The first death contributed to COVID-19 has been recorded in Scott County by the Arkansas Department of Health.
The county has remained relatively steady with low numbers of active cases. As of Thursday, September 9, there is only one active case in Scott County.
ADH reports:
Total active cases: 90
Active positive: 1
Recovered: 88
Deaths: 1
Negatives: 1513
The Scott County Quorum Court will meet in regular session on Monday, September 21, 2020 at 6:30 p.m. for the August meeting and at 7 p.m. for the September meeting in the courtroom of the Scott County Courthouse.
AGENDA:
Mercy Hospital announced that effective tomorrow, Friday, September 11 they would be revising their visitor policy:
Effective Friday, Sept. 11, Mercy Hospital Fort Smith has revised its visitation policies as well as campus guidelines. One visitor per patient, per day during a limited time will be allowed for Mercy patients hospitalized at Mercy Fort Smith, Mercy Orthopedic Hospital as well as our hospitals in Booneville, Ozark, Paris and Waldron. In addition, one visitor per patient will be allowed for Mercy patients treated in our outpatient clinics.
*Visitor guidelines are subject to change based upon COVID-19 infections in our community.
Hospital Visitation Guidelines
Hospital Campus Guidelines
*Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the visitor being asked to leave campus.
Clinic Visitation Guidelines
“We appreciate the community’s continued patience and understanding as Mercy Fort Smith works toward protocols that help maintain a safe environment while allowing visitors to return to Mercy,” said Ryan Gehrig, Mercy Hospital Fort Smith president. “We will continue to monitor our visitor guidelines as necessary and will put continued focus on maintaining a safe environment for both our patients and our co-workers.”
Many fishing tournaments in Arkansas have gone by the wayside or gone virtual to put an extra emphasis on social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. But the show goes on for the Hobie Bass Open Series, which comes to Lake Dardanelle for its kayak-fishing event this weekend.
We’ve always been intrigued with kayaking fishing, which has soared in popularity in recent years, and it might be fun to see how some of these better anglers negotiate the waters and the bass at Dardanelle (for example, motors are only allowed on the kayaks during practice, not during the event, so there will be some serious paddling going on).
The tournament, open to any angler age 16 and up, is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, culminating at 5 p.m. Sept 13. Practice rounds began on Labor Day. Registration to compete ends Thursday at midnight. There’s plenty of information, including restrictions in place because of COVID-19, to be found at the website: results.tourneyx.com/standings/6903. You can follow along with the event at the Hobie B.O.S. Group Facebook Page, where Facebook Live reports will be carried through the trophy presentations Sunday evening. You might be like me and find yourself wanting to take to a kayak on our outstanding fisheries while the weather and water remain warm.
As of Wednesday, there were 74 anglers entered, including Fayetteville’s Jeff Malott (pictured), who is founder of Natural State Kayak Anglers, reportedly the largest fishing club in Arkansas.
On Sunday, September 6, Scott County experienced an insufferable loss. An upstanding, pillar of the community, Clyde Bruce Tanner, passed away.
Tanner, 75, served as postmaster at both Parks and Mansfield. Customers knew Tanner by his smile and upbeat personality. “He was a laid back postmaster,” shared co-worker Richard Henson. “Everyone loved it when he came in. He was just a fun guy to be with!”
Betty Barnes, the current postmaster at Mansfield, noted how operationally efficient Tanner was. “You still had to do your job the right way,” added Henson. “But, he was so easy to work with!”
One thing Henson noted was the unique style of Tanner’s handwriting. “He had the best handwriting of any man I had ever seen! If he left me a note and I responded back, I was ashamed of my writing compared to his!”
Throughout his 35 years of postal service, Tanner was known for what some would dub as a photographic memory. “You could give him a last name and he could tell you what their box number was,” added Henson.
Tanner received multiple awards throughout his career with the United States Postal Service, including the National League of Postmasters’ Postmaster of the Year and Recruitment award.
Tanner graduated high school in Salina Kansas, and attended Kansas State University. In 1963, Tanner joined the United States Air Force, specializing in aerodynamics.
After retiring from the postal service, Tanner occupied his time doing what he enjoyed most, four wheeling, hunting, kayaking, tending his horses and raising chicken. Additionally, he volunteered his time as a first responder and as Chief at the Winfield Fire Department.
A tribute to his life would be incomplete without mention of those he treasured most, his family. This son, husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather was the cornerstone of the Tanner family.
To say that Tanner will be missed is an understatement. However, his family, friends and those whose life he touched will forever cherish the memories and keep him close in their hearts.
On Friday, September, 4th and Tuesday, September, 8th, the Waldron community celebrated this year’s senior Bulldogs and Lady Bulldogs. The sports that were recognized were Band, Golf, Cheer, Cross Country, Volleyball, and Football. Almost 40 senior student-athletes were present to stand in the spotlight one last time for the final stretch of their high school sports journey. A journey that will be over before you know it. A journey where after high school, you should follow your dreams and stay true to yourself. Never follow someone else’s path. Unless you are wandering aimlessly in the woods and you see a path. Then, by all accounts, you should follow that.
GOLF
BAND
CROSS COUNTRY
CHEER
FOOTBALL
VOLLEYBALL
Photos courtesy of Sandy Tull
Your kitchen is a place of gathering and tranquility. In this room, families and friends are brought together to enjoy delicious meals. It’s also a place for expression. Just like any other room in your home, your kitchen can be a place to express yourself and your style. Over time, however, this space begins to fade out and a desperate makeover becomes a necessity. If this sounds familiar, keep reading to get some inspiration and tips for revamping your kitchen.
Paint can be your best friend or your worst enemy, depending on how confident you are in your painting skills. But, when it comes to revamping your kitchen, you’re going to want to lose your fear of getting messy. Painting can be the ultimate tool for bringing your kitchen back to life. Your old cabinets can transform into something straight out of a home renovation magazine. The internet is filled with information that can make the job easier if you’ve never refinished cabinets before.
Once you have freshly painted cabinets, you’re going to want to change things up. The smallest details in your kitchen can make the biggest changes in appearance. Change things up to give your kitchen a brand-new look by switching out the knobs on your cabinets and drawers. This is a small detail, but it will allow you to really set the tone for your kitchen. The options are endless, so be sure to find the perfect paint and knob combination for your cabinets and drawers.
If your kitchen wasn’t so bright to begin with, consider adding more natural elements into the room. This can be done in various ways, and there’s no better time to do it than now when you’re revamping your kitchen’s look. Consider adding some plants or flowers to your kitchen. These can be placed in vases or hung around, depending on what kinds of flowers or plants you’re going for.
If you’re not good at keeping flowers alive, adding fake plants and flowers can also bring in the charm your kitchen has been missing. If there’s a window in your kitchen, consider keeping the blinds open. Opening the window in your kitchen can be a great way to give your kitchen a fresh and clean look and smell. Bringing in more natural elements to your kitchen will give it the new life and look it’s been desperately needing.
Sometimes, the smallest changes can make the biggest difference. Following these simple three tips for revamping your kitchen will be sure to give it a brand-new life without emptying out your pockets.
Waldron Police Department Detective Horacio Gonzalez will tell you, everyone has a story, you just have to listen. That God gifted spirit led him to his calling.
Gonzalez, born in Mexico to parents Horacio Sr. and Maria, moved to California when he was little more than two weeks old. His parents were both permanent residents of the United States, and hard working agriculture laborers. Gonzalez recalled his childhood: “My parents labored very hard seven days a week, and I saw the hardship. When I was 13, I went to help work in the fields, hoeing cotton, raking almonds and picking grapes. I eventually dropped out of school to go work in the agriculture industry like my parents.”
Gonzalez reflected on the memories, including the good food with co-laborers, with what he described as the best tasting bean tacos. “I remember sometimes we would put the hood of our car up for shade, or lay under the vehicle. I was lucky my dad had a 4×4 and it sat up pretty high. Sometimes if I had five minutes left on break, I would take a nap and use an empty soda can as a pillow.”
Later, his family, including his two siblings, Omar and Veronica, moved to South Texas. The family found it difficult to find work. Extended family, located in Arkansas, saw a newspaper advertisement for employment at Tyson. Gonzalez’ parents, and siblings moved to Waldron, and the 18 year old stayed behind. “My cousin Eddie Morin encouraged me to go back to school and get my GED. There was a school in Edinburg, Texas that provided room and board, the University of Texas-Pan America.”
In 1995, after completing his GED, Gonzalez joined his family in Waldron and began working at Tyson. Gonzalez would eventually move back to California and marry his wife of 24 years, Juanita.
In 2005, church parishioner and famed Bulldog announcer Fritz Morales pulled Gonzalez aside, “he asked me what I thought about law enforcement. I told him I was good. At Tyson we had bathrooms, a microwave and running water. Way more than what we had working in the agriculture industry ( field work).” Gonzalez did offer to serve as a translator for the growing Hispanic community. Morales set up a meeting with then Sheriff, Cody Carpenter. “I remembered to make a good impression, you needed to have a firm handshake and look someone in the eye. I practiced doing that in front of a mirror.”
Although his career wasn’t to be with the Scott County Sheriff’s Office, Gonzalez would find his path with the City of Waldron Police Department. “A few days after I visited with the Sheriff, I received a call from then Captain David Millard. They were starting a Reserve program, and wanted to know if I would be interested.”
After learning of the qualifications for the program, Gonzalez knew it was not going to be an easy path forward. “I was not a U.S. citizen at that time,” Gonzalez stated. “I was a permanent resident, but I knew the citizenship program was a long and expensive one.” Gonzalez visited with the Priest at his church, St. Jude Thaddeus Catholic Church. “Father Neil Pezzulo gave me an envelope with $700 inside and told me to go get my citizenship. He said that was his gift to me and my family, to be able to better myself.”
He started his concurrent journey on the path to citizenship and reserve classes at the Waldron Police Department. Gonzalez was concerned about the length of time it would take to become an official U.S. citizen. “What I didn’t know until later was that Chief Millard had written a letter to immigration on my behalf. I will never be able to repay him for that.”
It wasn’t long after that, Gonzalez received a phone call from immigration asking if he was ready to take the naturalization test. “The standard process takes a long time,” added Gonzalez. “Normally there is a ceremony with 100’s of people who are given a little flag, administered an oath, and sworn in as U.S. citizens.” Gonzalez passed the exam, and was immediately sworn in. “It is just amazing how everything fell into place. The education, the training, everything. It was just God.”
That’s why when people ask me what got me into law enforcement, I tell them God did.
-Waldron Police Detective Horacio Gonzalez
Following his stint as a reserve officer, Gonzalez began working on patrol. It wasn’t long until Chief Millard asked if he would be interested in working in narcotics. Gonzalez took a lengthy course at the Springdale Police Department, a program offered through the Criminal Justice Institute. “It was a chance to further better myself. I became a certified narcotics officer and K-9 officer.”
Gonzalez would then be promoted to Detective as he continued his education, as a crime scene technician, and later, as an advanced crime scene technician. “I love the detective and investigation work and I still work narcotics when I can.”
Gonzalez, now 45, utilizes his God given gifts and personal hardships as tools to relate to those he comes into contact with. “I’ve never met a drug addict that likes to be a drug addict,” shared Gonzalez. “I listen to their story and try to relate to them in some way…People just want to be heard and understood and God gave me that ability.”
His offering of dignity and respect has gained the esteem of many, even those whom he’s arrested.
Gonzalez has seen the best and the worst in people, yet he still believes in humanity. Why? Because of his faith. “I pray before I go to a crime scene, and ask for guidance,” Gonzalez added. “God put me here, I have no doubt about it.”
The Gonzalez’ have three daughters, Brenda, Ariana, and Annaly. Brenda, the oldest, holds a BSN in nursing and works in the emergency room. Ariana, 19, is in college and is pursuing a career in teaching. The youngest, Annaly, is 13 and is a student at Waldron Middle School. His wife Juanita serves as an ESL Paraprofessional at the Waldron School District. “We are all in the helping business,” concluded Gonzalez.
He often reflects back, or as he calls it, “rewinding the tape.” The years, most people would deem as difficult, was to him, Divine direction. “It’s been a beautiful life,” Gonzalez shared. “I learned the value of a dollar, morals, and ethics…all I ever wanted to do is to pass that on to my kids, raise them right, die and go to heaven.”
Since the Lady Eagles lone loss to Fort Smith Southside on August 27, Paris has rolled off four straight wins in conference play. The latest being another conference route, this time at the hands of the Lincoln Lady Wolves. Paris (6-1, 4-0) will now travel to Hackett on Thursday to face last year’s Class 2A state champions and this year’s new power in the Class 3A West. It will be a huge test for a young Lady Eagles team to play an experienced state champion on their home floor. Eagles fans can be assured that Hackett coach Bridget Freeman will have her team primed and ready to go for the match with Paris that will be for the conference lead.
Paris has not been tested since the loss to Class 7A Southside in Fort Smith. Booneville made some noise in the third set against Paris last week, but in the end, the Lady Eagles still swept the match. So far in conference play, there has been an apparent gap between Hackett, Paris, and the rest of the conference. The Lady Eagles are yet to play Waldron and West Fork, but it seems at this point that Hackett and Paris may be the two teams that will fight it out for the championship and the top seed in the district tournament. Thursday’s match in Hackett should be a good one and will be as good if not better than many of the matches that will be held later in the state tournament.
The Paris front line will be tested against Hackett. The Lady Hornetts have a tradition built by coach Bridget Freeman that includes hard-hitting front line players and a scrappy defense that flies after every ball. Every point will be contested, and the Lady Eagles will have to turn up their intensity to match the energy that the Lady Hornetts will bring in front of their home crowd. In short, it should be a classic between two great programs, and if you like high school volleyball, you will not want to miss this one.
Paris senior Lauren Earle was honored in a special pre-game senior night ceremony as the only Paris senior volleyball player on this year’s team. After the ceremony and playing in the Lady Eagles victory over Lincoln, I asked Lauren what it was like playing on senior night. Lauren said, “It feels good. I am glad I got to be a part of it tonight; it’s like every night.” When I asked her if playing tonight brought back memories of when she started in the program, she said, ” Yes, it seems like it has gone by really fast.” I asked Lauren if she was focused on getting ready for Hackett, she replied, “Yeah, we’re trying to prepare for that one. It is going to be a really good game.”
For Lauren Earle, she has a lot of volleyball left to play this season. She and her Lady Eagles teammates have a big test in front of them on Thursday, but for the loser of this game, the season is not over. The rematch in Paris is set for October 6, and both Thursday’s match and the October 6 match may determine first and second place in the conference and in the conference tournament seedings. If the teams split the two game series, the remainder of the conference schedule will become even more important as tie-breakers begin to come into play to determine tournament seedings. Of course, the ultimate goal for both programs is to win a state title, and the higher seed both programs can achieve going into the state tournament, the better or more advantageous their pathway will be to a potential appearance in the state finals. After Thursday’s match in Hackett, we will know a lot more about both teams.
So, volleyball fans, the first game in Hackett on Thursday starts at 4 p.m. Seventh grade, Jr. A, Senior JV, and Senior A matches are scheduled. It should be a barn burner, and I recommend that you get there early to get a seat.
And Resident Press will be there to bring you all of the action! Stay with Resident Press for the most comprehensive coverage of River Valley volleyball!
Clyde Bruce Tanner, better known as Bruce, of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life, Sunday, September 6, 2020, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Bruce was born December 16, 1944, in Fort Smith, Arkansas to Alton J. Tanner and Betty J. (Crutchfield) Tanner. He was 75 years old.
At a young age, Bruce joined the United States Air Force. He proudly served from 1963-1966. Bruce later joined the ranks of being a United States postal worker. He started in Waldron and then held Postmaster positions in Parks and Mansfield before retiring. He was also a First Responder and the Fire Chief at Winfield VFD. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved being in the country. He wore a lot of different hats but none made him prouder than that of Papa. He loved his family, spending time with them was priceless.
Bruce leaves behind to cherish his memory, his loving wife, Tonya of the home, one daughter, Melanie Tanner, one son, Dale Tanner and one step son, Eddy Kliewer and one brother, Gary Tanner all of Waldron, Arkansas. Papa will forever remain in the hearts of his grandchildren: Megan Rogers, Tanna Rogers both of Waldron, Arkansas, Krystin Hutchens of Booneville, Arkansas, Kallie Tanner of Dallas, Texas, Chance Tanner of Waldron, Arkansas, Tatum Tanner of Rogers, Arkansas and Trista Davis of Witcherville, Arkansas as well as 10 great grandchildren. Bruce will be missed by all that knew him and the many whose lives he impacted, including a host of extended family, friends and loved ones.
Bruce was preceded in death by his parents, Alton and Betty Tanner and one aunt, Dean Brown.
Bruce’s graveside life celebration will be 2:00 p.m., Thursday, September 10, 2020, at the Sehorn Cemetery near Waldron, Arkansas with Bro. Travis May officiating. Interment will follow. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Bruce’s pallbearers will be Butch Sims, John Charles Nelson, Bill Brown, Jerry Bob Metcalf, Duane Blackmon and Trevor Watkins.
Bruce’s visitation will be Wednesday, September 9, 2020 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Clyde Bruce Tanner, please visit our floral store.
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