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Governor Gives Approval to Resume Contact Sports in the Fall

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Governor Gives Approval to Resume Contact Sports in the Fall

By Dr. Jim Best

In today’s daily press conference, Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson cleared the way for contact sports to be played this fall. In his briefing, the governor acknowledged hearing from many across the state on this issue.

Governor Hutchinson stated his decision would affect sports, band, and cheerleading. The governor stated: “As I have said on numerous occasions, we need school this fall. And part of school are the sports and other extracurricular activities that go with school. I have heard from every corner of the state and everybody expressing their opinions on this; from parents to teachers, students, coaches, to moms and school counselors. Based upon that, I want to say that the Arkansas Athletic Association has presented a schedule for football in terms of contact team drills with helmets. And that will be from August 3 through August 7. And so we want our student-athletes in football to proceed with their no-contact team drills with helmets throughout next week. And we want that to proceed. I am asking the AAA to submit a plan and to the Arkansas Department of Health to have football, volleyball, and cheerleading this fall. That will allow the Department of Health to review and develop the guidelines for mitigating the virus risk associated with contact sports.”

Governor Hutchison continued stating: “Further, I am announcing today that I am establishing a high school sports advisory group to make recommendations to me and to assist the Department of Health in the best practices for protecting the student-athletes and school personnel. And to lead us to have a regular sports season this fall. Sports is a very important part of the development of our youth. If we do not have sports, then many of the student-athletes will be going out-of-state to participate in sports which adds another level of risk and that increases the risk.”

The Governor continued to comment that volleyball teams could begin working out and their seasons will start on time. The same is true for marching band programs.

With respect to fans in attendance at games, the governor indicated that the same guidelines for large gatherings would pertain to high school games. Social distancing, the wearing of masks, etc., would be maintained.

Addressing high school football players, the governor stated, “grab your helmets and after practice, grab your masks!”

The Greenwood Resident will have more on this development in the next few days. Stay with GR for the latest on fall high school sports!

Is Today THE Day?

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Is Today THE Day?

Its July 31, and the ongoing saga of “will they play or will they not play” continues for Arkansas high school contact sports. As time grows shorter for the normal resumption of fall contact sports in the fall, today is the day that many have pointed to as the latest date a decision can be made by Arkansas governor Asa Hutchison to allow contact sports to progress to their next steps of preparation starting Monday, August 3.

In the background of Governor Hutchison’s decision is the current state of COVID-19 positivity rates and the decisions of other organizations around him, such as the Southeastern Conference’s decision to play football in the fall with a delayed starting date of September 26. As with any major decision that affects something that is deeply cared for and valued by citizens, such as sports fans in the state, the governor’s decision involves the facts of the decision related to medical science and epidemiology, the precedence established by other organizations, and the optics of the decision to give the impression that the right decision has been made for the benefit of all concerned.

If high school contact sports were not allowed to be played in the fall, for example, it would be hard to explain how 33,000 fans would be allowed in Razorback Stadium, along with players, coaches, support personnel, etc. and not allow much smaller gatherings at high school sporting events. How could college football be allowed to play and high school not? Can the “optics” be made to look good to all concerned? Can a decision be made to show that all precautions have been made to protect the participants and the fans? These factors appear to be part of the decision made by the SEC to delay the start to September 26 and to reduce the season schedules to ten conference games only. Arkansas high schools could take a similar approach of starting the season in mid-September with a conference only schedule. But who knows? As with every day this summer, we are still awaiting a decision and explanation on all of this from Governor Hutchison.

Under normal circumstances, Arkansas high school football coaches would be issuing equipment to players to begin practices in shorts, t-shirts, and helmets starting Monday, August 3. In fact, according to Twitter, some coaches have issued equipment in hopeful anticipation of an announcement today from the governor’s office that would permit them to start and not lose any more time in preparation of their teams.

If I were to predict the outcome, I would predict an approval to play with a delayed start somewhere after the Labor Day weekend. Perhaps a reduced number of games, and a wide-variety of guidelines for on-field participants such as band, cheerleaders, etc. And who knows how fans will be affected?

But, I have no source for this, and this is simply my opinion and prediction. I am like every other fan in the state just waiting to see. I hope that there is a way to protect everyone involved and give our kids, who have been working their hearts out since June 1, the chance to play. How unfair would all of this be to allow our kids to work so hard in June and July when there was, in reality, very little chance of letting them play? For this reason alone, I find it almost impossible not to let them play.

So all of us will find out soon. And hopefully, today is THE day. If it is, Resident Press will be here to update our readers.

Fun Activities for Adults to Do in the Summer

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Fun Activities for Adults to Do in the Summer

The warm days of summer are upon us, and that opens up some possibilities for making the most of the pleasant weather. If you often find yourself bored at home during your off-hours, maybe trying something new will help you get out of the rut. Consider these fun activities for adults to do in the summer that will allow you to get outside and enjoy your time before autumn comes back around.

Have a Picnic

Picnics are classic when it comes to summer activities. You can go simple or extravagant with the food you bring out, so take it as an opportunity to try out some new recipes. There is also a good amount of freedom for your picnic location. It could be as close as your own backyard, meaning that you don’t need to buy and lug around a bunch of large containers and baskets to bring your meal to the blanket you’ve set out. Sharing a picnic with your family or friends is a good bonding experience as well.

Start a Garden

Caring for a garden is a warm-weather hobby you can try your hand at for a more routine activity to work at each day. In the beginning, you should iron out what your goal with the garden is, as this will help you decide what types of seeds and plants to raise. For an attractive addition to your home, flowers may be the best choice for you. Alternatively, you could focus on growing edible plants that you can later use in your home cooking, such as herbs. With smaller plants, you can also form a garden in a collection of pots rather than setting aside a space in your yard.

Do Some Biking

A fun activity for adults to do in the summer that will help you to exercise is biking. You can cycle around the area near your home just to relish in the outdoors with an added adrenaline boost since you’ll move at much higher speeds than walking. Biking can also make a routine trip to the store more of an adventure on a weekend when you don’t have any other plans or engagements. There are a lot of options when it comes to bikes, and you can also choose an e-bike for supplemental motor power so that you don’t wear yourself out over farther distances. Even within the world of e-bikes, there are different types that you can choose from for varying terrains.

Greenwood School Board Provides Update on School Re-Entry Plan

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Greenwood School Board Provides Update on School Re-Entry Plan

School Board members, educators and parents met at the Greenwood High School Administration building on Thursday night to discuss the re-entry plans for the district. The principal from each school engaged in a short question and answer session after an initial update from Superintendent John Ciesla. Ciesla outlined an extensive plan to keep kids and faculty safe in the upcoming year, including electrostatic misting machines that will be used to disinfect campuses.

Students will be expected to wear masks during school hours except while eating, drinking, or during designated “mask break” times. Special considerations may be made for students with medical problems, special behavioral or individualized needs or at the discretion of school administrators. Students will also need to wear a mask while riding school-provided transportation.

While extra masks will be provided for students who forget or lose theirs, an extra measure of protection will be given to younger students in the form of a color-coded lanyard, which they can clip to their clothes to help keep them clean and prevent loss.

At each campus, nursing stations will be divided into two separate areas, one designated for the day to day nursing visits, which include daily medications and injuries. The other station will be set up for children who are suspected of having a communicable illness. This, to aid in the prevention of transmission. For minor scrapes and cuts, band-aids will be provided by individual teachers.

Changes to the daily schedule for junior high and high school students will include a staggered start time, with students who are bus riders arriving at 8:05 a.m., and car riders arriving by 8:45 a.m. This change will accommodate the increased amount of traffic since parents are being asked to drive their own children, if possible, in an attempt to lessen the number of children on school buses.

Governor Hutchinson announced Wednesday, July 29 that a grant would help districts provide mobile hotspots to assist with online learning. The Greenwood School District will be receiving 150 of those hot spots, which will be placed in various locations around the city. 

Access the complete plan by the school district HERE.

Obituary- Jacqualyn Leah Patterson (1936-2020)

Tammy Teague
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Obituary- Jacqualyn Leah Patterson (1936-2020)

Jacqualyn Leah Patterson of Waldron, Arkansas, formerly of California, passed from this life, Wednesday, July 29, 2020 in Waldron, Arkansas. Jacqualyn was born December 13, 1936, in Los Angeles, California to Jence Eric Backlund and Ruth O. (Hall) Backlund. She was 83 years old.

Jacqualyn enjoyed just being outside but working in her garden was a bonus She also enjoyed sewing and reading. Jacqualyn loved spending time with her large family and making precious memories.

Jacqualyn leaves behind to cherish her memory her children: Veta Totuszynski of South Carolina, Laverda Carleton of Cauthron, Arkansas, Lawrence Patterson of Nevada, Debra Frazier of Waldron, Arkansas, Suzanne Anderson of Illinois and Douglas Patterson of Nevada. GG Jackie will forever remain in the hearts of her 11 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren. Jacqualyn is also survived by 7 sisters. Jacqualyn will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host of extended family of nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones.

Jacqualyn was preceded in death by her parents, 2 sisters, 2 grandchildren and 1 brother.

Jacqualyn’s memorial celebration of life will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, August 1, 2020, at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements and cremation are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home & Crematory in Waldron, Arkansas.

During these trying and difficult times, we must follow the guidelines we have been given to do our part to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. We must limit the number of people at public gatherings. Family and friends are welcome to attend the service but everyone must wear a mask and maintain a social distance of 6 feet apart. For those who want to attend the service but wish to remain in your vehicles, the service will live streamed and can be viewed from our website.

Secretary of State Addresses Monument Destruction

Tammy Teague
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Secretary of State Addresses Monument Destruction

In recent years and in recent times, we as a nation and a state have looked inward to ourselves and to values that we hold dear. This concept of reflection is not new to us as Arkansans or Americans. Our country and state have erected many monuments throughout history to memorialize a person, place, event, or sacrifice made.

Our State’s Capitol was constructed during the years of 1899 to 1915. The first monument placed on State Capitol grounds, a memorial to confederate soldiers, was done so in 1905. Among the many monuments found on Capitol Grounds, is a smaller, less notable monument honoring all soldiers of the Civil War imprisoned in the State Prison that was once located on Capitol Grounds. As Secretary of State, I am honored to have overseen the installation of our most recent memorial, the Gold Star Memorial, that was complete in 2019 and dedicated to the families of those that have lost loved ones in war.

Act 274 of the 2017 legislative session requires the Arkansas Legislature to authorize construction or removal of a monument on State Capitol grounds. As Secretary of State and Chairman of the Capitol Arts and Grounds Commission, my office works with the Arkansas Legislature to ensure their statutes and mandates of installation, maintenance, and removal are implemented in regards to the monuments on State Capitol grounds and in the Statutory Hall of the United States Capitol. Currently, I am working with various stakeholders at the direction of the Arkansas Legislature to oversee the removal and replacement of two statues currently located in the Statutory Hall with statues honoring Daisy Bates and Johnny Cash.

In recent weeks, many monuments across our nation have been removed through both lawful and unlawful processes.  The scope of my office in regards to Capitol monuments is defined by law and by the direction of the Arkansas Legislature. I encourage Arkansans to visit with their respective legislative members on those issues that are important to them as it relates to the monuments on Capitol grounds and I encourage those seeking change to do so in a lawful manner.

Arkansas Football Coaches Association: Ready to Proceed August 3

Resident News Network
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Arkansas Football Coaches Association: Ready to Proceed August 3

In what could be viewed as a response to the actions or lack of action from the governor’s office on the status of high school contact sports this fall, the Arkansas Football Coaches Association (ArFCA) issued a statement on Wednesday via Twitter about its readiness to take the next step in preparing their players for the fall season. In their tweet, the ArFCA mentioned that they have been in “phase 1” conditioning with their players since June 1 and they are now ready to take the next step according to their prior-approved schedule from the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) to begin working their players out in helmets starting Monday, August 3.

The statement from the ArFCA concludes with their support of the decisions that are being made by Governor Hutchison.

In yesterday’s daily briefing from the governor at Arkansas Tech University in Russellville, Hutchison did not make any announcements or give specific information about a decision with respect to contact sports and their schedules. He did indirectly refer to sports in the context of reporting COVID -19 infection rates on a county-by-county basis and stated that this was one of the variables he was using in his decision making with respect to opening school in the fall and resuming sports. Governor Hutchison again made no mention of the status of contact sports other than to mention that the infection rate, specifically in northwest Arkansas was declining rapidly.

Some may interpret the ArFCA statement as a visible sign of frustration within the coaching ranks in the state. Coaches, players, and fans are seemingly becoming increasingly anxious as August 1 is just around the corner. Preparation time for an on-time start to the season is becoming shorter with each day. The issue of playing or not playing in the fall had not been addressed in several weeks, but is now beginning to re-surface in each daily briefing. It remains to be seen what effect the ArFCA statement will have, if any, on the Governor’s sense of urgency to make a decision.

Earlier this week, the AAA issued a statement regarding its acknowledgement of receiving questions on start times, schedules, etc., associated with fall contact sports. It further stated that any actions outside of the Governor’s directives on this issue “was not an option.”

Resident Press will continue to monitor this development. And if the Governor does make an announcement today or tomorrow, RP will be there to report it to our readers. In the meantime, stay with Resident Press for this and other sports stories that affect the River Valley.

Resident Press File Photo

Scott County Man Shares the Love of Christ Through Roadside Ministry

Jason Baggett
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Scott County Man Shares the Love of Christ Through Roadside Ministry

If you have driven the one to two mile stretch of Highway 71 South, just North of Waldron, you may have seen a man happily waving, wearing a white robe and sharing a warm smile from the highway shoulder.

That man is Rick Franklin.

Franklin felt led to spread love, joy and inspiration. He can be seen standing, and waving at all hours of the day, including the wee hours of the morning, even when the weather’s cool. In fact, you can’t miss him.

That’s how Franklin looked when he appeared one morning as I was traveling south. My headlights illuminated his white robe, and I questioned what I had witnessed. A smile crossed my face, and I couldn’t help but think he was there with a purpose, and perfectly timed to do exactly what he felt he was called to do.

“I want people to know that God loves them.”

I feel as if he was there for me, those who went before, and followed, giving us all that reminder that we all need at this moment, maybe each day.

To those who yield their time, Franklin is eager to visit and pray with before bidding a warm farewell. Looking back, the departed may witness him “jumping for joy.”

His smile and enthusiastic demeanor is appropriately displayed as cars approach from either direction. Franklin waves at them all, and most all of them acknowledge his presence with a return favor of a honk, and a wave.

Personally speaking, I admire Franklin for putting himself out there, and sharing his faith in a manner that asks nothing, yet gives everything.

Single Car Accident Sends Woman to Hospital

Tammy Teague
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Around 3:30 p.m. this afternoon emergency responders were dispatched to a single car accident on Highway 28 E., near Cedar Creek bridge in Scott County.

Sheriff Randy Shores stated that the woman left the roadway and into a wooded area, striking a tree. “If a state highway worker hadn’t seen her, she could have laid there for a while.”

The Waldron Fire Department and the Y City Fire Department used the jaws of life to free the woman. The infant was not injured, and was rescued from the vehicle by state highway workers.

The woman, whose name has not been released at this time, was flown to a Hot Springs hospital.

Researchers Diving into COVID-19 Effects on Recreational Fishing

Tammy Teague
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Researchers Diving into COVID-19 Effects on Recreational Fishing

Randy Zellers Assistant Chief of Communications

LITTLE ROCK — Americans seem to have fallen back in love with the outdoors during the recent COVID-19 pandemic. With organized sports, spectator-fueled events and formal schools being shuffled to the side to slow the spread of the virus, time in the outdoors seems to have become a rediscovered gem to many people looking to escape cabin fever during self-imposed quarantines. Rods, reels, canoes, kayaks, mountain bikes and all other sorts of outdoors equipment has flown off shelves so quickly that manufacturers have been unable to keep up with demand.

But how many of these people are newcomers to the outdoors? Has the pandemic increased awareness of hunting and angling or is it just a matter of people suddenly finding time to do what they remember enjoying years ago? Is COVID-19 actually responsible for the uptick in sales or is something else at play? These are questions researchers at Louisiana State University and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission are looking to answer.

Recently, the AGFC helped distribute surveys to 25,000 randomly selected fishing license holders to gauge their motivations for fishing this year and to see if the disease has actually played a part in their decision-making process.

“We were looking at doing a study on our own, when we were contacted by Dr. Steve Midway at LSU,” said Jessica Feltz, human dimensions specialist for the AGFC. “He was already working on a study and had a handful of states already working with him.”

AGFC’s Fisheries Division then supplied Midway with contact information for 25,000 randomly selected license holders to be part of the survey.

“I want to strongly encourage anyone who was chosen to receive the survey to take the time to answer it and be as honest as they can about their answers,” Feltz said. “We’ve received a handful of questions asking if it was a legitimate survey, so we wanted to let people know it is going on.”

Feltz says survey participants will have a few weeks to supply their answers.

“It may help us understand ways to educate and motivate new anglers, and I think that’s exciting,” Feltz said. “And because many states are participating in the same survey, it will be interesting to see where Arkansas falls in regard to some of the answers.”

Anyone with questions about the survey is encouraged to contact Feltz at jessica.feltz@agfc.ar.gov.

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