Volleyball coaches in district 3A-1 met on Wednesday and determined the format and schedules for the upcoming junior high district tournament and the senior high district tournament. As of publication time, this is what we know. Not all tournament match-ups have been determined as of yet. The final brackets will be filled-in once games are completed tonight to end the regular season.
The Class 3A-1 senior high district volleyball tournament will be held at West Fork High School on Monday and Tuesday, October 21-22, and Thursday, October 24.
Paris is the number one seed in the senior high tournament. The Lady Eagles’ first game will be played on Tuesday, October 22 at 5 p.m. Charleston is the second seed, and their first game will be played on Tuesday, October 22 at 7 p.m. By virtue of having finished one and two in the conference, Paris and Charleston have byes to the semifinals of the tournament. Each team will need to win just one game to earn a state playoff birth. The winners of the Paris semifinal game and the Charleston semifinal game will play in the district championship match on Thursday, October 24 at 7 p.m. The losers of the semifinal games will play on Thursday, October 24 at 5:30 p.m. to determine the third team that will advance to the state tournament.
The fourth seed in the senior high district tournament is yet to be determined as of the publication time of this article. The Mansfield Lady Tigers and the Booneville Lady Bearcats are tied in the conference standings, and they play tonight in the final regular season match. The winner of that match will become the fourth seed in the district tournament and the loser will become the fifth seed.
The fifth seed will play Lincoln on Monday, October 21 at 5:30 p.m. The fourth seed will play the winner of the Lincoln vs. 5th seed team on that same night at 8:30 p.m. There is a big incentive for both Booneville and Mansfield to win tonight to avoid playing two games on Monday in the district tournament.
Teams will be competing in West Fork for a state tournament playoff birth. The first three rounds of the state tournament will be held at Paris High School next week. The state finals will be held in Hot Springs on Saturday, November 2.
The junior high school district volleyball tournament will be held at Paris High School on Saturday, October 19.
At press time, details are sketchy as to the seedings for the tournament. Seedings will be finalized after tonight’s games. Most importantly, Charleston’s junior high game versus Elkins, and Booneville’s junior high game versus Mansfield will determine the seedings of the bracket. For clarity purposes, RP will publish the junior high district tournament information tomorrow after season games are completed tonight.
Resident Press will take volleyball fans all the way through the state finals in Hot Springs. Stay with RP for complete volleyball coverage!
Residents near Mansfield have been under a boil order for over a week, and that has caused many families in that area great hardship.
Both Sebastian and Scott Counties responded to the need on Wednesday, October 16, providing drinking water.
Sebastian County Emergency Management Deputy Director Travis Cooper said, “this is a partnership between the two counties. It is all about neighbors helping neighbors.”
Scott County Judge James Forbes also pledged his county’s resources.
As crews continue to excavate in the area near the city’s water lines, Mayor Buddy Black stated that workers will continue to respond and make repairs in the event of line breaks.
The 400 gallon potable water tank is set up on Sebascott Street in Mansfield and residents are welcome to come fill water containers.
A boil order remains in effect until further notice for the area south of Abbott and east of Highway 71 to Echo Road.
Although Tuesday nights face-off against the Charleston Lady Tigers didn’t have quite the outcome that the Mansfield Sr High Lady Tigers were hoping for, the night wasn’t an entire bust. The girls took great pride in celebrating Senior Night for nine of their teammates. Mansfield put Charleston through the wringer for five fast-paced and intense sets. By the end of it all, Charleston took the win 3-2.
The Lady Tigers earned a total of 93 points for the night and now sit with a 6-7 conference record. Mansfield competes in the 3A West Conference and at this moment is in the fifth seed above West Fork, Elkins, and Lincoln. The Lady Tigers have one more game left in their season before smashing it at District and that game is against the 7-6 Booneville Lady Bearcats.
Leading her team in the kills department was Brooke Wright with an astounding 25, Sadie Roberts with nine, Danielle Lillie with 4, and Kiara Thomas with one. Thomas also led with two aces while Wright and Haylee Helms brought in one ace each. Wright blocked her socks off with seven blocks, Roberts earned five, Vanessa Noblitt made two and Thomas, Lillie, and Maggie Strunk brought in one apiece. Having better digs than the Queen of England was Helms dominating with 20, Lillie with 12, Thomas made 10, Noblitt and Strunk each grabbed five, Wright brought in four, and Roberts snagged three.
The Lady Tigers will have their final scheduled season pow-wow with Booneville on Thursday, October 17 with Jr High starting at 4 p.m. Pictured below are the ever-talented Mansfield Lady Tiger Seniors.
The Charleston Lady Tigers narrowly escaped an upset Tuesday night in Mansfield by hanging on to win 15-11 in the fifth and deciding set. Charleston (18-3, 11-2) completed their road conference schedule and now heads home for their final game of the regular season versus the Elkins Lady Elks on senior night.
The win solidified Charleston as the conference season runner-up behind Paris. The Lady Tigers will be looking to close out the season at home Thursday night on senior night before going into the weekend and the start of the senior high school district tournament next week.
The Mansfield Lady Tigers were much improved from the team’s previous meeting in Charleston. Mansfield set the tone for the night by winning the first set 26-24. The match went back in fourth with Charleston winning the second set 25-18. Mansfield won the third set 25-16, and Charleston, with their backs against the wall, won the fourth set 25-14 to force a deciding fifth set. Charleston won a very competitive fifth set by the score of 15-11. The match was over and Charleston had survived an inspiring Mansfield effort on the road.
After the grueling match that did not end until after 9 p.m., Charleston coach Ryan Rachuy reflected on the number of games the Lady Tigers have played in the past week. “Since Monday of last week, in eight days, we played four regular matches, and five tournament games. So, essentially, we have played a match a day for the past eight days. That would be the equivalent. I had a purpose in doing it that way, because this is a time of year where you’ve got to gut check. Now, I’ve got to get my girls some rest. But, I also have to keep them at the top of their game. Tonight, we had a lot of errors and we had a lot of looking at other girls to who we could pin some of our mistakes on, and after a little bit it got to where the girls decided that’s not what’s going to do it. What’s going to get this done is going out there and getting the job done. And they did. I don’t know how many kills Brooke Wright (Mansfield) had tonight, but it was a lot. It was pretty sloppy on both sides of the net. When you have those kinds of games it is imperative that you take a deep breath, and you prepare yourself mentally. I am hoping that we can use this as a mental toughness exercise because when you get pushed, and they pushed us, there were instances where they served well, they set smartly, they hustled their rear ends off to get the balls, and they did. They did an excellent job in doing so. When you’re playing a team like that and they are scrapping for every point, you had better start scrapping too. You had better start getting after every point. They defended Jadyn Womack as good as anybody has all season.”
Mansfield appears to be peaking just at the right team as all teams are preparing to begin the conference tournament. Mansfield will be in a group of teams that will be fighting for a state tournament birth next week at the district tournament in West Fork. Mansfield, Waldron, and Booneville appear to be a group that will be challenging Charleston for a playoff birth. If Mansfield plays in the tournament with the focus and effort that it did Tuesday night, the Red Lady Tigers will be a big factor in the tournament.
Volleyball coaches in district 3A-1 will meet today to decide the district tournament format and other post season information. We should know today the times and dates of games for the tournament. Charleston should get an idea of who their first round opponent will be next week. No matter who the opponent will turn out to be, it is clear that Coach Rachuy must find a way to address the mistakes that have plagued the team not only last night, but since the West Fork match in Charleston. Additionally, it is very obvious to those who have been following the team that Charleston needs rest before they enter tournament week. Getting in the needed work and still finding a way to get needed rest will be very important to Charleston’s success next week.
The junior high district tournament will be held this Saturday in Paris. Information on the playing times and opponents for the tournament will also be released later today. The junior high regular season will conclude on Thursday, and the tournament will be played on a single day this Saturday. Teams around the district will contemplate moving freshmen up to senior high rosters for post season play after the junior district tournament. Fortifying rosters for needed depth, to address injury situations, or possibly to move a freshman up who can contribute to the senior high team at tournament time is a question that a lot of teams around the district will consider after Saturday. For teams such as Mansfield and Paris who have strong junior high teams, this is an option that could strengthen their senior high teams and could make them more competitive at tournament time. It remains to be seen what teams will move up freshmen. We will all know next week.
The Charleston Lady Tigers will face another obstacle or distraction Thursday night on senior night. The program will honor a great group of seniors who have led the team to 18 wins so far on the season. For Charleston, they must be able use the night as a way to finish their season strong and give their seniors a great memory of playing well in their final home game of their careers. If they do so, they can end the season on a successful note, and then turn their attentions to tournament play.
The seniors on this team have been a very special group. Coach Ryan Rachuy asked them earlier in the season about how they would like to be honored. He gave them the option of being presented with a shiny new volleyball for each senior that could be used as an autograph ball. But then he had the idea of using actual game and practice balls that had been used throughout the season as a symbol of their hard work that each had invested in the team throughout the season and their entire time at Charleston. The team very quickly chose the latter, and on Thursday night, among the other tokens of appreciation that will be presented to the seniors, each will receive a dirty, beat-up, volleyball that each senior has pounded and used for many hours in practice and during games. It will be a symbol of how hard they have worked and for the thanks and gratitude from the coaching staff and the community for their contributions to the program.
It should be a very special night. If you want to see the senior night ceremony, I recommend that you arrive at the gymnasium around 4:30 p.m. I hope that the fans in Charleston will turn out in large numbers to honor this very special group of seniors who have helped build the program, and, who knows, could take it to even higher heights over the the next two weeks.
When it comes to football, the Magazine Sr High Rattlers are the total package. Not only do they have a top-notch passing game but their rushing game is to be respected as well. With two conference games under their belt, the Rattlers sit at the top of the 2A-4 conference standings with a 2-0 record tying with Mountainburg. In total season play, Magazine holds a 4-1 record and with three games left in the season, they look to go all the way.
The Magazine Rattlers are still flying high over last Friday nights epic battle against the Hector Wildcats where Magazine scorched the Cats 48-19. During the game, seven Rattlers achieved touchdowns and Magazine walking away with 424 total yards with 375 of those being rushing yards. As it sits now, the Rattlers are averaging 41 points per game.
The first quarter of the Hector/Magazine game was where the majority of the action took place. Junior, Cameron Raggio, was first to put points on the board with his 40-yard fumble return for a Rattler touchdown. After senior, Caleb Hyatt, added the two-point conversion, Magazine took control 8-0. Junior, Tatum Scott, shot downfield like a rocket for a 20-yard rushing touchdown and with another Hyatt conversion, the score read 16-0 Rattlers.
The Wildcats finally put their first points up but Hyatt couldn’t let that call go unanswered as he added his own touchdown and along with the extra two points rushed by senior, Xeng Yang, Magazine led 24-7. Junior, Kobe Faughn, would be next to high-tail it downfield like he was being chased by a bear (or a Wildcat in this instance) with a 60-yard touchdown bringing the score to 30-7 Magazine.
After two ginormous sacks by Hyatt and junior, William King, Yang lobbed a 50-yard pass to senior, Jacob Hall, who ran it in for another Rattler TD. The game would go into halftime with a score reading 36-7 Magazine. The Rattlers would add 12 more points to the final score thanks to a mind-blowing 77-yard rushing TD by senior, Kaedon Trejo and a foot-stomping 22-yard TD by sophomore, Ashton Droemer.
With this week being Homecoming for the Magazine Rattlers, there is even more to prove this Friday night. For this special home conference game, the Rattlers will host the Lavaca Golden Arrows who sit 1-4 on the season and 1-1 in conference play. There is more than just a homecoming win on the line for this match-up. There is revenge as well. Last season, the Arrows stole the victory from the Rattlers with a 34-24 score. The entire game had each team within points of one another until the fourth quarter saw the Rattlers faced with a turnover on downs and their fate was sealed.
Now, Magazine is ready for redemption. Not only do the Rattlers hold an A-list roster but the only reason why they aren’t undefeated in season play is because of one measly point in their game against Cutter-Morning Star that left Magazine in the left side column 33-32. But no worries, because all of that is behind them now. At this moment, the Rattlers only have three things left existing to focus on. Lavaca, JC Westside, and Mountainburg. The three remaining games left to dominate in conference play. But don’t fret. Because dominate…they…will.
Many in our area have been affected, nearly daily, by low water pressures and even boil orders due to line breaks as excavators work to lay new fiber optic cable along Highway 71.
The company has been working for several weeks, and what typically would be celebrated as progress, has proven to be quite the inconvenience to the residents of the City of Mansfield.
The problem lays under the ground, unmarked. Mansfield Mayor Buddy Black explained that when the initial water lines were laid, they neglected to implement a tracer wire. That tracer allows for the quick and precise location of water lines.
Typically, before utility companies or contractors dig, they are required to contact Arkansas 8-1-1. Because city employees can only guesstimate the location, the lines have been vulnerable to breaks. Black said he anticipates problems until the work is complete, and that it is slated to extend to the Elm Park area.
Contractors are laying fiber optic cables as part of phase one of the broadband expansion across the state. In August, Governor Asa Hutchinson announced a $25M Grant for Broadband Expansion, as part of the Arkansas Rural Connect program. The program aims to help communities with at least 500 residents receive funding for broadband infrastructure to provide residents with high-speed internet access.
Utility companies like Centurylink and Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative are a part of that expansion and are working to provide the higher speeds by 2022.
The Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office is notifying Verizon customers of a temporary loss of access to Sebastian County 911.
​SCSO Captain Philip Pevehouse directed those who are in need of emergency services within Sebastian County to call 479-783-1051. That number will connect you to their dispatch center.
​Pevehouse stated that technicians are working on the issue, and that they will inform the public once service is restored.
For the last several months, the community of Greenwood has had difficulties with one of the services offered.
The city of Greenwood met two months ago about the current trash
provider. It was decided at that time that there would be a new trash
service, Central Arkansas Recycling and Disposal, starting in June. The
trash schedule will remain the same and there will be a noticeable
improvement in the trash service.
According to Mayor Kinslow, on July 1st, all Greenwood citizens will
be provided with a 96-gallon trash cart, which will make the trash
process much easier.
Mayor Kinslow sent out a notification about the new trash service
beginning their routes on Monday, June 10th and there would be a rate
increase on the citizen’s August water bill, which resulted in some
displeasure on social media.
In addition, the Recycle Center in Greenwood would no longer be
providing curbside pickup because even though most residents do
participate in the recycling effort, this new change would result in all
citizens being charged for recycling.
To accommodate the citizens being able to bring their recycling, the
Recycling Center at 104 Bell Road in Greenwood have adjusted their hours
to Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 8am to 2pm; Monday and Thursday
12:30pm to 6:30pm; 2nd Saturday of the month from 8am to 2pm. There will
no longer be a recycle service charge and the citizens may choose to
keep the current recycle bins.
There was a temporary trash service collecting the community trash
since the end of May; but from reports, there were some that was not
picked up.
In saying all of that, Mayor Kinslow made sure that all trash that
was not picked up this week was going to be picked up by Sunday June 9,
issuing a public apology on social media. Therefore, today he personally
joined those from the city today picking up the trash at the residences
that were not picked up earlier.
From reports on social media, this is nothing new for Mayor Kinslow.
Even when the Freedom Fest is going on, he will be out and about in a
costume even though it’s 100 degrees, mingling and making a difference
all over the city, which is clear that it makes a difference in people’s
lives.
The Bulldog Golf season has ended after one of the most successful seasons in school history. Five different Bulldogs teed-off over the last two weeks at the State Tournament. At DeGray Lake State Park Golf Course, Kaylin Watson competed as an individual. Kaylin was a little under the weather but carded her best score at the state level with a 110. “Kaylin finished her golf career at Waldron as a two-time state qualifier. I’d probably say her most impressive feat was enduring being the only female for most of the season. Kaylin consistently cut strokes off her game throughout the past four seasons and is surrounded by people who thoroughly enjoy watching her play and compete. I will truly miss having Kaylin around to help me control the guys,” stated Coach Josh Atchley.
The boys traveled as a team up the road to Blytheville Country Club last week as one of only 12 teams to qualify for the State Tournament. The four golfers to compete were juniors Jaden Hutchens and Jesse Dees, and sophomores Drew Owens and Lane Metcalf. The team did not have as good of a showing as they had hoped but still managed to finish 5th overall with a team score of 280.
“Although we didn’t achieve our goal, I am still proud of these guys and the amount of time that they have put into their own games. We improved on our place at State from last season and hope to do the same next year. Jaden, Lane, Drew, and Jesse have all come a long way from their first seasons and there is no doubt that they will continue that work into next season. I am excited about next year and know that there is an abundance of talent on this team from the juniors to the freshman, as well as the 8th graders who will join the team next season.”  Â
The Jr Bulldogs basketball team sponsored their annual Beyond Bulldogs Food Drive to help assist families in the area around the holidays. This year, the food drive took a little bit of a different approach and involved each class during homecoming week. The class that donated the most items received extra points towards their homecoming float which was announced at the homecoming pep rally on Gameday Friday.
The freshman donated 26 items, the juniors brought in 150, the seniors added 169, and the sophomores won it all with 185 items. The teachers also chipped in with 48 items of their own to bring the total to 578. Basketball Coach, Josh Atchley, had a goal of 450 items and since the student body succeeded that goal, his beard will be receiving a color treatment! “It was so cool this year to see the classes get involved in philanthropy throughout our community,” expressed Coach Atchley. “These items will be donated to the Haw Creek Baptist Church food pantry and will help a lot of families in need around the holidays. Thank you to the class sponsors for encouraging their groups to donate. What a great day to be a Bulldog!”
