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Distance Team Adding Strength in Numbers

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7:27 am

Distance Team Adding Strength in Numbers

Mansfield’s senior women have had the numbers to compete as a full team for most of the 2018 cross country season. The senior men on the other hand have not.

Starting with the conclusion of the conference championships a little over a week ago, Mansfield elevated it’s freshmen runners onto both squads. Now the Mansfield men just like the Mansfield women have a chance to compete for team honors.

Freshmen Ethan Chapman, McKenzie Griffin, Faith Rainwater, and Shelby Cole gain All-Region status at the Tom Stuthard Top 25 cross country meet.

The Southwest Regional in Acorn on October 24 saw both squads in action. It was those freshmen darlings that made an immediate impact too.

Four of the ninth graders rounded the 3.1 mile two loop course fast enough to claim Top 25 All-Regional status. Faith Rainwater, Shelby Cole, and McKenzie Griffin for the girls took such honor. Ethan Chapman did so for the boys.

Rainwater ran both the junior high and senior high courses a week ago at the 3A-1W District Championships. At the SW Regional at Acorn, the diminutive dynamo only had to run one senior high race.

It was her best 5K time of the season. She punched in at 23:14.1 to secure an eleventh place finish among nearly 80 runners.

“Faith has established herself as our number one runner regardless of age or distance,” spoke John Mackey the coach of all Mansfield cross country teams. “She has a bright future so long as she continues to work. It will take plenty of miles and a trained tolerance to pain to get where we all think she can be. I look forward to seeing her journey.”

Cole ran her best time of the year as well at the 5K distance. Since the junior high volleyball season concluded, the dual sport athlete has excelled in the running department. Her 23:57.0 mark was second best on the Lady Tiger team and top 20 among all regional participants.

Griffin was only 9.8 seconds behind Cole for 21st place. The freshmen sensation has been showing a real aptitude for the longer senior high races.

Mansfield’s Ethan Chapman turns the first loop at the SW Regional XC meet.

On the men’s side, Chapman shined in his first completed senior high event. The young gun averaged 6:10 miles to complete the 3.1 mile distance in 19:08.5. That measure was good enough to finish in 20th place among 82 entries.

“Ethan has a real gift,” stated Mackey. “The next three years could be really fun with this freshmen class. Ethan is a valuable part of that.”

Mansfield’s two senior teams finished third and sixth respectively.

The Lady Tigers were top three with 85 points. They followed DeQueen’s 19 and Waldron’s 72. The Tigers were sixth with 149 points behind DeQueen (25), Ouachita (56), Acorn (89), Waldron (107), and Mena (also 107).

Artem Zirka has about 1000m left of the SW Regional 5K race.

Exchange student Artem Zirka off the men’s team continued shaving time off his total with a season best 19:43.1. The mark was two places away from All-Regional status at 27th.

“Artem has steadily transformed into a terrific runner,” exclaimed the coach. “He did not have a background in distance training back in his home country. He’s only been running since August. In two months time, he has inched closer and closer to an elite runner.”

Mikeal Harrison (20:23.5), Renden Emery (20:33.5), and John Branche (23:44.1) rounded out the Tiger scoring five. Zac Desormeaux (23:51.4) was the group’s only displacer.

The Lady Tiger squad saw Harleigh Mars (26:05.2) and Jessica George (26:14.3) join Rainwater, Cole, and Griffin for their scoring set.

Josefin Lofving and Sara Willadsen served as displacers. Alyssa Berry, Addison Goetz, and Janna Coplin completed the senior high roster.

Mansfield will head to Hot Spring’s Oaklawn Park on Friday for the cross country state championships. Class 3A men race at 12:45. The corresponding women’s race begins at 1:15.

Well, Well, Well, Water

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10:36 pm

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By Jack James
Water is a pretty precious commodity on this planet. Did you know that 71% of the planet is covered by water? Did you also know that only 1% of the world’s water is freshwater that is suitable for drinking?
I still drink from a metal water dipper that hangs by our kitchen sink. It saves all kinds of dirty glasses in the dishwasher. My family has always had a dipper by the sink as long as I can remember.
We didn’t have the luxury of running water when I was growing up. We had a well in our backyard that supplied all of our fresh water needs for years. The water came from flooded underground coal mines and was as sweet as sugar water. All you could see of the old well was the clay pipe that came up from the ground. A couple of tall cedar posts held up a small roof made of scrap lumber and old sheet iron. Every part of the wood was covered with white wash, homemade paint. Dad would go out back and lower the old well bucket down using an old iron pulley on a long length of chain. It was tough pulling the full bucket back up from the deep cavern.
The water was released in a white enamel pail with a red, painted rim, a wire handle and a worn, red wooden hand grip. The rest of the water filled a large aluminum pitcher with a tall handle. The water pail was taken to the kitchen and covered with a thin board over a thin piece of a worn dish towel. The old metal dipper rested on top of the board. When you got a drink, you got only as much as you wanted to drink because you couldn’t be wasteful and didn’t dare pour it back. Leftover water went into a different pan to be used for other purposes. Water from the old pail was used for cooking and needed refilled several times a day.
There was an old weather worn table that stood by the door on our back porch. The aluminum pitcher filled with the cool well water sat near a white enamel wash basin. There was always a towel hanging on the edge of the table or on a nail beside a mirror, surrounded by an old homemade frame that hung crookedly on a stretch of old bailing wire. There is no telling how old that mirror was with the silver so thin and poor on it from years of being in the elements. It was here that we washed our hands and faces after a long day of playing in the yards and alleyways around our houses before we could come in to supper.
In the summer time, we bathed on that back porch in an old galvanized wash tub. A trellis filled with morning glories and roses filled the wooden slats of the tall trellis and an Elderberry bush helped us to keep or dignity from neighbors. In the winter time, we would heat water in the kitchen and take a quick bath in the same wash tub that sat by the stove for warmth. When we didn’t want to go to the trouble of filling the tub, we would warm enough water to fill the basin and wash with a ‘worsh rag’ as we called it.
When Huntington hit the big time, they drilled a city well near Highway 71 coming into town. We could take five-gallon buckets and pails to the city well and simply turn on the faucet. I remember sitting in a long line of our friends and neighbors as we took turns filling our containers.
When city water pipes were eventually laid in the neighborhood, we gave up the basins and pitchers, the water bucket and wash tub. But we never gave up the dipper. And it was even harder to give up the old outhouse. It felt as if there was just something very wrong with using the bathroom in the house.

LavacaBerry Festival, a Tremendous Success

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10:25 pm

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LavacaBerry Festival, a Tremendous Success

By Jack James
The clouds parted from two days of rain and the beautiful blue sky welcomed the annual LavacaBerry Festival on Saturday, October 27 The Sebastian County Ballfield east of Lavaca on Featherhill Road was the perfect spot for it too!
Sponsored by the Lavaca Area Chamber of Commerce, somewhere around fifty vendors preregistered for booth spaces. Vendors selling homemade jewelry, furniture, jams and jellies, acrylic paintings, soaps and more, lined the three roads inside the area that surrounded the pavilion that is the concession stands for the ballfields. Food vendors set up behind the pavilion and sold BBQ, hamburgers and even gumbo and more to the many people who came to the festivities.

Raffles for a fresh LavacaBerry Cobbler and a homemade quilt were in the Chamber booth. Proceeds from the quilt will go to the Lavaca Senior Citizens Center. The drawing for the quilt will be held on November 20 at the center.
Local band and singers took the stage in one-hour shifts. The bands called Frog Bayou Boys, Wild Card, Common Thread and Craters in the Moon played as well as Soul Fire Ministry and the lovely and talented Brittany Morse sang as well. People brought their lawn chairs and enjoyed the day of good music.
Veteran’s groups set up drawing attention to the fact that 22 Veterans commit suicide every day from PTSD and other issues from fighting or coming home to problems. A veterans group set up a raffle to give a brand new motorcycle and the 9/11 Firetruck was on board to draw attention to the tragedy of the bombing of the Twin Towers, the Pentagon and those who brought down the plane before it could do harm.
Young and old alike enjoyed a cakewalk provided by a group who were and are raising funds for a local girl and her family. She is a young teenager who just had open-heart surgery and the proceeds helped her family with the bills from surgery and missing work. They gave the best looking desserts as prizes too.
There were all kinds of games and activities for the kids to enjoy too! The pony rides, bounce arounds, carnival games giving prizes every time made the kids very happy and their parents too.
While this year’s festival is in the books, tired Chamber members are already whispering about the plans for next year. If it’s half as good as this year’s festival, it will be a great one!

Mayor Addresses Prospective Economic Development Following City Resolution (part 3)

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Tammy Teague

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9:03 pm

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Mayor Addresses Prospective Economic Development Following City Resolution (part 3)

By Tammy Moore Teague

–See part one here

–See part two here

The Waldron City Council adopted resolution 2018-04 in August, which entered the city into a partnership with the Arkansas Department of Transportation. Additionally, both parties agreed to the guidelines set forth to proceed with the project. In the final installment of this series, Waldron Mayor Neil Cherry speaks out on the prospective economic growth and future following the resolution’s passage.

Cherry stated that “due to all the misinformation out there on this, I feel like this needs to be addressed. This access break on Highway 71 will come at no cost to the City of Waldron.”

Cherry expressed his satisfaction with the recent partnering Agreement of Understanding between the City of Waldron and The Arkansas Department of Transportation after receiving the City’s copy of the executed agreement from the Department.

“You can’t spend money you don’t have,” stated Mayor Neil Cherry, “and we have no intension of spending the City’s operating funds for the development of a street between Harp’s Foods and the former Wal-Mart building. Furthermore, any such construction by a developer will be years down the road.”

Cherry went on to explain that a first step has been made with the Agreement of Understanding approved last August between the City of Waldron and the State Highway Department that allows for a future break in access to be processed when the time is appropriate. “The ice has been broken,” stated Cherry.

At some time in the future when a developer provides the City with a proposed, engineered, and platted street plan for the property, the plans will be reviewed and approved by the City. The expenses for the platting and engineering will be paid by the developer. Then, the City will run the course of approving the plan and incorporating it into the City’s Master Street Plan. The extension of the street onto the bypass will also have to be approved by the Federal Highway Administration.

“I certainly hope at this point, the City can locate an available grant and assist with the development. We would like to see consideration for extending any proposed street on the property to also connect behind Harp’s from West 6th Street and extend to West 2nd Street behind the former Wal-Mart building. This would greatly improve traffic flow and safety.”

Local governments often participate in development for economic growth or for retainage of existing businesses when there is concern about losing a business or industry. Cherry referenced the recent extension of a sewer line north along U.S. Highway 71 Bypass in 2016 that served such a purpose.

The last part of the agreement with the State will be for the City to accept maintenance for a portion of Highway 80, between 71 and Highway 71B. Before this part of the agreement is completed, the segment of highway will be repaired to state highway standards and receive a complete asphalt overlay.

City of Waldron Partners with ARDOT for Hwy. 71 Improvements and Break-In Access (part 1)

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Tammy Teague

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7:30 pm

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City of Waldron Partners with ARDOT for Hwy. 71 Improvements and Break-In Access (part 1)

By Tammy Moore Teague

In August the City of Waldron passed proposed Resolution No. 2018-04, which expressed the willingness of the city to partner with the Arkansas Department of Transportation for Highway 71 improvements, break-in access and Highway 80 improvements. The complete resolution reads in full:

WHEREAS, the City of Waldron (City) has expressed interest in partnering with the Arkansas Department of Transportation (Department) to obtain a new access break on Highway 71 (a partially controlled access facility between Highway 80 and 2nd Street; and

WHEREAS, the new break in access will enhance economic development within the City; and

WHEREAS, the City agrees to accept ownership and responsibility for the portion of Highway 80 between Highway 71 and Highway 71B upon completion of improvements to Highway 71 and Highway 80; and

WHEREAS, the Department has agreed to make improvements on Highway 71 to accommodate the break in access and to provide an overlay of the portion of Highway 80 to be transferred to the City; and

WHEREAS, these improvements will be contingent upon the concurrence of the Federal Highway Administration; and

WHEREAS, the Department will cover all costs and handle all phases of this project;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WALDRON, ARKANSAS THAT:

Section I:

The City will participate in accordance with its designated responsibilities as described above.

Section II

The Mayor, or his designated representative, is hereby authorized and directed to execute all appropriate agreements and contracts necessary to expedite the construction of this project.

Section III

The City pledges its full support and hereby request that the Arkansas Department of Transportation initiate action to implement this project.

THIS RESOLUTION passed and approved this 14th day of August 2018.

Mayor Neil Cherry was well-pleased with passage of the resolution. In a second part of this story, Cherry will explain how this decision will benefit the City of Waldron and its future economic growth.

MMS FBLA Attends Fall Leadership Conference

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11:49 am

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MMS FBLA Attends Fall Leadership Conference

By Raine Hecox

The Mansfield Middle School FBLA chapter attended the Fall leadership conference at Greenwood Schools with 111 participating members.

Mrs. Martin and Kaile Sysakayavong challenged each other in “Are you smarter than a 5th grader?” Caydence Moore and Kaylie Lowery challenged their knowledge about FBLA in “Battle of The Chapters.”

All FBLA officers were installed at the conference. Chandlin Silvey and Serenity Brunson (Presidents of FBLA) presented a check to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Lunch and fun activities were at the Wild Things Farm. The FBLA members had a fun time launching pumpkins, feeding animals, picking pumpkins, the huge slide, and the challenge of the corn maze.

mansfield-arkansas-fbla-greenwood-conference — Mrs.Martin in the Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader

Congratulations Lady Arrows!!!!

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9:15 am

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Volleyball is now over and these ladies have thrilled all season. Here at R22 News, we have been bragging on this team for all season. While the season may have come to an end, we must still brag a little more on these young ladies. Obviously this is a very good team. But you may not know just how good, so I’ll break it down for you.
I’ll start by saying congratulations to the Lady Arrows for earning runner up in the 2A state championship volleyball tournament! We are so proud of you! We also want to congratulate the individual efforts and awards of the following players.
Hope Headley: 2A All State, 2A All state tournament team, 2A west all star, 2A west all conference.
Hannah Parsons: 2A All state, 2A All state tournament team, 2A West all conference.
Abby Glidewell: 2A all state tournament team, 2A west all conference.
Abrie Rainwater: 2A west all conference, Alma invitational all tournament team.
Jessica Flanagan: 2A All state, 2A west all conference.
Again Congratulations to these ladies.

Wondering What’s For Lunch At Your School This Week?

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9:07 pm

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Wondering What’s For Lunch At Your School This Week?

Local Youth Compete in Checkers Tournament

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Tammy Teague

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6:32 pm

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Local Youth Compete in Checkers Tournament

By Tammy Moore Teague
Area youth turned out on Saturday morning at Witcherville’s Buckner Park to participate in a checkers tournament. The competition was open to kids ages seven and up.
“We had six players and played double eliminations, stated local checkers pro Quint Hodges. “The tournament lasted about an hour and a half.” Adults also gathered, to sit and watch the kids in action.
Trophies for given for first and second place and gifts for first, second and third place winners. Taking first place was Ajay Cherry from Waldron; second place Carter Whiley from Witcherville and third place Cosmo Whiley from Witcherville.

Lavaca Alumni Spotlight – Payton Morris

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5:50 pm

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Payton Morris is a 2015 graduate of Lavaca High School and is this weeks Alumni Spotlight. While at Lavaca, Payton developed his leadership qualities as a member of the football and baseball teams as well as Student Council and Beta club amongst others. Payton is currently a senior at The University of Central Arkansas, majoring in Physical Education/Health with a Coaching Endorsement.

Last football season Payton was a Volunteer Coach at Vilonia High School where he worked with the wide receivers and assisted with everything else that comes with high school football. This year he is an Undergraduate Assistant at UCA. Payton is working with the running backs coach, Taylor Reed. Coach Reed was a graduate assistant underneath Coach Dan Enos at the University of Arkansas for the past two years before coming to UCA. Payton is excited about this opportunity and said, “It’s been an absolute blessing to be able to learn and work every day with a coach of his caliber, and I’m trying to soak as much of it up as I can.” Some of his main responsibilities include directly assisting Coach Reed and the offensive coaching staff with their daily duties. Payton’s primary tasks are to assist coach Reed with recruiting, practice plans and scripts and all meeting sessions. On game days Payton can be found on the sidelines holding the personnel signs for the offensive.

Former Coach Mark Headley had this to say about Payton, “Payton is a great young man! He will be a very good coach. He has a passion and enthusiasm that will take him a long ways in this profession! I wish him the best of luck!” We here at R22 News are excited to see what the future holds for Payton. I know that he has the work ethic and attitude to excel. Good Luck in your endeavors Payton.

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