Resident News Network

Hackett Football Not Fazed By 2020s Landmines

Sports

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8:56 am

Hackett Football Not Fazed By 2020s Landmines

Going into the 2020 season, there was a lot of unknown items shadowing the Hackett Sr High Hornets. Moving up to a new conference in the 3A along with trying to figure out how or if they would have games and everything from practices to game days being up in the air. But this is Hackett Hornet football! Nothing would stop them from playing the game they love. Anyone, anyhow, or anyway, the Hornets were determined to play.

Hackett started the season off with three dominant performances over Panama and Pocola then whipped up on Lavaca 40-13 in their conference opener. The Hornets even went toe to toe and blow for blow with a Cedarville team dubbed to be on the verge of greatness. Although the Hornets were edged out by a single touchdown against the Pirates, Hackett put the rest of the 3A on notice. Unfortunately, every team in the 3A1 has what is known as the midseason “Death Row” on their schedule where they have three to four games in a row against top-notch opponents.

The Hornets “Death Row” started against Cedarville followed by Charleston, West Fork, and Greenland giving them a four-game losing streak. That streak would come to an end though when the Hornets defeated their rivals, the Mansfield Tigers, in a 60-46 shootout for the final game of the regular season. “We were very proud of our guys’ hard work and effort this year. They stayed together through several close tough games. We had some bright spots and we showed we can compete in this conference,” head coach Michael Meador stated.

Ending the season with a victory over their rivals was a big boost for Hackett, but with a 2-4 conference record and a pandemic on the rise, the question was, would they be able to make the playoffs in their first year of being in the 3A. That answer was quickly answered when news broke that Hackett had a shot to earn their way in. In their playoff bid game, they squared off against Mountain View and proved yet again that they could get the job done as they scored a 38-20 win. “We had a big win against Mountain View to win our first playoff win in 3A. It was a long trip and our players stayed ready for the game the whole way. The players played and never gave up. That is why we were able to win our first playoff game.”

The Sr Hornets road to State would end in their next game though against one of Arkansas premier 3A programs, the Booneville Bearcats. Hackett may have been outsized and outmatched, but if you watched the game, you would notice they gave everything they had and never backed down. Ending the season with a 5-6 overall record and making it to two State playoff games isn’t something any team should be ashamed of. Especially when you factor in that this was their first year in a bigger conference along with the pandemic chaos that the Hornets faced each and every week.

“This was a very crazy season. Every week we did not know until the game started if we would even play that week. We could get a call at any time and not be able to play. There were all kinds of distractions that could have pulled our players’ focus away, but they always stayed on the task at hand. We are very proud of our kids for continuing to fight all year. They never backed down once against any team we played this season. We will continue to build on the positives from this season and prepare hard this off-season for next year!”

Weston Winters earned Honorable Mention All-State

Tyler Pittman earned Honorable Mention All-Conference

Photos courtesy of Mandy Foster and Michael Meador

Jr Lady Tigers Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Refs

Sports

Megan Hecox

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7:51 am

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Jr Lady Tigers Don’t Need No Stinkin’ Refs

Pictured is Harlie Fuller

The Mansfield Jr Lady Tigers took to their home court Monday night against the Mulberry Yellowjackets. The Jungle was electric as the undefeated Lady Tigers and the Yellowjackets tore onto the court only to find out that the refs were running a little behind. No problem though. After some backup refs were found, it was game on! Mansfield took to the match and bulldozed their way into the heart of the Yellowjackets nest walking away with a 42-6 victory and remaining undefeated. The Tigers played so well, that all members of the team were able to get on the court and showed just how deep the talent really is on the Lady Tigers roster.

The Jr Lady Tigers’ very own game-day swift handed bandit, Kynslee Ward, was at her norm as she spent the game stealin’ and reelin’ with the basketball earning 15 points. Mulberry made it a point to keep Alyson Edwards at bay for most of the game but made the most out of every time she got the ball. Anytime the ball touched her hand’s points were sure to hit the scoreboard as she netted 9. Raine Hecox, who grabbed 2 points, was a pass and assist queen against the Yellowjackets as she read Mulberry’s defense with ease to shift the ball to open teammates.

Throwing up 6 points was Kaylee Ward who as the tallest member of the team is able to use her height to an advantage snaggin’ and draggin’ every ball that graces the basket. Dropping three’s like it was nothing was sisters Harlie and Shelbie Fuller who landed 6 points combined. And with 2 points apiece was Cole Smith and Ellie Welch who each brings an energy to the court that opponents quickly take notice of.

The Jr Lady Tigers’ dominant performances this season have not only put all 2A teams on notice, but also every opponent on their schedule as well. The undefeated 5-0 Jr Lady Tigers will next face conference foes the Lavaca Jr Lady Golden Arrows on Thursday, December 17.

Kayaking Through the Winter

Outdoors

Resident News Network

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6:20 pm

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By Madison VanRavensway

The first official day of winter is December 21st. It’s a common belief that many outdoor activities cannot be done in such cold months. One of the main hobbies that could be forgotten until spring is kayaking. Hitting the water in freezing temperatures? No thank you. However, those who are die hard kayakers may still choose to attempt such feats.

1. Dress for submersion- even the most experienced kayakers can hit too rough rapids and end up in the water. In cold conditions a dry suit is imperative!

2. Check temperatures- the rule of thumb is air temp + water temp should be 120*, if not get that wet suit on!

3. Wet feet = cold feet, which means cold all of you! Neoprene booties allow your feet to stay warm and dry even if they get wet!

Kayaking in the winter can be a beautiful experience! But it’s important to prepare yourself for the cooler temperatures so a joyful experience doesn’t turn into a miserable one.

Lady Eagles Defeat Waldron in Conference Opener

Sports

Resident News Network

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5:06 pm

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Lady Eagles Defeat Waldron in Conference Opener

The Paris Lady Eagles hosted the Waldron Lady Bulldogs on Friday night at Paris Gymnasium. After trailing at the half, Paris eventually pulled away, in part with clutch free throw shooting in the fourth quarter, to defeat the Lady Bulldogs. Paris will travel to Hackett on Tuesday night to play the Lady Hornets in their second game of the conference schedule.

Lady Eagles coach Donald Hart was pleased to win the team’s first conference game, but was not pleased overall with his team’s performance. Coach Hart commented, “Was proud the team was able to pull out the win late, but was disappointed in our overall play. Poor team rebounding and too many unforced turnovers. Got to clean some missed defensive assignments up and continue to focus on improving offensively. Jadyn Hart and Brailey Forst were big for us down the stretch. Got to continue getting good numbers from those two heading into Christmas break.”

Although the Lady Eagles looked sluggish in the first half, the team did seem to come out of the locker room from the half with a little more fire and determination. Late scoring plays and clutch free throw shooting down the stretch were eventually enough to secure the win for the Lady Eagles.

Remembering that the core of this team that played volleyball in the fall was not an emotional or high energy team, the 2020-21 version of the Lady Eagles basketball team seems to be following the same pattern. For the long winter months of January and February where there is one important conference game after the other each week, Paris will have to find a higher level of energy and intensity to match and exceed their opponents’. The team cannot wait to pick up the intensity until they are behind in the second half of critical conference games. This team is relatively young and inexperienced on the varsity level, and they will continue to improve each week of the season.

In the win for the Lady Eagles, Jadyn Hart and Brailey Forst led the team in scoring with 16 and 15 points respectively. Jadyn Wells added 5 points for Paris.

In boys play, it was a dominating performance by the Waldron Bulldogs as they were in control for the entire night and handed the Paris senior boys a decisive lost at home in the first conference game for both schools. Paris had no answers for the Waldron pressure defense and the Bulldogs’ fast breaking offense that seemed to score at will against the Eagles. The loss was the third double-digit loss for the Eagles who must now regroup and fix some problems early if they want to be competitive in conference play.

Mequeil Ellingberg led the Eagles with 22 points. Sam Muldrow had 14, and Jesse Wells added 9 points for Paris. Eagles coach Blain Brewington said after the game, “Still trying to find our identity. Still too many turnovers. Defense was not where it needs to be in order to compete with top teams in our league. We are a work in progress.”

Paris has suffered their third straight loss by significant, double-digit margins, and the team, who started the season playing good basketball, seems to be having trouble integrating the new players from the football program into their rotations. But Eagles fans have to keep all of this in its proper perspective. The six football players have been on the basketball team for less than one week and have had very little practice time with the team. There is a lot of talent on the team, but there is also very little experience on the varsity level, and they have a new coach this year who is installing his system and expectations. It is very early in the season, and I expect this team to continue to have growing pains over the next few games, but will hit its stride in January. By post-season time, the Eagles could be a different team and could be a threat going into the district and regional tournaments. The core of this team is playing their first year of varsity basketball, but, they are very talented and will improve with each game.

Waldron, who finished last year as tri-champions of their conference along with Charleston and Elkins, was impressive and appears to be set as a contender for the title in their new conference. Certainly, the Bulldogs will be even tougher at home, and the win at Paris was big for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs, along with Cedarville and Charleston, will be very tough, and Paris must simply improve its game and find the right combination of players who can go to war with the conference schools that are expected to make a run for the title.

Paris basketball action will resume on Monday night when the Hackett Hornets junior high teams come to Paris to play the junior Eagles and Lady Eagles. Seventh grade girls, junior girls, and junior high boys games will be played starting at 5 p.m.

Senior high games against the Hornets will be played at Hackett on Tuesday. Senior girls and boys junior varsity games, as well as senior girls and boys games will be played starting at 5 p.m. Next week is the final week of conference play for Paris before the holidays break. Both the Eagles and Lady Eagles need to go into the break with two conference wins next week before they resume their conference schedule at Charleston on January 5.

Have a great weekend and Resident Press will be in Hackett on Tuesday night to bring you coverage of the Lady Eagles and Eagles games with the Hornets. Look to Resident Press on Wednesday afternoon for a complete recap of Tuesday night’s games.

Scott County Man Charged with Rape, Sexual Indecency with a Child

Tammy Teague

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4:01 pm

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A Scott County man was arrested on Thursday, December 3 and charged with three counts of rape, sexual indecency with a child, three counts of aggravated assault on a family/household member, and second degree sexual assault, all felonies. He was also charged with three counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.

Jonathan Wayne Brewer, 36, of Mansfield, was later booked into the Scott County Detention Center. Circuit Judge Jerry Don Ramey granted Brewer a $30,000 bond. Brewer’s arraignment is scheduled for January 5, 2021 at 9:30 a.m.

Brewer is also facing multiple charges from May of 2020. Those include felony drug charges, as well as leaving the scene of an an accident involving personal injury, aggravated assault, and intimidating a witness, all felonies. Trial dates are pending for both of these cases. -See related story

Kayaking Through the Winter

Madison VanRavensway

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7:23 am

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The first official day of winter is December 21st. It’s common belief that many outdoor activities cannot be done in such cold months. One of the main hobbies that could be forgotten until spring is kayaking. Hitting the water in freezing temperatures? No thank you. However, those who are die hard kayakers may still choose to attempt such feats.

1. Dress for submersion- even the most experienced kayakers can hit too rough rapids and end up in the water. In cold conditions a dry suit is imperative!

2. Check temperatures- the rule of thumb is air temp + water temp should be 120*, if not get that wet suit on!

3. Wet feet = cold feet, which means cold all of you! Neoprene booties allow your feet to stay warm and dry even if they get wet!

Kayaking in the winter can be a beautiful experience! But it’s important to prepare yourself for the cooler temperatures so a joyful experience doesn’t turn into a miserable one.

County Employees Speak at Special Budget Meeting

Tammy Teague

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6:41 am

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County Employees Speak at Special Budget Meeting

County employees were invited to be in attendance at the special budget committee meeting held at the Scott County Courthouse on Friday evening, December 11 at 6 p.m. Concerns over the elimination of employee bonuses dominated that meeting.

Four county employees addressed Committee Chairman Larry “Bear” Brigance, and the remaining members: John Luttrell, Bob Hattabaugh, Bill Bates, Linda Vaughn, Tom Wagner, Tommy Roberson, and Donald Hill. Scott Thompson was absent.

Jamie Goff, a dispatcher at the Scott County Detention Center, asked committee members what had changed in this year’s budget to prevent bonuses from being given. “I, like a lot of my co-workers, depend on this money to buy big ticket items like tires for our vehicles…We’re all supporting families, and are all on a budget. At Christmastime we’ve got to really squeeze to get in those hours.” Goff went on to add that a question had been posed, “would I prefer a bonus, or a $1 per hour raise? …The $1 per hour raise was just to offset the state mandated raise that we would be getting in January...Also, our elected officials get a three percent raise each year…” Goff went on to express concerns over hazard pay while working during the pandemic. “Crime never stops, we aren’t numbers on a budget, we are people…We’ve compared other counties…We are averaging $5-10,000 less per year doing the same job. If we don’t change this now, nobody is going to want to work for Scott County. It’s really disheartening.”

The answer to Goff’s initial question came a short time later when she again inquired what had changed in the budget. The committee chairman responded, “the mandated increase in the minimum wage.”

Deputy Clint McPherson spoke next regarding the passage of Arkansas Issue 5, the Minimum Wage Initiative, which passed in 2018. McPherson went on to state that the $1 increase to be in effect at the first of year was not a raise. “I’ve heard it called a raise. That statement is disingenuous in nature….This increase will not have the impact on people’s pocketbook that you may believe. When we go to buy bread and milk, clothes for our kids, or pay any one for any service, our costs will go up accordingly and we’re no more above the poverty line than we were before. McPherson asked for a change in the way employees are viewed and valued. “My son told me a few months back that he was interested in doing what I do. I tried to explain to him that he didn’t want to do that. And, not because the job is dangerous or because it’s not an honorable profession. I told him that he would have an extremely difficult time raising a family…on what we are paid.”

McPherson concluded that the county’s low pay is the reason it’s been dubbed a “training ground…People come here, they get some experience and then leave to go to other departments who pay a reasonable amount.” Also, that the county’s insurance is “practically unattainable for anyone other than a single individual” and is “not the gold standard you believe it to be…The cost of insuring ones family, and still being able to provide with what’s left is practically impossible.”

Health insurance doesn’t pay the mortgage and does not put food on the table. -Clint McPherson

Last to speak, Amy Kastl, a jailer at the Scott County Detention Center. Kastl spoke on behalf of herself and other jailers and dispatchers, reading statements from her co-workers. Kastl shared the high stress and pressures associated with their line of work. She spoke about the “lack of incentives,” and that the bonus “at least let us know we could provide a decent Christmas for our families….I hear a lot about how great the benefits are…but the only time I tried to take advantage and get a bad tooth taken care of, I was denied. So the way I see it, we may not be able to buy food this week, but at least we can get our teeth cleaned.”

Brigance then responded. “We are all here because of lack of revenue…I appreciate each and every one of you. If I could, I would give you all a bonus…I wanna give you a $10 raise, but I can’t. I am limited on what I can do.” In short, Brigance explained that the anticipated revenue for next year, based on what was spent this year, puts the county overbudget. Brigance added that over $100,000 in budget cuts have already been made. “It was not an easy decision for us to make those cuts,” added Vaughn. “We get so much revenue, we budget so much,” concluded Brigance. “This is based on numbers, and numbers only. No sentiment whatsoever…it’s a simple concept.”

Judge Forbes added a comment regarding hazard pay, and funds from the CARES Act. “It’s been tentatively approved by the first committee, it has two more committees to go through…as soon as it goes through, I will get with the Quorum Court.”

Forbes recommended that a committee, comprised of county employees, be formed at the first of the year to examine the pay scale and to formulate solutions.

The motion was made by Vaughn to vote on the issue of employee bonuses. Voting against: Brigance, Luttrell, Hattabaugh, Bates, Vaughn, Roberson, and Hill. Voting for: Wagner, stating “I’ve never voted against any kind of raise or a bonus, and I won’t tonight.”

With no other items of business, the special meeting of the budget committee adjourned at 6:59 p.m.

-County Government Salary Schedule-

Jamie Goff, a dispatcher at the Scott County Detention Center

MMS Students “Caught Being Good!”

Networks

Tammy Teague

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2:33 pm

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Here are some more of our Middle School students who were “Caught Being Good”!

James Bausley – 7th grade
Pacen Lunsford – 7th grade
Leland Powell – 8th grade
Kanon Fisher – 7th grade
Chelsea Elmore – 7th grade

Jr Hornets Slam Down Rattlers

Sports

Megan Hecox

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1:52 pm

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Pictured is #13 Eli Slavens

If you haven’t had the privilege of watching the Hackett Jr High Hornets play basketball then you are “swishing” out! The Jr Hornets picked up their sixth win of the season last night as they hosted the Magazine Jr High Rattlers to a full buffet of poppin’ threes, poundin’ boards, and nothin’ but net. When the final buzzer sounded, Hackett stood with a full-bellied final winning score of 50-26. This upgrades the Jr Hornets to a total season record of 6-3.

Cole Ketchum earned a double serving of points with 17 on the game by playing faster than the blink of an eye. Ketchum was un”ketch”able the entire night as he was gone quicker than a cheesecake in the Golden Girls’ kitchen. With 9 points in the match, Eli Slavens can not only get shots to land due to his eagle eye shooting but he can also see what his opponents are planning shutting down their plays faster than an E.coli outbreak at a chicken plant.

Brothers Datyn and Dawsyn Clay might be cut from the same cloth but they are most definitely their own suits. Datyn pinned down six points by aggressively going after that orange ball in the sky like a bull to the color red. And Dawsyn gained 4 points with his hotter than catfish in a skillet moves that left him dancing circles around the Rattlers. Wyatt Hester charged the court with unyielding stamina that allowed him to play minute after minute without delivering a lunch break to Magazine.

Standing taller than Mount Everest was Hayden Foster who bagged every Rattler’s attempt to defy gravity and score. Foster himself though had zero problem sinking shots as he netted 5 points from the game. And although Landon “Slammin” Slavens hit the hardwood towards the end of the game, it just goes to show you save the best for last. Slavens jumped into the match and before anyone knew what was happening he sunk a three faster than a toupee disappearing in a hurricane.

Next up, the Hackett Jr High Hornets are heading to Danville tonight, Friday, December 11, to try their hand at cleaning the Little Johns in a two-game sweep along with the help of the Sr Lady Hornets.

Jr Lady Rattlers Get Stung By Lady Hornets

Sports

Megan Hecox

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11:45 am

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Jr Lady Rattlers Get Stung By Lady Hornets

Pictured is Sydney Erp

Determination. Perseverance. Great work ethic. Ambition. Talent. You name it and the Magazine Jr High Lady Rattlers have it. They tackle each game with a brand new attitude and have refused to shy away from any opponent that they approach. And Thursday night, it was no different. In last night’s head-to-head with the Hackett Jr Lady Hornets, the Jr Lady Rattlers stood firm like a palm tree on a Florida beach during a hurricane.

Magazine held the lead 5-1 after the first quarter but unfortunately faced problems with getting the ball to fall for the rest of the game resulting in a final score of 28-22 Hackett. The 7th Grade Lady Rattlers saw success though as they earned an 11-7 victory. The evening puts Magazine with a 2-4 season record. Earning 3 points in the match was Destiny Corley who fearlessly took charge of the court like a true CEO. Corley was able to find success offensively and defensively by reading her opponents better than Christopher Columbus reading a map.

Jailynn Sims and Gracee Franklin were a dynamic offensive duo when it came to droppin’ shots as each netted 7 points in the game. Sims and Franklin left their competition smacking their heads and saying “Hoop, There It Is” after each shot the duo launched. Callie Nicholas is an up and coming athlete who has been seeing success the entire school year. Nicholas, who picked up 3 points, played smoother than a bowling ball in a tournament on a Friday night with her pristine passes and gritty court flow.

And with 2 points in her back pocket was Sydney Erp who kept the Jr Lady Hornets on their toes all night by constantly guessing where Erp was going to pop up next. Erp was so quick and swift on the court that she left the Lady Hornets questioning their contact prescriptions due to the fact that they were unable to see her clearly.

The Magazine Jr Lady Rattlers will suit up on Tuesday, December 15 for a conference showdown with the Lavaca Jr Lady Golden Arrows. Magazine will host Lavaca with a game plan to shoot the Golden Arrows back to purple and gold territory.

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