Obituary: James Earl Wetherington (1956-2025)
James Earl Wetherington of Mansfield, Arkansas passed from this life on Monday, June 23, 2025, in Waldron Arkansas. James was born on March 04, 1956, in Denver, Colorado to Robert William Wetherington and Dorothy Louise Wetherington. James was 69 years old. James was an airplane mechanic for the United States Navy for eight years.
James enjoyed the great outdoors. He found immense joy in hunting, fishing, and camping with family and friends. James spent a great deal of time in his garden. He enjoyed canning the fruits of his labor to share with others.
James leaves behind to cherish his memory, his children: Merlyn Wetherington of Mansfield, Arkansas. Patrick Wetherington of Washington, and Christine Gonzalez of Alaska. James will forever be in the hearts of his siblings: Tina Shuffleburger, Mary Hopper, Tom Wetherington, William Wetherington, Margie Heath, Edward Wetherington, and Catherine Wilhoit. James will be missed a host of grandchildren and great grandchildren and by all that knew him and the many whose lives he impacted including his extended family that he loved dearly.
James is preceded in death by his parents, Robert William Wetherington, and Dorothy Louise Wetherington, his wife, Dana Wetherington, and one son, David Wetherington.
A private family Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
Memory of Me
I’d like the memory of me to be a happy one. I’d like to leave an afterglow of smiles when life is done. I’d like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways. Of happy times and laughing times and bright sunny days. I’d like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun of happy memories that I leave when life is done.
Helen Lowrie Marshall
Obituary: Jimmy Lovett (1952 – 2025)
Jimmy Lee Lovett of Waldron, Arkansas passed from this life, Friday, June 20, 2025 in Fort Smith, Arkansas with his loving wife at his side. Jimmy was born January 12, 1952 in Waldron, Arkansas to Gaylord “Buck” Lovett and Jewelene Lovett. He was 73 years old.
Jimmy was from a large family of siblings and and a beloved Uncle to an even larger group of nieces and nephews. He was a hard worker and working in the log woods allowed him to spend time outdoors, where he really wanted to be. He looked forward to spending time in the deer woods, in a tree stand and most recently just going to camp and visiting, sharing stories and enjoying the good meals. Twice a year, Jimmy could be found down at Turkey Track Bluegrass Festival enjoying the music and all things that accompanied the warm and inviting environment. He loved taking care of his family. If Jimmy loved you, you knew it. In his later years, Jimmy began to do genealogy for his family. He had recorded years of family history. Jimmy was not bashful, if he didn’t know you, he would ask “Who Are You?” Jimmy was one of a kind and his aggravating and onriness will be missed by everyone.
Jimmy leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife, Connie (King) Lovett of the home, one daughter Angie Nicole Crane (D.J.) of Mt. George and his siblings: Gayla Hudson (Rick), Barbara Isham (Jerry), Bill Lovett (Linda), Brenda Coffey (Tim) and Bob Lovett (Vicky), sister in law Teri Lovett all of Waldron and daughter in law Hanna Johnson and husband Caleb. Jimmy will be missed by all those whose lives he impacted including a large extended family of nieces, nephews, neighbors and friends he loved dearly.
Jimmy was preceded in death by one son Brian Lovett, his parents Buck and Jewelene Lovett and one brother Hershel.
Jimmy’s life celebration will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 23, 2025 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas with Rev. Konnor McKay officiating. Interment will follow in the Lamb Cemetery near Waldron. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
Jimmy’s pallbearers will be Gatlyn Lovett, Dusty Lovett, Bruce Isham, Mark Isham, Amanda Hudson and Pam Brown.
Jimmy’s visitation will be Sunday, June 22, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel in Waldron, Arkansas.
State Capitol Week in Review from Senator Terry Rice
LITTLE ROCK – Due to its growing popularity, legislators allocated an additional $90 million to Educational Freedom Accounts.
The chief financial officer of the Education Department said that without the additional funds the state would not be able to make first quarter payments before the upcoming school year.
The governor proposed and the legislature approved the creation of Education Freedom Accounts in 2023, phasing in the program over three years. The 2025-2026 school year will be the first in which all students are eligible, and the number of families applying for the accounts shows that it is very popular.
Education Freedom Accounts provide families who home school, or who send their children to a private school, with 90 percent of the amount that state government and local school districts would spend for each pupil enrolled in public schools. In the 2025-2026 school year that will be $6,864 for each student who is eligible for an Education Freedom Account.
According to the state Education Department, it has received applications for more than 44,000 students, and almost 40,000 have already been approved. About 28,000 applications are from families who send their children to private schools and 16,000 are from families who home school their children.
The legislature anticipated higher demand for Education Freedom Accounts and earlier this year approved Act 1017, which set aside the additional $90 million for the program.
Earlier this year the legislature increased funding for Education Freedom Accounts from about $97 million to about $187 million. Last week’s allocation of $90 million will bring the total amount of funding to $277 million for the upcoming school year.
School Insurance
In the 2025 regular session the legislature created a sustainable, new system of property insurance for schools, higher education institutions and state agencies. It was the result of several years of work.
A legislative subcommittee approved the creation of a captive insurance plan last week that would hold rates unchanged next year. Deductibles next year for schools will be $25,000 if they have less than $100 million in insured assets. For school districts with more assets the deductible will be $50,000.
State agencies will have a deductible of $250,000. A consultant’s report cautioned that schools and state agencies can expect deductibles to increase the following year.
The state Board of Finance has approved the plan. Another state agency, the Department of Shared Administrative Services, will operate the insurance program, known as a captive plan. The state will operate the program as if it were its own insurance company.
The governor and lawmakers have been shoring up school finances with one-time disbursements, after they had experienced rising costs for property insurance. Last fiscal year the state provided $11 million to help pay for higher insurance premiums that were driven up by claims after severe storms. Consultants reported to lawmakers that rates had tripled from 2021 to 2024, in large part due to wind and hail damage.
