By Tammy Moore Teague
The Sebastian Countywide Cleanup event will take place in Mansfield on October 20 from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Mayor Mike Gipson is calling on volunteers to assist seniors and handicapped individuals with loading and unloading items.
If you would be interested in volunteering or if you are in need of assistance and live within the city limits, contact city hall at 479-928-5552.
Gipson was well pleased that the dumping issue at the brush pile had been resolved. “Thank you for the feedback on the brush pile,” noted Gipson. “It was addressed and I appreciate those who use it responsibly.”
From the Desk of Mayor Mike
Father and Daughter QOV Recipients
By Tammy Moore Teague
On Sunday, Amanda Sanders, her husband Joe and her boys, Carter and Samuel, made a surprise visit to her parent’s church in honor of Grandparents Day. However, it was Sanders who would be surprised.
Sanders sister, Stacia Caldwell, had contacted Quilt of Valor and arranged for both Sanders and her father, Bob Schlinker to be honored with a quilt. “Little did I know the surprise was on me and dad,” stated Sanders. Of course her mother, Kathy Schlinker, and husband played a role in planning the surprise. “My husband was in on the surprise too! I didn’t know he could be so sneaky!”
The Quilts of Valor, or QOVs, are awarded to U.S. military service members and veterans who have been touched by war. A Quilt of Valor is a lifetime award. Schlinker is an Army veteran. He enlisted in July of 1969 and served three years in Vietnam and in Germany. Sanders is an Air National Guard veteran and served from 2002-2013. Her enlistment includes time in Guam, Japan and South Korea. Additionally, Sanders performed humanitarian work after Hurricane Katrina and served in the Arkansas Air National Guard.
Congratulations to both Schlinker and Sanders on this special honor!
MHS Honors 9/11 with Memorial Service
September 11 Memorial Service
Approximately 5 p.m. (MHS vs. West Fork Volleyball Games)
September 11, 2018
PROGRAM OF EVENTS
Band and choir in the bleachers, ready to perform at 4:30 p.m.
Color guard arrives at MHS at 4:45 p.m. (escorted to gym and in place by 4:55 p.m.)
Ceremony Start Time: Immediately after second game (approximately 5 p.m.)
Ceremony Script:
Choir in place on the floor. Band in bleachers, ready to perform.
ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, on this day, seventeen years ago, our nation was attacked by terrorists. Using commercial airliners as weapons, New York City, Washington, DC, and Shanksville, Pennsylvania were attacked, causing massive loss of life and property destruction. Today, we honor the victims and the heroes of September 11, 2001. Our nation responded with an enhanced sense of unity, patriotism and great resolve to show the world that the United States of America is the greatest country on Earth. Today, please join Mansfield High School as we honor our nation on this day of remembrance.
Honoring America tonight is the Mansfield high school band and choir. Honoring our service members past, present, and future is the U.S. Army National Guard color guard.
CHOIR: “My Country Tis of Thee”
CHOIR: “America the Beautiful”
ANNOUNCER: Ladies and gentlemen, please stand and remove your caps as the U.S. Army color guard presents the colors. The national anthem will be performed by the Mansfield high school band.
COLOR GUARD: Presents colors at free throw line.
BAND: After color guard is in place at free throw line and presents colors, the band plays the national anthem.
Band remains quiet after the national anthem.
COLOR GUARD: Retires the colors.
ANNOUNCER: After the color guard retires colors, the announcer says, “thank you for your attention, and thanks to everyone who has served our country in the military, as a first responder, or protector of the peace. We will never forget you. Thank you.
MHS Class of 1983 Reunion Announced
The Class of 1983 has announced their reunion to be held on Friday, September 28th. More information and RSVP below.
Wilkinson Speaks at Lavaca Chamber Meeting
By Tammy Moore Teague
One of the city’s newest businesses, I Scream, hosted the Lavaca Chamber of Commerce meeting on Monday evening. Guest speaker Ed Wilkinson, President of Farmers Bank, spoke briefly on the development and growth of businesses within the city.
He encouraged the chamber members to become involved with the City’s Planning Committee and to formulate goals that incorporate a vision for the future. “To be successful you have to be willing to change,” stated Wilkinson.
According to Chamber President Jack James, the lack of store fronts and real estate are problematic. However, he noted that “businesses do want to come to Lavaca.”
Wilkinson further advised members to tap into resources and individuals who can help them apply for grants. “Throw the darts and see what sticks.” Adding that, the city should encourage small businesses as “they make the city great.”
Smith Vies For City Council Seat
By Tammy Moore Teague
Mansfield resident and small business owner Charles Smith has announced his candidacy for Mansfield City Council, position 1 ward 1. That seat is being vacated by sitting alderman, Georganna Mabry.
Smith and his wife, Brenda, moved to Mansfield in 2013. The couple wanted to be closer to family, specifically, their daughter, Shelly Semour, who resides in Abbott. Additionally, Smith has owned and operated Furr Baby’s Grooming on Howard Street for the past three years. “I built it from the ground up,” commented Smith.
“I want to help the City of Mansfield,” he explained. Adding that “there’s not a lot that needs to be changed, the mayor we have now has done a great job. I would just like to see our city continue to do well.”
Teague Named Editor of Resident Press
With growth, a widening coverage area and the popularity of consistent community focused content that Resident Press has garnered since their launch three years ago, owners Jason and Lesli Baggett see the bigger picture.
“When Tammy joined our staff, we noticed an immediate change in the direction of our content. RP started as an idea to bring the focus back to the overlooked towns which is where Teague’s heart lies” stated Jason Baggett.
Teague’s passion for the craft of honest, and truthful storytelling is supported by a defined reputation of doing things right from the beginning. She also brings an esteemed history in journalism to her new role.
Her presence in both Resident Press and Resident 22 News is to not only to continue promoting the uniqueness of their content, but also extend her passion and integrity into areas illustrating that both media outlets are “where not all news is bad news.”
“I’ve always believed that to be successful, you have to put together a team of strength, and unity. Teague’s leadership and knowledge will take both RP & R22N to the next level. We have an amazing staff who care about not only the content we publish, but doing it with heart” added Baggett.
2018 Mansfield Football Homecoming Court
We would like to introduce your 2018 Mansfield Football Homecoming Court. Congratulations to all the young ladies who will represent Mansfield School District through Homecoming and the years to follow.
The Mansfield High School Football Homecoming Coronation will take place Friday, September 28, 2018 at 1:35 pm on the high school football field with the parade to follow immediately after. The evening coronation will take place that night during halftime of the game where the Tigers are set to kick off against the Greenland Pirates at 7:00pm.
2018 Mansfield Tiger Homecoming Senior Maids
(L to R ) Cameron Walker, Rylea Weaver, and Caroline Nicodemus
2018 Mansfield Tiger Homecoming Junior Maid
2018 Mansfield Tiger Homecoming Sophomore Maid
2018 Mansfield Tiger Homecoming Freshman Maid
2018 Mansfield Tiger Homecoming Cheer Maid
2018 Mansfield Tiger Homecoming Band Maid
Favela Represents Hometown in MMA Debut
Tanner Favela of Mansfield will make his MMA debut on September 22 in Miami, Oklahoma. With a current record of 1-1 in grappling events, Favela won gold in Conway at the American Grappling Federation tournament over Summer giving him the confidence to step up his game and enter the big ring.
“My ultimate goal is to inspire all of the underdogs in the world. I was never the guy whose name you heard called out from the press box during football games. I would love to see as many people from my hometown as possible there rooting me on. I’m fighting a hometown guy and could use the cheers. Regardless I won’t let anybody down.” stated Favela.
Favela will enter the cage and face off against Tulsa native, Jesse Hood. With determination, hard work, and a focused mindset, Favela looks to be an example of what can be done when you put your mind to something and already planning on bringing the win back to his beloved hometown.
“I am representing my hometown of Mansfield, and would absolutely love to see the support of my friends and family in the crowd as I enter the cage against Hood” added Favela.
Tickets to this event can be purchased through THIS LINK
MHS Distance Teams Rock The River Valley
Since early July, a large group of the Mansfield cross country runners have been training for the start of the 2018 competitive racing season. With the cooperation of cooling temperatures and ideal running conditions, 27 members of the Tiger distance team toed the line for the schedule’s first meet.
Eager to run and put behind the strain of hot weather practices, the Tigers collectively rocked the small school division of the Fort Smith Invitational on Saturday morning at Ben Geren Park. With 41% of the team members landing on the medal stand and earning three team trophies, it was a highly productive day to be a MHS runner.
Mansfield’s junior and senior girls both won the small school championship plaques. The junior boy’s squad carried home the runner-up team prize. The senior men with only two competitors didn’t qualify as a team for awards.
“Eleven medals and three trophies is a pretty good haul for the first time out,” beamed an excited John Mackey, Mansfield’s long time head coach. “The heat has been brutal physically and mentally during practice these last two months. It can really wear on you. I’m so proud the majority of our kids persevered the training, and found the fun in running for a real purpose today.”
Senior Alyssa Berry and newcomer Josefin Lofving led the way for the senior high Lady Tigers. The senior and junior respectively landed in the top ten for the 3.1 mile course.
Berry crossed fourth (28:01.10) in the small school division. Lofving landed in ninth (29:28.80).
Faith Rainwater, a freshman, stormed the 2 mile junior high loop with the top time (14:50.70) in the class 1A-3A grouping. She was supported in droves by a sea of red clad teammates racking up six more of the available top ten medals.
Rainwater along with McKenzie Griffin (15:28.10), Shelby Cole (15:36.00), and Jadelynn Wood (15:39.20) made it a top four sweep for the junior Lady Tigers. Harleigh Mars (6th place), Hope Rainwater (7th place), and Raine Hecox (9th place) saturated the remaining top ten to give Mansfield seven junior girl medals.
Mansfield’s junior girls team easily won their grouping with only slight challenges from Magazine, Lavaca, Scranton, Hector, and Western Yell County.
Tigers Ethan Chapman and Steven Perez showed they are among the best junior boys regardless of classification. The two ninth graders went out strong and seldom wavered from a six minute mile pace. The results netted Chapman his first individual championship (12:07.60) and gave Perez a razor close second place (12:09:00) in their division.
The dynamic duo were step for step among the overall leaders from the start of the 183 person race. In fact, among the total 1A-6A rankings the Tiger pair were ninth and tenth. Chapman was only 32.6 seconds away from the overall winner’s position.
“These two have real talent,” confessed Mackey when singing the praises of his two young runners. “It’s my job to test their limits. I’m happy it paid off for them today. It’s so much fun watching them run for the Tigers.”
In the senior boy’s race, Artem Zirka (12th place) and Renden Emery (20th place) of Mansfield gave a solid account of themselves. The first time distance runners finished well ahead of the majority in the small school stats but not quite in the elite of the overall scoring pack.
“Artem and Renden saw what was necessary to compete at this level,” expressed the coach. “It was a good learning experience. I’m happy that had a margin of success their first time out. It gives them a real baseline to work from. They will make strong gains throughout the season.”
Mansfield’s overall roster was bolstered by other first time runners. From the senior high group Sara Willadsen and Janna Colin made their debuts. Anina Reutter, another newcomer, was dressed but did not participate due to a foot injury.
At the junior high level Darby Jones, Lauren Poston, Alyssa James, Heidi Ebarb, Eden Mounts, John Branche, Mikeal Harrison, and Logan Yoss all competed at their first meet.
Addison Goetz was a returning member of the senior girls team. The eleventh grade runner was within one place of medaling among the small school rankings at the Ben Geren venue.
Lita Hecox and Ashton Hinkle returned as members of their respective junior high squads. Both are eighth graders competing in their second season of cross country.
Keith Dake, Mansfield’s head basketball coach during the winter months, made his debut as a member of the MHS cross country coaching staff. As an assistant coach, his main responsibilities include supervision of the after school weight training, and monitor of recovery runs, core exercise routines, post workout stretches, as well as game day supervisor.