Patricia Ann (Slater) Maxell of Waldron, Arkansas went to be with her Lord and Savior, Friday, April 10, 2020, in Waldron, Arkansas with her loving family by her side. Patricia was born January 4, 1972, to LeeRoe “Goat” Slater and Nova (Wright) Slater in Mena, Arkansas.
Patricia was a member of Waldron Pentecostal Church of God in Waldron, Arkansas.Patricia was a hardworking woman. She loved her children and her grandchildren were the loves of her life. She enjoyed spending time with all of her family. The extended family although large, were even bigger in her heart. She had a smile and a hug for everyone. Patricia’s warmth and compassion lives on in those that knew her.
Patricia leaves behind to cherish her memory, one son, Joshua Slater and wife Eugenia of Waldron, Arkansas and one daughter, Ashley Maxell and Travis Morris of Elkins, Arkansas. Nana will forever remain in the hearts of her grandchildren: Matthew Tegtmeyer, Cherish Rhinehart, Robert Rhinehart, Levi Slater and Sophia Morris. Patricia is also survived by two brothers, Robert Slater and wife Katy, David Slater and wife Brandy and one sister, Sandra Norris all of Waldron. Patricia will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives she impacted including a host nieces and nephews, cousins, extended family, friends and loved ones near and dear to her heart.
Patricia was preceded in death by her parents, Goat and Nova Slater.
Patricia’s life celebration will be 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 13, 2020 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Konnor McKay officiating. Graveside service and interment will be in the Lamb Cemetery near Waldron, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
During these trying and difficult times, we must limit public gatherings to 10 persons in our funeral home and do our part to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. Family and friends are welcome to attend the service but must remain in their vehicles. Therefore, Patricia’s life celebration will be livestreamed on the link by Services on her webpage and the graveside service can be heard from the comfort of your vehicle at radio station 87.9 FM. The graveside service will be available for viewing online the following day on Patricia’s obituary page at www.heritagememorialfh.com.
Honorary pallbearers will be Travis Morris, Ethan Slater, Matthew Tegtmeyer, Richard Maxell, Bobby Joe Slater, Sam Slater, and Jared Wagner.
Family and friends you may use the link below to sign Patricia’s guest register and it will be printed and placed in her guest register the family will receive. Registry for Patricia Maxell
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Patricia Ann Maxell, please visit our floral store.
After fleeing from law enforcement officers over an estimated 20-mile stretch of highway, Justin Battenfield, 34, of Van Buren died as his vehicle left the roadway in a crash along the 72-hundred block of Arkansas Highway 255 in Fort Smith earlier today. An Arkansas State Police patrol car was involved in the crash leaving one trooper injured.
At approximately 6:30 AM, an officer of the U.S. Forest Service initiated a pursuit of a southbound vehicle on U.S. Highway 71. The officer had reportedly witnessed the vehicle fail to stop for a traffic signal and pass through the intersection along the highway shoulder.
As a Sebastian County sheriff’s deputy joined the pursuit, Battenfield reversed direction, traveling northbound along U.S. 71 where state troopers took the lead in the pursuit north of the Witcherville community.
Moments before 7 AM Battenfield, still fleeing from federal, state, and county law enforcement officers, turned his vehicle eastbound onto Arkansas Highway 255 where he encountered an Arkansas State Trooper who attempted to stop the vehicle by means of a Precision Immobilization Technique. The maneuver led to the trooper’s patrol car and Battenfield’s vehicle leaving the roadway and overturning.
The trooper has been hospitalized in Little Rock with non-life threatening injuries.
The Arkansas State Police Highway Patrol Division and Special Agents of the Criminal Investigation Division are continuing their investigation.
Imodel Joy Franklin of Parks, Arkansas went to be with her Lord and Savior, Monday, April 6, 2020, in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Imodel was born December 28, 1929, in Parks, Arkansas to Fred Hawkins and Nellie Goolsby Hawkins. She was 90 years old.
Imodel was married to the love of her life, Thurman J. Franklin for 64 years before he went to Heaven to await her revival. They had a cattle farm and loved being outdoors. She enjoyed being at home with her family. She loved taking care of her family and looked forward to all the time she got to spend with each of them.
Imodel leaves behind to cherish her memory, her children: Dwayne Frankln, Argie Nell Nichols and Nathan Franklin. Imodel will be missed by all that knew her and the many whose lives were impacted by her including her grandchildren, great grandchildren, many friends, neighbors and loved ones.
Imodel was preceded in death by her husband Thurman Franklin, her parents, Fred and Nellie Hawkins, and two brothers.
Imodel’s private graveside life celebration was held Thursday, April 9, 2020, at the Hawkins Cemetery in Parks, Arkansas with interment following.
Family and friends of Mrs. Franklin you may use the link below to sign Ms. Franklin’s guest register and it will be printed and placed in her guest register the family will receive. Registry for Imodel Franklin
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Imodel Joy Franklin, please visit our floral store.
Times may appear to not be the best, but there is still good in these times. Be the change the world needs, the smile, the uplifting voice, the positivity, and the motivation to seek goodness.
By Tracy Courage, U of A System Division of Agriculture
Strawberry season has arrived and with it a whole new way of purchasing farm goods. Amid the coronavirus pandemic, farmers are finding ways to deliver their goods while minimizing contact between customers.
Many roadside farm stands are offering drive-thrus, where customers can purchase fresh produce without leaving their vehicles. Other stands offer pre-order and delivery options, and some are packaging the produce in advance to minimize handling.
Barnhill Orchards in Lonoke, for example, shifted its operation from a farm stand to a drive-through. Customers can either order online and pick up curbside, or they can order on-site from a menu of produce offerings. With a quick pop of the trunk, produce is loaded into buyers’ vehicles.
On March 26, the state Secretary of Health issued a directive prohibiting gatherings of more than 10 people in any confined indoor or outdoor space. Outdoor food markets are exempt because they are considered critical in ensuring Arkansans have access to healthy food options. At this time, farmers’ markets can sell food products and limited personal hygiene items like soap and handmade masks, but other crafts or goods are not to be sold. Cooking demonstrations, crafts, entertainment — and other activities that draw crowds — have been put on hold.
While many Arkansans are willing to wait a little longer in line for a flat of fresh strawberries, a few buyers have worried about food safety.
“I have had calls from people who want to know if it’s safe to buy locally grown food or fresh-picked produce – or any produce – that is handpicked,” said White County Extension Agent Sherri Sanders.
The answer, in short: yes.
“Locally grown produce is a benefit since it doesn’t have to go through so many handlers to get to the end-user,” Sanders said. “Our farmers already follow strict food safety requirements, long before COVID.”
Strawberries are one of the more labor-intensive crops because they must be handpicked and hand-packed.
“Based on what we know about how the virus is spread, consumers should understand that it is unlikely that you would contract COVID-19 by eating produce that has been touched by someone,” said Dr. Amanda Philyaw Perez, assistant professor and food systems and safety specialist.
Coronaviruses are generally thought to be spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. Currently, there is no evidence to support the transmission of COVID-19 associated with food, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, it is now known that the virus can survive on a surface for two to three days, and the surface type can affect the time of survival. It is important to follow good hygiene practices, such as washing your hands after handling food products, and double efforts to clean and sanitize surfaces that have come into contact with food packaging.
All fruits and vegetables should be washed with cool water. Additionally, cooking produce eliminates the need for worry as well, though half of fresh strawberries and blackberries are eaten raw.
Some guidelines for when you visit farmers markets and roadside stands:
Stay at least 6 feet away from others.
Ask your local producer about pre-order and delivery options to minimize time out in public.
Avoid touching your face until you are able to wash your hands.
Clean and sanitize surfaces that come into contact with food packaging.
The State of Arkansas is currently below the national self-response rate in the 2020 Census. The national self-response average is 46.2% and the State of Arkansas sits at 43.3%.
Photo courtesy of the U.S. Census
Sebastian County is above the trend, with a self-response average of 47.4%. Within the county, the cities of Hartford, Huntington and Hackett are well below average at 21.9%, 17.4%, and 36.1% respectively. Mansfield, whose population is split between two counties, is at 39.5%.
Photos courtesy of the U.S. Census
Scott County as a whole is reporting 32.7% in self-response for the 2020 Census. Among those current numbers, 11.5% have responded on the internet. The City of Waldron’s self-response rate is currently at 28.2%. The final 2010 self-response numbers for the 2010 Census for Scott County was 59.1%.
Photos courtesy of the U.S. Census
So what exactly do all these numbers mean? Has the current health and economic crisis prevented people from participating in the Census, perhaps. U.S. Census officials say it’s even more important for residents to self-participate, as responding now will minimize the need for the Census Bureau to send census takers out into the communities to follow up.
These are only preliminary reports and the census website provides ongoing updates to those percentages. Beginning May 27-August 14 Census takers will interview homes that haven’t responded to the 2020 Census to make sure everyone is counted.
Low participation means less funding for towns. Census results shape the future of communities, as census data informs how billions of dollars in federal funds are distributed for health clinics, school lunch programs, disaster recovery initiatives, and other critical programs and services for the next 10 years.
“Participation in the 2020 Census is critical because it determines funding for the city for the next 10 years,” stated Mansfield Mayor Buddy Black. “If citizens want more things for our town, then this is how they can help make that happen.” Black went on to add that it is more important now for self-response participation, because of COVID-19. “I want to encourage everyone to participate and ask them to pass along the importance of participation to others as well.”
You can still respond to the Census 2020 mailer, or go online to www.my2020census.gov to participate. Remember that your information is completely confidential and protected by law and cannot be shared with any other government agencies, including law enforcement or immigration officials. Federal law (U.S. Code Title 13, Section 9) protects your privacy and keeps your answers safe and secure. By law, the U.S. Census Bureau can use your responses only to produce statistics.
With the highly anticipated announcement from the governor’s office that Alternate Method of Instruction (AMI) would replace in-classroom instruction for the remainder of the school year, administrators have been busy preparing for August, and a new school year.
One question remains, however. Will seniors be provided a graduation ceremony? The answer isn’t quite so clear and varies by district.
Mansfield Superintendent Joe Staton stated that Mansfield’s graduation has been postponed until it is safe to gather again. Although the state is allowing each district the leeway in making that decision, CDC guidelines must be followed and those restrict a gathering of more than 10 people. “Seniors want to have a normal graduation,” shared Staton. “It could very well be in July or later before we can do that.”
Staton added that there are some students who will be enlisting in the military or unable to participate because of a vocation, so they are making plans for those individuals.
Both the Waldron and Hackett School Districts are uncertain of any plans for graduation. Hackett has sent out a survey to their seniors, and anticipates a delayed ceremony.
Administrators are working hard to ensure that seniors have as normal of a graduation ceremony as possible. As Hackett Elementary Principal Tura Bailey stated, “they have worked as hard as any graduating class before them, and they deserve it.”
Zones 1, 1A, 2, 3, 4, 4A, 4B, 5, 5A, 5B, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 9, 9A, 10 and 17: April 11-12, 2020
Only hunters 6 to 15 years old may hunt turkeys during the special youth turkey hunt.
Youths who have completed hunter education must be accompanied by an adult who is 18 or older.
Youths who have not completed hunter education must be under the direct supervision of an adult who is 21 or older.
Regular Turkey Season Dates
Zones 1, 2, 3, 4B, 5, 5B, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 9, 10 and 17: April 13-28, 2020
Zones 1A, 4, 4A, 5A and 9A: April 13-21, 2020
Statewide Turkey Bag Limit
No more than one legal turkey may be taken per day.
The statewide bag limit is two legal turkeys, no jakes.
Hunters 6 to 15 years old may harvest one jake as part of their two-bird limit during the season (including the youth hunt).
Hunters may not exceed any zone harvest limits.
Zone Turkey Harvest Limits
Zones 1, 2, 3, 4B, 5, 5B, 6, 7, 7A, 8, 9, 10 and 17: Two legal turkeys, no jakes.
Zones 1A, 4, 4A, 5A and 9A: One legal turkey, no jakes. Hunters who kill a turkey in one of these zones must travel to any other zone (including other one-bird-limit zones) to harvest a second turkey.
As residents of western Arkansas, specifically the River Valley region, none of us are strangers to the wild weather patterns that we experience. That reputation appears to be upheld this week as we go through a roller coaster of conditions. Tomorrow afternoon temperatures cloud slip into the low 90’s across Arkansas with a soupy air mass. By Thursday evening we will struggle to climb into the mid 60’s with MUCH drier air on tap.
Statewide Temps Tomorrow Afternoon
The overall long range pattern for our area is trending cooler, in fact, it looks pretty stout in regards to April. While I’m not stating a blizzard is on tap, it will certainly feel much more winter like through mid-month. This will eventually change though, as spring will gradually take back over as we progress and transition into the month of May. I would NOT plant until we get through this cooler stretch, some of us may even see a freeze.
Long Range Guidance Suggesting Cooler Temperatures
With the drastic change from warm to cold air, there does appear to be a chance for severe weather tomorrow, specifically tomorrow evening. However I do suspect this threat to remain just east of our region in central and eastern Arkansas. As always I’ll be watching if that changes. Please remain vigilant as we are now entering our most active stretch of severe weather season.
Thanks for reading and remember you can follow me on Facebook and Twitter for continuous Arkansas weather related updates.
As we all stay at home to shelter ourselves against a lethal virus that has claimed tens of thousands of lives in the United States, sports fans can’t help but to think of when sports will resume, and when they do, what will it be like post-coronavirus. Certainly, there are many aspects as the health and safety of players and everyone connected with the teams, as well as the fans and support staff are at stake. With spring sports in Arkansas having come to an abrupt end for the 2019-20 school year, time that has been normally spent by fall coaches preparing for the summer and upcoming seasons is now being spent making alternate plans and getting ready to move in several different directions depending on how and when the sports seasons resume.
But like all of us who have seen their lives change forever, coaches’ and school administrators’ roles have changed as well. New considerations will have to be considered to protect the health and safety of their student-athletes, their parents and fans, and, themselves. I touched on this a few weeks ago; some traditional activities such as shaking hands with the opposing team at the end of the game may have to be modified or even eliminated. On a very interesting side note, Arkansas high school teams have made it a tradition to assemble together after the games, immediately on the field or on the court, to recite the Lord’s Prayer together. I hope this tradition continues. It is needed more today than ever.
I wanted to know what recommendations to protect athletes and coaches from the coronavirus were being made for the resumption of school sports, whenever that may be. It will be a question I will ask coaches in our area as soon as it is known when the sports seasons will resume. Surprisingly, there is not a lot out there right now concerning guidance as to how coaches are encouraged or required to protect athletes from coronavirus. I want to believe that is because this is a situation that is evolving daily, and much is still being learned about the virus and its prevention.
After a brief check of the available literature, I did stumble upon a guidance from the State of Rhode Island that listed specific steps for coaches to take to protect the health and safety of their players and all connected to their programs. In a directive from the Rhode Island Department of Health (health.ri.gov), guidelines and best practices have been given to their state’s high school coaches to prevent coronavirus spread among their players. Some of the recommendations include: 1) washing hands often with warm, soapy water, 2) cough and sneeze into the elbow, 3) do not share eating or drinking utensils, such as water bottles, 4) people who are sick or have a fever should stay home until their temperatures are below 100 degrees for at least 24 hours without the assistance of fever-reducing medication, 5) educate athletes on how flu viruses are transmitted, 6) tell athletes to stay at home from practices or games if they feel sick, have a fever, or come to practice feeling sick, 7) coaches should eliminate disciplinary penalties if a player misses practices or games with flu symptoms, 8) do not share mouth guards, 9) do not shake hands after the game; use fist pumps or elbow bumps, and 10) thoroughly clean equipment and sports surfaces frequently.
Resident Press File Photo
A key component of these guidelines is that the changes in practice and behaviors listed above must be reinforced by the parents at home. Gone are the days that athletes have to show a certain amount of “toughness” that has been embedded into the culture of the sports. Social distancing guidelines, common sense, and a proper perspective on the role and importance of high school sports goes a long way. And now it is more important than ever. The first priority has to be the protection of the safety of our athletes, coaches, fans, families, and everyone connected to our sports programs.
For parents of high school athletes, there has always been an “acceptable level of risk” that has been in their minds with respect to their children playing sports. Concussions, broken bones, heat-related illness, and even paralysis and rare occasions of death, have been among the risks that parents have taken or, in some cases, have refused their children to take. COVID-19 is a new risk factor that is added to that terrible list that parents will have to consider in the future. This new risk factor will undoubtedly affect all sports until a vaccine is available that will eliminate or greatly reduce the risk of contracting this awful virus. But until that day comes, it will force parents and athletes to make the decision to play or not to play.
My overall concern with all of this is the fear that once life returns to some version of “normal”, the behavioral modifications such as social distancing, hand washing, etc., will be quickly forgotten. Remembering back to the few months and years following the terrorists attacks on September 11, 2001, it was shocking to me to see how many Americans quickly forgot the attacks and lost the deep sense of patriotism that was so fervent in the immediate days of the attack. I hope and pray that our parents, coaches, and players will remember how important it is to continue behavioral modifications that we are all taking now in the coming months when sports resume. Will we be able to avoid the short-term temptations to forget about these modifications, or, will we forget and fall back to the old way of life because it is simply what we want to do at that time? I hope, for the sake of our children, that we as adults do not let our children down and give into a way of life that will put them at risk. And additionally, I hope, that once a vaccine is available and is proven to be safe, that our parents will take the necessary steps to make sure our children and ourselves are properly vaccinated.
But for now, schools and sports programs will have to prepare for what will happen at the start of the next school year, and, the possibility of a recurrence of the virus again next winter. It is a race against the clock to develop new vaccines against COVID-19, but, there is no guarantee that it will be available next school year.
Stay with Resident Press as we continue to cover the effect of the COVID-19 virus on high school sports in Arkansas. But in the meantime, stay home, stay safe, and God bless our country.
