The first thing I noticed when meeting Coach Lonnie Hester almost a year ago, was his light up a room smile. I had just started sports writing and Lonnie was one of the first coaches I started working with. Although I knew about football and other sports, this new career I had chosen was still kind of scary to me. No matter the time or day, anytime I had a question or needed a quote for an article, he was always there front and center with that big ole’ smile on his face, ready to help.
When news broke that Lonnie Hester would be stepping down as Head Football Coach for the Hackett Hornets, my heart broke a little. Not only because he was moving from the field to the stands but because I was going to be losing one of my favorite football co-workers.
I knew when I started writing this article, I didn’t want to do some ho-hum story loaded with Hester stats and zero personality. You could find that information anywhere. I wanted to zoom in on the real Lonnie Hester. Not only the coach but the father, son, friend, and confidant. Most people just see what’s on the football field. But what happens when the games over? What happens the other six days of the week?
When it comes to his players, Coach Hester, on one hand, would be stern and direct when trying to get his point across but then turn around, wrap his arm around you and tell you good job. For many of his players, he was that extra father figure that they looked up to and respected. “Coach Hester and I used to clash a little bit but he was a great coach,” says Hornet player Layne Dennis. “He knew how to lead a team and take charge. I liked his passion for coaching and how he pushed all of us to be our very best. He was tough on us but that’s why he always had great seasons. I won’t forget the last game we played and he told us how proud he was of us and told us if we ever needed anything that we could call him and he’d be there to help us.”
One thing is for sure. Whoever follows in Coach Hesters footsteps is going to have some big shoes to fill. Blayde Chappell, another Hester Hornet player, said this about his coach, “Coach was only hard on us about 98% of the time. But he made us who we are and is always there for us if we need him.” The only thing keeping many of us from having a complete sobbing like a baby meltdown is the fact that we are not losing Hester forever. He is just moving on up in the world, taking a position as Assistant Principal and Athletics Director.
So Coach Hester, from your entire fan club, Thank You!!! Thank you for always taking the time to be there. Thank you for your constant and consistent support. Thank you for your gentle soul and being able to pick us up when we’ve fallen down. Thank you for never judging and always encouraging. Thank you for the blood, sweat, and tears that you selflessly put into the game. Thank you for never doubting. And thank you for being a fearless leader, even when you wanted to break down yourself.
On Sunday, March 31, the Mansfield and Hackett Little League Football teams got some closure on what their 2019 football season would entail as the Lavaca Golden Arrows joined the West Central Football League. The Golden Arrows are no strangers to the Hornets and Tigers. The three programs faced each other annually in their previous league before Hackett and Mansfield left to help form the WCFL.
The West Central Football League was formed last season with the intent to give smaller programs a chance to play more equal competition. After a great success in their inaugural season, the goal was to attempt to allow three more schools into the League to make an even set ten teams.
Greenland and West Fork spent previous years playing much larger teams in NWA which kept the programs down in success and in numbers of players. Lavaca was offered an invite to the league last season but turned it down. This time around they were all aboard.
WCFL teams include Mountainburg, Mansfield, Cedarville, Hackett, West Fork, Magazine, Greenland, JC Westside, Lavaca, and Western Yell County
Mansfield Little League Football President Josh Strozier said, “This will be our second season in the WCFL and the addition of three more teams gives us more opportunities to see growth amongst our kids. Lavaca, Greenland, and West Fork should be great matches for us which will create more competition. We are building the future for this entire group on and off the field. We’re very excited to face off with our new opponents.”
Hackett Little League President Dave Slavens said, “Both Hackett and the WCFL were successful last year and it shows. When you have other small programs jumping at the chance to gain a spot in the league, it proves to us that we’re doing something in the WCFL that’s needed. Greenland, West Fork, and Lavaca will be formidable programs. They are small programs looking to build off of more equal competition just like the rest of us were last year. We’re very excited to play against them and the rest of the league in 2019.”
In the end, the overall goal of the WCFL is building small school football programs for the kids. The Little League Tigers and the Hackett Hornets proved that that goal is achievable by making the playoffs and winning WCFL Championships last season. Other programs are also seeing success in numbers of kids wanting to play football and communities being excited about little league football again. Small town football is making a comeback and it all starts here. So be sure to get out and support your Little League programs in any way you can.
It was just like any other work day. Tom’s ship was docked and hauling supplies for the Marines and the Navy Seals. With his ship, the LCU, docked, the 5-ton military truck arrived daily and would load up with ammo and food for supplies for the guys at the barracks. It wasn’t long after handing out supplies and deliveries that Tom got to know most all the Marines and the Seals. Some of the Marines practiced repelling off the side of the ship for extra training. They worked hard perfecting their skill and craft.
It was a nice change of pace from what they had been doing for the last three months. Things seemed more relaxed. The last couple of months dodging artillery rounds and the recent bombing in April at the U.S. Embassy at Beirut had been pretty rough. However, now the American troops were trying to maintain a non-martial stance and bring peace. The Marines had just moved into the old Lebanese Army barracks near the airport as America continued to seek a peace agreement. Soldiers was settling in. Through it all, everyone became friends, friends that would be remembered for a lifetime.
The day was coming to an end and Tom boarded his ship for the night. They needed to deliver some water tomorrow, but that didn’t matter at the moment. Tom was ready for sleep. Little did he know, that when he awoke, his life would be changed forever. About 6 :30 A.M., Tom was suddenly awaken by the Lieutenant from the LSD in charge of the Assault Craft Union. The Lieutenant was beside his bed tugging at Tom’s shoulder. It was almost like a dream. Tom couldn’t seem to get himself awake because the Lieutenant never woke him up. Tom was the captain of his ship, yet the Lieutenant was persistent that he wake up.
“Get up! I have
something to tell you!”
Tom finally set up on the side of his bed. He rubbed his eyes trying his best to get
awake.
“A truck bomb just hit the BLT (Barracks Landing Team). You gotta get up!”
The words still didn’t seem like reality.
“Listen to me, Tom!
You got to get all the bullet proof vests and helmets and get them to
the LSD ship, NOW! Then, I need you to
get your guys together and get to shore.
Just help in anyway you can. It’s
a disaster and there are a lot of casualties.
Warn your men before they come ashore.”
Tom had a hard time piecing it all together. He had just been ashore with these guys. This was Sunday. It was supposed to be a day of rest. But, now… now all this. These were his friends. These were Americans. This could have been him. He had visited those barracks plenty of times, even spent the night there, and now they were dead?
Tom informed the guys on his ship, and they docked the ship. A 5-ton Military truck picked him and five of his guys up to transport them to the BLT. Four men stayed behind to guard their Naval Ship. Tom had no clue what he was about to see. This was about to change his life forever.
When they reached the BLT, Tom’s heart sank. It was a disaster. It was almost like being in a horror movie. People were dead everywhere. People were screaming and hollering for help. People were wounded. These were Americans. These were his friends. There was no time to waste. Tom went straight to work looking for anyone still alive. Everyone, who was able, was digging.
“It was a disaster to have that many people trapped in the building and barracks and be helpless,” Tom thought.
After a day of digging and pure exhaustion, Tom returned
back to his ship to keep order. One of
his deckhands told Tom, after three days of digging,
“I can smell the dead. I just got to keep digging.”
Tom knew his deckhand was losing his mind and needed to stay back behind on the ship. It was just too much to comprehend. It was too much for all of them, but they had to keep pushing forward and helping. However, Tom soon realized the only way to make it through this disastrous attack against America was to,
“Give it to God…if it is…it is.”
And, that’s exactly what Tom did. He gave it to God.
Navy Soldier Tom
You see, Tom could have been the one killed that day, but he wasn’t. He may never understand why he lived and his friends died, but for some reason, God spared his life. It was his GodWink moment in life. God had saved him. Oh, how Tom wishes that his friends would have been saved as well! However, over the years, Tom has realized to just “give it to God,” just like he had to do on that day that all of these events took place.
So many times in our life we question God, “Why?” I think God understands why we question, as long as we don’t focus our whole lives on never knowing the answer to the “why.” We tend to blame God. We tend to be mad at God. We say we want nothing to do with God. But… being mad at God won’t change what’s been done. It only pushes us farther away by staying angry at God. We have to let go and let God be God. I know this sounds so much easier said than done. However, we must not throw in the towel as soon as a huge storm surrounds our life. Tom will never know why he lived that day, and his friends died. However, through this experience Tom realized his life was spared! He still has the rest of his life to live. He is thankful God allowed him to live.
Are you going through a storm and ready to throw in the towel? Do you blame God for your past or maybe something tragic that has happened in your life? Try letting go. God wants your heart to be filled with joy and happiness. In Psalms chapter 30 verse 5, it says, “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning.”
You must choose joy. If not, the bitterness and sadness will uproot your life. If you are battling with depression, seek help. Pray, but don’t be afraid to talk to someone. Let your friends and family help you. Most of all, let God help you! Life was never intended for sadness to rule over our lives. Life was intended for you to be happy. God has spared your life, so choose JOY!
Psalms 40:1-3 Iwaited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord.
Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990
Veteran’s Crisis Line 1-800-273-8255
Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
History fact: On October 23rd of 1983, around 6:22 A.M., a suicide bomber drove a 19-ton yellow Mercedes-Benz stake-bed truck filled with 2,000 pounds of explosives into a U.S. Marine Corps 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regimental Battalion Landing Team barracks at the Beirut International Airport. This was not the water truck the Marines and Seals had been expecting. The driver took an access road leading him to the compound which he then accelerated to crash through a 5-foot-high barrier of concertina wire separating the parking lot from the building. He then crashed through a guard shack in front of the building smashing his way through to the lobby of the BLT. Although, LCpl Eddie DiFranco tried to fire a round in his chamber, it was too late. The man, Ismail Ascari, detonated his explosives. The four-story barracks building collapsed, crushing the American soldiers amongst the rubble. The explosion killed 220 Marines, 18 sailors, and 3 soldiers. That day, 241 American servicemen died.
Minutes later after that bomb irrupted, a second bomber
drove into the basement of the nearby French Paratroopers’ barracks, the
Drakkar building, killing 58 more people.
In total, 307 people were killed:
241 U.S. and 58 French, six civilians, and two of the attackers. Another 128 Americans were wounded in the
blast, and later 13 died of their injuries.
They were counted among those who died the day of the attack.
The Hezbollah , the Lebanese Shia group backed by Iran and Syria, were responsible for the bombings. Four months after these bombings, American forces left Lebanon without retaliating. This attack became the first battle in the nation’s ongoing war against terrorism according to Vice President, Mike Pence.
GodWinks: the unexplainable moment the life when it can only be God!
Cover Photo credited and retrieved from ABCnews.go.com
This past Saturday, March 30, the Ouachita Reapers went helmet to helmet against the Dallas Bulldogs. This is the second game of the season for the Reapers so at this point they are still fine tuning some skills and getting their feet under them.
The Ouachita Reapers were already showing improvement during this game aside from having three fewer players than last week. At the half, the score read 14-0. Assistant Coach, Wesley Allen Schuller, said this about what happened after halftime. “Ultimately, the same thing happened again as last Saturday and we got wore down in the 2nd half. The Bulldogs pulled away to a final of 40-0. It was a much better game than the final score showed.”
This Saturday, April 6, the Ouachita Reapers will head to Louisiana where they will take on the Shreveport Knights. “We continue to improve every day. I feel like things are starting to click better for us offensively. We have another tough opponent this week and we are looking forward to going on the road to Shreveport,” says Schuller.
After last nights walkover, the Waldron Bulldogs are finding success with their second win in a row of the season. Playing their rescheduled home game against the West Fork Tigers, the Bulldogs took total control of the scoreboard ending with a 3-0 win. Waldron now sits 2-7 on the season and 2-3 in conference play.
Junior pitcher, Seth Hunt, scored one run, three putouts and threw 92 pitches to 26 batters striking out 11. Sophomore Drake Carnley obtained one run, one hit, one runner batted in, and one putout. Junior Ruben Valdez bagged two putouts. Sophomore Clayton Montgomery landed one hit, one runner batted in, and one putout.
Senior Tyler Owens made one hit. Sophomore Braden Williams brought in one hit and one putout. And sophomore Caden Fuller profited one run, one hit, and two putouts. Tonight, the Waldron Bulldogs will take on the 9-2 Tigers in Charleston at 4:30 p.m.
With their go big or go home attitude, the Hackett Lady Hornets are showing people that they are the real deal. After their 2-1 victory last night against the Paris Lady Eagles, Hackett is sitting at an 11-3 total play record and 1-0 in conference play.
#21 catcher Sarah White
The Lady Eagles were first to put up a run in the first inning. By the fourth inning the score read 2-1 Hackett and stayed that way until the game was called. Junior Autum Neal and freshman Sarah White brought home the two runs for the Lady Hornets. Sarah was the big winner of the night with her two hits, one runner batted in, one home run, one assist, and 10 putouts. Autum also grabbed a hit. Shayla Foster earned herself one steal and one runner batted in.
#10 Madeline Freeman
Freshman Madeline Freeman scored one hit, one steal, and two putouts. Lone senior on the team, Audrie Chaney, wrangled in three putouts. Sophomore Jamye Durham picked up three putouts and one assist. Sophomore Madi Taylor netted three putouts. And sophomore pitcher, Kayla Richardson, garnered one steal, two assists, and threw 108 pitches to 29 batters striking out eight.
#5 pitcher Kayla Richardson
Tonight, the Hackett Lady Hornets will prepare to pull the fuse on the 7-3 Scranton Lady Rockets in an away non-conference game with a start time of 4:30 p.m.
On Friday, March 29, the Mansfield Lady Tigers took on their rivals the Waldron Lady Bulldogs. Mansfield held the lead for the first five innings when all of a sudden out of left field, Waldron knocked out 12 runs in the sixth inning, ending the game 14-4 Lady Bulldogs. Earning the four runs for the Lady Tigers were Hailey Walker, Rylea Weaver, Shyann McDowell, and Abby Morgan.
#20 Shyann McDowell
With more hits than a karate master was Maggie Strunk with two and with one hit each were Kylie Eveld also with two runners batted in, Hailey, Kylie Davidson with one runner batted in, Rylea, and Abby. Rylea led the team with nine putouts while Kylie, Abby, and Maggie combined for seven. Assisting in the field was Caroline Nicodemus with two, Kylie, Abby, and Maggie with one apiece, and freshman Kiara Thomas with one.
#21 Abby Morgan
On Monday, April, 1 the Lady Tigers stayed home to face the Charleston Lady Tigers for the evening’s conference game. Charleston kept the one up on the Lady Tigers with a 6-0 score for the first six innings. In the seventh inning, Mansfield made two runs and the game ended 6-2 Charleston. Last nights game puts the Mansfield Lady Tigers at 5-10 in total season play.
#18 Rylea Weaver
Mansfield’s Caroline Nicodemus made 85 pitches to 30 batters striking out seven. She also snagged two hits with one runner batted in and one run. Maggie Strunk earned the other run for the Lady Tigers and two hits. Kylie Eveld obtained three putouts with three assists. Landing nine putouts was Rylea Weaver. Kiara Thomas bagged herself seven putouts with one assist. Abby Morgan netted one hit and one assist. Kylie Davidson got one putout. And with one hit and one putout was Shyann McDowell.
#19 Amber Elmore
For the tonight’s home conference game the Mansfield Lady Tigers will battle the 1-6 Cedarville Lady Pirates. Game starts at 4:30 p.m.
November 27, 1910 George S. Watson won the first Arkansas checkers tournament. From then till now Arkansas has hosted several tournaments. Old men gather around and put their checkers playing skills to the test and compete for the title of State Champion.
The game of checkers has a long history in Arkansas, and is still making history today. Saturday March 30, 2019 the state’s first youth tournament was held at Witcherville, Arkansas. Local youth played for the title of Arkansas Youth Checkers Champion.
Not only was this the first youth tournament, the winner is the first female player to hold an Arkansas checkers title. To top it off, this young lady won every game she played and had a perfect score of 11 points.
Congratulation to Carter Whiley for a game well played. For her grand performance she received an official sized checkerboard with checkers, a trophy, $138 cash and holds the title of Arkansas Youth Checkers Champion.
The Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office has made an arrest of one adult and two juveniles in the Hartford mine vandalism case.
Captain Phillip Pevehouse said “thanks to the tips of citizens, SCSO investigators were not only able to identify three individuals in the case, but also were able to gather evidence resulting in the arrest of the three.”
The adult arrested was Christian Cates, 18, of Hartford. He was charged with two counts of criminal mischief, a misdemeanor. Also arrested two males, a 17 year old and a 16 year old. Both were charged with unlawful burning, a felony, and criminal mischief, a felony.
On March 15, a caretaker discovered vandals had visited the closed coal mine in Hartford. The vandals did over $5,000 in damage to equipment, which was in the mine, as well as set fire to an area near the mine entrance.
According to the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office, the last time the caretaker was at the mine was the previous day. Additionally, that a neighbor saw the two around the property the day before. Game cameras captured photos of the young men.
