By Tammy Moore Teague
Back in August we brought you the story on Levi Owens, a young man embarking on a career with the United States Marine Corp. –See related story
Owens has completed his 13 weeks of boot camp and has now graduated and been promoted to PFC, Private First Class. Owens’ family and friends all traveled to San Diego, CA to be present for the ceremony. Accompanying his mother and father, Lana and Bobby Owens were Rena Owens, Levi Owens’ girlfriend, and her mother, Misty. Also, family friend, Trevor Cooper and his son Elliott came to witness this momentous occasion.
Owens parents attended a Wednesday evening Meet ‘n Greet. It was here they met their son’s platoon leader. “He was so impressed with Levi. Thirteen weeks of training and going through things we can’t imagine,” said Owens’ mom. “During that time, he was given the prayer leader and squad leader position. He had one of the highest scores for rifle qualification and is identified as an expert. Part of these 13 weeks he was dealing with pneumonia, sinus infection and a hurt foot. His platoon leader just couldn’t say enough good about him and we were honored that he sat and had supper with us that evening.”
Following graduation, Owens has had the opportunity to return home for a few days. “I’m so glad to be home,” Owens said. His mother and father have enjoyed every minute of having him there, too. “We have something planned for every day he’s been home. Sunday, after church, he got to go hunting with his dad. We all prayed he would get a deer, and he did!”
Owens has been able to spend time with his girlfriend. He’s also been able to do a few of the things he’s always enjoyed doing. “We’re going to make a bonfire, and go on a few hunts.”
Being reunited with their son has been quite special for the family who has amazingly close ties. Owens’ mom always worked jobs where she could maximize her time with him. And, Owens and his father are best of friends. “I was able to be off work the entire time he’s been home and they’ve been understanding about that,” Lana Owens said.
He will return to San Diego on Monday morning. Following that time, he will go to Camp Pendleton, ITB, Infantry Training Battalion. At that time he will undergo training for weapons and field training.
Marine PFC Owens Graduates
Holy Hoops Batman!!!!
By Megan Hecox
The Waldron Jr High Bulldogs sure showed up to play in last nights Arvest Classic against the Mansfield Tigers. The Lady Bulldogs fell short 36-11 while the Bulldogs made their point and took the win 59-58.
The Lady Bulldogs played hard in their game against the Lady Tigers. They held their own and gave it all they had and even though they lost, it is not enough to keep these girls down. They will bring their fierceness with them when they hit the court in tomorrow nights game vs Dardanelle. The top scorers in last nights game were Hailey Stidman with 7 points. And Molly Richmond and Ashtyn Moore with a combined total of 4 points.
The Waldron Bulldogs boys team played in a thrilling game against the Tigers. The fans were left little time for snack breaks due to fear of missing the excitement. The Bulldogs had put 27 points on the scoreboard by the time that the halftime buzzer sounded. Determined to hold their ground and to not let another team come into their house and win, the Bulldogs came back and showed the Tigers whos the boss. With fans on their feet and the noise level off the charts, the Bulldogs cinched the winning two points with under five seconds remaining. Leading the team with 20 points was Trenton Hunt. Lidge Stinson made 16 points. Drew Owens and Owen Ridenhour each made 7 points. And Trevor Hunt and Jayden McConnell totaled 9 points. Boys Head Coach, Josh Atchley, said “I am proud of the way our guys battled last night. Mansfield hit every open shot we gave them and battled their tails off. What a great atmosphere for a Jr High basketball game.”
The Jr High Bulldogs will host the Dardanelle Sand Lizards on Friday, December 7th at 4 pm.
Claws-n-Paws Tearin’ Up The Hardwood
By Megan Hecox
I’m not even sure words can properly describe the energy surrounding last nights game between the Jr High Tigers and the Bulldogs. The Lady Tigers won 36-11 and the Tigers lost by only one point 59-58. Manfield played with such passion and ferocity that any parent would be proud.
The Lady Tigers stepped out onto the court first to face the Lady Bulldogs. By the looks on their faces, you could already tell that the Lady Tigers were out for blood. Mansfield stayed even with Waldron until the second quarter when the Lady Tigers stole the show. By halftime, the scoreboard read 24-7, Lady Tigers. Leading the team in top-scoring was Kynslee Ward with 9 points. Sadie Roberts brought in 7 points. Natalie Allison and Alyson Edwards made a combined 10 points. And rounding out the total with 10 points was Lita Hecox, Skylynn Harris, Serenity Brunson, Sarah Fisher, and Olivia Bouse.
The Tigers and Bulldogs boys teams delivered a basketball game that will go down in the books as one of the best so far this season. The Tigers were fired-up before the game even started and kept that intensity during the entire game. Matching the Bulldogs point for point, it was really going to be anyone’s ballgame. When halftime hit, the score was 27-20, Bulldogs. I don’t know what was said in the locker room but when the Tigers and Bulldogs came back out, there was a chill in the air. The Tigers put on 31 points in the second half of the game. With seconds left on the clock, the Tigers were up 58-57. Unfortunately, the Bulldogs scored a quick two points, sealing the Tigers fate and ending the game 59-58. Tyler Escalante led the team with 23 points. Ethan Pettus contributed 17 points to his teams total. Zayne Dugan brought in 9 points. And Steven Perez and Clint Stovall added a combined 9 points.
The Jr High Tigers are back to work tonight as they hit the road to face Cedarville at 6 pm.
Day #5 of “Oh, Fudge!” brings you Remi’s Mint Chocolate Fudge!
By: Kimberly Boyd
Mint chocolate is one of mine and my daughter’s favorite candies to indulge in. When I found this recipe, I knew I had to try this fudge! It has three layers, but the recipe isn’t too complicated to make. Christmas is all about peppermint candy canes and this fudge is a delight that you won’t want to pass up!
One December evening, all was quiet in the Boyd house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse… OR so it seemed… However, little did we know that little baby Remington had snuck into the living room all by himself while the rest of us were busy and off in other rooms.
It must have been a shiny ornament on the Christmas tree that caught his eye or possibly the blinking lights. I’m sure he thought just one little tug on the peppermint candy cane would be ok. If he only pulled it a little, he could get it close enough to taste. However, one little tug turned into one big disaster.
Then all of a sudden, I heard a large crash and Remington let out a scream! We all came running to see what had took place. There sat little Remington on the floor with our Christmas tree laying beside him with all the broken ornaments and a candy cane in his hand. I rushed to make sure he was ok, but instead he put his little chubby hands together and clapped for himself and said, “Uh oh…Mommy…UH OH! Twreeeeee!”
As my oldest daughter came running and saw the mess, she dropped to her knees and started to cry as she picked up shattered ornaments, one even being her first baby ornament now shattered to pieces. This was one Christmas I will never forget! My daughter cried for an hour trying to fix ornaments and we tried to salvage the tree. However, when we went to lift the tree to stand it back up, it snapped loudly and broke into two pieces crumbling back to the ground. We even tried to “red neck it” and use duct tape to put the tree back together. However, it didn’t work.
I needed a minute to decompressed after cleaning up the mess and stepped out onto the porch to get fresh air, and there set a brand-new Christmas tree that someone had delivered to our front door step. Could it be Santa’s Elves coming to the rescue?
The kids all squealed with excitement because Christmas had been saved! So, we undecorated the broken tree, and by midnight we had our new tree up and looking beautiful!
Not every family can say they have decorated their Christmas tree in one day, took it down in one day, and decorated the tree again in one day! So, for Day #6 of “Oh, Fudge!,” I bring you Remi’s Mint Chocolate Fudge in honor of little baby Remington going for his peppermint candy cane on the Christmas tree!
This creamy three-layer mint chocolate fudge will be the best mint fudge you have ever savored in your mouth!
Remi’s Mint Chocolate Fudge
Ingredients:
¾ cup of Dark Chocolate Chips
1 (14oz) can of Sweetened Condensed Milk
1 ½ cups of White Chocolate Chips
1 teaspoon of Peppermint Extract
Green Food Coloring
1 ½ cups of Milk Chocolate Chips (This will go in the layer with the Dark Chocolate Layer)
2 Tablespoons of Unsalted Butter
1 cup of Milk Chocolate Chips (This will be the topping)
Directions:
Line an 8×9 pan with foil or parchment paper and spray it with cooking spray.
Next, melt 1 ½ cups of milk chocolate chips, ¾ cup of the dark chocolate chips, and ½ can of sweetened condensed milk in a microwave safe bowl for 90 seconds. Remove and stir until completely smooth. Pour immediately into the pan and place into the refrigerator while you make your next layer.
In another microwave safe bowl, melt the white chocolate chips and the other half can of sweetened condensed milk in the microwave for 30-90 seconds. Remove and stir until smooth. Return it to microwave if it isn’t completely melted but do not overcook. Add peppermint extract and stir. Add a couple of drops of green food coloring and stir. Mix well. Pour this layer on top of your previous layer that you have already made and return the fudge back to the refrigerator Now, it is time to make your last layer of fudge.
Take 1 cup of Milk Chocolate Chips and butter and melt in the microwave for 20 second intervals. Stir each time you have to heat. Do NOT over cook or it will be very hard to spread this layer on top. Pour this mixture over the mint layer.
Chill for 2 to 3 hours until fudge has hardened. This fudge can be stored and good for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.
Morgan Featured in Hometown Highlight
By Tammy Moore Teague
Many times we see those serving out front, those who are making things come together successfully. But what about those who have served selflessly behind the scenes, those who never want to be thrust into the spotlight or their names mentioned in a word of gratitude? This month’s Hometown Highlight features just such a person. To those who know her, know what she does because they’ve seen her volunteer without question. It’s an honor and privilege to feature Stephanie Morgan in December’s Hometown Highlight.
Morgan, 49, is the daughter of Jim and Beverly Lyons of Mansfield. She and her husband, David, have been married for 30 years and have two daughters, Kayla Winters and Cheyenne Little. The Morgans have three grandchildren, Kinlee, Easton and Leena.
Morgan is a MHS graduate, class of 1988. “I moved here from Ft. Worth, Texas to Abbott, Arkansas in 1978. I lived here with my grandparents on Boatright Lane, and loved living in the country.” Morgan still lives in the Abbott community today.
She has been working for the City of Mansfield since October 2009. “I came to work for the city by chance. One day at a volleyball game, I asked Becky Walker if she needed help at the Water Department, where she was working.”
She enjoys her job, and being of service comes naturally. “My favorite part of my job is seeing and helping people and learning what makes a city run well. I just like to help anyway I can. I love this little town and I am very proud that I have raised my daughters here and I am very proud that my grandchildren are being raised here. I am very proud to say I am from Mansfield.”
Obituary – Jonathan Ray Dotson (1999 – 2018)
Jonathan Ray Dotson of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life, Tuesday, December 4, 2018 near Waldron, Arkansas. Jonathan was born July 27, 1999 in Ft. Smith, Arkansas to Raymond E. Dotson and Samantha G. (Spencer) Dotson. He was 19 years, 4 months and 8 days old.
Jonathan loved his siblings and being with them. He was a big jokster but a very sweet and kind person. He enjoyed working on cars and pretty much anything he could get his hands on.
Jonathan leaves behind to cherish his memory, his parents, Samantha Dotson and Raymond Dotson, one sister, Destiny Dotson and two brothers: Robert Dotson and Michael Dotson all of Waldron, Arkansas. He is also survived by his grandparents: Jackie and Steven Wright of Bonanza, Robert Spencer of Clarksville, Arkansas, Catherine Elliott of Washington, Raymond E. Dotson Sr., and great grandparents: Wanda Kuhlmann of Waldron, Arkansas, Linda Braunstine of Florida and Charles Sims of Bakersfield, California. Jonathan will be missed by all that knew him and the many whose lives he impacted including a host of aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Jonathan was preceded in death by his great grandfather, John Kuhlmann and one uncle John Elliott.
Jonathan’s life celebration will be 2:00 p.m., Friday December 7, 2018 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Konnor McKay officiating. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Jonathan’s pallbearers will be Brian Sexton, Terry Harris, Michael Dotson and Trevor Kastl. Jonathan’s visitation will be Thursday, November 6, 2018 from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home.
You may leave words of remembrance for Jonathan’s family by visiting: www.heritagememorialfh.com
Funeral Home Donates Plaque to Memorialize Tree Lighting
By Tammy Moore Teague
On Saturday evening, at 6:30 p.m., the City of Mansfield will host its inaugural tree lighting ceremony. West Fraser generously donated the living tree, which was planted near the town’s gazebo.
West Fraser Controller, Missy Williams said James Travis, Mill Manager, wanted to have a stone set beside the tree to mark the occasion. Williams contacted Sammy Callahan, owner of Heritage Memorial Funeral Home and Monuments, for a quote. “He came back and said he wanted to donate it,” stated Williams. “It was so generous of him!”
The stone marks the month and year the tree was planted so generations to come can reflect on it’s history. “It was something good we wanted to do for the City of Mansfield. We are proud to be a part of the community,” said Callahan.
Everyone is invited to come out and be a part of this historic tree lighting event!
7th Grade Tigers Prepare To Joust In Jamboree
By Megan Hecox
On Dec 8th, the Mansfield Tigers will be hosting their 7th Grade Jamboree which will be held in the Mansfield High School Gym. The Tigers will first face Union Christian Academy starting at 10 am. They will finish with Hackett starting at 1 pm.
It will be the first time this season that Mansfield will be going up against both Union Christian Academy and Hackett. The Tigers and Lady Tigers have already held their own against Paris and Charleston. Now they are looking to do the same this Saturday.
If you don’t already have plans, be sure to stop by and show your support for these incredibly talented teams. In order for a program to be successful, it must have motivated players. Support needs to be shown early in a child’s playing career so that they will have the desire to keep going. Help motivate these players by showing your support in what they do and give them a reason to continue building their basketball programs.
MMS Artists Illustrate Talents
Mansfield Middle School working on some art skills in Mr. Love’s 7th and 8th grade art class.
Students have been continuing growing their artistic ability throughout the year. Kinley Hanfelders’ picture (above) of an ostrich is spot on with a magnificent array of colors. Doug Portman’s samurai warrior (below) from cardboard is another fantastic art piece displayed in the art room as well.
Sr High Tigers Will Never Stop
By Megan Hecox
It was a hard fought game for the Sr High Tigers in last nights conference match against Charleston. The Tigers lost 71-52 and the Lady Tigers had a 51-22 loss. This was the first conference game of the Tigers season but they will not be letting this loss define them. It’s no secret that the Charleston Tigers are quick and fierce in their gameplay. But the Mansfield Tigers will get a shot at redemption when they play Charleston again in January for Homecoming.
For the Tigers, the biggest issue in last nights game was ball security. “We had several turnovers in the first half and Charleston was able to capitalize on those turnovers,” Boys Head Coach, Keith Dake, said.“When combining our turnovers with some extremely early foul trouble to key players, it was a recipe for a 20 point halftime deficit.” The Tigers were able to come back out after the half and close the gap to 12 points before giving way to their foul troubles once again. “Our mistakes are all easily correctable over time,” says Coach Dake, “We will be better down the stretch once we get a few more games under this young teams belt. We are not going to be a team people will want to face late in the season!”
Although the Mansfield Lady Tigers had the intensity in their game against Charleston, it just wasn’t enough to keep up with the Lady Tigers firepower. “Our girls did well with playing the help side on defense to keep Charleston from driving the lane but we failed at stopping their big shots,” said Girls Head Coach, Joshua Bryan. “Charleston shot very well from beyond the arc, making over a dozen 3-pointers.”
The Tigers will get a little bit of time to regroup before bouncing on to their next conference game against the Lincoln Wolves on December 11th. Coach Bryan tells us how the Lady Tigers will be getting ready to face the Lady Wolves. “Lincoln is another good girls basketball program. We will prepare to stop another run and gun shooting team by making them slow down their offense and keeping them from transition scoring.”
