It is always a honor and privilege to feature the men and women who have bravely served, defending our country and our freedoms. Let us never take for granted their great sacrifice, and the sacrifices of those who gave all to keep this great nation free.
This month, we are featuring hometown veteran William (Bill) Coben. Coben and his wife Cassie (Wood) have been married for 25 years. Together they have two daughters, Amber Coben, who lives in California, and Danica Taylor, who lives in Mena with her husband Guy. Additionally, the couple have two grandsons, Gavin, 9, and James Lee, 2.
Coben, 58, graduated from Hilltop High School in Chula Vista, CA in 1979. He was in the Air Force from 1979-1983 and the Army National Guard from 1993-2009. He proudly served 19 years. During that time he was deployed overseas to Camp Taji Iraq from April 2004-April 2005. Coben said” I have no regrets about going to Iraq or being in the military and would gladly do it again if needed.“
In the Air Force Coben served as a jet mechanic airframe repair specialist. He began his career with the Army National Guard in Air Defense Artillery, then served as a Combat Engineer (SAPPER) and as a Combat Lifesaver while deployed in Iraq. After returning home, Coben served as a Supply Sergeant.
Following his discharge, Coben worked for three years at the Scott County Detention Center. Currently, he is a school bus driver and mechanic for the Waldron School District.
We thank you Bill Coben for your years of military service and for the work you continue to do for your fellow veterans through Ouachita Mountain VFW Post 1345.
One of the most celebrated things about living in a small town is the great number of individuals witnessed on a daily basis, giving of their time, selflessly serving. Those same individuals never seek the limelight, or the praise, they serve quietly, helping their neighbors. This month in our July Hometown Highlight, we feature just such an individual!
James Steele and his wife Iris call the City of Mansfield home. They are active in the community and are always quick to serve. Just this past week, James spent time cutting up a downed tree for a friend. It was a kind gesture that will not be soon forgotten. “He worked really hard and it was sure hot. He wouldn’t take no for an answer, he just got right to work on it. I sure appreciate James and his wife Iris, they are great citizens!”
The Steeles always have their home decked out for the holidays. Drivers appreciate the décor right off Highway 71 as they travel in and out of town. In fact their home won a Halloween decorating contest last year!
The couple are also involved with city events and attend council meetings when they can. They enjoy daily walks at the Mansfield City Lake Park and often pick up litter they see along the way.
So, if you see James or Iris out in the city, tell them thanks for what they do and congratulate them on being this month featured Hometown Highlight!
If you know of an ordinary citizen who is doing extraordinary things, we want to honor them! Contact us -HERE
Recently the Jr High Lavaca Lady Arrows rah rah ziss boom bahed their way through a dynamite cheer camp. The girls learned proper dance, jump, and stunt techniques while also perfecting their halftime performances. The upcoming junior high cheer team only saw one squad member return so Cheer Coach, Danielle Overton, is excited to continue developing her almost entirely new cheer team.
Jr High Lady Arrow Cheerleaders
Although the Jr High team only holds ten girls on their roster, they aren’t sweating it. The girls have the same amount of heart and dedication as a roster of 50 girls would have. The Lady Arrow Cheerleaders are going to do what they do best and that is to cheer their hearts out for the Lavaca athletes who are “golden” to them.
After Mansfield Little Leagues success last football season, the program was still hungry for more. So how do you get more when you’re already on top? Simple. You put a “Moore” in as head coach for each team. The Little League Tiger community voted in David Moore as the third and fourth grade Head Coach after he led the team to their WCFL Championship last season. Shortly after that, last season’s third and fourth grade Assistant Coach, Steven Moore, was voted in as the fifth and sixth grade Head Coach.
The Moore brothers are no strangers to Mansfield football. Both are alums of Mansfield and are well known throughout the Mansfield Little League sports programs. Steven was a key part of the 2009 Sr High Tigers third round Playoff run, playing Fullback and Defensive End. His brother David followed suit playing Fullback and Linebacker. Their achievements didn’t end after school though. They have each coached Little League baseball and football and have led those teams to great success.
The Moores coaching the 2018-2019 Little League Tigers
First year fifth and sixth grade Head Coach, Steven Moore, said “I want to help the youth programs around here as much as possible. I enjoy teaching kids the basic skills in their sports and seeing them succeed. Mansfield football is moving in a great direction at all levels and to be able to be a part of that overall growth is great. Even though this is my first season as head coach for football, I know we’ll do great. We have some great athletes and we are looking forward to winning a whole lot of games this season.”
Second year third and fourth grade Head Coach, David Moore, said “Mansfield is a great community with a lot of pride for its youth. We have great kids here who love to compete. That in itself makes it fun to coach. Our goal in coaching is to teach the kids the game to our best ability and to have as much fun with them as we can while learning the game. We want to see the kids be the best student-athletes they can be and have that transfer into their Junior High and High School levels.”
David and Steven have many things going for them this upcoming season. They have some very talented athletes. They have coaching experience. And they have a successful history in coaching. They even have the Mansfield Little League community standing behind them. But the most important thing they have is a deep passion for working with kids and the heart of a Tiger.
It’s been a roller coaster of a ride for the Mansfield Sr High Tigers since the beginning of summer kicked off. The players were faced with an emotional change in coaching staff that for a short time left everyone in limbo. But even through that experience, the Tigers proved that there is nothing they could endure that would ever subdue the love and determination that they have for the game.
On Wednesday and Thursday of last week, the Sr Tigers had their hands full with back to back football camps. First up was the 7 on 7 camp that Mansfield attended in Greenwood. They not only went to war against the 6A Bulldogs but against 6A Russellville as well. “The Sr High is just a tremendous group of young men who are focused and dedicated,” said Coach Tim Cothran. “We really are expecting an exciting season from them. They just continue to get better and better. Everything we are doing now is just continuing to fine-tune the details.”
The Tigers wrapped up Thursday with a football camp in Cedarville. Even though the team was down seven players including five linemen, the squad kept the ball rolling and delivered a great practice. Coach Keith Stovall explained, “Even though we had a few players out, we still performed well. Several athletes took advantage of the opportunity to step up and compete. The additional reps for them got our team better as a whole.” From an onlookers point of view, it’s obvious that nothing is going to sway the Tigers from the goals that they have set in place for the rest of the summer and for the upcoming football season.
The Mansfield Jr High Tigers have been spending their summer days gearing up for the upcoming football season through early morning practices and vigorous football camps. Recently the Jr Tigers attended a camp in Greenwood alongside the Bulldogs and the Van Buren Pointers.
The Tigers were not only competing against the other teams on the field but another source as well. The Sun! With temps in the upper 90’s, some players were having a hard time pushing through the heat and humidity. But as always, Mansfield prevailed and by the end of the camp the Tigers had ended up bringing a “heat” of their own.
Coach Tim Cothran had this to say about his Jr High Tigers, “I thought the Jr High did well at football camp. The heat got to us a little but we will acclimate and be fine. I thought our effort was tremendous and I really think this group will be able to accomplish their goals this season. Our numbers are slightly down but summers are often hard on Jr High activities.” This week the Tigers will be heading back to Greenwood for football camp on Tuesday, July 16.
When you travel down Highway 253 outside of Greenwood, about 6 miles at MacKenay Road, you will find among the small farms an open field with rows upon rows of vegetable plants and a big sign at the edge of the road, named after the area Diffy Mountain.
Jeff Dillon has gardening in his blood, his family gardened on a large scale for many years. Now that he has retired, he wants to provide this area with fresh produce.
Over the last 3 years, the
vegetables and fruit Diffy’s provides has increased and recently they upgraded
an old building on the property so that everything is kept cool once it has
been harvested.
Inside you will find shelves and bins of produce like green peppers, jalapenos, tomatoes, potatoes, yellow squash, zucchini, cucumbers, butternut and scallop squash, watermelon, sweet peppers, poblano peppers, hot banana peppers and more as the produce ripens. Peaches are also available, even though the strawberries, blueberries and blackberries are already past season. Okra and spaghetti squash will be ready in a week or two.
Finding fresh produce in this area
can be challenging, especially with the recent floods in May. Jeff had to replant
his fields because of the weather, so there has been some delay in planting and
harvesting. So, he has other regional sources where he can obtain other
vegetables as well as fruits in season and you will find them when he can.
As for the prices, they are very
affordable, more so than what you will find at the grocery stores. And the
flavor is like trading a dime for a dollar as everything is picked when ready
and not before.
Just a country boy, Jeff enjoys
talking about what he loves to do, gardening, and making sure people have fresh
produce to cook with and eat fresh, which he says is important for health.
The Arkansas Activities Association’s
mandatory two week athletic dead period ended on Saturday, July 6. Two days
later members of the Mansfield High School cross country and track teams began
gathering for their annual pre-season summer runs.
For the past several years AAA rules
have put a moratorium on all high school athletic activities from the last week
of June through the Fourth of July weekend. As that mandatory layoff ends, it
typically signals the beginning of team training sessions for Mansfield long
distance runners.
Such was the case once again on Monday,
July 8. Tiger runners from grades seventh through twelfth began collecting at
nearby City Lake Park for nightly group workouts.
“This has become a real tradition for
our program,” stated Mansfield coach John Mackey. “For the majority of our
kids, they know nothing different. The ones that really want to excel come out
every year at this time.”
The Tigers have had individual training
schedules since school let out in May. As the first full week of July arrives,
the team gathers for group sessions.
“Mentality, it’s tough to get up on your
own and go run,” explained the coach. “In a group setting, it becomes much
easier. Running in a pack pushes you a little more. It’s positive peer pressure
to not fall behind.”
The Tiger distance runners meet weekly
on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday nights at the Mansfield City Lake Park at 7:30
PM. They will continue the nightly sessions for a month. At the conclusion of
the summer training period the group will go to a local water park to enjoy a
cookout and team bonding time.
“Those that meet expectations go on the
reward trip,” announced Mackey. “It’s a real family atmosphere. We learn a lot
about being teammates and make connections beyond the competition circuit.”
So far, the evening sessions have been
averaging about 24 athletes per night. Individuals run anywhere between a half
mile for beginners up to five miles for the more experienced players.
The coach encourages any Mansfield track
athlete, boy or girl, that hasn’t joined in the summer training sessions to do
so. The group meets near the park’s smaller pavilion each scheduled night for
instructions, warmups, and individualize workouts based upon level.
“We’d like to see more of the younger kids entering seventh grade to come out,” observed the coach. “Especially on the boys side, it’s a great way to get in shape for football, basketball, and obviously cross country and track. Mansfield encourages kids to play multiple sports. We’ve had some very successful players juggle such things as volleyball, cross country, and cheerleading at the same time.”
Southeastern Oklahoma State University sophomore Megan Rose was a product of Mansfield cross country summer lake runs.
Picture: Sophomore John Branche leads teammates Tommy Phang and Renden Emery at summer running sessions.
A freshman flanked by four sophomores navigates the entrance to the park during cross country practice.A few of the beginners run City Lake Park for Mansfield’s track / cross country team.
Wednesday, July 10 saw a pop up shower
do it’s damage in a short amount of time. In less than an hour, strong winds
amongst a pounding rain storm brought down a large tree at Mansfield’s City
Lake Park.
Extreme levels of rain throughout the
spring and early summer no doubt softened the soil around a large tree near the
children’s play area at the park. The doughy dirt base around the massive tree
trunk was no match for the straight line winds that preceded the hour long Wednesday
late afternoon rain storm.
Falling from east to west, the tree now
lays across the bridge leading to the children’s playground equipment. The top
of the tree’s leaves now dangle awkwardly over the nearest teeter totter. The
tree’s underground roots are eerily exposed to a lake side view.
Local clean up crews will no doubt be
summoned to the rescue as additional areas around town will be accessed for
damage.
The Hackett Sr High Hornets are only halfway through their summer football practices and already are showing major growth. Along with their intense daily workout schedule, the Hornets have also been devoting their time to the many area football camps. Recently, the Hackett Hornet Sr High team attended a camp at Southside High School which happens to be a 7A classification.
Hackett, who is a division 2A football program, went up against other higher classification programs such as 7A Van Buren, 5A Alma, and 3A Charleston. Even though Hackett was the smallest team on the field size and number wise, the Hornets didn’t let the added pressure get to them. They took to the field and held their own, showing onlookers that it was going to take more than just size to intimidate the Hornets this upcoming football season.
Head Coach for the Hackett Hornets, Michael Meador, shared his thoughts on how the boys handled themselves at camp. “I thought we showed a lot of improvement. I was most impressed with how well we competed and didn’t back down from the bigger schools. We are starting to understand both the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The biggest improvement was the O-lines understanding of how we want things blocked. We still have to work on the timing of our routes but that comes with reps.” The Sr High Hornets will head back to Southside for another team football camp on July 17.
