Resident News Network

Mansfield Lady Tigers Let Their Bats Do The Talking

Sports

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9:06 am

Mansfield Lady Tigers Let Their Bats Do The Talking

Pictured is Natalie Allison, Alyson Edwards, and Brooklyn Adams

If this season’s goal for the Mansfield Lady Tigers softball team was to render their opponents powerless, then it’s safe to say that they have been successful. With a 9-2 overall record and an undefeated 9-0 conference record, the Lady Tigers have completely shut out the competition in eight out of 11 games with two of those shut-out games being acquired in the last three days. The Lady Tigers started their week on Monday, April 19 with a 10-0 takeover of the Magazine Lady Rattlers. Then on Wednesday, April 21, Mansfield headed south landing in Acorn to take on the Lady Tigers. Tossing out runs like it was birdseed, Mansfield dominated Acorn ending the game with a 12-0 blowout.

With both teams taking a goose egg in the first two innings, Mansfield took control in the third inning and never looked back. With a go big or go home attitude Brooklyn Adams got Mansfield on the board with the first homer of the night. Shortly after that Alyson Edwards found herself earning her first of two runs in the match. With the second and third bases loaded, Haley Walker doubled on a fly ball to right field sending Chloe Creekmore and Natalie Allison home. To close out the top of the third Skylynn Harris upgraded the score to 5-0 when Cole Smith hit a hard ground ball that reached error by Acorns shortstop. Mansfield added one run to the stat book in the fourth inning when Harris doubled on a fly ball to left field allowing Creekmore to score on the throw.

Brooklyn Adams showing off her first homer

The fifth inning saw Smith, Adams, Kiara Thomas, and Edwards all scoring for the Lady Tigers placing the score at 10-0. Mansfield then turned around and closed out the game the exact same way that they opened it when Natalie Allison homered on a fly ball to centerfield bringing Creekmore home and ending the battle with a final score of 12-0. When it came to scoring the game-ending home run, Allison expressed “I felt so excited. I didn’t realize that I hit it over so I was trying to run really fast and at least get a triple. I saw the girls just stop at the fence and I was wondering what they were doing. I then realized I hit it over and I was so excited. All of the fans and my teammates were screaming and yelling. It made me so happy!”

“This season is successful because we have great coaches. Coach Eveld stepped up to be the head coach and he is doing great. He is the reason my hitting has improved so much since the beginning of the season. You can tell he actually cares about everyone on the team and wants us to be the best we can be. Coach Cothran is also a big contributor. He is very encouraging and is always helping us improve whether it’s in the cage or on the field. He has taught me a lot of things about being a centerfielder and it has helped me tremendously. We are also a very hard-working team and we are all very close. It helps having a team that is also like family.”

Natalie Allison proud of her first dinger of the season

“I am most proud of how far we have come in a short amount of time. We started softball season late due to basketball going far in the State Tournament. We knew we had little time to practice so we went straight to work. We have also had to make some adjustments with short notice. Our centerfielder, Kynslee Ward, got injured and is out the rest of the season. The team has done a great job at trusting the coaches and playing where they need us to. I’m so proud of how hard we have been working in practice too. I love this team and I think we can go very far this season!!” In total season stats, the Lady Tigers hold 116 hits, 126 runs, 3 HR, 97 RBI, 141 putouts, and a fielding percentage of .925. Next up for Mansfield is their last conference game before District play when they face the Lady Rebels, Thursday, April 22 at JC Westside.

Midland Couple Celebrates 50 Years of Marriage

Networks

Tammy Teague

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4:35 pm

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Midland Couple Celebrates 50 Years of Marriage

Rossie an Betty Morris of Midland will celebrate 50 years of marriage on Saturday, May 1.

The couple, who were married, May 1, 1971, have three children: Rick Morris and wife LeAnn of Miltown; Tammy Norris and husband Terry of Midland; and Jamie Jennings and husband Keith of Greenwood.

They are also proud grandparents and great-grandparents. Grandchildren include Riley Morris, Lindsey Morris, Michael Sweeten II, Lauren Sweeten, Aubree Sweeten, Landon Allen, Sarah Jennings, Rachel Jennings, and one great-grandson, Jack Walker.

There will be a celebration for this wonderful couple on Saturday, May 1 at the Midland City Complex at 1 p.m. Family and friends are invited to come be a part of this special day.

AG Alert: Scammers are Phishing for Personal Information with Text Message Click Bait

Tammy Teague

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12:25 pm

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It is always exciting to get the text message alert that your package has arrived – but what if you didn’t order anything? The latest trend from pesky scam artists comes as a text message telling Arkansans a package is being delivered to their home and they must click on the link in the message. In reality, there is no package, the text does not come from a legitimate delivery company, and the scammer is just trying to hack into a user’s phone and steal personal information.

“Scam artists are using an old email scam to steal from Arkansans right from their phones,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “If you receive a phony text message that you did not sign up for, do not click on anything in the message and delete the message immediately.”

Attorney General Rutledge has provided these tips for Arkansans who have experienced phishing text message scams:

Do not reply to unsolicited text messages and do not click on the links in the message. If you are an AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon or Sprint subscriber, you can report spam texts to your carrier by copying the original message and forwarding it to the number 7726 (SPAM), free of charge.
If you find unauthorized charges on your cell phone bill, report those to your cell phone provider and ask that the charges be removed.
Check with your wireless carrier to see if it has options available to reduce text message spam, such as blocking all text messages that originate from a computer or the internet. Texts sent by an email address, as opposed to direct-dialed texts, are those most likely to be scams.
Apple iPhones and Google Android users have provided instructions for customers to block specific numbers.
Protect your phone by setting up software to update automatically. The software updates can give you critical protection against security risks.
Use a multi-factor authentication process to protect your accounts which offers extra security by requiring two or more login credentials to log in to an account on your phone. This could be a passcode, fingerprint, or your face.
Backing up your data is the most secure way to protect your information. Make a copy of your files, photos and other important data on your phone and make sure it is connected to a cloud storage device or external hard drive, not connected to your home network.

For more information and tips to avoid scams and other consumer-related issues, contact the Arkansas Attorney General’s Office at (800) 482-8982 or visit ArkansasAG.gov.

Saige Mahar Signs To Be Softballs New Lady Pioneer

Sports

Megan Hecox

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11:59 am

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Saige Mahar Signs To Be Softballs New Lady Pioneer

Once in a blue moon, an athlete slams into the world of softball completely turning it upside down and shaking it to its core. This is that athlete. Saige Mahar has been playing softball since she was five years old. “I never really had the option not to play,” explained Saige. “My parents told me from day one that I was going to play softball. For most of my softball career, my dad helped coach me and pushed me to become where I am today!” On Tuesday, April 20, Saige’s dream to continue her softball career into college play came true as she signed to play at North Arkansas College in Harrison Ar. Turning in her Lady Bulldog outfit for a Lady Pioneer jersey, Saige will be playing under College of the Ozarks Sports Hall of Fame inductee, Seychelle Mahoney.

Coach Mahoney had this to say about her new softball standout, “While at Northark, Saige will be used as a middle or corner position player. We are excited about her athletic ability on the corner side of the diamond. Saige’s skill level at the plate also excites us. She has a high IQ of softball, and her at-bat percentage proves just that. Saige will be a perfect fit for our program for many reasons. We like her perception of the game, her drive to work hard, and her diligence towards academics. Saige is an amazing representative of current and future Northark student-athletes.”

Coach Bailey Moore with Saige and her family

So far for total season stats, Saige has acquired 18 hits, 17 runs, 7 singles, 4 doubles, and 2 triples. She has 12 RBIs, 9 walks, 1HR, and 12 stolen bases. She is batting a .454 on the season with an OBP of .593 and a slugging percentage of .576. In conference games, Saige is batting a .455 with an OBP of .684 and a slugging percentage of .909. She also has 40 putouts defensively on the season and a .887 fielding percentage. Waldron Lady Bulldogs softball coach, Bailey Moore, added “Saige is the first one to the fields and the last one to leave. She tries to mentor the freshman and she always volunteers to stay and help me work with younger upcoming players after our HS practice is over. She puts in time that is not even asked of her. When we had our big snow, she got our assistant coach out of the house to go hit at the cages.”

“She has taken up switch-hitting this year and has spent nearly the whole season on the left side of the plate, which is not her dominant side. She can hit and bunt from both sides and has taken up slapping from the left. The kid doesn’t take no for an answer. After a game, good or bad, she will sit and analyze. She has future plans to be a coach and I would be honored to coach with her any day of the week! I think she will go far in her career and I hope I never have to coach against her! (Especially since she knows all of my strategies!) She has been faced with a trying season this year, along with her fellow seniors, but not one time have I felt like she gave up. She has a passion to win and I can’t wait to see her further her career!”

As Saige stated earlier, it has been her dad who has been her softball partner in crime. Michael Mahar expressed what he was most proud of when it came to his daughter, “I am proud of everything Saige does! From her school work to playing softball, Saige gives it her all. If she sets a goal, she will work at it until it gets done. She is always willing to put in the work that needs to be done. I am extremely happy that Saige plans on continuing to go to school and play the sport that she loves. I will be upset though because I will not get to be at all the games to watch her play. I am in awe at how far she has come. From watching her first practice at learning how to slap hit to now and watching balls just roll by her in 10U to now making dive catches in just unbelievable!”

Saige showing off this seasons HR knock-out

Saige’s travel coach, Terry Thomas added, “Congratulations to Saige and her family for her National Signing Day. Saige has always been a hard-working and dedicated team player. She always worked hard for whoever coached her. She has always put the team first and excepted any challenge put in front of her. She has played any position asked of her. I remember one time she even played catcher after our catcher got sick! Saige, you have come a long way since we first met. Continue to practice hard and play hard and great things will come. Go make us proud!”

“I am excited about this opportunity to play college softball as a whole,” concluded Saige. “The thing I love most about the game is the lifelong friendships that come with it. I have made friends from softball that I will be friends with for the rest of my life. I want the young girls that are the age I was when I first started to know that if you push yourself to be better and work hard, good things will come out of it.”

Congratulations Saige from Resident Press and your community on this incredible achievement. Your future is bright and we can not wait to follow you on this new softball journey!

Diamond Dogs Tied for Second Place in Conference

Sports

Tammy Teague

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11:32 am

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Diamond Dogs Tied for Second Place in Conference

By Peggy Barger

On Tuesday, April 20, the Greenwood Diamond Dogs took the win in both conference games against Mountain Home 11-1 and 10-6. The team is currently tied for 2nd place in conference play.

Seniors pictured from left: Chance Eoff, Tatum Sadler, Caden Brown, Landry Jurecka, Reed Carroll, Andrew Elliott, Coleton Payton, and Hayden Weaver (photo courtesy of Peggy Barger)

It was also senior night for the baseball boys. Parents joined their players on the field in recognition of their final year for high school baseball.

The seniors were joined by their Coach, Chad Mercado. (photo courtesy of Peggy Barger)

Paris Softball Defeats Scranton 8-1 on Senior Night

Sports

Resident News Network

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9:53 am

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Paris Softball Defeats Scranton 8-1 on Senior Night

The Paris Lady Eagles softball team hosted the Scranton Lady Rockets on Tuesday in a non-conference game. It was Senior Night for the Lady Eagles program, and Paris honored three seniors who have given unselfishly to the program for the past three to four years. Seniors Caiden Haller, Cheyenne Moore, and Jayden Hart were honored in a brief pre-game ceremony. The Lady Eagles will miss all three seniors dearly next year.

Paris Seniors Caiden Haller, Cheyanne Moore, and Jayden Hart Were Honored on Senior Night Before Tuesday’s Game With Scranton (Resident Press Photos)

After the game, Paris coach Donald Hart talked about his three seniors that were honored Tuesday night. “Caiden Haller has been with the program for three years, always has a positive attitude on and off the field. Caiden is a good vocal leader on the field and in the dugout. Cheyenne Moore, has been with us for four years and is a kid who is always at practice, has a positive attitude, works hard, and does anything that has is asked of her. Jayden Hart has been a four year starter and has always led by example, both on and off the field. All three seniors have been great leaders for underclassmen regardless of if they were in the lineup or working on the field.”

The game itself with Scranton was virtually meaningless to both Scranton and Paris. Both teams are focusing on the post season tournaments in their classifications, and other than local or regional interests in the two schools, the focus now is keeping the teams sharp before next week’s district tournaments.

Paris senior Jayden Hart, who has pitched a lot of innings this year, and who will be counted on for the post-season hopes of the Lady Eagles, started the game with Scranton and earned another complete game victory in the circle. Donald Hart has his pitching rotation set so that Jayden will get timely rest before the start of the district tournament next week in Booneville. The Lady Eagles have won the northern division in the 3A-4 conference and will go into next week’s district tournament as the top seed from the north. Tournament host school, Booneville, went undefeated in conference play, including a big 2-1 victory over the Lady Eagles in a conference cross-over game played earlier in the season at Booneville. The Lady Bearcats will enter the tournament as the top seed from the south division. By virtue of their divisional championships, both Booneville and Paris are also guaranteed births in the regional tournament, as well.

The Lady Eagles’ overall record on the 2021 season is 14-10. Paris is 8-2 in conference play and will finish as the top seed in the north. Paris has remaining home non-conference games with Alma on Thursday and Lincoln on Friday, weather permitting. Paris has added non-conference games next week at Mansfield on Monday and at Greenwood on Wednesday. Paris will play the Bulldogs’ junior varsity team on Wednesday at Greenwood. Monday’s game at Mansfield is slated for 4:30 p.m. Paris will play two five-inning games with the Greenwood JV team on Wednesday starting at 4 p.m.

The Scranton Lady Rockets, short on numbers Tuesday, played hard and were competitive with Paris for most of the game. The Lady Rockets took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning and were threatening to add more. But timely strikeouts and big defensive plays killed rallies all day for Scranton, and Paris was able to gradually build their lead to a final score of 8-1.

Although Tuesday was senior night for the Paris softball team, it was not the last time the Lady Eagles seniors will play on their home field, and it certainly is not the end of the season for Paris. There is a lot of softball still to be played, and for three seniors who have given so much to the Paris softball program, this will be their chance to pursue their dreams of winning championships in their senior year of high school.

Additional photos from the Lady Eagles game with Scranton are now available on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports. All photos are free for viewing and / or copying. Fans from both schools are welcome to visit the page.

Resident Press will again be in Paris today to cover Eagles baseball as Paris will again host Scranton in a non-conference game. First pitched is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.

So, bring your coat and lawn chair and come to the ballpark and cheer on your Eagles!

See you at the ballpark!

GHS Winds Ranked Third Nationally

Networks

Tammy Teague

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6:18 am

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Congratulations to Greenwood High School Winds for winning the Arkansas State Title for indoor marching!

GHS Winds is ranked third in the nation and won the bronze medal for WinterGuard International this year. This bronze medal is now the highest award achieved throughout the Greenwood Band’s history.

This surpasses the state title won on Saturday, April 17. GHS Winds took home the gold with a first-place win at the championship held in Bryant, AR, with a score of 88.450.

The success was sweet for those students, instructors, and supporting parents, who have worked tirelessly for this achievement. Your hard work and dedication have paid off, and your efforts have not gone unnoticed!

Comp Time Discussion Dominates Quorum Court Meeting

Tammy Teague

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5:30 am

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Members of the Scott County Quorum Court met in regular session on Monday evening, April 19 at 7 p.m. Eight members of the court were present including Justice Brigance, Justice Hattabaugh, Justice Hill, Justice Luttrell, Justice Roberson, Justice Thompson, Justice Vaughn, and Justice Wagner. Justice Parker was absent. Also present, Scott County Judge James Forbes, Treasurer Teresa Scantling, Sheriff Randy Shores, Assessor Terri Churchill, legal representative Travis Plummer, and County Clerk Barbara Whiteley.

After the reading, correction, and disposition of the minutes, Judge Forbes asked for public comment. A citizen was present and expressed concern over the condition of his road. Forbes responded, and ensured him the work order was on the road department’s schedule.

Next, Forbes presented his report to the court. A discussion regarding compensatory time followed. “I think we elected officials should report on comp time and time expended each month,” stated Forbes. The members of the court agreed and asked that a review be brought to them at the next meeting. “We need time to review the personnel policy manual and make sure we are following the Fair Labor Act on comp time,” Forbes added. The court has elected to pay comp time instead of overtime pay, giving employees time off from work for the amount of time equivalent to the extra hours worked.

Forbes also noted that the jail, with a projected payoff in 32 years, had been paid off in 14. It will take 90 days to expire the tax, and ultimately lower the rate throughout the county.

The members of the court then heard reports from the sheriff, and treasurer. The coroner was not present. With no committees to report, the court then heard items of old business. The JPs had information in their court packet regarding the school’s resource officer for review. “If you have any questions regarding that, we can bring it up next month as old business,” Forbes stated.

In items of new business, Plummer read Ordinance 2021-8, Unanticipated Revenue, and Ordinance 2021-9, Coronavirus Incentive Pay. Both were passed unanimously.

With no other items of business, the meeting of the Scott County Quorum Court was adjourned.

As Cold Front Nears, Experts Urge Homeowners to Cover Plants

Outdoors

Tammy Teague

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3:42 pm

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As Cold Front Nears, Experts Urge Homeowners to Cover Plants

Horticulture experts with the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture are urging Arkansans — particularly those in the northwestern third of the state — to take early precautions to protect fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants ahead of a cold front expected to hit the state Tuesday night.

Temperatures are expected to fall below freezing by late Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service. As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, heavy snowfall had already fallen on many areas in Benton and Washington counties. By dawn Wednesday morning, temperatures in Fayetteville are predicted to be in the mid-20s.

While many of the state’s commercial fruit producers have begun preparing for the likely freeze event, Jim Robbins, extension horticulture specialist for the Division of Agriculture, said homeowners growing fruits, vegetables or ornamental plants on their property should move quickly to minimize damage as well.

“Many plants have just completed flushing, or are now flushing, which means they are loaded with water,” Robbins said. “This makes them very vulnerable to this kind of weather event. We are in a very critical time.”

Robbins said Japanese Maples, peonies, roses, hostas and irises — all popular trees and flowers throughout Arkansas — are all vulnerable at this time.

“Some of the same plants damaged by the hard freeze in February are strong candidates for damage from this late freeze,” he said.

Many of the fruits widely grown in Arkansas are vulnerable at this time as well, including strawberries, blackberries and blueberries. Amanda McWhirt, extension horticulture crop specialist for the Division of Agriculture, said these fruits can be easily covered, and home growers should take the time to do so.

Many vegetables are no different. Tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and squash are all vulnerable to extreme cold snaps, and should be covered or, if possible, brought indoors, said Bernie Kurz, extension horticulture educator for the Division of Agriculture.

Other vegetables, such as onions, green peas and asparagus will likely be fine, he said.

Robbins and Kurz said that the general goal for the plants’ survival is to trap as much heat under a covering as possible.

“The soil actually provides the heat for the plants in this situation,” Kurz said. He advised adding mulch around the base of low-to-the-ground plants, and said that proximity to a building may help provide an additional buffer against wind, reducing the overall effect of the cold on plants. If plants are particularly low and short, covering them with buckets can be effective.

Kurz also cautioned growers not to simply forget about the plants once they’re covered.

“Uncovering is just as important as covering,” Kurz said. “Uncover the plants after temperatures go above freezing.”

If rain is forecast in an area, Kurz said homeowners should cover vulnerable plants with a layer of fabric first, then add a layer of plastic over the fabric.

“You can provide a frame to keep the protective layers off of the plant using tomato cages or stakes, broken tool handles or plastic electric fence posts,” Kurz said.

Robbins said that it shouldn’t be long before homeowners can assess what damage, if any, the cold will have incurred on plants.

“Once temperatures climb we anticipate being able to determine the extent of damage,” he said. “Blackened leaves and flowers will be our first sign,” he said.

To learn more about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Twitter at @UAEX_edu.

Graduation, a Rite of Passage

News

Tammy Teague

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9:58 am

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It is a ritual that marks a change from one stage of life to the next. Graduation, it is a Rite of Passage!

On Friday, April 16 at 2 p.m. students at the Mansfield Juvenile Treatment Center stepped over that threshold and were honored with a ceremony.

It was awe-inspiring to witness those young men, who otherwise may have never had the opportunity, to graduate and earn a high school diploma.

Mansfield-based Rite of Passage is an accredited school, offering normalized academic environments for students who have struggled in traditional public school systems. Their educational programs serve various populations, including youth with autism, behavioral challenges, and specialized academic needs. ROP’s rigorous instruction uses advanced classroom technology to accommodate all learning styles. Career and Technical Education opportunities (such as WozU, OSHA, First Aid/CPR and ServSafe) are offered in partnership with leading certification programs selected to match local and national hiring trends in industries such as technology, construction, nursing, and culinary arts.

Those in attendance, including family, administrators, and teachers, were equally filled with pride as students embark on a brighter future.

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