By Megan Hecox
The Mansfield Tigers and Hackett Hornets Sr High basketball teams will step up to the net and battle each other in tonights Hackett Invitational. Instead of being a tournament set-up, tonight’s event will be more like a round robin. There will be 4 teams involved in this two-day match-up. They include Booneville, Western Yell, Mansfield, and Hackett.
Today for Round 1, Booneville and Western Yell will get things started with the Sr High girls playing at 4 and the Sr High boys playing at 530. Ending the night will be Mansfield and Hackett. Sr High girls will play at 7 with the Sr High boys wrapping things up at 830.
“Court” will resume tomorrow November 20th with the teams changing up opponents. Mansfield will take on Booneville with the Sr High girls playing at 4 and the Sr High boys playing at 530. No jury selection will be needed when Hackett closes out the night against Western Yell with the Sr High girls playing at 7 and the Sr High boys playing at 830.
Both Mansfield and Hackett boys and girls teams are evenly matched with their 0-1 seasons so far. The Mansfield Tigers fell to the Lavaca Arrows while the Hackett Hornets came up short against the Cedarville Pirates. With both teams stepping up ready to conquer the win, it really is anyone’s game.
The Hackett Invitational will take place in Hackett on Monday, November 19th and Tuesday, November 20th. The Tigers and the Hornets play today at 7/830. Tomorrow, Mansfield plays at 4/530 and Hackett plays at 7/830. You sure won’t want to miss all of the excitement that the next two days are going to produce.
Tigers And Hornets Prepare For Shootout
MMS Career Development Hosts Military Family
By Raine Hecox
Sr Bulldogs Basketball Crash The Glass
By Megan Hecox
The Waldron Sr High Basketball teams are making their way from town to town and ensuring that every team they face will remember their names. The Sr High boys team is 4-0 in overall play while the Sr High girls team is 1-2. Last week the teams squared off against Magazine and Atkins. Tonight the Bulldogs hit the road and head to Horatio to foul out the Lions.
With the Sr High boys being 4-0, they are proving that there are zero goals they can’t reach. The boys have taken on and defeated DeQueen, Mulberry, Magazine, and Atkins. In those four games, a total of 288 points have been achieved by the Bulldogs. The boys have already blown last years stats out of the water. Four games into the 2017-2018 schedule, the Bulldogs were only 1-3. Talk about a complete turn-around. Head boys Coach Joshua Brown couldn’t be more happy with how his team has been performing this season, “I’m proud of our guys for how hard they have played and by overcoming adversities. They have played with some physicality in a great High School Basketball environment. I’m also proud of our guys for the great sportsmanship they displayed in the game against Atkins. All five of our guys on the floor went to check on an injured player after he got to a seat.”
The Sr High girls have already gone up against Mulberry, Magazine, and Atkins. Although they struggled for the wins in their last two games, the girls only lost by a combined total of 17 points. The Lady Bulldogs might be down at the moment but they certainly are not out. Head girls Coach Josh Atchley states “We are still growing and learning. We are focused on adding value from one day to the next. Junior Chelsea Stidmon has been one of our toughest competitors and quietly leads our team by example. Senior Chenoa Burdess is our returning scorer from last year and has put in tons of work to be successful this year. Seniors Jillian Davis, Lilly Scott, Mackinzie Callahan, Kenzy Polan, Sam Slater, Aubrey Butler, and Jackie Diaz have all bought in and worked incredibly hard all offseason.”
The Sr High and Jr High teams are hitting the court to demolish the Lions at Horatio with game time starting at 4 pm.
Manes and Mays Decorated as Eagle Scouts
In a formal ceremony this past Saturday at Fellowship Baptist Church in Witcherville, Wyatt Manes, and Lane Mays were pinned, and decorated as Eagle Scouts. This achievement is the highest rank of the Boy Scouts and is no easy task.
The level of Eagle Scout takes an average of 7 years to complete, while earning 21 merit badges and tasked with fulfilling an Eagle Scout project. Only 3% in the entire Boy Scout fraternity actually makes Eagle Scout rank.
Wyatt built food pantry boxes where he placed them at several different locations in Witcherville, Huntington and Dayton. He then filled the boxes with food for the needy. He coordinated with several local churches to assist in restocking them.
Lane did a beautification project at the Pleasant Grove Cemetery where he rebuilt the Veterans memorial, repainted the gate, and cleaned all the headstones. Then, he removed a massive tree that had been hit by lightning. This project too over 100 man hours to complete.
Seth Mays, gave the newly decorated Eagle Scouts a personal “charge” where he further instructed both his younger brother, Lane and Manes a directive of his personal experience, and what is to be expected of them not only as elder Boy Scouts, but to carry the proud Eagle Scout code.
Troop #330 has spots to fill for any boy who is 11 years old or has finished 5th grade. Parents can contact Gary Martin at (479) 461-3860 for more information.
Changes Coming to Mansfield Juvenile Treatment Facility
By Tammy Moore Teague
Statewide changes to juvenile treatment centers were announced last week by Governor Asa Hutchinson and the Department of Youth Services. Those changes will impact the Mansfield Juvenile Treatment Facility.
The facility at Dermott will close and a center at Colt will merge into one with Harrisburg. Department of Human Services Deputy Director Keesa Smith said they are converting Harrisburg to an all-girls facility. “We will be transitioning the girls currently located in Mansfield from this site and Mansfield will become all-male,” stated Smith. Adding, “our agency plans to increase the capacity of the Mansfield facility by 16.”
“The overall goal is to cut youth incarceration,” Hutchinson said. “Over time, funds that would cover the cost of locking up children can go to therapeutic group homes, psychiatric and substance-abuse programs, community-based services, and diversion efforts that direct children away from formal processing in juvenile courts while still holding them accountable.”
The youth agency’s plan outlines the state’s intent to return the remaining lockups to private control next year. Under the plan, the closure of the two facilities would be no later than July of 2019. Hutchinson described the plan as a “monumental first step forward.” Adding that, “It’s only the first of several series of actions coming.”
LJH Arrows – Tournamnet Champs!!
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!
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.