Jensen asks hard questions. Jensen is my three year old. He’s incredibly smart for his age. I’m hopeful I am raising a child who will a leader someday. For now though, I have to live through the rough questions and odd demands.
Most recently he needed to know why we don’t have a compost pile like Mimzee (my mom). I didn’t have a good answer because until that moment it had never occurred to me that we needed one. He also informed me Curious George has a compost pile, so we need one. Like any good mother would do, I gathered my scraps and dumped them on the ground off the back porch. Boom, our compost pile was born!
To make my life easier I found a container with a lid to hold the peelings, egg shells, etc. that comes out of the kitchen. This keeps me from running out the back door several times a day, but also keeps gnats and odors out of the kitchen. When the container gets full I go dump it in our small but growing pile.
Additionally we will add dead leaves and hay to our compost, as well as some newspapers. Coffee grounds, tea bags, brown paper bags, grass clippings, saw dust, and garden waste can all be added as well!
Make sure not to compost meats or other foods that are not primarily vegetables/fruit. Anything treated with herbicide or pesticides, diseased plants, or weeds should not be added to the pile.
Where you place your pile should be a big enough area for turning the pile and adding more. It’s also good to remember this is not an overnight way to reap rich soil, it does take time. Despite that, it will produce excellent nutrient rich dirt for your garden.
Passionate people providing quality legal representation in a responsive and affordable manner, that’s the mission of The Plummer Firm.
With Scott County roots, Attorney Travis Plummer and his wife Shannon moved to Greenwood to ensure their children had the best possible education. According to them, what better place than Greenwood. “We decided that since we live in Greenwood we should have an office in Greenwood,” said Shannon Plummer. “We are so glad we made this decision.”
In addition to Plummer’s private practice, he is also the in-house counsel for Western Arkansas Title Services, a prosecutor for Scott County, and serves as City Attorney for both Hartford and Mansfield.
The firm has four other locations in addition to Greenwood, including Waldron, Fort Smith, Booneville, and Van Buren. Their legal services include contract drafting and disputes, estates, wills, trusts and probate, family law, personal injury/wrongful death, and property. “Each client we serve deserves dignified, customizable, and prompt attention to their needs. Our goal is to meet and exceed client expectations,” added Shannon Plummer.
When it comes to maintaining the overall functioning of your home, one of the most crucial components to consider is your current plumbing. Not only are these systems essential for providing us the necessary drinking water to survive, but they’re also responsible for establishing our standard quality of life. As such, should your own pipes fail, it can leave you in a difficult living and financial position. These are some signs your home plumbing needs an upgrade, so you can get this renovation done before major problems occur.
There’s Evidence of a Leak
Water leaks are a common occurrence when pipes don’t have proper insulation or receive necessary maintenance. However, should these leaks happen frequently and in varying parts of the home, it’s no longer a small issue that you can quickly fix. This pattern means that your pipes are no longer strong enough to withstand the home’s overall water pressure, and they’ll continue to break and cause water damage. So, if you notice puddles or wet spots near your major systems, it’s time to consider an upgrade.
Your Water Is Oddly-Colored
Discolored water can also mean something’s wrong with your pipes. When a home’s pipes are clean and functioning correctly, the tap water will appear clear and free of sediment. However, should your pipes sustain rust build-up, this could begin to affect the look, smell, and taste of your water supply. As such, should you notice a change in any of these features, it’s vital that you think of your old pipes as a potential source.
Water Pressure Is Low
Another important sign your home plumbing needs an upgrade is if your water pressure is lessening over time. Pipes suffering from frequent clogs or leaks often experience a disrupted water flow. This reduces the amount of pressure used to push the water through them. In severe cases, your water flow could turn into a little trickle. As such, it’s crucial that you’re regularly testing for poor water pressure and getting your pipes replaced before bigger problems can develop.
Your Pipes Are Older
You should consider getting a pipe upgrade as well if you know your system is older. While certain types of pipes can last for a long time, they’re still exposed to large amounts of stress over several years of frequent use. So, if you’re living in an older home, the chances are good that you’re due for a newer system anyway. Acting preemptively is a great way to avoid potential pipe bursts as well as ensure that everything remains up to code.
Greenwood’s own Ursula Carter won in her group during the “World’s Universal Princess” pageant last week after first winning the regional and state competitions held in 2020. As a winner of multiple pageants that are often centered around community service, Carter spoke with the Greenwood Resident about the ministries she takes part in throughout the Greenwood community.
World’s Universal Princess Ursula Carter
After spending more than twenty years in Greenwood, Carter has seen the area’s growing need for basic items, such as food. After joining First Assembly of God, 725 Park Drive, Greenwood, she felt called to assist with the food bank and has managed it for the last four years. With an empowering new way to provide nutritional assistance through the food bank, and realizing that not all recipients could eat what was in a mass-produced box, the ministry team decided to provide food based on a points value system. This, according to Carter, allows for a more shopping-based experience, and a more dignified method of delivering these needed items.
“ We stand on Matthew 25:40 when it comes to the food bank…” said Carter. “Truly I tell you, whatever you have done for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done for me…We want to give back and help people in the best way we can, and for our church, it was this food bank…When you think about it, almost 20% of the residents of Sebastian County are food insecure, and so even though we are not the only food source for some of Greenwood, we might be the only weekly food source”
This ministry involves the work of many volunteers, and the residents that need these services are often elderly and disabled. They typically have food items such as bread and canned goods. Carter added, however, that there is often a need for baby items. To acquire the food they hand out, the church purchases the food at a lower price. With the increase in food distribution, donations are always appreciated.
Carter is also the managing director of an accredited Bible College that is taught through the First Assembly of God Church location. The college also offers a remote learning option, which extends the school’s outreach.
During the month of December, Carter manages the area drop-off location “Project Shoebox,” which provides shoeboxes filled with Christmas gifts that are delivered all over the world. It is the Western Arkansas Community and Church Relations contact for Operation Christmas Child. Carter remarked how important this ministry is to her because “These gifts are a representation of love, and Jesus is love. Every child deserves to feel that.”
With her success on stage and commitment to community service, Carter’s true crowning achievement is her compassionate spirit and servant’s heart!
On Wednesday afternoon, January 27, a Sebastian County deputy was dispatched to Hackett High School for an alleged threat.
According to the report, the responding deputy attempted to make contact with Hackett Police Chief Ricci Pyle. However, the deputy was unable to reach Pyle. The high school principal informed the deputy that he had contacted the chief, but “was told that he (Pyle) was at home and would not come out” and instructed the school to contact the county.
The report also stated that the deputy then contacted Mayor Trini Harper to inform her of the situation. “She stated that she would try to get in contact with him (Chief Pyle).”
The school incident, which is being described as “communicating a false alarm,” involved two juveniles, and currently remains under investigation.
We reached out to Mayor Harper for comment on this incident, however, we have not received a response.
It was less than a week ago when I mentioned that a player from the Hackett senior boys team had left the game due to what appeared to be a knee injury. I commented that significant injuries are the fear of every athlete, not only for their personal safety, but the adverse effect it can have on their short time to play the games that they love. And for the second time this week, a significant injury occurred during the Paris senior boys game.
Danvlle’s Solomon Gilkey, a very talented and athletic player for the Danville senior boys team went high to the basket late in the fourth quarter for a “put in” shot off of a lob pass on the baseline. It was a beautiful move that had been repeated several times off of back door passes that had been very successful for the Little Johns. But this time, as Gilkey went up to take the shot, his legs were inadvertantly taken out and he fell from from near basket level to the floor, landing on his back and neck.
Since the time of the accident, social media posts have indicated that Gilkey did not sustain any severe injuries from the fall and is recovering well today. Since that good news has been shared among all who have been concerned about the talented athlete’s recovery, I have posted the sequence of photos from the game that show how the fall occurred. You don’t have to look long to know that Gilkey is a very fortunate young man, and we are all very relieved that he is recovering without having suffered severe injury.
Danville’s Solomon Gilkey takes a hard fall after going high for the shot against Paris (Resident Press Photo)
Resident Press PhotosResident Press Photo
The play occurred with 5:33 remaining in the game. The game was delayed approximately 20 minutes after emergency personnel stabilized Gilkey and eventually moved him from the court on a back board and stretcher. The large crowd of both Danville and Paris fans gave Gilkey a standing ovation as he left the floor. Both teams showed great sportsmanship by kneeling and praying for the safety of Gilkey. The game had been hotly contested all night, and the Little John’s gym was a loud and fun atmosphere all night. When the accident occurred, an eerie silence fell upon the entire facility.
Coaches will tell you that one of the most difficult things to do with any team is to collect them and attempt to restart a game after such an injury occurs. Both teams and their coaches did a good job with this last night, but it was apparent that the Little Johns, emotional from the loss of Gilkey, were determined to get the win for their fallen teammate. And for the final five minutes of the game, the Little Johns played extremely hard with an edge provided by their coach who was obviously very emotional from the injury of one of his players.
Playing on less than 24 hours rest, the Paris Eagles were playing on the road following an emotional and draining effort and win the night before at home versus Cossatot River. After perhaps their best performance of the year on Thursday, it remained to be seen how the Eagles would play the next night on the road.
Resident Press Photo
Paris, just as in Thursday’s game, got off to a slow start and fell behind early. And once again, it was a furious second quarter rally that kept the Eagles within striking range of Danville. The high-flying Little Johns, who had scored on numerous lob passes to the basket and on one slam dunk, brought great energy and the Eagles had to play hard to keep up. But the Eagles continued to play hard and eventually took a one point lead late in the game. But unlike Thursday’s game, Paris was unable to stretch the lead and put the game out of reach. Danville went on to win the game 54-49.
Eagles coach Blain Brewington commented after the game, “Our kids battled after a major deficit early. We couldn’t hang on and get the win. We can’t dig ourselves in a hole and use the energy to get back into the game. I am proud of their effort and for battling back. We have to continue to learn and grow.”
Resident Press Photo
For Paris, there are positives for the team that can be taken away from the game at Danville. Paris played with great energy on just 24 hours rest, as they have played all season. Defensively, the Eagles continue to excel, but will need to continue to improve as the season moves into February. Scoring has been inconsistent, and moving to next year, the Eagles will need to find consistent scoring ability on offense to take the next step in their development. But the team was very impressive, both in how they represented Paris last night during a difficult situation, and how hard they competed, almost pulling out their third consecutive win for the week. There is a lot to build on with this young and talented team.
Resident Press Photo
The Lady Eagles went into Danville to play the conference-leading Lady Little Johns who were and remain undefeated in conference play. And it did not take Danville long to show why they are leading the conference. Behind precision offensive sets, great shooting, and good defense, Danville dominated Paris for the entire game.
Resident Press Photo
After the game, Lady Eagles coach Donald Hart commented, “Not the outcome we were hoping for. Even after giving up 20 points in the first quarter, we only allowed 23 for the rest of the game. We just couldn’t knock down shots.” Scoring has been an issue with this team next year, and with the graduation of Jadyn Hart this year, the Lady Eagles will have to find a way to score next year.
Resident Press Photo
Danville is a well-coached, talented, and experienced team that has played together for many years, both scholastically and during the off season in club sports. Danville appears to be the clear favorite to win the conference regular season, district tournament, and move on to regionals and state tournaments to compete for a state championship.
Resident Press Photo
Paris ends the week by splitting with a win over Hackett and a loss to Danville on the road. The Lady Eagles will host Charleston on Tuesday night at Paris Gymnasium. The Lady Tigers handed Paris a lopsided loss early in January at Tiger Center. The Lady Eagles need to come out strong and compete Tuesday with Charleston to build some momentum going into the district tournament. The regular season ends on February 9 and time is running out to make a run before the first round of the district tournament.
Resident Press Photo
But just like the senior boys team, the Lady Eagles are young and talented and have the chance to be a very good team over the next two years. This year’s off-season will be very important to the Lady Eagles as they need to continue to develop and get more court time before next November.
The junior Lady Eagles defeated Danville 16-8 in the first game of the night. There is talented coming that will add to the already young and talented roster at the varsity level for Paris. Time, practice, and development are all of the elements that are needed to bring them together for future success.
Resident Press Photo
Additional photos from last night’s games will be available on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports on Saturday night. Photos from the Paris junior Lady Eagles victory over Danville will be available on Sunday night.
On behalf of Resident Press, all of us are thankful and relieved that Danville’s Solomon Gilkey is apparently going to be ok. We will be in Paris on Tuesday when the Charleston Tigers come to Paris Gymnasium. Finally, look for a special preview on Sunday night in Resident Press on this game that will recap the Charleston Tigers and will look forward to Tuesday’s game.
Thanks to all of our readers for making Resident Press the best source of small town high school sports in western Arkansas! See you Tuesday!
“It is the size of one’s will that determines success.” This statement couldn’t ring any truer than for the Hackett Sr Lady Hornets. The girls have only won one game so far this season, but day after day and match after match, the Sr Lady Hornets continue to hit the court with a winning attitude and a positive outlook on things. And anybody who has ever found themselves having a rough go at things knows how difficult this can be especially at a young age. But the Lady Hornets wake up every day dripping with determination and the mindset that if Plan A doesn’t work, there are still 25 other letters in the alphabet.
Faith Thomas
On Friday night, Hackett hosted the Cossatot Lady Eagles. The first half of the game ended with the Lady Eagles taking a slight lead 31-22 over the Lady Hornets but as the second half of the game got underway, Cossatot shot across the board earning the win 61-40. “This group is continuing to improve and gain confidence,” expressed Coach Broc Adams. “They still believe we can make some moves come district tourney time so we are using every game as extra practice!”
Teonna Best and Madi Taylor
Flying in and leading the team was Faith Thomas who scored 10 points by chopping her opponents down like George Washington and the cherry tree. Melting the competition faster than butter in a frying pan was Madi Taylor who netted 8 points. Mackenzie Mendenhall old school ruled the court with 7 points that even Run-D.M.C. would be proud of. Making the Lady Eagles look slower than a Sunday afternoon was Teonna “Better Than” Best and Madeline Freeman who each grabbed 4 points. And combining for 7 points was Kyleigh Hill, Lilly Slavens, and Brooke Holt who were livin’ in high cotton after their hardwood play.
Sarah Moss
“Seeing the progression from these girls this year has been awesome! They continue to work so hard and they never quit. We are in our second round of conference and through all 3 games, we have improved scores from the first time we played those 3 teams. I love the never go away attitude and I’m excited to see how far this team can go the rest of the season!” Up next, the Sr Lady Hornets will travel to Cedarville on Tuesday, February 2 to take on the Lady Pirates.
In 2019, Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council began a long term food drive across the state of Arkansas. Each county council was encouraged to collect money or food to go to their local food banks or food pantries. With COVID-19 restrictions in 2020, the food collection and fundraising stalled. During the fall district meetings, State Chair Roberta Shankle encouraged county councils to do a reverse advent calendar. Members were encouraged to collect 16 items over 16 days and donate to their local food pantries.
Scott County Extension Homemakers Council President Betty Overturf asked Debra Miller, Scott County Extension Agent to mail a copy of the reverse advent calendar to members of the Scott County Extension Homemakers council to request and encourage members to participate. Through texting and Facebook, six members and Betty Overturf and Debra Miller, committed to delivering their food to First Baptist Church Waldron to distribute to three local food pantries on December 16, 2020. Lynn Landon, Reita Plummer, and Clara Duncan arranged to have their food picked up or delivered to Betty Overturf prior to December 16. Betty also received the remainder of the food and a cash donation from member Sharon Rice.
The food included 86 items totaling 87.5 pounds. Betty delivered two boxes to Waldron Pentacostal Church of God. Robin Yandell and Janette Garrison received the donation. Two boxes were also delivered to Waldron Methodist Church food pantry with Diane Miller receiving the donation. First Baptist Church Waldron Food Pantry Director Linda Vaughn received one box and the donation of $20 for that food pantry.
On Thursday, January 28, Travis Wayne Smith of Waldron was arrested after making alleged terroristic threats against an employee at a Mansfield business.
Smith was taken into custody and later booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center. Smith has been charged with terroristic threatening in the first degree, a class D felony, failure to appear – class A misdemeanor, and two counts of failure to appear – class B misdemeanors. Smith remains at the SCADC without bond.
The Mansfield City Council met in a special session on Thursday evening, January 28 at 6 p.m. Only three items were on the agenda, the hiring of a new city attorney, the purchase of new fire turnout gear, and the purchase of a public works truck.
All members of the council were present including Jan Carlton, James Steele, Julie Thomas, Beverly Lyons, Rick McDaniel, and Sheri Hopkins. Also present, Mayor Buddy Black and Recorder/Treasurer Becky Walker.
Mayor Black introduced local attorney Travis Plummer to members of the council. Plummer gave a brief presentation, which included a contract proposal. With limited questions and discussion, the council voted unanimously to hire Plummer as the city’s new attorney.
Next, the council reviewed a proposal by Fire Chief Michael Smith for five new sets of turnout gear. Mayor Black informed the council that the city was reimbursed with CARES ACT funds totaling $45,124.61.00, which is now in the general fund. He recommended using $11,575.00 to purchase new turnout gear for the fire department. Before voting, Councilwoman Jan Carlton inquired why the request was not included in the budget, “which was just passed less than a week ago.” Carlton added, “I don’t like amending the budget this early…those departments should have put it in their budget requests.”
Carlton referred to the requests as a “whim.” However, Black assured her that Chief Smith and Public Works Director Joe Manes have repeatedly made their requests known, both to him and to the council. The mayor went on to add that due to COVID-19, there have been issues with getting those requests designated within the budget.
At the January 21 meeting, Chief Smith gave an ardent report on the state of the fire department, cautioning the council of the risks to the city if they choose inaction. Carlton was absent with due cause for that meeting.
With no further discussions, Lyons made the motion to take the money for the five sets of turnout gear for the fire department from the general fund. Thomas seconded the motion. Voting for, Lyons, McDaniel, Hopkins, Steele, and Thomas. Voting against, Carlton.
The last item on the agenda, the purchase of a new truck for the public works department. Currently, workers are having to utilize their own vehicle to submit water samples for the city. “That’s unacceptable,” stated Councilwoman Hopkins. Carlton again asked if the truck purchase was allocated in the budget. Mayor Black responded stating, Manes had just located the truck and that the need has been discussed over the past two months.
Steele made the motion to purchase one truck, with the option to purchase a second truck, following an inspection. McDaniel seconded the motion. Voting for, Lyons, McDaniel, Hopkins, Steele, and Thomas. Voting against, Carlton.
With no other items of business, the special meeting of the Mansfield City Council was adjourned.
“The initial budget must be submitted to the council by December 1,” Black stated in a follow-up interview. However, the months of October and November had not been reconciled yet because our Recorder/Treasurer was out of the office twice under quarantine with COVID-19, and then her father passed. I prepared the initial budget for the council based on a nine-month history. After she returned, the budget was finalized and presented to the council in December. The budget must be adopted by February 1. We have known about the situation with the fire department for a year and a half. We’ve just been unable to fund those needs. The same thing goes for the public works department, who is down to one vehicle that can be driven on the highway. We have been extremely diligent with the taxpayer’s money, and try our best to be frugal. The CARES ACT money, which was received in December of 2020, will allow us to meet some of these crucial needs.”
Local attorney Travis Plummer presents the Mansfield City Council with a contract proposal.
