In this real-life Cinderella story, the Waldron Lady Bulldogs didn’t lose a slipper and they ain’t lookin’ for no prince! The ladies have spent the entire season fighting and never giving up to be where they are today and that is in the semi-finals of the 3A-1 District Tournament.
In the last four seasons, the Lady Bulldogs started at the bottom of the totem pole and through true grit and determination, they have earned their way to the top. During the 2015-2016 season, the girls went 1-6 in conference play. In the 2016-2017 season, the girls were last in conference and finished 3-23 on the season. Last year, the Lady Bulldogs were 5-5 in conference play. Today, Waldron sits 8-2 in conference play and are the #2 seed.
If your still not impressed by how far these Lady Bulldogs have come, only two starters were replaced from last year so this group of girls have been together from the beginning. Coach Bailey Moore has been coaching for four years all with this same group and the pride is evident on her face when she talks about her Lady Bulldogs. “My girls have worked SO hard to be where they are. I cannot express how proud I am of this team. They have put in hours of hard work, played sick, played hurt, and played tired.”
“They have shown up to morning practices and stayed late after school. They have asked questions and taken butt chewings all in an effort to get better. This team has nothing but respect from me. No matter where this season takes us, I am overjoyed to get to be their coach. The Lady Bulldogs are where they are today because of their hard work, dedication, and will to improve. They have found a way to rise up and I could not be any prouder!”
After securing a 5-4 win from the Lincoln Wolves in the second round of District play, the Lady Bulldogs will face the Elkins Lady Elks today, April 26 in Greenland at 4 p.m. in the semi-finals round. If they win, they could go on the face either Charleston or Mansfield in the championship game.
In Wednesday nights first round of the 3A-1 District play, the Mansfield Tigers heartbreakingly lost to the West Fork Tigers. For the first four innings, Manfield held strong with the lead for a score of 3-1 in the fourth. But West Fork turned it on and took control of the board 7-3 in the sixth inning. Painfully, Mansfield couldn’t quite catch up and fell to West Fork 8-6.
The Tigers ended conference play with a 4-6 record and 5-10 in total season play. Layton Howard walked away with one run, one hit, one runner batted in, and one assist. Hayden Henson earned one run, one hit, one RBI, one putout, and two assists. Henson was also one of three pitchers to see the mound. He threw 27 pitches to five batters striking out two.
Isaac Cothran netted one run and eight putouts. Codi Chick slammed out one hit, two putouts, and one assist. Cody Fudge made seven putouts. Nathan Brewer scored one hit and one RBI. The Tigers will be losing four seniors this season. Seth Fudge who acquired one hit, one RBI, two putouts, and two assists. Fudge also pitched 23 pitches to four batters. Tyler Watkins who landed one run and one assist. Zach Woolbright. And Hunter Willsey who profited two runs, one hit, one RBI, one putout, and two assists. Willsey was the third Mansfield pitcher and he catapulted 111 pitches to 30 batters striking out eight.
Total season stats for the seniors are Seth Fudge with 16 hits, 5 runs, 14 RBI, 1 home run, 22 putouts, and 22 assists. He threw 627 pitches to 169 batters striking out 49. Zach Woolbright with 6 runs, 2 hits, 1 putout, and 1 assist. Tyler Watkins with 12 hits, 8 RBI, 12 runs, 9 putouts, and 5 assists. Watkins also made 80 pitches to 23 batters striking out 4. And Hunter Willsey with 16 runs, 16 hits, 8 RBI, 1 home run, 10 putouts, and 24 assists. Hunter accomplished 737 pitches to 239 batters striking out 65. Because the Mansfield Tigers are a young team, next season is looking pretty good for the boys to take it all the way to the top.
Recently, Mansfield 3rd grade students had a chance to run against their fellow classmates for a position as Class President. Students designed posters and delivered speeches to their peers, and then classmates voted on their own selection of who they wanted to represent their class. Third grade student, Rylan Jones, was selected as Class President for Mrs. Davis’ class along with Cosmo Whiley elected as her Vice-President for Mrs. Davis’ class also. Together, they have devised a plan to conduct a fund raiser to raise money to purchase new classroom chairs. They need 32 chairs with cost being approximately $832 in total. Rylan and Cosmo have made it their mission to raise the money. Rylan typed out a personal message that was sent home with every student at Mansfield Elementary to try and reach their goal! The flyer read as follows:
Other Presidents for other Third Grade Classes are also working on projects and brainstorming for ideas for other school fund raisers to help better their classrooms as well as their learning environment.
If you would like to help donate money to help with this cause, please send money in an envelope with your student labeled “Classroom Chairs.” If you do not have a child who attends Mansfield Elementary and you wish to donate, just simply call the office and ask to speak to the principal, Mrs. Arnold. She will further direct you on how to donate.
The Hackett Hornets made it to the second round of the 2A-4 District Tournaments last night after two hard-fought battles. The Hornets have every reason to keep their heads held high. The entire season they were led by an elite roster of players who played with a high octane offense and a ferocious defense. Hackett ended conference play with a 2-4 record and total season play 5-10.
In the first round of District, the Hornets took on the Magazine Rattlers. Hackett conducted a lethal attack against Magazine and came out victorious with a final score of 9-1. Ty Smith delivered two runs and one hit. Avery Hester netted two runs, two hits, one putout, and two assists. Tyler Satterfield delivered one run and one hit. Luke Gann added one run, one hit, and five putouts. Layne Dennis secured one run, one hit, one putout, and one assist.
Roland Smith made one hit. Cash Oliver picked up one putout and three assists. Mason Oelke obtained nine putouts and one assist. Pitching for the Hornets was Ethan Slavens and Bradley Martin. Ethan flung out 62 pitches to 17 batters striking out 4. Slavens also grabbed two runs and four putouts. Bradley threw 37 pitches to 10 batters striking out 5. He also made one hit and one assist.
For their second round, Hackett faced Lavaca. The boys played for five innings with everything that they had left but ended falling to the Arrows 9-2. Sealing the deal on the two Hornet runs were Ty Smith and Cash Oliver. Smith, Avery Hester, Ethan Slavens, and Layne Dennis earned one hit each. Mason Oelke, Bryce Brown, and Slavens combined for 12 putouts. And Tyler Satterfield and Oliver added a total of three assists.
Avery Hester and Tyler Satterfield did the pitching for the Hornets with Hester throwing out 80 pitches to 18 batters striking out 8 and Satterfield making 34 tosses to 10 batters. The Hornets racked up some pretty nice season totals as well. They had 49 runs, 76 hits, 36 RBI, 274 putouts, and 98 assists.
Coach Broc Adams had these final thoughts on the season, “I thought we were playing good baseball at the end of the year. We knew we were going to take some lumps this year with the youth we had, but I was proud of how they pulled together and really gave what they had the last two weeks of the season!”
On Thursday, April 25, Shannon Foster, defense attorney for Scott County inmate James Bynum, filed a motion to have his bond reduced or for the judge to grant Bynum house arrest with electronic monitoring.
Bynum’s conviction was overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court after he was found guilty on 10 counts of sexual assault in the fourth degree and two counts of sexual assault in the second degree. –See related story
In the motion filed with the Scott County Circuit Court, Bynum is seeking a reduced bond, from $75,000 to $25,000. According to the filing, Bynum’s pacemaker recently stopped working. “The defendant did not receive any medical care for 15-20 minutes at the jail…which could have been fatal.”
As a result, Bynum was hospitalized. Foster claims that Bynum’s medication has been improperly administered on at least one occasion since that time. Additionally that, “…the defendant is a long-term resident of Waldron, and his family and his physicians are in this area, and is not a flight risk. The defendant prays that his bond be lowered to $25,000 or that, in the alternative, he be placed on electronic monitoring in his home so that he can receive proper health care pending his trial.”
BethAnn May threw a gem on Wednesday for Lavaca, allowing zero runs and besting Magazine by a score of 15-0. The Lady Arrows got things started in the first inning scoring 5 runs. The Lady Arrows never looked back as they made short order of the Lady Rattlers on a wet and rainy night. Lavaca scored another six runs in the third inning. The rally was led by walks by Jessica Flanagan and Tessa Leonard, a single by BethAnn May, a groundout by Brooklynn O’Kelley, and a double by Morgan Taylor.
BethAnn May was credited with the victory for Lavaca Lady Arrows Varsity. She went four innings, allowing zero runs on one hit and striking out 11. Taryn Leslie took the loss for Magazine. She lasted three innings, allowing 11 hits and 15 runs while striking out one.
BethAnn May pitches a one hit shutout to advance to semifinals
The Lavaca Lady Arrows totaled 11 hits in the game. Brooklynn O’Kelley, Sierra Lamb, and Morgan Taylor all collected multiple hits for the Lady Arrows. Taylor, Lamb, and O’Kelley each collected two hits to lead the Lady Arrows. Kinzee-Jo Brown led Lavaca with four stolen bases, as they ran wild on the base paths with nine stolen bases.
The Lady Arrows advance to the Semifinals of the 2A-4 District Championship Tournament and will meet up once again with the Lady Little Johns of Danville. Today’s game has been postponed until tomorrow April 26th at 6pm. In the previous matchups Lavaca and Danville split with the Lady Arrows winning the first meeting and Danville taking the second. This promises to be a very good game between two strong programs.
The Lavaca Golden Arrow baseball team started off the 2A-4 baseball district tournament by knocking off the Hackett Hornets in a rain drenched game at Hackett last night. Hackett struck first scoring one run in both of the first two innings. But in the third Colby Clunn started things with a lead off double to right center, Jayger Wagner drew a walk, setting the table for Jimmy Hall, who doubled on the first pitch of the at bat, scoring both base runners, Kaw-Liga Brewer, Trey Castor, and Tyler Armistead drew a walks before Dylan Ellison singled on a 0-1 count. In all, the Arrows put up 4 runs in the inning, and never looked back. The Arrows knocked in another five runs in the fourth inning to secure a 9-2 victory. The fifth inning onslaught was led by Tyler Hobbs, Jimmy Hall, Trevon Moore, Dylan Ellison, and Colby Clunn, each crossing the plate in the inning.
Trey Castor led the Lavaca Golden Arrows to victory on the mound. He went five innings, allowing two runs on two hits and striking out three. Avery Hester took the loss for Hackett. He lasted three innings, allowing three hits and five runs while striking out eight. Hall, Castor, Ellison, and Clunn all had one hit to lead Lavaca.
Trey Castor pitches a two hitter to advance to Semifinals
With the win, Lavaca advances to the semifinals of the 2A-4 district tournament. They are all set to play the Danville Little Johns. Today’s game has been postponed due to rain and will be made up tomorrow April 26 at 6pm. This game promises to be a battle of pitching. For Lavaca, Jimmy Hall will take the mound and Danville is expected to throw Dalton Reagan. These are amongst the best pitchers in the district. Hall boasts a .851 ERA and strikes out nearly 45% of batters faced. While Reagan’s stats are not posted with MaxPreps he is by far the best pitcher Lavaca has faced this year. He had 9 strikeout in both of the previous meeting against the Arrows.
Jimmy Hall doubles
The other things to look for in tomorrow’s game is the offense. Lavaca seem to have a momentum edge. Lavaca is coming off a 3 game winning streak in which they have out scored opponents 45-7. Danville is coming into the game fresh off of a 5-3 loss to Hector. The Arrows are really seeing the ball well right now and seem to be gelling at the right time. This should be a great ball game.
On Tuesday, first and second grade students were excited to attend a science presentation by Curtis Varnell and Amber Cobb. Curtis Varnell, from the Guy Fenter Education Service Coop, is a Specialist in Science and Social Studies and is over the Science Education Division. Amber is the Gifted and Talented Specialist for the Coop, and she overseas the areas schools GT programs. Both Cobb and Varnell help area schools with STEM projects and competitions.
Cobb talked with students about space adventures and challenged the kids to astronaut training. She explained to the students how rockets and spaceships work and how they survive in space. She also explained to the students what astronauts eat in space and how they are able to drink liquids.
Amber Cobb explains the control center for spaceships at NASA to Mansfield students.
Next, Varnell talked with students about gravity and explained how rockets take off. He demonstrated several small rocket take-offs within the classroom, and then students went outside after lunch to watch a large rocket launch and take-off. He told students, “Science is fun! It’s the best subject.” He encouraged students to get involved with science, projects and learning. In the conclusion of their presentation, students were given an astronaut badge.
Showing small rockets to students
Explaining pressure and rocket take-offs
Launching the larger rocket outside for students
Picture below is of 2nd grade students sampling the real astronaut food and drinking juice like astronauts. Students also received their astronaut badge while leaving the presentation from Ms. Amber Cobb.
After the large rocket launch, students in Mrs. Root’s 2nd grade class then returned to class and wrote about what they learned. Student, Makenzie, had much to say about how much she loved having Mr. Curtis and Ms. Amber come to her school and visit!
E.W. Robb, Mansfield’s new Chief of Police, has a clear vision and goal for the department. Part of that plan is to lead with integrity and conduct that is above reproach.
Robb, a law enforcement veteran with 30 years of experience, began his career in his hometown of Marianna as a radio dispatcher and jailer at the age of 18. After turning 21, he was hired on as a certified police officer at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock. He remained there for six years, then left to work as a deputy for the White County Sheriff’s office.
He admits he began to feel “burned out.” Robb took a break and began driving trucks. His company took him from Little Rock to Memphis and Fort Smith. That’s how he ended up in, as he calls it, “God’s country.”
Robb got hired on with Sebastian County, and worked reserve for Scott County Sheriff Cody Carpenter. In 2011, he began working full time for the late sheriff. “I made a promise to Cody that I would stay with him. It was just a few months later that he was killed, and I kept that promise until 2019.”
It was not a decision he took lightly. At first, Robb did not intend to apply for the position of Mansfield Police Chief. “My wife doesn’t like change and she initially said no. So, I told the mayor I wasn’t interested.” But something changed. Both Robb and his wife, Stephanie, began praying about it. “The wife and I prayed about it and felt it would be a great opportunity.”
He recognized that “still small voice” leading both him and his wife on the decision. He felt strongly enough about it that he approached Mayor Buddy Black and said “I will be your next chief.”
Robb admits it was difficult to say goodbye to the students and residents he had connected with during his time as a Scott County Deputy. “The people of Waldron have embraced me but I think the people of Mansfield will too. It was humbling for the people to clap at the city council meeting on Thursday night.”
One of the things important to Robb is his connection with both the school and the community. For the past four years he has been greeting students at Waldron Elementary with a fist bump. Robb noted that it was the best part of his day. That is something he has brought with him to Mansfield. And, people have noticed! After the first morning on the job, social media lit up with comments on the interaction with the new chief and students at the school. Robb said his goal is to “change a generation’s mindset of how they view law enforcement. If I can achieve that I have reached my goal,” he added.
Furthermore, Robb plans to implement positive changes to the department itself. “I want to get the integrity and honesty back and to be upfront with the mayor and the public.” Robb has come on board delivering daily briefs to both the mayor and every officer coming on duty. That commitment comes with long hours, 6 a.m.-4 p.m.
The officers have been very receptive of their newly appointed leader. “I came in and asked them what needed to be changed and opened the door for suggestions. In return, I expect them to present themselves the way I present myself to the public. Shiny boots, hair, and clean cut appearance.”He went on to add that the way the officer presents himself/herself to the public is important as well. “The tongue will get you in trouble. How you talk to citizens reflects not only on you (the officer), but this department.”
He further outlined his expectations by stating that if an officer is at the station, the doors will be unlocked and phones will be manned. Chief Robb is working to set up a forwarding system with the phone lines for Sebastian County to receive calls if officers are away from the station.
Robb’s motto is that if you fix the broken window the decline won’t escalate. That broken window, according to Robb, is the condition of the vehicles and the need to bring the department into the 21st century with technology.
Robb concluded by saying the department’s actions reflect on the mayor. He pointed to Black and stated, “I work for this man.” Black responded, “and I work for the people.” Adding, “this is a positive change and people are seeking consistency.”
The hands-on, working chief plans to continue visiting and getting to know the residents, parents and students. He welcomes anyone with problems or questions to come to the police station to visit. Additionally, he welcomes anyone to come approach him while he is out in public. “Even if you call and get dispatch, let them know you need to see me and I will come to your house.”
With Robb’s vision, leadership and experience the citizens of Mansfield can be assured of the department’s commitment to protect and serve.
Chief Robb’s certificates hang in his office. The ones he’s most proud of include the law enforcement code of ethics and his safety dedication award from Waldron Elementary.
The Mansfield FFA was the state winner in food collection for the FFA for Food, Fiber, and Shelter (FFS) project.
Senior Brianna McKinney accepted the award during the 92nd Arkansas FFA Convention in Hot Springs.
The local chapter earned the top spot by participating in the backpack program. That program provides for elementary, middle and high school students. Additionally, for their participation in the Pack Shack event, the FFA food pantry and the school garden.
Agriculture teacher and FFA leader Rhianna Wagner said “We have had a huge project that has fed the community for the past 10-12 years. We have won the state food collection award every year for the past four years (since it was founded.)
We will be bringing you more news from the FFA State Convention in the next few days.
