Mansfield Middle School has been selected to partner with the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville to conduct a five year case study. The University of Arkansas met with Mansfield Middle School 8th grade students earlier in the year to complete a survey relating to college visits. The study is set to monitor a group of students for five years and determine if making visits to college campuses helps increases the likelihood of students moving into high education.
Student were divided into three groups to study and monitor their future and growth into higher education. Through random selections, 1/3 of the students will be the control group that just completed the survey, another 1/3 of students completed surveys and will receive brochures and information related to the University, while the 1/3 of the students were selected to visit the University of Arkansas on three different occasions.
The students receive three different campus tours at the University of Arkansas and will receive free admission to the spring football game as well. pictured are the random groups of students at their first visit at the University of Arkansas. The study correlates the relationship between student visits to college and their likelihood to attend higher education.
You can’t visit the UofA, and not “Call the Hogs!!!!”
David Lee Parker, 58, of Waldron, Arkansas died October 6, 2017, in his home. He was a born-again Christian who was baptized into the Hon Baptist Church.
David was born April 8, 1959, in Ceres, California to Jerry and Sarah Jo (Kitchens) Parker.
Dave was a multifaceted entrepreneur, from running grocery stores to designing websites. His other passions included computers, playing Fantasy Football, watching Big Brother, and visiting with his friends, family and his granddogs, Jax and Lily. He also loved taking road trips with his Dad.
David is survived by four daughters, Kelli Ann Robertson and Terri Sue Robertson of Waldron, Sarah Louise Koltzau and her husband, Brian Keith Koltzau of Lowell, AR, and Jenna Lee Parker of Topeka, KS; granddaughter Kaylee Sue Gardner of Mountainburg, AR; his parents, Jerry and Sarah Jo Parker of Fort Smith, AR; father-in-law Willie Newman of Waldron; brother, Jeffery Dean Parker and his wife, Sheila Kaye Parker of Fort Smith; sister, Jo Ann Parker of Rogers, AR; a brother-in-law Junior Newman and wife, Gina of Waldron; and a host of nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends.
David was preceded in death by his wife Mary Sue (Newman) Parker; mother-in-law Flora (Scott) Newman; grandparents, Lewis and Bertha Kitchens and Ira and Ollie Parker.
David’s celebration of life will be 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Reverend DelmasHunnicut, officiating. Interment will follow in the Center Point Cemetery near Hon, Arkansas. Arrangements are being entrusted to the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas.
David’s visitation will be 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 10, 2017 at the Heritage Memorial Funeral Home in Waldron, Arkansas
David’s pallbearers will beLewis James, Rick Evans, James Hanna, Lee Allen Langston, Steve Hawkins, Richard Parks.
You may leave words of remembrance and view David’s online video tribute by visiting: www.heriagememorialfh.com.
The first combined National Night Out was held on Tuesday, October 3rd at Bell Park in Greenwood. To say it was a success, is an understatement.
The rain didn’t stop the large crowds of continuous people coming in, as they were all treated with free food, music, activities, treats, and a demonstration of the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office Swat team and K9.
Hosted by the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office, Greenwood PD, and Hackett PD, the event allowed families to interact with officers and view various equipment of different departments. Children were especially inquisitive, interested and enjoyed spending time with the people who protect us all, and are the first to come to our need, without question.
Numerous door prizes were given away including a bicycle , shirts, a grill, and toys. The agencies involved wish to thank all the sponsors who made this a successful event.
SCSO walked kids on horseback around a short trail in the park. The wait was quite long, at times.An ARGO ATV was on hand to give rides around the park also.Painted faces of children were abundant at the NNO.Thank you Greenwood Fire Dept.Thank you, Greenwood Police Dept.Thank you, Sebastian Co. Shereiffs Dept, and Hackett Police Dept.Hackett Police Chief, Darrell Spells had a moment with a Storm Trooper who was on hand to visit with children.SCSO SWAT Team talked to attendees about their role, and function in the community. Great to see you all!SCSO can rescue, and protect from the water as well.Old Glory proudly flies high above the park and was the focal point of all who attended. God Bless America!
Megan Rose stands in front of her family members whose supporting her at the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville.
Jeff Rose has a ongoing joke with his wife and daughter. At some point before his daughter graduates, the three will race a 200m dash.
Mr. Rose, a two-sport star at Mansfield in the early 1990’s, is married to Heidi. Heidi Woolbright as she was known back then when the two graduated Mansfield in 1991 was a record setting track athlete. Their daughter is Tiger cross country ace Megan Rose.
The smart money is the trio will never actually line up for that mythical matchup. However, if the race was to see who might be the first in the line to view one of Megan’s cross country races; it would hands down be daddy Rose.
“Jeff’s a very supportive father,” said John Mackey who once coached the older Rose and is now currently his daughter’s coach. “Since Megan first started, Jeff has always made it a point to try and make every meet. There has been very few times he has not been there to support her.”
Just this past Saturday, the elder Rose arrived early at the Fayetteville Chile Pepper race. He scouted out a viewing point just below the finish line that offered him and his family several takes of the ongoing race.
“Coach, we got a spot on the other side,” remembered Mackey hearing Jeff’s conversation on Saturday morning. “He said something to the effect; I don’t know if we can make the mile mark and back but this is a pretty good spot to give her a holler more than once.”
The fact is Jeff, Heidi, the grandparents, an aunt, an uncle, cousins and more all made the trip to the second largest cross country race in the nation. Although there were over 6,000 runners in participation that day through a nine race schedule, it was really only one runner the Rose brigade came to see.
“My immediate family always love coming to the meets especially since I’m an only child as well as a senior,” exclaimed Megan when asked about her faithful following. “My dad doesn’t want to miss out on anything no matter it being a win or a loss. The Chile Pepper is always a big and fun experience. To share that with my family made it an even bigger thrill.”
Daughter Rose indeed ran that day at the Chile Pepper Festival. Along the fields of the University of Arkansas Agricultural Park, she competed in the high school open division with 582 runners.
Megan came in 88th place. To put it into perspective, that’s nearly 500 athletes from a multitude of states that the Lady Tiger ran 3.1 miles faster than. Although it wasn’t her best time (23:08.5) of the season. It was her best time on this particular collegiate course. And, it was in front of family.
Megan was the lone entry for the Mansfield women’s team. With the stakes so high and the standards so deep, that’s typical of the Tigers to only enter a few.
Chile Pepper participants Joris Felius, Megan Rose, and Devon Pyles as seen below the Arkansas finish line. More than 6000 runners came to run the University of Arkansas course including these three Mansfield Tiger cross country runners.
However, the Mansfield men’s team sent two Tigers to the enormous running event. Senior Devon Pyles and exchange student Joris Felius both competed in the weekend festival.
“This was Devon’s second appearance at the Chile Pepper,” stated Mackey. “We wanted Joris to run as well to give him another experience to tell when he gets back home to the Netherlands.”
The Tiger men lined up against 887 other racers for the 5K stampede. Surviving the 500 meter start before the first 90 degree turn was an achievement in itself. Both Mansfield runners avoided collisions to complete the course in the 20 minute range. Pyles (20:27.8) and Felius (20:47.2) both landed within the top 47% of the total runners to finish.
“It was good to give these kids an opportunity,” explained the coach. “It was especially good to have a large following come watch. The Rose family may have come to support Megan, but they treat all our kids like their own.”
889 runners attempt the 5K race for the open high school boys race at the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville. Mansfield’s Devon Pyles and Joris Felius are somewhere among the many.
(Pictured above) Natalie Brewer, Bree George, Megan Rose, Elizabeth Escalante, Corrina Wesley, and Addison Goetz of the Mansfield Beta Club.
Friday mid-morning, the 2017 Beta Club initiation took place at Mansfield High School. Several honorees were newly inducted into the high academic achievement organization. Among the many to join the already placed participants were several Mansfield cross country runners.
“We may have the highest accumulative GPA of any team on campus,” said Mansfield coach John Mackey. “Nearly every one of our girls is on that academic roster. It’s a real blessing to have highly motivated students in the classroom that also want to compete on the athletic stage.”
Among the Beta Club members that also participate in cross country are: Natalie Brewer, Corrina Wesley, Breanna George, Maggie Strunk, Addison Goetz, Megan Rose, and Elizabeth Escalante.
The National Beta Club is an organization whose main purpose is to promote the ideals of academic achievement, character, leadership and service among elementary and secondary schools.
Mansfield elects its members to the honor society based upon these high standards. To remain in the club, strict adherence to these frameworks must be maintained by the students.
Feeling the effects of some cooler temperatures, Mansfield’s junior cross country team pushed along the Sturthard Stampede 1.5 mile race in Acorn and brought home a pocket full of medals.
Six runners, three each off the junior girls and junior boys’ teams for Mansfield, made the awards stand at Acorn. Rather than split the competition into big school and little school divisions, the hosts handed out top 20 medals across the board.
To the delight of the Tiger cubs, the pick six made for a fun trip home.
Olivia Bouse, Faith Rainwater, and Harleigh Mars took home three of the six piece set for the Tiger women. Ethan Chapman, Steven Perez, and Levi Escalante hauled home the remaining three pieces for the Tiger men.
Bouse, just a seventh grader, had been flirting with a top place reward all season. The first time runner had been within reach of an individual medal almost every time out. This time the Tiger youth made sure of the prize by moving into tenth place down the back stretch. Her time was 10:44.6 for the 1.5 mile race.
Perez, an eighth grader off the MJH boys squad, had similarly been close to medal reward each week of racing. The Mansfield junior high runner finally broke through for a trophy of his own. His mark of 9:15.0 placed him 16th among 74 total junior boy runners.
Mansfield’s most consistent junior high runners this season both notched individual rewards at Acorn. Ethan Chapman was fifth among the men with a 8:47.1 clocking. Faith Rainwater from the girls’ team was 16th with a mark of 10:58.4.
Joining the medal ranks for the first time this season were Harleigh Mars and Levi Escalante.
Mars, a 300m conference hurdle champion in track, ran the one loop course in 11:03.8. She was 17th among the women.
Escalante who specializes in cross country only, ran the race in 9:19.8. He was 16th place among the men.
Up to five Mansfield runners set new personal records at the Sturthard Stampede in Acorn as the Lady Tigers took second in the team standings.
Run on a mild weather day on September 26, three Tiger women and two of the men navigated the 5k course in their fastest career times. Megan Rose, Corrina Wesley, Natalie Brewer as well as Devon Pyles and Joris Felius were credited with the accomplishments along the Acorn hosted course.
Rose, the Tiger’s lead runner and college cross country recruit, helped set the pace with a stellar 21:06.5 cruise around the 3.1 mile equivalent. That margin was good enough for second place overall in the individual standings.
Senior teammates Wesley and Brewer ran almost identical times once again as they have nearly all season. The pair punched in at 24:57.0 and 24:57.4. The marks were medal worthy editions at 15th and 16th places respectively.
Pyles, another senior, turned the two loop course in 18:48.5. This, his career best, placed him at 15th overall and into the medal standings.
Netherlands foreign exchange student now Mansfield Tiger, Joris Felius, posted a 18:55.7 as his best time since joining the American team. His finish line crossing was good enough for 20th place and his first USA medal.
“It was really exciting for the players and their families,” stated John Mackey, Mansfield’s long time coach. “In fact, Corrina (Wesley) was moved to tears. She thought I was joking and asked several times before calling her mom and boyfriend with the news.”
Mansfield’s top runner Rose began the race in her usual fashion. The senior sat back in the beginning sizing up the competition before moving up after the first mile.
Holding her own fifth place at the mile mark, Rose steadily moved forward knocking off all but one competitor in the race. DeQueen’s Heidy Galvan forced the lead before the second mile and held off the field with a 20:57.8 first place finish.
Rose was about 30 seconds behind Galvan after the first loop. The Mansfield native gained on the larger school runner but couldn’t quite catch the lead. Rose trailed Galvan by less than nine seconds as the pair crossed one and two for the gold and silver rewards.
DeQueen’s overall depth won the team trophy with 27 points. Mansfield slid into second with 65 points. Acorn closed fast with a third place mark of 66. Heavener reached the top four with a score of 73.
Mansfield’s top five scorers were Rose, Lennon Woods, Wesley, Brewer, and Jesse George.
Woods was the second fastest on the team with a solid 24:27.5 measurement. George came across in 28:13.7.
Several Mansfield cross country runners take home awards at the Acorn meet. Lennon Woods, Natalie Brewer, Megan Rose, and Corrina Wesley medal at Sturthard Stampede in Acorn.
Tamera Pitts, Angella Kester, Aly McClain, and Jessica Kester
The Mansfield 4th, 5th, and 6th grade GT students represented Mansfield at the Walton Arts Center to see a live performance of Sunjata. 6th grader Toby Towe and Mr. Mickle were asked to be performers in the play.
Mansfield City Lake was a buzz with the smell of amazing food, and melodies of bluegrass music this past Saturday. Musicians, and festival goers were treated to a beautiful day, while enjoying the food, music, and sharing time (and laughs) with friends, and family. “What an awesome 6th Annual Bluegrass Festival and I think I am safe to say that everyone had a great time! The Lord blessed us with great weather, a day of great music and fellowship. I want to give a special thank you to our bands: Frog Bayou Boys, High Mtn. Bluegrass, Common Thread, Prairie Creek, Southern Tradition, Roving Gamblers, Greenland Station and Just Us. Volunteers were Sonny Fry, Robert Walker, Mallory Walker, Joe Manes, Pamela Perkinson-Manes, David Heydenreich, Bobby Shepherd, Vickie Shepherd, Lesli Redfern Baggett, the Mansfield Fire Department (Megan Hecox, Stephen Haysmer, Levi McDowell) Adam Hecox, Alex Hecox, Rayne Hecox, Polly Martin, Tim Manes, Marilyn Manes, Annette Smith and the JAG students. Thanks also goes to our sponsors: Yeagers Hardware-Greenwood; Sharum’s Garden Center; Greenwood Walmart; Vintage Vase; 71 Express; Sonic of Mansfield; Scott County Judge James Forbes; Angela Taylor, SheriWagoner Hopkins, Rick McDaniel, Peggy Slate-Harris, Wilma Harris, Times Record, Hartland Heritage, The Citizen, Fort Smith Radio Group, CV’s Family Foods and Just Us Sound (Robert Walkerand Bobby Shepherd) A very special and big BIG THANK YOU to everyone that came out for the day and enjoyed themselves. I am happy to announce that after everything was paid for, we cleared a little over a $1,000. Mark your calendars now for the 7th Annual Bluegrass Festival which will be Saturday, September 29, 2018. Please forgive me if I left anyone out!” – Becky Walker
We enjoyed our day, and the opportunity to witness an event that started from humble beginnings that’s grown into something that benefits the community, and the efforts to create a long lasting tradition. We’ll see you next year!
A simple reminder as to our freedom of enjoying a beautiful day, among good friends, and family. Angela Taylor with Scentsy was enjoying the day and those who stopped by to visit her booth. Click this picture to visit her website for all your Scentsy needs. Shaded areas were prime real estate while others basked in the warmth of the sun. Have we mentioned the AMAZING sounds of the talented entertainers? Bluegrass music echoed throughout the trees Saturday afternoon. Such sweet sounds! Local talent, “Just Us” performed as the festival came to a close. (Photo Credit: Mallory Walker) Sonny Fry enjoys the amazing vocals of his daughter Becky Walker, whose on stage as a member of Just Us. (Photo Credit: Mallory Walker / Sonny Fry’s Granddaughter) Thanks for coming……See y’all next year!!!!
Article by Konnor McKay | Photo Courtesy of Sandy Tull
Waldron defeated West Fork In an important conference game last Friday. In their previous meeting, Waldron routed West Fork 49 – 6. This time around, just more of the same. Waldron picked up a decisive ‘W’ against West Fork, finishing up at 49 – 14.
The first two offensive plays for West Fork resulted in two fumbles forced by Waldron which resulted in Waldron getting the ball! Waldron’s first offensive play resulted in a touchdown for the bulldogs, from Trey Williams. West Fork struggles to get even a first down until late in the second quarter finally getting on the board just before half time. After some big defensive plays from Waldron’s Dayton Manning and Cole Huddleston, Waldron holds West Fork to just 7 points in the first half. Waldron went into half time with the lead 35-6, after touchdowns were scored by Williams, Huddleston, and Levi Hayden.
Waldron did go on to win the contest 49-14. Waldron now faces a huge conference game against the Pottsville Apaches this coming Friday night at Pottsville. Waldron’s overall record is 3-2, and 1-1 in conference play. Go dogs!
