On Sunday morning, March 7, a Sebastian County deputy was dispatched to a Hackett residence on Plum Street. After arriving on scene, the deputy met with homeowners, Dane and Betty Goodwin, and noted the writing on both vehicles.
Goodwin, a spokesman for the Facebook group “Make Hackett Great Again,” stated that he and his wife had been up until around 2 a.m. Sunday morning and were unaware of any activity.
It was later that morning when they discovered that someone had written “STOP OR ELSE” on both vehicles. “It is a threat…It is sad too because all we are trying to do is change the town for the better.”
Goodwin, who addressed the Hackett City Council on February 25 (see related story), felt it was a threat in retaliation for his speech.
“It just makes us more determined than ever to keep moving forward,” Goodwin stated. Adding that since this incident, five more residents have asked for yard signs advertising the Facebook group. “Whoever did this wants to Make Hackett Great Again stop, but we will not be detoured in our efforts and will continue attending the council meetings to let our voices be heard.“
SCSO Captain Philip Pevehouse stated that criminal mischief is a misdemeanor.
Resident News Owner/Publisher Jason Baggett and Editor Tammy Teague presented the 2020 Media Awards on Thursday, March 4 and Monday, March 8.
The recipients were Waldron Police Department’s Detective Horacio Gonzalez and Huntington Police Chief Stacy Wieburg.
“This award is only a symbol of our appreciation for you and the work you do for our community,” Teague stated. “We value the relationship between the press and law enforcement. Today we honor you for your dedication and outstanding efforts to ensure that the information we provide our readers is accurate.”
Gonzalez, who was hired by current Waldron Mayor David Millard, has been with the department since 2016. He has outstanding rapport with the community and is well-respected by his constituents. “It is unheard of for an officer to make an arrest, and have that individual later come to their aid. That is simply the kind of officer Gonzalez is…He always has time to make sure the information I have is accurate and true. I’ve called him on vacations and plenty of his days off. His response to me, after I apologized profusely, was the same. ‘Call or text me anytime!”
Wieburg has served as Chief of Police in the City of Huntington since 2019. “We appreciate all that you do for Resident Press,” shared Baggett. “We are thankful for the relationship that we have fostered throughout the years, and the assistance you have provided to us. Without it, we cannot provide our readers with relevant and factual information.” Wieburg, who got his start in law enforcement in Huntington as a reserve officer, has worked hard over the past several years to continue building the department while fostering community relations.
Thank you both for the work you do and the difference you make!
Pictured from left: Waldron Police Chief Jeremy Hunt, Waldron Mayor David Millard, Detective Horacio Gonzalez, and Editor Tammy Teague.
Pictured from left: Resident News Owner/Publisher Jason Baggett and Huntington Police Chief Stacy Wieburg.
Joseph Gerald Essman went to his heavenly home on March 6, 2021. He was born on May 28, 1947, to Joseph Dee and Bessie Elizabeth (Lewis) Essman in Waldron, Arkansas. He was 73 years old.
Gerald was the Owner/operator of Essman Trucking, Essman Towing, and Recovery and an army veteran of the Vietnam war where he served in the 101st airborne division. He loved drag racing, hunting and fishing, breakfast at the local cafes, sharing stories with his friends, and keeping his family laughing with his antics. His smile and sense of humor were contagious and his wink always let you know that he was up to something.
Gerald leaves behind to cherish his memory, his loving wife of 43 years, Joni of the home, daughters: Ladonna Evans and husband Dave of Dardanelle, Arkansas, Michelle Edwards and husband Rick of Chester, Arkansas and Amy Russell of Greenwood, Arkansas. Grandpa/PaPaw will forever remain in the hearts of his grandchildren: Ryan Scantling and wife Allie, Dalton Russell, Joseph Russell, Kaitlen Miller, Paige Provost and husband Ethan, Allie Cathey and Jessie Whitten as well as 6 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by sisters, Vera Artzer of Topeka, Kansas, and Marilyn Johnson of Blue Eye, Missouri and one brother, Dale Essman of Van Buren, Arkansas as well as his furry friends, his dogs, DJ, Julie and runt. Gerald will be missed by all that knew him and the many whose lives he impacted including a host of extended family, great friends, and neighbors.
He was preceded in death by his parents(Joseph and Bessie), his mother-in-law Estalee Simpson, his brothers Allan Essman, Jim Essman; and sisters Paula Piles and Janice Weston; daughter Anette Essman, grandson Sean Wesley Miller, and granddaughter Meagan Scantling.
Gerald’s graveside life celebration will be 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2021, at the Fort Smith National Cemetery in Fort Smith, Arkansas with Ryan Scantling officiating. Interment will follow.
Gerald’s visitation will be Monday, March 8, 2021 from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Gerald Essman, please visit our floral store.
Pictured: Mansfield senior high participants Darby Jones, Harleigh Mars, Faith Rainwater, Jadelynn Wood, and Hope Rainwater share a moment at the Bearcat Relays. The MHS girls took second place in the team standings at the Booneville Track meet.
A week after winter storms covered the area with snow, Mansfield gathered early season track results with trips to Booneville and Van Buren.
Because of the winter white-out and MHS’s highly successful basketball season, the Tigers’ normal track and field roster and preseason preparations were limited. Despite the unusual circumstances affecting the start of the spring sport, Mansfield still forged ahead to post competitive results in meets scheduled for all levels last week.
The Tiger thinclads opened the 2021 season with a road trip to Booneville on Monday, March 1 for junior high action. They returned to Bearcat country over two of the next three days with meets featuring the seventh-grade prep team on March 2 and the senior high squad racing on March 4.
Jadelynn Wood studies her triple jump off the track iPad
With a handful of athletes, Mansfield’s senior girls went back to back with limited entries at the Van Buren runners only meet on March 5.
The senior girls and junior girls made the most noise with top-three finishes in the team rankings. The boys showed extreme potential especially compared to their new 2A league foes. The seventh-grade girls grabbed two individual trophies while the prep team boys showed flashes of extreme speed.
Mansfield’s senior girls took second place in the team standings with 106 total points. Host Booneville won the outing with 171 behind its full complement of players. Clarksville came calling at third while Ozark, Pottsville, and Lamar sparked the top six.
The Lady Tiger tracksters plugged in where they could as dual sport cheerleaders and basketball players competed at nearby Magazine in the first round of the regional tournament.
Seventh-Grader Dominic Shores
Short handed or not, Tiger veterans like Faith and Hope Rainwater, Harleigh Mars, Shelby Cole, and Darby Jones made an impact. Sophomores Alayna Tuner, Madelen Jones, and Jadelynn Wood also came through.
Faith Rainwater scored 20 points with a pair of second-place finishes in the pole vault and 3200m run. She was also anchor leg to the 4x800m relay that won the long-distance cooperative and started the third-place 4x100m team.
Hope Rainwater, Darby Jones, and Wood completed the 4x800m team. Mars, Cole, and Wood finished the makeshift 4x100m squad.
Mars took second in the 300m hurdles after a year off from that race. Madelen Jones won the event after coming over to the track meet after basketball filming obligations. Cole also placed in the hurdles. Hers was a second place mark in the 100m highs.
Sophomore Alayna Turner takes fourth in the discus and second in the shot at the Booneville Bearcat Relays
Wood placed second in the triple jump at 28-10. It was a personal best for the sophomore. Turner was second in the shot put and fourth in the discus by competing as the meet’s earliest thrower. Turner then bused over to the basketball game for cheerleader responsibilities at the regional tournament.
Cassidy Carlton played the back and forth game as well by competing in the long jump, going to the basketball game to cheer, and returning back to the Booneville track to complete the 4x400m relay that took third.
Katlynn Moore and Alyssa James pulled double duty as well with a return from cheer to offer help in the late distance events.
Shawn Brown won the men’s discus throw. He posted the highest mark at 110-0 as the meet’s first thrower. As the only class 2A thrower present, his mark could not be touched by any of the large school competitors that remained.
Seventh grader Rylan Nichols won the pole vault at the Bearcat Relays for seventh graders at Mansfield’s first meet of the year for underclassmen
Brown also placed among the top 8 in the shot put.
Senior Victor Steffan had his best outcome in the high jump for the senior high men’s team. His 5-8 measure was good for second place among the many vertical leapers.
Sophomore Tommy Phang did well in the sprint races and the horizontal jumps. His personal records in the 100m dash, long jump, and 200m dash all scored.
John Branche and Ethan Streets both made strong pushes in the 400m dash. Branche doubled up in the 1600m run as well.
Mansfield’s junior girls tied for third in the team standings with Booneville. Only Russellville and Waldron bettered the junior Lady Tigers. Waldron barely clipped the Tiger claws for the runner-up plaque. Waldron had 94.5 points while Mansfield and Booneville tied at 93 points.
The 4x100m relay team of Daisy Nelson, Carter Whiley, Addie Bowman, and Aaliyah Summers took the team’s highest finish in a running event. The crew squeaked out the narrow victory over a strong field that included Booneville, Pottsville, and Waldron among the field of 10 teams.
Seventh-grader Kaylee Ward dominated the shot put with back-to-back victories over two consecutive nights. The seventh-grader won the junior high contest with a 30-8 toss on Monday. She followed that with another blue ribbon on Tuesday at the seventh grade meet with an even larger throw of 31-7.
Daisey Nelson
Ward actually tied for high point honors in the seventh grade meet at 26 points. Her victories in the shot and discus along with high marks in the high jump, 4x100m, and 4x400m relays pulled off the reward.
Fellow newcomer Daisy Nelson of Mansfield shared the high point plaque with Ward along with a third competitor from Booneville.
Nelson won the seventh grade 100m hurdles at 18.84. She was second at the pole vault (6-6), second in the long jump (12-8.5), and shared the baton with Ward in the same two relays.
Nelson also vaulted in the junior thigh meet for third place and was the lead leg in the junior high 4x100m relay victory.
Laney Wood starred individually for the junior high team with a second-place pole vault of 6-6 and a third-place 1600m run of 6:38.30. Summers was third in the 100m dash. Trinity Triska was fourth in the 800m run. Whiley was fifth and seventh in the high jump and 100m dash respectively.
Joey Fildes
Addie Bowman and Rachel Johnson scored for the junior team in the hurdles. Raine Hecox, Aidan Fildes, Azlynn Stover, Bowman, Triska, and Wood supported scoring relays.
Kaylie Lowery took fifth in the discus while Ward was second in the junior discus and first in the seventh-grade discus.
Madison Hearron and Chloe Whiley showed flashes in the seventh-grade pole vault and 4x100m relay. Hearron scored in the 100m hurdles and long jump. Mackenzie Robinson went for sixth place among the seventh-grade discus throwers.
Trey Powell and Tyler Turnipseed off the junior high boys’ team and Dawson Robinson and Dominic Shores off the seventh-grade boys’ team placed well in the sprints. Among their class 2A peers, the Tigers looked to be head of the class.
Powell and Turnipseed also placed among the top 8 in the horizontal hops among a field flooded with mostly class 3A jumpers.
Aidan Fildes
Mansfield gave promise of having strong pole vaulters as Peyton Martin, Austin Ruiz, Boston Elmore, Rylan Nichols, and Josiah Fildes all registered marks inside the top 8. Among the vertical leapers, Martin was top Tiger at 9-0 for second place in the junior boys. Nichols won his seventh-grade division at 6-6.
Trey Vaughn and Sammy Sellers were among the top four discus throwers for the ninth grade, Vaughn went 107-0 for third place. Sellers went 102-3 for fourth.
Ruiz also was among the best 800m runners. The eighth-grader ran a 2:30.30 half-mile equivalent. Josiah Fildes was among the top four seventh-grade milers at a time of 6:07.
Mansfield only took a handful of distance racers and 300m hurdle participants to Van Buren for the senior girls at the end of the week. The very cold and very windy meet was looked at as another practice opportunity for the team.
This past Christmas I discovered the beauty of dump cakes. With four ingredients I get a delicious cake, and my in-laws were asking for the recipe. My husband’s grandfather told me I cheated when I told him how easy it was.
This recipe can be replicated with any kind of pie filling! Simply replace the can of pineapples with a second can of the pie filling of your choosing. I’ve made it with apples and it was just as delicious.
Ingredients
-1 box yellow cake mix
-1/2 cup butter (1 stick)
-1 can cherry pie filling
-1 can chunk pineapples, drained
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350*.
2. Pour can of cherries and pineapples in a greased 9×13 pan.
3. Top with yellow cake mix, dice up butter into large chunks and spread evenly over the top of the cake.
4. Bake for 40-45 minutes.
This cake is delicious topped with ice cream, whipped topping, or all on its own! It comes together in minutes but tastes excellent.
The cold, rainy weather may not have seen like softball weather, but the Paris Lady Eagles played like they were in mid-season form on Friday night when they hosted the Dardanelle Lady Lizards in the season opener for Paris. Rain earlier in the day did not prevent the game from being played after a lot of work on the infield by the Paris coaching staff and community volunteers. The field remained covered right up until the two teams took infield practice before the 5 p.m. start.
Resident Press Photo
Paris senior Jadyn Hart was virtually unhittable in her 2021 debut. In seven complete innings, Hart struck out 17 hitters. And if this was not enough, the Paris star hit a two run homer early in the game to break a 0-0 deadlock in what was ultimately a great pitching battle between the two schools. The win was huge over the Class 4A Lady Sand Lizards for the young and talented Lady Eagles.
Resident Press Photo
After the game, Paris coach Donald Hart said, “It was good to get the season started. Was proud of how we came out in the opener and played through the elements. Dardanelle had a quality pitcher, but we were able to put enough on the board to get by. Lots of potential in this young team. Looking forward to the rest of the season.”
Resident Press Photo
Coach Hart’s comments sum up the feelings of softball players, coaches, and fans across the state. Everyone is glad to get started, and everyone will be happy to see the complete season played, unlike the COVID-shortened season of a year ago.
Resident Press Photo
Paris will return to the field again on Monday when they host the Magazine Lady Rattlers. First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m., and the weather forecast is much more favorable than last Friday’s. It should be a beautiful afternoon for a game, and the Lady Eagles will try to win their second game of the early season.
The baseball Eagles will also play at home on Monday against Magazine in their season opener. So come out and watch some great baseball and softball on Monday, and enjoy the nice weather!
Additional photos of the Lady Eagles softball game with Dardanelle are available on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports. Fans from both schools are welcomed to view or copy the photos at no charge.
Resident Press Photo
Resident Press will bring you coverage of the Eagles baseball game versus Magazine on Tuesday afternoon in the online edition of Resident Press.
If you are like me and have no dishwasher the thought of “how the heck do I disinfect plastic toys” may have crossed your mind. Well, I have excellent news for us, my friend! Your washing machine is how!
That’s right, the machine that washed your clothes can wash your kids plastic toys! Woohoo! Of course magnetic, wooden, and battery operated toys should not go in the washer.
All you need to do is run your washer on a hot setting with or without the spin cycle. I added about a tablespoon of Thieves cleaner to mine. Vinegar or bleach can also be added to really clean. Once the cycle is done simply spread the toys out on a towel to dry.
If you have had a sick kid or just don’t remember the last time you cleaned toys now is the time to do it!
Grabbing a mesh bag to put the toys in is an excellent idea to make removing the toys from the washer a breeze. Another option is to tie off a pillow case. Of course simply tossing toys in loose will work fine!
The Mansfield/Huntington Chamber of Commerce met in regular session on Thursday afternoon, March 4.
2021 officers were elected, and are as follows: President – Sheri Hopkins; Vice-President – Becky Walker; Treasurer – Beverly Lyons; Secretary – Tammy Teague.
Hopkins called the meeting to order at noon at Mansfield City Hall. “As you all know we lost Rick McDaniel. He was such an asset and will surely be missed.” Hopkins also acknowledged a $200 donation to the chamber by McDaniel’s brother and sister-in-law, James and Linda McMahon.
After some discussion about the checking account bearing McDaniel’s name, it was decided to appoint Lyons as the new secretary, as she was already on as a secondary signer. Chamber members took an official vote to remove past President Joseph Dinar from the checking account.
Hopkins reported a chamber of commerce balance of $2,423.27 with several outstanding checks to be deposited.
The decision was made to nix the annual Easter Egg Hunt with the unknowns of the governor’s directives and the insufficiency of time to plan. Plans remain, however, for the Community Cookout tentatively slated for Saturday, April 24 at 5 p.m. The event will take place at the parking lot of the Mansfield Senior Center. Everyone is asked to observe social distancing, wear a mask when being served and to bring a lawn chair. The $5 meal will consist of a hamburger or hot dog, chips, a drink, and dessert. The band Nickeltown Road will be playing.
The chamber will be planning for the Independence Day Celebration, and also for the Kid’s Fishing Derby slated for August 7. More details on these events will be discussed at upcoming meetings.
If you are interested in becoming involved with the chamber, you are invited to attend the next meeting on Thursday, April 1 at noon, Mansfield City Hall.
In my February article to Resident Press I made the case that there are many problems in today’s culture, society, and political climate; indeed in every area of life. This should not come as a surprise to anyone as trials and tribulations eventually come to all of us. It seems this past year has had its full share.
Nevertheless, I have always remained an optimist, choosing to define a “problem” as an “opportunity” for a solution.
Could it be that our inability to solve many of our problems stems from our inability to accurately identify and DEFINE them? I suspect that many problems remain unidentified, undefined, and unsolved because of an inability to property, truly, and accurately communicate.
We think that our ability to communicate is enhanced and made so much better with today’s technology. Why, we have internet websites, I-phones, I-pads, (is there such a thing as an I-pod?) Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Google and I don’t know what all else.
But stop and think and ask yourself if words on a screen (with-out punctuation) actually do any more than just transmit information.
Whole communication is both verbal and non-verbal. Even though you are “technically” (double meaning) engaged in “non-verbal” (double meaning) communication, absolutely no “non-verbal” (double meaning) communication takes place in a text or e-mail.
Nonverbal communication involves much more than the spoken word (and some say conveys more). Some aspects of non-verbal communication are: eye contact (or not), inflection, tone, volume, gesture, posture (leaning forward or back, shuffling feet, shrugging, turning head), and pauses. I cannot think of any way to effectively use any of these eleven means of communication in a text or e-mail.
And are you being totally honest in your communication if you are using Skype and one or both are sitting in front of a camera showing waist up only, and are in Pjs or underwear. You wouldn’t (hopefully) meet in a coffee shop, on the street, or in each other’s homes (undressed that way) to talk about an issue or problem.
I think that if two common sense individuals met eye to eye to verbally discuss an issue or a problem, using a common language and an understood vocabulary (use a dictionary if necessary) with full non-verbal interaction, chances are they would come up with an accurate definition as well as multiple possible ideas to solve the problem.
Arkansas waters saw a spike in the number of boating accidents last year compared to 2019, according to data compiled by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s annual Boating Accident Year-end Report.
Seventy-five boating accidents were reported from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2020, twice what was seen the previous year. These accidents resulted in $297,274 in property damage, 35 injuries requiring treatment beyond first-aid care and 13 fatalities. Injuries requiring medical attention also increased substantially from nine in 2019 to 35 in 2020.
Capt. Stephanie Weatherington, AGFC Boating Law Administrator, says the increases likely are the result of unprecedented increases in boating last year in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Tackle stores sold out of equipment and lakeside boat rental outfits, and outfitters on some of Arkansas’s streams saw amazing numbers interested in visiting lakes and rivers in The Natural State.
“With all of those additional boaters, we knew we would likely see an increase in accidents,” Weatherington said. “When you add the fact that a lot of these added vessels were piloted by new boaters, it clearly had an impact. Operator inexperience was listed as the most common primary cause of accidents last year.”
Fatalities caused from boating accidents also saw an increase last year, but to a much smaller degree. According to the report, 13 people lost their lives on Arkansas waters last year, compared to 10 in 2019. All 13 fatalities were caused by drowning, which is a common trend year-over-year in the report.
Weatherington says the percentage of reported accidents is still very low when compared to the number of boats on Arkansas waters.
“We have more than 200,000 registered boats in Arkansas, but that doesn’t even come close to the actual number of boats out there statewide,” Weatherington said. “Many boaters come from other states to enjoy Arkansas’s waters, and paddlecraft do not need to be registered unless you put a sail or some sort of electric- or gas-powered motor on them.”
Only six reported accidents involved paddlecraft, but five of the six resulted in fatalities.
“Paddlesports has been a growing trend, and we know manufacturers could not keep up with the demand for kayaks and canoes last year with everyone rediscovering their love for the outdoors,” Weatherington said. “The accidents reported in this category were all tragic results of operators misjudging the conditions and their abilities to handle them. There’s a big difference between paddling on the still water of a pond and trying to navigate a Class V rapid, and some of Arkansas’s streams can get very dangerous very quickly after a big rain. It’s always best to go with someone who is familiar with the water your first time there and consult with paddling groups and outfitters about safe river conditions.”
Weatherington said that even though it is not required to operate a paddlecraft, completing a boater education course can give newcomers the background to be more knowledgeable about the rules of the water so everyone can return from a day on the water safely.
“Boating education is mandatory for anyone born after 1985 who is operating a motorboat or sailboat in Arkansas,” Weatherington said. “But it’s just smart to take the time to take the course even if you’re paddling a canoe. Of 89 operators that were involved in the 75 accidents, only 28 had previously taken some sort of boater education course. We have a lot of room for improvement.”
One silver lining Weatherington has noticed is the increased use of life jackets among boaters who were involved in accidents.
“We still have work to do, but overall I think the message is getting out how important life jackets are to everyone, even people who are adept at swimming,” Weatherington said. “I know there’s been a conscious effort by many manufacturers and dealers to promote life jacket use, and with the influx of new boaters we’ve seen in paddlesports I think that message is growing.”
The complete report, as well as information on how to enroll in a Boater Education Course is available at www.agfc.com/boatered.
