By Tammy Moore Teague
Tuesday morning Hobe Runion was sworn in as Sebastian County Sheriff. Runion won the sheriff’s race in the November 2018 election.
Runion has over 27 years of uninterrupted law enforcement service. He started his law enforcement career in 1990 as a reserve patrolman for the city of Barling. He was hired by the Lavaca Police Department as a patrolman in 1992 and served there until 2000, when he was hired by the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Department. During his time at the sheriff’s department he has served as a Patrol Deputy, Resource Officer, criminal investigator, Investigator SGT., Captain, SWAT team member and team leader, and as the Chief Deputy since 2014.
Runion previously served as a volunteer firefighter in Lavaca for 17 years and also as an elected Constable during the 1990’s. He continues to serve our nation as a Senior Chief Petty Officer with the United States Navy Reserve. He deployed to Fallujah Iraq in 2007 and ran a convoy security team that completed over 200 missions. He deployed again in 2013 to Afghanistan where he commanded four security teams.
He currently serves as a founding member of the Sebastian County Opioid Task Force, as a board member for the Hamilton House Child Safety Center, as a member of the Fort Smith Community Health Council Steering Committee, and as a District representative of the Butterfield Trail Boy Scout Council. Additionally he volunteers as a committee member for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes River Valley Run and group leader for Women Run Arkansas. He is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Fort Smith.
He’s married to his wife of 32years, Lorrie Ann (Glidewell) Runion. They are active members of Community Bible Church and have two adult children.
Runion Sworn in as Sebastian County Sheriff
New Year, New Mayor
By Tammy Moore Teague
On January 1, we welcomed in a new year and new leadership within the City of Mansfield. Mayor Buddy Black was sworn in at the Sebastian County Courthouse in Fort Smith on Tuesday morning. Also taking the oath was ward 1 position 1 alderman Julie Thomas.
Black comes in office on the heels of interim Mayor Mike Gipson. Gipson served the city for the past nine months, serving the remainder of former Mayor Larry Austin’s term. Black and Thomas both won the election in November 2018.
Thomas said “I’m so proud to serve the city I love so much.” Black said he was ready to get to work following the ceremony. He added, “I am so thankful for this opportunity to become Mansfield’s next mayor. I look forward to working with our city council and the citizens to move forward with all the good things we have to offer and see everyone proud to live in Mansfield.”
It’s Game On For The Waldron Bulldogs
By Megan Hecox
On Wednesday, January 2 the 7th-grade boys, 8th-grade boys, and Sr JV boys will head to Lamar to take on the Warriors in a zero gravity basketball match. The Jr High Warriors are sitting 3-3 in conference play while the Jr High Bulldogs are sitting 2-4.
The Jr High Bulldogs are coming off of a 34-32 nail-biter win against Lincoln from their game on December 21st and are looking to continue to add to their wins column. Although the Jr Dogs are a young inexperienced team, you wouldn’t know it by the way they handle themselves and run the court. Head Coach Josh Atchley says his team is fine-tuning their rotations and getting some great game experience under their belts. “8th graders Lidge Stinson, Trevor Hunt, and Trenton Hunt have all been a big part of what we are trying to accomplish. Camdon Holcomb, Tator Tallmadge, and Drew Owens are quietly leading the team by example. They never miss a day in the gym to add value,” said Coach Atchley.
The Bulldogs are ready to start the New Year off by demolishing a quality team in the Warriors and bring home a victory. And since the Bulldogs roster holds an abundance of talent, that shouldn’t be a problem. Hit the road with the Bulldogs and watch them in action as they take on the Lamar Warriors on January 2 at 4 pm.
Friends of Tigers Add Art
For years, the walls of the Mansfield Tiger dens have been the same old boring white washed digs they were when the teams moved into the new high school back in 2004. Slowly but surely those landscapes have recently taken on some changes.
Local artist, little league football coach, and Mansfield alum Adam Hecox has once again taken out his paint brush and found a blank canvas to inspire the Mansfield Tiger teams. This time the friend to all things Tiger located the MHS storm shelter for his latest masterpiece at the urging of Mansfield Track Coach John Mackey.
Mackey was excited at the look and feel of the Tiger football locker room, weight room, and press box that Hecox revitalized earlier this summer with lavish art and color. He requested that Hecox, one of his former players at the old campus, do something similar to the high school storm shelter. The shelter doubles as the Mansfield track, cross country, volleyball, and women’s basketball workout room.
Hecox agreed if he could find the time. That time came just this past week as the whole Hecox family took advantage of school being released for winter break.
A three day paint party to improve and inspire ensued as most of Mansfield sat in the gym watching Bill Frye basketball unaware that newborn art was eerily transforming in the nearby storm shelter.
Hecox, his wife Megan, and their two kids taped, scraped, and painted motivational silhouettes,Tiger M’s, and rugged claw marks along the barren walls of the workout space. In all, four different walls got the Hecox treatment.
“Adam was always a heart and soul kind of player,” said Mackey. “He had a toughness in the way he played, but a soft heart when it comes to loyalty and all things Mansfield. We’re excited to have his trademark talent displayed. We really appreciate his time and effort in motivating Mansfield athletes.”
Area Basketball Teams Share Classic Focus
Eight schools carry 16 teams ascended the trails leading to Mansfield High School for three days of basketball action starting on Thursday, December 27 and running through to an exciting finals on Saturday, December 29. Through the 20 game slate, it was the Bearcats of Booneville, the Bulldogs of Waldron, and Tigers of Mansfield that gave local fans plenty of cheers.
As host to the Bill Frye Classic, it was Mansfield that highlighted the early going with prime time games on the first two nights along with a third place tilt on the day’s final bill.
Mansfield, with both its men’s and women’s teams, found early success with opening night victories. The Lady Tigers struck first with a third degree swat of the Lady Yellow Jackets from Mulberry in the girl’s nightcap game. Their Tiger classmates from the men’s bracket made a similar slap to the Mulberry swarm in the men’s nightcap game that followed.
Mansfield’s 50-28 senior girl victory over Mulberry was spearheaded by sophomore point guard Makayla Strutton. The team’s leading scorer through its first 13 games, Strutton’s stat line showed an energetic 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 steals.
Although the team dropped its next two tournament games, 41-55 against Waldron and 22-44 verses Vian, Strutton still managed a spot on the Bill Frye Classic All-Tournament roster.
The Mansfield men paid a price in their win over Mulberry as junior standout Ethan Stovall tweaked his ailing back in the early going causing his him to sit idle the rest of the week. Playing steady without its main cog that first night but not the next two, the Tigers struggled offensively the rest of the way.
The Mansfield senior boys followed a similar path the Lady Tigers trekked by dropping their next two games. A 50-71 semi-final loss to Waldron along with a 32-54 set back to Vian in the third place contest soured what started off as a promising journey through the Frye Classic.
Starters Layton Howard and Codi Chick along with reserves Jaicy Griffin and JoJo Bailey had palatable moments throughout the tournament but nothing strong enough to fend off the Waldron nor Vian.
Ultimately, the real story coming out of the Frye Classic was the continued hot streak of the Booneville basketball boys and the sudden surge of the Waldron Lady Bulldogs.
The Booneville Bearcats hoisted the championship trophy from the men’s bracket with a 61-48 finals win over the Waldron Bulldogs. The hard fought title clincher was the Cats’ 14th consecutive victory of the year running their season record to 15-1.
Bearcat forward Blakley Cobb was terrific in the finals securing 23 points and six rebounds. Noah Reyes, fresh off Booneville’s state championship football team, scored 10 points all in the third period. Grant Goers tallied 12 points as all three players were named to the All-Tournament team.
In a losing effort, Waldron’s Payton Brown (12 points) and Drew Dozier (12 points) also made the All-Tournament roster.
On the other hand, the Waldron Lady Bulldogs found themselves in unfamiliar territory as they made the finals for the first time in several seasons. A 41-31 hold on the Hackett Lady Hornets in the first round along with an inspired 55-41 decision over the Lady Tigers of Mansfield in the semi-finals put the Lady ‘Dogs squarely in the finals.
Waldron’s senior girls seemed ready to play against the Arkoma Lady Mustangs by taking the early edge at the first quarter buzzer. The Lady Bulldogs’ 8-4 lead was short lived as the Mustangs raised the whip in the second period racing out to a 19-12 mark by the half.
Waldron and Arkoma stayed separated by nearly the same margin going into the fourth quarter before the taller more athletic Mustangs finally closed the stable doors with a 38-26 victory.
Waldron’s Chenoa Burdess and Samantha Slater had solid numbers throughout the week giving them the call to join the All-Tournament ledger. Arkoma’s Libby Sharp and Maddie Key represented the Lady Mustangs on the All-Tournament team.
Statewide Minimum Wage to Increase January 1
By Tammy Moore Teague
On January 1 minimum wage earners will be seeing an increase in pay following a ballot measure approved by voters in November. Wages will increase incrementally to $11 an hour by 2021.
On Tuesday those earning $8.50 an hour will get a boost to $9.25. For a wage earner bringing home $340 per week will be, after the first, netting $370.
Arkansas Issue 5 passed with 605,784 voting for and 279,046 voting against. Proponent Bruno Showers, a senior analyst with Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families said “It’s easy to not see how a few dollars a week would make a difference, but the cumulative effect of that raise does make a difference.” However, those against the wage increase feel it will hinder hiring and struggling businesses.
The $9.25-an-hour wage will increase to $10 a year in 2020 and to $11 on Jan. 1, 2021.
Waterfowl Season Reopens for Third Split; Fowl Reports Low
LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas’s third and final split of the 60-day waterfowl season began Wednesday, Dec. 26, and the season will continue uninterrupted through its close at sunset Sunday, Jan. 27. Waterfowl hunters hope that soon enough, frigid conditions arrive in the northern midwest to move a large concentration of birds down through the migratory pathways into The Natural State. From anecdotal reports over the past week, that has yet to happen.
The early December aerial survey by Arkansas Game and Fish Commission waterfowl biologists estimated that 1.2 million total mallards were in the Delta region, with more than half of those being mallards. But with the wettest fall in several years in the state, ducks habitat has been spread far and wide, and reports from various sources say that hunting has suffered in many areas. Hunters in areas east of the Dale Bumpers White River National Wildlife Refuge reported few ducks or geese seen flying over last weekend. Saturday, a decent number of snow geese were observed in the Prairie-Arkansas county region between Humnoke and Stuttgart, but well below what was observed a year ago. Guides reported that greater white-fronted geese (specklebellies) were not as prominent in their prairie fields as what they had seen earlier in the season, and milder weather than usual for the period around Christmas was one of the reasons they cited.
Duck totals in the Arkansas River Valley and the southwest part of the state were below the long-term December average in the most recent survey.
Arkansas was expecting colder conditions and a little more rainfall as the third split opened. Most eyes of waterfowlers, however, were on weather conditions in Iowa and Missouri. Northern Missouri had an estimated count earlier this year of 900,000 mallards in that region, and those birds did not appear to be interested in leaving for a trek south with milder temps and accessible habitat (re: food) available there. AGFC biologists reported that Big Lake NWR in northeast Arkansas is holding an average number of ducks for this time of year, and at times there have been good numbers of ducks seen on Lake Ashbaugh in the northeast. But for the Arkansas River Valley, Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA was typical: complete coverage of the WMA with water, but duck use varied and mostly poor to moderate.
The AGFC will conduct its third state aerial survey of the year the week of Jan. 7.
Northwest Arkansas
Dardanelle WMA
Map | Weather Report
McKennon Bottoms (half-day hunting)
Habitat: Good stand of native moist-soil vegetation.
Water Level: 100%.
Potter’s Pothole Hartman Waterfowl Unit (half-day hunting)
Habitat: Excellent stand of millet.
Water Level: 100%
Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA
Map | Weather Report
All waterfowl impoundments on Ed Gordon Point Remove WMA are at full pool at this time. Duck use on the WMA has been varied, but have been generally poor to moderate.
Little Hole (Unit 1)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Willow Island (Unit 2)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Red Gate (Unit 3)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Pig Trough (Units 4 and 5)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Cedar Ridge (Unit 6)
Habitat: Natural vegetation and Japanese and Chiwappa millet.
Water Level: 100%
Unit 7a
Habitat: Japanese and Chiwappa millet.
Water Level:100%
Unit 7b
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Duck Trap (Units 8a, 8b and 8c)
8a
Habitat: Natural vegetation and Japanese and Chiwappa millet.
Water Level: 100%
8b
Habitat: Natural vegetation and Japanese and Chiwappa millet.
Water Level: 100%
8c
Habitat: Natural vegetation and Japanese and Chiwappa millet.
Water Level: 100%
Unit 9
Habitat: Natural vegetation and Japanese and Chiwappa Millet.
Water Level: 100%
Controversy Corner (Unit 10)
Habitat: Natural vegetation and Japanese and Chiwappa millet.
Water Level: 100%
Remmel Marsh
Habitat: Natural vegetation and Japanese and Chiwappa millet.
Water Level: 100%
Mud Pond (Unit 12)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Turkey Pond (Units 13a, 13b and 13c)
13a
Habitat: Natural vegetation and Japanese and Chiwappa millet.
Water Level: 100%
13b
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
13c
Habitat: Natural vegetation and Japanese and Chiwappa millet.
Water Level: 100%
Teeny Pond (Unit 14)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Salt Lick (Unit 15)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Bobby’s Pond (Unit 16)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Race Track (Unit 17)
Habitat: Natural vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Frog Bayou WMA (half-day hunting)
Map | Weather Report
Unit 1
Habitat: Sprangle top crabgrass, wild millet and smartweed.
Water Level: 100%
Unit 2
Habitat: Poor moist-soil response due to August flood.
Water Level: 100%
Unit 3
Habitat: Smartweed, toothcup, wild millet and sprangle top.
Water Level: 100%
Unit 4
Habitat: Wild millet, sprangle top, smartweed, nut sedge and crabgrass.
Water Level: 100%
Unit 5
Habitat: Sprangle top, wild millet and smartweed.
Water Level: 100%
Unit 6
Habitat: Wild millet, smartweed and crabgrass.
Water Level: 100%
Unit 7
Habitat: Smartweed, wild millet and sprangle top.
Water Level: 100%
Galla Creek WMA
Map | Weather Report
Galla Creek GTR
Habitat: Excellent stand of natural vegetation, including a mixture of barnyard and smartweed.
Water Level: 100%, staged flooding of the impoundment began on Nov. 15. Duck use and hunter success on the WMA have been generally poor.
Nimrod Lloyd Millwood WMA
Map | Weather Report
Nimrod GTR
Habitat: Fair mast crop mixed in with native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%.
Ozark Lake WMA/Dyer Lake Water Unit
Weather Report
Dyer Lake Cells (half-day hunting)
Habitat: Soy been stubble and native vegetation.
Water Level: Units 1 and 2, 100%. Units 3 and 4 are rainfall dependent.
Petit Jean River WMA
Map | Water Gauge | Weather Report
Santa Fe GTR
Habitat: Fair mast crop mixed in with native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Olin Cain/Sore Head Moist-Soil Unit
Habitat: Good stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Black Lands Moist-Soil Unit
Habitat: Good stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Slaty Crossing Moist-Soil Unit
Habitat: Fair stand of native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Pullen Pond
Habitat: Half of area has a fair stand of native vegetation, other half of area has 100 acres of Japanese millet.
Water Level: 100%.
Pond Creek GTR
Habitat: Fair mast crop mixed in with native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%.
Slaty Pond GTR
Habitat: Fair mast crop mixed in with native vegetation.
Water Level: 40%
Black Lands Duck Area
Habitat: Millet mixed in with good native vegetation.
Water Level: 100%
Davidson Charged with Manslaughter
By Tammy Moore Teague
John Davidson, 37, was formally charged on December 18 with manslaughter, a class C felony. Davidson was involved in a head-on collision that resulted in the death of an Elm Park resident on November 30. –See related story
Scott County Circuit Court Judge Donald Goodner issued the warrant for Davidson’s arrest. Following his arrest on December 15, the court found that probable cause existed to hold Davidson over for trial. Davidson’s bond was set at $150,000 and he was released on December 18.
Davidson is also being charged with driving left of center, a misdemeanor, wreckless driving, a class B misdemeanor and no seatbelt.
Davidson is due back in court on January 7, 2019 at 9 a.m.
A Traditional New Year
By Tammy Moore Teague
In a matter of days people around the globe will be celebrating the passing of another 12 months, and welcome a brand new year. It’s a time of reflection for many, and with that reflection comes celebrated traditions.
Some may celebrate New Year’s in the company of loved ones, involving traditions meant to bring luck and success in the upcoming year. Typically, the customs and traditions of New Years Day involve celebrating with a variety of different foods and drink.
Here’s a list of a few traditions and sayings observed on New Year’s:
Making resolutions or goals to improve one’s life. Common resolutions concern diet, exercise, bad habits, and other issues concerning personal wellness. Generally, people view the first day of the year as a clean slate and a chance to improve one’s life.
A gathering of loved ones. Here you’ll typically find food, drinks, confetti, noise makers, and other methods of merriment.
Partaking of black eyed peas, hog jowl, greens and cornbread. The old saying is the peas bring you luck. It’s also said that if you eat only peas, and skip the pork, greens, and the accompaniments, the luck won’t stick. They all work together or not at all. Hog jowls, the cheek of the hog, are traditionally eaten in the south to ensure health, prosperity, and progress. The greens and cornbread bring the money on New Year’s Day.
Cold water plunges and races, sometimes called a Polar Bear Plunge, often raise money for charity or awareness for a cause.
For thousands of years, New Year’s has been a festival of rebirth and reflection, allowing people all over the world to celebrate another great year.
The song, “Auld Lang Syne,” is sung at the stroke of midnight in almost every English-speaking country in the world to bring in the new year. An old Scottish tune, “Auld Lang Syne” literally means “old long ago,” or simply, “the good old days.”
You should avoid washing on New Year’s Day. Doing so will “wash” someone out of your family.
What you do on the first day of the new year, you will do all year long.
These are just a few New Year’s customs, sayings and traditions. What do YOU and your family do to ring in the new year?
NY Ranks Deadliest for Alcohol-Related Fatalities
By Tammy Moore Teague
As party-goers ring in 2019 amid confetti and horns the NTSB (National Transportation Safety Board) reminds drivers of the sobering fact that New Year’s Day consistently ranks as the deadliest of the year for alcohol-related highway fatalities.
The organization offers the following safety advice:
· Always plan ahead to designate a non-drinking driver before any party or celebration begins
· Never get behind the wheel of a car when you’ve been drinking alcohol – even after just one drink
· Never ride as a passenger in a car driven by someone who has been drinking alcohol – even after just one drink
· Do not hesitate to take the keys from friends or family members who may be impaired
Locally, be aware of sobriety checkpoints. Law enforcement officials will be working to keep everyone safe throughout the holiday and will be checking vehicles for impaired drivers. Additionally, they ask that you not share information on the location of these checkpoints.
Sebastian County Deputy Mike Burcham shared “before any of you start posting where road blocks are this weekend, ask yourself how you would feel knowing you helped a drunk driver avoid a road block, take a different road, and kill a family headed home.”
Remember to use common sense and be safe this holiday. Here’s wishing you and your family a happy, healthy and safe 2019!