Looking for a one skillet dish so you don’t have tons of dishes to wash after super? Look no further! This is a favorite one-skillet dish for our family that feeds for a crowd.
Ingredients 1 Bell Pepper 1 Small White Onion 1 Heaping Tablespoon of Minced Garlic 2 Tablespoons of Olive Oil 5 (7 oz.) Packages of Smoked Sausage 1 (32 oz.) Package of Diced Cubed Frozen Hash Browns 2 Additional Tablespoons of Olive Oil
Directions Dice bell pepper and onion. Place pepper, onion, garlic and 2 tablespoons of olive oil into a large skillet. Sautee for approximately 5 minutes on medium heat. Next, add sliced summer sausages. Brown for 3 minutes. Last, add frozen cubed hash browns and another 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Stir all ingredients. Place a lid over the skillet and cook on medium for 10 minutes. Remove lid and stir. Place the lid back on and cook for another 10 minutes until potatoes become soft and light golden brown. Then, this yummy dish is ready to serve with a slice of warm buttered bread on the side!
LITTLE ROCK — Precautions to limit the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 have forced the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to cancel the annual fishing derbies held at its five fish hatcheries in June, but anglers throughout the state will still be able to enjoy some quality time chasing catfish. AGFC hatcheries are delivering thousands of pounds of catchable-sized catfish to small, publicly accessible ponds throughout Arkansas to prepare for Free Fishing Weekend, June 12-14.
“We didn’t want to cancel our hatchery derbies, but we really didn’t see a way to do them without breaking social distancing precautions,” said Tommy Laird, assistant chief of fisheries for the AGFC. “We host thousands of participants each year on that day, and there just isn’t space for people to spread out properly on the ponds we can designate for the derby.”
Laird says all hatchery staff are disappointed with the cancelations but are working hard to make sure everyone has a good time on Free Fishing Weekend.
“This is the one time of year where we get thousands of visitors to show them all the work we do to produce fish for Arkansans,” Laird said. “The events are just as important to us as they are to the people who come to fish. They even compete for bragging rights on what hatchery has the most visitors and best response from surveys taken during the derbies.”
Each of the AGFC’s four warm-water hatcheries has a surplus of catchable-sized catfish that were raised with these derbies in mind. Those catfish now will be delivered to small ponds throughout the state for anglers everywhere to enjoy. Staff worked hard to distribute the 24,000 pounds of catchable catfish evenly throughout the state.
“We are stocking 6,000 pounds of catfish to each of the four quarters of the state,” Laird said. “The amount stocked per pond will be determined by the size of that pond and the number of people who normally fish it, but we worked hard to divide this surplus evenly.”
These stockings are in addition to the normal stockings the AGFC conducts through its Family and Community Fishing Program.
“Those locations all will receive their normal stockings, these are just some additional locations that normally don’t get these extra stockings,” Laird said.
Anglers are advised to continue practicing social distancing while enjoying all fishing locations. Maintain a 6-foot distance (one fishing rod’s length) from your nearest neighbor who is not in your immediate family and wash your hands thoroughly after touching any surfaces that someone else may have touched.
“It’s always a good idea to have some latex gloves, a hand towel and some hand sanitizer or water with you while catfishing anyway,” Laird said. “Most anglers probably already carry some of these items to clean up after they unhook a fish.”
The following list of ponds will receive extra stockings before June 12:
Southeast Arkansas
Crossett — Crossett City Park
Eudora — Eudora City Lake
Forest City — Forest City Sports Complex Pond
Hazen — Mammoth Pond at Wattensaw
Judsonia — Judsonia City Park Pond
Lake Village — Lake Village Community Lake
Marianna — Ranger Pond
McGhee — McGhee City Lake
Star City — Cane Creek State Park
Warren — Bradley County Lake
Southwest Arkansas
Arkadelphia — Youth Sports Complex Pond
Camden — Camden Fairview High School Pond
Columbus — Grandview Prairie Education Pond
Jesseville — Jesseville Work Center Pond
Mena — Rich Mountain Community College Pond
Mt. Ida — Womble-Mt. Ida Work Center
Nashville — Nashville City Park Lake
Sheridan — Sheridan Community Center Pond
Northwest Arkansas
Berryville — George Pond
Booneville — Booneville City Lake (Veteran’s Park)
Precautions to limit the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 have forced the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission to cancel the annual fishing derbies held at its five fish hatcheries in June, but anglers throughout the state will still be able to enjoy some quality time chasing catfish. AGFC hatcheries are delivering thousands of pounds of catchable-sized catfish to small, publicly accessible ponds throughout Arkansas to prepare for Free Fishing Weekend, June 12-14.
“We didn’t want to cancel our hatchery derbies, but we really didn’t see a way to do them without breaking social distancing precautions,” said Tommy Laird, assistant chief of fisheries for the AGFC. “We host thousands of participants each year on that day, and there just isn’t space for people to spread out properly on the ponds we can designate for the derby.”
Laird says all hatchery staff are disappointed with the cancelations but are working hard to make sure everyone has a good time on Free Fishing Weekend.
“This is the one time of year where we get thousands of visitors to show them all the work we do to produce fish for Arkansans,” Laird said. “The events are just as important to us as they are to the people who come to fish. They even compete for bragging rights on what hatchery has the most visitors and best response from surveys taken during the derbies.”
Each of the AGFC’s four warm-water hatcheries has a surplus of catchable-sized catfish that were raised with these derbies in mind. Those catfish now will be delivered to small ponds throughout the state for anglers everywhere to enjoy. Staff worked hard to distribute the 24,000 pounds of catchable catfish evenly throughout the state.
“We are stocking 6,000 pounds of catfish to each of the four quarters of the state,” Laird said. “The amount stocked per pond will be determined by the size of that pond and the number of people who normally fish it, but we worked hard to divide this surplus evenly.”
These stockings are in addition to the normal stockings the AGFC conducts through its Family and Community Fishing Program.
“Those locations all will receive their normal stockings, these are just some additional locations that normally don’t get these extra stockings,” Laird said.
Anglers are advised to continue practicing social distancing while enjoying all fishing locations. Maintain a 6-foot distance (one fishing rod’s length) from your nearest neighbor who is not in your immediate family and wash your hands thoroughly after touching any surfaces that someone else may have touched.
“It’s always a good idea to have some latex gloves, a hand towel and some hand sanitizer or water with you while catfishing anyway,” Laird said. “Most anglers probably already carry some of these items to clean up after they unhook a fish.”
The following list of ponds will receive extra stockings before June 12:
Southeast Arkansas
Crossett — Crossett City Park
Eudora — Eudora City Lake
Forest City — Forest City Sports Complex Pond
Hazen — Mammoth Pond at Wattensaw
Judsonia — Judsonia City Park Pond
Lake Village — Lake Village Community Lake
Marianna — Ranger Pond
McGhee — McGhee City Lake
Star City — Cane Creek State Park
Warren — Bradley County Lake
Southwest Arkansas
Arkadelphia — Youth Sports Complex Pond
Camden — Camden Fairview High School Pond
Columbus — Grandview Prairie Education Pond
Jesseville — Jesseville Work Center Pond
Mena — Rich Mountain Community College Pond
Mt. Ida — Womble-Mt. Ida Work Center
Nashville — Nashville City Park Lake
Sheridan — Sheridan Community Center Pond
Northwest Arkansas
Berryville — George Pond
Booneville — Booneville City Lake (Veteran’s Park)
Jared Briley, 25, of Waldron entered a plea of not guilty in a Scott County Circuit Courtroom on Tuesday, June 2.
Briley was appointed a public defender, and waived formal arraignment. The jury trial is set to begin August 18, at 9:30 am.
Briley was charged with first degree murder in March, after a woman’s body was found at a rented room at the Southern Nights Motel, 1622 Rice Street in Waldron. Following an investigation by the Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police, Criminal Investigation Division, a warrant was issued for Briley’s arrest.
Briley eluded officers over the next 24 hours, but was eventually apprehended on Sunday, March 22. Briley was booked into the Scott County Detention Center, and granted a $750,000 commercial bond.
As of Monday, June 8, Briley remained at the SCDC.
Following a statewide mandatory dead period due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mansfield Public Schools and its athletic department are set to reopen its facilities on Monday, June 8. Although the Governor’s office issued a statement that a return to team sports could take place June 1, Mansfield took a little extra time to ensure safeguards were in place before giving the okay to let its athletes return.
Mansfield administration okayed a Monday, June 8 return to team activities just this week. As MHS coaches were made aware of the possible return, a committee formed to establish a local protocol and a comprehensive summer workout schedule for all athletes.
The first two weeks of that summer workout schedule is being made available through this publication. Because the Arkansas Activities Association has not released whether or not they will forgo the typical summer dead period which is currently set for June 21 to July 4, the MHS staff is waiting to release the remaining summer schedule.
The current Mansfield schedule includes staggered check-ins times for screenings and actual workout start times for both the high school athletes and the junior high athletes. Senior high (10th – 12th grades) girls begin check in at 7:30 AM, senior high boys 8:00 AM, junior high (8th – 9th grades) girls 9:30 AM, and junior high boys 10:00 AM. An alternate schedule for 7th grade athletes will most likely start up after July 4.
The summer schedule is for all athletes regardless of sport preferences. That includes baseball, basketball, cheer, cross country, football, golf, softball, track, and volleyball. The workouts are designed for a gradual acclimatization to activity along with some sport specific skills.
All parents and athletes should be aware of the following MHS protocol as well as the directives from the health department. All participants including staff must adhere to the directives as outlined in the following paragraphs.
Mansfield Schools Return to Team Activities Protocol
Following the directives from the Secretary of Health in consultation with the Governor’s office, Mansfield Public Schools is reopening its facilities for sport team activities beginning June 8, 2020. As such, a strict policy will be in place for all participants. Those not adhering to the restrictions or failing any part of the daily screenings will be asked to leave immediately.
Summer activities will be voluntary. Individuals or families not comfortable with attending onsite workouts at this time may continue utilizing technology to communicate with staff for training and instruction.
Mansfield will adhere to the “Directive for Community and School Sponsored Team Sports” outlined in a letter dated June 1, 2020 from the Arkansas Department of Health. That document follows this page. It outlines the general requirements and defines close-contact team sports as well as limited-contact team sports. In addition, Mansfield will require the following safeguards.
Student-athletes must have a valid physical exam administered within the last 12-15 months on file with the school.
Student-athletes will only be allowed to enter specifically marked entrances after passing the screen test. Upon entry, they should use the hand sanitizers provided at the door.
Participants must keep a minimum distance of six feet from all others at all times except when actively participating in sports related activity.
After workouts athletes must leave through specifically marked exits. They should use the provided hand sanitizers as they exit. They must leave the premises immediately, not loiter or watch another session.
Players should come already dressed for activities.They must have their own water bottles, towels, face coverings, or other items. The sharing of such items is strictly forbidden.
Spectators or non-participants will not be allowed inside facilities.
Training times and sessions will be determined by gender, sport and/or grade levels. Coaches will communicate specific times for specific groups. Due to limited numbers and space, athletes will not be allowed to attend an alternate session other than their time.
Locker rooms are for storage of personal items. Absolutely no loitering allowed in this area. Social distance of six feet must be maintained in the locker room.
MHS staff will sanitize all exercise machines and equipment after each workout session.
On a cloudy and overcast day, members of the Paris Eagles football program were out early in the morning lifting weights and performing endurance and agility drills. The dedicated group of high school football players and their coaches were glad to be back at “practice”, albeit in a limited and restricted fashion. Both players and coaches could be seen wearing masks and making deliberate efforts to maintain social distancing during the workout. Resident Press wanted to give our readers an opportunity to see what high school sports look like now amid the many COVID-19 restrictions that have been mandated by the Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) and the Governor’s Office.
Due to the restrictions placed on practices by the AAA, I was not able to enter the workout facility or the practice field. Photos were taken from a distance using a telephoto lens and were taken from outside the stadium. The Eagles are making the most of the current circumstances to resume conditioning drills and weight workouts in hopes of team practices resuming after June 30. Arkansas governor, Asa Hutchinson, announced earlier that he would “revisit” contact sports such as football and the possibility of their resumption.
The Eagles are scheduled to open the 2020 senior high football season on August 28 when they host the Lavaca Golden Arrows. In a typical summer, the AAA has a mandatory two week dead period in which no contact is allowed with athletes. That dead period is usually the last week in June and the first week in July. Teams are usually returning to summer workouts, seven-on-seven scrimmages, and other preparations around July 7. So, if high school teams are released to practice by June 30, teams would be back on schedule for summer preparations leading into the start of the season in late August. Of course, all of this remains to be seen. The remaining weeks in June and the month of July will be ample time for either the successful return to sports in August, or, plenty of time for COVID-19 positive tests to increase in number and jeopardize the start of the season. Arkansas high school coaches have no choice but to take what is given to them at this point and prepare with what they are allowed to do as if the season is going to start as scheduled.
Resident Press will stay with this story as it develops throughout the summer leading into the possible start of the high school season. RP will cover all fall sports at Paris High School as they attempt to prepare for the upcoming seasons under the restrictions placed upon them by the AAA due to the COVID-19 virus. In the meantime, you have to admire the dedication of our athletes who are running and working out with masks, and coaches who are organizing their limited practice times to gain every second of preparation from the short times that are allowed by AAA. It is not where everyone wants to be, but it is certainly better than sitting at home.
The Paris football field scoreboard is off, and Eagles fans are hoping that it will light up on August 28 to kickoff the first game of the upcoming season. And from all of us at Resident Press, our hopes and prayers are with our great high school athletes and coaches. Here is to our hopes for a great high school football season.
Temperatures are rising, so that means turning on the oven and heating up the house isn’t an option for me. So, the best way to feed the sweet tooth is making some of Momma’s No Bake Cookies!
Ingredients 2 Cups of Sugar ¾ Cup of Milk 1 Stick and 2 Tablespoons of Margarine 4 ½ Tablespoons of Cocoa ½ Cup of Smooth and Creamy Peanut Butter (You can use crunchy if you prefer peanuts in the cookie.) 3 Cups of Quick Cooking Oats 1 Tablespoon of Vanilla Extract *These are gooey cookies! If you like a drier no bake cookie, you will need to use the following measurements for the ingredients instead of the measurements listed above: ½ cup of milk, 1 stick of margarine, only 4 tablespoons of cocoa, and just a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Directions In a large bowl, measure out oats and set aside. Then, place sugar, milk, margarine and cocoa in a medium size pot. Boil this mixture for 1 ½ minutes. Start timing after mixture reaches a full, rolling boil. Remove from heat. Pour over the oats. Next, add peanut butter and vanilla. Mix until well blended. Drop by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper. Place in the refrigerator for cooling. Once they have set for approximately an hour, you can enjoy your gooey cookie with a tall glass of milk!
Temperatures are rising, so that means turning on the oven and heating up the house isn’t an option for me. So, the best way to feed the sweet tooth is making some of Momma’s No Bake Cookies!
Ingredients 2 Cups of Sugar ¾ Cup of Milk 1 Stick and 2 Tablespoons of Margarine 4 ½ Tablespoons of Cocoa ½ Cup of Smooth and Creamy Peanut Butter (You can use crunchy if you prefer peanuts in the cookie.) 3 Cups of Quick Cooking Oats 1 Tablespoon of Vanilla Extract *These are gooey cookies! If you like a drier no bake cookie, you will need to use the following measurements for the ingredients instead of the measurements listed above: ½ cup of milk, 1 stick of margarine, only 4 tablespoons of cocoa, and just a teaspoon of vanilla extract.
Directions In a large bowl, measure out oats and set aside. Then, place sugar, milk, margarine and cocoa in a medium size pot. Boil this mixture for 1 ½ minutes. Start timing after mixture reaches a full, rolling boil. Remove from heat. Pour over the oats. Next, add peanut butter and vanilla. Mix until well blended. Drop by teaspoonfuls on waxed paper. Place in the refrigerator for cooling. Once they have set for approximately an hour, you can enjoy your gooey cookie with a tall class of milk!
A combined police force of nine federal, state, county and city law enforcement agencies arrested 79 Arkansas residents last night (Tuesday, June 2nd) who have been among a protest demonstration group in Little Rock since last Saturday. During the demonstrations the group has called for justice reform following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota last month.
The arrests followed repeated warnings to protesters roaming Little Rock streets they were in violation of an 8 PM curfew imposed yesterday by Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott.
The unified law enforcement crackdown on protesters was authorized Tuesday afternoon in an executive order signed by Governor Asa Hutchinson. The order declared a state of emergency following three previous nights of demonstration protests and marches that ended with incidents of vandalism to the state capitol building and downtown businesses, fires and burglaries.
The arrests occurred about 10:30 PM after a large group of protesters were told they were in violation of the city curfew and departed the Governor’s Mansion at 1800 Center Street. As the protesters walked north from the mansion district along Broadway Street, a glass doorway at the McDonald’s Restaurant near 7th Street was shattered by an unidentified person among the group.
As the protesters approached 2nd Street and Broadway, the group was believed to be responsible for vandalism at the Pulaski County Courthouse. Law enforcement officers assigned to the unified team converged on the group near the Broadway Bridge and began making arrests.
At least two of those taken into custody had been armed with pistols and one attempted to conceal the gun before being escorted by police into the Pulaski County Detention Center.
The joint operation team was comprised of law enforcement officers from the Arkansas State Police, Little Rock Police Department, North Little Rock Police Department, Sherwood Police Department, Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department, Arkansas Highway Police, Arkansas Game and Fish, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Drug Enforcement Administration.
New Paris boys basketball coach Blain Brewington was the featured guest on yesterday’s Sports Brew Show. The new coach fielded questions for over an hour covering his coaching experience in both high school and as a college graduate assistant. One thing is certain, the new coach will bring high expectations both on and off the court for his players. Paris fans are going to be excited about the future of the Eagles boys’ basketball program.
Of huge interest to Eagles fans and his players is Brewington’s experience as a graduate assistant under Mike Anderson with the Razorbacks mens’ basketball program. When asked how he got his start, Coach Brewington said, “When Coach (Mike Anderson) got hired, I was the student manager and was working on my undergrad (undergraduate degree.) Once I finished my undergrad, Coach hired me on as a graduate assistant on the coaching staff. Phenomenal time. But before that, I actually got hired on by Coach Pelphrey (John Pelphrey). So, I was with two different staffs; two different philosophies. I am thankful for John Pelphrey. He hired me and got my foot in the door, and then Coach Anderson comes in and I think the world of Mike Anderson. He is one of the best people I have been around. I can call Coach now and he is always free to chat; free to talk. I love Coach and he taught me so much more than basketball. The loyalty that was expected; he is huge on loyalty from the people around him. Trust and loyalty; if you are loyal to him he is going to take care of you. I’ve been taken care of by Coach. I went to New York City in October to St. John’s (St. John’s University: Coach Anderson’s present position as head basketball coach) and spent about five days and it was like I was never away. He treated me like one of his own. It’s a relationship I will always have with coach Mike Anderson and his entire staff.”
As Brewington’s time as a student manager came to an end, he thought about moving into the high school ranks to begin his coaching career. When the opportunity came along to move into a graduate assistant coaching role with the Razorbacks, it excited Brewington to have a few more years with the program and to learn the various aspects of a basketball program. That experience, along with his previous high school experience at Class 5A Nettleton (Jonesboro) and Class 4A Lonoke, has prepared him for this moment to take his first head coaching job at Paris.
Brewington understands the differences in talent and philosophies of division one college basketball and high school basketball. But one philosophy that has held true through both his playing days at Pocahontas High School under his dad, Anthony Brewington, who is a legendary coach for the Redskins, and continuing throughout his collegiate and high school experience, is that of high pressure, man-to-man defense. In fact, the panel of The Sports Brew kidded Coach Brewington that his man-to-man defense would start when the opposing team got off the bus and would continue until they stepped back on their bus to return home. While it may not be quite that intense, Coach did say, “You can probably count on one hand the number of times I played zone defense in my high school career.” This should be exciting to Eagles fans as the team’s defensive philosophy should help carry the team on nights when the shots are just not dropping. Combine this with an athletic sophomore class that returns for this year, and the Eagles look like a very exciting team to watch in the 2020-21 season.
But as exciting as all of this is for the Paris community, perhaps the most impressive part of Coach Brewington’s interview was centered around his expectations for his team. Coach Brewington stressed accountability and loyalty from his players and between players on the team. He clearly expects his team to behave themselves and be good students as well as good basketball players. In fact, Coach Brewington indicated very openly that he will not tolerate the behavior of one of his players to negatively impact the program, or, his reputation as a coach that he has worked so hard to build over the years. “It’s something I remember from my time playing with my dad; the bench is the best motivator.You’re either going to change your habits or you’re going to quit. There’s two options from the bench, and that’s my philosophy. I will definitely use the bench for motivation. Our kids are going to be loyal to each other and the program. I think when you are loyal to something and truly love something, that elevates your game and passion for what you are doing. We used the phrase (at Arkansas) “be my brother’s keeper”…taking care of each other. If you see a guy doing something they don’t need to be doing, especially our younger guys, our seniors are holding them accountable. But, look out for each other and be a family.”
Coach Brewington has had his eye on Paris for sometime. “I always knew about Paris. Paris was on a really good run when I was at Arkansas. Being in northwest Arkansas at the time, I had always heard about Paris. My dad’s coaching buddies at Dardanelle and Pottsville had always told my dad about Paris. I feel like it is a place that is in a good league, but is a place that has good athletes that can compete in their league. I feel like it’s a place that is a lot like Pocahontas (in northeast Arkansas) that the community will support our kids in what we do; especially once we start winning. I think the wins will come. We have a long way to get there. But I am a willing worker to get there. The kids that we have that are on the team when the season starts will be the kids that are willing to do what it takes to win. We may not win as many games as the expectations are, but its not going to be because we don’t work hard enough or do the right thing every day.”
My impression of Coach Brewington is that there is no doubt he will bring accountability for the players, both on and off the court. They will play with great intensity, and they will do things his way. With the talent in the program today, this is very exciting for me and I believe it will be very exciting for all Eagles fans. The boys program could be on the doorstep of something very special. Coach Brewington’s hire, in my opinion, is a home run hire for both the program and the community. I have said this before; the administration should be both credited and congratulated from Paris superintendent, Dr. Wayne Fawcett, all the way down, for his hire. Blain Brewington is going to be a great addition to Paris.
Speaking of Dr. Fawcett, you won’t want to miss next week’s inaugural show of the two-hour Sports Brew that will kickoff on June 9. The show will be live from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. Dr. Wayne Fawcett will be one of the featured guests that will be interviewed in the summer’s first show.
Paris Superintendent, Dr. Wayne Fawcett, Will Be a Featured Guest on Next Week’s Sports Brew Show Photo Credit: Siloam Springs Herald Leader
Other guests on the show will include Vicki Churchman, Food Service Director for the Paris schools, in a segment entitled “Miracle Meals in Paris”, and Tammy and Bryan Frederick of Harmony Assembly of God Church who will speak about how churches in the Paris community are coping with the corona virus restrictions. Finally, a senior spotlight segment, that will be presented each week, will kick off next week featuring Class of 2020 graduate Luke Trusty. The weekly segment will highlight Paris seniors. All of this, plus a visit from a mystery guest from the Paris athletic staff! You will not want to miss this show!
Remember Paris fans, just go to “The Sports Brew Show” atthesportsbrew.net each Tuesday from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m. to catch the show that is all about the Paris Eagles and the Paris community.
Stay with Resident Press for Pairs Eagles and River Valley high school sports action!
