Donald Powell Williams, 79, of Abbott, passed away Thursday, July 30, 2020 in Fort Smith. He was born February 3, 1941 in Abbott, AR.
Our hearts are filled with sorrow at the loss of a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, great-grandfather, and a Christian friend in our community. It was Donald’s Christian fruits we witnessed that earned our love and gives us assurance of where he is today. He was a faithful member of the Mansfield Church of Christ.
He was a gifted auto body repairman and owner of Duck’s Body Shop in Abbott.
Donald was preceded in death by his parents; Verdell and Clarice Williams, and two brothers, James Linden Williams and Ronald Williams.
Donald is survived by his wife Hellen of the home; daughter Shelia Carson and husband Mike of Abbott; son Rickie Williams and wife Christine of Columbia, Kentucky; a sister Betty Pennington and husband Blake of Bella Vista; two stepdaughters, Brenda Kesner and husband David of Fort Smith, Renae and husband David Hughart of Greenwood and stepson, Rodney Leslie of Hot Springs, and grandchildren; Garrett Carson and wife Jessica, Jarrod Carson and wife Katelin of Abbott, Stephanie Gilbertson and husband Jordan of Lowell, Rachel Kesner of Bentonville and Monica Hughart of Little Rock; great-grandchildren Taylor Grace, Isaac, Lydia, Dayton Luther and Meredith Carson and Jacob Gilbertson.
Funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday, August 5 at the Dayton Church of Christ with interment at Pleasant Grove #2 cemetery in Abbott, under the direction of Martin Funeral Home in Mansfield. Public visitation will be Tuesday, August 4 from 5-8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Eric Williams, Stephen Williams, Paul Williams, Arnold Williams, Bobby Musgrove, and Harold Musgrove.
The family has requested in lieu of flowers please donate to the Mansfield Church of Christ: PO Box 322 Mansfield, Arkansas 72944. Additionally, friends and family who attend the funeral service are asked to drive hot rod and classic cars in honor of Donald.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Donald “Duck” Williams please visit our Tribute Store.
Last week was another eventful week in the unfolding story of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in our country. As millions of Americans have suffered through the changes and ramifications of this virus, the sports world has been affected just like every other aspect of our society.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), “The 1918 influenza pandemic was the most severe pandemic in recent history. It was caused by an H1N1 virus with genes of an avian origin. In the United States, it was first identified in military personnel in the spring of 1918. It is estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the world’s population became infected with this virus. The number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide with about 675,000 occurring in the United States.”
Political leaders in 1918 seemingly faced the same challenges to contain the virus as they have in 2020. Closing businesses, schools, churches, and other events of large gatherings were decisions that leaders of 1918 similarly faced as they have this year. And the decision to open schools this year is not unlike the decisions that were made in 1918.
Greenwood Students Assist School Nurse Who Had Fallen Ill to Virus During 1918 Pandemic (Photo Credit: 40/29 News)
According to an article published online by 40/29 News, “The Arkansas Board of Health put the state under quarantine in October 1918 and officials shut down all public schools. Children under the age of 18 were confined to their homes into December. The epidemic continued to kill Arkansans through 1919, eventually taking at least 7,000 lives.” The CALLS Encyclopedia of Arkansas stated, “The epidemic disappeared almost as suddenly as it struck. Milder forms of influenza have followed, such as “swine flu” and the Asian and Hong Kong flu varieties, challenging medical science to treat each new form.”
And just as in the case of today’s COVID-19 pandemic, the question of opening schools during the 1918 pandemic was also controversial. According to PBS.org, the decision to open schools in large cities in 1918 was based, in part, by the belief that some students were living in less favorable conditions than those that could be provided by public schools. “Sanitary” conditions, that were purported to exist, for example, in the New York Pubic School System, were deemed to be more favorable for students than those who, for example, were living “in places like the Lower East Side” of New York City. In Chicago, the commissioner of the Department of Health cited a “fluphobia” of parents who were reluctant to send their children back to school. Bottom line, the leaders of 1918 felt that schools were a more favorable place for the overall welfare of students than the environments they were living in at the time. The attention in 1918 was focused on physical health and sanitation, and in 2020, the focus is on mental health and potentially abusive or neglecting conditions that may affect children during school closures.
On the sports scene, President Woodrow Wilson, concerned about the morale of the country, stated, “It would be difficult to overestimate the value of football experience as part of the soldier’s training (in response to establishing football teams at military bases to play college football teams during the pandemic [Source: SI.com]. “Many schools were not able to play until late October or early November. The annual Army-Navy game was not played. Many schools played only three or four games. While there were some who felt college football should completely shut down because of the pandemic, President Woodrow Wilson felt that football added to the overall morale of the country.”
College football survived, as did professional baseball. Players continued to play, and they played wearing face masks. Fans wore face masks as well in 1918, and we will be expected to do the same in 2020.
Football Players Wearing Masks During 1918 Pandemic (Photo Credit: Las Vegas Review Journal)
So the on-going debate in our state and nation will be over the same issues and questions that our nation faced in 1918. It is not my place to express my view points or political beliefs. But I do want to offer my opinion on the much needed support for our schools and teachers that will be needed for the upcoming school year.
As our teachers prepare to go back to work in their classrooms, our students prepare to go back to school, and our student-athletes in both high school and college prepare to play a season unlike any that has been faced in over 100 years, I will say that this is a time for us to reflect on lessons learned from the past, as well as developing a strong sense of solidarity and support for each other. As the Spanish-American philosopher, George Santayana once said, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Acknowledging our past may be a difficult thing for us today, but as Santayana suggested, we must learn from the pandemic of 1918 and apply those lessons to the pandemic of 2020. Those lessons may not solve any questions today just as they could not be solved 100 years ago, but we can at least have the comfort of knowing that as a nation, we have been down this road before…and we survived to become a stronger nation.
And of much less importance, sports will survive. We pray that our students, teachers, athletes, and all concern will be safe, and that hope is not too far off in the future for relief from this terrible virus.
A member of the Paris Eagles football team during team workout drills in June (Resident Press File Photo)
As a retired school administrator, I will offer to all of our readers that our teachers and our schools need your patience and support now more than ever. It will not be easy for anyone. And it will not be made easier by blaming or directing anger at our schools. As with any other year, our schools and their staffs are following directives from state and federal authorities, and when it all boils down, it comes down to the classroom teacher trying to make the best of a bad situation for all of their students.
Nurses and other health professionals have rightly been referred to as heroes throughout the pandemic. And as the new school year approaches, I suggest that we add to the list of heroes our teachers, administrators, volunteers, and everyone connected to our schools who will be dedicating themselves to not only your children’s education, but safeguarding their health, as well. God bless them all.
Washington vs. Nebraska, 1918. Notice the large crowd in attendance. (Photo Credit: St. Louis Post-Dispatch)
Pictured is Southeastern Oklahoma State University cross country runners, Megan Rose and Madelynn Coffey.
Two Savage Storms blew into the Mansfield area early last week. No, it wasn’t the expected rain being pushed from Hurricane Hanna out of Texas. It was a pair of college cross country runners from Southeastern Oklahoma State University, nicknamed the Savage Storm.
Local legend Megan Rose of Mansfield and her teammate Madelynn Coffey of Durant, Oklahoma happened by Mansfield High School’s cross country practice. The two college juniors were preparing for their own running regiment as they crossed paths with the Tigers.
With a nudge from MHS track coach John Mackey, the pair led the Tiger cross country team in warmups for the afternoon.
“These are two high caliber athletes that have moved to the next level,” Mackey said. “Our players are well aware of the work Megan has done to get to the college ranks. To have her and Maddie stop by was a motivating treat for us.”
The college players were put through the screening dialogues, temperature checks, and social distance mandates just like the Mansfield team members. Afterwhich, the two took the Tiger players through a modified version of the Savage Storm warmup.
“It was fun to lead practice again,” Rose, a four-time individual conference champion while at Mansfield, confessed. “Except, I wasn’t really the leader. It was easy to see how the team dynamics had changed and who the new leaders were.”
According to Rose, her college teammate came along as the two were doing some summer training sessions together.
“Maddie came up as a little road trip so we could train together,” Rose explained. “It’s nice doing everyday workouts with someone else. Plus, it’s always fun showing another runner what real hills look like.”
Coffey, who enrolled at Southeastern in the same recruiting class as Rose, has worked at the Texas Heat Cross Country Camp in the past. This summer, the event was canceled due to the nationwide virus crisis. That left the Oklahoma native free to travel to Mansfield for a few days.
“It was good to get out and enjoy some Arkansas weather,” Coffey admitted. “I was happy to do the warmups with the Tigers as Megan and I prepared for our own workout.”
The Savage Storm runners were set to go on a 6 mile run the Monday they interacted with the high school team. The college players were scheduled to run around 50 miles for the week. Their current workload calls for daily six-mile runs with a long run of 12 miles on Sundays.
In comparison, the upper-level runners (L3) for MHS are scheduled for 32 miles per week. The mid-levels (L2) are putting in about 23 miles per week. And the lower tier (L1) and beginners (LB) are around 13.
Last week, the top 5 Lady Tigers by mileage for the seven-day stretch were Katlynn Moore, McKenzie Griffin, Cassidy Carlton, Faith Rainwater, and Darby Jones. Moore hit 32 miles last week while Jones went 34.9 the week before that. For the month of July, Jones leads the overall mileage of any Tiger at 109.5. Rainwater is close behind at 108.5 for that same four week period.
As a unit last week, Mansfield cross country runners from both the junior and senior high teams produced 339.3 miles. Since pre-season team sessions resumed on July 6, the group has topped the one thousand mile mark. Their total collective distance as of Thursday, July 30 was 1,039 miles.
“We try to set a weekly goal,” Mackey pointed out. “For three weeks in a row, we’ve surpassed that newly set threshold. Having Megan and Maddie show up to practice the other day gave us extra incentive to reach another new high.”
Trinity Triska off the junior girls’ team continued to lead the younger division in total miles for both the week and the monthly total. John Branche reached the top measure for the senior boys in both categories as well.
Contributors of late have been Mansfield’s newest runners. Joseph Carter, a seventh-grader, recently joined the junior boys’ group with fellow seventh-grader Jonah Martin. Summer Frazier, an eighth-grader, bolstered the junior girl’s team mid-July.
Also shuffling into the cross country mix have been six players off the Mansfield volleyball team and one football athlete. Frazier, Triska, and Carlton do both cross country and volleyball this season as do Addie Bowman, Azlynn Stover, and Laney Wood. Branche rejoined football this season while maintaining his cross country status. As Mansfield looks to compete this fall season, Rose and her teammate are still waiting for an announcement about their season.
“My expectations for this season are to hopefully have a season,” the former Lady Tiger messaged. “I think mentally this is the strongest summer I’ve ever practiced. It can be pretty discouraging practicing alone. I’ve finally gotten patient with the mileage. Having the right mindset helps the workout go faster. That’s why I’m glad y’all are practicing as a team even with social distancing.”
Coffey is excited about the upcoming cross country season despite the cloud of uncertainty that hangs over the start to college athletics this Fall. “I’m excited about our cross country team,” Coffey relayed by message. “We will have a bigger team than usual. We have 16 runners when we usually have 12. I think we will be ready to compete at our conference when it gets here.”
As far as witnessing Mansfield runners for the first time, the Durant native added. “I think it’s neat how Mansfield practices together despite being a small team. I’m from a bigger school. I loved the enthusiasm of the Mansfield team.”
Aiden Fildes and Trinity Triska move toward the warm-up area at MHS cross country practice
Rookie runners Summer Frazier, Joseph Carter, and Jonah Martin join the tradition rich Mansfield cross country team
Lady Tigers Faith Rainwater and Darby Jones lead in total mileage for Mansfield long distance runners
Lady Tiger Lita Hecox begins her XC workout
Mansfield runners Addison Bowman, Magean Newman, Azlynn Stover, and Alyssa James complete warm-up jog
The Mansfield City Council met in special session on Thursday evening, July 30 at 6 p.m.
The lone item of business, the proposed rezoning of property on Cole Street. Local businessman David Ludwig is seeking the change in order to build duplexes on the property.
In a unanimous vote by the council, the proposal passed. The plan includes building two sets of duplexes on the property, providing four living units.
The duplexes will be identical to the properties built by Ludwig located on the corner of Gregg and High Street in Mansfield.
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 persons 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.”
Resident Press File Photo
Governor Hutchinson continued to state, “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.”
Resident Press File Photo
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.
Resident Press File Photo
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 said, “Grab your helmets, and after practice, grab your masks!”
Resident Press will have more on this development in the next few days. Stay with RP for the latest on fall high school sports!
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!
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.
No announcement today regarding high school football. Hopefully we get something tomorrow.
— ArkansasVarsity.com (@ArkansasVarsity) July 30, 2020
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.
Governor Asa Hutchinson states he will give an update on contact sports for the fall at his press conference tomorrow. #ArkVarsity#ArPreps
— ArkansasVarsity.com (@ArkansasVarsity) July 30, 2020
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.
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.
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.
