Stone Cold Lock Of The Week: Week 7
Week 7! Just four more games in the regular season, but at the mid-point of the conference race. This week’s games in the 3A-1 are kind of tame in comparison to what is coming the next two weeks. The 6A West race still has some seeding that will start to become clearer this week.
Get out this week and watch football or go to Tri-State Speedway, their big end of the year race is going on this week.
Stone Cold Lock Of The Week
Fort Smith Southside vs Van Buren
I did not want to make it to big school games in a row, but when you see the rest of the Friday night slate. I am sure you the reader will understand. The 4-2 Mavericks travel across the river to take on the 4-2 Van Buren Pointers. There has been clamoring on one ranking about not ranking the Pointers higher because they are 3-0 like Greenwood. Solid point, and the complaint is noted. This week they can take a major step in getting into the conversation of competing for no lower than a fourth seed by beating the Mavericks. But there is still a gauntlet for Van Buren to run through, trip to Greenwood, home against Mountain Home, and then at Shiloh Christian to end the regular season. Southside already has losses to Mountain Home and Shiloh with a week nine game at Greenwood looming. If the Mavericks can find a way to stop Austin Riggs, who follows a great line of Pointer receivers like Malachi Henry and Trenton Cooley. Southside may just pull off getting that fourth spot.
The Rest
Cedarville vs Mansfield
Two games ago it was Andrew Burton, the last game was Silas Burton. Could there be a third Burton brother or cousin that takes home the Mansfield Farm Bureau game ball this week? As long as the Tigers do not overlook the Pirates while looking ahead to next week’s game against Booneville, this could be in sportsmanship territory by halftime.
Lavaca vs Charleston
At one point this was a rivalry. Bragging rights for Highway 22, but since 2006 this has been a lopsided affair with Charleston averaging 44 points to Lavaca’s 14. This season Charleston averages 45 points per game this season, and all signs are pointing to this game going the same way. Charleston has Booneville in Week 9 at home.
Booneville vs West Fork
The Bearcats will score as much as they want to in this matchup. The next two weeks for the Bearcat faithful will be large deciders on where they spend the first round of the playoffs. Win both there the top seed. Win the one next week and it puts the conference into a light spin. Just win the second one, they are number two. It is a heavyweight matchup we all have been waiting for since the start of the season. At some point doing these I will look at the West Fork logo in Adam’s Game Day edit and not think (team name) vs Wake Forest.
Hackett vs Greenland
Well, this one should have been the Lock of the Week. Hackett is on the backside of one of the toughest trio of games Mansfield, Booneville, and then Charleston. At that, they got Charleston after a tough Mansfield loss. Up until conference they were 2-1, could Hackett turn the tables and become the fourth seed in the 3A-1? Get past Greenland and that Lavaca game in Week 8 becomes huge for a playoff berth.
Greenwood vs Lake Hamilton
Just like Lavaca vs Charleston there was a time when this game was one you circled as what could be a good game. Back in the Ronnie Peacock era the games were decent, then since 2016 in the Rick Jones then Chris Young era, there have been four shutouts. The Bulldogs were going for five shutouts until a deep pass got them on the scoreboard for the first time since the 2020 State Championship game. Chasing Coatney: 1612 yards to go for Kane Archer.
Jessieville vs Paris
The Eagles are on collision course with Glen Rose on Halloween in Week 9.
Magazine vs JC Westside
4-2 Magazine is rolling in and out of JC Westside this Friday. The Rattlers do host the defending Class 2A State Champion Conway Christian next week. A win could have them in position to get a playoff spot.
Mena vs Waldron
While this may not be the Mena team they had last year, there is time for them to make noise. The last two weeks see them going against Clinton and Dardanelle. Waldron has just four more games and could end on a high note with games against Dover and Lamar in consecutive weeks.
Just One More So We Can Have An Equal Ten on Our Edit.
Benton vs El Dorado
Currently, there are five teams sitting at 2-1. Yes, you read that FIVE teams with identical records are right. Last year Sylvan Hills finished 0-10, this year they sit on top of the conference after surprising the whole dang state beating Benton and El Dorado in back-to-back weeks. Benton, who was a pre-season #3 behind Greenwood and Shiloh, now may end up a fourth seed in their conference. This may be the most intriguing conference regardless of class with everyone beating each other.
| Games | Ross’ Picks | Adam’s Picks |
| LOTW Southside vs Van Buren | Southside | Southside |
| Cedarville vs Mansfield | Mansfield | Mansfield |
| Lavaca vs Charleston | Charleston | Charleston |
| Booneville vs West Fork | Booneville | Booneville |
| Hackett vs Greenland | Hackett | Greenland |
| Greenland vs Lake Hamilton | Greenwood | Greenwood |
| Jessieville vs Paris | Paris | Paris |
| Magazine vs JC Westside | Magazine | Magazine |
| Mena vs Waldron | Mena | Mena |
| Benton vs El Dorado | El Dorado | El Dorado |
Timepiece: Cherokee in Arkansas
By Dr. Curtis Varnell
Virtually every old family living in the Arkansas River Valley claim to have some Indian blood, most often Cherokee. Often blue-eyed, sometimes blond-headed, and without a feature generally accepted as native, in most instances they are probably correct. The Cherokee are an integral part of the culture and history of the region.
The original homeland of the Cherokee Indians was western North and South Carolina, north-ern Georgia, and northeastern Tennessee. As American settlers encroached upon their native lands, many of the Cherokee willingly left their homeland. Others, more resistant, fought in court and on the battle field against this encroachment but were ultimately defeated. One of the more resistant of the warriors, a chief by the name of Dragging Canoe, made an impassioned appeal to his people during the 1775 treaty of Sycamore Shoals, “the whole country, which the Cherokees and their fathers have so long occupied, will be demanded, and the remnant of the Real People — will be compelled to seek refuge in some distant wilderness. There they will be permitted to stay only a short while, until they again behold the advancing banners of the same greedy host. Not being able to point out any further retreat for the miserable Cherokee, the extinction of the whole race will be proclaimed.” Much of his proclamation became fact.
By 1780, many of these “old settlers” moved westward into Spanish territory and settled in eastern Arkansas near the Saint Francis River only to once again face American encroachment as the result of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. After the New Madrid earthquake of 1811-12, they moved even further westward and settled along the Arkansas River. Eventually, a treaty with the U.S. provided them a land-grant that was said to be equal to the size of their original homeland with territory from the Arkansas to the White River. An 1816 treaty termed the Lovely Purchase established a boundary between the warring Cherokee and Osage and extended tribal land as far west as Tulsa.
The Old Settlers established scattered family farmsteads and farms and developed a life-style little different than their white counterparts. Many owned cattle and other livestock and some grew cotton and owned slaves. The Cherokee established small villages at Mulberry, Illinois Bayou, Galla Creek, Pottsville, and south into Yell county at Dutch Creek. One of the more disgruntled groups moved as far south as Texarkana, hoping to again enter Spanish territory.
The Arkansas group included several well-known individuals. A document detailing those attending a meeting at the Indian trading post at Spadra included John Jolly, the principal chief of the Cherokee, and his famous adopted relative, the Raven (Sam Houston). Both were listed as living in the Horsehead Creek area. Another of the settlers, Walter “Wat” Webber became well-known for settling at the famous falls named after him in Oklahoma. One of the more famous of the group was George Gist, also known as Sequoyah, who may have developed a part of his alphabet while living near present day Clarksville. Dwight Mission, a school where Cherokee children could learn American ways, was established near Russellville in 1820.
In 1819, the author Thomas Nuttal described the area along the river as “lined with the houses and farms of the Cherokees, and though their dress was a mixture of indigenous and European taste, yet in their houses, which are decently furnished, and in the farms, which were well fenced and stocked with cattle… argue a propitius [sic] progress in their population.”
The peaceful life of the Cherokee soon came to an end. In 1828, the Treaty of Washington uprooted the Cherokee, moving them westward into Oklahoma and forcing them to abandon the prosperous farms they had established. To expedite the removal, every displaced native was given: “…a good rifle, a blanket, a kettle, and 5 lbs. of tobacco when he agreed to move…” while any displaced frontier settler was awarded with: “…up to 320 acres of public domain land in Arkansas Territory for every head of household over the age of 21 years.”
The Eastern Cherokee, those who had stayed in the original homeland, were soon to be removed as well. Their trip was called the “Trail of Tears.”
2025 alligator season sets harvest record
Arkansas’s two-weekend alligator season wrapped up in the predawn light Monday morning, and when the last harvested alligator was checked, hunters had tallied 205 alligators, narrowly edging out the previous record of 202 harvested in 2023.
According to AGFC Herpetologist Amanda Bryant, hunters surpassed the initial quota of 204 with one additional harvest.
“We’re really happy with the outcome this year. We always want 100 percent of the quota to be filled so it’s great when that happens,” Bryant said. “The quota is exceeded when multiple hunters take an animal in the same night and only one or two animals remain to close the season. It’s pretty common. We set the quota a few animals short of the total needed harvest with this in mind.”
Hunters on public land filled 26 of the 38 drawn public land tags available. The success rate of 68 percent was an improvement over last year’s 58 percent hunter success on public land.
“Almost every hunter who puts in some time on the water in Arkansas’s public alligator hunting areas will see a legal alligator to harvest. Getting within snare or harpoon range can be tricky, especially with some of the larger ones,” Bryant said. “And a lot of unfilled tags are the result of hunters holding out for a larger alligator and running out of time; but hunters were actually more successful this year than last year.”
This year’s Millwood Lake hunt totaled seven checked alligators, leaving two tags open at the end of the first year of this area’s quota hunt.
“We tried to get the harvest a little higher there with the addition of the quota, hoping more hunters would mean people wouldn’t pass up on opportunities,” Bryant said. “Seven of the nine possible checks is slightly better than last year, but we’d really like to see that harvest goal reached in the future.”
On private land, Alligator Management Zone 3 in southeast Arkansas had the most successful hunters, with 106 checked during the two weekends of the hunt. Hunters in Alligator Management Zone 1 in southwest Arkansas checked 69 alligators, and hunters in south-central Arkansas (Alligator Management Zone 2) harvested four.
“Zone 2 doesn’t have as much habitat for alligators and has a smaller quota for private land hunters,” Bryant said. “It was the only zone to remain open on the last night of the hunt. Zone 3 closed two days before the end of the hunt, and Zone 1 closed with one night remaining in the scheduled hunting season.”
Arvest Bank Offers Tips to Prevent Elder Fraud
October is National Cybersecurity Month and Arvest Bank is sharing tips to help one particular group most vulnerable to financial fraud: America’s elders. According to the Federal Trade Commission, older adults lost the most money to scammers in 2024. Victims aged 60 and older reported losses of nearly $2.4 million.
Criminals will target vulnerable people online or on the phone and gain their trust through elaborate schemes, including imposter, romance and sweepstakes scams. Their ultimate goal is to financially exploit their victims through theft, fraud or misuse of the person’s money or property.
“Financial fraud is an issue that impacts everyone regardless of age, but too often we see older victims fall prey to these scams,” said Heather Polk, Branch Administrator at Arvest Bank – Fort Smith. “Our hope is to continually educate the public about these scams so they can protect themselves and their loved ones from being victims.”
Polk shares three common scams and ways to prevent vulnerable individuals from financial fraud.
Imposter Scams
Imposter scams happen when fraudsters contact someone pretending to be their bank’s fraud department, the government, a business or even a relative. These imposters have a number of ways to contact you, including emails, texts and phone calls. These scams typically warn of a serious problem or an issue that requires immediate attention, such as a potential unauthorized transaction or a credit card that has been locked.
It’s important to never click on any links in an unsolicited text, email or website. If you’re unsure if it’s legitimate, contact the business or agency that is allegedly responsible for contacting you through a verified number.
Romance Scams
Romance scams are a type of imposter scam that occurs when a scammer creates a fake online identity to gain a victim’s liking and trust. Fraudsters will use this false relationship to manipulate their target into giving them money or even gaining access to their financial accounts. If a love interest asks for money, they may ask you to send it as a gift card, online money transfer or cryptocurrency.
A simple rule to follow: Never send money or gifts to someone you have not met in person.
Fake Prize Scams
Scammers, possibly posing as a recognizable organization, may contact you through text, phone or email with the promise of a prize, lottery or sweepstakes. Their goal is to gain access to your personal information and money. The FTC provides three common signs of a prize scam: if you have to pay to claim your prize; if you have to pay to increase your odds of winning; or if you have to give your financial or personal information.
If you’re not sure about a contest or the company contacting you, search online to see if you find anything about them. Type the name with terms like “review,” “complaint” or “scam.”
Protecting Loved Ones
If you are concerned about a family member or friend you may think is a target of financial exploitation, here are some things to watch for:
● Erratic or unusual banking transactions, or changes in banking patterns such as frequent large withdrawals, including at the ATM, or uncharacteristic internet charges or attempts to wire large sums of money.
● Unusual or sudden changes in a will or other financial documents.
● Unexplained disappearance of funds or valuable possessions.
● A new caretaker or friend who suddenly begins conducting financial transactions on behalf of the elder.
If you suspect you have sent money to a scammer, immediately report it to your financial institution and report it to the proper authorities such as local law enforcement.
Waldron School Board Appoints Zone 4 Member, Updates Policies and Facilities
The Waldron School Board moved through a full agenda Monday night, appointing a new Zone 4 member, approving cell phone policy changes for middle and high school students, and hearing campus updates that included academic events, student honors, and upcoming activities.
Board President Clay Woodall called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. at the Central Office. Members present were Woodall, Konnor McKay, Mac Davis, and Angela Hunsucker. Superintendent Daniel Fielding and a host of administrators, staff, and community members also attended. McKay opened with a prayer and Hunsucker led the Pledge of Allegiance.
Board actions
- Consent agenda approved (4–0): September 8 and September 23 minutes; financial reports and expenditures.
- Student device policy (4–0): Changes to the Middle School and High School Cell Phone Policy were approved.
- Personnel: Following an executive session, the board accepted the resignation of Lauri Glumm as food service cook, effective Sept. 18, 2025 (4–0). The board also approved transferring Ashli Hutchens to District Business Manager, effective July 1, 2026 (4–0).
- Zone 4 appointment: After hearing remarks from Toni VanDeWiele and Joy Carmean about their interest in serving, members submitted individual recommendations. With support from McKay, Hunsucker, Davis, and Woodall, Toni VanDeWiele was appointed to fill the Zone 4 seat.
Campus and activities highlights
Principals reported on recent and upcoming events across the district:
- Districtwide: Parent-teacher conferences are scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 21.
- ABC Program: Director Kim Solomon noted upcoming visits to Dalton’s Place, The Springs Nursing Home, and participation in the Oct. 31 Homecoming parade.
- Elementary School: Principal Cheyenne Smith recapped recent field trips and reminded families of the Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 18, 10 a.m.–1 p.m., on Main Street.
- Middle School: Principal Zack Taylor said seventh graders visited Queen Wilhelmina State Park and invited board members to experience the energetic middle-school pep rallies. He recognized Jr. High All-Region Choirhonorees: Layla Balkcom (9th chair), Jenna Opray (8th), Abby Rincker (11th), Gracie Stockton (14th), Lilly Perez (15th), and Russell Nutley (19th).
- High School: Principal Josh Atchley outlined a packed Oct. 21 that includes Bulldogs Future Day and FAFSA filing night during conferences. Some students toured Rheem’s engineering department led by WHS alum Caden Fuller. He thanked Marcus Richmond for selecting WHS to observe the Sky Dome program. Ajay Cherry earned silver at the Greenwood High School Chess Tournament.
- Athletics & Activities: Athletic Director Chris Lipham reported a continuing need for bus drivers and reviewed the slate of events: Volleyball Senior Night this Thursday; golfers Evan Owens and Harlow Dickens advanced to the State Golf Meet; the homecoming football game on Oct. 31 will feature the naming of the track in honor of former coach Gaile Hainley at halftime; the first home cross-country meet is Saturday, Oct. 18; and the WHS Band placed third at the Dale Bumpers Invitational in Charleston.
Facilities update
Superintendent Daniel Fielding reported steady progress on roof repairs districtwide, noting the Elementary Schoolproject is near completion. At the Middle School, crews are conducting tear-offs at night and repairs during the dayto reduce disruptions. He also said all buildings with metal roofs are being inspected for potential hail damage.
The board entered executive session at 7:04 p.m., returned to open session at 7:17 p.m., and adjourned at 7:19 p.m. on a motion by Davis, seconded by McKay.
