The 8th grade Mansfield Middle School students recently visited the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville nursing program. Students got and up and close perspective of the details involved in this career field. Pictured above, Shawn Brown and Ethan Chapman.
The students have visited the U of A twice and will return again later in the spring for their third campus visit. These students were selected in corresponding with the University of Arkansas research on the impact of campus visits on students desire to attend higher education.
MMS Students Visit University of Arkansas
MMS Hosts Spelling Bee
7th and 8th grade participants (pictured above) and their crisp $2.00 sponsored by Farmers Bank. (Left to Right) Tyler Woolbright, Timmy Rouell, Mikeal Harrison, Greyson Baggett, Bethany Sartin, Nathaniel Sartin, Alyssa James, Serenity Brunson, Courtney Cheeseman, Joey Flynt, Merlyn Wetherington, Braxton Byers, Shelby Cole, Tommy Phang, Shawn Brown, and Nathaniel Elmore.
MJH Lady Tigers Show Promise
Last week the Junior Mansfield Lady Tigers basketball team competed against Magazine and Paris; both games were on the road.
The lady tigers traveled first to Magazine on Monday to compete against the Lady Rattlers. The contest got kicked off with a junior varsity game.
The lady tiger’s junior varsity team managed to beat the Lady Rattlers 16-4. Steals and scoring was led by seventh grader Olivia Bouse. She scored 6 of the teams total points and had five steals by driving the lane and hustling up and down the floor.
Other players with points are seventh grader Natalie Allison with 3 points, eighth graders Hailea Raines with 2 points, Haylee Helms with 3 points and Freshman Kaitlin Slinkard with 2.
Coach Bryan said he saw some promise with his team. “They impressed me with their shooting and ball discipline on offense.”
After the Junior varsity game, the varsity team took the floor. At half time the score was knotted up at 15 a piece. The Lady Tigers jumped out to an early third quarter lead with a couple steals for some quick points. The lead was held until some of the girls got in foul trouble and Magazine began eating at the lead with some free throw opportunities. Late in the fourth quarter the Lady Rattlers went up by one point with only 20.6 seconds left in the game.
After a costly turnover the lady Tiger’s backs were against the wall to make a steal and get it down the court for points. After a couple of unsuccessful attempts Freshman Mikayla Harrison tipped the ball up to eighth grader Sadie Roberts, who proceeded to throw it up to Freshman Danielle Lillie with only 4.8 second on the clock.
Lillie had to beat one Rattler defender to win the game, and she did so with a layup with less than a second on the clock. Leading scorers were Freshman Mikayla Harrison and Danielle Lillie, rebounds to Freshman Hailey Walker and Brooke Wright, and steals to Freshman Mikayla Harrison. “The girls played well and deserved the win they got; they endured and overcame their doubts to win the ball game” stated Bryan.
Last Thursday the Lady Tigers traveled to Paris to compete against the Lady Eagles. The Lady Tigers took an early lead and battled back and forth with Paris for three quarters. The Lady Tigers played well but just couldn’t pull out the win against the lady eagles.
“Our girls struggled making baskets today” said Coach Bryan. “We missed multiple opportunities to stay in or win the ball game with below average free throw shooting and field goals. Our defense played well but for a few small corrects that kept them from scoring inside after halftime.”
Paris shot free throws well to keep the lady tigers playing catch-up during the fourth quarter. Scoring was led by Freshman Danielle Lillie and eighth grader Sadie Roberts, rebounds by Freshman Amber Elmore, steals by Freshman Mikayla Harrison and Danielle Lillie.
Coach Bryan said that the girls are showing promise to becoming championship material; they have the know-how and the desire to win. ‘We just need to be able to score when the opportunity arises” added Bryan.
The Lady Tigers play the Waldron Lady Bulldogs on Thursday, December 21st at home starting at 5:00 pm. The Junior Varsity with Varsity games to follow. Come out to support the lady tigers as they play their last game of 2017.
They will continue their season after Christmas break on January 4th at Booneville against the Bearcats.
2019 Annual Rural Fire Dues
The City of Mansfield is collecting 2019 annual rural fire dues now!
Dues are $40. If you are unsure what district you are in, please call 479-928-5552.
Payments can be dropped off at city hall from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday – Friday or can be mailed to City of Mansfield, Attn: Becky, P.O. Box 307, Mansfield, AR 72944. Please make checks payable to: Mansfield Fire Department.
You will NOT receive a notice in the mail!
Letters to Santa from Sandy’s Day Care
Mrs. Dana and Mrs. Jeannette’s class
Dear Santa,
My name is Gabbie M. I am 3 years old. I have really tried to be good. For Christmas I would like a kitty cat and Mickey Mouse. Will you bring my mom a Goofy, Donald Duck, Daisy and Minnie Mouse?
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Liam B. I am 4 years old. I have really tried to be good. For Christmas I would like a dinosaur and an elephant. My mom would like some toys and my dad would like some toys too.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Kinlee W. I am 5 years old. I have really tried to be good this year. For Christmas I would like a Barbie Dream House and a baby doll. My mom and dad won’t want anything.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Ryver S. I am 2 years old. I have tried really hard to be good this year. For Christmas I would like dinosaurs and big trucks. My mom wants a house and my dad wants trucks.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Gunner S. I am 3 years old. I have tried to be good all year. For Christmas I would like toys, a dump truck and animal crackers. Would you bring my mom a present and my dad two presents?
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Lillian J. I am 5 years old. I have tried to be good this year. For Christmas I would like a Barbie Life Dream House and new high heels. My Nana and papa would like some surprises.
Thank you.
Mrs. Jenni and Mrs. Kazia’s class
Dear Santa,
My name is Gage H. I am 4 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like a drone, a teddy bear that talks and a car that drives.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Eli C. I am 5 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I a would like an Imaginext Batbot Xtreme, a stuffed toy and a train.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Madilynn D. I am 4 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like a toy and a turtle.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Joseph D. I am 4 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like a monster truck.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Ashton N. I am 3 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like some candy and paw patrol toys.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Ariya C. I am 3 years old. I have been naughty. For Christmas I would like some orange skates.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Keaton M. I am 4 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like a batman mask, a monster truck and a super hero.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Kassidy W. I am 4 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like a Moana toy, Tynell and Poppy and a cot.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Melodie E. I am 3 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like Christmas lights, a bear and Barbies.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Clatyon M. I am 4 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like a remote control skid steer, a backhoe and an excavator.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Allen Q. I am 4 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like a big bike, a big boat, and a fast motorcycle.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Brady P. I am 3 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like a bicycle, a fidget spinner and a duck call.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Zoey S. I am 3 year old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like a baby bed, a troll microphone and doctor toys.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Karly H. I am 4 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like a baby doll, Ariel and a doll house.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Madrox C. I am 4 years old. I have been naughty this year. For Christmas I would like a Batman toy, cars, and robots.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Melanie C. I am 4 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like an Elsa clock for my room, a reindeer and a fish hook.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Paislee J. I am 4 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like a Moana doll with a button, a Moana microphone and Moana’s pig and Moana’s chicken.
Thank you.
Dear Santa,
My name is Jaida E. I am 4 years old. I have been nice this year. For Christmas I would like a big baby, a bottle and make up.
Thank you.
Bill Frye Basketball Tournament Announced
Mansfield High School will host the Bill Frye Invitational Basketball Holiday Tournament starting on Wednesday, December 27. The four day event will conclude with consolation games and championship games on Saturday, December 30.
Ten men’s teams and nine women’s team will make the annual trek to Mansfield gymnasium for a 23 game slate of senior high basketball action. Headlining the bracket will be the Vian Wolves. The Oklahoma power has been in both the men’s and women’s tournament finals for several seasons now.
Local favorites along with the home town Mansfield Tigers will be the Waldron Bulldogs and the Hackett Hornets. Hackett made the finals in the girls division the last two seasons and are expected to have a good showing again this year. Waldron is playing well on the men’s side and have a sophomore scorer lighting up the headlines.
Magazine brings a solid boys team to the table as do Booneville, West Fork, and Lamar. Arkoma returns to the bracket as well as Mulberry.
All schools except for Lamar will compete on both gender brackets. The Lady Warriors were overbooked and will not appear on the women’s side.
The Frye Holiday Classic is named for retired Mansfield basketball George W. “Bill” Frye. Frye left Mansfield as the most successful basketball coach in school history with 400 victories. He is a Hall of Fame coach that is still active in the community. Most recently he and his wife Cindy were the Grand Marshals of the Mansfield Christmas Parade.
Click the below links for PDF brackets.
Mens Basketball Bracket | Womens Basketball Bracket
“I love you, Mansfield”
EDITOR’S NOTE: Due to recent actions, it is my intent to pose questions, that need answered, and for publicly held positions to be challenged. However, it is not my intent to take a stance on right/wrong, without knowing the facts. The sole intent of this article is to encourage you, the citizens, the voting public to look straight into the eye of the problem(s), and understand that if you’re passionate about the future of our beloved town, then it’s time to do something that makes a lasting difference. – Jason Baggett, December 14, 2017
Original article, previously drafted on September 2, 2017
It has been my focus of providing high quality, and community based information through Resident Press, and to not let personal feelings, or perspectives change the landscape of our content, and to never let politics into the mix.
However, questions must be asked, and questions need to be answered.
Growing up in this town, I never wanted to leave. I love it’s people, the smallness, its personal touch, and the memories I have here. My parents called it home, and so shall I. It’s a decision I’ve made with a deep sense of pride, and I stand behind it.
I’ve been asked, and asked, AND ASKED about our current situation in City Hall, and this is my response. “What are YOU doing to solve the current problems? Use your voice, and speak out!”
After serving on the Mansfield School Board for a complete term, I understand the fullness, and value of peoples opinions in regards to their families, livelihoods, security, and our future as a community. I get it, even though I live outside the city limits and my vote doesn’t count.
The City of Mansfield is currently at a pivotal point, it’s tipping point, maybe even worse. This very point where decisions are being made about vanity rather than security, well being, lack of accountability, and absolutely no sense of community focus within our government has me questioning the future of the town I dearly love. It also raises questions about the motives of those who hold elected seats.
As in any school system, the Superintendent answers to the School Board, not individually. The same be told for the Mayor, and the City Council. It’s the chain of command. Both Mayor, and members of the City Council answer to the voting public, and the Mayor answers to the City Council. Neither can be ran as a dictatorship, nor should it singularly make decisions, or influence employees. But, this is EXACTLY what’s happening, and in some cases, it’s worse than what we probably all know.
I’ve sat, and watched for too long without saying anything, and I feel I’m doing a disservice to this community by not publicly stating my perspective, and asking the hard questions.
Why are the City Council meetings not filled with citizens of Mansfield, and Business owners? TELL ME WHY this is so. PLEASE! If you don’t speak your concerns, they cannot, and will not be answered. If in attendance, you will clearly see the issues and can personally hold elected seats accountable.
And for the life of me, why does no one want to say anything? It is this very reason why problems are not solved, people leave their passionate positions, leave the town they grew up in, nothing changes, and the town becomes a statistic to the negative. Instead, we wait, and wait until one person finally has enough, and says something. Then, it’s too late.
If that person has to be me, and use this article as my soap box, then so be it.
I truly hope the citizens that call this fine town home, and the business/property owners realize where this is heading, start voicing their opinions, ask questions, demand (truthful) answers, and hold public seats accountable for their actions, or lack there of.
The City of Mansfield will never be a destination, attract businesses, and be a positive focal point if its people won’t come together and demand change, and accountability. It’s that simple.
I love you, Mansfield
Jason Baggett
Email Questions Mansfield Mayor’s Motives
On Friday, December 8, 2017, we were made aware of an email that was supposedly drafted by Mansfield Mayor, Larry Austin and sent to City of Mansfield Attorney Matthew Ketchum. That email actually exists, and is shown below. [Note:This same information is available to the public per the Freedom of Information Act.]
Upon first glance, it’s hard to ascertain as to why the Mayor would inquire about dissolving of the City, which includes government, property etc.
The Mayor was contacted about as to why he would send an email with such a “quick to point” subject.
RP: “Mr. Austin, can you explain to me why an email was sent from your email address regarding the dissolving of the City of Mansfield?”
Austin replied: “[Long pause]…Uh, this concerned an audit, regarding our emergency plan.”
RP: “Can you email us that plan?”
Austin: “I guess so?”
Within 15 minutes of ending the conversation, Austin sent an email with a one page document which follows.
Prior ADEQ Report Shows Satisfactory
In the wake of the recent ADEQ violations report regarding Mansfield sewer plant, several comments focused on the “inherited mess” that Mayor Austin came into when taking office. We felt compelled to look into it further, and see what previous reports revealed.
Reports dated June 8, 2015, and April 23, 2015 show that no violations have been, or were reported at that time and the Mansfield sewer plant was in satisfactory condition.
The permit for the Mansfield sewer plant expired in October 2017, where no effort to renew such permit can be found.
The ADEQ report from yesterday’s article mentioned that the plant was currently being run on “auto pilot” with no maintenance, nor licensed operator since September 2016.
We’ll let you be the judge.
Mansfield Boil Order UPDATE
We have been sent the following information regarding the current status of the boil order, and future progress of the water tower in Mansfield.
Water Tank Update 12-13-2017
Temporary repairs are planned for 12-18,19
Water samples will be taken after temporary work finished.
If water samples are OK, the boil water will be lifted by Dec. 22
Permanent repairs will be made in 3-5 weeks.