Resident News Network

LL Dragons Earn Full Respect In WCFL Championship Game

Sports

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12:06 pm

LL Dragons Earn Full Respect In WCFL Championship Game

The Mountainburg 3^rd and 4^th Grade team made history on Saturday, November 9^th as they played in the little league football program’s first WCFL Championship game. The season itself was full of gradual growth for the team as they started off slow, but was able to bow up when it mattered as the season progressed. The Dragons showed the entire league the absolute definition of determination.

Mountainburg began the season with a low number of players which put them at a disadvantage in most games. The Dragons took tough losses against Mansfield and JC Westside, but with the heart of a Dragon and great coaching, Mountainburg ran a three-game winning streak against Magazine, West Fork, and Greenland. Not only did they win, but they also handed their opponents a big ol’ goose egg on the scoreboard with three straight shutouts. The streak came to an end though as Mountainburg lost a close one against rivals Cedarville in the final game of the regular season.

With every negative, there is a positive though. The Dragons finished with a 3-3 record which landed them with the #5 Seed in the 3rd and 4th Grade WCFL Playoffs. Not only did they make the Playoffs, but they would also go on to defeat the Cedarville Pirates in the first round to gain redemption for their loss a week earlier. With the victory, Mountainburg would not only face the task of playing perineal powerhouse and #2 Seeded Hackett, but they would do so on the Hornets home field. You don’t just walk into Hackett as a #5 Seed and walk out with a victory right? Wrong. Mountainburg sent shockwaves throughout the entire league when the Dragons set the Hornet Hive on fire with a scorching 14-0 victory. The win made the 3^rd and 4^th Grade Dragons WCFL Championship bound.

Mountainburg went toe to toe with the #1 Seeded Mansfield Tigers for the WCFL Championship gold. Mansfield’s high powered offense had laid waste to all opponents in the year including the Dragons with a 36-8 blowout in Week 1 of the season. That was Week 1 though. The Dragons had eaten five of their eight opponents since then and were still hungry. Mountainburg’s powerful defense held the Tigers to 16 points in the game which was Mansfield’s lowest score of the entire season. They also were able to backup and stuff the Tigers for a safety in the game. Although the Dragons played an awesome defensive game, their offense just couldn’t keep up as Mountainburg fell to Mansfield 16-2.

The 3^rd and 4^th Grade Mountainburg Dragons finished their season with a 5-4 overall record and brought home the WCFL Runner-Up Trophy to the Dragons Cave for all to see. Down but never out, these young players fought their way through adversity and a daunting schedule to find success. Mountainburg’s football program will fly high in the future with these “Dragon Hearts” leading the way.

Magazine LL Strikes The Perfect Season

Sports

Megan Hecox

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9:36 am

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No need to clean your glasses or get an eye exam. You read that 110% right. The 5^th and 6^th Grade Magazine Rattlers are the 2019 WCFL Champions. The Rattlers earned their first Championship gold in a hard-fought 18-8 victory against the Mansfield Tigers on Saturday, November 9^th. Some may see that as a simple fluke to some outside of Magazine territory, but to the Rattler faithful it was a foreseen conclusion. The Rattlers are in the beginning stages of building a program to become a prominent powerhouse from Little League all the way to High School level. With an appearance in the WCFL Championship game last year and winning the Championship this year, Magazine is pushing closer and closer to that goal.

After winning the WCFL Championship game, Head Coach Charly Moua said “Overall, it was a great championship game played by both sides. Our team started out a little slow but we managed to find a way to win the game. I believe that due to last year’s loss in the Championship game to Hackett, our fifteen returning players were a little more nervous than usual. Mansfield improved a lot from the last time we met them in week 3. They did a lot of things on defense differently from the last time we met resulting in us having to punt on our first two possessions.”

“But we adjusted after a long touchdown run by the Tigers. By halftime, everyone in the stands should have known that this game would be on the shoulders of our running back Cha Kong Yang and Mansfields running back Dawson Robinson. These two players played great and separated themselves away from the others. Our defense did great by forcing a lot of fumbles. Defensive lineman Alan Downs had a great night with multiple tackles for loss and for putting tons of pressure on Mansfield’s backfield.”

The 5^th and 6^th Grade Rattlers not only went undefeated at 8-0, but they also outscored their opponents 164-20 in the regular season. They didn’t play an easy schedule either. The Rattlers faced Lavaca, Hackett, Mansfield, Mountainburg, Cedarville, and JC Westside during the regular season this year. If that’s not an achievement in itself, Magazine also played Hackett in the Playoffs where the Rattlers won 22-12 and then turned around and beat Mansfield 18-8 to win the WCFL Championship. The 5^th and 6^th Grade Rattlers undoubtedly set a new standard this season for WCFL Football.

5^th and 6^th Grade Assistant Coach Cody Shelton said “Those boys left absolutely everything on that field in order to make history and become the very first Magazine team to ever go undefeated and win the Championship. They went out, played their tails off, and now they can call themselves Champions, and no one can take that away from them!”

Magazine High School Head Coach and WCFL President Doug Powell said “The Magazine Little League program is moving into never before seen territory. We have the potential to be year in and year out competitors for the Championship. We play in a league that is packed with talented programs that could beat anyone on any day. As balanced as our league is, I see opportunities for every program to reach the Playoffs and the Championship. As for this years’ Championship game, hats off to Mansfield. Both sides played great. I doubt anyone was ever calm during that game. It was honestly one of the best matches between two teams I’ve seen at any level.”

“I am proud of our players. I watched their disappointment last year as they lost to Hackett in the Championship. They fell behind early in Saturday’s game but didn’t lose faith in themselves. I have seen many teams crumble under that kind of pressure, but our guys dug in and kept working to overcome bad situations in order to achieve their goal. I saw their heart and desire to win while they relentlessly pursued their goal. This group was a team that wanted to win. Thank you to everyone involved in our program this year for all of the hard work you put into making this an awesome season for these players. It was fun to watch them play and I look forward to coaching them as they move into Jr High and Sr High football at Magazine.”

True Value Opens in Waldron

Headlines

Resident News Network

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12:20 pm

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The much anticipated and long awaited opening of the Scott County True Value Hardware Store in Waldron is set to take place on Friday, November 15. The owners and management are anxious to welcome consumers into the newly renovated building, which also houses Hwy 71 Tire & Service Center, and Waldron Auto Parts.

The unique three-in-one business offers convenience and personal service. General Manager Matt Scantling described the store as “similar to the Walmart of thirty years ago.” The current farm supply store, hardware/building supply and now the Bumper to Bumper Auto Parts store provides a place for customers to get new tires, lube jobs, repairs and alignments. The whole facility is now a nice one-top destination.

True Value-Waldron-Arkansas-Makita-Dewalt-Power Tools — Scott County True Value Hardware Store in Waldron offers a wide range of tools for every project regardless of size.

In addition, the store will have a large sporting goods section, offering guns, ammo, hunting and fishing gear; a large patio/lawn section for furniture, grills, and lawn care; a technologically advanced paint destination; cleaning and home supplies, toys, shoes, and clothes.

“The lot here is so big that we have been able to add an additional structure to house the building materials and fill the rest of the space outside with farm/ranch supplies,” shared Scantling. “It is hard to describe everything that this store is going to have and I catch myself describing the place and saying oh, we have feed…canning supplies…kayaks…over a 150 different firearms…and we will have an area to sit down and grab a drink or bite to eat.”

True Value-Waldron-Arkansas-paint-stain-solvents — Scott County True Value Hardware Store has a wide selection of paint for your interior and exterior needs.

With the store nearly 85% stocked, the owners, Albert and Aimee Littleton decided to host a “soft” opening this month, but with more products arriving daily, then holding an official grand opening in late March. “We will hold our Grand Opening in late March when the weather is warmer and we can be certain that additional products will have had time to arrive,” Scantling added. “That Grand Opening will be worth the wait with free food/drink, give-a-ways every hour, grand prizes, huge discounts across the store, and fill-the-bucket discount sale.”

Scantling indicated that they are still anticipating items in the clothing line. They have however, stocked brands like Skechers, Fruit of the Loom, Wrangler Jeans and Justin Boots to name a few.

True Value-Waldron-guns-ammo-outdoors-hunting-fishing — An expansive hunting and fishing product line, offering long guns, handguns, ammo, and everything you will need for your outdoor experience.

“We are so excited about this store and about being a part of another great community,” said Scantling. “We truly hope that the people of Waldron will be pleased with what we offer to the community. We ask everyone to come by once we are open and introduce themselves. We honestly want to get to know our customers and if one doesn’t see something we should carry, let us know and we will try to get it.”

That attention to personal service and catering to the needs of the community is at the very heart of their business. The Littletons, who have strong family ties to the Waldron area, are passionate about success in small towns. In fact, that passion yielded the start of their business.

True Value-Waldron-Arkansas-Clothing-Shoes — From socks to coats, jeans to shoes, their clothing department has you covered. (Expansion coming soon as new brands become available.

Albert grew up in Magazine and with those strong ties to the community. He wanted to do something to help his small, struggling hometown. This began a process of purchasing the local convenience store, remodeling an older building and putting in a hardware and building material store. Later, he would build a structure to house the auto parts store and tire/service center.

During this interval of construction and instituting new businesses for Magazine, the Littletons witnessed the devastating toll the closure of the Waldron Walmart store had on their community. Aimee, who is from Waldron, felt a call to action as she watched her old community suffer.

True Value-Waldron-BBQ-Outdoors-Patio-Charcoal-YETI Cooler — From BBQ Grills to patio furniture, the Scott County True Value Hardware Store will have a rotating seasonal area as well.

“We discussed the possibility of purchasing the building and following a similar business model like in Magazine, but we honestly felt like one of the farm and ranch chain stores would scoop it up and that it would be outside of our price range. After the building had been vacant for a little over a year, we sat down and discussed it again and made the decision to at least tour the facility and make inquiries as to the cost. That period of negotiation, getting environmental studies, working out details of our model, and the process of getting the building transferred to new ownership seems like an eternity ago now,” recalled Scantling. “One of the first things I did was to go over to the facility by myself with only a cell phone. I actually walked through the entire building and perimeter, recording the whole time, and talked myself through what needed to happen to make the building thrive again. It is humbling to go back and look at those recordings of falling ceiling tiles, leaking roof, empty spaces, cobwebs, with a few vermin and be proud now of what we were able to accomplish.”

The owners have already demonstrated their commitment to give back to the community. For example, those people who were hired to help with the remodel are local residents. “That is the kind of help we wanted to give to the community, not a bunch of broken promises, but jobs immediately with more jobs to come and places to shop to boot,” concluded Scantling. Overseeing the day to day operations, Store Manager, Frank Hart and Assistant Managers, Kevin Harrison and Ken Landon.

The store, located at 1359 W 2^nd Street, is open from 7 a.m.-6p.m., Monday – Saturday. You can check them out on the web at www.facebook.com/scottcountytruevalue or email ScottCoHardware@gmail.com.

True Value-Waldron-Plumbing-Faucets-Moen-Delta — Scott County True Value Hardware Store in Waldron has a wide selection of plumbing products including faucets, fittings, and beyond.

Waldron Prepares To Let The Dogs Out In Season Opener

Sports

Megan Hecox

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11:48 am

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Waldron Prepares To Let The Dogs Out In Season Opener

The Waldron Bulldog basketball team will be returning quite a few seniors this season as opposed to last year considering Drew Dozier was the Sr High Bulldogs lone senior. “We have four returning starters from last year in Payton Brown, Jacob Avila, Mason Ford and Gada Wagner with Ruben Valdez also seeing starting time last season,” explains Head Coach, Joshua Brown. “We have some high expectations for this year with all the talent that we have coming back.”

“Senior, Payton Brown, can score at the basketball nearly every time and has even led the state in scoring the past two seasons. He can get it done at all three levels. Senior, Jacob Avila, has shown that he can hit shots and is one of our most fierce defenders. He is getting stronger at finishing around the basket as well. Junior, Gada Wagner, has drastically improved his shooting and shown that he can also finish around the basket.”

“Senior, Mason Ford, is a great athlete and is getting better at scoring around the basket. He has added some range to his shot and can help us extend some defenses. Senior, Ruben Valdez, can worm his way to the basket and when he gets going from the outside, he has the ability to hit some perfect shots. Junior, Isaac Villarreal, could play some guard and forward for us this year. He is a great athlete who will be seeing some major time on the hardwood.”

“Junior, Caden Fuller, can hit the outside shot and plays tremendous defense. He is a guy who could see his production go up this year for us. Junior, Jaden Hutchens, handles the ball well and shoots it impeccably from outside. He also has great footwork. We have two guys who didn’t play last year that returned in juniors, Bryson Bailey and Braden Williams, that will add to our depth. Camdon Holcomb is a 6’4″ sophomore post that could see some minutes if he continues to improve and could be a rim protector for us. Sam Slater and Jesse Dees return as juniors this year and continue to improve daily. And Matthew Tegtmeyer and Tyler Wright will be sophomores for the Bulldogs this year and look to bring some strong basketball skills to the court.”

“We have high expectations and our goal is to make it to the state tournament and win some games. We know we have to take it one day at a time. I believe this team has matured some and knows what it takes to be successful. If you ask our players, I believe they would tell you that their goal is to win conference and make a run in the post-season. This team has the potential to be very special. We just have to get better defensively each day.”

“I am very excited about this team and I know that our community is as well! We get kicked off tonight with our annual Orange/Black game and will then travel to De Queen on Tuesday, November 12 at 5 p.m. to open the season. Our Toy Toss game will be our home opener against Two Rivers on Thursday, Nov. 14 at 6 p.m.”

Charleston Tigers Class 3A Football First Round State Playoffs Preview

Sports

Resident News Network

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11:39 am

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Charleston Tigers Class 3A Football First Round State Playoffs Preview

The Charleston Tigers will travel a little more than three hours next Friday to play Prescott in the first round of the class 3A state playoffs. Charleston (4-6, 3-3) are a number five seed in the playoffs and will play the two seed Prescott Curley Wolves. Prescott (8-2, 7-0) swept their conference schedule with their only two losses of the year being to class 4A Mena in a 36-35 overtime loss, and a double-overtime loss to Rison, 42-40. Prescott has lost two games this year by a combined total of three points in three overtime periods.

Booneville and Osceola are the top seeds overall in this year’s playoffs. Both schools received byes for the first round and will not play this Friday.

The winner of this game will play Friday, November 22 against the winner of another first round game featuring Jessieville vs. Pine Bluff Dollarway. For a copy of the Class 3A state football playoffs bracket, click here to be re-directed to Max Preps to view or download your copy. Max Preps will update the brackets as the games are played.

All roads in the brackets lead to the final championship game in Class 3A that will be played December 14 in Little Rock at War Memorial Stadium.

Prescott is coached by James Cannon and their colors are maroon and white. The Curley Wolves are members of the class 3A-5 conference that includes Fouke, Bismarck, Smackover, Genoa Central, Horatio, Camden Harmony Grove, and Centerpoint.

According to Max Preps, Prescott has scored 445 points on the season and have given up just 218. They have won their last 8 games. The Curley Wolves are the number three ranked team in Arkansas in class 3A, and are ranked 47th across all classifications in the state.

Offensively, Prescott averages 144.7 yards receiving per game, and 241 yards per game rushing. Prescott has scored 54 touchdowns on the year.

Defensively, the Curley Wolves average 78.9 tackles per game, and 18 sacks per game. The Prescott defense has 7 interceptions for the year.

The Prescott offense is led by junior quarterback Jacobi Nolen. Nolen has attempted 84 passes and has completed 52 for a passing percentage of 62%. He averages 18 yards per completion and has passed for 936 yards for the season. Nolen has thrown for 15 touchdowns against just 4 interceptions. His longest completed pass was for 98 yards. Nolen is also the Curley Wolves second leading rusher this season.

The Prescott rushing attack is led by a “three-headed monster” attack of two outstanding running backs and a rushing quarterback. The leading rusher for Prescott is junior running back Alex George. George has carried the ball 67 times for 491 yards. He averages a little more than 7 yards per carry and 64 yards per game. His longest carry was for 34 yards. The second part of the Prescott rushing is headed by senior Derrium Thompson. Thompson has carried 47 times for 488 yards and averages 10.4 yards per carry. Thompson averages 62 yards per game, and his longest carry was for 69 yards. Quarterback Jacobi Nolen is the third rushing weapon in the Prescott offense. Nolen has rushed 88 times for 496 yards. He averages 5.5 yards per carry and 61 yards per game. His longest run from scrimmage this season was 76 yards.

Nolen’s leading receiver is Jacaylon Zachery. Zachery has 486 yards in receptions for the year on 18 receptions. He averages 27 yards per reception, 61 yards per game, and has a longest of 98 yards. Zachery is always a deep threat to opposing defenses.

For nine games, the Prescott offense produced 3,471 yards of total offense and averages 386 yards per game. The Curley Wolves are an irresistible force that have been difficult to slow down for opponents all season.

On defense, the leading tackler for Prescott is Jacobi Nolen. Nolen who plays both ways, has 28 solo tackles on the year combined with 48 assisted tackles. He averages 8.9 tackles per game and has 5 tackles for lost yardage. Junior Keihnan Paden leads the team in sacks with 4.5 sacks. The defense has 7 interceptions on the year and have caused 9 fumbles and recovered 6.

The Charleston defense will have its hands full containing the explosive Prescott offense. Coach Ricky May commented, “They’re pretty good. Their quarterback has something like 27 touchdowns combined (passing and rushing). Their line has two really big guys and they are so athletic. We are going to go down there and swing for the fences and give it everything we’ve got and see what happens.”

When I asked Coach May about last Friday’s performance against Lamar, he said that once again, the Tigers played hard. “The kids played hard. Man, they played hard all the way around. Like I told them, at the end of the day we can’t give up a blocked punt for a touchdown and we can’t have turnovers. One of those interceptions was just a great play by them (Lamar). They tipped it out of our receiver’s hands and there happened to be one of their guys standing around. And that was in the end zone. I don’t think Lamar turned it over at all and we turned it over three times and gave up a special teams touchdown.”

Coach May summed up the Tigers opponent this week by saying, “They’re loaded with skill people. They’re a physical ball club, well-coached, playoff-ready, have been there a lot. They were a semi-finalist last year against Booneville, one play away from being the state champion. They have a proud tradition.”

The Tigers will leave early Friday to travel to Prescott for Friday’s playoff game. Charleston will work out at Ouachita University’s indoor practice facility en route to the game. After lunch at the university, Charleston will board the bus in Arkadelphia to finish the trip to Prescott.

The forecast for Prescott this Friday is a projected high of 54 degrees and a low of 28 degrees. It is supposed to be sunny and dry. It should be a cold playoff atmosphere in Prescott Friday, and the Tigers need their fan base to bring their coats and make the trip to support their team!

Bundle up, and I will see you in Prescott!

Opponents Put Best Foot Forward

Sports

Jason Baggett

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11:17 am

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When the Booneville Bearcats and Cedarville Pirates entered into Friday nights football game, anticipation was at an all time high for a win on both sidelines. But, an unexpected event took place that changed the lives of two families.

Cedarville Junior, Tommy Metcalf (#30) sustained a fractured fibula above his left ankle on the second play of the game. Booneville Senior, Andrew Robertson (#2) sustained an anbkle sprain later on in the game.

After a short stay at the hospital, both families were planning on being discharged, then they met and became friends created through a football game, and a chance meeting.

Cedarvile-Pirates-Booneville-Bearcats-Football — Cedarville Pirate, Tom Metcalf (Left), and Booneville Bearcat, Andrew Robertson (Right)

“They walked onto the field as opposing teams, but left the hospital as comrades.”
Bridget Pruitt – Robertson’s Mother

Unknowingly, to both families and players, these injuries have created a strong bond and new friendships that will most likely last long into both players lives.

It will be something for both towns, and families to talk about for quite some time as well.

“Us mothers are some praying momma’s! We plan on keeping in touch to see the progress of the boys.”
Stacey Shelley – Metcalf’s Mother

Photos courtesy of Stacey Shelly

Lavaca’s CVs Remodels

Food

Resident News Network

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12:27 am

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This past Saturday was a perfect day for a cookout! That’s just what happened in the parking lot of the new and improved CV’s Family Foods in Lavaca. Store manager Jamie Hamby had a large grill from Johnsonville Brats pulled up to the door and gave away free hotdogs and samples of the meat department’s best steaks.

Since Hamby moved to Lavaca’s CV’s location he has worked very hard to make the store more attractive to area shoppers. He and his associates have gone through the store with a fine-tooth comb searching for out-of-date or nearly so from store shelves. The produce department has been revamped as has the meat department.

The management of CV’s recently overhauled the entire store with new signage inside and out, bright department signs, murals, and even new lighting. The outside got a fresh paint job and a larger, updated logo replaces the old one that has hung there since the store was built. Hamby said, “We are working to make the area shoppers experience an even greater one when they come to their Lavaca CV’s Family Foods. I would like to invite everyone to come to see the progress we have made.”

Lavaca’s CV’s Family Foods is a proud member of the Lavaca Area Chamber of Commerce and provides many services and a great help in its activities and projects.

Other projects are coming to Lavaca and will be announced soon. An antique shop is opening soon. Stay tuned in to Resident Press for updates!

Tiger’s XC Conference Dominates State Meet

Sports

Tammy Teague

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2:04 pm

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Tiger’s XC Conference Dominates State Meet

It was no secret throughout the season that the Mansfield cross country teams were in one of the strongest conferences in the state. On Saturday, November 9, the results from the Arkansas Activities Association’s 64th annual state finals proved the point.

The 3A-1 West district produced team state championships in both the men’s and women’s divisions of the class 3A races. West Fork from the men’s side and Waldron off the women’s side took the top step on the championship platform.

West Fork grabbed the men’s title with 41 points. Waldron took the women’s trophy with 84 points.

What stood out was the impressive finishes of the rest of the conference rosters. Eight teams from the 3A-1West conference landed in the top 10 teams overall.

West Fork (1), Waldron (6), and Elkins (9) dotted the top ten in the men’s 3A race. Waldron (1), West Fork (4), Elkins (5), Greenland (8), and Mansfield (10) saturated the women’s 3A heat.

“Our league is really blessed with some good cross country runners,” stated John Mackey, the coach of the Mansfield Tigers. “Our men should have also been in that conversation of top ten teams. Unfortunately, we carried only four male runners today which kept us out of the scoring.”

Mansfield’s girls, loaded with potential at the onset of the season, labored down the stretch with a series of injuries. Three of the team’s top five runners faced significant medical issues that sidelined them for all or part of the season. Six total Lady Tigers lost time throughout the season because of hip, knee, or foot problems.

“It was just one of those years,” said Mackey as he reflected back on the season’s schedule. “Despite the battle with bad luck, we actually did very well individually. Most all of our kids set personal records this year; even those that had limited seasons because of medical mishaps.”

McKenzie Griffin stayed as healthy as any off the Tiger roster. The sophomore finished 31 out of 136 state runners to cross as the top state Tiger.

“McKenzie was coming on strong this last month of the season,” exclaimed her coach. “She beat her previous personal record four times this season. Today, she set another career mark.”

Griffin covered the 5K race in 23:25.5. That was 1:13 faster than her time a year ago at the state finals.

This season alone, Griffin picked up All-District, and All-Region honors. Prior to the state finals at Hot Spring’s Oaklawn Park, she was in line to make the Farm Bureau River Valley All Star roster.

Faith Rainwater, another Mansfield sophomore, finished 49th. The placing was a good mark considering the former player of the year was hobbled by a strained instep over the last several weeks of the season.

“Faith was our number one runner and on a real roll the first half of the season,” explained Mackey. “At the Van Buren meet, she suffered a foot injury that took her away from training. Only in the last few days has she been able to endure a modified workout. I thought she ran really well considering the circumstances. I’m so proud of her toughness.”

Mansfield’s scoring five came from Griffin, Rainwater, Darby Jones, Jadelynn Wood, and Katlynn Moore. Alyssa James and Shelby Cole provided displacer points. Hope Rainwater and Holly Owen completed the Lady Tiger nine person roster.

“Darby had incredible gains this year,” said the coach. “She became our number three runner this season after not making the top nine a year ago. She really had a memorable season, a confidence building season.”

“Jadelynn and Katlynn came along and fit nicely into the mix,” continued the Tiger mentor. “It was expected of Jadelynn and she delivered right on cue. Kat came from nowhere and made a strong push over the last month.”

The Tiger men saw extreme gains as well over the course of the season. Ethan Chapman once again led the Tiger pack. The 2018 player of the year ran the fastest time for the Tigers at 19:58.7. That was about a 20 second improvement over his time from last year’s state finals.

Chapman was 52nd out of 159 men runners in the 3A grouping. Just a few weeks ago he collected All-Region honors at the Tom Stuthard Top 25 in Mena. Prior to press time it looked like he too was going to make the Farm Bureau River Valley All Star Top 20.

John Branche at 21:34.4 was the second fastest Tiger male on the afternoon. His time stamp placed him at 91st place.

Ashton Hinkle, a freshman, and Victor Steffen, an eleventh grader rounded out the Mansfield men runners.

“Our players are really young and gained a lot of experience in a very strong conference,” reviewed Mackey. “If we can build a stronger mental game, I think the drop down into class 2A next year will bring out even more of our best times.”

It’s That Time of Year…Again: Multi-Colored Asian Lady Beetles

News

Tammy Teague

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2:01 pm

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It’s That Time of Year…Again: Multi-Colored Asian Lady Beetles

By John Hopkins
Associate Professor and UofA Extension Entomologist

Does your house seem to attract large numbers of lady beetles? If so, it may be the multicolored Asian lady beetle (MALB). The MALB is a native Asian species. This insect was first introduced into the U.S. in the early 1900s and after numerous subsequent releases, became permanently established across the country.

How are MALBs different from ladybugs?

MALB adults differ from other lady beetle species by a pair of white, oval markings behind the head that form a black M-shaped pattern. MALB adults differ from other lady beetle species by a pair of white, oval markings behind the head that form a black M-shaped pattern. Adults are approximately 1⁄4 inch in length, spherical or domelike, and yellowish orange to red. Most adults have 18 black spots on their forewings that vary in darkness. The spots may be missing or faint on some beetles. They will also bite humans (see below for behavior).

Unlike native species, MALB prefers protected overwintering sites in and around buildings. Large hidden aggregations may hibernate in dark, secluded areas inside homes, such as attics and basements. They also may invade living areas of the home and on warm sunny days may be found flying toward windows.

What makes them undesirable?

When disturbed, MALB exudes a foul smelling yellow-orange liquid that can permanently stain walls, carpeting, drapes, and furniture. Do not swat or crush the MALB to reduce the likelihood of this defensive behavior.

Another unpleasant aspect of the MALB that differs from native lady beetle species is the fact that it will bite humans. These bites may cause welts that last 24 to 48 hours. In extreme cases of sensitivity, humans may have an allergic reaction to the fluid the beetles secrete, resulting in dermatitis and a stinging sensation. They do not damage structures or chew or bore holes in furniture. They do not lay eggs in homes. Find out more about what MALBs do and do not do in the link below.

What they do and don’t do: myths and facts

As shown in the photo above, MALB can invade your property in droves. If MALB has gained entrance into your dwelling, a vacuum cleaner may be used to collect the beetles.

How can I prevent them in my house?

The best approach to managing a MALB problem is to prevent them from entering your home or building by sealing cracks and other points of entry before they begin to congregate in late summer and fall. If MALB has gained entrance into your dwelling, a vacuum cleaner may be used to collect the beetles. Be sure to remove the vacuum cleaner bag and dispose of it outside once you have finished collecting the beetles to prevent them from escaping.

I have an MALB infestation. What can I do? You can trap or treat for MALB by using our methods noted below.

Lady beetles that enter living areas are typically attracted to light. Trapping: Trapping Methods Commercial Black Light Trap – This trap is very effective in catching lady beetles that have entered the home. Operate the trap in a dark room or at night. Place in room most infested. Leave black light on all night. Empty the collection container often. IMPORTANT: Put cornstarch, talc or baby powder on the “wings” of the trap so that the beetles fall easily into bag. Commercially produced traps can be purchased from Southeastern Insectaries, Inc., http://southeasterninsectaries.com. Many other sources for black light insect traps can be found at websites related to entomological equipment and supplies. Home-made Light Trap – Assembly instructions for a home-made black light trap
Indoor light trap instructions
Vacuuming is an effective method to remove live beetles from inside the house. This method will work with vacuum cleaners, shop vacs, and reverse cycle leaf or snow blowers. To avoid insects entering or damaging the vacuum, insert a knee-high nylon stocking into the end of the extension hose or wand to bag the insects. Be sure to secure the knee-high nylon stocking in place with a rubber band (see illustration below). As soon as the vacuum cleaner is turned off, be sure to remove the stocking so that the captured beetles cannot escape. As you remove it, the rubber band closes around the stocking, effectively capturing the lady beetles. You then can discard the contents of the stocking. If you want to keep the lady beetles and release them during the spring, place a damp cloth (they need moisture) inside the stocking. If you want to reuse the stocking, place the damp cloth inside a container perforated with numerous air holes and empty the lady beetles into the container. The collected beetles should be kept in a protected, unheated area, such as a detached garage or storage shed.
Pesticides – note that pesticides should be applied by the homeowner according to label instructions. There are professional pest control companies that have training to apply commercially available chemicals.
Interior Pesticide Application – Interior pesticide application is not recommended as dead beetles may accumulate within wall voids and this can lead to infestation by dermestid beetles which feed of the dead/decomposing MALBs.
For the same reason, DO NOT APPLY pesticides to the exterior of the structure in the spring when MALBs are trying to exit from their overwintering sites.
Also, exterior pesticide application in the spring may force overwintering MALBs to exit into the interior of the structure.

Lady Bulldogs Bringing The Bite To BB Season

Sports

Megan Hecox

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9:24 am

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Lady Bulldogs Bringing The Bite To BB Season

The 2019-2020 Basketball season is set to tip-off Monday, and the Lady Bulldogs of Waldron are ready. Since the spring, the Lady Bulldogs have been working on their game in anticipation of this upcoming season. The Sr Lady Dogs will feature a small team in terms of numbers but they don’t lack in toughness.

The only returning starter that Coach Josh Atchley’s squad will feature is senior guard Chelsea Stidman. “Chelsea is a great athlete that played hard for us last year. Against Lincoln, she grabbed twenty rebounds and was consistently our most aggressive rebounder last year. This year she is going to have a much larger role because we will need her to score, defend, rebound, and kind of be our senior leader. She has had a good offseason and I know she wants to make the most of her senior season.”

The team also features seniors Irelynn Carpenter and Ysaline Beguin. “Irelynn returns to us after not having played since Jr High. You can tell she hasn’t played in a couple of years but has done a good job of trying to ‘catch-up’ as quick as she can. She brings some toughness that we desperately need and will help us depth-wise for sure. Ysaline is a foreign exchange student from Belgium that has never played basketball but she provides us some entertainment during practice.”

The Lady Bulldogs include three juniors in Rheagan Sanford, Jessica Ozuna, and Kadance Espinoza. All three will play a valuable role for the team this season. “Jessica returns for her junior year after getting some experience on the floor as a sophomore. She has to work on her self-confidence a bit but she will be on the floor for us a lot this year. Rheagan re-joins the team after missing her sophomore season. Rheagan is a skilled guard that will run the 1 spot for us. Her basketball IQ is improving daily and she will be a big part of our success as a team this year. Kadance moved into Waldron during the spring and will add to our depth. Kadance is a tough defender and doesn’t force anything on the offensive end.”

Four sophomores Hailey Stidman, Molly Richmond, Bianca Hinojosa, and Summer Imperali finish off the roster for the Lady Bulldogs. “Hailey is working on being a post player at the senior high level and will have to help us out this year big time as a sophomore. Molly has to work on being more aggressive but her skill level has improved throughout the summer and offseason. Bianca is a lanky guard who has really bought into adding value to her game. Summer is a tough-nosed player who has battled her way back from a knee injury.”

Waldron Basketball will play its annual Orange/Black game on November 11 at 5 p.m. The Lady Bulldogs open their season on November 14th against Two Rivers in the Waldron Activity Center at 6:00 p.m. for their annual Toy Toss games. Fans are encouraged to throw a stuffed animal on the court after the first made basket in the senior boys game. The toys collected will be donated locally for children at Christmas.

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