By Raine Hecox
Above, Tyler Turnipseed Mansfield Middle School student is coding in his technology class.
The Mansfield Middle School FBLA sold Boo-O-Grams to students. Students could purchase them for $1 and send them to a friend.
They could choose between a ghost or a pumpkin. They wrote a message and the Boo-O-Gram was delivered on October 31st along with a piece of candy attached. FBLA wants to thank the parent who donated money to this. Proceeds went to purchase food for Thanksgiving.
MMS FBLA News
Historic Dixie Theatre Fundraiser
By Tammy Moore Teague
On Saturday evening at 6 p.m., bluegrass bands Prairie Creek and Roving Gamblers performed in a fundraiser show for the historic Dixie Theater in Mansfield.
Tickets were $5 and all proceeds went towards the purchase of seating for the Dixie. Around 60 bluegrass fans came out and enjoyed the evening of good music.
Robert and Becky Walker have been instrumental in the restoration project and worked tirelessly to put this event on.
“I would especially like to thank Robert Walker and Bobby Shepherd for always taking care of the sound, which is really important,” stated Becky Walker. “They work very hard at this to get it just right.” Adding, “Thanks for everyone that has helped over the past seven years in getting us where we are today. Whether it be money, materials, working concession, singing and playing, or just being in attendance we appreciate it. We love the feeling when everyone comes together for great fun and fellowship!”
Lavaca 4-H Hosts Food Drive for Local Pantry
By Jack James
The four H’s in the clover of the 4-H Clubs are: Head, Heart, Hands and Health. The Lavaca 4-H Club certainly fulfilled their motto on Saturday, November 3.
Members of the Lavaca club took to the streets of downtown Lavaca and faced a blustery morning of low temperatures and brisk wind to gather nonperishable food for our local Jude 22 Food Bank, housed at the Lavaca Assembly of God Church, located on Main and Highway 253.
The kids, armed with homemade signs, took the attention of drivers crossing Main and Davis Streets, directing them to tables which were set up in the H20 parking lot. Club sponsors, parents and grandparents chaperoned the group and collected the canned, boxed and bagged foodstuffs.
They collected quite a bit for the food bank, as you can see, but there is still a great need! Food can be dropped off just inside the door of our local CVs Family Foods also. Thank you Lavaca 4-H members! Indeed, you made “The Best Better!
You Gotta Have Friends!
By Jack James
These two sweet ladies are Muriel Ruth Lovell and Genell Graham. Genell just celebrated a milestone birthday (not polite to ask or tell a lady’s age but it is somewhere between 70 and 90!). The ladies were talking and laughing, having a good time at the Lavaca Senior Center this past week.
You see a lot of that at the senior center! It’s not just a bunch of folks sitting in wheelchairs, wrapped in lap quilts with heads hung low mumbling incoherently. Far from it! The seniors here are busy in spirited domino and Rook games, shooting pool, making puzzles, competing with area centers in Beanbag Baseball. They just got back from an all-day group trip to the arts and crafts festival at War Eagle.
It’s hard to keep these folks down! Just check out ole 96-year old Tom who peddles vegetables from his garden to area COOP’s and farmer’s markets. He still has enough energy to dance a jig if the song and spirit is just right!
If you are over 60 years old, make your way to your area senior centers! The food is hot and good and the company is so much better than reruns on television! Who knows? You may even get a hug from a friendly little lady or two!
Hockaday Featured in Hometown Highlight
By Tammy Moore Teague
Lavaca native Shelly Hockaday has been planning and organizing the town’s Christmas parade for the past 20 years. She has spent a lifetime serving others and is fulfilling a family legacy.
Hockaday is a 1992 graduate of Lavaca High School and has worked for the City of Lavaca for the past three years. Currently, she serves as the City Recorder and as the water department clerk. She has two daughters, Sarah Hockaday, 17, and Sydney Hockaday, 15. Her mother and step-father, Patty and Danny Dikeman, also reside in Lavaca. The couple are both retired service professionals, Patty, a retired nurse and Danny a retired firefighter for the Fort Smith Fire Department.
“I used to help my mom and aunt when they would help with the town’s Christmas parade,” recalled Hockaday. “I volunteered as a young Girl Scout. Planning and organizing the parade, it gets me in the Christmas Spirit.”
It is important to Hockaday that she continue this life of service and her family’s legacy. “It’s important to me for my children to learn to serve,” she added. In addition to her service to the city, she has been on six medical mission trips to Honoduras. “It’s so humbling,” she said. “We go on these missions, help with dental, optical and share the gospel.”
She intends to continue this pathway of service to others and “live a simpler life and be a good steward of what God’s given us.”
We are pleased to feature Hockaday in our Hometown Highlight this month! If you know of a citizen who is deserving of this spotlight, please email us! We want to feature those ordinary citizens who are doing extraordinary things!
Constitutional Carry Law Upheld
By Tammy Moore Teague
The Arkansas Court of Appeals recently issued a ruling upholding open carry or concealed carry of a firearm without a license/permit in Arkansas. This ruling brings clarity to the law, Arkansas is a constitutional carry state.
Since the passage of Act 746 in 2013, no permit has been required to carry a weapon openly or concealed. However, that has been challenged by many who claimed the law was unclear. The courts ruling clarified that having a weapon concealed without a permit is legal.
State Representative Marcus Richmond said “In the Taft case the Judge ruled that you did not have to have a concealed carry permit to carry concealed. Act 746 folks have been waiting on this ruling and they got what was needed. I am pleased with the ruling. I do not believe we have to have permission to carry. The permit in Arkansas was/is one of the most expensive around our area. The training was questionable in many places and wasn’t worth the cost.”
You can read the complete ruling of Taft vs. State of Arkansas HERE.
Falconer Named Scott County Boys and Girls Club Executive Director
By Tammy Moore Teague
The Scott County Boys and Girls Club in Waldron has named Amanda Falconer, 29, as the new Executive Director. Falconer’s first day on the job was October 15. She’s not a newcomer to the club, however, as she has served as a volunteer for the past several years and also on the board for the past few months.
Falconer, a Waldron native, is married to Larry Falconer, 33, and the couple have two daughters, Layklnn, 9, and Eralynn,3. She is a 2007 Waldron High School graduate and holds an Associates Degree in Accounting. Additionally, she holds a Bachelors Degree in Health and Human Services.
Falconer brings new and innovative ideas to the award winning organization. Falconer stated “I have so many future plans for the club’s growth, particularly teenagers, and bringing in more activities. I am so excited to have the chance to change and help so many young lives.”
Recent donations from Buffalo Wild Wings and Arvest Bank are helping make those plans a reality. The club received $5,500 in free jerseys, which will help lower the cost of sports, and a $6,000 donation from Arvest will provide an updated computer lab.
“I am excited to help,” added Falconer. “I am very passionate about this work!”
Lady Arrow Cross Country compete at State
Photo Courtesy of
It was a cold and windy day in Hot Springs today for the State Cross Country Meet. The Lady Arrows took to the course one last time after winning their District title. The team struggled a little with the weather but competed strong.
It was a great season and Coach Wyles and his team should be proud of their accomplishment. Next up for these ladies is basketball. All but one of these ladies play basketball and Coach Wyles also is the Lady Arrows Basketball Coach. One thing for sure, these ladies will not need much conditioning to get game ready.
Way to go Ladies!!
As Always,
Go Arrows!!
Arrow Pride!!
Keepin’ It Clean in Waldron!
By Tammy Moore Teague
Waldron Mayor Neil Cherry went to work right away after learning one of the school bus stops had been tagged with graffiti.
The building, located at Cherry and 6th Street, was described as an “eye sore” by concerned resident John Luttrell. Luttrell sought help from the city, and that request was met with a swift and effective response.
Today, Supervisor Brandon Nelson and his crew covered the graffiti with a fresh coat of paint. “We no longer have a school bus stop with gang graffiti in our community,” stated Luttrell. He added that Mayor Cherry has always been very responsive and helpful. “They have always been helpful when it comes to keeping the community clean and safe. Last year we had a bridge with a bunch of the same stuff painted on it and they got that cleaned up too.”
A special thanks to Nelson and the other city workers for all their hard work and for keeping the City of Waldron clean!