Resident News Network

Obituary – Dr. Gary L. Axley (1946-2021)

Obituaries

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12:43 pm

Obituary – Dr. Gary L. Axley (1946-2021)

Dr. Gary Lee “Doc” Axley was born on the 14th July 1946 in Tulsa Oklahoma. Doc passed away unexpectedly on the 19th of August 2021.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife Debbie; sisters Judy Robertson and Barbara Jo Fox, three children Kimberly Axley, Angela Estrada, and Lt Col Gary Axley, USAF; three stepsons, Robert, Donnie, and Jeremiah Childers; sixteen grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Additionally, Doc left behind many esteemed colleagues and close personal friends. Doc was preceded in death by his father, Arthur “Junior” Axley of Claremore OK, and his mother, Alma Douglas.

Doc is a veteran of the Vietnam War. He served honorably and valiantly in the Marine Corps (Semper Fi), achieving the rank of Lance Corporal. Doc was the epitome of patriotism, integrity, and compassion; he placed great value on these traits and upheld them in all aspects of his life. Doc was a board-certified Doctor of Oriental and Naturopathic medicine in the states of West Virginia, Oklahoma, and North Carolina. He treated thousands of patients with emphasis on the naturopathic treatment of cancer and catastrophic illnesses. He was the Founder and Professor at the Arkansas College of Natural Health, imparting his vast knowledge of naturopathic medicine to other medical professionals. Additionally, he was instrumental in founding the Arkansas Board of Oriental Medicine and Acupuncture, successfully lobbying for the advancement of the profession.

Compassion and humanitarian acts were a way of life for Doc Axley and a guiding principle he lived by. Doc loved to help people, and in the aftermath of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, Doc Axley, in collaboration with the Waldron community, was vital in assisting 300 evacuees in acquiring housing, clothing, food and medical care. In addition, he was instrumental in the efforts to locate and reunite lost loved ones.

Anyone that met Doc remembered him. He was the center of attention in any room; his charisma, stories, and jesting brought joy to so many. Doc loved raising cattle and in his downtime, he and Debbie retreated to their ranch to enjoy the beautiful countryside. Doc was larger than life and his legacy will live forever through the many lives he touched and changed.

Doc’s visitation will be 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Monday at the Rye Hill Baptist Church.

Doc’s celebration of life will be at the Rye Hill Baptist Church Monday, August 30th at 11 am. This will be followed by a graveside service, with full military honors at Ft. Smith National Cemetery at 2 p.m. All are invited to attend. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Marine Corps Toys for Tots at https://www.toysfortots.org/donate/

Obituary – Michael Sam Jordan (1948-2021)

Obituaries

Resident News Network

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12:31 pm

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Obituary – Michael Sam Jordan (1948-2021)

Michael Sam Jordan was born on May 8, 1948 to Reverend Jewel Sam Jordan and Louise Ernestine Walker Jordan in Camden Arkansas. Michael was a shy country boy that loved fast cars.

On June 6, 1969 he married Gwendolyn Cookie Pickett in Camden. In March 1970 Michael surrendered his life to the Lord and ministry. Michael pastored at the Falls Chapel and Pilot Prairie Presbyterian Churches. Michael and Cookie had a son, Jeremiah Sam Jordan and daughter Heather Mae Jordan.

In November 1981 Michael founded Jubilee Church Inc., where he pastored for the next 31 years. The original building was a storefront on North Main Street. In December 1981 services were moved to the second location on North Main. In March 1983 services were moved to the McEntire Street location.

He loved deer hunting, fishing, running deer and rabbit dogs, and running trotlines. He loved to listen Wendy and Rolex run rabbits, Hot Wing, Coach, and Digger run deer. Many nights were spent on the backside of Hinkle Lake at the camp.

Life took on a new meaning when he became Papa. He loved Kelley, Caleb, and Ashton. When Ryder and Aspen arrived, he would jokingly say they were so much better than his children.

In his many years of ministry, he was able to lead many people to the Lord. He was instrumental creating the Boys and Girls Club of Scott County. He was a member of the Scott County Ministerial Alliance. Michael will be remembered for many things; Father, Brother, Husband, Preacher, Papa, and Friend.

Michael was preceded in death by his parents and nephew, Jessie Hibbard.

Michael is survived by his wife of 52 years, Cookie. Son, Jeremiah (Melodie) Jordan of Dover AR., daughter, Heather (Kelly) Lee of Havana AR., Spiritual son, Keith (Karen) Midgett of Locksburg, AR. Grandchildren Kelley Taylor of Cherry Hill, Caleb Taylor of Magazine, and Ashton Jordan of Dover AR. Great Grand Children Ryder Taylor and Aspen Taylor. Michael also leaves behind siblings, David (Merinda)Jordan of West Monroe, Louisiana, Connie (John) Sandford of Waldron, Keith Jordan of Chidester AR, nieces Melissa Shatley, Amanda Yarbough, Leslie Sutton, Crystal Jordan, Nephews Josh Sanford, and Jason Hibbard.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Scott County Boys & Girls Club, P.O. Box 1013, Waldron, Arkansas 72958.

The family will hold a private family memorial service. Arrangements and cremation are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Michael Sam Jordan, please visit our floral store.

Lady Eagles Sweep Lady Arrows at Lavaca

Sports

Resident News Network

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11:25 am

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Fresh off of their three-set sweep at Russellville on Monday, the Paris Lady Eagles traveled to Lavaca on Wednesday for another road non-conference match. After a competitive first set, the Lady Eagles went on to dominate Lavaca, winning in three sets, 25-18, 25-11, and 25-8. With the victory, Paris improves their record to 2-0 on the season.

The first set was sloppy by Paris standards. The team had played extremely well at Russellville on Monday, and in the first set at Lavaca, the team struggled with hits into the net along with some service errors. Lavaca played hard and was the beneficiary of the Paris miscues, but the Lady Eagles were finally able to pull away for the 25-18 first set win.

From that point, Paris settled in and took over control of the match. The Lady Golden Arrows were no match for the Paris front line, and the setters and defensive back line for Paris played a near-perfect game. The match quickly lost control with Paris dominating the last two sets and cruising to their second win of the season.

Paris returns home today to play a rematch non-conference game with the Fort Smith Lady Mavericks. A year ago in Fort Smith, the Lady Mavericks handed Paris a devastating loss in which Southside dominated all phases of the match. The return game tonight in Paris will be a good measuring stick to where the Lady Eagles are in comparison to this point last year. By all appearances, this team has matured and is playing extremely well, but the Lady Mavericks will be the biggest test of the non-conference schedule for Paris. The Lady Eagles need their fans to show up in big numbers today to create a home court advantage against a very good Southside team.

Resident Press will be at Paris Gymnasium tonight to bring you coverage of the Lady Eagles game with Southside. Watch for this story in Resident Press on Friday. Photos from the Southside game will be available on Sunday on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports, as will photos from Wednesday’s game at Lavaca.

So, I hope to see all of you tonight in Paris for what should be a great match between two great programs! See you at the game!

Late Summer Activities

Madison VanRavensway

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8:23 am

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Summer break may be over, but we still have about a month before the official start of fall. And since we call Arkansas home, there is no telling what weather we will be enjoying on the first day of fall (September 22 for those who want to count down). The days are starting to shorten but there is still lots of fun to be had and memories to make before summer 2021 comes to an end!

1. Catch a sunset on the lake! Okay, you can do this any time of year! But when it’s still warm enough for a dip in the lake it is just all the more satisfying.

2. Get outside at night and play with glow sticks! Those earlier sunsets mean it’s easier to get out with little ones who may have had bedtimes while it was still light out before.

3. Have dinner around a campfire. Hobo dinners are easy and can be cooked right on the fire! (Google hobo dinner recipes for what to try!) Fall is often when we think of campfires, why not enjoy the last of summer with one.

4. Camp in your yard. My big kiddo has been asking to do this, and I think we need to soon before the nights get too cool for him. Maybe your family needs to do it, too!

5. Go out for ice cream- anytime is a good time for ice cream but while the weather is still so hot there is just so much satisfaction in getting a nice cold ice cream.

6. Have a family picnic. Does everyone else’s kids eat way more around a picnic table? It only works at the one in our yard because the one at the park is just too exciting. But having a picnic in our backyard is an expected hack for getting my kids to eat more and the perfect late summer activity.

7. Cast a line! If you haven’t been fishing all summer it is the perfect after school or weekend activity to extend your summer fun even though school has started back. Even if you spent your whole summer fishing, it’s never a bad idea to go again.

8. Jump in a body of water/have a water balloon fight/just get wet! There is only so much of the year it’s warm enough for water activities. While it’s still warm, get out and cool off!

Delicious Eggless Brownies

Madison VanRavensway

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3:01 pm

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Thankfully my family doesn’t have egg allergies, but sometimes I start making a recipe without checking for all the ingredients. It’s a flaw of mine, and recently I realized I had no eggs. Yet I had already dumped some flour, sugar, and cocoa together to make brownies. I quickly regrouped and thought that’s okay, I will make brownies without eggs. And to be honest, they are incredible. They are much more fudge-like than traditional brownies and I am a huge fan!

Ingredients

-3/4 cup flour

-1 cup granulated sugar

-1/4 teaspoon salt

-2 teaspoon baking powder

-1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

-1 stick melted butter

-2 teaspoons vanilla flavoring

-1/2 cup plain yogurt*

-1/2 cup chocolate chips (optional)

-1/2 cup nuts (optional)

*I used vanilla yogurt and omitted vanilla flavoring, it had a less chocolate-y flavor maybe, but I enjoyed it.

1. Preheat oven to 350*

2. Mix together flour, salt, baking powder, and sugar in a bowl. Sift in cocoa.

3. Add butter, cream together

4. Add yogurt and vanilla extract

5. Add chocolate chips and/or walnuts if desired

6. Pour into greased 8×8 pan

7. Bake for 35-40 minutes, or until toothpick inserted comes out clean

8. Enjoy with powdered sugar dusting or as is!

Western Wall of Paris Blocks Cyclones in Opening Volleyball Match at Russellville

Sports

Resident News Network

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10:41 am

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Western Wall of Paris Blocks Cyclones in Opening Volleyball Match at Russellville

After a long off-season that began shortly after an October 31st lost to Hackett in the Class 3A state final, the Paris Lady Eagles opened the 2021 high school volleyball season on Monday at Russellville. Paris defeated the Lady Cyclones in three straight sets, 25-19, 26-24, and 26-24. Tonight, the Lady Eagles will return to the road to play their second match of the season, this time at Lavaca against the Lady Golden Arrows. .

The Lady Eagles return the nucleus of a sophomore / junior team from a year ago that finished as state runner-ups. This year’s team is talented, deep, and experienced, and the Lady Eagles are off to a great start in the 2021 campaign. Paris opened the season Monday on the road at Class 6A Russellville and will have another big road game tonight in Lavaca before returning home on Thursday of this week for their season home opener against at tough Class 7A Fort Smith Southside team. The first week is all about getting the team ready to open conference play in just the second week of the season when they again go on the road to play a tough Charleston Lady Tigers team at Tiger Center. The veteran Paris team, coming off of a summer in which the team worked hard and played hard at multiple camps throughout the state and region, appears to be ready for the season and has started the year in mid-season form.

The effort of the Lady Eagles has been exceptional and the team appears to be “running on all cylinders.” The addition of senior Jacee Hart as setter and the emergence of Melanie Lo as a “lights-out” defensive specialist as the team’s libero has put the finishing touches on a team that is tall and athletic on the front line. More so than perhaps they have been over the past three season, this year’s edition of the Lady Eagles may be the most complete team on a position-by-position basis than any of their predecessors. And now, add to the Lady Eagles’ team a spirit of determination and hustle that is quickly defining this team with great effort and communication and “buy in” as their coach, Jordan Devine, admirably says when she comments about and describes her team. After Monday’s win at Russellville, Coach Devine commented, “I’m just so proud of the girls! They have really bought-in and have improved so much!”

Paris senior Melanie Lo (21) is having her best year on the Paris back line (Resident Press Photo / Jim Best)

On Monday, Paris traveled to Russellville to open the season. The Lady Eagles led from start to finish in the first set and won in dominating fashion. The next two sets were very different. Paris won the second and third sets, both by the scores of 26-24. Russellville battled in both sets, but in the end, the Lady Cyclones did not have an answer for the front line of Paris. The match was highlighted by a dramatic save where junior Brailey Forst dove on the floor near the scorers’ table to keep a ball alive, and senior Alyssa Komp was then able to make a dramatic save that returned the volley on the third hit. The save was indicative of the effort and intensity of the Lady Eagles. If they keep this focus, combined with their talent and experience, it should be a very good year for Paris volleyball.

Thursday’s home opener versus Southside will be a huge test for Paris. A year ago, Paris traveled to Fort Smith and were beaten soundly by the Lady Mavericks. Southside is a very good volleyball team that produces collegiate talent every year, and the match at Paris Gymnasium should be a good measuring stick to how much this team has improved with the experience and work they have invested since last year. It will be a big test in front of the home fans, and the Lady Eagles must play well and with great intensity to win the match.

Photos from Monday’s match at Russellville are now available on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports. Resident Press will be in Lavaca tonight for the Lady Eagles’ next match against the Lady Golden Arrows. Look for a recap of that game in Resident Press on Thursday evening.

The Lady Eagles are flying high to start the 2021 season, and they will need to keep the same high altitude to navigate their way through a tough first week of non-conference play and into next week’s conference opener at Charleston. Stay with Resident Press for complete coverage all season of Paris volleyball!

See you tonight in Lavaca!

Wednesday, Paris again played on the road, this time at Lavaca.

Sr Lady Tigers Play Possum Past Bearcats

Sports

Megan Hecox

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3:39 pm

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Sr Lady Tigers Play Possum Past Bearcats

The Mansfield Sr Lady Tigers took to the court Monday night to show their net worth against the Booneville Lady Bearcats. These sets weren’t merely edge-of-the-seat matches, these were matches so tight and frantic that fans rarely even took a seat. The Lady Tigers and Lady Bearcats definitely put on quite the show, but it was the Lady Tigers who wound up victorious with a 2 to 0 set victory for the Sr JV squad and a thrilling 3 to 2 set win for the Sr Lady Tigers.

The Lady Tigers JV squad was up first and made short work of Booneville with a quick 25-11 first set victory. Spikes, aces, digs, and flares flew directly at the Lady Bearcats’ feet as the tone of the night was set in play. Booneville had enough of that in the second set though as the Lady Bearcats clawed their way into a close final set. The Lady Bearcats shot some solid purple power at Mansfield, but in the end, it was the Lady Tigers who wound up victorious with a 25-20 final set to close the JV match out with a 2-0 win.

As the Sr Lady Tigers came through the spirit line, the stadium erupted with excitement to see the defending 2A State Champs take on a tough as leather Lady Bearcats team. Mansfield jumped to an early lead with a fast-paced 25-16 first set win. Cakewalk right? Well, Booneville made sure to bake in a few bricks in that cake and the Lady Tigers began to chip their teeth in the second set as Booneville rolled to a 25-21 second set victory. With confidence on their side now, Booneville was ready to set Mansfield back on their heels. Set three was the defining set for both teams as the claws came out in this catfight and fur began to fly on the court. Back and forth the match went with neither team gaining traction. The third set fell in the Lady Tigers’ favor though as they finished with a 27-25 edge.

The exhaustion on both teams began to show in the fourth set as mental mistakes kicked in and players began making costly errors. Mansfield took the lead but the Lady Bearcats swiped it back. Booneville landed a lead, but the Lady Tigers snagged that lead back again. The fourth set was literally back and forth with the home stands cheering followed immediately by the visitor’s erupting. Booneville forced a fifth set in Tiger Stadium with a 31-29 fourth set victory. It came down to all or nothing for both teams as they entered the rarely seen fifth set of the match. With the Lady Tigers and Lady Bearcats completely gassed, the game would boil down to who had the overhanded upper hand. As everyone’s eyes followed the ball in a trance-like state, the final set was worth the wait for Mansfield fans as the Lady Tigers edged out Booneville 15-11.

Ozark Man Dies After Jumping from Van Buren Overpass

News

Resident News Network

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2:42 pm

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Ozark Man Dies After Jumping from Van Buren Overpass

A Franklin County man died this afternoon after he jumped from the Lee Creek Road overpass in Van Buren onto the top of a commercial cargo trailer and truck traveling eastbound along Interstate 40. The incident occurred about 10:55 this morning. The Arkansas State Police Highway Patrol Division, Troop H, is investigating the death of Dillon Allen Wynn, 26, of Ozark. State troopers believe after Wynn jumped and landed on the passing trailer, he rolled off the trailer and fell onto the highway. Wynn was transported from the scene by emergency medical personnel and taken to a Fort Smith hospital where he later died.

Focus on Greenwood 2021 Fun Fall 5k

Networks

Resident News Network

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1:25 pm

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The Focus on Greenwood 2021, Fun Fall 5k race is scheduled for Saturday, October 2, 2021. This year’s race will be a walk/run event.

Focus on Greenwood is a non-profit organization that operates with great volunteers and sponsors.

If you or your business is interested in sponsoring this year’s event, you are asked to contact coordinator Mark Huneycutt at 479-597-8989 or email greenwoodrunwalkandroll@gmail.com

Focus on Greenwood 2021 Fun Fall 5k

Lifestyle

Resident News Network

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1:22 pm

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The Focus on Greenwood 2021, Fun Fall 5k race is scheduled for Saturday, October 2, 2021. This year’s race will be a walk/run event.

Focus on Greenwood is a non-profit organization that operates with great volunteers and sponsors.

If you or your business is interested in sponsoring this year’s event, you are asked to contact coordinator Mark Huneycutt at 479-597-8989 or email greenwoodrunwalkandroll@gmail.com

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