Judge James Forbes conducted a Dutch Oven cooking workshop for Scott County 4-Hers and their parents on June 21. Participants learned the basic techniques of cooking with Dutch Ovens and prepared cornbread, biscuits, and peach cobbler. In addition, Judge Forbes fixed a chicken and pork dish, so the group was able to enjoy an outdoor meal together on the first night of summer. More cooking workshops are being planned for the summer and fall. The goal of 4-H is to develop life skills, citizenship, and responsibility through project-based learning programs that members select for themselves. Contact the Scott County Extension office at 479-637-2173 for more information about 4-H.
Local Congressmen Thwart Benefits Change for Millitary Spouses
By Tammy Moore Teague
Third District Congressman Steve Womack joined other Republicans on Thursday, in voting against a federal amendment that would provide annuity payments to millitary widows and widowers. As it stands, the current law deprives surviving spouses $7,300 per year in income. These cuts remain necessary in the eyes of lawmakers as they work towards a budget.
The measure was only one of 26 amendments offered by Democrats. Womack co-sponsored a similar House bill despite his “no” vote. Also voting against the change was Representative Bruce Westerman. In total, 11 Democrats and three Republicans supported the proposed change; 18 Republicans opposed it. Just as the measure came up for vote, Republican members apologized to the approximately 64 thousand families who lost spouses due to service connected incidents.
Womack explained his opposition to his committee this way: “…If an amendment such as this were to be adopted, as was the case in some previous amendments, it would distract from the critical overall objective of our budget and that’s addressing the long-term drivers of America’s deficits and debt and, again, that would be very unfortunate.”
Democrats estimated the cost, if passed, at $5.3 billion over the next decade. They proposed reversing the Republican tax giveaways for the wealthy and corporations signed into law by President Trump in December.
Military widow, Kathy Prout from California has spent much of her time lobbying for the change and said many watched the voting live and were extremely disappointed by the outcome. Womack, is himself a veteran and is said to be in support of amending the law but cannot support doing it via the budget amendment. Prout added that both sides of the aisle, both Republicans and Democrats, have been guilty of dropping the ball when called on to enact needed changes.
Both Westerman and Womack have challengers in the upcoming 2018 General Election.
Early Morning Storms Leave Area Residents in the Dark
By Tammy Moore Teague
Many area residents awoke this morning to the sound of thunder, and flashes of lightening. High winds caused electrical outages for communities like Witcherville. Others are reporting they received property and crop damage.
As of 11 a.m., Sebastian County is reporting 748 customers without power. Some have experienced an outage, been restored and are without yet again. Crews with Arkansas Valley Electric Cooperative, OG&E Electric and Southwestern Electric Power are working to restore service in the county.
In addition to the interruption in service, others in the area have received property damage due to high winds. Spotty rain showers remain in the forecast throughout the day, but the chance for severe weather has dissipated.
Sheriff’s Office Seeks Help In Missing Teen Case
By Tammy Moore Teague
The Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office is seeking the public’s help in locating a missing teen from Greenwood. Blandina Cruz Rodriguez, 15, was last seen on Sunday near her home.
A representative from the National Center for Missing and Exploited children said she is most like still in the area, but may need medical attention.
The teen is 5’5″ and 135 pounds. She has hazel eyes, brown hair and a birthmark on her right arm. If you have seen her or have any information on her whereabouts, you are asked to call the Sheriff’s office at 479-996-4119 or the center at 1-800-843-5678.
Boyd Joins Resident Press Staff
We’re extremely proud that Kimberly Boyd has joined the Resident Press staff. Boyd’s writing, and photography skills paired with her professionalism, and character are a perfect match for our growing online presence.
Boyd will contribute articles on varying levels focusing on lifestyle, and family recipes. Please join us in welcoming Kimberly to both Resident Press.
Get to know Kimberly and her amazing family with a heartfelt bio straight from the heart.
Every since I was a little girl, my dream was to write. I remember one year when I received a typewriter for Christmas. I would set for hours perched up in my window seal of my bedroom in my Mom’s tiny apartment creating a story for the day. A neighbor kid, named Adam, would holler up at me to come down and play, and I always replied, “Just a minute let me finish this story!” To say I do not write would be an understatement, and to say I do not write to make readers laugh would be an under achievement for me.
My main goals in life have always been to serve Christ first and foremost to the best of my ability and to be the best mother I could possibly be. My family is truly my heartbeat and my world. I really believe in family and hometown traditions, Santa Claus and Elves on the Shelf, thrift shopping, made-up recipes and homemade pies! My other passions would be to teach children, write anytime possible, play music, and cook the best food you have ever ate. Over the past fifteen years, I have spent my time writing for various churches and producing Christmas and Easter Drama and Musicals and served in youth and music ministry. My husband and I have been serving as the youth pastors at Greenwood First Assembly of God for the last three and half years and I am a praise and worship leader there as well. I am also over Feed the Kids Ministry where I cook for over 50 kids, teens and adults every Wednesday night, and I am the Greenwood area coordinator for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan Purse.
My husband, Tommy Jay, and I have four beautiful yet wild children. There is never a dull moment if the “Boyd Kids” are around. I have been a resident of Mansfield for almost twelve years and I am a native of Booneville, Arkansas. In 2009, I received my Associates of Art degree from the University of Arkansas Fort Smith, and this past May, I graduated also from UAFS with my Bachelors in General Studies with a major emphasis in English and secondary emphasis in Anthropology. In July, I will begin teaching for VIPKID, which is an international program that will allow me to teach Chinese Children the English language from my home.
I am so excited to write for Resident Press and thank God for this wonderful opportunity. If you have seen me before at any local events, I always have a camera in hand, and now I am excited to put captions to those photos and hopefully bring a smile and a chuckle to your day!
Read Kimberly’s first article with a family recipe for Chocolate Gravy.
Proposed Legislation Would Fund School Resource Officer
By Tammy Moore Teague
A newly proposed bill would provide the funding for all Arkansas Public Schools to hire a resource officer.
The legislation was proposed by Democratic member of the House of Representatives, Scott Baltz. He stipulated that the bill, if passed, would require schools to have a resource officer in place by the 2020-21 school year.
The estimated cost of 40 million is slated to come out of the state’s $151 million surplus. Opponents of the bill say it’s too risky to count on this for funding as surplus funds fluctuate.
Provisions Include the placing of a resource officer on the school campus, while providing funding for equipment like metal detectors and arming teachers.
While legislators on both side of the aisle agree action needs to be taken, finding the funding for it will be the key.
Grandma Schlinker’s Chocolate Gravy
Article By Kimberly Boyd
My Grandpa was a minister, mechanic by day and a father to fourteen kids. So, family gatherings were always important and with lots of people. My Grandmother was a little lady with usually a bun bobby pinned to her head. You would always find her in the kitchen. Her way of showing love was making sure you had plenty to eat. You never left Grandma’s house hungry.
From fixing polk sallet and eggs, pinto beans and fried potatoes, fried spam with homemade vegetables from the garden, she knew how to cook like a true southerner and for a crowd. Her specialties were her homemade cinnamon rolls and chocolate gravy.
When it was my turn to spend the night, we would watch Wheel of Fortune for Grandma and WWE wrestling with Grandpa and then wake up on Saturday morning to a house smelling like bacon, eggs, and chocolate gravy with biscuits. There’s no place like Grandma’s on a Saturday morning. Even dipping your bacon in the chocolate gravy tastes delicious!
Below, you find the recipe if you would like to try Grandma Schlinker’s Chocolate Gravy. Who knows? It might become your new Saturday morning family tradition.
Grandma Schlinker’s Chocolate Gravy
1 Cup Water
1 Cup Milk
2/3 Cup Sugar
2 Tbsp. Cocoa
8 Tbsp. Flour
1/2 Tsp. Vanilla Extract
Mix sugar, flour, and cocoa together in a bowl. Then, with this dry mix, add a 1/2 cup of water and stir until all lumps are gone. Set aside. Now, put the cup of milk and 1/2 cup of water on to boil. When it looks like it’s beginning to boil, stir in mixture of sugar, flour, cocoa and water that you have setting aside. Let it come to a boil. Boil until desired thickness, stirring constantly.
Last, add vanilla extract to your pot of gravy and mix well. Add butter when eating if desired and serve with biscuits.
Opioid Summit Held in Fort Smith
Article by Darrell Spells
Representatives from law enforcement, medical professionals, rehabilitation services, and others gathered at the Smith-Pendegraft Campus Center at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith to address the opioid crisis in Sebastian County. Sheriff Bill Hollenbeck served as emcee of the summit. Law enforcement was represented by members from the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Smith Police Department, Mansfield Police Department, Hackett Police Department, Barling Police Department, Huntington Police Department, as well as first responders throughout the county. Attendees heard from several speakers from various fields detailing how the Opioid crisis is being addressed in Arkansas and Sebastian County.
Arkansas drug czar Kirk Lane provided those in attendance with statistics regarding the dangers of the Opioid problem. Lane described the problems with opioids in a term he called “Opidemic”. According to Lane, Arkansas is second only to Alabama in the number of opioid prescriptions per one hundred people. 2016 statistics show that Sebastian County had 169 prescriptions per one hundred people. Lane addressed the dangers of Fentanyl as well. Fentanyl is thirty to fifty times stronger than heroin. To demonstrate the potency of Fentanyl, he explained a small dosage of Fentanyl (one gram) could kill between 300-500 people. One gram is equivalent to a package of sweet and low.
Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge also spoke to the crowd and commended the efforts of Sebastian County in coming together to host the summit. Rutledge also noted the success of the Arkansas Prescription Take Back Program which has became a model program for the entire country.
Dr. Cheryl May of the Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute spoke of the efforts being made to provide law enforcement training on the use of Naloxone in response to overdoses. Law Enforcement agencies and first responders throughout Arkansas are being trained on the proper use of Naloxone and many agencies are carrying them in their patrol vehicles. Naloxone is currently available without a prescription to the general public. May also emphasized the importance of the Joshua Ashley-Pauley “Good Samaritan Law”. Many witnessed to overdoses are fearful of calling for help due to the fear of being arrested by law enforcement. The legislation allows provides immunity from arrest, charge and prosecution for people who seek medical assistance for victims of drug overdoses.
The summit also featured breakout sessions for members of healthcare, education, social services, and first responders. Attendees were able to attend sessions that applied to their respective fields and ask questions. Breakout sessions were hosted by Dr. Mancino-UAMS, Dr. Goree UAMS, Kristina Carnes-Attorney General’s Office, Tabitha Fondren and Katie Priest-Harbor House, and Dr Cheryl May-First Responders. The summit closed with a question and answer session featuring panelists Arkansas Representative Justin Boyd, DTF director Paul Smith, Dr. Lee Johnson, Dr. Bryan Clardy, Dr. Don Phillips, Jimmie Wooding of Harbor House, and Sebastian County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Shue.
Hometown Health Coalition Hosts Pack Shack Party
By Tammy Moore Teague
The Scott County Hometown Health Coalition is bringing the humanitarian project, The Pack Shack, to Waldron. The event will provide volunteers and members of the 4-Hers and Extension Homemaker Club to mix, measure and pack meals for local distribution.
The Pack Shack began in 2013 in an effort to increase awareness about hunger and its affect on communities. Its goal is to provide food and other items to nonprofits. Also, to encourage people to get involved with local nonprofits serving their neighbors. Some of the supplies include food, hygiene, and personal items. The Pack Shack promotes the notion of “being neighborly.” It is an organization based in Cave Springs, AR and they promote these parties. Volunteers come together and form an assembly line filling and packing meals. The best part is, these meals stay local.
This local event will take place on July 26 at 1 p.m., inside the gym behind the fellowship hall at First Baptist Church in Waldron. The church is located at 57 West 6th Street. It is scheduled from 1-3 p.m. and is open to anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of others. You can call 479-637-2173 or 479-637-3181 to sign up. For more information on The Pack Shack, or to learn how to host your own party, you can click here.
Area Churches Set to Meet and Unite In Prayer
By Tammy Moore Teague
Since word began to spread about the Freedom From Religion Foundation filing a complaint against the Mansfield School District, the community has been in an uproar. In an effort that to preserve the religious freedom exercised within our schools, parent Kandis Howard decided to take action. She and others began organizing a prayer meeting joining forces with area churches.
“This is real and happening at our small school,” said Black. While praying about it last night, I just felt led in my spirit to try organizing a community prayer meeting where parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, kids, neighbors, churches, and any concerned citizens could gather to pray specifically for our school and kids. All I do know is that there is power in prayer! It doesn’t matter what denomination you may be, it’s time for believers of Jesus Christ to join together.”
The community prayer event is set to take place at the Mansfield High School football field on June 27, 7 p.m.