Resident News Network

Paris Races to Crushing 62-6 Senior Night Victory Over Johnson County Westside

Sports

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12:55 am

Paris Races to Crushing 62-6 Senior Night Victory Over Johnson County Westside

After last week’s victory over Lavaca, Paris head football coach Tyler Clark was happy to get a win, but was very concerned over the mistakes and the effort of his team, particularly in the second half. Coach Clark challenged his team this week saying that the JC Westside offensive and defensive lines looked more physical than his team’s to that point. The Eagles must have taken the challenge to heart, because last evening’s game against Westside was over in about ten seconds. Senior Paris tailback Ely Fore took a short opening game kickoff and returned it all the way for a touchdown. Paris never trailed, and the Eagles were off and running toward a crushing win over the Rebels. The win improved the Eagles record to 2-0 on the season.

Paris capitalized on several Westside fumbles and seemingly scored at will against Westside. Paris showed their coach that they can be a physical team on both sides of the ball. And all though the Eagles did not roll up big chunks of yards for massive total offense numbers, the offense took advantage of breaks created by their defense. By midway through the second quarter, the game was far out of reach, and Coach Clark began to empty the bench. Reserves played for Paris from approximately six minutes to go in the first half and finished the game in the continuous clock format in the second half.

After the game, Coach Clark said he felt much better about his team than he did a week ago and was very pleased with his team’s effort. He gave a lot of credit to the JC Westside team for continuing to play hard. But perhaps most of all, he was grateful to end the game without any injuries to the team. In fact, Jude Simmons, who left the game early last week with an injury, started and played the entire game last night.

Late Friday night, or if you will, early Saturday morning, Coach Clark, like a lot of other high school football coaches, was up late. No doubt, he and his staff had probably just finished watching last night’s game film. But early Saturday morning (1:15 a.m.) the Paris coach took to Twitter and posted the following message for his team and their fans.

https://twitter.com/ParisEagles/status/1302128202085793792?s=20

So the Eagles appear to be in good shape as they now turn their attention toward their first road game of the season when they travel to Northwest Arkansas to play the West Fork Tigers.

The victory capped a memorable senior night ceremony that was held before the game. Approximately 26 seniors were honored. Paris senior football players, bandsmen, cheerleaders, golf, and tennis players were honored with their families. Senior night is traditionally held on the last home game of the season, but in this time of uncertainty due to the pandemic, Paris held their ceremony in week two of the season to insure that each senior participant would have the opportunity to be publicly recognized.

Paris will play at West Fork next week and then will have a bye week the following week on September 18. The Eagles open conference play on Friday, September 25 at home against Mayflower. Paris would like nothing more than to complete the non-conference portion of their schedule at 3-0 with a win next week, and have a week off to rest players and make adjustments before returning to play on September 25. The Eagles are starting to show glimpses of the team that everyone anticipated going into the season, but it also has to keep its focus as the quality of opponents will gradually increase starting next week at West Fork and in its first conference game with Mayflower. If Paris remains healthy and continues to improve with each week, the Eagles could make some noise in conference play and position themselves to return to the state playoffs for the first time since 2017. But it is one game at a time for Paris, and a big win over a Class 2A school that has not had a lot of success over the past few years is not enough alone to get the Eagles where they want to be. If the Eagles will take Coach Clark’s challenge to heart each week, they can be as good as anyone on their schedule.

Look for more on this game on Sunday afternoon in Resident Press along with a preview of the Eagles next game against West Fork. Resident Press will be here all season to bring Eagles fans the latest and most complete coverage of Paris football.

Senior night photos, along with additional game photos taken from the Eagles game with Johnson County Westside can be found later this weekend on Facebook at Paris Eagles Sports.

And from Resident Press, congratulations to all of the Paris seniors who were recognized last night on Senior Night!

Jr Lady Hornets Prove Their Sting Is Worse Than Their Buzz

Sports

Megan Hecox

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6:27 pm

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Jr Lady Hornets Prove Their Sting Is Worse Than Their Buzz

As the Hackett Jr High Lady Hornets continue to maneuver nicely through their new 3A conference, not only are they unfazed by any opponent they face but the Jr Lady Hornets are also proving that they are worthy to compete against any contender in any town, in any conference. To start this past week off, Hackett took their game to Alma to face the “Big Dogs” in the 5A. For most people, Mondays are a blah day where you just don’t want to do much. But for the Jr Lady Hornets, it is just another day for volleyball dominance.

#23 Makenzie Freeman and #20 Alona Rothwell

One other thing that Hackett doesn’t need in their unbreakable ride to the top, is time. In just two short sets, the Jr Lady Hornets were able to take control of the Lady Airedales leash and chain them back up to the doghouse. Hackett finished 25-17 and 25-9. “Digging” their way around the world was Alona Rothwell with 3, Makenzie Freeman with 2, and with one each was Prairie Vaughn and Michaelyn Freeman. “Assisting” in this victory was Jessie Mendenhall with 6, Vaughn with 5, and Rothwell and Aubree Ruggles with one apiece. Giving better “blocking” protection than sunblock was Ruggles and Rothwell with 2 each. Playing as the true definition of “Killing” It was Freeman and Freeman with 4 each, Vaughn with 3, Rothwell with 2, and with one solo each was Ruggles, Lexi Gann and Aaliyah Escoffier. And rounding out these Jr Lady Hornets volleyball “aces” was Vaughn with 3, Makenzie with 2, and Michaelyn and Rothwell bringing in 1.

With their first victory of the week in the bag, the Jr Lady Hornets kept their roadshow moving right along as they set up camp in Lincoln. When it came to Hackett’s match against the Lady Wolves in terms of difficulty, it could best be described as an appetizer. Although it’s a nice little treat to settle your hunger, you’re still left craving more. The Jr Lady Hornets made the two sets with Lincoln quick and painless like ripping off a bandaid when they won 25-7 and 25-9. Ending the night “acing” the court was Vaughn with 5, Rothwell with 4, Michaelyn with 3, Ruggles with 2, and Mendenhall and Makenzie with 1 each.

“Killing” it softly with their plays was Rothwell and Makenzie with 6 apiece, Vaughn with 5, Gann with 3, Freeman with 2, and Ruggles with 1. With more “digs” than a South Dakota prairie dog was Freeman with 5, and Rothwell and Makenzie with one each. Netting the Jr Lady Hornets with impeccable “assistance” was Vaughn with 12 and Mendenhall with 7. And coming in as the lone “block” barrier was Rothwell with 1. The Jr Lady Hornets will start next week’s play with a 4-0 record as they take on the Lady Bulldogs at Waldron on September 8th at 4 pm. Then on Thursday, September 10th, Hackett will host the Paris Lady Eagles at 4 pm.

Photos courtesy of Mandy Foster

Local Legislators Join Lawsuit Against Secretary of Health

Tammy Teague

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4:36 pm

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Local Legislators Join Lawsuit Against Secretary of Health

State Senator Terry Rice and State Representative Marcus Richmond were among the legislators who joined in the lawsuit filed against Dr. Jose Romero, Secretary of Health.

The civil case is being spearheaded by State Representative and Senator-Elect Dan Sullivan. Additional legislators include Senators Bob Ballinger, Alan Clark, Gary Stubblefield, and Kim Hammer, and Representatives Mary Bentley, Steven Meeks, Josh Miller, John Payton, Laurie Rushing, Brandt Smith, Richard Womack, Harlan Breaux, Bruce Cozart, Justin Gonzalez and Nelda Speaks.

“I and 10 other State Representatives co-signed onto this lawsuit,” stated Richmond. “I did not take adding my name lightly. After much consideration I felt that if I intended to represent the will of our district then there was no other choice. I cannot stand by and watch government agencies be weaponized to force people to do self harm to their economic well-being. The government cure has become more harmful to the vast majority of Arkansans than the disease. Efforts by me and my colleagues have fallen on deaf ears. Unfortunately it seems the length of this pandemic may very well be directly linked to the availability of federal dollars. We will have to wait to see what results we may achieve and must not have imaginary expectations. Government incestuous relationships run deep. However, I cannot just stand by and hope for things to get better as my friends and neighbors suffer more and more loss.”

The lawsuit, which was filed on Thursday, September 3, states that directives such as the requirement of face masks are “outside the scope of delegated power.” Additionally, that their rights and status as legislators were infringed by “administrative actions of the Director of the Arkansas Department of Health.” The petition is seeking to have all 43 directives deemed invalid.

The effects ripple far beyond that of the alleged unconstitutional actions, businesses such as restaurants, who cannot open at full capacity and infringements on human rights. Lawmakers and supporters gathered on Thursday in a rally to “Reopen Arkansas,” calling for the withdrawal of the mandates and emergency declaration.

Governor Asa Hutchinson issued a response during his press conference stating the actions he’s taken during the pandemic were based on what’s been approved by the General Assembly. He added, “I think it goes without saying that this is really not an attack on the Department of Health, but it is an attack on the broad executive authority that I, as governor, have acted under during this emergency.”

Hutchinson went on to add “. . . I don’t know any of them (members of the General Assembly) who are as qualified in public health matters as our epidemiologist and our public health leaders at the Department of Health.”

Hutchinson defended his response on failing to call a special session: “That is not how to act quickly during an emergency…When people are dying, you don’t need delay, you need quick action.”

The governor stated that legislators hold the power to end the state of emergency if they choose to do so.

Sullivan responded, “we can gather signatures for and pass (with 51%) a concurrent resolution. However he (the governor) can veto the CR. I believe he would veto without blinking an eye.”

Lastly, the governor stated the legislators should disclose every donor who has contributed to the lawsuit for full transparency. Sullivan stated that he is not tied to the financial side of the lawsuit, and that it is being funded by private citizens. “I do know they (Reopen AR and Northeast AR Tea Party) capped donations at $10k and turned down several donations.”

The governor was clear, he disagrees with the lawsuit. However for Sullivan and his constituents this is about those whom they were elected to represent.

View the petition in its entirety –HERE–

Jr Tigers Hit By Injury Bug As Bulldogs Scratch Them Off

Sports

Megan Hecox

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4:13 pm

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Jr Tigers Hit By Injury Bug As Bulldogs Scratch Them Off

The Mansfield Jr High team took one to the chin Thursday night as they fell to the Waldron Bulldogs 36-6. The Tigers knew they would face some hard-hitting adversity in this matchup of rivals but unfortunately could not keep up with Waldron’s smash mouth run game. To make things worse, as the Bulldogs bit at their tail, the injury bug chewed at them during the game as well.

#7 Jeremy Strozier, #77 Dakota Langford, and #61 Turner Wright

Mansfield started the game on offense and made everything seem like all was going to be fine. On the first drive of the game, the Tigers were facing fourth and long but were able to walk the line when Peyton Martin rolled out for a punt but decided to run it instead. Trick play and effort for a surprising first down? Yes please! Unfortunately, that is where the magic began to fade. Mansfield couldn’t recreate that magic for a second time giving the Bulldogs the ball. The Jr Tigers bowed up to the Waldron power run game and went blow for blow with the Bulldogs but couldn’t keep them from scoring first with 2:22 left in the first quarter. Holding strong, Mansfield kept the Bulldogs at bay as they closed out the quarter only down 8-0.

For the take-down was Peyton Martin, Austin Ruiz, and Zach Hayslip

The Tigers woes began halfway through the second quarter when the Bulldogs scored again off of another big run. In the ensuing kickoff, the Tigers were caught off guard with an onside kick which Waldron pounced on. The Tiger’s defense was beat up, but there was no quit in any of them. Mansfield’s defense gave all the heart and effort in the world but couldn’t shut down Waldron from rolling another score putting the game at 20-0 at halftime. Halftime was when reality hit the Tigers as they lost starting quarterback, Peyton Martin, running back and backup quarterback, Jeremy Strozier, and lineman, Dakota Lanford, to injury. Going into the second half, the Tigers were down but unwilling to be out. With key players sidelined, it was up to new players in new positions to keep things going.

Coach Cothran encouraging Tyler Turnipseed

Tyler Turnipseed went from wide receiver and running back and stepped up to fill the shoes at quarterback. With starting running back Trey Powell and star wide receiver Austin Oldham still in Turnipseeds back pocket for help, the Tigers went back to work. The quick feet of Powell gained yards and momentum for the Tigers while Oldham kept the Bulldogs’ attention on him due to his big-play capability. Add in Turnipseed’s pure athletic ability at any position, and the Tigers offense was on the move. With 1:40 left in the game, Turnipseed made a smooth play-action pass to a double-covered Oldham who clawed his way to catch the ball for a 32-yard touchdown. Mansfield couldn’t muster up the extra point attempt leaving them with six points on the scoreboard. Although it took the goose egg off the scoreboard, Waldron ran the ensuing kickoff back for a touchdown closing the gap again. Raine Hecox attempted to get momentum back in the Tiger’s favor when the Bulldogs kicked off allowing her to earn a 14-yard kick return. But soon after the buzzer sounded, ending the game with a final of Waldron 36 and Mansfield 6.

“They were much more physical than us and we got beat up pretty bad. Depending on Dr’s reports, we could be out as many as 4 starters next Thursday night in Elkins. We had some players really step up in the second half, but we still have to continue to work to get better in all phases of the game” Coach Tim Cothran said about the game.

Peyton Martin finished completing three passes for 19 yards before going out due to injury while Tyler Turnipseed completed two for 34 yards and a touchdown in the game. Turnipseed also led the team in rushing with 44 yards followed by Trey Powell who gained 32 yards off five carries. Austin Oldham led the team in receiving with two catches for 35 yards and a touchdown with Turnipseed snagging two passes for 20 yards.

Obituary- Bobby Don Helms (1968 – 2020)

Obituaries

Tammy Teague

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10:43 am

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Bobby Don Helms of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life, Wednesday, September 2, 2020, at his home surrounded by his loving family. Bobby Don was born in Waldron, Arkansas to JC and Helen Helms. He was 52 years old. Bobby Don attended Unity Baptist Church at Lake Hinkle, Arkansas.

Bobby Don was born and raised around the Waldron area. He was a good ol country boy and loved to hunt, fish and run dogs. Bobby Don would help anyone he could and never expected anything in return. He was fun-loving and enjoyed giving his friends a hard time. Bobby Don was always getting himself, and anyone with him, into an adventure of some sort…but a good time and a lot of stories was usually the outcome. Bobby Don was a hard worker and loved his family. He treasured time he got to spend with each of them, hoping to share a little of his spunk and spontaneity. Bobby Don had a great love for kids. He mentored many throughout the years sharing his love of hunting and fishing, leaving many great memories for years to come.

Bobby Don leaves behind to cherish his memory, his loving wife, Ann Helms of the home, his children: Taylor Staggs, Rex Helms, Randi Brown, Jace Butler, Luke McEntire and Levi McEntire as well as his parents, JC and Helen Helms and one sister, Tammy Gardner. Papas Big Girl Ava and Little Coon Allie will have everlasting memories of their great Papa. Bobby Don will be missed by all that knew him and the many whose lives he impacted including nieces, nephews, extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles, and a host of friends, co-workers, hunting buddies and loved ones he held dear to his heart.

Bobby Don’s graveside life celebration will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, September 5, 2020, at the Center Point Cemetery in Hon, Arkansas with Rev. Jackie Smith officiating. Interment will follow. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.

Bobby Don’s pallbearers will be Lonnie McDaniel, Loyd McDaniel, Joe Hanna, Brian Root, Jerry Bob Metcalf and Eric Sandifer.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Bobby Don Helms, please visit our floral store.

Teamwork Eases 7th Grade Tigers Past Bulldogs

Sports

Megan Hecox

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10:01 am

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Teamwork Eases 7th Grade Tigers Past Bulldogs

The best teams work hard and learn from their mistakes. After falling to Mena 28-6 earlier in the week, the Mansfield 7th Grade Tigers needed a solid game against their Scott County rivals, Waldron, to get them back on track. But could back to back games in the same week against 4A teams be too much for the young Tigers? In short, no. Mansfield redeemed its loss earlier in the week by trouncing Waldron 24-0.

Dawson Robinson with the ball and Zander Walters with the block

The Tigers started off the game in dynamic fashion when Cooper Edwards handed the ball off to Dawson Robinson who juked and jived his was 51- yards for the first score of the game. Edwards punched his was in for the two-point conversion giving the Tigers a quick 8-0 lead in the first half. With the offense jumpstarting the team, Mansfield’s defense went on the hunt. On Waldron’s very first snap of offense, James Bausley exploded through the line to smother the ball carrier in the backfield setting the tone for the Tiger defense. The Tigers defense consisting of Bausley, Wyatt Boyd, Kanon Fisher, Logan Newman, Dominic Shores, and Caiden Ore were bulls in Waldron’s china shop all night long. Alex Hecox and Zander Walters ended the Bulldogs’ first offensive series as the duo blew up Waldron’s backfield on back to back occasions forcing the Bulldogs to punt.

With the Mansfield coaches still getting a feel for the talent on their 7^th Grade team, they switched Walters from wide receiver to running back for one play. If Walters was looking to impress them, that one play was all that was needed as he took a pitch and roared 43-yards downfield setting the Tigers up in scoring position. Mansfield went three and out on the next set of downs putting the defense back on the field. To make sure that the good field position wasn’t lost, the Tigers D created chaos yet again in Waldron’s backfield forcing a fumble with Bausley recovering. Robinson pushed the scoreboard up higher in the next play with a six-yard touchdown while Edwards slipped in for the two-point conversion putting the Tigers up 16-0 with 2:44 left in the half. It was like déjà vu when the Mansfield defense took the field again. The Tigers put heavy pressure on the Bulldogs and Robinson forced the fumble and recovered it to give Mansfield yet another turnover. It was a make it take it from there as Robinson took the next handoff and rolled up 24-yards for another touchdown. With yet another Edwards successful two-point conversion, the Tigers took a commanding 24-0 lead into the locker room for halftime.

With the 7^th Grade starters having a commanding lead, the second half was the opportunity the rest of the team needed to strut their stuff. Traevin Copeland became the Tiger’s offensive workhorse. Bobbing and weaving in and out of defender’s arms, Copeland made quite the impression picking up an average of three yards per carry. Edwards cut the edges off of the Bulldogs defense with multiple sweet quarterback runs to the outside also. Defensively players like Brandon Schwartz, Jacob Elmore, Chris Dickinson, Joey Fildes, and Charlie Collier, got in the mix helping the 7^th Grade Tiger squad keep their Waldron rivals scoreless with a 24-0 victory.

The victory is a sweet taste as it puts them at 1-1 against their higher class 4A opponents with only one more to go before conference play. The 7^th Grade Mansfield Tigers will travel to Elkins to attempt to hunt down another win on Thursday, September 10^th.

Jr Tigers Close But No Cigar Vs Mena

Sports

Megan Hecox

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10:19 am

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Pictured is Jeremy Strozier

The Mansfield Jr High Tigers are a team poised for success. On Monday, the Tigers traveled to Mena to take on a Bearcat squad that in all honestly could possibly beat anyone in the state. Did that phase the Tigers? Not one bit. Mansfield hung tight and went toe to toe with the Bearcats in a close game that was much closer than the scoreboard reflected. When the clock ran out, the Tigers were on the losing side of a 16-6 game.

Mansfield started the game out with some big-time defensive hits and team tackles that put Mena on notice real quick. The Tigers spread out the speedy Mena team forcing them to play Jeopardy with their playbook. Jeremy Strozier, Austin Oldham, Tyler Turnipseed, were pure head hunters for the Tigers defense as they squared up and charged the larger running backs and receivers that Mena had on the field with no fear. Mansfield’s defensive line may have been outsized. But Sammy Sellers, Eli Garner, Trey Vaughan, Dakota Langford, Turner Wright, and James Olinghouse, took it to the Bearcats, shutting down their run game for most of the night forcing the bearcats to air it out. A confused Mena offense gave Mansfield the opportunity for Turnipseed to pick off a pass and Austin Ruiz to recover a bad snap late in the game. Unfortunately, Mena was able to get a few big plays in with their larger receivers to hang 16 points on the Tigers.

Offensively, the Tigers used a plethora of weapons to confuse Mena on multiple occasions. With players like Peyton Martin, Oldham, Turnipseed, and many more on the field at the same kind, the Bearcats defense couldn’t decide which pill was harder to swallow. Ninth-Grader and first-year starter, Peyton Martin, was 11 of 21 passing in the game for 151-yards and a touchdown in the game. To put up those kinds of yards in a game you have to have some solid receivers as targets and boy did Martin ever have those. Leading the receiving core was Turnipseed who averaged 20-yards per reception with four catches for an astounding 80-yards. Close behind him was Oldham who also got four passes and took them for a combined 50-yards and the Tigers sole touchdown of the game. Two targets are good, but Mansfield had weapons everywhere. Zach Hayslip and Trey Powell rounded up the receiving group with Hayslip catching two passes for 10 yards and Powell taking in one pass for 11-yards. Although the ground attack wasn’t on the heavy side, Mansfield was able to rake in a few runs to keep the Bearcat defense honest. Martin led that attack with 10 rushing attempts for 45-yards. Strozier, Powell, and Oldham rounded out the running game with a combined six carries for 19-yards.

Although the Tigers lost their game against a prominent 4A Mena school, they showed that they will be serious contenders in 3A-1 conference play this season. Film will be watched, mistakes will be corrected, and practice will continue for the sole purpose of improving each and every day. The Jr Tigers will be able to showcase what they have learned since their Mena game earlier this week tonight as they host the Waldron Bulldogs in a Scott County Showdown. Kickoff for the 7^th grade Tigers will be at 5:30 pm and Jr High will be at 7:00 pm.

Ways To Energize Your Home Interior

Networks

Resident News Network

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9:28 am

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If you feel your home’s décor and overall atmosphere are blander than you would like them to be, a few easy changes can transform your house into a much more interesting space. You don’t need to make large-scale purchases or spend hours doing major renovations to revamp it. Here, we give you examples of simple ways to energize your home interior that you can try today.

Incorporate Plants

You probably already have some plants out in your front yard and backyard that make your home look more beautiful from the outside. Incorporating plants inside your house can also work to great effect because they literally bring life to your rooms. They produce clean oxygen as a byproduct of photosynthesis and decorate the space in which they sit. There’s also something comforting about having plants nearby, especially when most of your surroundings are filled with manmade objects. You can take your pick of a variety of plants that you think looks pretty or that will be easy to take care of.

Utilize Fragrances

When you’re mulling over ways to energize your home interior, you shouldn’t limit yourself to the visual realm. Pleasant fragrances can also make the ambiance brighter. You can go for air fresheners, candles, or essential oil diffusers to spread wonderful aromas around your home. Whatever method you select, you can switch between countless invigorating scents. Sharp mint and eucalyptus work to ward off lethargy, while citrus fragrances are both spritely and sweet.

Put Up Wallpaper

Painting your walls a new color can certainly rejuvenate your rooms, but have you ever considered putting up wallpaper? Unlike paint, wallpaper comes with complex designs that you wouldn’t be able to create easily on your own. Some designer wallpapers also have unique textures that set them apart from the plain, smooth walls you see in most houses. You can cover all the walls of a particular room with a certain wallpaper to instantly give it vigor with playful or quirky designs. If you enjoy a certain wallpaper but think it might be too much for an entire room, you could also cover just one wall with it to serve as an accent.

ATU Announces Preliminary Fall 2020 Enrollment Figures

News

Tammy Teague

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4:31 am

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ATU Announces Preliminary Fall 2020 Enrollment Figures

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. (September 2, 2020)–Arkansas Tech University released preliminary enrollment figures for the fall 2020 semester following the 11th class day of its 111th session on Wednesday, Sept. 2.

Preliminary headcount enrollment at ATU for fall 2020 is 10,866. The university is serving 10,137 undergraduate students and 729 graduate students.

“As the circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic began to develop last spring, it became clear that this would be the most challenging recruiting season for higher education since World War II,” said Dr. Robin E. Bowen, ATU president. “The health concerns and financial hardships created by the pandemic prevented many students from beginning or continuing their post-secondary studies this fall. Our university pulled together and worked diligently over these past six months to develop a strategy that would allow us to continue delivering high-quality programs and services in a manner that protected the health and well-being of our students, faculty and staff. We also pledged no increase in tuition and mandatory fees for the fall 2020 and spring 2021 semesters.

“We are pleased that these factors, coupled with the reputation this university has cultivated over multiple generations, allowed us to recruit a freshman class larger than the one we welcomed to our campuses just two years ago, increase our student semester credit hours (SSCH) on the Ozark campus and generate the overall SSCH necessary to support our operations for the fall 2020 semester,” continued Bowen. “By maintaining focus on student access and student success, Arkansas Tech University will continue carrying out its mission as a responsive campus community providing opportunities for progressive intellectual development and civic engagement.”

Student semester credit hours for ATU-Ozark Campus college-level students are up 5 percent as compared to one year ago.

“Challenging times require higher education to be nimble and adaptable,” said Bowen. “Those traits are part of the DNA at ATU-Ozark Campus. Through a stackable model that extends to our Russellville campus, ATU-Ozark students attain credentials that lead to progressively increasing career and educational opportunities. It is important that we offer multiple entry points to higher education and serve lifelong learners as their training needs evolve in response to changing economic conditions.”

In addition to the pandemic, ATU’s demonstrated improvement in graduating students on a shortened timeline is also a downward pressure on its enrollment figures.

Arkansas Tech’s current four-year graduation rate for first-time freshmen is 43.7 percent, which is an increase of 15.8 percentage points as compared to two years prior.

ATU conferred 4,072 credentials during the 2019-20 academic year, which was most in university history.

Preliminary headcount enrollment by campus at ATU for fall 2020 is 8,892 through Russellville and 1,974 through Ozark. Those figures include concurrent students. ATU’s preliminary headcount enrollment minus concurrent students for both campuses is 8,146.

There are 1,773 freshmen enrolled at ATU for fall 2020. That is a 15.5 percent decrease as compared to the university’s record class of 2,098 freshmen in fall 2019. The fall 2020 Arkansas Tech freshman headcount is 46 students greater than the ATU freshman class of 2018.

Visit www.atu.edu to learn more about Arkansas Tech University.

A Walk To Remember

Headlines

Megan Hecox

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5:02 pm

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Every American remembers where they were and what they were doing on September 11, 2001. I had just started my senior year of High School and was sitting in Psychology class. As my teacher was getting ready for her lesson, another teacher stuck her head in the door and told her she needed to get her t.v. cart out and turn on the news. And there it was. On every station, you saw a tower with smoke coming out of it. It took all of us a minute to realize what was happening. The silence that filled the school was chilling, to say the least. After 30 minutes of watching the horrors taking place, it was time for the next class period.

Nobody really talked the rest of that day. We all just kind of went through the motions with the same fearful look in our eyes. With so much confusion as to what was happening, the majority of us were waiting for another attack, worried that it would be us next. September 11, 2001, resulted in the largest loss of life on American soil by a foreign attack. That day, nearly 3,000 people died from the attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Airlines Flight 93. But that day, something else happened as well. Every single American stood united arm in arm to show our enemies that we would not be broken that easily. It took nearly nine months for the Twin Towers site to be cleared of debris. For 24 hours day after day after day, Americans watched from their homes as brave men and women from all over the country, worked tirelessly to pick up the pieces.

In 2002, the Tribute of Light was constructed near ground zero which is where the towers used to sit. The Tribute consists of two light beams projected into the New York sky every year from September 11 until dawn on September 12 to represent the attacks that took place on that horrific day. But this year on September 11, something even more unpleasant is happening. Due to the fear of large group gatherings and spreading the coronavirus, the New York sky will remain dark. But there is one event that is still happening.

On September 12, 22 Shenanigans along with 9/11 Honor and Team Red, White, and Blue, will be hosting an Awareness Walk in memory of lives lost in the 9/11 attacks. Also being honored in this walk are the servicemen and servicewomen killed in action during the wars that make our freedom possible. Military personnel often have to deal with high-intensity, stressful, and dangerous environments for months or years at a time resulting in life-altering mental health issues. According to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, depending on the time of year, between 529,000 and 840,000 find themselves living on the streets suffering from drug and alcohol abuse along with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Another reason for having this walk is to bring awareness to a problem that is spreading through our military like a contagious disease. Suicide. 22 Shenanigans was organized after a local veteran’s brother committed suicide. According to the Office of Suicide Prevention, 22 veterans lose the fight to battle their inner demons and succumb to taking their own lives. The Awareness Walk is being done to spread awareness that a veteran never walks alone. Local Magazine resident, Jarrod Moore, was on board the USS Tarawa the day the towers fell.

“It was a day that changed my life as well as every American’s life. Yes, over time, the spirit has dwindled into the soup sandwich that we have today. I recently joined an organization of Veterans that try and keep united through exercise and fitness. Three years ago due to a flare-up of Multiple Sclerosis, I was wheelchair-bound for 5 months. I didn’t know if I was going to walk again. But because of a wonderful physical therapist, I did.”

“If a person wants to walk, all they need to do is just show up. Now they can walk at any point in the race they want to. They will need to find a way to make it to their starting point, but we will have someone to bring them back to their vehicle. We are asking if everyone can show up for the beginning ceremony and walk the final half-mile to the Paris courthouse. There will be a ceremony for paying awareness to 22 Shenanigans at the Paris courthouse afterward.”

R

Incorporate Plants

Utilize Fragrances

Put Up Wallpaper

RESIDENT NEWS NETWORK