By Tammy Moore Teague
The Arkansas Department of Transportation has released the list of cities who have been awarded the 2018 Transportation Alternatives Program Grant. The City of Hackett is among those, and was awarded $50,000.
The project location is for Greenwood Street. The city plans to utilize the grant and construct sidewalks. These SRTS, safe routes to school, are an essential addition as the city sees continued growth and development.
These TAP grants “encompass a variety of smaller-scale transportation projects such as pedestrian and bicycle facilities, recreational trails, safe routes to school projects, community improvements such as historic preservation and vegetation management, and environmental mitigation related to storm water and habitat connectivity.”
Additionally, TAP is a reimbursement-type grant. The program provides for an 80 percent federal share and a 20 percent match will be required from the eligible sponsor.
These SRTS enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school. Also, make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age. Lastly, facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools.
In total $8,059,000 in grant monies was awarded across the state.
City of Hackett Receives $50k Sidewalk Grant
Tigers Get Down To Business
By Megan Hecox
It was a tough loss for the Sr High Mansfield Tigers during last nights Booneville Invitational against the Dover Pirates. The (1-3) Lady Tigers lost 50-27 against the Lady Pirates and the Pirates took the win 58-44 over the (1-3) Tigers. Both Mansfield Sr High teams are neck and neck in the wins and losses column from their overall non-conference play. But don’t let those numbers fool you. The Tigers are only getting started.
The Tigers look to get redemption as they prepare for Round 2 of the Booneville Invitational during tonight’s match-up. The Lady Tigers have been pushing themselves, not only as individuals but as a team as well. The girls have been working hard in practice and are ready to have it pay off when they face the Waldron Lady Bulldogs at 4 pm. When it comes to the Tigers, you’ll be hard pressed to try and find another group of boys with more diligence and perseverance. There’s no mountain too high for these Tigers to climb. At 5:30 pm, the boys will take on the Danville Little Johns and this time, the Tigers refuse defeat.
Waldron Bulldogs Back For More
By Megan Hecox
Tonight will be Day 3 for the Sr High Lady Bulldogs who will play their third game in a row since Monday night. Both Sr High teams played in back to back matches on Monday and Tuesday. The Lady Bulldogs will play tonight in Round 2 of the Booneville Invitational with the boys getting back in the action on Thursday. Whew!!! If the Bulldogs are tired, they sure don’t show it. Waldron hosted the Mena Bearcats in last nights game and although both Bulldog teams lost, they still managed to pile up 84 points between them.
The (1-5) Lady Bulldogs never wavered against the Lady Bearcats despite how hard Mena tried to push. The girls kept pace with the Lady Bearcats the entire length of the game but unfortunately there can only be one winner. The Lady Bearcats walked away with the win 40-33. Girls Head Coach Josh Atchley said this about his team, “The girls played with much more passion against Mena than they did on Monday against Danville. We just have to keep building. We still have lots of work to do.” The Lady Bulldogs return tonight to play in the Booneville Invitational against the Mansfield Tigers at 4 pm.
The (6-1) Bulldogs took their first loss, 71-51, in last nights game against the Bearcats. As the saying goes, “I never lose. Either I win or learn.” And that’s just what the Bulldogs are going to do. They will fix the problem, learn from it, and move on. Boys Head Coach Joshua Brown said, “We appreciate everyone who came out last night and supported us. We will not feel sorry for ourselves or make excuses. We will go back to work and get ready for our game on Thursday. Sometimes in life, the ball doesn’t bounce our way or go as planned but we WILL rise above it.” The Bulldogs get back in the game when they play Round 2 in the Booneville Invitational on Thursday against the Dover Pirates at 5:30 pm.
Photos courtesy of Sandy Tull
Top Growth for Lavaca Students
Congratulations to the students and staff of Lavaca. Lavaca ranked a top 5 Regional score and Top 10 across the State of Arkansas when it comes to the English Language Arts portion of the ACT Aspire test. Lavaca had 115 test takers in grades 9-12. This edition of the OEP Awards highlights schools in Arkansas based on student growth on the ACT Aspire exams in Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA).
Lavaca High has been recognized by the Office for Education Policy (OEP) at the University of Arkansas as a school where students demonstrated high growth on the ACT Aspire! The OEP creates an annual report entitled the Outstanding Educational Performance Awards, and this year Lavaca High School has been recognized for high student growth in English Language Arts. Awards are based on the 2018 content growth score calculated by the Arkansas Department of Education. These growth scores reflect how much students at the school improved from 2017 compared to how much they were expected to grow considering prior achievement. The full report can be viewed at http://www.officeforeducationpolicy.org/downloads/2018/11/2018-oep-awards_high.pdf.
Jones Celebrates 100 Years with Family and Friends
By Tammy Moore Teague
Anna Luneal Jones, affectionately known as Luneal to the residents of Mansfield, recently celebrated her 100th birthday on November 25. Family and friends, including her physician, gathered at Methodist Village in her honor.
Jones was born on November 25, 1918. She is the widow of E. Ralph Jones, who passed away in May of 1984. The couple has five children: Mona Jones White, Mabel Jones Ball, Neil Jones, Royce Jones and Jerry Jones. She resided in Mansfield prior to moving to Methodist Village in Fort Smith two and a half years ago.
She has made the transition well, befriending many. One friend in particular, Ms. Smith. “We jokingly call them Smith and Jones,” said daughter, Mona White. “We’ve been very satisfied with the way she’s been treated there.”
More than 50 were in attendance. Guests enjoyed cake, cupcakes and a power point presentation recounting Jones’ life. White said she feels her mom has done so well because she has “such a good attitude.” Adding that, “no matter the circumstance, she’s always made the best of it.”
Hackett Hornets Refuse To Lose
By Megan Hecox
The Hackett Hornets Sr High basketball teams made their way up North last night to compete in the Bev Stone Border Classic in Omaha. Although both Hackett teams took a loss against the Flippin Bobcats, they didn’t go down without a fight. The (1-3) Lady Hornets fell 47-39 to the Lady Bobcats while the (0-4) Hornets come up short 58-48 against the Bobcats.
The Lady Hornets hit the court running when it was time to face the Lady Bobcats. The girls were quick and played toe to toe against their opponent. Sophomore Kayla Richarson led the team with 15 points. Senior Taylor Glass followed up with 12 points. The Lady Hornets played the game with such raw determination that they might just have to change their name to the Rim Reapers.
The Hornets were persistent in their efforts to let the Bobcats know that this was not going to be an easy game for them. That although only one team could win, they were going to fight tooth and nail to get there. Junior Dillon Kats netted 8 points for the Hornets. Following on his heels was junior Zach Gragg and sophomore Avery Hester tying with 7 points each.
Both Hornet teams are going back tonight for Round 2 of their jam session in the Bev Stone Border Classic. The boys will take on the Green Forest Tigers at 5:15 pm and the girls will face Mt.Judea at 6:30 pm.
“The strongest people aren’t always the people who win, but the people who don’t give up when they lose.”
Photos courtesy of Lonnie Hester
It’s Time To Hit The Road! Christmas Lights Are All Aglow!
*It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas everywhere you go.
Take a look in the five and ten, glistening once again with candy canes and silver lanes all aglow!*
By:Â Kimberly Boyd
It’s Christmas time! Christmas lights and decorations are up in every department store and down almost every street. We have four kids, so we like to make family traditions without spending a fortune yet still have lots of fun.
One of our favorite Christmas family traditions is to celebrate my son’s youngest birthday at Golden Corral (because they send you a free coupon on your birthday if you sign up with your email on their website), ride the train at Creekmore Park in Fort Smith, and then go look at Christmas lights before heading home.
So, to make it easy on everyone, I have compiled a list of local Christmas Lights and Displays with their addresses. I have also listed how many miles each display is from Mansfield. After all, you must plan out your trip, right?
Be sure and let us know which one is your favorite! Also, if you know of more in the area, feel free to comment to let others know! ‘Tis the season to be jolly!
So, bundle up those kiddos, put on your favorite ugly Christmas sweater, and get ready to see some lights!
Arrows advance to Semi Finals of the Golden Arrow Classic.
Lavaca boys and girls both advance past the Black Diamonds of Sallisaw in the Golden Arrow Classic lat night. The Lady Arrows were met by a very fast and aggressive Lady Diamond team, The Diamonds pressed Lavaca and found success doing so in the first half. Lady Arrows went into half time trailing 18-25. The Lady Arrows made good halftime adjustments and took over in the second half. BethAnn May and Skyler Hyatt played big down low, while Hope Headley, Avery Green, and Julianne O’Dell all hit threes. Sierra Lamb and Avery Green ran the floor well beating the press. When the smoke had settled Lavac took the win 53-41.
The Boys game was also very physical. Mark Miller, Jordan Fenner, and Cayden Hearn played very strong in the paint. Andrew Wright, Jayger Wagner, and Matt Melton rained threes from the perimeter. Tyler Armistead also gave some very solid minuets. The Arrows lead the entire way, winning 70-54.
Next up will be Providence Academy tomorrow night. Girls will play at 7:00 and Boys play at 8:30. Come out to the gym and cheer on the Arrows as they play in the semi Final game.
As Always,
Go Arrows!!
Arrow Pride!!
Pre-Schoolers to Perform at Walk in Solidarity
By Tammy Moore Teague
Pre-schoolers from Jack and Jill Daycare in Fort Smith will perform “America to Me” during the ceremony preceding the Walk in Solidarity. That event is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m., Saturday, December 1 at the Waldron High School gymnasium.
Recently, the children performed the song for Fred Potter. Potter is the 88 year old Korean War veteran who has been in an ongoing legal battle over a family trust. -See related story
Additionally, the students performed the song at the Veterans Day program at the National Cemetery in Fort Smith.
At 2 p.m., the veterans and supporters will begin their march to downtown Waldron. At 6 p.m. the group will join in the parade festivities with a float themed: Star of Hope and Love.
West Fraser Donates Town’s Christmas Tree
By Tammy Moore Teague
This year the City of Mansfield will partake in a new tradition with a Christmas Tree lighting ceremony on December 8 at 6:30 p.m. That event will take place downtown at the gazebo.
West Fraser donated the tree to the city. It was purchased and delivered by Greenview Lawns, owned by Cory Green. James Travis, Mill Manager, said “we appreciate the community’s support. We were glad to be able to do it and we look forward to watching it grow.”
Mansfield resident Russell Litchford came up with the idea and suggested it to Mayor Mike Gipson. He contacted Travis and together they made it happen. “I appreciate Travis and West Fraser. They do a lot for the town,” stated Gipson.
Travis is planning to add a plaque beside the tree to denote the year it was planted so generations to come can recall it’s history.