.

Congratulations to the Eagles on their 4-0 start for the second consecutive season!

Obituary – Alex “Andy” Andrew Ingle (1964-2021)

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Obituary – Alex “Andy” Andrew Ingle (1964-2021)

Alex Andrew Ingle, better known as “Andy” of Waldron, Arkansas passed away Monday, September 20, 2021 in Waldron, Arkansas. Andy was born December 26, 1964 to Vernon and Shirley (Rorie) Ingle in Arkadelphia, Arkansas.

Andy worked hard as a concrete layer. He loved what he did. He enjoyed camping, being outdoors and family. He especially enjoyed vacations.

Andy leaves behind to cherish his memory, his sons; Sonny Winger, Winchester Ingle, Marshall Ingle, and Boone Ingle, his daughter Sophia Price, his brothers; Steven Ingle, John (Lynda) Ingle, Toby (Beth) Ingle, his sisters; Angela Crow, Desaree (Shaun Sherer) Ingle, Natasha McCubbin, Brandilyn (Josh) Corntassel, and he also left behind numerous grandchildren, and a host of nieces and nephews.

Andy is preceded in death by his parents Vernon and Shirley Ingle, and a brother Paul Brandt.

Andy’s life celebration will be held Monday, September 27, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Rickey Hunt officiating.  Arrangements and cremation is being entrusted to Heritage Memorial Funeral Home.

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