Resident News Network

City of Waldron Welcomes New Medical Clinic

Headlines

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7:51 pm

City of Waldron Welcomes New Medical Clinic

By Tammy Moore Teague

Officials welcomed River Valley Primary Care Services to the City of Waldron on Monday. Attendees included Mayor Neil Cherry, Mayor-Elect David Millard, State Representative Marcus Richmond, Congressman Bruce Westerman, board members of River Valley Primary Care Services as well as the clinic’s medical staff.

River Valley Primary Care Services Board President Gary O’Neal shared the success that the clinic has seen and their plans for future growth. “We started here and have done really well. We have exceeded our expectations, really. We’re very excited about being in Waldron. We have hopes of purchasing the dental clinic next door, although thats a long way off.”

He credits that success to the great work of the board members. “I’m really proud of our board, and of Jerry White our Executive Director.”

In total, RVPCS employs over 100 people across eight clinics. The mission of River Valley Primary Care Services is to provide quality comprehensive and preventive health care to all residents of the Arkansas area without regard to their ability to pay. This federally funded non-profit will expand into Clarksville soon.

Dr. Nathan Bennett and April Revis, APRN are providing imperative medical services to the rural area. “It’s a big deal,” stated Westerman. “To have both a medical doctor and a nurse practitioner in a rural medical clinic like this. We don’t realize the dedication of our rural medical healthcare providers, they are on-call all the time. Thank you for your service and the work that you do.”

Mayor Cherry echoed those sentiments. “It’s great to have this group here. It’s a boost to the City of Waldron and the County of Scott.”

The clinic is located at 2074 Rice Road in Waldron. They are open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. You can contact them at 479-668-4700.

Mansfield City Lake Park Vandalized

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Tammy Teague

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3:09 pm

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By Tammy Moore Teague
Early Saturday morning Mansfield resident James Steele went to walk the track at Mansfield City Lake Park. The normally beautiful and serene atmosphere was littered with trash, debris and tire markings on the park’s grounds.
“I love the walking trail, its so nice, quiet and peaceful,” said Steele. “We appreciate having something like this and it’s so upsetting to see someone come in, trash it and tear it up like this.”
Gaping ruts on the grounds, tire marks on the walking trail, beer cans and cigarette butts were all marks of the weekend vandal. The Mansfield Police Department urges everyone to keep a watchful eye out and contact them if they see any activity. If you have any information about this incident you are asked to contact Sergeant Tom Garrison with the Mansfield Police Department at 479-928-5552.

Family of SPC. Robert Allan Pierce on a Mission: “Not Gone, Not Forgotten”

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Tammy Teague

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2:23 pm

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Family of SPC. Robert Allan Pierce on a Mission: “Not Gone, Not Forgotten”

By Tammy Moore Teague
The family of Specialist Robert Allan Pierce will forever miss their hero, America’s Hero. But, they feel his work isn’t finished. So, they are on a mission honoring Pierce’s memory: “Not Gone, Not Forgotten.”
Part of that mission is the “Warm the Veterans” drive. Donations of coats, clothing and warm materials will be collected and donated directly to The Next Step Homeless Services. If you are interested in donating to “Warm the Veterans” you can drop those items off at a drop box at Anza’s Style Shop in Mansfield.
Pierce, 20, joined the Army in April 2011 and served in Korea before August 2012, when he was stationed in Fort Campbell, KY., to serve with A Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Infantry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division. On June 3, 2013 Pierce was killed in a suicide-bomber attack on his unit in Tsamkani, Afghanistan, in the Paktia province, while supporting Operation Enduring Freedom. His brother, Kyle Dart said “Allan enlisted to serve his country and fight the battle that most hate to think about. He gave his life for all. That is why we help all in need. This drive is about letting those who are struggling know that we haven’t forgotten about them. The fight to end veteran and civilian homelessness continues, but what we can do in the present is take the strength and courage our hero showed and continue his service. When we deliver these donations, we see our hero living through the people we are helping. We will never be able to repay the debt we owe the ones who have served and lost but we can pick up the fight here at home.”
Pierce spent the younger days of his life in Panama, OK. Afterwards, he transferred to Mansfield to finish out high school. It was here that Pierce would meet his future wife. This Gold Star Family of siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins and in-laws spans two states. “We are a Gold Star Family, we miss our hero, but his work isn’t finished,” stated Dart. “We mourn the loss of a soldier that didn’t return but we cannot forget the ones who did. Our mission started as “Not Gone, Not Forgotten” with a goal of taking care of those who served but have fallen on hard times. What we discovered was that there were many more in need than just veterans.”
The family celebrates the ties that bind them, those memories of the one they love so much. “Allan had so much love in his soul,” concluded Dart. “He never gave anyone less than his all. A family that was divided, Arkansas and Oklahoma, the religious and the not, the conservative and the liberal, and the Razorbacks and the Sooners, all sharing a special bond in the relationship we had with Allan.”
Pierce’s family will be attending the Mansfield Christmas parade and plan to take Pierce’s truck on a cruise of the town one more time. During this time they will hand out flyers with information about the drive and American Hero SPC Pierce.

BOP! Hope and Hannah!

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Resident News Network

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10:56 am

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Photos by Amanda Hall
Please Join R22 News in congratulating Lavaca Volleyball players Hannah Parsons and Hope Headley. These ladies were tenacious all season with great digs and powerful kill shots. They lead a great Lavaca volleyball team to the Arkansas 2A State Finals in Hot Springs. Now they are being recognized for their leadership and excellence on the court. Both Hannah and Hope have been named as part of the 2018-2019 River Valley Best of Preps Volleyball Team. This is a great honor for two well deserving young ladies.

This will be the third year that the BOP will host a banquet to honor area athletes. The third annual River Valley BOP banquet will be May 30 at the Fort Smith Convention Center. Olympic gymnast Gabby Douglas is the celebrity guest of honor.

Head Volleyball Coach Mark Headley said, “ I’m very proud of Hope and Hannah for making the BOP! When players off of your team get individual awards, its kind of a testament to the kind of team and good players they have around them! I am proud of all of our girls and the season that they had!”

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The Culture Of Success

Sports

Megan Hecox

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10:14 am

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By Megan Hecox
Recently, the Resident Press communities have seen a rise in productiveness within their schools’ athletics. Due to this success, it seems Tiger, Hornet, and Bulldog pride is building daily. Almost all teams in every level of sports have done outstanding so far in 2018 and that trend looks to continue with Basketball, Baseball, Softball, and Track season. It is a great feeling when our communities are successful in athletic competitions.
But what happens to that pride once a losing streak starts? When teams are winning, fans will drive all across the state to cheer them on but when a team is losing, people are hard-pressed to drive a 1/2 mile to a home game. The stands empty out. The noise generated by town pride slowly starts to fade away. Some believe it is only natural to lose support when a team is not winning. In all actuality, it is cultural.
If a positive culture is built behind the local sports programs, then it will stay behind that program no matter the outcome. The same can be said for a negative culture. The term “football town” or “basketball town” is coined for towns with a positive culture in their community about that specific sport or activity. If you notice, those communities tend to paint their town in pride. They rally behind their programs after a loss and celebrate after a win. They back their programs 110% regardless of what their stats read. That’s why they are successful year in and year out.
From Little League to High School, our athletes consistently work day in and day out for the support of their communities. Win, lose or draw, our student-athletes strive for the best for their Alma Matters. It means the world to these players and builds their confidence levels when the stands are packed full of encouraging fans. Seeing signs in the stores, people wearing team t-shirts around town, and a “Good Game” from someone, really builds a player up and gives them faith. Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage.
For the success of our programs to continue, we need to build cultures of support for our coaches and our players. Bring back “The Jungle” in Mansfield. Bring back “The Hive” in Hackett. Bring back “The Dog Pound” in Waldron. Paint the towns Red, Yellow, and Orange again. Everyone wins some and loses some. But if we create the culture of support that these kids deserve, then they will have the drive to give their communities Championships in return. We know our athletes do their part. Now let’s do ours.

Lavaca Week in Sports

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Resident News Network

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10:06 am

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Photos by Amanda Hall
Thanksgiving is over and the turkey and pie have been consumed. While it was good to visit with family and friends it is time to get back to the grind. This week the Arrows have several sporting activities to note. The Arrows will host a star studded field in the Golden Arrow Classic Basketball Tournament. See Pictured Brackets. The Junior High and 7th grade basketball teams will be back in action as well. Of course the Lavaca Golden Arrow Cheer Team will fly high at a competition in Lake Hamilton.

Golden Arrow Classic Basketball Brackets

November 26 – December 1 SR High Basketball at Golden Arrow Classic
November 30 JR High Basketball at Mansfield 8th B&G/Jr B&G 4:30 pm
December 1 Cheerleaders at Cheer competition at Lake Hamilton High School
December 3 JR High Basketball Versus County Line 7th B&G/Jr B&G at Home 4:30 pm
December 6 Spelling Bee in the PAC 4:30 pm

Peewee Bulldogs Stand Tall After Falling Short In Championship

Sports

Megan Hecox

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8:04 am

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Peewee Bulldogs Stand Tall After Falling Short In Championship

By Megan Hecox
All season, no one thought the Waldron 3rd and 4th Grade Bulldogs had a chance against powerhouse teams. Saturdays Championship was no different as the Bulldogs walked onto the football field as underdogs. Even though the Bulldogs fell to the Charleston Tigers 6-0 in the AR-OK River Valley Championship, they proved they have the capability to be the Top Dogs in the future.

Looking back over the stats from this season, one would think the Championship game would be nothing but touchdown after touchdown between these two teams. The Bulldogs offense had racked up 192 points on the scoreboard throughout the regular season and Playoffs while the Charleston offense put up 210 points. But defense was the name of the game Saturday. The Bulldogs held their own and pushed the Tigers high powered offense to their limits. With speed, tenacity, and team tackling, Waldron held Charleston to a mere 6 points.

Waldron Little League Football President Jared Kluthe said “There’s no doubt in my mind that our players Rose As One this year. We’re more than proud of these kids and their accomplishments. This was a roller coaster of a season which is exactly why we love the game. These boys have more heart and determination than any group I’ve ever seen. There is only one way for them to go from here and that is up. I want to give a personal thanks to the parents and community for their support Saturday and throughout the season. We have the building blocks started for a great program. These players have started a winning tradition here in Waldron. We’re hoping this kind of winning mindset and determination will spread through the Waldron Football family like wildfire.”

Once you get a taste of winning, it’s hard to not want more. The Waldron Little League program has given their community not only a taste of winning but something to feast on for years to come. A winning tradition doesn’t come overnight, it takes time, perseverance, and hard work. Add in the backing of their entire community and the sky is the limit for Waldron Bulldog Football.

WHA Executive Director Works to Improve Services; Ranked Top Performer

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Tammy Teague

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5:01 pm

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WHA Executive Director Works to Improve Services; Ranked Top Performer

By Tammy Moore Teague
To Beverly Walter, Executive Director of the Waldron Housing Authority, her job is quite personal. In fact, she is following her father’s footsteps and fullfiling a legacy of service.
Walter has worked for the housing authority for almost five years. She started out as a part-time administrative assistant when she began in March of 2014. Then, she was promoted to housing manager in January of 2015. Later, in May of 2017, she became executive director.
“We lived at the Housing Authority when I was a child, and my dad worked part time making units ready to lease,” explained Walter. “This was off and on from 1979 to about 1984.”
Walter has been on a mission to improve both the physical conditions of the housing as well as improving the stigma associated with public housing. Additionally, she has been working towards improved relations with local law enforcement. “I am strict when it comes to drugs. I don’t allow them on the property, and if you are caught, I ban you from the property.”
It is important to her that the office and all the employees be approachable. “We have relaxed the dress code for the office, making us more approachable from a client standpoint. Open Door is our policy, residents are glad they can come straight in to pay their rent, or sit and discuss an issue, sometimes just to visit. I like making people feel welcome, and we are trying hard to make sure they are.”
These improvements have proved quite successful for Walter and her team. “I am the leader of a fantastic team. I’m nobody’s boss, just a team member that happens to sign their paychecks. Without a strong team, no business can succeed.”
Team members include:
Danny Harrison, Maintenance Foreman. Harrison has been with the Housing Authority the longest, nine years in January. “He likes things done right, and takes the time to make sure the units are in good shape. He can fix just about anything, from changing a bulb to cleaning out a clogged drain, even building professional grade cabinetry! He knows the property and it’s quirks. He can tell you where every hole in the yards are, when a unit last had a new coat of paint, that kind of thing. Danny is a huge asset to the team, and he genuinely cares about the property and every resident we have. He is quiet and a man of few words, but one thing he does have is compassion and love for his job.”
Kent Shupert, Maintenance Mechanic. Shupert has been with the Housing Authority for approximately three years. His job is to assist Harrison in daily tasks, including inventory, mowing, helping with work orders called in by residents, and making units ready to lease. “He also takes his time to make sure things are done right. While he doesn’t know the property as well as Danny, he does a great job of trying to learn from Danny.”
Mickey Harris, Housing Manager. Harris started with the Housing Authority at the end of July 2017. She started out as a part-time office clerk and advanced to the role of Housing Manager. She is in charge of leasing units, running the front office, collecting rent, and a backup for Walter when she’s out of the office. “She knows the residents and makes a point to try and get on a friendly level with everyone from day one. If I say “who is in unit five?” She can tell you who they are, their kids names, the breed and name of their dog, and a little about them. It’s important to have someone in the front office that can build relationships with our residents.”
This team recently celebrated the success of being ranked a high performer by a HUD inspector. “This High Performer Stats is a great achievement for the Housing Authority. We accomplished this goal as a TEAM. With one missing piece, we could not have done it.”
Every two to three years HUD sends an inspector to go over the property, looking for deficiencies. This physical inspection accounts for 40% of the final score. The remaining 60% is based on the “office score”. This percentage is based on vacancy rates, capital fund management, and finances. The property must have a score of at least 90% to be ranked high performer. This is the first year since 2011 that the Housing Authority has been ranked as High Performer.
“I took this job thinking it would be something I could do part-time and temporarily while looking for another job. That job never came along because I stopped looking. I had only been at the Housing Authority for about eight months when we hit a rough patch with management. The residents were unhappy, staff was unhappy, the public was unhappy. There was a management change, and I wanted to leave but felt I could not leave because then who would be that voice for the residents? It’s important to me because I believe that everyone in life needs help at one point. If we can make a difference in just one person by providing them with safe, secure, sanitary housing, then the system hasn’t failed them. I want to make sure that the system doesn’t fail our residents. In my own opinion, we have the nicest apartment complex in town, and I hope to keep improving it”
The Waldron Housing Authority will be hosting an open house on December 4, 2018 from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. at the Community Room at the Housing Authority office located at 1092 Shipley Circle Drive in Waldron. They will serve cookies, coffee, punch, and hot chocolate. Additionally, they will have a model unit open for the public to view and booths set up by local service providers so that the residents, as well as the general public, can make sure they are receiving all the information they need about services they might qualify for. Those businesses include: Dalton’s Place, Area Agency on Aging, Chamber of Commerce, Kindred at Home, Department of Human Services, Scott County Health Unit, U of A Rich Mountain, and Scott County Boys & Girls Club.
Waldron Housing Authority Board Members are:
Konnor McKay, Chairman
Tyler Harvey, Vice Chairman
Pat Richmond, Commissioner
Arlene English, Commissioner
Romilda Morrison, Resident Commissioner

Time To Head Back To School!

Resident News Network

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11:07 pm

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It’s time to head back to school! Will you be packing lunches or eating in the cafeteria? Check out next week’s school lunch menu’s for area schools below!

White Bluff FD to Continue Traditional Christmas Delivery

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Resident News Network

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6:08 pm

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White Bluff FD to Continue Traditional Christmas Delivery

By Tammy Moore Teague
The White Bluff-Rye Hill Fire Department will continue its 26 plus year tradition providing goody bags to residents in their fire coverage area.
It’s the news a lot of the children and parents have been waiting for! Santa Claus will be visiting the area on the back of the fire trucks, handing out goody bags on Sunday December 9, from noon-4:30 p.m.
If you would like to assist the department, and ensure they can continue this tradition, please contact them. You can also visit their webpage for more information.

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