The Hackett Hornet Bowling team traveled to Rogers yesterday to compete in the 3A-2A-1A West Conference Championship. After bowling against bigger schools all season, the Hornets were confident that their bowling game would strike out any opponent.
After all was said and done, the Lady Hornets placed Runner-up in the girls’ division behind Elkins. The Lady Hornets ended with a total score of 2647. Rachel Widmer finished 3rd overall and ended making All-Conference.
The boys finished their division in 4th place with a total score of 2800 pins. Kade Banning finished 9th overall for the Hornets and was the top bowler for the boys’ team.
Both Hackett boys and girls teams secured a spot at State and will compete on Thursday February 14th at 11 a.m. The tournament will take place at Bowling World in Fort Smith.
February is Black History Month, and in observance, we will be featuring a “did you know” fact with Huntington native, Jerry Moore.
DID YOU KNOW? The first and only black mayor of Huntington was elected in 1977. Mayor Curtis G. Feimster Sr. was the first black elected mayor of a Western Arkansas city with a white majority population.
He was also the first black buried in the Huntington City Cemetery.
About the contributor: Jerry Moore was born in Kansas City, KS and came to Huntington when he was 17 months old. He’s the great-great grandson of Samuel (Sam) Martin, who is buried in the Cherokee African American Cemetery in Huntington. Moore attended Mansfield Schools and graduated with the class of 1968. After high school, he went on to get his bachelors degree and later a masters degree. Moore taught history at Northside High School from 1972-1980 and after receiving his masters degree, began teaching sociology at Northwest Arkansas Community College. His education and experience has afforded him opportunities few have only dreamed of. Lifetime opportunities, including work in the nation’s capital.
Someone once said, “An obstacle is occasionally a stepping
stone.” This young man didn’t always
know or believe it, but he has certainly proved it to be true. Please meet Colton Turner.
Colton is the 19 year-old son of Mike and Michelle
Turner. He has two brothers and a
sister, and, like most kids, he grew up loving video games, music and
computers. But Colton was a little different than some of his peers. At an
early age, he was diagnosed with ADHD and Autism.
Colton’s family moved to Lavaca from Arkoma, Oklahoma in
2011. He didn’t have many friends in his
new school and is problems often made it hard to make new friends. It was an emotional and troublesome time for
Colton. “There were many of times I just wanted to say screw it and be done.
But I never did. Back then, the only thing I knew to do when I was angry was
just get mad and scream and holler. It got so bad at point, that I threw these
meltdowns almost everywhere and every day.” But Colton found comfort in the
library computers. He calls it, “The
best two hours of my day.” He didn’t have access to a phone or computer at home
so he looked forward to that time he had at school. To escape the bad things going on at that
time, he turned to YouTube where he could meet new people, comment on the posts
and videos. Online, Colton had friends and could talk to people.
He began his own YouTube channel. Online was where Colton found an audience
that would hear his thoughts and ideas, how he was feeling at the moment, both
good and bad. Today, over two thousand
people subscribe to Colton’s YouTube site, Wildboy5699, many who share in his
battle with Autism.
Colton began working with the drama club in high school and
performed in several plays. The greatest
day of his life, he says, was when he graduated high school and getting
accepted into college. He proved to himself and others that he could do
anything he set his mind to do. He is
now at UAFS and majoring in theater. He
plans on becoming an actor. Colton has
now been in eight plays and is working on a short film this summer. He has
connected to a couple of Hollywood actors who have seen his story online and
offered to help his dream be reality.
“My goal is to share my story with millions around the world
and inspire them to tell their stories.
I believe that, no matter what, whether you have a disability or not, if
you believe in yourself enough, you will accomplish anything you want to do.” Remember this young man’s name. You will most likely be seeing him very soon.
“Education is what remains after one has forgotten what one has learned in school.” – Albert Einstein
Going back to school after being away for over twenty years has proven to be both challenging and rewarding. Last year I began taking classes online at Williams Baptist University with a major in Criminal Justice. What I’ve discovered is that gone are the days when classes were filled with just young people just finishing high school. Today’s classes are also filled with students in their forties, fifties, and even sixties seeking to further their education. This is especially relevant in the world of law enforcement.
Police officers are working in a world where laws are often changing. Not only do you have to be knowledgeable of current laws but also have a grasp on writing good reports. The police report you write is not just for your eyes. The report will be viewed by both the plaintiff, defendant, attorneys, and even judges. I was fortunate early in life to have a college professor who worked with me. She was known as the toughest professor at the college but I took every course she taught. I knew her expectations were high so I had a desire to do my best. Later in my career, I would be writing search warrants and arrest warrants on a daily basis that would be viewed by judges. Her encouragement certainly paid off. Studies have shown that educated officers demonstrate greater levels of creativity and problem-solving skills. Both of which are advantages in today’s work environment.
The ability to take classes online has proven to be a tremendous convenience for those going back to school. It allows those who work full time, to still be able to work on their classes at night or anytime they have a break. It does take dedication and scheduling to make it work. Evenings at our home are spent with me working on assignments in the evenings following work. I try to get my work completed early in the week to free up time on the weekends. For most classes, a weekly discussion question requiring an answer of a minimum of two hundred words, a minimum of two one hundred- and fifty-word replies, along with a five-hundred-word minimum paper is due each week. A major obstacle I had to overcome was learning APA format. The school provided excellent resources on learning how to properly cite works as well as some tips from the teachers at Hackett High!
With only three classes remaining, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I’m scheduled to graduate this May with my Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice and possibly continue my education toward my Master’s Degree. I would encourage everyone in the field of law enforcement to continue their education in some form. Whether it be accumulating training through your department or college.
As Henry Ford once said “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty. Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young”.
On Friday, February 1, the Sebastian County 4-H delivered nearly 100 handmade tiny hats to the American Heart Association.
Residents throughout the county contributed to the “Little Hats, Big Hearts” campaign, which is sponsored by the American Heart Association. “Little Hats, Big Hearts” honors babies and moms in a very special way. These tiny red hats, on thousands of babies, symbolize a shared mission of heart-healthy lives for everyone. The effort also raises awareness of congenital heart defects and prevention.
The program which started in Chicago in 2014, has expanded across more than 40 states and has now embraced hundreds of thousands of babies. February is “Go Red for National Heart Month.”
The Sebastian County 4-H welcomes members of the community to participate throughout the year. They plan to deliver those hats again, February of 2020.
To learn more about “Little Hats, Big Hearts” you can visit the AHA website. They provide instructions, including a pattern to make them.
Like always, all good things must come to an end. The Mansfield Sr High Tigers have finished with their 2018-2019 conference play season and now waits patiently for District to start next week. Mansfield closed out the season with back to back games against West Fork and Cedarville over the past weekend.
#4 Tyler Holmes, #2 Jaicy Griffin, and #20 Colton Stipins
The Tigers boys’ team split the win-loss column with their games against the Tigers and the Pirates. Mansfield lost 73-47 against West Fork but picked up a 58-56 win over Cedarville. The boys closed out their season one of the best ways possible. At home, against a bitter rival, while scoring a win. During both of the times that the Tigers and the Pirates faced one another, each game ended within points of each other. The Mansfield Tigers end their season with a 2-12 record in conference play.
Lady Tigers vs Lady Pirates
For the Lady Tigers, their season ended bittersweet. Although the girls weren’t able to finish with wins, they know what needs to be fixed so that they can come back next year better than ever. The final scores from both games were 58-22 West Fork and 49-38 Cedarville. During their game against West Fork, Amber Elmore led with 9 points. Brooke Wright made 5 points. Rylea Weaver secured 3 points and combining for 5 points was Mikayla Harrison and Samantha Smith.
Defensively in the Cedarville game, the Lady Tigers had a great night. Makayla Strutton got 8 rebounds and 3 steals. Rylea Weaver had 7 rebounds, 5 deflections, and 4 steals. Brooke Wright got 3 rebounds and 3 block shots. Amber Elmore grabbed 7 rebounds and 2 steals. Mikayla Harrison got 3 steals and 2 rebounds. And Macy Davis had 2 deflections and 2 rebounds. The Lady Tigers end their conference play season with a 1-13 record.
The 2A-4 Jr High District Tournament started yesterday and the Hackett Hornets are eagerly waiting for their turn to dominate. The tournament is being held at JC Westside in Coal Hill. Seven teams will step into the ring to fight but in the end, there can only be one. The Lady Hornets finished their conference play season 2-5 and the Hornets ended conference play 5-1.
On Monday, February 4th, #6 Magazine took on #7 Hector to start the boys’ play. Magazine got the win and will now go on to battle #3 Danville on Wednsday. The winner of that game will have to face the #2 Hackett Hornets on Thursday February 7th at 5:15 p.m.
Jr High Lady Hornets
For the girls’ play, #6 Danville and #7 Magazine got things rolling on Monday night. The Lady Little Johns secured the win and will go on to play #3 Hector on Wednesday. The #5 Lady Hornets will go against #4 Westside on Wednesday, February 6th at 4 p.m. The winner of that game will take on #1 Mountainburg on Thursday.
The Arkansas Regional Coalition of the Ouachitas, ARCO, is looking for local, active duty military to honor with a banner. Those banners will line the city’s historic Main Street, and will be displayed proudly on the lamp posts.
Mayor David Millard recently accepted a check from Billy and Anita Black in honor of their son, Chance, who is serving in the U.S. Navy. This is the first contribution towards the honor project.
The ARCO project seeks to honor those serving in any of the five U.S. Armed Forces: Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, and Navy.
For more information on the ARCO project, call 479-637-318. Alternatively, you can come by Waldron City Hall for more details.
The Mansfield Volunteer Fire Department rolled into the parking lot of the Hand-in-Hand Daycare in Witcherville on Monday morning, and the children were all smiles.
Chief Stephen Haysmer, Lieutenant Matt Nichols and fireman Steven Haysmer shared stories with the attentive group, explaining the importance of fire safety and the dangers of playing with fire.
Afterwards, those children were allowed a time in the drivers seat of the fire truck, were shown the various equipment on board and even got to climb the latter and hold the hose!
Bost’s Hand-in-Hand Child Development Center’s philosophy is that “the best way for children to learn is together- whether a child’s needs are typical or exceptional. This comprehensive program provides integrated activities that allow children, with and without developmental delay, to learn and play side by side in a structured learning environment.”
One of the boys in the group, Trevor, aspires to be a fireman. Throughout the demonstration he was enthralled by the equipment and truck. His teacher admitted that at play time, the fire trucks are what he wants to play with. “There’s a future fireman,” Haysmer commented.
A special thanks to the Mansfield Fire Department for taking time to come visit and educate the children at Bost!
Irene Beatrice Klentz, a resident of Huntington, AR, is perhaps one of the most talented individuals in the area. She credits that talent to God, and her family roots.
“Renie,” as she’s lovingly known, is a woman of many talents. A beekeeper, lure maker, painter, and all-around crafter, Klentz stays busy working with her hands, but she always has an idea in her mind. “I was taught to never throw anything away,” Klentz said. “I was the oldest of seven kids, I think that’s why I was so thrifty. My dad was never wasteful either.”
Her great-great-grandmother, a full blood Indian, was Klentz’ heroine. She described her as a small framed woman, with coal black hair. Klentz recalled one particular meeting when she came “up from the branch.”
“I admired her. She lived up the branch and would come down even in the dark. She lived alone and I thought she sure was a great and brave lady.”
Klentz recalled that she was one with nature, and was never afraid of things like bees. Klentz inherited that love, and she tends a beehive and loves to see them thrive.
In 1976, Klentz came to Huntington. She was born in Ohio and was raised in Michigan. During her childhood, she recalled her father, Earl Russell Nagy’s, love of fishing. She laughed recalling her mother, Toka Lee’s, impatience while waiting on a fish to bite.
“I had some artists in my family on my dad’s side,” added Klentz. “I guess you could say I got my love of nature from my mom’s side and my know-how from my dad’s side.”
Her love of fishing, inherited from her father, spurred her interest in learning to make wooden fishing lures. “I see wood, I see possibilities,” she added. “I got hooked on making fishing lures! And, when I am out at flea markets or if a child comes to my home, I like to give them one to encourage them to want to fish, too.”
In addition to her beekeeping and lures, Klentz also loves to paint, and work with wood. She sees her talent as a gift from God. “It’s a gift He gave me to capture what I see with my eyes.” Additionally, she said “if you follow the spiritual path, you’ll be lead right.”
When asked about her age, Klentz just smiles and says, “when I reach 104, I’ll let you know!” Until then, she plans to stay busy doing what she loves.
