Resident News Network

Cluck Trades Pirate Seas For Eagle Skys

Sports

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10:50 am

Cedarville Pirate, Austin Cluck, is preparing to “Fly Like an Eagle” after he signed his letter of intent to continue his basketball career at Williams Baptist University. Cluck saw great success during his time as a Pirate averaging 15.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, and 3.8 assists per game. He shot 45.3% from a 3-point distance and made 91.3% of his free throws. During the 2021 season, Cluck led the Pirates to a Regional Runner-Up honor and a berth into the 3A State Basketball Tournament. Cluck earned 3A All-Conference, 3A All-State, and 3A All-State Tournament Team.

Cluck was equally as impressive off the court excelling in the classroom and earning the Governor’s Distinguished Scholarship, which requires a 32 on the ACT, along with being named one of the four valedictorians at Cedarville High School. “I’m super excited to start on this new journey with the Williams Baptist Eagles,” expressed Cluck. “The Christian environment at WBU is something I’m very eager to be a part of, and I’m especially blessed to be able to play basketball as well. While I’ll miss Cedarville, for all its kindness, community, and unity, I look forward to joining this new family. I hope over these next four years, I’ll learn everything I can to be the best basketball coach and educator that I can be. More importantly, I’d like to grow in my faith and have true fellowship with a family of believers.”

Congratulations Austin, for choosing to continue the sport you love while furthering your education!

Everything To Consider When Buying a Fixer-Upper

Lifestyle

Resident News Network

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10:07 am

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Everything To Consider When Buying a Fixer-Upper

Many homeowners have begun buying fixer-uppers as they shop for their dream houses because doing so gives them a chance to customize. Before you start shopping, educate yourself on everything to consider when buying a fixer-upper so that your vision is realistic. You’ll also want to carefully analyze the floor plan of each property you look at to ensure it aligns with the remodel you have in mind.

Establish a Budget

Before you start investigating properties, have a budget in place. You’ll need to assess your finances so that you have enough money to buy a new home. Additionally, make sure you save money for the renovation projects you have in mind.

Consider talking to a contractor or interior designer as you draw up a budget to understand your expected expenses. You may need to hire various professionals, including an architect, a pest inspector, a carpenter, or an interior designer. Each of these experts will help you create your dream home and carry out essential tasks. Before buying your fixer-upper, you may also want an electrician or a structural engineer to evaluate whether the property works for your vision.

Why You Need a Budget

Establishing a budget ensures you buy a property you can afford. Moreover, it allows you to set aside money for any unexpected expenses.

Before buying, you should assess the property and look for what you’ll need to fix. Evaluate the roofing, plumbing, garage door, and more to ensure they’re in good condition. For instance, you’ll want to recognize the signs of a garage door needing repair, such as strange squeaking or banging sounds. You don’t want an unexpected blow to the budget, so make sure you know the signs of damage.

Do What You Can Yourself

Things to consider when buying a fixer-upper also include seeing what you can do yourself. If there are any projects you can do on your own, do them—DIYing saves money as you customize your home.

Remember to take time to think this through. You don’t want to overcommit to a project or attempt something you don’t understand. For example, if you’ve never hung cabinets, this is a job for a contractor—but you could take care of repainting yourself.

Know What To Expect

You may have to compromise, since a home may not allow you to have your dream kitchen and a playroom for the kids. Additionally, remember that delays will inevitably come up, since remodeling a house takes time. For a while, things will be all over the place, but this is part of the process. So long as you wait it out, you’ll have the home of your dreams!

UAFS Geoscience Students Explore Research With Full Fellowships

Networks

Tammy Teague

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7:43 am

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UAFS Geoscience Students Explore Research With Full Fellowships

Three UAFS geoscience graduates have demonstrated a wide range of research and disciplines in the program, and their graduate school plans and prestigious graduate fellowships, reflect the same diversity.

Samantha Barnett, Preston Liles, and Logan Pearson traveled with Dr. Maurice Testa, associate professor in the UAFS Physical Science department, to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, where they identified a 400 million-year-old Silurian reef in the Hiawatha National Forest in the summer of 2019.

Testa and the three students took part in a joint venture between UAFS, the National Forest Service, and Shawnee State University at Portsmouth, Ohio. The investigators were initially charged with finding the prehistoric reef. But they found much more, according to Testa.

“Not only did we find the reef, we found an entire reef system composed of dozens of smaller reefs in the Hiawatha National Forest,” Testa said.

Liles collected high-resolution scans of the reef surfaces using a Gigapan camera, Testa said. Barnett and Pearson did a detailed analysis of the main reef and identified its marine fossils. The three worked with students from Shawnee State, conducting groundwater analysis and mapping ancient striations within the National Forest.

With graduation approaching, the three students have plans for the fall that take their studies in different directions.

Barnett, of Fort Smith, has accepted a fully funded position at Northern Arizona University to seek a master’s degree in Geosciences. She will be working in climate science and glaciology.

Liles, of Van Buren, has accepted a fully funded position at Mississippi State University. He will seek a master’s degree in Geospatial Science with a particular interest in remote sensing. He has also accepted an internship for this summer at Mississippi State’s Gulf Coast research center using an underwater drone to image the seafloor.

Pearson, of Greenwood, also has accepted a fully funded position at Mississippi State. He will be working toward a master’s degree in Geology with a concentration in Paleontology. He will be working on Cretaceous mosasaurs and Eocene whales.

The students’ broad interests and the different applications of their scholarship are the nature of Geosciences, Testa said.

“Geoscience is a diverse discipline that combines knowledge of Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and Mathematics to better understand the earth. Our Geosciences students are a diverse group who pursue research in Paleontology, Volcanology, Petroleum, Environmental Engineering, and Planetary Geoscience,” he said. “If you have a love for being outside, constantly learning new things, and solving problems that are millions of years in the making, Geosciences might be for you.”

From the student’s position, Pearson sees it this way.

“One of my favorite parts of the geoscience program is also one of the most valuable parts, the ability for me to build a future and career for myself. I’ve made lots of connections as well as friends, and I’ve been a part of a great program. There are wonderful professors who give students the opportunity to do research that involves going into the field and collecting data. I’ve been able to travel all over the country doing/presenting research and opened up a multitude of possibilities that I didn’t have before joining the program.”

GHS Students Receive MOS Certifications

Networks

Tammy Teague

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7:32 am

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Desi Edwards and Holly King, teachers at Greenwood High School, are excited to announce students receiving Microsoft Office Specialist certifications.

This was the seventh year for the Greenwood School District to have the MOS certification process through the state. These are the same exams college students and adults take to become certified in the Office Suite. Students were tested in 2019 Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Word.

Trenton Blair, Sara Dungan, Gavin Holland, JoVon Moody, Dennis Pope, Ruby Watson, and Hayden Webb earned all three certifications giving them an additional certificate for Microsoft Office Specialist – Associate.

Overall, 43 MOS certifications were received by GHS students in the 2020-2021 school year. Greenwood School District is very proud of their students and this top technical achievement. Students who received the Microsoft Office Specialist – Associate are pictured below.

Additional students who received a certification in 2019 Microsoft Excel, Word or PowerPoint include: Paige Andrews, Nathan Arroyo, Emerald Baker, Olivia Beasley, Hannah Bryan, Payje Bryan, Anthony Calderon, William Corrotto, Alex Ervin, Madi Goodwin, Kennedy Holland, Makaila Hunt, Ashley Koeth, Dominic Krouse, Cash Lenderman, Xiong Levis, Myia McCoy, Bailey Putney, Brayden Taff, and Madison Wilburn.

GJHS Students Receive MOS Certifications

Networks

Tammy Teague

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7:27 am

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GJHS Students Receive MOS Certifications

Stephanie Davis, teacher at Greenwood Junior High School, is excited to announce students receiving Microsoft Office Specialist certifications.

These are the same exams college students and adults take to become certified in the Office Suite.

Makenna Miner, Madelyn Creason, Lanie Atkinson, Haiden Horne, Emma Larimer, Derien Hardin, Aspen Payton, Corbin Lamb, Payton Scantling, Alyssa Sharp, Erin Hiler, Will Hutcherson, Kobe Lewis, and Blake Mitchum received certifications in 2019 Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word which earned them an additional certificate for Microsoft Office Specialist – Associate. Peyton Kaminshine also received a certification in 2019 Access Expert.

Overall, 77 MOS certifications were received by GJHS students in the 2020-2021 school year. Greenwood School District is very proud of their students and this top technical achievement. Students who received the Microsoft Office Specialist – Associate are pictured below.

Additional students who received a certification in 2019 Microsoft Excel, Word or PowerPoint include: Liddie-Ann Adams, Alexis Aguilar, Landon Baker, Paul Brixey, Zoe Caldwell, Heather Chaffey, Rylee Daniel, Isaiah Dollarhyde, Loren Eckart, Rylee Floyd, Alissa Gray, Derien Hardin, Kaylee Hargrove, Jeremy Johnson, Hayden Joslin, Ayree Maner, Alex Mitchell, Julian Oliver, Landon Rofkahr, Emmie Sayer, Addie Smith, Olivia Stephenson, Carson Thornsberry, Victoria Vanderwatt, Carole Werner, and Brooklin West.

Timepiece: Second Chances

Networks

Tammy Teague

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6:25 am

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By Dr. Curtis Varnell

The most popular movies and TV programs of the ’50s and ’60’s involved stories of the Old West. The storyline usually involved the crooks in the black hats facing off against legendary good guys like Wild Bill Hickok, Bass Reeves, or the Earp brothers. Sometimes the lines between good and bad were not so clear as we think.

Wyatt Earp was born in 1848 near Joplin, Missouri. At an early age, Wyatt’s young wife Urilla died and obviously, it had a devastating effect on his life. Four months after her death, he had migrated into Indian Territory and was running with the wrong kind. On April 1, 1871, Jacob Owens, a deputy U.S. marshal issued the following warrant: Wyatt S. Earp, Ed. Kennedy and John Shown did feloniously and willfully steal two horses, each of a value of one hundred dollars, the property and chattels of one William Keys! Owens organized a posse and, six days later, took Earp and his accomplices as prisoners. Wyatt Earp a horse thief? The court record clearly shows the was brought back to the Western District which was then centered in Van Buren. Unable to make the $500 bail, Earp was thrown into jail and was facing up to five years in the federal penitentiary in Little Rock.

Earp and ten other men were confined on the upper floor of the dilapidated Van Buren jailhouse. Of the cellmates, at least two were convicted murderers awaiting the hangman’s noose. The jail, about to be transferred over to Van Buren, was dark, dirty, and in disrepair. Earp and his cellmates pried the rafters off one corner of the cell, entered the attic, and escaped by crawling through a vent and letting themselves to the ground using their bed blankets as ropes. On May 8, 1871, a writ was issued ordering them to appear in court and a week later they were convicted in absentia for horse theft. That warrant was never terminated because Wyatt left the country and took up with a group of buffalo hunters, one of whom was Bat Masterson. Within a few months, Wyatt joined the police force in Wichita, Kansas, and then as deputy sheriff of Dodge City. His gambler apparel, long-barreled pistol, and willingness to use whatever means necessary to enforce peace soon made him legendary.

Masterson, Doc Holliday, and Earp brothers followed him to the wild frontier town of Tombstone, Arizona. Installed as town marshal, he began instilling peace in a community that catered to people of every vice known.

Recently, walking down the dusty streets of Tombstone, I visited the site of the best-known gunfight of the old west; the shootout at the ok corral. Earp, Masterson, and his brothers faced off against an equal gang of outlaws; a fight ending in the death of three of the bad guys. Earp became the man of legend! The very picture of the ideal lawman who risked life and limb to protect the innocent and ensure peace in our community.

Little did we realize that the most-noted lawman of the old west still has a warrant for his arrest in Van Buren. How would his life have been different if he had gone to trial? We will never know but we do know that he made the most of his second chance.

GHS Junior Hosts Benefit Car Show

Networks

Tammy Teague

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8:02 pm

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Miss University of Arkansas Outstanding Teen and Greenwood High School Junior, Kennedy Holland, is hosting a benefit car show on Saturday, May 22 from 8 a.m.-3 p.m. on the Greenwood square.

The 16-year-old is very involved in her school and community. Last year, she raised almost $4000 to install a wheelchair accessible swing at Bell Park.

Saturday’s car show will fund her next project. She will partner with the nonprofit, Compassion Legacy, to raise money to install more inclusive swings in our area parks.

Holland will compete for the title of Miss Arkansas Outstanding Teen in June in Little Rock.

Local Administrative Areas (LAA) Boundaries for Sebastian/Crawford/Scott County FSA

News

Tammy Teague

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4:21 pm

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For election purposes, counties are divided into local administrative areas, or LAAs. Each LAA has one producer serve a three-year term on the Farm Service Agency county committee.

Most counties are divided into three LAAs. Combined counties may have three to eleven LAAs depending on the number of counties combined.

Sebastian/Crawford/Scott County FSA has five LAAs.

Each year, an election is held in a LAA to replace the committee member whose three-year term is expiring. In counties with three LAAs, one seat is up for election annually. Combined counties may fill two or more seats during an election year.

The three steps in the election process are the call for nominations, the election and installing the new committee member.

The LAA boundaries for Sebastian/Crawford/Scott County FSA are as follows:

LAA 1-Natural Dam, Bidville, Chester, Mountainburg, Rudy
LAA 2-Van Buren, Kibler, Alma, Mulberry
LAA 3-Fort Smith, Barling, Lavaca, Bloomer, Fort Chaffee, Jenny Lind, Greenwood, Washburn, Milltown, Witcherville, Dayton
LAA 4– Bonanza, Hackett, Huntington, Mansfield, Abbott, Coaldale, Bates, Cauthron, Oliver, Hon
LAA 5– North Booth, Elmfork, Evening Shade, Winfield, Waldron, Pleasant Valley, Ohio, Union, Blue Ball, Needmore, Parks, Boles, Cedar Creek, Y City

*Producers may view a map of LAA boundaries in the local FSA county office.

The LAA’s up for election this year are LAA-1 and LAA-3. June 15 through August 2, 2021, is the period for nominating farmers and ranchers as candidates for the local COC election. FSA encourages all eligible producers to nominate themselves, or another eligible producer, to run for office. Nomination forms (FSA-669 A’s) are available:

At http://www.fsa.usda.gov/elections , scroll down to the links under “Election Materials” Nomination Form”
By picking up FSA-669A at your local FSA office
By calling your local office and requesting FSA-669A be sent to you.

Obituary – Isaiah Tyler Charles Campbell (2021 – 2021)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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3:59 pm

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Obituary – Isaiah Tyler Charles Campbell (2021 – 2021)

Isaiah Tyler Charles Campbell came into this world and shortly after joined Jesus in Heaven on Tuesday, May 18, 2021.

The family held a graveside service on Monday, May 24, 2021 in Mansfield, Arkansas at Coop Prairie Cemetery.

His loving parents, Justin Tyler Campbell and Jordan Hubbard Campbell, travel throughout the country for ministry. While on an extended family visit to Isaiah’s great grandmother and grandfather’s home in Waldron, Arkansas Jordan and Justin were blessed with the news of baby Isaiah. Just one day after Jordan’s 35th birthday, and many requests from sister Makensie, everyone received the best news! God had promised a son to Justin and Jordan many years before this special day, January 15, 2021. Not too long after, however, Jordan experienced what she believed to be a miscarriage. Devastated, Justin and Jordan began to process and grieve this perceived loss. God had other plans, and after months of bleeding, Jordan began to feel life inside her womb! In Missouri visiting family, Karen and Tim Davis, she went to the emergency room after taking another home pregnancy test that confirmed pregnancy. Sure enough, the Doctors saw a healthy growing 18 week+5day baby boy! Elated over this huge Blessing, Justin and Jordan began plans to head back home to Florida for the remainder of the pregnancy and birth. On their way home, Jordan began having more bleeding. She sought medical care and decided they needed to stay put, in Mississippi, for a while until they could get cleared for further travel. After 3 Labor & Delivery ER visits, Jordan ultimately went into labor. Justin and Jordan did everything they possibly could to keep baby Isaiah growing inside Jordan’s womb until he was at a safe stage to make it on his own. They KNOW God still has special plans for baby Isaiah and look forward to seeing him again with Jesus. They believe God’s Word does not return void and seek to fulfill their calling to His Work as they occupy the time.

In addition to Justin and Jordan, he is survived by great-grandmother, Frances Hunt; paternal grandparents, Autumn McDonald (Bill) and Russ Campbell; maternal grandparents, Aneta Austin (Tim) and Daniel Hubbard; siblings, Makensie Faith Campbell and Kayleighia Grace Waltz; uncles, James Pruitt, Daniel Cody Campbell, Jonathan Hubbard, and Tim Davis; aunts, Shelbie Diann Allen, Karen Davis, Amanda Campbell, Christie Campbell, Cathy Ledford, Bobby Joe Pruitt, and Julie Hubbard; and cousins, J.P. Hubbard, Kara Hernandez, Jesse Matheny, and Kenzie Matheny.

Mayor Casts Tie-Breaking Vote in Parking Lot Proposal

Tammy Teague

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3:40 pm

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Mayor Casts Tie-Breaking Vote in Parking Lot Proposal

The Mansfield City Council met in regular session on Thursday evening, May 20 at 6 p.m.

All members of the council were present including Beverly Lyons, Bobby Musgrove, Sheri Hopkins, Julie Thomas, James Steele, and Jan Carlton. Also present, Mayor Buddy Black and Assistant to the Mayor Stephanie Morgan. Recorder/Treasurer Becky Walker was absent.

After approving the minutes and financials from the April meeting, the council heard the city services reports.
Fire Chief Michael Smith reported a total of 19 calls, five fire and 14 EMS. He also stated that the roof on the fire station had been repaired and that there were no leaks. Smith informed the council that most of the purchased turnout gear had been received, but were are still waiting on the coats and pants. He reported on the status of trucks, noting that both passed the pump test last Saturday.

Before closing, Smith sought the approval of the council to purchase a 2005 E-One Custom four-door pumper truck. He proposed the truck be purchased through funds from the county. The council voted unanimously to approve the purchase.

Next, Police Chief Wayne Robb presented his report. There were a total of 31 calls, with 12 agency assists, four in Scott County and 10 in Sebastian. There were eight school calls, five total incident/arrest reports, four total accident reports, 111 total traffic stops, 75 warnings, 33 citations issued in Scott County, and five citations issued in Sebastian County, four adult arrests, and eight animal calls. The police department had a total of 35 training hours.

Next, the council reviewed the public works report. Director Joe Manes reported his department performed 122 work orders, one residential and one commercial property inspection, installed a new SBR pump at the wastewater plant, welded a broken auger, completed a water rate study, and worked the county-wide clean up.

City Attorney Travis Plummer was also present. He reported that the Carlton de-annexation had been completed. He also informed the council that he was working on an ordinance to implement a water rate structure. The proposed water rate increase will be .25 cents per 1,000 gallons of water. Additionally, the minimum will change from 2,000 to 1,000 gallons of water. Details on the new ordinance will be published at a later date.

In the next item of business, a split vote on the purchase of the parking lot on Howard Street. The two lots are currently owned by Martin Funeral Home. Black made the proposal during April’s meeting, stating that it could be utilized as a parking lot. After discussing the proposal, a roll call vote was held with Lyons, Steele, and Musgrove voting for the motion to purchase the lots. Hopkins, Thomas, and Carlton voted against the motion. Due to a split, Mayor Black cast the deciding vote, and the motion passed.

Mayor Black submitted a bid from Silco Construction for possible resurfacing of the property at a cost of $19,950.00. However, no action was taken by the council.

In items of new business, the council voted to pass a resolution for buying ads in the newspaper and school yearbook.

Next, the hiring of a new full-time police officer. Police Chief Wayne Robb recommended the council hire Billy Gragg. Gragg is not yet certified but will be attending the academy in August. The council voted to approve Robb’s recommendation in hiring Gragg. He will serve as a patrolman and also as an animal control officer.

The city will not be replacing the part-time position that former officer Sean White vacated. At Chief Robb’s recommendation, the council approved splitting his salary among the current officers, providing for a $3,000 per year increase.

Next, the council voted to approve the appointment of Levi Thomas as a reserve and fill-in officer.

In the last item of new business, the council voted to pass a resolution for the city to apply for a grant to update Memorial Park. The FUN Park Grant would allow for a new pavilion to be built at the Connie McConnell Memorial Park, located at 903 Broadway Street.

The motion was then made to amend the agenda to discuss the proposed East Lab project. The motion was made and passed to allow those students to install a book box on the side street near the police department, on city property.

Before adjourning, Mayor Black announced that the circus will be in Mansfield on May 26 with two showings, one at 5 p.m. and another at 7 p.m. The circus will be set up at the west end of the high school parking lot.
At 7:45 p.m., with no other items of business, the meeting of the Mansfield City Council was adjourned.

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Establish a Budget

Why You Need a Budget

Do What You Can Yourself

Know What To Expect

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