By Tammy Moore Teague
Global faith-based ministry, Focus on the Family, has declared October 4 as Bring your Bible to School Day. The annual student-led event, now in its fifth year, provides a unique opportunity for young people to share about their faith by highlighting its source – the Bible. This comes on the heels of the student-led prayer event, See You At The Pole.
Partnering with Focus on the Family, is Alliance Defending Freedom. The group backs the First Amendment, which guarantees students the right to discuss their beliefs and read the Bible at school. “For countless kids and teens, faith is at the center of everything they do. But when it comes to sharing the joy and peace they find through reading the Bible, some young people fear the consequences of doing so at school,” said Focus on the Family President Jim Daly. “Fortunately, our Founding Fathers foresaw the need to guarantee individuals the ability to express their beliefs, and that’s exactly what students who participate in Bring Your Bible to School Day every year are celebrating.”
Parents and students can also follow “Bring Your Bible to School Day” on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The official hashtag is #BringYourBible.
October 4, Bring Your Bible to School Day!
October 3, Bring Your Bible to School Day!
Global faith-based ministry, Focus on the Family, has declared October 3 as Bring your Bible to School Day. The annual student-led event, now in its sixth year, provides a unique opportunity for young people to share about their faith by highlighting its source – the Bible. This comes on the heels of the student-led prayer event, See You At The Pole.
Partnering with Focus on the Family, is Alliance Defending Freedom. The group backs the First Amendment, which guarantees students the right to discuss their beliefs and read the Bible at school. “For countless kids and teens, faith is at the center of everything they do. But when it comes to sharing the joy and peace they find through reading the Bible, some young people fear the consequences of doing so at school,” said Focus on the Family President Jim Daly. “Fortunately, our Founding Fathers foresaw the need to guarantee individuals the ability to express their beliefs, and that’s exactly what students who participate in Bring Your Bible to School Day every year are celebrating.”
Parents and students can also follow “Bring Your Bible to School Day” on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The official hashtag is #BringYourBible.
Multiple Law Enforcement Agencies Respond to Attempted Escape at MJTC
By Tammy Moore Teague
On Friday night, Mansfield Fire and First Responders were first on scene at the Mansfield Juvenile Treatment Center. Moments later, they were flanked by law enforcement officers from the Mansfield Police Department, Huntington Police Department and deputies from the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office.
The call came in shortly after 8:30 p.m. According to Mansfield Fire Chief Stephen Haysmer, when they arrived the scene was chaotic. During this time one of the females attempted to escape, however authorities were able to apprehend her very quickly.
Captain Philip Pevehouse with the Sebastian County Sherriff’s Office stated nine were arrested following last nights attempted escape. “This was not a riot,” Pevehouse explained, but rather “an attempted escape.” One of the injured juveniles were taken by Air Evac and the others who were injured were taken to a local hospital. All have since been released. During the attempted escape, one of the MJTC workers was also injured.
Pevehouse said those arrested will be charged with attempted escape and battery. Law Enforcement were able to quickly secure the scene and restore order. Operations at the facility have since returned to normal.
Arrows Battle The Dragons
Photos courtesy of Amanda Hall
It was a rough night for the Arrows last night against Mountainburg. Lavaca was held to 98 yards rushing while the Dragons rushed for 390 yards. Lavaca took the loss with a score of 29-8. Tyler Armistead had Lavaca’s only score on a 23 yard touchdown run around the end. Mason Walters got the 2 point conversion on a direct snap.
Defense played hard all night and although Mountainburg had a total of 454 yards, Lavaca’s defense was able to hold them to a season low 29 points. Tyler Hobbs had an interception to end one drive.
Arrows defense really bowed up in the second half holding the Dragons to only 9 points.
Offensively, Lavaca battled all night but struggled to get the ground game going. Lavaca fought field position all night with two of the possessions starting at their own 10. Lavaca did find some success moving the ball in the air, but couldn’t get out of their own way. Penalties came at the most inconvenient times for Lavaca. Mason Walters caught 5 passes for 64 yards and Jimmy Hall threw the ball for 130 yards on 11 completions.
Coach Schlinker said “I’m very proud of our kids. They played hard from start to finish”
Lavaca will look to bounce back next Friday, October 5th, on the road against Western Yell County.
As Always,
Go Arrows!
Arrow Pride!
Skydive Fayetteville Delivers Game Ball
Shortly before the homecoming festivities began last night at Tiger stadium in Mansfield, Skydive Fayetteville made a grand entrance to deliver the official game ball. The three man team circled the stadium from high above in their airplane and at approximately 6:40pm, they jumped. As the crowd reacted to the unnatural feat, the skydivers “came in hot” on the 50-yd line and delivered the ball to the officials.
The Mansfield Tigers went on to defeat the Greenland Pirates and remain undefeated in their 2018 campaign.
No One Fights Alone – Update
Photos courtesy of Amanda Hall
Update on the No One Fights Alone article from 09/27/2018. Today Lavaca High School started the day with a Pep Rally, in which the student body wore “No One Fights Alone” tee shirts. The shirts were sold 2 weeks prior to raise money for the family of Lavaca Senior Bailey Vann. Bailey is fighting cancer and this community has jumped in to show their support and love. 366 tee shirts were sold with all proceeds going to help the Vann family with their medical expenses.
Prior to the football game against Mountainburg, the school hosted a BBQ dinner, tailgate style. It was a huge success. The Lavaca High School Facebook page posted the following,
“Lavaca truly came together as a community to support Bailey Vann and his family at the football game tonight! The crowd was filled with supporters wearing their “No One Fights Alone” shirts. The pregame BBQ was also a rousing success, raising $1,700 for the Vann family! We would like to thank Davin Green and Brandi Green for preparing the food and Shannon Glidewell Todaro and Danna Glidewell for organizing the BBQ supper! We at LHS are proud to be a part of such a giving community! Go Arrows!” 💜💛💜
It was great to see Bailey at the game tonight. Currently he is undergoing Chemotherapy and had a treatment this morning and at the game this evening. Lavaca didn’t get the win we wanted on the field but they brought home the win in something so much bigger! To Bailey, you keep fighting! Your friends, School, and community have your back. To the Vann Family, the love and prayers of the town are with you all.
As Always
Go Arrows
Arrow Pride
Mayor Mikes Good Neighbor Report
By Tammy Moore Teague
Mayor Mike Gipson has been recognizing “Good Neighbors” over the past few months and plans a big announcement on further honoring those whom he’s named. Ann Wisley Blythe, a lifelong resident, is the most recent to receive this honor.
Blythe is a cornerstone in the community and has volunteered much of her time helping the city as a member of the Chamber of Commerce. Additionally, she has served on the board of the Poteau River Conservation District for 14 years. She has worked in the grocery business for 44 years and currently works for CV’s Family Foods.
She and her husband, Farris, have been married 62 years. The couple have two children, Cindy Blythe Black and the late Mike Blythe. Also, two granddaughters and two great-grandchildren. They stay busy following the sports of one of their great-grandchildren and are active members of Abbott Baptist Church.
Gipson noted that “Ann has always done so much for our town, she is truly a good neighbor!” Congratulations to her on being recognized by the mayor on this special honor.
Dobbs Featured in Hometown Highlight
By Tammy Moore Teague
He’s there every morning without fail. Rain or shine, Al Dobbs makes the short journey to the school from his home. He suits up with his safety vest and takes his place at the crosswalk at school. Dobbs, 83, has been doing this since 2015 and has become a mainstay for the Hackett School District.
Born in Atchison, Kansas, Dobbs spent most of his life mining for uranium. He relocated across six different states throughout a span of 27 years. As he neared retirement, Dobbs and his wife of 65 years, Shirley “Cheryl” Dobbs, moved to Arkansas. “My wife’s brother, and her mom and dad lived here, so that’s what brought us to Arkansas,” stated Dobbs. The couple have six children, Leroy, Mike, Susan, Robin, Lonnie and Curt. Additionally, they have 18 grandkids, 43 great grandkids and one great-great grandchild.
He wasn’t ready to retire just yet, however. Dobbs worked 10 years as a custodian for Kimmons Junior High in Fort Smith and tried once again to retire. It just wasn’t to be, as he found himself, again, working as a custodian. This time he went to work for Raymond Orr Elementary in Fort Smith. Even now, he refuses to stop working and looks for ways to be of service to the community. One of those ways is by serving as a crosswalk attendant for the school.
*Photo by Darrell Spells
“Eddie Ray was principal then and we go to church together. He asked me if I would do this. I had to think about it at first, but I am glad I did.” Through the years, Dobbs has come to know the faces, and some of the names. Parents and faculty at the school often inquire if he will return the following year. His reply is always the same, “I don’t know if the Lord will give me that, but I’ll take one day at a time.”
He proudly displays an album of appreciation from the children he is so dedicated to protect. “The first through sixth graders made me an album,” he explained. “Its full of thanks and they all signed it.” This book is nestled on a shelf in his living room, alongside other family photos and treasures.
His selfless volunteerism to the school isn’t the only way in which he serves. Dobbs is quite active in church. He serves as the head usher, on the building and grounds and personnel committees at Hackett First Baptist Church. He starts his day early on Sunday to pick up doughnuts and make coffee for Sunday morning fellowship. Additionally, he helps set up and serve the kids at Wednesday night’s AWANA and assists the pastor in visitations.
In his “off” time, Dobbs maintains his mowing equipment and tends his yard and beloved garden. He is in remarkable health, admitting that he stays active by lifting 50 pound weights and riding a stationary bike. He does sport scars of the past. “I have a steel plate in my right arm and I broke my femur. Both of those injuries happened in a cave in at the mine.”
His life is a demonstration of the love and service to others through Christ. Dobbs concluded that “outside of God, my wife is the biggest part of my life.” We are honored to feature Dobbs in this month’s Hometown Highlight, ordinary people doing extraordinary things! If you have a nomination for Hometown Highlight, you can email it to us!
Potter’s Nephew Held in Contempt
By Tammy Moore Teague
On Thursday, Fred Potter returned to a Scott County courtroom in a continuation of a hearing from August 9. Potter’s attorney, Kevin Hickey, the defendant, Cassaundra Holmes and her attorney, Jack Skinner were present. Also appearing were Michael Hamby. During the proceedings before Judge David McCormick, Allen Potter, nephew of Fred Potter was held in contempt of court.
All parties were ordered verbally by the judge to abstain from speaking about the trial. During the trial Judge McCormick found Allen Potter in contempt of court for using his cellular phone and iPad in open court after being instructed “to turn off all cellular phones and recording devices.” As a result, Allen Potter was ordered to surrender his phone and iPad to the sheriff for a period of 24 hours and pay a $50 fine.
The next court date is scheduled for November. The case pending in a Crawford County Court is scheduled for January. You can view the Order of Contempt in its entirety –here.
–See related story
Bloomer Chicken Plant Closed, Memories Remain
By Jack James
The township of Bloomer is the last spot in the road in Sebastian County as you take Highway 22 to the east. Today, it is little more than simple houses and a gas station/convenience store. But in the center of this little spot in the road, you will find the crumbling remains of what was once a major employer in the Northeast Sebastian County area.
The Bloomer Chicken Plant was built in1936 by the Orsburn family and employed about 75 people. Shirley Orsburn Stubblefield, in a 1957 interview, said that part of the plant had been the A.T. Crouch Creamery and that her father, H. M. Orsburn, Sr., was the manager there before he bought the building. The plant went through several owners through the years. It started out as Oz-Ark-Val under the Orsburn family. In 1965 it was leased by Swift and then Val mac-Tasty Bird in 1977.
Finally, Tyson purchased the business in 1984. Tyson ran the plant until 1998 and closed as the company chose not to make the plant repairs deemed necessary by management and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Tyson said that the plant would need to be completely remodeled if they kept it open and that “they couldn’t afford it.”
The Bloomer Chicken Plant was geared to process 1,500 broilers per hour in 1998. When Tyson announced on May 11 that the plant was closing that year, they were running almost a quarter million chickens per week. The plant employed 176 people.
The chicken plant was a major employer in this area. When the plant closed, many couldn’t find work or afford to drive to Fort Smith for minimum wage pay of $2 per hour. There were a lot of folks who expected the plant to be purchased or reopened by Tyson, but it never was to be.
The building sits in disrepair, disintegrating little-by-little in the elements. Today it only serves as a reminder of memories of the people in and surrounding Bloomer of what was once their livelihood.