Resident News Network

Obituary- Charlotte Mae Sigman (1940-2020)

Obituaries

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1:12 pm

Obituary- Charlotte Mae Sigman (1940-2020)

Charlotte Mae Sigman, age 79, of Mansfield, Arkansas passed from this life into the arms of her Savior Jesus on July 20, 2020 in the comfort of her home surrounded by her children and grandchildren and her faithful husband of 56 years. Born in Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas on December 11, 1940, Charlotte was the daughter of the late Luster Orville and Jessie Beatrice (Chastain) Estes. Charlotte was united in marriage to Vanis Keith (Butch) Sigman on March 14, 1964.

Charlotte was an only child and attended Arkansas State Teachers College in Conway, Arkansas before moving to Mansfield to accept a Home Economics position with Mansfield Public Schools. It was at that time she met Butch and they married. Charlotte took a break from teaching to raise her four young children; Melissa Renee, Byron Keith (Buzz), Stacy Clinton and Frank Chesley. She returned to teaching as a 6th grade English and social studies teacher at Waldron Middle School, where she retired from after a total of 38 years in the classroom. She served faithfully as the pianist and music director at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church #2 for decades.

Her children and grandchildren were the joy of her life, and there was nothing she enjoyed more than a house full of loud and rowdy kids. Her home and refrigerator were always open to every friend her children brought home. Charlotte enjoyed playing the piano, reading and painting. She was always ready to go, no matter the time or place. Her family enjoyed joking that her motto was, “On the road again.”

She is survived by her husband Vanis (Butch) Sigman of Mansfield, Arkansas; three children, Melissa Lybyer and husband Tim of Fayetteville, Arkansas, three sons; Byron (Buzz) Sigman and wife Kristi of Waldron, Arkansas, Stacy Sigman and wife Marla of Mount Ida, Arkansas, Chesley Sigman and wife Jennifer of Glenwood, Arkansas, seven grandchildren; Katie Lybyer-Triplett, Chesli Missel, Stephen Sigman, Kyleigh Sigman, Connor Sigman, Heston Sigman and Madison Sigman.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Luster and Jessie Estes of Tumbling Shoals, Arkansas.

Visitation will be held 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Wednesday July 22, 2020 at Martin Funeral Home in Mansfield, Arkansas.

Funeral service will be 10:00 am July 23, 2020 at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church #2 with burial to follow at Pleasant Grove Cemetery #2 under the direction of Martin Funeral Home in Mansfield, Arkansas.

Pallbearers will be Stephen Sigman, Connor Sigman, Heston Sigman, Cordell Carr, Doug L. Elmore and Danny Willsey. Honorary pallbearers will be Shannon Willsey and Brandon Willsey.

Due to COVID-19 and the Arkansas Department of Health rules and regulations for public gatherings face coverings are required (not provided) for anyone over 10 years old at the visitation and in the church.

Online condolences may be sent at http://www.martinfuneralhomes.com

Hackett Boots & Badges Blood Drive!

News

Tammy Teague

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12:58 pm

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Hackett’s first responders are looking for citizens to support their efforts through blood donation with Arkansas Blood Institute. Those who give at the Boots & Badges blood drive on Wednesday, August 5, will provide blood needed to save local lives, such as those that firefighters and law enforcement officers save every day.

Healthy adults are urged to give blood at the Hackett Fire Department between 2 and 6 p.m. All donors will receive special-edition Boots & Badges T-shirts and their choice of one free entry voucher to Frontier City or Science Museum Oklahoma, or two free entries to Safari Joe’s H2O Water Park, to be redeemed at yourbloodinstitute.org. By giving blood at this drive, donors will show their support for the firefighters and law enforcement officers who serve their community.

Arkansas Blood Institute is also offering FREE COVID-19 antibody testing for blood donors ages 18 and up at this Boots & Badges Blood Drive.* Donation appointments are needed to allow for recommended social distancing. Masks are required for all donors and will be provided if needed.

COVID-19 has taken a tremendous toll on the blood supply, and Arkansas Blood Institute has an immediate need for eligible blood donors of all blood types.

“Hackett’s first responders see the daily need for blood first-hand when the people they rescue require life-saving treatment,” said John Armitage, M.D., President & CEO of Arkansas Blood Institute. “We can’t say enough about the service our police officers and firefighters provide, and we owe it to them to do our part in making sure blood is available in emergency situations.”

Appointments for the blood drive may be made by calling 877-340-8777 or visiting arkbi.org.

Mansfield City Services Halted Due to COVID-19

Tammy Teague

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12:53 pm

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Mansfield City Services Halted Due to COVID-19

On Tuesday afternoon, July 21, Mansfield Mayor Buddy Black announced that another city employee had tested positive to COVID-19.

Subsequently, all public works employees, including water works and sanitation, must self-quarantine. Black stated that those employees will undergo testing tomorrow, Wednesday, July 22. However, it takes several days for those test results to come in, and employees cannot return to work until that time.

Due to this, and in accordance with CDC guidelines, the city will NOT be able to pickup residential or dumpster trash on Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday.

Mayor Black stated that he will continue to update residents on the status of city services.

Sr Rattlers Have Major Impact With Community Service

Sports

Megan Hecox

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11:48 am

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Sr Rattlers Have Major Impact With Community Service

Since June, the Magazine Senior Rattlers basketball team has been participating in community service throughout their town. Businesses and citizens across Magazine have been benefiting greatly from the hard work these Rattlers have been putting into their community. Leading this group of young men is first-year head coach for boys basketball, Justin Mackey. After spending five years as assistant coach in Lafayette County, Justin and his wife Robyn made the move to Magazine this past June. The Rattlers have mandatory community service projects once a week as a team with plans to keep things rolling after summer ends. For instance, during the holidays “projects will be less labor-oriented and more people driven with services like visiting the elderly and participation in Toys for Tots,” explained Coach Mackey.

The young men getting out into their community are seniors Cameron Raggio, Tatum Scott, Brady Watson, Nate Bryan, Cole Gilbert, William King, and Ethan Staton. Juniors, Ashton Droemer, Austin Krigbaum, Haden Littleton, and Reese Nietert. And sophomores, Aiden Sherriff, AJ Malouf, Ben Chenowith, Trace Nicholas, Jackson Oliver, and Sam Warner. “The main things I’m hoping the boys will take away from this is community pride/ownership and a strong work ethic. I’ve been extremely blessed with a great group of men who have bought into the program mentality from day one.”

Community service day at the Magazine Community Center!

Since preparing to be a head coach, Mackey has planned on implementing both community service and an elementary reading program into the culture. “I wanted these young men to have a sense of pride in their community and to give back to the people that continually support them. Nothing will foster pride or ownership like hard work and sweat.” In the next couple of weeks, the Rattlers have a few more street projects lined up along with a list of local community needs that they will tackle.

Senior Boys getting some community service in with the South Logan County Boys and Girls Club

If there are two things that Coach Mackey is hoping this group of young men take with them into adulthood when it comes to establishing a sense of service it’s this. “Number one: No one accomplishes anything in life alone. Life requires teamwork and people along the way to get to your goals. Doing these projects together as a team builds the mindset of lending a helping hand to the people around you even when you get nothing in return. It is a trait that’s still alive in rural America but has been lost on some of the population. I want the men that leave my program to be oriented to caring for others and always helping their neighbors.”

“And Number two: Serving others develops character. Through hard work and selfless service, these men are developing traits that will help them not only become successful adults but men that will be ready to lead their family and community. Rattler Basketball is about developing whole men that will lead families and communities in the future. Basketball is important, but developing the next generation of great men is the ultimate goal! FAITH, ATTITUDE, DISCIPLINE!”

The Rattlers cleaned up the elementary and high school campuses in preparation for graduation

**“Credit to True Value of Magazine for allowing us huge discounts on supplies used for service.”**

Police Reports 7/12

Police Reports

Resident News Network

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6:00 pm

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Vernon Holmes Collins of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 14 at 9:34 a.m. and released on signature bond July 14 at 10:53 a.m. Collins was charged with assault in the third degree.

Carmen Annette Jonsson Derkovitz of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 19 at 9:43 p.m. and released on signature bond July 19 at 10:58 p.m. Derkovitz was charged with failure to appear – class A misdemeanor.

Nicholas Heath Franklin of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 18 at 12:57 p.m. and released on signature bond July 18 at 1:41 p.m. Franklin was charged with failure to appear – class B misdemeanor.

Eric David Little of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 14 at 9:30 p.m. and released on July 20 at 2:53 p.m. Little was charged with failure to appear – class B misdemeanor, endangering the welfare of a minor in the third degree, disorderly conduct – excessive noise, and public intoxication – danger to self or others.

Matthew Chad McClain of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 14 at 8:54 a.m. and remains at the SCADC. McClain was charged with failure to appear – class C felony, theft of property <$1k, petition to revoke – misdemeanor, contempt – willful disobedience (failure to pay fine,) contempt – willful disobedience (failure to pay fine,) absconding, and parole violation.

Nichole Ashley Moore of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 15 at 6:27 p.m. was released on bond July 16 at 9:34 p.m. Moore was charged with petition to revoke – felony.

Fallon Nicole Steffen of Greenwood was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 19 at 2:25 p.m. and released on signature bond July 19 at 4:37 p.m. Steffen was charged with two counts of failure to appear – class B misdemeanor.

Weekly Arrest Reports 7/12

News

Resident News Network

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5:31 pm

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Kyler Allen Boyd of Waldron was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 13 at 10:45 p.m. and released on signature bond on July 20 at 1:35 p.m. Boyd was charged with contempt – willful disobedience (failure to pay fine) and assist to an outside agency – felony.

Tylor Ray Brown of Barling was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 13 at 4:40 p.m., and released on bond July 13 at 8:45 p.m. Brown was charged with breaking or entering – building, structure or vehicle and theft of property – firearm.

Thomas Jefferson Cantrell of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 15 at 12:30 a.m. and was released on signature bond on July 15 at 1:07 a.m. Cantrell was charged with contempt-willful disobedience (failure to pay fine.)

Christopher Lee Carter of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 20 at 9:46 a.m. and released on signature bond on July 20 at 11:19 a.m. Carter was charged with failure to appear – class B misdemeanor.

Steven Wayne Delapaz of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 19 at 6:48 a.m. He remains at the SCADC. Delapaz was charged with aggravated assault – firearm and false imprisonment 1st degree felony.

Trent James Hargrove of Barling was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 17 at 3:08 p.m. and was released on July 17 at 3:56 p.m. Hargrove was charged with possessing instrument of a crime.

Kevin W. Head of Barling was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 13 at 10:10 p.m. and was released on signature bond on July 14 at 12:47 a.m. Head was charged with failure to appear – class B misdemeanor and contempt – willful disobedience (failure to pay fine.)

Chance Lane Hevner of Cedarville was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 13 at 10:18 a.m. and released on July 14 at 11:22 a.m. Hevner was charged with contempt of court–(child support), FTAS, FTRespond Subpoena, FTComply WCO and contempt-willful disobedience (failure to pay fine.)

Promise Chyanne Hill of Hartford was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 16 at 12:12 p.m. and was released on bond July 16 at 4:48 p.m. Hill was charged with battery in the third degree – purpose.

Giles Whitmore Kelley of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 13 at 8:40 a.m., and remains at the SCADC. He was charged with a parole violation, ADC commitment hold and petition to revoke-felony.

Brandon Lee King of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 17 at 9:40 p.m. and released on signature bond on July 17 at 11:26 p.m. King was charged with failure to appear – class A misdemeanor.

Mark Dewayne Langwell of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 17 at 11:55 a.m. and was released on bond July 17 at 2:48 p.m. Langwell was charged with theft by receiving >$5k.

Sean Patrick Ohearn of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 13 at 3:15 p.m. and was released on signature bond on July 13 at 7:58 p.m. Ohearn was charged with theft of property <$1k and contempt-willful disobedience (failure to pay fine.)

James Rodney Payton of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 13 at 8 p.m. and was released on signature bond July 14 at 12:44 p.m. Payton was charged with possession of (schedule I/II controlled substance) with the purpose to deliver >2g, possession of drug paraphernalia – ingest meth/cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia – pack or repack – and other, possession of controlled substance – schedule VI misdemeanor <4oz, possession of drug paraphernalia – ingest, and driving while intoxicated 1st offense.

Cory Lee Pierce of Mansfield was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 13 at 1:05 p.m. and released on signature bond July 13 at 2:38 p.m. Pierce was charged with theft of property <$1k and contempt-willful disobedience (failure to pay fine.)

Bobby Ray Ponder of Barling was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 12 at 12:29 a.m. and remains in the SCADC. Ponder was charged with aggravated assault on a family or household member – choke, and terroristic threatening in the first degree.

Christian Jeremiah Smith of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 14 at 10:01 p.m. and remains in the SCADC. Smith was charged with failure to appear – class C felony.

Douglas Edward Teague of Lavaca was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 17 at 5:25 a.m. and was released on signature bond July 17 at 8:38 a.m. Teague was charged with contempt-willful disobedience (failure to pay fine.)

Candice Marie Varnell of Huntington was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 16 at 4:50 p.m. and remains in the SCADC. Varnell was charged with failure to appear – class C felony, criminal impersonation in the second degree – false ID, possessing instrument of a crime, and possession of controlled substance – schedule VI misdemeanor <4oz.

Taylor Raee Wheeler of Hackett was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 15 at 12:10 p.m. and was released on signature bond July 15 at 3:06 p.m. Wheeler was charged with failure to appear – class A misdemeanor.

Dan Wesley Wolfe of Barling was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center on July 13 at 11:40 a.m. and released on signature bond July 13 at 12:22 p.m. Wolfe was charged with contempt-willful disobedience (failure to pay fine.)

**The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts.**

Products of our Past

Networks

Tammy Teague

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3:46 pm

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By Dr. Curtis Varnell

Located at the top of the hill at Hickory Grove cemetery in Logan County is an unusual collection of grave stones. Composed of slabs of thick sandstone, the gravesite is completely covered in box-like containers of rock.
The rock boxes are found in few cemeteries in the U.S., most are in rural Tennessee, the Carolinas, and in the mountains of Arkansas. In our region, there are a few found north of Ozark, at Chismville, and in small family cemeteries.

As a child, I was told those were old burial sites from the Civil War. Men were off fighting in the war, the ground was rocky and hard, so women dug shallow graves and protected the bodies by covering them with stone. Seemed like a good explanation and one that appealed to my historical perception. Unfortunately, my science background kicked in and I realized the data just did not fit. Shaping and moving those rock would be more difficult than digging the graves. Additionally, the burial dates for the deceased did not match the dates of the civil war; in fact, James Hixson, a Civil War death has a typical stone and his grave is located just south of these stones.

If you research tent burials, you will find that they are very similar and found in the same area, the final product being a tent rather than a rectangle. Tent burials and stone rectangle burials have one thing in common; they are all found in mountain areas settled by the Scotch-Irish. Scotch-Irish traditions abound in our region because they were the primary settlers of the region and migrated here from Tennessee and the Carolina’s. Prior to that, they were from Scotland. The Scotch had many traditions we follow without thought to origin. These include the practice of visitation (wakes), family dinners, decoration, and even the practice of burying feet to the east.

In Scotland, soils are thin and rocky and exposed to the elements. Graves were shallow and the coffin made of simple wood. The people were poor but wished to leave a marker and remembrance of their deceased loved one. Similar to the Jewish practice of covering graves with stone, the Scotch-Irish would pile rock cairns over the gravel.

The cairns were multi-purpose. The covering afforded protection from the elements and helped the wooden coffin remain intact longer, preventing the site from sinking. They marked the grave, kept off wandering livestock, and allowed the grave to be more shallow than the traditional six feet. The latter is important when digging (and sometime dynamiting) the rocky hillsides to create the grave.

The traditions of the Scotch continued in America. Cairn stone, tent stones, and the rectangle sandstone slabs were readily available in our area and served as great marking stones in an era before marble and granite. More than three thousand such graves are scattered across the mountain regions of the South, including the half dozen at my families cemetery; Hickory Grove.

Burials of this type continued up until nearly 1900 and then phased out as embalming, mortuaries, and enclosed caskets became the norm. Perhaps not as romantic as the Civil War story, the stones yet remain as a remembrance of our Scotch-Irish past.

Census Workers Provide Aid to Scott County Residents

Tammy Teague

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1:14 pm

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Census Workers Provide Aid to Scott County Residents

Census workers will be set up in front of the Scott County Court House every day this week from 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Scott County Judge James Forbes announced on Monday that the workers will assist people with filling out the census form. You are reminded to maintain social distancing of 6-feet. If that is not possible, then you will need to wear a mask.

Scott County sits at a response rate of 42.2 percent, well below the Arkansas average of 56.8 percent. The low response rate prompted a response by State Representative Marcus Richmond. “It is disheartening to see Scott County as one of the lowest response counties in the state for census participation. The results will be an inaccurate count which will adversely affect the residents of Scott County. You will lose influence in the competition for resources to those counties within the state that have a more accurate count. Your influence in State and Congressional Districts elections will be diminished as more and more communities must be added to achieve the required number of residents. Eventually you will no longer have state candidates originating from the rural areas of Western Arkansas. State wide candidates will not consider it necessary to campaign in our area and the voice of rural Arkansas will be further diminished. Future candidates for state office will find it unnecessary to live or campaign south of the greater Fort Smith area. Fort Smith will have multiple Representatives living in their area and Southern Sebastian County south to Mena will have a distant Representative uninformed and unconcerned about issues that affect residents living in rural Western Arkansas. So please participate. Your participation in the Census does make a difference.”

Getting Healthy with Kelly and Kim!

Networks

Resident News Network

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12:29 pm

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Greenwood’s Arbonne needs have been fulfilled by Kelly Feero Phillips and Kim Kinslow for quite a while now, but these two ladies are ready to take things to the next level with classes on healthy meals and at-home fitness classes aimed at creating confidence and improving physical health at the same time.

Kinslow has already lost an impressive 100 pounds exercising and eating clean and Phillips has overcome painful back injuries. Their success has driven them to share hope, inspiration and health with Greenwood residents.

According to them, one contributor of good health is daily water consumption. “Water is so crucial for your health, everything from your skin, hair, and nails is affected,” added Kinslow.

Phillips shared another healthy tip. “Don’t compare your journey to anyone else’s. Since everyone has had different experiences and struggles when it comes to health, every diet and fitness routine can be modified to fit the individual needs of the person.”

For more information, check out Healthy Living Inside & Out

United Way of Fort Smith Area Fill the Bus School Supply Drive Goes Virtual

News

Tammy Teague

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11:53 am

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United Way of Fort Smith Area Fill the Bus School Supply Drive Goes Virtual

United Way of Fort Smith Area announced today that their 16^th Annual Fill the Bus School Supply Drive will go virtual. Fill the Bus is a community-wide school supply drive covering four counties in Arkansas and two counties in Oklahoma. You will not see volunteers out at your local Walmart stores this year, but United Way is committed to continue providing school supplies for students in need. The help of the community is needed to make this event a success.

Fill the Bus starts today and goes through August 10th. There are three ways to donate that allow you to make a contact-free donation while continuing to support local children as they start back to school! You can donate by texting “schoolbus” to 41444, online at unitedwayfortsmith.org, or by using the Walmart Registry For Good. You can find the “Registry for Good” on Walmart.com. Choose the United Way of Fort Smith Area and the supplies can be shipped to the United Way of Fort Smith Area office. The supplies will be distributed to the local school districts. If you make a monetary donation you have the option to choose the school district you want that donation to be directed to. Just choose your school district from the drop down menu.

“For the last 15 years the Fill the Bus school supply drive has provided area students with the supplies they need to get their year off to a great start, said Eddie Lee Herndon, President and CEO of the United Way of Fort Smith Area. Herndon added, “ Even though the COVID-19 pandemic is making our efforts a little more difficult this year, we are committed to a very successful school supply drive with our virtual Fill the Bus.”

With the uncertainty facing parents, teachers and school administrators this school year, a donation to Fill the Bus is one way that the community can show their support. “We will miss our volunteers and the face to face visits with our donors.” said Mitzy Little, Marketing Director, United Way of Fort Smith Area. “Every year we hear stories from donors of how they have received help and they want to pay it forward”, she added.

United Way of Fort Smith Area has been connecting people with resources in the River Valley since 1928. Counties in our service area are Sebastian, Crawford, Franklin, Logan in Arkansas, and LeFlore and Sequoyah in Oklahoma.

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