Resident News Network

Jones Headlines Win As Tigers Dominate

Sports

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8:20 am

Pictured: Mansfield’s Darby Jones nears the finish line at the Perryville Mustang Invitational cross country meet. The Lady Tiger senior won the event as her teammates supported with the team victory as well

Three seasons ago, Mansfield cross country runner Darby Jones took an entire season to score a medal. At the time, most of her freshmen teammates had moved up to the senior high squad for the last race of the year. That left a few extra medals up for grabs in the final junior high race of the season and Jones was elated to get the last one offered.

Fast forward to this past Tuesday afternoon. That same little kid that could barely run a half-mile at her first-ever cross country practice, was standing center stage in the winner’s circle at the Perryville Mustang Invitational.

Mansfield’s senior girls win the Perryville Cross Country race. Pictured are Hope Rainwater, Jedelynn Wood, Darby Jones, McKenzie Griffin, Faith Rainwater, and Katlynn Moore

Jones took that tiny moment of freshman motivation and turned it into high hopes for the future. Steadfast across the landscape of the past few seasons, Jones ascended in pace and performance. On the final day of August 2021, the long and lanky senior finally broke loose for her first-ever cross country individual victory.

Jones beat all runners in the 55 person senior girls division. Her winning time of 10:04.2 was 9.2 seconds faster than the nearest competitor. The win led to a wealth of Lady Tiger finishers who posted four players inside the Top Ten for the team championship as well.

Darby Jones closes the last 800m of the 2500m race at Perryville for the win on August 31, 2021

“Darby has been building for this moment for a long time,” stated Mansfield mentor John Mackey. “Her training schedule this summer has been incredible. Her running form and pace have caught up to her dedication and determination. She deserved the win and we are all so excited for her accomplishment.”

As a team, Mansfield’s senior girls totaled 28 points for first place. Joe T. Robinson cruised into second with 48 points while Pulaski Academy brought home third place with 59 points.

Four Mansfield seniors made the medal stand with placements at first, sixth, seventh, and ninth. After Jones’s first place crossing came Faith Rainwater, McKenzie Griffin, and Hope Rainwater to cover the Lady Tiger windfall.

Faith Rainwater’s time was 11:18. Griffin posted an 11:42. Hope Rainwater went at 12:00 even.

Junior Jadelynn Wood (12:20) pushed the pace early but fell shortcoming down the homestretch. The Tiger’s second-best finisher at last season’s state meet came across in 14th place at the Perry County course.

Eighth-grader Joey Fildes takes a break after finishing third at the Perryville 1.55 mile race

Senior Katlynn Moore (13:18) was 19th overall and Mansfield’s first displacer.

“We have been anxious to get out and finally compete,” revealed Mackey. “This was a good test to see where we are as a team. Next up we go the full 5K distance at Acorn. That should be a challenge this experienced group should look forward to.”

Mansfield did well in the other divisions as well. The junior boys took second place as a team. The junior girls captured third.

Individually, the younger Tiger squads collected three medals. Laney Wood and Trinity Triska picked up where they left off last season with stellar performances for the girl’s prep team. Joey Fildes did likewise for the boy’s group.

Wood ran a terrific race but couldn’t catch Bergman’s Jacey Halitza. Halitza blistered the course with a personal record of 9:55.7 for the 2500m race. Wood came in second at 10:37.10. Triska followed close behind her teammate at 11:05.20.

The two Mansfield freshmen followed each other for the silver and bronze medals at second and third places overall.

Mansfield junior girls Laney Wood and Trinity Triska both medal at the Perryville XC course

Tiger teammates Azlynn Stover, Addie Bowman, and Aidan Fildes completed the junior girl scoring. Collectively the top five qualifiers for Mansfield garnered a team score of 54 points for third place among represented teams.

St. Joseph out of Conway won the junior girls event with 33 points. Pulaski Academy took second at 45 points.

Fildes for the Mansfield men was third place overall. He was the lone Tiger to make the medal stand. However, his teammates were in strong support as the group’s combined team score solidly fit them into second place among team rankings.

St Joseph doubled up with the team plaques as they also won the junior boys division at 50 points.

Mansfield’s scoring five for the boy’s team were in order Fildes, Gunner Williams, Holden Powers, Joseph Carter, and Leland Powell.

What To Put On a Post-Off-Roading Checklist

Outdoors

Resident News Network

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3:23 pm

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What To Put On a Post-Off-Roading Checklist

Going for an off-road adventure isn’t as adventurous as it looks. Breaking free of the pavement takes planning—and we’re not just talking about calling in sick at work. Whether it’s a short circuit or a long overland trip, getting an off-road vehicle such as a Jeep Wrangler ready for action requires you to get the tires ready and have all the necessary supplies on hand. You should also stop for a tune-up if it’s been a while. That’s when the fun begins.

After the party’s over, however, you can’t simply pull back into the garage, crash on the couch, and return to normal. Off-roading can take a lot out of your Jeep, and you should take the right steps to clean up and wind down after your big trip. Here’s what you should put on a post-off-roading checklist to make sure that your Jeep is ready for everyday driving and off-road trips to come.

Readjust Tire Pressure

Jeeps and other OHVs do best on rough terrain when their tires cover as much of that terrain as possible. We achieve that by letting some air out of the tires before embarking on off-road trails. This is advantageous for mud, rocks, and sand, but not for when you return to the roads. As soon as you can, get your tire pressure back within normal highway parameters—usually between 32 and 37 pounds per square inch—up from the 12 to 17 psi for off-road trails.

Clean It Thoroughly

Splashing mud, blowing dust, kicking up rocks—your Jeep makes a mess when it goes off the roads, especially if you’re a top-off-doors-off thrill seeker. Jeeps are considerably easier than other vehicles to clean, which means you have no excuse not to do so. It’s not just a matter of making sure your Jeep’s aesthetics are top-notch—this driving machine puts function ahead of form. It’s also integral to your Jeep’s operation, as accumulated mud from splashing around in puddles and streams can cake on, impede airflow, and cause the Jeep’s engine to overheat.

Restock Your Supplies

We’ll round out the list of what to put on a post-off-roading checklist with the tools it takes to get ready for the next journey. Did you have to use your first aid kit on the trails? Replace or restock it now before it slips your mind. Did any parts take critical damage on your adventure? Now’s the time to replace them. And though it seems a bit frivolous, if you happened to go through your emergency beef jerky supply in a not-so-emergency situation, you’d better stock back up on nonperishable snacks lest you forget before you head back out.

Groovy Times at Dalton’s Place

Networks

Resident News Network

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2:07 pm

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The residents and staff at Dalton’s Place had a groovy good time at their disco event held on Monday, August 30. Everyone enjoyed a classic menu of cheese dogs!

Pictured is Dayna Nobles, Butch Sigmon, Janet Furgeson, and Donna Bieber

Pictured is Dayna Nobles, Mary Pfister, and Donna Bieber

The Benefits of Allowing Recovery Time for Your Horse

Lifestyle

Resident News Network

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2:01 pm

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The Benefits of Allowing Recovery Time for Your Horse

Just like athletes require adequate time to rest after an intense workout or competition, your horses need rest, too. Maintaining too many high-energy days in a row can lead to burnout—or worse, injuries. However, rest for horses looks much different than a human’s idea of quality rest and relaxation. As you learn about the benefits of allowing recovery time for your horse, consider the enriching needs of the hardworking equine as they spend some time taking a break in the barn.

Rest Allows Your Horse To Come Back Stronger

Burnout, especially related to excessive training, isn’t just a psychological condition—it’s a physical condition as well. Days or weeks where the horse consistently trains will stress out their body, especially when the end goal is a solid performance at an upcoming competition.

A day to a few days of rest will give your horse’s body a chance to recover after giving 110 percent the day before. Fatigued tendons and muscles will heal and become stronger and your horse will bounce back with more energy than they had when they started. Think of rest and recovery as being essential parts of your horse’s regular exercise routine—not just a break or a reward.

Slow Days To Prevent Injuries and Check for Ailments

Resting decreases the likelihood of devastating injuries by giving the horse’s body plenty of time to heal. Consider the body to be much like a rubber band—if it’s stretched too far, it’s more likely to break.

You can also use days of rest to evaluate your horse’s health. Take time to groom and socialize with your equine companion on these important days. Look for health concerns on their legs and body, like open sores or bumps. If you find any issues, you may need to provide them with long-term rest or even stall rest if it’s severe.

Long-Term Rest Provides Horses With a Mental Reset

When humans experience burnout, they take a vacation or take a break from work; when horses suffer from burnout, they want the same sort of things. Horses are highly intelligent creatures—they can feel drained due to mental fatigue and overexertion just like we can. You may notice that your horse seems grumpier than usual. These mood swings are sure signs of mental fatigue.

Luckily, one of the benefits of allowing recovery time for your horse is the allowance for relaxation after a difficult day or week. Give your horse a break with time to socialize at pasture or take an easy walk down a favorite trail and they’ll be rested up and ready to keep training in no time!

With September Here, Waldron Golf Is Fine Tuning A Championship Run

Sports

Resident News Network

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7:19 am

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With September Here, Waldron Golf Is Fine Tuning A Championship Run

Pictured is Lane Tallmadge and Noach Patrick (Background)

The Waldron golf team is making some adjustments and finishing up on some touches as September arrives. The Bulldogs sit at 6-1-1 on the season, with hopefully some of their best golf ahead.

The lone girl on the roster, Macey Owens, has made steady improvements throughout the season and capped it off with a match medalist performance at Little Creek Country Club on August 30th. “Macey is one of those golfers that is probably tougher on herself than anybody else. She has a great support system around her that allows her to consistently work on her game. She has done a really good job, especially as a freshman, of cutting strokes off as the year has progressed,” said Coach Josh Atchley.

On the boy’s side, the Golf Dogs have been on a tear lately as they have won six matches in a row. Led by seniors Lane Tallmadge, Lane Metcalf, and Drew Owens, Waldron has turned in some of the best team scores in recent years. “As a team, these guys expect big things from themselves individually, because of that, they expect big things from each other for the team aspect.”

The Dogs will compete in the 4-3A conference match at Cherokee Creek Country Club on September 27, before the girl’s state at Glenwood Country Club on September 29, and the boy’s state at The Creeks Golf Course. “If you see any of these golfers, encourage them to bring that championship home this year!”

Sr Bulldogs Settled Down By Pioneers

Sports

Megan Hecox

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7:00 am

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The Waldron Bulldogs headed north on Friday, August 27^th with the intention of playing fetch with the coonskin caps of the Gentry Pioneers. Last season the Bulldogs bullied Gentry with a dominant 44-29 home win. This season the venues swapped giving Gentry a home-field advantage. Unfortunately for Waldron, Gentry had payback on their minds as the Pioneers put a 38-12 pounding on the Bulldogs Friday night.

Waldron started the game kicking off to Gentry and it was game on from there. The Bulldogs defense held up decently against Gentry’s mixed bag of offensive plays, but the mix was just enough for Gentry to drive downfield and score in nine plays. After the extra point was kicked through the uprights, the score stood at 7-0 Gentry with 9:04 left in the first quarter. The Bulldogs offense was missing a few key players in this game, but so goes the life of football. Gentry brought the house on defense on each play to force Waldron into a quick three and out, putting the Bulldogs defense back on the field. It only took a few plays for the Pioneers to march downfield again to score putting the Bulldogs down 14-0 at the 4:09 mark as the score remained the same to close out the first quarter.

With their offense struggling, Waldron leaned heavily on their defense to stay in the game early on. Gentry went on another one of their drives, but this time the Bulldogs gave very little ground to the Pioneers. With good open-field tackling and a determined deminer, Waldron’s defense kept Gentry out of the end zone forcing the Pioneers to kick a field goal instead. The field goal was good setting up a 17-0 score in the second quarter. The Bulldog’s offense began to come alive as they put together a couple of good drives to go along with their defensive effort. Bryson Barker made an awesome catch over the middle of Gentry’s defense for big yardage setting the Bulldogs up in the red zone. Waldron couldn’t cross the goal line though and instead vied for a field goal which went wide right. Gentry would score again, but this time the Bulldog’s offense answered. A few good rushes by Gabino Grano drew the Pioneers into stacking the box and left an opening at the goal line where Matt Brigance drilled a pass to Trenton Hunt for the Bulldog’s first score of 2021. The Bulldogs extra point was flawed by a bobbled snap and wound up unsuccessful leaving the score at 24-6.

Waldron’s defense again held off the Pioneers charge. The Dog Pound was starting to liven up on the sidelines and stands as the comeback slowly began. Brigance caught the Pioneers off guard with a big yardage pass to Barker setting up a mad scramble by Brigance for another Waldron touchdown. Although the extra point failed, the Bulldogs closed the gap to a 24-12 Gentry. That is where it would end for Waldron though as the Pioneers would tack on another two scores in the second half to close the game out with a 38-12 defeat of Waldrwon.

Although the scoreboard reflected poorly on the Bulldogs, the stat book gives promise for future games. Offensively, Waldron averaged over 6 yards per carry with Gabino Grano leading the rushing attack. Grano had 16 carries for 128 yards. Matt Brigance gained 36 yards on 9 carries and scored the Bulldog’s only rushing touchdown of the night. Chris Lopez busted out big yardage as he averaged 11 yards per carry off of only 4 carries for 45 yards. Bryson Barker led the team in receiving snagging 3 passes for 22 yards while Trenton Hunt, Chris Lopez, Montana Wesley, and Logan Young rounded out the receiving corps with 148 yards on a combined 10 catches. The defense may have had 38 points scored on them, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort. Peyton Lipham led Waldron’s defense with 4 solo tackles and 5 assists. The Bulldogs and 8 players recorded solo tackles and 16 came up with assisted tackles.

Types of Internet Service Available in Rural Areas

Lifestyle

Resident News Network

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9:38 am

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Types of Internet Service Available in Rural Areas

The internet is something most people take for granted in these modern times—but it isn’t always easy to come by. Some areas of the world still have no way to stay connected unless it’s by mobile devices. So, if you’re wondering about the types of internet service available in rural areas, then you’ve come to the right place.

Fixed Wireless Internet

This method of internet service comes directly from the main service point of the provider. Fiber-optic lines are run underground to a satellite receiver. It will depend on who is available as a provider, so you will need to check with your local service providers to find out what availability looks like. Wireless is also spotty at times and lacks the power that direct service lines have.

DSL Internet

DSL internet has an ethernet line running through the modem that transmits the signal through a phone line directly from the service provider to your receiver. The connection with a direct line is much different than wireless since it doesn’t work via radio wave signal but instead used only fiber optics. It can transmit a massive amount of data very quickly whereas wireless cannot work in most situations.

Mobile Wireless Internet

Just as the name suggests, mobile wireless internet is a service provided through wireless cell phone plans that can be used in a multitude of ways. This taxes your phones’ processing speeds and is therefore a risk to use since it also uses the phone’s data supply. This could hinder the use of other programs on your phone.

Satellite Internet

Satellite internet is a great option for people who are living off the grid. You can get internet access from anywhere in the world. However, it comes with a few downsides—similar to wireless internet your service may become spotty and susceptible to bad weather. It’s also typically more expensive.

Dial-Up Internet

Dial-up is one of the earliest versions of internet service. While most people would prefer not to use this style due to its speeds and lag times, it’s a very cheap alternative to most other varieties. Because internet speeds and connections have improved, dial-up has become one of the least desirable options. It runs at about 56kbps, which is only fast enough to browse a handful of sites in a day.

So, the next time you find yourself in a rural area, look around for your service providers. Go with the best-reviewed, rated, and priced service you can get. These will all be important before investing in your service. Therefore, if you’re wondering about the types of internet available in rural areas, look no further than this article.

Charleston Hosts Dardnelle Friday to Open 2021 High School Football Season

Sports

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8:53 am

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Charleston Hosts Dardnelle Friday to Open 2021 High School Football Season

The Charleston tradition of playing tough non-conference opponents in all sports will continue this Friday night at Alumni Field. The 2020 3A-1 district champions will host the Class 4A Dardanelle Sand Lizards in what has become a tradition of tough, hard-hitting football when the teams meet each year. The Tigers’ philosophy of using the non-conference portions of their schedules to prepare their teams for tough, physical and competitive play before entering the conference portion of their schedules has paid off for Charleston, and no one can argue with the long-term success of Tigers athletics.

Perhaps no better illustration of the nature of the Dardanelle series with the Tigers is the 2019 match-up in Dardanelle when Charleston lost its entire defensive secondary to injury. By the end of the game, Charleston had many players dressed in street clothes that had been forced out of the game due to injury. Coach May and his staff did a remarkable job in getting the team ready for conference play and making the playoffs that year. In his second year, the Tigers went undefeated in conference play and were crowned at 3A-1 champions.

In 2021, the Tigers return many of their players from that undefeated conference team of a year ago. Most notably, junior quarterback Brandon Scott, who is arguably one of the best quarterbacks at any classification in the River Valley and perhaps the state, will return to the Tigers, bringing big play capability to the Charleston offense.

Resident Press File Photo / Ronni Tate Young

The first five weeks of the season are brutal for the Tigers, as they will play three of the predicted top five 4A-4 finishers in Dardanelle, Pottsville, and Ozark. Then the conference season will begin with two critical games, the first being at home against Greenland that always has playoff seeding implications in October, and on the road for a very tough and crucial match-up against an experienced and very talented Cedarville team. So, not to disrespect anyone else on the Tigers’ schedule, their conference finish for the 2021 season could be largely determined by where they are after the Cedarville game in week five. But until then, it is “one game at a time” for Coach May and his team.

I asked Coach May if he felt better about his team now that the Tigers have had an additional week of practice following the scrimmage against Booneville. Coach May responded by saying, ” A little bit. I feel a little better. We had a lot of time to work on what we needed to work on. Our kids are more physically prepared and I think they can meet a little bigger standard. It’s just hard sometimes not to know until you play someone. But, we feel better about it.”

Dardanelle has been impacted by injuries to start the new season. Most notably, their talented quarterback, Drew Vega, has been nursing an injury that first occurred this summer. Vega did not play last week in the loss to Booneville. According to Coach May, Vega’s presence in the game last week “would have definitely made a difference. At the same time, Dardanelle had, I think, four turnovers against Booneville.”

It remains to be seen if Vega will play against the Tigers. But Dardanelle has a tradition of being a big, physical, talented, and well-coached football program, and whoever takes the field for the Sand Lizards Friday night will be ready to play. Coach May commented, “I really don’t know if he (Vega) will play. It is a situation where if he does he changes the dynamic of everything (on defense). So, we’ll see. Dardanelle runs the ball really well, so it is not like they can’t run. They have a really good offensive line. Of course, Coach Vega does a very good job coaching them up and they are always well-prepared and disciplined. I just think they had a bad first game and they will definitely be better and they are going to give us everything we want on Friday night. The last two years we have not scored on them. So, defensively, they are pretty good.”

Resident Press will have a recap on this game in Sunday night’s online edition. Come out to the game Friday night and support your Tigers as they begin the march to repeat as conference champions and to position themselves with a high state playoff seed.

Sr Pirates Bash Past Bobcats With Treasure Chest On The Horizon

Sports

Megan Hecox

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3:11 pm

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Sr Pirates Bash Past Bobcats With Treasure Chest On The Horizon

Cedarville was keyed as a 3A-1 contender in the preseason, but some couldn’t get past the Pirate’s possible winning conference. Many believed the hype while many others were still skeptical. But it was the Pirates who had the last “hardy har har” as they blew out the Berryville Bobcats 42-20 on Friday, August 27^th in their first game of the season.

To say it again, Cedarville traveled to Berryville to beat a 4A opponent handily. That should open some eyes in the 3A-1. As for the rumor of Darryl Kattich being the best running back in the league, that rumor was confirmed in Friday night’s game. Kattich averaged over 9 yards per carry as he skinned the Bobcats with 21 carries for 194 yards and a touchdown. Last season Kattich was a one-man show for the Pirates giving them an early start to success, but defenses zoned in on him causing the Pirates to flatten out towards the end of the season. That will not be the case this year.

Cedarville has preached “teamwork” all offseason and they practiced what they preached against Berryville. Five different players scored on Berryville. Kattich led the rushing attack, but the rest of the backfield proved they are quite capable of spreading out the workload. Bruce Turney averaged an amazing 24 yards per carry with 96 yards on just 4 carries and a touchdown. Hayden Morton had 5 carries for 70 yards and two touchdowns with a 14-yard average. And Hayden Partain ground his way to 60 yards off of 12 carries with a 5 yard per carrying average and a touchdown. Needless to say, the Pirates running back stable isn’t a one-man show. They’re downright stacked as the four backs combined for a total of 5 touchdowns off of 42 carries for 420 yards against the 4A Berryville defense.

To stop the running attack, some teams might crowd the box or send linebackers on blitzes. Berryville tried but to no avail. Quarterback Cody Dickens and his wide receiving core ripped the Bobcats with 8 completions for 105 yards. Again, just like the running game, the air raid was a team effort as six different players caught passes on the night. Overall, the Pirates proved that they are deep in their offensive arsenal and well balanced. The days of defenses focusing solely on one person are over. This Pirates offense is all for one and one for all.

You can score all you want though and still lose every game if you don’t have a defense on the field. The offense may have been melting their cannons, but the defense proved to be a crushing tsunami against Berryville. Cedarville had four players with double-digit tackles and two that were just one takedown away from double digits. The Holy Haydens (Partain and Morton) paired up for 12 tackles each, Luke Mallow and Bruce Turney made 10 crippling tackles each, and Austin Bentley and Darryl Kattich each had 9 takedowns. Even those who didn’t have tackles in the stat book did their jobs by covering receivers like peanut butter and putting a flood of pressure in Berryville’s backfield. Again, the Pirates are all about team and on defense that means team tackling.

With a point proven in dominating their first opponent, the Pirates will now move from 4A down to 2A competition as they prepare for the one and only Mountainburg Dragons and the battle for the Treasure Chest on Friday, September 3^rd. Cedarville knows that AAA classification means nothing in this game. Mountainburg will bring all they have into this rivalry game as they always do. But this time, the Dragons may bring more as their legendary Head Coach, Tom Harrell, will be retiring after this season. “Mountainburg always plays us really hard,” said Cedarville Coach Max Washausen. “Even though they haven’t played a scrimmage or Week Zero this season, we know they’re gunning for us. With it being Coach Harrell’s last season, I’m sure we’ll see every trick in his legendary playbook.” This coveted rivalry has held the Pirates down over the past decade with Mountainburg winning six of the past team games. But the Cedarville program is beginning to ride the high tide and the winds are changing in their favor.

Photos courtesy of Malinda Mizell

Mansfield Homecoming Coronation Ceremony Slated for September 24

Sports

Resident News Network

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12:45 pm

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Mansfield Homecoming Coronation Ceremony Slated for September 24

The Mansfield High School Football Homecoming Coronation will take place on Friday, September 24, during halftime of the game. The Mansfield Tigers are set to kick off against the West Fork Tigers at 7 p.m.