During the 2019 Legislative Session, the Republican Women Legislative Caucus developed “Dream BIG For Arkansas: Bold Initiatives for the Good of Arkansas” which resulted in legislation in five key areas: healthcare, broadband, childcare, education and juvenile justice reform. All of these bills became Acts with nearly unanimous support from the General Assembly.
Yesterday during the Governor’s daily COVID-19 update, Governor Hutchinson outlined a number of recommendations from the Arkansas Economic Recovery Task Force chaired by Steuart Walton. Three of the key issues they identified as important to Arkansas’s economic recovery and growth are completely in line with legislation our caucus passed: broadband, childcare, and healthcare.
Senator Missy Irvin (R- Mountain View) released the following statement: “Dream BIG for Arkansas successfully designed and passed “game-changing” legislation of policies that would dramatically advance Arkansas’s economic standing in our country. The leadership of these women in their communities and our shared experiences and passion for our citizens, led to great work during the past session. This work continues everyday as we respond to our constituents’ experiences and circumstances. Dream BIG strives to make Arkansans’ lives better. We have a lot of work left to do!”
Act 198: An Act to amend the Telecommunications Regulatory Reform Act of 2013; to provide additional access to Federal Communications Commission-Defined Broadband Service. This Act laid the foundation for the Rural Broadband ID Program that was passed this past fiscal session. Many members of the General Assembly – from both parties – have requested for this program to be fully funded as soon as possible. This program assists local communities along with their internet service providers with grants to meet the federal grant requirements available for expanding rural broadband access for federally eligible rural areas. It is a companion program for Governor Hutchinson’s AR Rural Connect Program, which has been fully funded. Now more than ever, our state must focus on increasing broadband access to the home for students, businesses, and patients.
Act 131: An Act to encourage Child Care Facility Entrepreneurship in Arkansas conferencing the duties of the Division of Child Care and Early Education within the Department of Human Services. This act lays the foundation for the reconnections of the Task Force. This legislation was designed to expand childcare options, especially in underserved areas, by making information more available through a website, reducing regulations as much as possible, and finding ways to fund and support entrepreneurship for child care facilities.
Act 181: An Act concerning the pursuit of a National Cancer Institute Designated Cancer Center at the Winthrop P Rockefeller Cancer Institute at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences; to create the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences National Cancer Institute Designation Trust Fund. Clearly with the current pandemic, there is a great need for UAMS to be fully engaged in ALL areas of research and assistance In order to advance healthcare in Arkansas. UAMS has been a key partner with the Arkansas Department of Health in all areas of dealing with the Coronavirus Pandemic. Pursuing NCI designation has already brought great talent to UAMS and will raise our states opportunities for greater engagement for research and funding for these efforts. This legislation launched UAMS into a higher level of recognition and opportunities. This will be incredibly important for our citizens not just in cancer treatment, but in all areas of improving their health.
The Republican Women’s Legislative Caucus is working to continue our bold initiatives for the Good of Arkansas by building on these key areas of economic recovery and growth as identified by the Task Force, as well as education and workforce sustainability and development. We applaud their work and recommendations and are encouraged to continue our work for the good of Arkansas.
Vester Dewey Hutchens, age 96, of Waldron, AR., went to be with his Lord and Savior Wednesday morning, May 27, 2020. He was born October 25, 1923, to Arch and Lola Hutchens, the oldest of nine children.
After growing up in a large, hard-working family Vester left Waldron and spent several years working on a sheep farm in Wyoming. After returning to Scott County, he met and married Dorothy Ferguson and began farming and raising his children. During their years of farming Vester and Dorothy were named as the Scott County Farm Family of the Year in 1961. Never a stranger to hard work, Vester was an expert gardener and also was well-known for raising and butchering cattle and hogs. He showed by example that work and fun can go hand in hand, leaving a legacy for his children and grandchildren to follow. For those who knew him, his laugh was both recognizable and contagious (hee-hee-hee) and he was always up for a good joke, story, or yarn. Many residents of Scott County will remember Vester peddling his famous fruits and vegetables wearing bib overalls and straw hat. In his later years, he loved spending time at the Scott County Senior Citizens Center where he would challenge his friends to a game of pool or a friendly game of Pitch. Of course, his favorite days were when he would WIN. The friendships formed at the Center were meaningful to him; we loved to hear his stories of those special days.
Vester is preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 57 years, Dorothy Marie (Ferguson) Hutchens; infant daughter, Vesty Marie Hutchens; grandsons Kenneth Wayne Hargrove and Jesse Lee Parsons; granddaughter LouAnna Marie (Brigance) Gaines; an unnamed infant sister; brother Jerry Bob Hutchens; sister Doris (Hutchens) Ferguson; and his fiancée, Rosamond (Rose) Osborn.
He is survived by his children: Vestal Lee Hutchens and wife Judy of Waldron, AR; Louella Brigance and husband Jay of Lamar, AR; Mary Hargrove and husband Larry of Cameron, OK; Georgeanna Mabry and husband Bill of Mansfield, AR; Archie Edward Hutchens and wife Robbie of Pocola, OK; Claudia Travis and husband Brett of McAlister, OK. He is also survived by three brothers: JT Hutchens and wife Josephine of North Fork, CA, Darvin (Fuss) Hutchens and wife Glenda of Waldron, AR, Bill Hutchens of Waldron, AR and two sisters, Iva Darling and Shirley Johnson both of Waldron. Great-Papa, as he is affectionately known, also leaves behind to cherish his memory 17 grandchildren, 32 great-grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren. Blessed by such a large family, Vester will be remembered by many nieces, nephews, other family members, friends, and loved ones in Scott County.
Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Friday May 29, 2020 at Martin Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron.
Vester’s funeral will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday May 30, 2020 at Martin Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Mark Ward and Rev. Doyle Reynolds officiating. Burial will take place at Pilot Prairie Cemetery under the direction of Martin Funeral Home in Waldron.
The family would like to express their most sincere thanks and gratitude to the staff at the Waldron Nursing Center for the outstanding care they have provided to Vester.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Scott County Senior Citizens Center or the Pilot Prairie Cemetery fund.
Pallbearers are his many grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers are his many great-grandchildren.
Due to state guidelines for large public gatherings only 67 people (1/3) of the occupancy of our chapel will be permitted in for the funeral. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Vester Dewey Hutchens please visit our Tribute Store.
For a season like no other, the Paris Lady Eagles and their coach, Jordan Devine, find themselves “preparing in the dark” for a fall season of unknowns. Like all high school teams in Arkansas, the Lady Eagles are uncertain of if the season will be played, and if so, what it will look like. Sports programs are creatures of habit, using the same year-around calendar of events each year to prepare their teams with all planning targeted for their teams to peak at the start of the new season. And now, Paris coach Jordan Devine finds herself preparing for if and how the 2020 season will take place. Devine spoke on this in her internet sportscast interview Thursday on “The Sports Brew Show.”
Coach Devine answered questions and talked about the Lady Eagles volleyball program’s past success as well as the outlook for the upcoming season. It was very apparent that everyone concerned was excited to switch their attentions to the topic of sports after months of dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. The interview lasted a little more than one hour, and throughout the time on the air, Coach Devine’s love and enthusiasm for her players and the sport were clearly evident. It was truly a breath of fresh air to be talking about sports again. It is apparent that sports have been missed dearly by fans, coaches, and players.
Turning a negative into a positive, Coach spoke about the positive time of the dead period being that of having more time with her family. “You definitely have to look on the positive side of what you are given, and that (spending time with her family) has definitely been a positive for us throughout the last 8-10 weeks.”
Handling all of the changes and uncertainties of coaching a sport during the Arkansas Activities Association’s (AAA) mandatory no contact, dead period is not without its challenges. When asked how she has handled these circumstances with the team, Coach Devine responded, “I think we are just trying to do the best that we can. Since we left, I have sent workouts to the girls to do each week. We have been in constant communication and have tried not to put too much on them. You want your athletes to stay in the best shape possible, but it is hard to do stuff at home. It’s not like coming to the gym everyday. For the most part, I have faith that they are doing a good job with their workouts.”
Looking back at last year, Coach Devine spoke of her great senior class that had been so successful throughout their playing careers at Paris. “We (Coach Devine and her graduating seniors) have stayed in contact. My heart just hurts for them because they did not get the last part of their senior year that they deserved. You look forward to your senior year, and the last couple of months things at school are usually winding down, and you are enjoying your last months at school, and it just came to such an abrupt stop. So, my heart just hurts for them. Robyn made the All Star team and they did not get to have the All Star game. I am glad she got the recognition for making the team, but I just hate that she didn’t get the chance to show everybody that she can play with the best in the state.”
The Lady Eagles volleyball team was 36-2 in the 2019 season. Although, by Paris standards, the season did not end well for the team, the season’s success was truly magical for the Lady Eagles and last year’s senior class. “
Four great seniors combined with a group of talented younger players that produced a dominant record that included district and district tournament championships. “It was a very special season. It was a great year; great record, and it is just unfortunate that everybody remembers that last loss (just one of two losses on the entire season). It’s going to be hard to replace the senior leadership of Mainer, Forbis, Boswell, and Gossard. You graduate seniors every year that have big roles, and that was such a great group in terms of leadership, which that young sophomore group really needed. They needed those seniors to step in and say this is how we are going to run things. The seniors that are graduating expected the younger players to step up and take that role.”
The young sophomores did step up last year, making the future bright for the Lady Eagles. “We all knew they were going to have to take on some pretty important roles last season. I thought throughout the season they did really well. I am confident they will bring that to the team again this season.”
Coach Devine, in two years as head coach of the Lady Eagles, has amassed an overall record of 71-4, including one state title. “That’s a great record, but I would never have had it without girls that were willing to show up everyday and put the work in that they have. So, it is really a testament to them, their work ethic, and their abilities.”
The theme of the show was “The Drive for Five is Still Alive”, and Coach Devine spoke about this upcoming season and the hunger for the program to return to the state finals. “There is going to be a lot of competition for the four spots vacated by graduating seniors. We have a lot of girls who could be in any of those positions. So, it is going to be fun for us to come into the gym and see who’s hungry for it.” The program has a wealth of talent from the 7th grade players through the senior varsity. Inclusive of last year’s talent who will have another year of playing experience, the varsity will have a strong 9th grade junior high team that will play as sophomores this season. In that class, sophomore Brailey Forst, who was moved to the varsity at the conclusion of the junior high district tournament, is expected to contribute in a significant role as a sophomore this year. “That entire ninth grade group (last year) would be in the gym for hours at a time if they could be; everyday. That’s the group that if the gym is open, they are there. If you just throw a ball up, they are going to go after it and have a good time. Reagan Lowery, she has more potential than she knows what to do with. I think she could be big for us this year, as well. Maggie Ritchie has put in a lot of work. Faith Sanders has put in a lot of work. Rachel O’Neal, who looks like a completely different player; as she did in the short travel season we had this spring. Overall, a great group, and I think they are going to push those juniors and seniors.”
The Lady Eagles will be tested early in next season’s schedule. Away games in the first month of the season at Farmington, Fort Smith Southside, and Mena, are just a few of the tough matches that will test Paris and their ability to play quality opponents on the road. The tough early schedule should benefit the team as they move into conference season and on to the district and state tournaments. Paris’s conference will be expanded this season to include nine conference teams with Green Forest (just outside of Harrison) being added to the conference. The Tigers have made perennial state tournament appearances and will be a tough opponent. Mansfield has dropped to Class 2A and they will be replaced by last year’s Class 2A state champions, the Hackett Hornets. So, the season will not be an easy one for the Lady Eagles, but this is what Paris has become accustomed to as it has built a state championship culture in the program over the past several years.
“We open at Farmington and at Fort Smith Southside the first week of the season. I’m pretty pumped about that first week. And, we also start conference play that first week versus Charleston on August 25. I’ve got Mena on the schedule a little bit down the road in September, and I have Fountain Lake on the schedule, as well.” Fountain Lake played in the state match last spring in Hot Springs, losing to Little Rock Episcopal for the state title.
So, with the daunting schedule that awaits the Lady Tigers, Coach Devine, like other Arkansas coaches, finds herself “preparing in the dark” for a season of unknowns in 2020.
It’s a little bit different coaching volleyball at Paris. The standard is high, and it may be one of the few schools where any season that ends in less than a state title, well, may feel as a let down, or a failure to the players and fans. That is unfortunate; last year’s team certainly has nothing to feel bad about. The Lady Eagles had a season last year that most schools would love to have. Coach Devine commented, “I embrace it (the expectation to compete for a state title every year). You have to, or it will eat you up. I’m a pretty competitive person. Wes (former Paris coach Wes Davis) was a great mentor to me, so it just kind of fit in well.”
Going back to the last dark day in October, the Lady Eagles had just lost in the quarterfinals of the state to eventual state champion Little Rock Episcopal. The next day, Coach Devine and her player were in the stands to watch Episcopal play in the semi-finals. That was the day that the preparation began for this season. “Yeah, we never want to experience that feeling again. The girls wanted to watch that game.”
That tough loss from the state tournament is a big part of the motivation for the program as it proceeds through the off-season and into the August schedule. “I think it has to be. Again, when you realize what just happened, you don’t ever want to feel that again. I don’t think they need a constant reminder, but I do think we will focus on our mindset; what is our purpose of being here, what is our mindset going into practice, our mindset going into this ballgame, etc.”
The unexpected layoff due to the pandemic has made Coach Devine and her players even more eager to get back onto the floor and begin practice for the upcoming season. This could be significant for a talented group that was already hungry to return to the state finals. Motivation should not be a problem for this team next season. “I think this break has shown everybody how much we miss the sport.”
At the time of the sudden stop to the school year and the enactment of the AAA dead period, the team had been in off-season workouts and had played some travel team matches in Oklahoma. “We worked out a couple of days a week and we had “skull sessions” a couple of days a week. In April, I usually opened up the gym a couple of days a week after school for anyone who wanted to show up and play. That’s what we would have done in April and going into May. As soon as school was out, we would have conducted our normal June practices. We had several groups playing travel ball at that time and one group only played part of one season. We missed the March 14 Little Rock tournament that is usually the largest tournament we play in.”
But all Arkansas coaches are in the same boat with respect to the dead period and the effects it has had on their programs. “We’re all dealing with the same restrictions and we are doing the best we can.”
The AAA has released guidances for coaches in reaction to the governor’s announcement on how sports in Arkansas will be allowed to resume practices and workouts. “We (Paris coaches) had a meeting today to discuss how to go about those restrictions and what is the best way to go. So, we will start back on June 1. It will be an interesting June. It will be quite different for us.”
All of the adjustments for practices in the transition period and those leading up to the first of August will hopefully prepare the team for the daunting early schedule that awaits the Lady Eagles. That schedule will begin with the first game of the year on August 27 when Paris travels to Farmington to open the season. Clearly a lot of work is needed to prepare for a tough non-conference, conference, and playoff schedule for the Lady Eagles. And that road will begin with the resumption of workouts on June 1.
Paris and coach Jordan Devine have built a championship culture that started under Wes Davis and has been taken to the next level by Coach Devine. With a young and talented group this year, that championship pedigree should continue for the next several years,
Next week’s Sports Brew Show will feature new Paris boys basketball coach Blain Brewington. The topic of the show will be “A New Era in Paris Basketball with Coach Blain Brewington” Paris fans will not want to miss this interview! Just go to thesportsbrew.net to listen to the interview live, or to listen at anytime to the recorded interview with Coach Brewington.
New Paris Basketball Coach Blain Brewington will be the Special Guest on The Sports Brew Show on June 2
The Sports Brew Show will air again on Tuesday, June 2 in its final one hour format. Listeners can hear the show live on June 2, or can go to The Sports Brew website to listen to the recorded version of the show. The show will officially begin on June 9 in its summer-long two hour format from 4:00 -6:00 p.m. on Tuesdays.
To catch Coach Brewington’s June 2 interview, go to thesportsbrew.net at 4:00 p.m. to hear the interview from the new Paris boys basketball coach.
The University of Arkansas – Fort Smith was recently named the safest university in Arkansas, earning praise from online safety resource YourLocalSecurity.com.
Publishing annual reviews on the safest college campuses in America since 2016, Your Local Security uses data from the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security and the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report to inform their findings.
“We are proud of the work of everybody on campus in support of the University Police Department and our outreach efforts,” explained UAFS University Police Chief Ray Ottman. “Through our community-based policing and partnerships with our campus community partners, the Fort Smith Police Department and the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Department, we can build on the priority of safety on campus.”
UAFS reports drastically lower crime rates than the national averages, and UPD goes above and beyond the call of duty, implementing proactive safety measures across campus.
UAFS has blue light safety stations equipped with emergency phones placed throughout campus and utilizes the Rave Guardian personal safety app, which provides an additional layer of security for employees, students, faculty and staff through opt-in GPS tracking, emergency assistance, two-way communication and other resources.
UPD also performs police escorts by request at any time and hosts outreach events such as Cocoa with the PoPo, Weekend Waffles with UPD, and Stress Less events during finals. The department also provides Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) training, and officers give presentations throughout the year on dating violence, safe and healthy relationships, home safety and more.
“I really feel the benefits of our outreach efforts pay us the most dividends,” Ottman said with pride.
Throughout campus Ottman and his team also perform routine assessments of ways to improve campus safety, recently having implemented a lighting upgrade for the interior of campus. Lighting improvements are ongoing campus-wide.
“Safety is a priority of the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith, not just for current students, but also for our incoming students, parents, staff and faculty,” Ottman continued. “Safety is a team effort, and I am happy and proud to be part of this team.”
According to YourLocalSecurity, colleges were evaluated based on violent crimes, property crimes and hate crimes per 10,000 people, as well as the number of Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) offenses per 10,000 people. The full article with each state’s top campus is available at https://www.yourlocalsecurity.com/blog/the-safest-colleges-campuses-in-america/#state
The Sebastian County Quorum Court met on Tuesday evening, May 26, at the Greenwood High School safe shelter. The meeting was rescheduled from last week, after technical difficulties forced an early adjournment. Among the items on the agenda, a Constitutional Bill of Rights Sanctuary Ordinance.
District 3 JP Shawn Looper introduced the ordinance. Second Amendment advocate and patriot Wade Dunn spoke in favor of the ordinance, citing it is the duty of the elected to ensure that citizen’s God given rights are protected.
Also present, State Representative Marcus Richmond, who supported an identical ordinance which passed in his district in January. Scott County, was the first Arkansas county to approve such an ordinance.
The ordinance declares that the county would not enforce any law that is considered unconstitutional, a Bill of Rights Sanctuary.
The Sebastian County Quorum Court met on Tuesday, May 26.
Following the declaration in Scott County, Mike Rainwater, an attorney for the Association of Arkansas Counties Risk Management Fund, wrote a letter addressed to all 75 county judges in Arkansas. Rainwater’s letter stated: “Proposed County Sanctuary Ordinances – BEWARE!!…There are county sanctuary ordinance proposals going around that need to be carefully scrutinized…The real effort is to set the county in opposition to the constitutional system that has served us well for 200+ years…There is simply no need for any county to declare itself a sovereign jurisdiction that has stepped forward to create some sort of sanctuary for the protection of the individual rights of its citizens. That is the job of the state and it has already been done by the state of Arkansas. It is the state that is sovereign; not its counties.”
Proponents claim, however, that Rainwater is essentially labeling the constitution, unconstitutional and that the ordinance would curb any attempt to limit the rights of citizens. Members of the Arkansas Liberty Coalition have challenged Rainwater to attend the next quorum court meeting on June 16 and speak publicly regarding the privately addressed letter to county judges. A spokesman for the ALC said “We’re requesting Rainwater’s presence at the meeting, and would like to confirm his attendance in advance so we can ensure time is allotted on the agenda.Also, if he’s going to put his information out in closed meetings then he needs to do it publicly where ALC can present a defense.”
The Sebastian County Quorum Court took no action on the ordinance, and voted to table it until next month’s meeting.
The Sebastian County Quorum Court met on Tuesday evening, May 26, at the Greenwood High School safe shelter. The meeting was rescheduled from last week, after technical difficulties forced an early adjournment. Among the items on the agenda, a Constitutional Bill of Rights Sanctuary Ordinance.
District 3 JP Shawn Looper introduced the ordinance. Second Amendment advocate and patriot Wade Dunn spoke in favor of the ordinance, citing it is the duty of the elected to ensure that citizen’s God given rights are protected.
Also present, State Representative Marcus Richmond, who supported an identical ordinance which passed in his district in January. Scott County, was the first Arkansas county to approve such an ordinance.
The ordinance declares that the county would not enforce any law that is considered unconstitutional, a Bill of Rights Sanctuary.
The Sebastian County Quorum Court met on Tuesday, May 26.
Following the declaration in Scott County, Mike Rainwater, an attorney for the Association of Arkansas Counties Risk Management Fund, wrote a letter addressed to all 75 county judges in Arkansas. Rainwater’s letter stated: “Proposed County Sanctuary Ordinances – BEWARE!!…There are county sanctuary ordinance proposals going around that need to be carefully scrutinized…The real effort is to set the county in opposition to the constitutional system that has served us well for 200+ years…There is simply no need for any county to declare itself a sovereign jurisdiction that has stepped forward to create some sort of sanctuary for the protection of the individual rights of its citizens. That is the job of the state and it has already been done by the state of Arkansas. It is the state that is sovereign; not its counties.”
Proponents claim, however, that Rainwater is essentially labeling the constitution, unconstitutional and that the ordinance would curb any attempt to limit the rights of citizens. Members of the Arkansas Liberty Coalition have challenged Rainwater to attend the next quorum court meeting on June 16 and speak publicly regarding the privately addressed letter to county judges. A spokesman for the ALC said “We’re requesting Rainwater’s presence at the meeting, and would like to confirm his attendance in advance so we can ensure time is allotted on the agenda.Also, if he’s going to put his information out in closed meetings then he needs to do it publicly where ALC can present a defense.”
The Sebastian County Quorum Court took no action on the ordinance, and voted to table it until next month’s meeting.
Pictured is Sadie Roberts who received an All-State certificate for Indoor Track and Field
Accolades continue for a pair of Mansfield Lady Tiger track athletes. Recently, the Arkansas Track Coaches Association made its presence known with a letter and two certificates for Lady Tigers, Skylynn Harris, and Sadie Roberts.
The letter informed the pair that they had been nominated by the ATCA for an award for the 2019-2020 school year. That award was based upon their performances at the Class 3A Indoor State Track and Field Championships. Along with the letter was two individualized All-State certificates for the Mansfield performers.
Harris won the Class 3A shot put at the indoor finals back in February. She was also the overall small school shot put winner with a throw of 33 feet 8.75 inches. Harris was a freshman last season when the competition was held.
Roberts, a sophomore at the time of the small school indoor track finals, won the high jump. She was the Class 3A winner with a leap of five feet. She was the only competitor in her classification to clear that high of a bar.
The pair were on schedule for a promising outdoor season when the Covid-19 pandemic closed the door on the competition for all spring sports. In limited action, the pair had already won events in the first few outdoor meets that they had attended.
Mansfield Track coach, John Mackey, awards Skylynn Harris an All-State certificate from the ATCA
The 2020 edition of Azahares, the Spanish literary magazine published by the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith launched this month, featuring local, regional, national and international contributors, hailing from Fort Smith to Brazil and Spain. This year’s publication is the magazine’s 12th edition.
The Spanish literary magazine is produced by UAFS students, faculty, and alumni who comprise an editorial board, a design team, and contributing authors and artists. The publication includes poetry, short fiction, photography, and art that share a theme of Latinx culture and the Spanish language. The year, the production of Azahares was funded in part by a grant from the Arkansas Humanities Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
“For all of us who love the literary and visual arts, Azahares is a source of pleasure and enjoyment, a light shining on the soulfulness and beauty of the Latino experience, in all its many forms,” said Dr. Mary Sobhani, associate professor and head of the World Languages Department at UAFS. “Particularly in this time of COVID-19 challenges and crises, the crafting of poetry, short stories and art is a gift. The arts have the power to promote well-being and harmony, to uplift hearts, and to advance the affairs of humankind, and deserve great appreciation.”
UAFS students Makaela Swinney, Roxy Wylie and Alexandria Dormois contributed artistic pieces and poetry to the publication, while senior Spanish major Yamilet Vargas Toledano served on the editorial board, gaining practical experience in bilingual copy editing as well as the logistics of producing a literary publication.
“I was so thrilled and honored when I found out that Azahares was going to publish my poem,” said Wylie. “Self-expression is especially important during this time when so many feel alone and disconnected from friends or family. It’s important to feel heard and understood – known. By providing the opportunity for publication, Azahares has opened doors for me as a student that I would not have had the courage to try on my own. As a university student, it has opened the door for publication. As a human being, it has opened the door to my heart.”
Students from the Print and Publication Design class taught by Katie Harper, associate professor of graphic design, worked to create the cover art and layout design for this year’s edition. Student designers were Jasmin Vorabouth, lead designer; Megan Taylor, cover illustrator; and team members Paul Easley, Ashley Floyd, Faith Greenfield and Josh Medley.
In addition to Sobhani, the Azahares editorial board includes Dr. Ana Maria Romo Blas, assistant professor; Dr. Francesco Tarelli, assistant professor; Madeline Martinez-Santiago, instructor; Gray Langston and Lynda McClellan, adjunct faculty, all with the World Languages Department; as well as student board member Yamilet Vargas Toledano.
By Jeff Williams Editor, Arkansas Wildlife Magazine
A friend of mine who grew up in Yell County was a regular visitor of the creeks that zig-zag through the Ozark and Ouachita mountains. One of his favorite fishing, swimming and paddling spots was Big Piney Creek in Pope County.
Big Piney’s Long Pool Recreation Area is popular among folks who canoe and kayak, and this young man knew well the 5-mile run down to Twin Bridges.
Big Piney can be a beast when its narrow watershed is raging after a downpour, although it wasn’t particularly rowdy that spring day. After my friend began his paddle at Long Pool, he dropped through a fast chute, was turned sideways and his canoe wrapped around a rock he had paddled by many times before. His boat – weighted down by the stream – trapped him underwater, within sight of people on the bank. By the time they were able to reach him, he had drowned in less than 4 feet of water before his 30th birthday.
Paddlers with wide ranges of skill levels drown for various reasons every year in Arkansas’s lakes, rivers and streams; a few have lost their lives this spring. The rapid rise in sales of recreational paddle boats, especially kayaks, means it’s likely more people with little experience are on the water. Experienced paddlers carry no guarantee of safety but their inexperienced colleagues certainly stand less chance of survival when trouble suddenly appears.
With a little forethought, preparation and practice, some of those disasters can be avoided.
Above all, wear a well-fitting, U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket with the proper amount of buoyancy. It’s no guarantee, but no matter a paddler’s skill level, this is the best way to avoid drowning.
Assume you will be immersed at some point during your adventure. Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature, which leads to this advice: In cool weather, always pack dry clothes in a waterproof container to avoid hypothermia. Also pack an extra paddle with someone in your party.
Research the water where you’ll be paddling. Many small streams can become raging torrents with only a slight bit of rain in the watershed. Rain miles upstream can cause sudden rises in water level and current. Be prepared to change locations or cancel if the forecast calls for rough conditions.
Paddle water suited to your skill. This goes hand-in-hand with knowing the water you plan to paddle. Do not rely on someone else in your party to know all the details about the water level, where the put-in is and where the take-out is. Who will you call in a dangerous situation? Know this information before you go.
If you’re a novice, paddle with someone who’s experienced and don’t paddle alone. Watch what they do and ask questions.
File a float plan; let someone know where you’re going and when you expect to return.
Don’t get a ticket – According to Arkansas law, children 12 and under must wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket; everyone else must have one ready to use. Canoes and kayaks 16 feet and longer must have a throwable life preserver aboard. Glass containers are illegal in canoes and kayaks. Cooler lids must be securely fastened, each boat must have an attached, closeable trash container, and beverages must be in floating holders.
Are you thinking about buying your first new or used kayak? Here are some tips to consider.
Buy a boat that fits what you intend to do. If you plan to learn to spend your time on whitewater, buy a whitewater boat. The same goes for recreational boats, made for slower streams and flat water, and longer kayaks built for speed. All these boats have characteristics that suit them to different types of water.
Take your boat to a calm, shallow lake or pond and become familiar with it, preferably with an experienced paddler. Fill it with water to see how it changes (notice how heavy it is). Get in it and turn yourself over with someone nearby to help – it’s going to happen sooner or later and it’s best to learn how to deal with capsizing before you’re on moving water.
Learn how to get back in, which is called self-rescue. This could save your life.
After you’ve taken these steps on still water, do the same thing in a slow-moving creek. Work your way up to faster currents slowly; there’s plenty to enjoy along the way.
If paddling is for you and you’d like to learn various strokes and rescue techniques, take a class. Local groups such as the Arkansas Canoe Club welcome new members who are interested in learning. The American Canoe Association and the American Red Cross websites offer training videos, books and information about everything from paddling strokes to essentials for a float trip.
Mansfield athletes entering the 7th through 12th grade next school year have an opportunity to get a free sports physical at Mercy Family Medicine located next to the Mansfield Elementary School campus.
Parents or guardians of Mansfield athletes will need to call the clinic at (479)-928-4404 and make an appointment. You must tell the clinic that the appointment is for an athletic physical for the Mansfield school. Appointments are being made immediately and will continue until July 31, 2020.
Once an appointment date has been established, be prepared to arrive early enough on that date to complete a brief medical history. Also, be mindful of directives issued by the Secretary of Health while taking proactive measures to safeguard.
Athletes must receive a new sports physical annually before they are allowed to participate in any of the sports activities available through the school. Activities include summer practice, camps, schooltime practice, or games.
As most MHS athletes got last year’s physical in May of 2019, many of those are set to expire soon. Athletes will need to have an updated physical on file as part of the protocol to return to team activities.
Additional questions may be answered through the Mansfield High School Athletic Department by calling (479)-928-1105. Mansfield High School and Mansfield Middle School offer a wide variety of sports-related activities. Those include cross country, football, volleyball, golf, cheerleading, basketball, baseball, softball, and track and field.
