Photos by Amanda Hall
The Junior High Arrow Basketball team captures the top spot at the Gary Ford Invitational hosted by Hackett. Both Junior High Girls and Boys took to the court tonight. The girls lost today to Trinity. However, these girls are getting stronger with each outing.
The boys also matched up against Trinity in the top side of the bracket for the overall championship. After a slow start offensively the Arrows put the hammer down in the 2nd quarter and never looked back. Trinity struggled against Lavaca’s press, which created turnover points for the Arrows. When the smoke settled and all was left on the court, the Arrows had won the Gary Ford Invitational Champions.
Lavaca should be very proud of this team. They have not given up more than 6 first quarter points thus far this season. They play a fast, in your face style of basketball. They are fun to watch. The next opportunity to see this team in action will Monday night in Lavaca, when both Junior High teams and both High school teams will face off against Dover. Games start at 4:00. Let’s pack the stands and support these very good, very exciting teams. Hope to see you all there!
LJH Arrows – Tournamnet Champs!!
The Moore You Know: Humble Thanks
By Tammy Moore Teague
On the eve of this Thanksgiving holiday, I wanted to take a moment to wish you and your family a day filled with love, laughter and of course good food!
Also, to take the opportunity to express my personal gratitude towards you, our readers. Each day I am so blessed to meet folks and learn their story. Moreover, to share that story with the rest of you! Every day is a gift and for that I am grateful.
I was afforded quite possibly the most humbling opportunity of my journalism career this week. Hackett Police Chief Darrell Spells and Sebastian County Sheriff Deputy Mike Burcham allowed me to accompany them as they delivered boxes of food for Thanksgiving. It’s truly a day I’ll never forget and was quite emotional for me personally.
I had been asked to come on the radio show, Conduit News with Paul Harrell, this morning. I am grateful to Gary Epperson who made those arrangements. Furthermore, I am humbled by the responses. What I do is not a job to me, it’s my heart, it’s my passion and it’s something I take very seriously.
As we gather with family and friends remember there is plenty to be thankful for. The food before us, those around us, our freedoms and for those who fight to protect them. Lastly, and most importantly, giving thanks to God in ALL things.
Take a step back today, remove yourself from the “noise” of life and reflect on all of your blessings and give thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving!
The Moore You Know: Humble Thanks
By Tammy Moore Teague
On the eve of this Thanksgiving holiday, I wanted to take a moment to wish you and your family a day filled with love, laughter and of course good food!
Also, to take the opportunity to express my personal gratitude towards you, our readers. Each day I am so blessed to meet folks and learn their story. Moreover, to share that story with the rest of you! Every day is a gift and for that I am grateful.
I was afforded quite possibly the most humbling opportunity of my journalism career this week. Hackett Police Chief Darrell Spells and Sebastian County Sheriff Deputy Mike Burcham allowed me to accompany them as they delivered boxes of food for Thanksgiving. It’s truly a day I’ll never forget and was quite emotional for me personally.
I had been asked to come on the radio show, Conduit News with Paul Harrell, this morning. I am grateful to Gary Epperson who made those arrangements. Furthermore, I am humbled by the responses. What I do is not a job to me, it’s my heart, it’s my passion and it’s something I take very seriously.
As we gather with family and friends remember there is plenty to be thankful for. The food before us, those around us, our freedoms and for those who fight to protect them. Lastly, and most importantly, giving thanks to God in ALL things.
Take a step back today, remove yourself from the “noise” of life and reflect on all of your blessings and give thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Central Extension Homemakers Club Meeting
By Jack James
I was greatly honored to be invited to attend the Central EHC (Extension Homemakers Club) recently. My friend Shirley Hamilton of Lavaca is the president of the group that meets monthly in the Barling Community Center at the Farmers Bank in Barling on Highway 22.
Being new to the EHC experience, I didn’t know what I was walking in to except I knew Shirley and my fellow adventurer, Mary Rollins. I met a wonderful group of seasoned citizens from around the area who took us in as they would have if we were old friends.
The group was all ladies with the exception of one man, Daniel. Daniel could hold his own! After a short business meeting, which began with the most wonderful prayer, the members went to work. Half of the group began completing their monthly homework project, which was an abstract Santa door wreath that was wonderful! (You may just see one on my porch before the holidays!) The other half of the group began their work on a community project. Daniel was the ramrod of this group. He had created, cut out and sewed puppy patterns from many different colored and patterned material. The ladies on the table, under his guidance and iron-hand, stuffed each puppy to the perfect fullness. Later, Daniel will oversee the closing of the toy and they are donated to the pediatric department of the former Sparks Medical Center. Mary was planning to feign an illness to get one to keep for her.
The ladies close the gathering with a reading and a full table of potluck foods that they had all brought too. Gotta love a meeting that ends with food!
They meet on the 3rd Thursday of every month, starting back again in January. It’s a perfect activity for anyone who is retired and needs to be around people for fun fellowship with a purpose! I just may pretend to be invited back after the first of the year!
Tipping the Scales of Injustice
By Jack James
I went on a new diet this past week. My plans were great. Like Nancy Reagan told the kids back in the 1980s, “Just Say No!” That should be easy right? I mean, didn’t tens of thousands of American teenagers stop using drugs instantly after uttering the verbal command of NO!? So I thought I’d try it. By bedtime I had said no to the largest breakfast item at Burger King (they just opened on Phoenix and they were on the way back home from the doctor’s office), leftover meatloaf (now its time had about sailed as a leftover), six pieces of pizza (hey, this is on my wife Shelley. She brought it home for supper and had choices of toppings), more than a dozen snack-sized Reeses Cups, Kit Kat Bars and Hershey Bars (leftover from Halloween-they might get old), two pieces of homemade Chocolate Krispy Candy (can’t afford to make the cook angry), two Cokes and a couple of glasses of tea.
As it turns out, I can’t be told no. Like her husband’s Trickle Down Economic Plan, Just Say No was a program that worked either. But something needs to happen before I reach the “Round as He Is Tall Club.” I don’t think I could come back from that. I mentioned this while drinking coffee one day and had made the remark that if something wasn’t done, they would have to hold the lid on my coffin closed with bungee cords and Gorilla Glue. One of my good buddy’s, Jimmy Dan Ray, consoled me. He said, “Don’t worry Jack. Once they get the bull**** out of you, they can bury you in a shoebox.” That did it.
So I am developing a new diet plan that will most likely sweep the nation. I like to call it the “E-Harmony Diet Plan.” It’s based on the commercial on television where a lurking older man questions a young attractive woman. Evidently the program has a list of several hundred deeply personal questions. It is my opinion that there are many things even a date doesn’t need to know about you before they are too far into the relationship and too invested to bail.
Tonight I attended the Thanksgiving supper for the members of my church, Enterprise Freewill Baptist. This house of worship is nestled in the upper northeast corner of Sebastian County where surrounding citizens have lived for several generations. Now I stuck with my “Lose a Ton Diet Plan” all day until I opened the doors to that Fellowship Hall. Temptation should not rear its sinful head in a house of God, but laid out before me was a complete feast. Alene made her famous coconut cream pie; a pie so good that even the preacher steals a piece and hides it in the cabinet before the meal begins. Crock pots filled with buttery mashed potatoes, cornbread dressing, and macaroni and cheese that is so cheesy that even Wisconsin will realize there is a shortage of cheddar in the morning. Ham, turkey, chicken sacrificed themselves to showcase the buffet table.
Arrows Split with Cedarville in a physical matchup.
Photos by Amanda Hall
Arrows matched up with Cedarville last night in a pair of great games. First it was the Ladies who hit the floor. The Lady Arrows lost 33 -40 in overtime, but played well and showed a lot of grit. The boys played next and this too was a close game in which the Arrows proved to be a gutsy team that just refused to be beat. The Arrows pulled this close game out in the wee minutes of the 4th quarter winning 53-47. Coach Wyles had this to say about the girls game, “I thought the girls played hard throughout the game. Missed free throws and turnovers really hurt us, especially late in the game. I thought we played well enough defensively to win, but we have some things to figure out offensively ”.
Both of these games were all about defense. We saw a lot of turnovers and the bodies hit the floor chasing down loose balls frequently. Coach Reed said of the boys game, “Anytime you play Cedarville you can expect it to be physical…that was the challenge the previous day in practice, match it up for four quarters. I thought we matured some last night and proved we can win as a team. A lot of guys stepped up and made big shots . Andrew made some big free throws at the end. Was very proud of our team”.
There will be 4 games scheduled for Monday November 19th. Junior High Girls will start at 4:00. Both Junior High teams will play and then both the High School teams. Go
Arrows!! Beat Dover!!
As Always,
Go Arrows!!
Arrow Pride!!
Tigers Battle To Bitter End
By Megan Hecox
The Mansfield Tigers lost 53-24 in Round 2 of the Playoffs against the Osceola Seminoles. For the 7 Seniors that have played their hearts out for the Mansfield football program, it was a bittersweet ending. After years of struggling to win games while doing their best to ignore the publics negative criticisms, the Tigers proved that good things come to those who wait.
The Seniors finally got the chance to bask in the glory of making it to Round 2 of the Playoffs. Although the “Senior Seven” will be hanging up their jerseys for the last time, they at least got to end their High School football careers with a bang. By consistently pushing forward no matter the obstacles and achieving this success, the Coaches, Players, Cheerleaders, Band Members, and Parents have unknowingly done something. They have awoken the Beast. The football season might be over but Tiger Pride in the community is just getting started.
In true Tiger fashion of Go Big or Go Home, Layton Howard was first to get the fans jumping out of their seats as he shot through the Seminoles defense like a cannon, scoring the Tigers first touchdown. Mimicking Stretch Armstrong, Tyler Holmes had to reach with every inch of his body to secure the second Tigers touchdown. Colton Stipins played the most epic game of Hot Potato to achieve his touchdown. Just as Stipins jumped to receive a pass from Ethan Stovall, a Seminole player jumped and tipped the ball at the same time. Tiger fans watched in silence as the ball started to descend back down into what looked to be the Seminoles hands. Stipins magically swooped back in and grabbed the ball scoring the third touchdown for the Tigers. Isaac Cothran racked up the Tigers fourth and final touchdown by scoring a good old fashioned ground and pound run right up the middle.
The Tigers defense bowed up on numerous occasions shutting down the speedy Seminoles offense. The turnover battle was a big part of the Tigers success in Friday nights game. With help from Keaton Boyd, Blayne Bryant, Bri Sanderson, TJ Simmons, and Jacob Brown just to name a few, the Tigers did what every defense sets out to do. GET THAT BALL!!! Mansfield’s defense stripped the ball from the Seminole running backs multiple times giving the Tigers offense opportunities to put points on the board. The Seminoles may have been faster but the Tigers defense showed more heart by playing each down with tenacity.
For the outsiders looking in, Friday nights game against Osceola could be described as anything but victorious for the Mansfield Tigers. But for those who have lived Mansfield football day in and day out, the way the Tigers played was triumphant.
Mansfield City Council November Meeting
By Tammy Moore Teague
The Mansfield City Council met on Thursday evening in a regularly scheduled meeting. Council members present were Dave Johnson, Beverly Lyons, Sheri Hopkins and Rick McDaniel. Absent were Georganna Mabry and Jan Carlton. Also present were Mayor Mike Gipson and City Recorder/Treasurer Becky Walker.
After approving the October minutes and the financials, Police Chief Boyd Farmer gave the police report. Farmer advised the council of the departments plan to host Christmas with Kids on December 15. Five children will be chosen from the Mansfield School District to participate.
Next was the fire report from Chief Stephen Haysmer. Haysmer reported the department mainly responded to medical calls and advised the council of his intent to go to an ISO class in January. Walker commented that she had contacted LOPFI, the Arkansas Local Police and Fire Retirement System. They require that all volunteer firemen go on one incident per month to keep service credit. Otherwise, they would be terminated. This does not apply, however, if there are no incidents throughout the month.
Mayor Gipson reported no problems with public works, and that things were going well within that department. Walker reported on the success of the Dixie Theatre Fundraiser stating, “we had two good bands and cleared $250. We appreciate all those who donated concession items.” There will be a Dixie Theatre Committee meeting on November 27 at 6:30 p.m. at the Dixie in Mansfield.
In new business, the city attorney recommended the council act on the recommendation by the auditors. That recommendation was for the council to adopt two ordinances, one for Scott County and one for Sebastian County on the city millage. This measure will have to be taken annually. Both ordinances, 2018-3 and 2018-4 were both adopted unanimously by the council.
The council was presented with the proposed budget for 2019. No action was taken, but the council will have the opportunity to review the proposal before acting on it in the upcoming meeting.
With no other items of business, the meeting was adjourned.
Mansfield Police Department Sponsors Christmas with Kids
By Tammy Moore Teague
Five children will be chosen from the Mansfield School District to participate in Christmas with Kids. The Mansfield Police Department will be sponsoring the event, made possible with donations from local residents.
On Saturday, December 15, those children will get to shop at the Greenwood Walmart alongside members of the police department. Two hundred dollars per child has been allocated for them to spend.
This is an annual event and it allows the child to have a Christmas which might not be otherwise possible. The children are able to choose practical items, like warm coats and shoes, along with toys.
Law Enforcement Conduct K-9 Drug Search
By Tammy Moore Teague
On Thursday morning the Mansfield Police Department was joined by Sebastian and Scott County deputies as well as the Van Buren Police Department to conduct a random search of the Mansfield High School.
Included in that search were three K-9 officers. Those K-9s are trained to alert given reasonable suspicion to the presence of drugs. However, there were no indications of drugs on the campus as a result of the search.
Corporal Tom Garrison of the Mansfield Police Department said these random searches are to ensure the safety of the students and school.
*Photos by Mansfield PD Officer Sean White