By Tammy Moore Teague
The filing period for candidates seeking office within South Sebastian county municipalities will begin tomorrow. Those whose name will be on the General Election ballot must file a petition, a political pledge and an affidavit of eligibility between July 27, 2018 and noon August 17, 2018.
According to Darlene Neumeier, the office manager for the Sebastian County Clerk, “the petition must state the same position and position number, if any, as stated on the candidates political practices pledge, affidavit of eligibility and notice of candidacy.” Anyone who is seeking a seat on the city council, needs to be prepared to provide the clerk’s office with the ward and seat number. Additionally, the position cannot be changed once identified on the notice of candidacy, petition and political practices pledge. If the candidate were to change their mind in regards to the position, all three must be withdrawn and then refiled.
The filing is a request for the candidates name to appear on the general election ballot. “The petition must request that the name of the person be placed on the ballot for election to the office identified on the petition, and each of the elector signing the petition must be a registered voter,” added Neumeier.
If you are interested in running for city council, you can contact your city’s clerk, who can provide you with information on ward and position numbers. To begin the filing process for either position, mayor or city council, you will need to go the Greenwood Courthouse and pick up a candidate’s packet. If you have any questions, you are encouraged to call the Sebastian County Clerk’s Office at 479-782-5065.
After the filing date passes, Resident Press will report on those candidates who have petitioned to be on the ballot come November.
Filing Period Begins for South Sebastian Candidates
ARDOT Addresses Concerns Over Road Work
By Tammy Moore Teague
Travelers along Highway 96, from Mansfield to Hartford, have been met by flaggers and slowed driving conditions as crews from the Arkansas Department of Transportation work to chip and seal the road. To some, however, the progress has been unwelcome. Homeowners and drivers have battled dusty roads, flying gravel, even flat tires.
ARDOT District Maintenance Supervisor, Shane Reeves, responded to this criticism by reminding drivers of the greater good. “Progress takes time,” he assured. “If people will observe those 25 mph signs they won’t get the flying gravel and avoid busted windshields.”
Crews from Barling and Greenwood are working together to finish the project. According to Reeves, the road work is slated to be completed by Monday, pending no break downs. Work will continue from the downtown area of Mansfield to Highway 45 in Hartford. Once this initial task is completed, another crew will come back and sweep the highway’s surface.
The oil coated center line reflectors, according to Reeves, are serving a purpose. “Those tabs are set to mark the center line of the highway. These are in place for our striping crew, who will come when the job is complete, and mark the highway.” The nails hold the tabs temporarily in place while the crew finishes the road surfacing. Reeves added that the tabs are encased in plastic and although they are oil covered, the final crew will pull that covering off and remove the nails holding them down. This will leave behind a permanent reflective strip.
”We ask that the public be patient with our progress,” Reeves noted. Adding that this little bit of inconvenience will be worth the 10 plus years of benefit to drivers. Reeves concluded by cautioning drivers to “watch out for our employees and trucks.”
Prosecutor Clears Law Enforcement Officers
By Tammy Moore Teague
Sebastian County Prosecutor Dan Shue has ruled that the May 8 shooting, involving Hackett Reserve Officer Todd Johnson and Sebastian County Deputy Jason Morse, was justified.
The letter from the prosecutors office was sent to both Sebastian County Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck and Hackett Police Chief Darrell Spells. Shue stated in that letter that both Morse and Johnson responded reasonably.
On the evening of May 7, Johnson arrived to the 1100 block of Sunny Hill Place in Hackett, where he was met with gunfire. During the lengthy standoff, Peter Boden, 48, shot and injured three SWAT deputies. Boden continued to fire upon law enforcement officers as he attempted to reach his vehicle. It was at this time Morse fatally shot and killed Boden.
–See related story
2018 Mansfield Tiger Football Schedule & Calendar
Per the request of Mansfield Tigers coaching staff, the below images are scanned copies of the handout that each parents should have already received. If not, you’ll be able to click on each, and print. Let us know if you have any concerns with accessing either image.
Administrators Adopt Sebastian County Hazard Mitagation Plan
By Tammy Moore Teague
Mansfield School Superintendent Robert Ross recommended the board adopt the Sebastian County Hazard Mitigation Plan at Monday night’s meeting. This plan supports emergency response preparedness in the event of tornadoes, floods, drought, earthquakes, severe winter weather, hazardous materials and wildfire.
The Mitigation Plan is defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as “any action taken to eliminate or reduce the long-term risk to human life and property from hazards and their effects. Hazard Mitigation is the only phase of emergency management specifically dedicated to breaking the cycle of damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage.”
The school board approved the motion to adopt the county’s plan. This will allow local, state and federal government officials to utilize the school facilities if a disaster were to occur. For example, in the event of a devastating tornado, leaving residents displaced, and/or mass casualties, the gym could be utilized as a makeshift hospital or shelter.
Lastly, if the measure had not been adopted it would have made the school ineligible to receive a grant in the aftermath of a disaster.
District Ineligible for CEP meal program
By Tammy Moore Teague
Many parents within the Mansfield School District have inquired about a neighboring school’s no cost meal policy, and wonder why their children aren’t receiving the same option. The Community Eligibility Provision, or CEP, is the program which Hackett Schools have implemented and provide meals at no cost to all students. Mansfield Schools, however, are ineligible for this program.
According to the USDA Food and Nutrition website: “The Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) is a non-pricing meal service option for schools and school districts in low-income areas. CEP allows the nation’s highest poverty schools and districts to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to all enrolled students without collecting household applications. Instead, schools that adopt CEP are reimbursed using a formula based on the percentage of students categorically eligible for free meals based on their participation in other specific means-tested programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
To be eligible schools must meet a minimum level (40%) of identified students for free meals in the year prior to implementing the CEP. The bottom line is that Mansfield Schools does not reach that percentage threshold of eligible students and therefore ineligible to participate.
Board President Rick Nicodemus said “We just need to get our participation up and get kids eating. We need to make this better.” School Superintendent, Robert Ross, indicated that he will continue to work with Food Service Director, Sonia Norris, and kitchen managers to find ways to increase participation and ways to cut costs.
MSD Looks to Increase School Safety
By Tammy Moore Teague
Mansfield School District’s Superintendent, Robert Ross, recommended the board take action on adding increased security across its three campuses. “We need added layers of security,” stated Ross. He proposed a multi-optional approach. First, to poll current faculty and staff to see if any were interested in becoming concealed carry certified. Alternatively, if there was no interest among those employees, that the district look at hiring a school resource officer.
The members of the board discussed patterning security measures after schools like Clarksville, who have staff trained and concealed carry certified faculty on campus. Additionally, Lavaca, who has employed a resource officer. The discussion spurred concerns over that person “having a gun.” Ross responded saying the board would have the say in whether or not that person would carry a gun. “You can put that in the job description if they are to have a gun or not. It’s up to us.”
Ross recommended that the board be prepared to take some sort of action on the issue at the next meeting in August. “We have to do something,” Ross added. Concluding, “it’s a moot point” if none of the faculty or staff want to become concealed carry certified.
The district will continue further training with an active shooter drill. Ross indicated that the Scott County Sheriff’s office would assist with those exercises.
Fatal Accident Shuts Down Highway
By Tammy Moore Teague
Shortly after 3 p.m., on Monday afternoon, an Oklahoma man was involved in a single vehicle accident on Arkansas Highway 10, between Hackett and Greenwood.
According to the state police report, Kennith Watts, was traveling westbound when his semi exited the right side of the road and struck two trees. The accident forced a road closure for almost three hours.
Cherokee Tires Hosts Grand Opening
Cherokee Tires at 700 Highway 71 North in Mansfield will host a grand opening this coming Friday, July 27th.
FREE food will be served from 11:00am – 1:00pm with giveaways happening throughout the day to all registered participants.
Burnout contest starting at 5:00pm, and special pricing on standard 5-quart oil changes at $22.95 (+tax).
FREE set of tires to be given away by Mastercraft. (Restrictions may apply).
United Way Fill the Bus Campaign
By Tammy Moore Teague
The United Way will host the annual Fill the Bus campaign on July 27 from 9 a.m. – 9 p.m, and July 28 from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., at Walmart locations across six counties.
A portion of the donations received during the campaign benefit local schools, including Mansfield. Districts distribute the donated supplies to students who need them. “We give to every school district in our six-county service area,” said United Way Marketing Director Mitzy Little. “This area includes Crawford, Franklin, Logan and Sebastian Counties in Arkansas and Leflore and Sequoyah Counties in Oklahoma. We give the school supplies directly to the school districts and they distribute the supplies to the children that are in need of supplies. We feel that the school districts, teachers, counselors, etc, know best who needs the supplies.”
Mansfield educators Tamachia Barton and Kim Arnold volunteer annually. Join them this year and help Fill the Bus!