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MHS Distance Teams Rock The River Valley

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7:44 am

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-track-athlete-cross country-sports-arkansas — Mansfield junior boys run at Ft. Smith cross country meet.

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.

Holmes’ Attorney Responds to Fraud Charges

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6:40 pm

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Holmes’ Attorney Responds to Fraud Charges

By Tammy Moore Teague
Jack Skinner, attorney for Cassaundra Holmes, has filed a response to the civil fraud suit in Crawford County, Arkansas. Holmes is the niece of Fred Potter, the 88 year old veteran who has been held in contempt in a Scott County court following an ongoing trust dispute. –see related story-
Skinner motioned for the Circuit Court to dismiss the lawsuit due to the pending court case in Scott County. Additionally, that “fabricated and false claims” made on the Justice for Fred Potter Facebook Page has “perverted the use of the judicial system by trying to use one Circuit Court to stop the previous orders of another Circuit Court.” Furthermore, that “Fredrick R. Potter has perverted the use of the judicial system by using his false and fraudulent filings in his unconscionable scheme to make misrepresentations through the court system to damage the defendant’s representation and defendant’s business.”
Potter is scheduled to be back in a Scott County courtroom on September 27.
You can read the referenced filing in its entirety –here–

Powderpuff Football Game Announced

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2:29 pm

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There’s football, and then there’s it’s alter ego, Powderpuff. This version of the game changes all the aspects of the game except the rules. Boys trade in their helmets for pom-poms, and the Ladies hit the field rather than cheer from the sidelines. Flags will replace tackling, but the spirit of winning is still the same.
This Wednesday, September 12th at 1:00pm (subject to change) at Mansfield High School, 10 football-player cheerleaders, and 22 female cheerleader players will battle it out for the win.
A separate powderpuff game will be held at the Mansfield middle school on a later date for middle and elementary school participation.
This event is open to the public and is not a fundraiser.

Lockridge and Dash’n with Rudy WINS in Greenwood

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2:00 pm

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Lockridge and Dash’n with Rudy WINS in Greenwood

By Jack James
Shea Lockridge with her 2 year old horse, Dash’n with Rudy won the 3 year old and under Geldings at the County Fair in Greenwood recently.
She also won the Overall Geldings division, the Gelding Ponies division and Grand Champion. Shea is the 18 year old daughter of Jennifer Meredith and Dale Lockridge and the granddaughter of the very proud Erma and Shercliff Lockridge of Lavaca.
Shea is attending OSU, majoring in Equine Science and will be a veterinarian. Way to go Shea! We are all proud of you!

Highway 22 Roadside Attraction

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9:37 am

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By Jack James
Every area, perhaps every town has something to brag about, something unique.
On Highway 22 you will find a one of a kind roadside attraction: a gigantic beer can silo. On Highways 22 and 96, you will find the Belle Point Ranch. Back in 1975-76, Earl Harris, Sr., a local farmer and beer distributor had one of his silos painted to look like a gigantic Budweiser beer can.
They claim that the silo would hold 8,734,902 fluid ounces of beer, enough to fill eight swimming pools. While that may sound wonderful to some, I am sorry to tell you that it doesn’t hold a drop of brew. The silo was featured in a Budweiser beer commercial at one time and it still stands on the ranch property after some forty-three years.

Trail of Tears Parallels Highway 22

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9:28 am

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By Jack James
In the 1820s, the Chief of the White Tribe was President Andrew Jackson. He didn’t like American Indians at all. So he began the policy of removing all Native Americans to western lands, especially the Indian Territory which is now Oklahoma. Families of Indians were forced from their homes by armed soldiers. Those homes were not all huts or teepees either. Some of these families had farms with farmhouses, two stories tall even. They were forced to travel to Oklahoma with just what they had on or a few belongings. This is where we fit in to the story.
One of the tribes was the Seminole. A group of Seminole were led by a man named Lt. Deas. Every group had a soldier leader but Lt. Deas kept great notes and journaled his expenses and excursions.
The Seminole Indians were removed from Florida. In 1838, Deas brought his group up the Arkansas River by boat and landed at Titsworth Landing in Roseville, Arkansas. The river was impassible at the time, due to drought conditions, so they journeyed by foot. On May 14, they followed the wagon roads southwest toward what is now Highway 288. They traveled four miles that day. That evening, the group was issued four days of corn rations and four wagons of additional corn and meat for the 370 Seminoles that remained from the start of their trip. They camped at today’s Sheep Farm Road.
On May 15 and 16, they traveled six miles because the roads were in very bad condition due to heavy rains for both of those days. The son of their Principal Chief Emathla, was very sick and was dying. Two others died on that day. They figured up to 130-150 of the people were very sick so they didn’t continue that day.

They didn’t move on May 17 either. The Principal man was sick and died. He and four men are buried near present day Line Road and O’Neal Road, just north and west of Caulksville. They are traveling now on the Military Road which was constructed earlier for travel to and from Fort Smith and Little Rock. They made ten miles on the eighteenth and camped west of the crossroads of Highway 60 and Military Road. They didn’t move on May 19 at the request of the Chiefs. The Principal Medicine man, Hotulgee Yohola, was dying. In a heavy rain, their medicine man was buried at this site.
On May 20, the Seminole tribe passed through what will be downtown Lavaca. Straight down the future Main Street and onward west to the Vache Grass Creek. Here, the teams got stuck in the mud until they harnessed ten oxen to each wagon to pull it out. Five teams remained in the rear after they had worked all night so they camped on the Lavaca side of the creek in another heavy rain. In an earlier trip by the Cherokee, two Cherokee children, one Cherokee and the other a black Cherokee slave, died at this spot and were buried on the creek bank there.
It should be noted that this route was taken because the Arkansas River was too low to travel from drought conditions, yet it rained heavily on these poor travelers almost daily from Roseville to the Oklahoma Territory!
A small memorial has been built in remembrance of the lives lost in dark time of our nation in the Lavaca City Park by City Hall.

NO ONE fights alone!

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9:16 am

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by Joe Hall | Photos by Amanda Hall
No one fights alone was the phase of the day yesterday for the Lavaca football team. Prior to the game tonight against the Mansfield Tigers, the Golden Arrows loaded up on the bus a took a field trip to celebrate Bailey Vann’s 18th Birthday. Bailey, number 64, the senior nose guard and center who recently had surgery to remove a tumor between his heart and lung. Bailey came home from Children’s Hospital last Sunday.
As the Golden Arrows entered the field tonight they busted through the run through quite different than usual tonight. They did not run, they walked out, and they did so with an awesome show of solidarity and brotherhood. They were lead out by Bailey and walked out in groups of 5 with their arms lock. When Bailey was seen leading the team, he received a standing ovation from the home crowd. Lavaca High Schools Facebook page shows pictures from the birthday party with the hashtag “#noonefightsalone” which is becoming the mantra of this special group of young men. See previous article Boys of Fall.
The Arrows fell short of victory on the gridiron tonight, losing 47-0 to Mansfield, but they continue to prove that they are highly victorious in life. The Arrows will go on the road next Friday to take on Two Rivers. Arrow fans, come out and support them as they look to rebound and gain some momentum heading into conference play.

Sebastian Countywide Cleanup

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6:01 am

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By Tammy Moore Teague
The fall countywide cleanup for Sebastian County is set to take place this month. Dumpsters will be placed in several locations. Those locations, dates and times are as follows:
Saturday, September 15, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Central City – City Hall
Saturday, September 15, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Lavaca Rural – Rodeo arena parking lot on Rodeo Arena Road
The following items will NOT be accepted:

yard waste, grass, leaves and brush
used oil
tires
batteries
hazardous or toxic wastes
TVs, computers – electronic equipment
cleaning chemicals
herbicides or pesticides
paints or liquids of any kind

This event is for residents only and not for commercial dumping, as per the Sebastian County Judge’s office. “Local volunteers are needed for litter pickups during the scheduled clean up days. Trash bags, recycling bags and other materials are available.”

Sebastian Countywide Cleanup

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Tammy Teague

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5:23 am

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By Tammy Moore Teague
The fall countywide cleanup for southern Sebastian County is set to take place later this month and throughout the month of October. Dumpsters will be placed in several locations. Those locations, dates and times are as follows:

Saturday, October 6, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Milltown – VFD Community Building

Saturday, October 6, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Witcherville – Park on Highway 71 South

Saturday, October 13, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Hartford – Water Department

Saturday, October 13, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Midland – Intersection 45 & 253

Saturday, October 20, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Mansfield – Public Works building

Saturday, October 20, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Huntington – West Broadway at Cherokee Park

The following items will NOT be accepted:

yard waste, grass, leaves and brush
used oil
tires
batteries
hazardous or toxic wastes
TVs, computers – electronic equipment
cleaning chemicals
herbicides or pesticides
paints or liquids of any kind

This event is for residents only and not for commercial dumping, as per the Sebastian County Judge’s office. “Local volunteers are needed for litter pickups during the scheduled clean up days. Trash bags, recycling bags and other materials are available.”

Sanders Featured in Hometown Highlight

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4:07 pm

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By Tammy Moore Teague
Humble, devoted, passionate and according to Lavaca Mayor Hugh Hardgrave, “I couldn’t imagine our town without people like him.” His name is Paul Sanders, and his heart is centered on helping others in the Lavaca community.
Sanders, 45, has called Lavaca home for a decade. His parents, Dr. Robert and Wanda Sanders are also long-time residents. He has one daughter, Kayla Sanders, who is a student at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, OK.
“We have a lot of good people here but he does a lot,” noted Hardgrave. And, he does. Most all of the work he does is volunteer and done out of love for others.
Sanders, who completed training at the state’s Fire Academy, has served for nine years on the Lavaca Fire Department and currently serves as Captain. He is also the Assistant Chief for Central City’s Fire Department. “I enjoy it,” Sanders remarked. “It is something I always wanted to do.”
Sanders is a fire and chainsaw safety instructor and volunteers with Sebastian County Search and Rescue. Additionally, he volunteers with UMCOR, which is the United Methodist Committee on Relief and maintains the bike trails at Spring Hill and Ben Geren parks.
Mountain Biking is Sanders favorite pastime. He enjoys visiting local trails and traveling to Northwest Arkansas to take on new and exciting biking opportunities.
Whenever he isn’t on a call, or in a class ,he works as a maintenance supervisor for his parents rental properties. Regardless if he is volunteering or on the job, he is always doing for others. That is the deep connection that Sanders has with the town. His future plans are, as he put it, “to stay in Lavaca and to keep doing what I’m doing.”

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Saturday, October 6, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Milltown – VFD Community Building

Saturday, October 6, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Witcherville – Park on Highway 71 South

Saturday, October 13, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Hartford – Water Department

Saturday, October 13, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Midland – Intersection 45 & 253

Saturday, October 20, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Mansfield – Public Works building

Saturday, October 20, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. – Huntington – West Broadway at Cherokee Park

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