By Tammy Moore Teague
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (November 16, 2018) – Whether helping to train nurses, supporting community gardens and food programs, providing opioid intervention or funding dental services for the needy, the Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas touches the lives of many Arkansans. The Foundation recently awarded a total of $2,733,532 in grants to 42 health improvement programs in Arkansas.
“Our grants this year went to programs across the state that address such issues as nutrition and exercise, food insecurity, emergency medical services and medical professional education,” said Patrick O’Sullivan, executive director of the Blue & You Foundation.
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield established the Blue & You Foundation in 2001 as a charitable foundation to promote better health in Arkansas. The Blue & You Foundation awards grants annually to non-profit or governmental organizations and programs that positively affect the health of Arkansans.
In its 17 years of operation, the Blue & You Foundation has awarded $33 million to 1,566 health improvement programs in Arkansas.
The grants awarded for 2019 include:
City of Waldron ($135,000) – The City’s Forrester-Davis Memorial Park – Phase II Program will construct a basketball court, a sand pit with climbing boulders and dinosaurs, a playground area with swings and connecting sidewalks for development of a multi-use trail.
The Blue & You Foundation received 232 grant applications requesting $17 million in support. The 2019 grant selections were made by Blue & You Foundation board members: Robert D. Cabe, chairman of the board, Little Rock; Mark Greenway, Lowell; James V. Kelley, Little Rock; Carla Martin, Pine Bluff; Dan Nabholz, Conway; Rex Terry, Fort Smith; and Mark White, Little Rock.
The application deadline for the foundation’s next funding cycle is Jul. 15, 2019. For more information about the grant application process, visit the foundation Web site at www.BlueAndYouFoundationArkansas.org.
The foundation is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves the state of Arkansas. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization.
City of Waldron Receives Blue & You Foundation Grant
Lavaca Holds court in Home Opener vs. Mansfield
Photos by Amanda Hall
It was a great night for the Arrows!! The Mansfield Tigers rolled into town to take on the Arrows on the hardwood, but they found the home team to be a more than formidable opponent.
After a slow start the Lady Arrows turned up the heat. The first quarter ended with the Lavaca leading 7-3. But a solid defense turned to fast break opportunities and the Lady Arrows went into halftime up 23-5. First half saw 2 fast breaks from Hope Headley, 2 from Sierra Lamb and another from Skylar Hyatt. BethAnn May was strong down in the low post. Shailey Rudd and Amaya Mendez add 4 more 3’s off the bench. By time the smoke had settled the Lady Arrows won 56-23.
Then it was time for the boys to hold court. They picked up where the girl left off. Strong defense led to break away points. Strong play down in the paint from Cayden Hearn, Jordan Fenner, and Matt Melton. Mark Miller had a great game down low as well as beyond the arch. Tyler Armistead, Andrew Wright, and Jayger Wagner frustrated the Tiger offense all evening. The Arrows took a 36-21 lead into halftime and when all was said and done the Arrows had won the game 73-50. The top Arrow of the night was Matt Melton with 20 points.
This is going to be a great season. If you missed the game tonight, you wont want to make a habit of it, because these Arrow teams are fun to watch.
As Always,
Go Arrows!!
Arrow Pride!!
Human Error Blamed for Missing Votes in Scott County
By Tammy Moore Teague
A public meeting was held on Tuesday morning to discuss three voter precincts that were not tallied into the election night results. Those precincts were Mill Creek, Mount Pleasant and Hickman Rural East.
Scott County Election Commissioner Ronnie Powell said human error was to blame. “The results do not affect any of the races,” stated Powell.
Scott County Clerk Barbara Whitely caught the error while reviewing the unofficial election results. “We didn’t catch it until the clerk was getting the reports together,” stated Powell. “She saw the zeros and called me to see what was going on.”
The deadline for the election results to be certified official is November 21.
Busy week in Lavaca heading into Thanksgiving break.
Photos by Amanda Hall
Football season may have come to an end, but it will still be a busy and hectic week in Lavaca Sports. Basketball is in full swing as is Cheer competition. The Jr. High basketball teams will be playing basketball this week in Hackett’s Gary Ford Invitational. The High School will be home for two games, Mansfield tomorrow and Cedarville on Friday. The Cheer Team will travel to Clarksville on Saturday to compete at the University of the Ozarks. All of this will lead into Thanksgiving break.
November 12-17 JR High Basketball Gary Ford Invitational at Hackett Boys Bracket Girls Bracket
November 13 SR High Basketball versus Mansfield at home Sr B&G/JV Boys 5:30pm
November 16 SR High Basketball versus Cedarville at home Sr B&G 6:00pm
November 17 Cheerleaders at Cheer competition at University of Ozarks
November 19-23 Thanksgiving Break (no School)
November 19 Basketball versus Dover at home Jr B&G/Sr B&G 4:00 pm
November 20 SR High Basketball at County Line Sr B&G/JV Boys 5:30 pm
As Always,
Go Arrows!!
Arrow Pride!!
MPIC Thanksgiving Food Drive
Thanksgiving is right around the corner. Whether we realize it or not, there are families in our area that would greatly benefit from your generosity. One simple donation would mean a lot, and go to good use.
Mansfield Parent Involvement Committee is needing your help. The committee is accepting donations to help provide Thanksgiving dinner for 12 families in our area.
Items needed include:
Beans, Rice, Pasta, Cereal, Granola Bars, Kids snacks, Peanut butter, Mac & Cheese, Canned fruit
Any canned food item or boxed dinner.
MPIC will be providing a Turkey or Ham with each meal. Donations can be dropped off at the Mansfield City Hall during normal hours. The donations are needed by this Friday (Nov. 12) at noon.
For more information please contact Amanda Wilson at 479-849-7616
Lavaca Plans to Celebrate Centennial
By Jack James
Picture it. In just a little less than a year from now, the city of Lavaca will be celebrating its Centennial. The 100 year anniversary of Lavaca becoming an incorporated town. Our 100th birthday.
That’s a pretty good milestone for just about anything. Think about it for a minute. In 1919, flying planes was what we recognize as the Red Barron from WWI, cloth and balsa wood, of sorts, barnstormers. One hundred years ago our cars were tin jalopies. The Ford Model T of that year had a 20 horse power engine that pegged out at 30 mph.
Woodrow Wilson was our President. World War I had just ended. The Lavaca Senior Class graduated five students that year.
Lavaca had dirt streets and wagons and horses were the main source of transportation.
The Lavaca Area Chamber of Commerce and the City of Lavaca are planning a bonafide celebration; a real whoopty-do! The plans are in early stages but it promises to be a real ‘one-for-the-books” major event unlike this town and area has ever witnessed before.
All area businesses, churches, organizations, schools and so on, should start looking for ways to commemorate this very special time of our city history.
I look forward to reporting it and showing it to you!
What’s your Legacy?
What is your legacy? Websters defines legacy as; “something transmitted by or received from an ancestor or predecessor or from the past”. While that is a vague and broad definition, I mean to drill it down a bit. For me, I take great pride in the legacy that I have been given. Even more so, I am cautious on the legacy that I leave behind for my children. The legacy that passed onto me can be broken into 3 parts, God, Family, and Country. It is a legacy of service. It’s a legacy of love.
With it being Veterans Day, I am going to focus in on the military side of my legacy. I can trace my family tree to every major military engagement this country has ever seen. My grandmother was a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, we fought on both sides of the Civil War, both World Wars, Korea, Viet Nam and most recently, Iraq and Afghanistan. It is a legacy that I am extremely proud of and even more proud to pass down to my children. Although it is my prayer that thy will never have to face the hells of war themselves.
Although, my family tree has a stellar military record, my legacy goes far beyond that of just family ties. My legacy is that of American patriotism. My family is only one family out of millions that have stepped up to answer the call of this American nation. A legacy of brotherhood that extends across branches of the military. Not a legacy passed down by DNA, but still a legacy secured in blood. The sacrifices of heroes across the generations and those heroes that are yet to come insure our freedoms and secure our legacy. I am so grateful for the brave men and women who have served in our military. These are my brother and sisters , they are my legacy, and I salute you all..
WMS Hosts Veterans Day Program
By Tammy Moore Teague
On Friday, November 9, Waldron Middle School students gathered at the high school auditorium to celebrate Veterans Day, and the winners of the Patriot Pen.
The middle school band and choir both performed at the event, which began around 8:30 a.m. Post number 1345 Commander Bill Coben awarded the winners with prize money for their entries in the essay contest, Patriot Pen. There were 100 entries in the contest, and the top 10 were given to the VFW Post, who picked the top three.
The winners were:
First place winner: Forrest Efurd
Second place winner: Whitley Fielding
Third place winner: Leo Lopez
Photo credit: Darlene Wood
Arrows Fall in first Round of Playoffs
Photos by Amanda Hall
For 14 senior Arrows it is hard to believe that it is over. The Golden Arrow football season has come to an end with a playoff game loss to the Conway Christin Eagles. This was not the end that the Arrows had hoped for, but they need to hold their heads high. The Lavaca team has battled hard all season against a ton of adversity. They have battled not only their opponents this year but also, multiple injuries to key players. QB Jimmy Hall, knee and ankle; MLB Trevon More (T-Man),Ankle; RB Tyler Armistead Hip; WR Trey Warner, broken collar bone; WR Colby Clunn, Shoulder; OLBAlex Dugan, Knee; and OL Bailey Vann missed the season with a cancer diagnosis. Despite all of this, these Arrows never gave up. They fought the fight and Battled up.
To the Seniors; Jimmy Hall, Justin Hall, T-Man Moore, Tyler Armistead, Colby Clunn, Mason Walter, Creek Harp, Dillan Ellison, Jonathan Holland, Trey Warner, Trey Castor, Jake Noble, Logan Taylor, Bailey Vann, R-22 News would like to wish these senior Arrows, Godspeed, good luck, and a hearty thank you. You have represented your school and community with a combination of grace and guts. You have inspired the next generation of Arrows. You should be proud and hold your heads up high. We are proud of you! Coach Brian Schlinker added to these sentiments by saying, “I have been so proud of our team. I know our season came to an end before we wanted but we accomplished alot this year. Our team fought all year and never quit. We played some of best football against the best teams in our conference. We were able to overcome the absence of some key players while recovering from injuries. This team has alot to hold its head high about. Cant say enough about our senior leadership. Those guys held this team together through their attitude effort and drive. We had several young guys that played big parts for us as well and I look forward to helping them develop as football players and young men.”
As Always,
Go Arrows!!
Arrow Pride!!
Chef Boyd Escapes The Kitchen!
Chef Boyd Escapes The Kitchen!
By: Kimberly Boyd
Although I LOVE to cook, there are days I’m just not feeling it! We have four kids who are all involved in activities and sports and my husband is a youth pastor, so we have a very busy schedule! When I have a crazy day, I love it on days when I get a text from my husband like the following…
Living in a small town, it’s hard to find good places close by to eat. It’s hard on small restaurants to stay afloat unless they are well supported by their communities. I love it when we get a new place in town with great prices! Those “hole in the wall” places sometimes end up being the best places to eat at. It’s up to the community though to support small town home businesses. I’m always in search of a good “hole in the wall.”
So, this time when I escaped the kitchen, we visited a local food truck, Taste Station. Their food is amazing, and you definitely get what you paid for! The best part of this is you can call ahead with your order, pick it up, and eat it at home in your P.J.s while watching your favorite show (Dancing with the Stars Juniors)! They have a variety of sandwiches and now even serve alligator! My favorite item on the menu is a fried crispy chicken sandwich. It’s a monster sandwich! If you would like to give them a try, they are located on Hwy 71 in the middle of Huntington, or you can call in your order. Their phone number is 479-252-2166. Check out their facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/TheTasteStation/ for more information and a menu!
So, Chef Boyd will be ready to find another “hole in the wall.” I’m looking for suggestions! Where should I travel next when I “Escape the Kitchen?”
Photo Courtesy of Joanna James