By Tammy Moore Teague
The city of Mansfield has been in leadership limbo ever since former Mayor Larry Austin resigned his position. By statute the city council was to appoint a new mayor last Thursday night but was unable to make that appointment. With two interested parties being passed over, what is the council searching for in the mayor appointment?
The only requirements, according to Mansfield City Recorder/Treasurer Becky Walker, include living within the city limits, no criminal history and be at least 18 years of age. Are these enough to capture the skills needed to hold the office? Under normal circumstances each candidate would have campaign to showcase their abilities and readiness. However, this is an instance in which there will be no winning popular vote by the citizens. The residents are relying solely on the elected city council members to make that decision.
Mansfield residents do have their own opinion on what a candidate needs in order for the city to prosper. “Number one is that they can work well with others and sincerely want what is best for the town,” said Joey Daniel. Others agree that willingness is simply not enough. It is round the clock job that always requires one to be on call. Therefore some feel an ideal candidate would have experience and a college degree. Lifelong resident and former council member of 17 years, Deborah Musgrove, advised “…a business degree, or a law degree would be nice. A person who allows department heads to do their job and if things are not done, remove him/her from that position. They should understand second class city problems and can work with city recorder.”
Many others who no longer reside in Mansfield are still vested in the city’s future. People like former resident Larry Stanfill, who said “it’s my hometown and my heart is still there.”
If you are interested in serving the city as mayor you are invited to attend Thursday nights meeting which starts at 7 p.m.
City of Mansfield Seeks Qualified Mayor Candidate
Spaghetti Fundraiser Supports Fireworks Show
Mansfield and Huntington Area Chamber of Commerce will be hosting a Spaghetti Dinner with extras provided by Olive Garden and homemade local desserts on Saturday April 21st, beginning at 5:00pm.
“Just Us” Bluegrass band will be performing.
Cost is $7.00 per plate. Proceeds going toward this years firework show.
Please come out and support this event at the Mansfield Senior Center and bring the family. Carry out will be offered.
Please share this with all your friends!
Teachers Victorious in MES Quiz Bowl Match
The Mansfield 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade quiz bowl teams recently challenged the teachers to a quiz bowl match. The game was hard fought, but in the end, the teachers pulled out a victory by 3 questions. Students in Grades 1-6 enjoyed watching the match.
Bottom Row (L to R): Charlie Collier, Caiden Whittaker, Ashlynn Whittaker, Joey Fildes, Rafe Jerry, Riley Bentley, Alyssa Black, Zach Chapman, and Drew Holland.
Top Row (L to R): Mr. Mickle, Mr. Brewer, Ms. Walker, Mrs. Nicodemus, and Mrs. Howard.
Honey Bun Relay Fun For Throwers
Honey bun relay runners (pictured, left to right), Blake Wilkins, Bri Sanderson, Skylynn Harris, Zayne Dugan, Shawn Brown, and Brooke Wright of Mansfield pose after their debut race for throwers.
Mansfield’s junior teams made their way for the final regular season track meet at Waldron on April 10. Although the stakes were high as team members jockeyed for final numbers going into the conference championships this week, it was the Waldron Honey Bun Relays that set-off the most buzz.
As a way to slow the meet down and give sprinters a rest between the 4x100m relay and the 400m dash, Waldron has typically inserted a relay race just for throwers into the master meet schedule. It is know as the Honey Bun Relays.
The rules are clear. Only throwers may enter, and members can be from any team. Pass the baton from one person to the next until the four teammates get the stick around one full lap of the track. The winning team gets a pack of honey buns for reward.
Mansfield gathered together four boys that fit the bill. The girls had to borrow players from another school. The results were some of the most entertaining races of the season.
Mansfield’s men came close to victory as they lead three-quarters of the way. Shot put thrower Shawn Brown started off in front or close to it by the time he handed to Bri Sanderson.
Sanderson, the biggest and nearly the tallest Tiger on the team, amazed with a burst of speed along the back stretch to put Mansfield well ahead.
Zayne Dugan took the baton at the far corner and kept pass around the last curve. Coming into the last exchange the race tighten as anchor Blake Wilkins took the stick.
One final sprint to the finish had players from all schools crowding the track to take a look. It was a rumbling, bumbling big man sprint to the line as an estimated six teams came crashing towards the tape.
Mansfield could not maintain its lead as the Mena anchor put the hammer down. Looking more like a running back than a lineman, the Bearcat thrower pulled away in an actual sprint. Mansfield dropped to second as Waldron, Danville, and others came lumbering across to the roar of a raucous crowd.
Skylynn Harris and Brooke Wright took part of a combined team for the Mansfield women. Somehow after watching the best or rather beast of the boys’ race, the girls relay was not quite the spectacle.
Mansfield’s girls came in somewhere towards the middle of their relay. Friends of the Tigers put the blame on the out-of-town throwers making up the rest of the squad.
Besides running in their first race of the season, it was the Mansfield throwers that did the work in their normal events. Harris, Wright, Dugan, Sanderson, and Wilkins all had steady marks placing them high in the rankings.
Harris took top honors in the junior girls shot put. She chunked the iron ball 36’ 10.5” for a school record and blue ribbon win. Wright was back of that with a 31’ 6.5” toss for eighth place.
The pair of Lady Tigers were both in the hunt at the discus ring as a couple of tosses over 80 feet found the top three places. Harris went 87’ 0.5” for second. Wright went 83’ 9” for third.
Dugan went over 40 feet for the first time this season putting the 4kg ball. His 40’ 1” landing was second overall. Teammate Sanderson was close behind that with a third place put of 39’ 5.75”.
Sanderson was the top Tiger at the discus ring. The freshman sent the 1kg disc 109’ 11” for fourth place overall. Wilkins dropped one into the sector just behind that at 109’ 1” for sixth place. Dugan had a mark of 108’ 4” but was denied a place because meet rules only allowed two scorers from one team.
Brandon Carver was another Mansfield main attraction when he won the pole vault for the first time this season. Typically falling behind vaulters from Ozark and Booneville, Carver got to jump fresh for the first time in a while. It made a difference as the eighth grader went 10’ 6” for the win and a MMS school record.
Faith Rainwater picked up points in the distance races. She was 7th in the 1600m run and part of a fourth place 4x800m relay team.
Hope Rainwater, McKenzie Griffin, and Olivia Bouse comprised the Lady Tiger distance relay.
Bouse, just a seventh grader scored in the 800m run and anchored the girls 4x400m relay for more production.
Shelby Cole a member of that 4x400m team put up a fifth place 300m hurdle race earlier in the night. She also ran her best time over the 100m hurdles this season clocking in at 18.89.
Renden Emery scored for the boys in the 110m hurdles. He was sixth at 19.42. He was also part of a 4x400m relay team that punched in at 4:14.05 for fifth place.
Tommy Phang, Dru Buckner, and Tyler Escalante made the rounds with Emery in that four lap cooperative. Escalante was the fastest to cover the 400m distance in 1:01.40.
Sadie Roberts scored well in the women’s pole vault and high jump.
Beginner Track Team Wraps Up First Season
Pictured above, Mansfield’s Skylynn Harris enjoys success in the shot put arena.
Just as they finally figured out the inner workings of a track meet, it was over. The season for most of the rookie track and field athletes for Mansfield wrapped up with the Waldron Bulldog Relays on April 9.
Mansfield and its 30 person roster of seventh grade boys and girls had a good albeit short season. Now, several of those prep athletes will move onto the junior high district team.
The junior squad will be comprised of seventh, eighth, and ninth graders by the time they participate in the 3A Region 1 West conference championship on April 18.
Throughout the seventh grade season, Mansfield coaches were evaluating the young lineup to see where they might fit into the existing junior high roster. With the prep schedule concluded at the Bulldog event, it looks as if around 15 players will advance to the junior title hunt.
Bolstering that roster will be shot put prodigy Skylnn Harris. At least three times this season either through a seventh grade meet or a junior high competition, the beginner thrower has broke the Mansfield junior high record.
Twice last week the record went done. On Monday, April 9 Harris tossed the shot 35’ 7.5” at the seventh grade Bulldog Relays. A day later she went 36’ 10.5” at the Junior High Bulldog Relays. Both improved a previous standard she set earlier in the season.
Harris won both competitions. She was also the top thrower in the discus (74’ 2”) in the seventh grade meet but dropped to second with a bigger throw (87’ 0.5”) in the junior high competition the following day.
Joining Harris in the move forward will be Natalie Allison, Olivia Bouse, Serenity Brunson, Cassidy Carlton, Lita Hecox, Madelen Jones, and Jadelynn Wood for the girls. On the boys’ side will be Branson Carver, Logan Cravey, Ashton Hinkle, Trenton Leroy, Kindel Noblitt, Tommy Phang, and Tyler Woolbright.
Allison has already seen action on the junior high squad as a regular in the triple jump. She will also compete in the pole vault as well as the 1600m and 800m races.
Jones similarly has moved up throughout most of the season. She has been among the Lady Tiger hurdler core. It was at the Bulldog prep meet that Jones won the 100m style hurdles at 18.20. She was also top four in the 300m style at 59.99.
Bouse and Wood have seen time at both divisions. Bouse has been a primary middle distance person. Wood has transitioned into a 300m hurdler.
Branson Carver has proved to be one of the faster Tigers for the men’s team. As of press time he also had posted one of the top two district high jump marks at 5’ 3”.
Carver along with Phang and Cravey have seen action in the older division. Phang and Cravey have done so mostly in the hurdles. Carver has been entered in the sprints, relays, and vertical jumps.
Hinkle won the seventh grade pole vault with a leap of 7’ 0”. He will move up for the Tiger district meet. Leroy, another pole vaulter, was fourth a Waldron with a 6’ 9” jump. He will move up as part of a four man vaulting team for Mansfield.
Woolbright took advantage of an opportunity when a member of the 4x400m relay was out with injury. Running the first leg, the seventh grader ran the fastest split at 1:08.
That number turned heads. Because of it, Mansfield staff invited Woolbright to enter the conference open 400m dash. He accepted.
Noblitt and Brunson will advance to triple jump for their respective teams at the junior high level. Carlton will give the 400m dash a go. Hecox will fill a need in the 100m dash.
City Council Fails Mayor Appointment
By Tammy Moore Teague
The Mansfield city council was tasked to appoint an interim mayor at Thursday nights meeting but fell short.
The appointment, which is required by law, would fulfill the seat and remaining term recently vacated by Dr Larry Austin. Austin, who resigned effective April 5, would have held the office until January 1, 2019.
Only two parties showed interest in holding the office. Mansfield resident Ricky Newman and councilman Rick McDaniel both spoke to the council about their readiness to serve. After a brief executive session, the council reconvened with a single motion by councilman Dave Johnson to elect McDaniel as interim mayor. The motion fell flat, however, without a second.
Georganna Mabry spoke up saying she felt because they were elected by the citizens to serve in this capacity (as alderman) that they should not be serving as mayor. “It’s not personal,” added council man Buddy Black.
Against the advice of city attorney, Matt Ketcham, the council voted to table the matter, postponing it for another week. City recorder/treasurer, Becky Walker has been filling in since Austin left office. She added “We have a strong council and I believe that they will persevere thru this trial, just as they have over the past several months. I believe that the right person for this position will step forward and we as a city will get back on track.”
Also slated for next Thursday’s meeting, the ordinance to revert back to monthly meetings on every third Thursday night.
Mansfield’s Weather Emergency Protocol
By Tammy Moore Teague
Friday is predicted to be the first weather alert day of the spring 2018 season. Our area is in the moderate risk for severe weather including isolated tornadoes and hail. Now is the time to prepare for any weather emergency.
Preparations are already in place according to Mansfield’s Fire Department Chief, Stephen Haysmer. “We monitor the weather closely and if we see there’s likely a tornado warning being issued, we unlock all safe rooms.” Those safe rooms are located at the elementary, middle and high schools. “I have two men to man the safe rooms,” Haysmer added.
No pets are allowed in the safe rooms. Service animals are the only exception. There are water fountains on site, however there is no other water or food available.
As severe weather occurs be prepared ahead of time and be vigilant.
Graduation Rate Rewards Lavaca School District
Courtesy of Felicia Owen, Lavaca High School Principal
The Arkansas School Recognition Program provides financial awards to public schools that experience high student performance and high student academic growth, which includes high school graduation rate comparisons for secondary schools. The Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) is pleased to announce funds have been made available for this recognition program.
Lavaca HIgh School (LHS) is being awarded $11,012.40 for being in the top 6%-10% for growth in the area of Graduation Rate. This is the 2nd consecutive year LHS has received the award.
Funds must be used for the following purposes: nonrecurring bonuses to the faculty and staff; nonrecurring expenditures for educational equipment or materials to assist in maintaining and improving student performance; or temporary personnel for the school to assist in maintaining and improving student performance. A committee made up of the principal, a teacher elected by the faculty, and a parent representative selected by the local Parent Teacher Association or some other local parental involvement group shall determine how the funds will be used.
A proposal for the performance-based funding will be submitted to the ADE after the committee is formed and data is collected to determine what will benefit the students of LHS.
Image courtesy of Architecture Plus, Inc.
Mansfield FCA Hosted After Prom Event
The annual FCA After Prom Party was a huge success again this year! 65 students attended Midland Bowling Alley where they could bowl and play pool with their friends and classmates while also being eligible for awesome door prizes.
Every student received a T-shirt for a keepsake. The main event of the evening is the drawing of names of Juniors and Seniors for the Grand Prizes totaling $2000.
Sponsors Malinda Wesley, April Howell, and Francie Stell would like to thank our contributors and volunteers, as well as all of the students for a great night.
Churches contributing faithfully are:
FBC Mansfield
Abbot Baptist
Fellowship Baptist
Dayton Baptist
Coop Prairie
Church of Christ
Huntington Assembly
Mansfield Assembly
Mansfield Methodist
Area businesses that donated:
River Valley Feed
Resident Press
Square Rock Lumber
Door prizes were donated by:
Anza’s Style Shop
Napa Auto Parts
Mansfield Nail Salon
American Sales (Davis)
Chambers Bank
Simple Simon’s
Subway/Mama DeLuca’s
Joyce’s Diner
Phoenix Rose