The Mansfield Junior High Tigers traveled to Greenland last night to face off against the Greenland Pirates.
The Tigers had trouble getting their feet beneath them falling behind 7-0 early in the 1st Quarter. The Tigers offense and defense struggled to make the needed adjustments to both protect and find the end zone.
Tiger offensive line dug deep and made a heroic push deep into Pirate territory guiding and protecting Quarterback, Zayne Dugan to a 1st Down. That sole push was the turning point of the game and much needed momentum.
From there, it was a battle to control the clock, and the ongoing penalties the Tigers continually faced.
Mansfield had three touchdowns called back due to a variety of calls, all which were debated by the crowd. The most sensitive of the calls, was a touchdown that to many fans was well within the end zone. But, the ongoing controversy was just beginning. Through an onslaught of calls that held the Tigers from scoring, it came down to one play.
The Tigers defense stood tall protecting the end zone on a Greenland drive and took over the ball in Greenland territory. The Tigers drove the ball just over mid-field with 10 seconds on the clock, and it wasn’t stopping. Quarterback Dugan threw to a receiver in the end zone to be batted down by a Pirate. The Tigers loss wasn’t due to lack of effort, talent or coaching, but from the beginning the odds just seemed to be stacked against them.
Despite the loss, wisdom and sportsmanship prevailed. Below is a note from a player whom he sent to his teammates.
“Good job tonight boys. Even though we lost 26-20, we still played a heck of a game and I wouldn’t want to play for another team. We were CHE@$ED but we got to keep our heads up and play with discipline. Love you guys.”
JR High Tigers Take Tough Loss
Mansfield GT Students Travel to NWA
By Tammy Moore Teague
Mansfield’s third-sixth grade Gifted and Talented students recently traveled to Northwest Arkansas to tour Terra Studios and the University of Arkansas.
At Terra Studios the group observed an artist at work, creating the glass birds which the studio is known for. Additionally, the students were able to explore a labyrinth and play chess on a life size board.
The students and their teacher, Tracy Dedmon, wrapped up their trip with a tour of the University of Arkansas, where they called the Hogs on Razorback Field.
Ray Featured in Hometown Highlight
By Jack James
In Tibet, they look for wisdom from the old man on the mountaintop. Lavaca really doesn’t have a mountaintop, but you can find all kinds of interesting life stories and wisdom if you sit and listen to the seasoned citizens of our town. One of those men is Jimmy Dan Ray.
As Jimmy Dan sits at a table in the deli area at CV’s Family Grocery, he and other old boys discuss horses, cattle and farming. His hearing isn’t what it used to be and his eyes have dimmed through the years, but his mind is as sharp as ever. Between teasing his friends with pet nicknames and getting others to pour his fourth, fifth or sixth cup of coffee, Jimmy Dan will fill your head with stories from the past.
Jimmy Dan was born to ‘Boots” and Sabra Cross Ray in Lavaca in 1934. His father was somewhat of a local legend in basketball. It was Boots and his high school basketball team that went to state in 1928 and gave the Lavaca Golden Arrows their name. Jimmy Dan followed his father’s love of the sport and his team went to state during his own senior year in 1952. He still follows the Golden Arrows closely. At 14 years old, Jimmy Dan began working at Fort Chaffee and in the fields of Lavaca Berries where he made an impressive fifty cents an hour. Well, at least he did, before he got fired from picking berries.
Jimmy Dan served his country in the Army for two years in the late1950’s. Somewhere along the way, he met and married the love of his life, Fran. Fran was a transplant, someone who wasn’t born and raised here, but she was welcomed just the same. They have three sons and one daughter and remain together still today.
Jimmy Dan took care of his mother until her passing at age ninety-nine. He went to her home on Main Street every morning and made her breakfast in the house that she had been born in. That home remains in the family even now. She was a wealth of information, just like her son, who can recall names, places and events just like he was reading it from a page in a book. His reflection provides entertainment and education to people like me, who could sit and visit with him for hours.
A stroke and passing years may have slowed him down some but Jimmy Dan is still one of a kind. If you get a chance to visit with Jimmy Dan Ray, do it. Just make sure that there’s plenty of coffee and keep it coming.
We are honored to feature Ray 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!
New Owners Close on Waldron Business Deal
By Tammy Moore Teague
It’s a done deal! The business property located just off Highway 71 S. in Waldron has officially sold to Albert and Aimee Littleton of Magazine. Waldron Mayor Neil Cherry added that the couple “own several area businesses.”
City officials are planning to host a conference with the new owner, who will make their announcement on future business plans. Details of that meeting are pending, but Cherry noted Senator John Boozman would be in attendance. We will continue to follow this news event, and bring the conference to you live.
#TeamBailey-No One Fights Alone
Picture courtesy of Amanda Hall
Lavaca High School posted this regarding tomorrow nights #TeamBailey football game tomorrow night:
“Due to the magnitude of Team Bailey shirt orders, the printing has been delayed. The pep rally & BBQ dinner will take place tomorrow as scheduled. We will update you when shirts are available for pick up. We apologize for the inconvenience”.
Bailey Vann, number 64, underwent surgery on August 27th to remove a tumor between his heart and lung. Bailey is currently at home undergoing Chemotherapy as he continues to fight his cancer. He will have to miss his senior football season. However, his team, friends, Lavaca High School, and the City of Lavaca have come together to prove that no one fights alone. Multiple fundraisers have been conducted to help Bailey’s family help deal with the financial burdens this dreadful disease causes.
Next chance to help this family will be on Friday night. There will be a BBQ benefit dinner held at the football field at 5:30 prior to the Taming of the Mountainburg Dragons. Please come out for dinner and help this family. No family should have to cope with this alone. “ Alone we can do so little but together we can do so much”-Helen Keller. Our community can do “much” if we all help. Please continue to pray for this young man and his family.
Pep Rally – 9am in the high school gym
BBQ Dinner – 5:30pm at the field
Kickoff – 7pm
GO ARROWS!!!
Waldron Mayor Promoting Industrial and Job Growth
By Tammy Moore Teague
Waldron Mayor Neil Cherry is meeting today with local business leaders of WeighTech Inc. to discuss ways to grow business in the city. This is the first of many, as Cherry plans to continue the discussion with other businesses and industries. Ultimately, the goal is to grow the local economy and add jobs.
Small growth is the goal with these luncheons. Additionally, the mayor would consider an additional 5-10 jobs being added to the area a success. He is exploring manufacturing options that would benefit those who are already here. For example, “if a company uses ball bearings, then I would like to contact that company and see if they would have any interest in moving to Waldron.”
Of course another element to industrial growth is expansion. All of these topics are slated to be discussed during these luncheons.
Announcing the Lavaca Elementary Student Council
This is the second year that the Lavaca Elementary School has had a Student Council. It was started by 3 teachers; Mrs Lacie Kilbreath, Coach Jamie Patterson, and Mrs Megan Brusso. Mrs Brusso said of the process that, “It challenges them to develop leadership qualities, and challenges them to step out of their comfort zones.” The students run a campaign with posters and then deliver a 2 minute speech to the student body before being voted on by their peers.
Student Council members will represent the elementary school in the homecoming parade, they are leaders during Arrow Time, and they will work alongside school staff to lead in activities. The Student Council is also in charge of designing brochures for incoming kindergarteners and their parents. They will also give guided tour of the campus.
The impact the Council provided last year included getting a “buddy bench” donated to our playground and poinsettias for our school entrance. They conducted many school fundraisers such as, “boo grams” during Halloween, and Carnation deliveries during Valentines Day, the proceeds of which went towards the purchase of T-shirt’s, which they designed. Mrs Brusso said “It has been a great experience for all involved, and we feel it better prepares them for Middle School and High School.”
Without further ado, this years Lavaca Elementary Student Council is:
President Aubree Hobbs, Vice-President Isis Nichols, Secretary Presley Noel, Technology Commissioner Conner Staton, Environmental Commissioner Saylor Williams, Spirit Commissioner Macie Irby, Sports Commissioner Gunner Schmalz.
Class Representatives:
Ava Noel, Jordyn Roberts, Jac Clunn
Teacher Nominee:
Ella McConnell
See You At The Pole
In early 1990 a small group of 10 students from Burlington Texas decided to meet at their school flag pole to pray for their school, friends, families, and community. Little did they know then the impact they would have as they put feet to their faith. Later they shared their vision at a Discipleship Now conference in June of 1990 with 20,000 students from across the State of Texas. This resulted in more than 45,000 students meeting at local High School flag poles throughout 4 different States. One year later those numbers rose to over one million across the US. Today, an estimated three million students participate in over 20 different countries.
I am proud of these students who are wiling to put their faith out there for the world to see. We live in a day and age where, in many places Christian Faith is looked down on and even persecuted. But here in Lavaca Arkansas as well as other towns across our State, many of our kids unashamedly wear the faith for all the world to see. We have been blessed to live in a land where we have the freedom to Worship, the freedom to assemble, the freedom to express our belief. However, those freedoms are increasingly under attack. Our kids have so many more temptations than we did. Our society has force fed them Humanism,, Darwinism, and Socialism. Society has taken away discipline, and accountability. We see history being suppressed and rewritten. We see the belittling of the Christian faith. We see hate groups convincing our youth that they are somehow responsible for the color of their skin and the sins of generations past.
Our Country as great as it is is under attack from with in, and the main point of attack is on our youth and their faith. But the See You At The Pole movement brings hope. 2 Chronicles 7:14 says,
“if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Scott County Rodeo Club Hosts Rodeo
The Scott County Rodeo Club is gearing up for its 2nd Annual Jr Rodeo this coming weekend!
Under the lights of Ragsdale Arena, kids of Scott County and surrounding areas will compete in events such as barrel racing, bull riding, Bronc riding, Roping, and much more!
Rodeo Action is brought to you by Dustin Dunn, owner of DD Rodeo Company, and Waldron is the final stop on his 2018 Rodeo Tour!
Last year, over 120 contestants competed each night. This year, they are expecting big numbers again.
Contact Cheyenne Pottridge for local rodeo information. See you at the rodeo!
Little Arrows Remain Undefeated
Lavaca Arrows K-2nd grade Flag Football Team remains undefeated!
Saturday’s games were postponed due to weather but Tuesday was a beautiful and near perfect night to play football. The Arrows played two games Tuesday night. First up, the undefeated 2-0-2 Arrows take on the Tiny Tigers of Charleston. This games was tied up 12-12 at the half. The Tigers had the ball first to start the second half. The Arrows defense came up big keeping the Tigers off of the scoreboard. Then two plays later, number 22, Jake Wibbing’s hard run put the arrows up 18-12. Charleston answers back to tie it up at 18-18. Then Miken Irby (#2) took the ball on an end around to give the Arrows the lead once more 24-18. As time ran out Charleston scored again to end the game tied at 24.
The Hackett (Black team) game was also a slug fest. This game went back and forth all night. The offense for both teams proved to be unstoppable. First play of the game Hackett breaks out a 20 yard touchdown run and led 6-0. Lavaca battled back with a sustained drive on hard running from Jake Wibbing (22), Miken Irby (2), and Breck Austin (3). The drive was capped off when Jake Wibbing (22) threw a touchdown pass to Miken Irby(2) to knot it up at 6. Lavaca scored one more time before the half when Jake Wibbing’s hard running would not be denied. Lavaca trailed 18-12 at the half. It only took two plays to start the second half for Lavaca to tie it back up. Wibbing (22)had an 18 yard run followed by a 2 yard touchdown run by Breck Austin (3). The game went back and forth until time expired with the score, yet again knotted up at 30.
These young Arrows are exciting to watch. There is no quit in them. Coach Zac Draper said, “what we are doing is trying to build up a culture here”. It definitely starts at this level. The culture here in Lavaca is starting to get there. We have exciting things happening through out our sports at all levels. I’m excited to see how this young group of Arrows grow over the next several years.
As Always,
Go Arrows!!
Arrow Pride!!