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Robert Joseph “Bob” Hefner departed from this life on Wednesday, March 16, 2022.
He was born on July 10, 1942, in Fontaine, the oldest child of Robert Lee and Hazel (Trotter) Hefner. He moved to St. Louis at the age of 18, where he met the love of his life, Wanda Esther Songer, whom he married on Aug. 20, 1961. They moved back to Arkansas, establishing their homestead in Maynard in 1967. For 13 years, Bob worked at TRW Cinch in Pocahontas before moving to Maynard School, where he served the community for 29 and one-half years, retiring in 2009. Bob enjoyed hunting and fishing with his sons and grandchildren, but he found true enjoyment working with his cows on his farming operation that his sons and grandchildren dubbed “Hefnerville.”
He was a member of West Point Pentecostal Church in Doniphan, Mo., where he was selected as the Father of the Faith in 2012.
He is survived by his wife, Wanda; sons, Steven (Kelli) of Corinth, Miss., and Greg (Rhonda) of Tuttle, Okla.; grandchildren, Megan (BJ) Dunson of Victoria, Miss., Jason (Alyssa) Hefner of Nashville, Ind., Charity (Ty) Welch of Yukon, Okla., Jessica Hefner of Cordova, Tenn., and Emily Hefner of Yukon, Okla.; three great-grandchildren; and a host of friends and family.
He was preceded in death by both of his parents and all of his siblings, Donnie, Gary, Stanley and Patricia Nelson.
Visitation was Friday, March 18, from 5-7 p.m. and Saturday, March 19, from 2-3, prior to funeral services at McNabb Funeral home in Pocahontas. The graveside service will follow at Ingram Cemetery in Maynard.
Those honored to serve as pallbearers are Jason Hefner, BJ Dunson, Ty Welch, Keith Hefner, Ernie Nelson, Ray Nelson, Mike Hefner and Dean Hefner. Honorary pallbearers include Jordan Rapert, Jim Milam, Paul Huffman and Rev. George Arnold.
The Hefner family would like to thank the nursing staff of St. Bernards Five Rivers Hospital in Pocahontas, as well as the staff at Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro for their excellent care. | 2022-03-23T18:01:40Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Robert Hefner | Obituaries | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/robert-hefner/article_e6d26096-c38b-5575-90e5-281535daebb4.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/robert-hefner/article_e6d26096-c38b-5575-90e5-281535daebb4.html |
Tammy Lynn Phillips, 60, of Jonesboro, passed away March 17, 2022, at St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro.
Born March 4, 1962, in Jonesboro, she was the daughter of Carl and Betty Lewis Phillips. Tammy graduated from Walnut Ridge High School and attended Arkansas State University. She was active in school, playing softball and twirling fire sticks as a majorette. She worked in the financial industry and was a member of First Baptist Church in Walnut Ridge. Tammy enjoyed traveling, decorating her home and planting flowers.
She is preceded in death by her father, Carl; and an infant sister, Kathy Phillips.
Survivors include her mother, Betty Phillips of Walnut Ridge; two sisters, Carlotta Phillips Howell (Jack) of Jonesboro, and Debbie Phillips of Walnut Ridge; a brother, Cap Phillips (Dr. Cristy) of Walnut Ridge; one niece, Dr. Jacqueline Caldwell; three nephews, Chad Howell, and Teague and Colin Phillips; her dog, Princess; and many other relatives and friends.
Graveside service was Sunday, March 20, at 3 p.m. at Jonesboro Memorial Gardens with Bro. Jake Guenrich officiating.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society. | 2022-03-23T18:01:46Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Tammy Phillips | Obituaries | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/tammy-phillips/article_08fe6327-ddd7-59b7-98be-415223e8976e.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/tammy-phillips/article_08fe6327-ddd7-59b7-98be-415223e8976e.html |
Walnut Ridge High School graduate Bailey Augustine drives down the court during her freshman season at Union University.
Photo courtesy of Union University.
By NATHAN HIBBARD TD Staff
Walnut Ridge High School graduate Bailey Augustine recently completed her freshman season as a member of the women’s basketball team at Union University in Jackson, Tenn.
Union, a traditional NCAA Division II powerhouse, finished the 2021-22 season with a 28-3 record. The Lady Bulldogs fell to Valdosta State, 66-58, in the South Regional finals on March 14 to conclude their season, which included a Gulf South Conference championship for the third straight year.
Augustine said playing at Union has given her the opportunity to continue to play the sport she loves with people she loves.
“I received a family when I went to Union to play basketball,” she said. “I’m beyond thankful for the year we were able to have and memories I will forever hold close to my heart.”
During her freshman campaign, Augustine saw action in 26 games, scoring 97 points and grabbing 39 rebounds. She scored a season-high 18 points on 6-of-7 shooting from the field and six-of-six shooting from the free throw line against Drury College in November.
“The most important thing that I see moving forward is being able to grow as a person and player in an environment such as Union to become the person I aspire to be,” Augustine said.
At WRHS, Augustine surpassed the 2,000-point mark for her career. She was a two-time All-State honoree and a three-time All-Conference selection. As a senior, she was the recipient of the girls’ W.R. Glenn Award. She was a member of the National Honor Society and was a salutatorian of her graduating class.
“I am beyond thankful to be able to play basketball at the next level and I have had lots of support from my community, family, coaching staff and friends/teammates,” Augustine said. “When I was a little girl I dreamed of this opportunity. I’m extremely appreciative of the people and the outcome.”
TD staff member Gretchen Hunt contributed to this article. | 2022-03-23T18:02:05Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Augustine completes successful season with Union | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/sports/augustine-completes-successful-season-with-union/article_fd36176b-2b88-580c-a3be-886223dca1d7.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/sports/augustine-completes-successful-season-with-union/article_fd36176b-2b88-580c-a3be-886223dca1d7.html |
The Lawrence County Quorum Court met on March 14 at the Lawrence County Courthouse and discussed an ordinance authorizing the collection of Cache River drainage district taxes on property tax statements.
The court was directed that a flat tax of $4.50 per acre was to be assessed on the property located within the Cache River Drainage District to fund the improvements in said district to control flooding.
Because this reflects a change in the tax rate, an ordinance was required for the assessor and collector to implement the new rate set by the district. All members present voted to approve the ordinance as read.
County Judge John Thomison also mentioned the Cache River bridge lawsuit and stated that there were no new updates to report at this time.
Also during the meeting, Judge Thomison submitted the landfill budget to quorum court members. Justices approved the budget.
Clay Sloan provided an update on the Gerber lawsuit and stated that Gerber has agreed to pay a settlement.
In addition, it was asked that the county clerk’s office be allowed to hire a new deputy clerk to fill a vacancy. Justices voted to allow the hire and agreed to discuss lifting the hiring freeze at an upcoming meeting. | 2022-03-23T18:02:11Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Tax increase implemented for Cache River drainage district | Times Dispatch | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/tax-increase-implemented-for-cache-river-drainage-district/article_32460196-e3f8-5901-ba6e-ba349c767522.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/tax-increase-implemented-for-cache-river-drainage-district/article_32460196-e3f8-5901-ba6e-ba349c767522.html |
Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities requests proposals
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities has opened its annual request for proposals encouraging Arkansas entities to apply to receive grant funding for their developmental disability inclusion projects.
Arkansas-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations, public educational institutions, and local and state agencies are encouraged to submit their proposals by April 13 at 11:59 p.m.
“These proposals enable the Council to supply much-needed funding to Arkansas-based organizations implementing projects to promote DD inclusion,” Jon Taylor, executive director of the council said in the press release. “Having an abundance of support from organizations of all kinds across the state is exactly what will help bolster the independence and productivity of Arkansans with DD.”
The Council will award a total of $500,000 to a minimum of three project activities to begin on July 1, that address the following goals and objectives:
People with DD and their families will be active in advocacy activities that improve their lives, the lives of others and the service system.
People with DD and their families will have improved access to community support and services.
The Council will support projects to improve the competitive, integrated employment of Arkansans with developmental disabilities.
“Supplying resources to organizations in Arkansas is a large component of our mission to promote the integration, inclusion and independence of Arkansans with DD,” Assiah Lewellen, deputy director of the council said. “If you are a business who is passionate about providing resources, programs or other services for individuals with DD, we encourage you to submit your application today.”
Additionally, applicants must be able to demonstrate the following minimum criteria:
Display a working knowledge of the issues that affect people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.
Have experience working with and/or advocating on behalf of people with IDD.
Show a history of conducting education in the activity area identified in the application.
Exhibit a functional and operational alignment with the mission and values of the Council.
The Council strongly encourages applications from organizations that are located in rural or urban poverty areas, organizations that employ staff with IDDs in an integrated setting, and/or organizations that represent linguistic or cultural minorities.
The deadline to submit written questions is 4:30 p.m. April 7.
Interested parties can learn more or submit an application by visiting bit.ly/GCDDFunding22. | 2022-03-24T09:26:16Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Governor’s Council on Developmental Disabilities requests proposals | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/governor-s-council-on-developmental-disabilities-requests-proposals/article_7c92248f-ec55-5dc8-abd1-d0626a4dc828.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/governor-s-council-on-developmental-disabilities-requests-proposals/article_7c92248f-ec55-5dc8-abd1-d0626a4dc828.html |
NEA communities receive community development grants
LITTLE ROCK — The Arkansas Economic Development Commission has awarded $4,753,478 million in Community Development Block Grant to 30 Arkansas cities and counties.
The grants were awarded under the General Assistance set-aside, part of Arkansas’ $18.86 million 2021 formula grant allocation, which is designed to provide communities the opportunity to apply for a variety of nonhousing public-facility and public-infrastructure projects.
These funds originate from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
An additional $2,424,095 was awarded to nine cities and counties throughout the state from the CDBG-CV set-aside, a $26.4 million supplemental program to assist in local government-level recovery, prevention and preparation efforts relating to the coronavirus.
The CDBG-CV funding was allocated to the State by HUD as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act.
General Assistance projects for Northeast Arkansas include:
Ash Flat, Sharp County, Ash Flat Street Overlay Project, $244,317;
Etowah, Mississippi County, Etowah Wastewater Treatment Plant Project, $300,000;
Evening Shade, Sharp County, Evening Shade Water Line Project, $237,508.
CDBG-CV projects in the area include:
Blytheville, Mississippi County, Blytheville Homeless Shelter Project, $275,000;
Jackson County, Jackson County Homeless Shelter Project, $156,825;
Paragould. Greene County, Paragould Homeless Shelter Project, $281,500.
To be eligible for CDBG funds through both of these programs, communities must have a population of less than 50,000 and at least 51 percent of the persons benefitting from the project must be of low- to moderate-income, or the project must meet another CDBG national objective, prevention of slum or blight, or meet an urgent need. | 2022-03-24T09:26:22Z | www.jonesborosun.com | NEA communities receive community development grants | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/nea-communities-receive-community-development-grants/article_13f78c6f-66b7-53be-ba39-0038e07ef62b.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/nea-communities-receive-community-development-grants/article_13f78c6f-66b7-53be-ba39-0038e07ef62b.html |
Nice-Pak pledges to support disaster relief
ORANGEBURG, N.Y. — According to a recent press release, “Nice-Pak, a global leader in the manufacturing and marketing of wet wipes, and sister company, PDI, the global leader in infection prevention products and service solutions,” has announced a partnership with Good360, “the global leader in product philanthropy and purposeful giving.”
The Good360 Resilient Response offers a proactive, needs-based, transparent and education-focused approach to disaster-recovery giving.
Nice-Pak and PDI have made a long-term commitment to donate wipes based on a quarterly needs assessment, which enables Good360 to be better prepared and pre-position the product with their extensive network of nonprofits.
With products already on-site at regional distribution hubs, Nice-Pak and PDI wipes will be available for quick deployment to areas of need.
The pledge marks over $5 million in the fair market value of Nice-Pak and PDI wipes donated to Good360. According to the announcement, wipes are often one of the most requested items in disaster relief and humanitarian crises for cleanup and to mitigate the hygiene insecurity experienced by survivors and refugees.
Nice-Pak and PDI are joined by more than 65 Good360 partner organizations that are committed to providing goods to people through all stages of recovery.
Good360 distributes essential goods through a network of more than 100,000 nonprofits. | 2022-03-24T09:26:28Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Nice-Pak pledges to support disaster relief | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/nice-pak-pledges-to-support-disaster-relief/article_3962cec4-9884-5f95-b474-0477b559c58e.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/nice-pak-pledges-to-support-disaster-relief/article_3962cec4-9884-5f95-b474-0477b559c58e.html |
Rural business development conference set
FORREST CITY — Providing small and emerging business owners with the skills, tools and contacts needed to create and grow their enterprises and better engage in job creation activities are the goals of THE 2022 Eastern Arkansas Rural Business Development Conference to be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. via Zoom AND with a limited in-person audience on April 1 in Forrest City.
In-person participation will be limited to 40, including presenters at the Forrest City Civic Center, 1335 N. Washington St.
Funded by the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services, Eastern Arkansas Enterprise Community, USDA Rural Development and Arkansas Human Development Corporation, the conference, with a theme of “Innovative Approaches To Obtain Economic Growth For Sustainable Rural Communities” will bring together approximately 20 private, quasi-state, state, federal, nonprofit and national organizations.
COVID-19 measures will be required which include social distancing, temperature checks, masks and release forms.
Topics will include building effective partnerships, securing capital, personal finance, developing business plans, selling goods and services to the government, and how to acquire the many services offered by the ASBTDC to start and grow a business.
Breakfast with the Lenders Roundtable will begin at 8:30 a.m. where conference participants will network with local, regional and statewide lenders.
Anthony Young, president of Southern Bancorp Community Partners, will be the luncheon speaker.
There is no charge to participate in the event but registration is required by calling Arkansas Human Development Corporation at 800-482-7641 or visiting bit.ly/3njgrcd. | 2022-03-24T09:26:34Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Rural business development conference set | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/rural-business-development-conference-set/article_c4db2e1e-4504-58be-b2d9-697710b4a8e2.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/rural-business-development-conference-set/article_c4db2e1e-4504-58be-b2d9-697710b4a8e2.html |
Women’s Leadership Conference returns
JONESBORO — The Women’s Leadership Center in the Neil Griffin College of Business at Arkansas State University has announced that, after a two-year break, its annual Women’s Leadership Conference is set for April 12, at the A-State campus.
The opening plenary session features a keynote address by Pat Keel, executive vice president, chief financial and administrative officer, for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis. She will speak at 9:30 a.m. in Centennial Hall of the Reng Student Union. Keel, an A-State alumna, was featured in a recent issue of Voices, the A-State Alumni Association magazine.
Scholarship awards, along with recognition of individuals comprising the Founders Circle and other advocates for the center, will follow. The Founders Circle began as a group of 30 successful professional women who committed financial resources and time to serve as mentors and advisers to young women.
Dr. Patricia Quinn Johnston, chair of the Women’s Leadership Conference Committee and faculty coordinator for the Women’s Leadership Center expressed her optimism for a memorable conference.
“This is our sixth conference, and we are excited that women and men will gather on our campus for a day of celebration, encouragement and support for women,” Johnston said in a press release. “We hope this conference will challenge and inspire all of us to seek new opportunities, embark on new adventures, expand our networks of friends and mentors, and respond to challenges with resilience and perseverance.”
Dr. Kathy White Loyd is founder of the Women’s Leadership Center at A-State.
“The first Women’s Leadership Conference at A-State was held in 2015. It has continued to grow each year attracting attendees from across the State,” she noted. “This year the conference features exciting speakers and breakout sessions with opportunities for networking with over 500 attendees.”
Two breakout sessions, separated by lunch, will feature an array of resourceful speakers who will engage the audience with timely ideas.
The 11 a.m. breakout speakers and topics are:
Dr. Faye Cocchiara, clinical associate professor of management at University of Texas at Arlington, “Women, Work Stressors and Coping;”
Susan Naylor, senior vice president, wealth management, and senior financial advisor at Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith, Inc., “Investing Basics;”
Chauncey Holloman Pettis, director of Arkansas Women’s Business Center, “Starting a Business in Arkansas;”
Amanda Herget, co-owner of Gearhead Outfitters, “Women in the Wilderness.”
Pettis also will speak during the second breakout session, starting at 12:30 p.m., on “Nuggets and Pearls.” Other speakers and topics are:
Carrie Russom Quraishi, estate planning, wealth and tax attorney, Quraishi Law Firm and Wealth Management, “Estate and Financial Planning for Women;”
Dr. Lillie Fears, professor of media, coordinator of the multimedia journalism program and liaison for faculty diversity, A-State, “Evaluating Images of Women: Why Media Literacy Matters;”
Dr. Kim Hester, professor of management at A-State, “Women Really Do Mean Business;”
Jill Clogston, director of Education Renewal Zone, A-State, Misty Doyle, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, Jonesboro Public Schools, and Sandra Hawkins, instructor in teacher education, A-State, joint presentation on “Lessons in Leadership and Resilience.”
The conference will conclude with dessert and networking from 1:30-2 p.m.
Admission to the conference is free, and lunch will be provided. For a full schedule and to register, visit astatealumni.org/WLC2022. | 2022-03-24T09:26:41Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Women’s Leadership Conference returns | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/women-s-leadership-conference-returns/article_ed619ed2-7527-543f-b5d6-e186c5ae05ff.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/women-s-leadership-conference-returns/article_ed619ed2-7527-543f-b5d6-e186c5ae05ff.html |
Dean Murry, faculty support specialist for the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Arkansas State University, works on his laptop at one of the laptop stations on Wednesday in the Academic Hub on the third floor of the Dean B. Ellis Library on the Arkansas State University Campus in Jonesboro.
A-State's Academic Hub gets a financial boost
JONESBORO — A-State’s Academic Hub got a $22,500 grant through the Kays Foundation, which will go toward the completion of the Academic Hub project.
The Academic Hub is a tutoring center on the third floor of Dean B. Ellis Library that is comprised of student-tutoring centers, as well as library and faculty resources.
Kelli Listenbee, Arkansas State University learning support services director and first-year experience coordinator, and Tabatha Simpson-Farrow, Arkansas State University writing center director, worked together on the proposal for the grant and were delighted to have received it.
“It was more then what we had asked for by almost a thousand dollars,” Listenbee said.
The project actually started a few years ago in the spring of 2019 but was delayed due to COVID-19 they said in an interview on Wednesday morning.
There were eight tutoring centers but none were big enough for A-State’s growing population.
“We had a cohort of supervisors and faculty that came together to say that we needed more space,” Listenbee said. “We could only fit about 25 students in a class and had to have about 4,000 sessions in an academic year.”
Simpson-Farrow added that the writing center, which also had about 3,000 sessions in an academic year, was in a repurposed space that was way too small.
Listenbee said that Matthew Robins, Arkansas State University instructor and communication center director, had also noted that after COVID-19 they were seeing overwhelming numbers as well and the tutoring program as a whole needed improvement.
So, they began research on student participation, tutoring programs and other academics tools that might help, Listenbee said, noting that they all pooled together, along with Jeff Bailey, Arkansas State University library director; The Center for Excellence in Education; Arkansas State University Graduate School and many Arkansas State University department heads on the project.
“You can’t make changes without help from the administration,” Listenbee said.
Now the tutoring space is centralized on the third floor of the library in the new Academic Hub that will cost an estimated $350,000 by the time it is complete, after the rebranding, new furniture, laptop stations, updated graphics and much more.
“The library was built in the ’60s,” Simpson-Farrow said, “but students have become tech heavy. So we have been working with KwikBoost,” noting that they help install phone and laptop charging stations and things of that nature.
“It wasn’t just a matter of shifting spaces. It required several changes and opening space for students,” she said, noting that it allowed the government documents section to be put online and relatively easy changes to the children’s literature section.
Simpson-Farrow said the Academic Hub is “shifting how the library serves students, because a lot of students need more than one of our services. So, this is much easier and a lot more effective.” | 2022-03-24T09:26:47Z | www.jonesborosun.com | A-State's Academic Hub gets a financial boost | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/a-states-academic-hub-gets-a-financial-boost/article_a5227918-3c0c-58ba-9e7c-a8d30c77f333.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/a-states-academic-hub-gets-a-financial-boost/article_a5227918-3c0c-58ba-9e7c-a8d30c77f333.html |
The gender wage gap
In the past we’ve seen national studies showing women, with equal levels of education, earning less than what white males earn, with Asian female earnings coming the closest and Hispanic females the farthest from white males.
On March 1, The Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey released state level census data on the gender gap. The gender wage gap in the United States has narrowed in recent years, but significant differences remain. In 2019, males who worked full-time, year-round earned $53,544 compared to $43,394 for women, a $10,150 difference. Another way to put this disparity into perspective is to highlight the equal pay day. In 2019 women had to work until March 15 of 2020 to earn what male earned at the end of 2019.
At the state level, the highest wage gap, $21,676, in the US is in the state of Wyoming. The only place where there is no gender wage gap is in Puerto Rico, where females earn, on average, $674 more then males. In Arkansas average male earnings were $45,015, while female earnings were $35,541, a difference of $9,474. Arkansas’ low income levels are to some extent offset by the state’s average price level which is only 84.7 percent of the average price level at the national level.
Regardless of Arkansas’ lower level of prices, the gender wage gap is a serious problem for female wage earners in Arkansas (and the nation as a whole) especially when you consider that 45 percent of marriages in the US end in divorce thus leaving them as the income earners. Even for families with two income earners, females are the higher income earners in 40 percent of the cases. The gender pay gap explains why more women live in poverty (21 million) compared to males (17 million).
The reason for the gender pay gap has been the subject of debate among labor economists since before my years as a graduate student. The US Department of Labor, in a report titled: Women Need Equal Pay Now, cited seven factors contributing to the pay gap:
Stereotyping that pressure’s women into gender appropriate jobs.
Educational and training gaps that create barriers for women entering certain occupations.
Uneven family care giving responsibilities that reduce the time women have in the labor force.
Networks and mentors, who are crucial in terms of referrals for job openings, are limited in non-traditional jobs for women.
Limited access to capital creates barriers for women to start their own business.
Workplace discrimination can deter women, especially women of color, from applying for a job and selecting women for employment.
And finally, workplace culture and harassment can include hostile work environments for women which limit a woman’s chances for advancement.
The Labor Department’s report specifically recommends improving equity by elevating women in leadership in the federal workforce by increasing the affordability of higher education and expanding access to apprenticeship programs and by supporting women in the workplace with job flexibility, including making child care affordable. Increase women’s access to capital by increasing resources and support for women entrepreneurs. Address discrimination by employers by investigating and prosecuting complaints and enforcing nondiscrimination, and finally by raising the federal minimum wage, and strengthening workers’ collective bargaining rights.
My fear is that the standard solutions, which the report cites, are not enough to eliminate the pay gap. All the suggested solutions already exist in some form and have proven to be less than effective, or were part of President Biden’s economic agenda which, while having passed in the House of Representatives, has died in the Senate.
None of this should be taken to mean that we should stop trying the so-called standard solution, but we need to recognize that all our efforts to date have been efforts to eliminate existing roadblocks for women in their quest for equal pay. Employers, and our existing institutional frameworks, seem inclined to pay women less, or perpetuate employment roadblocks, while the government is always on the defensive, being reactive to the problem of gender pay inequality as opposed to be proactive.
The best possible solution to gender pay inequality would be the passage of an Equal Rights Amendment (ERA). It wasn’t until the 1970s, that the U.S. Supreme Court began to apply the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment to cases of sex discrimination.
However, with its 1976 ruling in Craig v. Boren, the Court found that men and women, under certain circumstances, could be treated differently under the law without being in violation of the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment. With the ERA, those exceptions, which contribute to the gender wage gap, would be eliminated, thus guaranteeing that economic discrimination on the basis of sex would henceforth be illegal. | 2022-03-24T09:27:48Z | www.jonesborosun.com | The gender wage gap | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/the-gender-wage-gap/article_ffb9da5c-4dbd-54cf-a59c-c88db5e779ee.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/the-gender-wage-gap/article_ffb9da5c-4dbd-54cf-a59c-c88db5e779ee.html |
Tuckerman vs. West Plains
On March 19, in their final game of the Ozark Classic, the Tuckerman Bulldogs played West Plains, Missouri.
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead by scoring 5 runs in the top of the first and 7 runs in the top of the second to take a 12-0 lead after two innings of play. In the top of the third, the Bulldogs added 2 more runs to take a 14-0 lead. In the bottom of the third, West Plains was able to get on the scoreboard by scoring 3 runs in their half of the inning to cut the lead to 14-3. The Bulldogs were able to add an additional run in the top of the fourth to make the score 15-3, which wound up being the final score.
In the game, David Platt went 1 for 1 with 3 RBIs, Will Tubbs went 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs, D.T. King went 2 for 3 with 2 RBIs including a home run in the third inning, Brantley Lane went 1 for 2 with 2 RBIs including a home run in the fourth inning. Timothy Ward (2-1) was the starting pitcher for the Bulldogs. He pitched 4 innings, allowed 3 runs, 3 hits and struck out 9. With the win, the Bulldogs improve to 6-4 overall and 2-1 in conference play.
Tuckerman vs. McDonald County
On March 19, the Bulldogs played McDonald County, Missouri in their second game of the Ozark Classic. In the top half of the first inning, McDonald scored 4 runs and the Bulldogs responded with 3 runs of their own in the bottom of the first. McDonald scored another run in the second, five in the third, and seven in the fifth. The Bulldogs were able to score three more runs in the bottom of the fifth to cut the lead to 17-6 with the Bulldogs taking the loss after five innings of play.
In the game, Timothy Ward went 2 for 4, Aaron Hurst went 1 for 3 with an RBI, Brantley Lane went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs, and Eli Tackett went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs. Aaron Hurst (1-2) was the starting pitcher for the Bulldogs. He went 3 innings, allowed 8 hits, and struck out 1, and took the loss in the game. Pitching in relief was Brantley Lane who pitched 2 innings, allowed 5 hits, and struck out 2.
Tuckerman vs. Woodlawn
On March 18, the Bulldogs traveled to Harrison to play in the Ozarks Baseball Classic featuring teams from Arkansas and Missouri. In their first game of the event, they took on defending Arkansas 2-A State Champion Woodlawn.
Woodlawn jumped out to an early lead by scoring 5 runs in the second inning and 7 runs in the third to take a 12-0 lead after the top half of the third inning. In the bottom half of the third, the Bulldogs were able to score a run after Eli Tackett drew a walk followed by a single by D.T. King that advanced Tackett to second. Timothy Ward then singled on a fly ball over third base and Tackett was thrown out at third attempting to advance with King advancing to second on the play. Aaron Hurst then singled to center scoring King from second to make the score 12-1 Woodlawn after three innings of play. Woodlawn was able to hold the Bulldogs scoreless the rest of the game to take the 12-1 win.
In the game, D.T. King, Timothy Ward, and Aaron Hurst each went 1 for 2 with Hurst having the lone RBI in the game. Owen Keller (1-1) was the starting pitcher and he pitched 2.0 innings, allowed 2 hits, struck out 2, and took the loss. Pitching in relief were Timothy Ward who pitched 1 inning and allowed no hits along with Brantley Lane who pitched 1 inning, allowed 1 hit and struck out 3.
Tuckerman vs. Cedar Ridge
On March 17, the Tuckerman Bulldogs traveled to Newark to play Cedar Ridge in conference action. The Bulldogs jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the second and held Cedar Ridge scoreless until the bottom of the fourth when they cut the lead to 3-1. Cedar Ridge scored 4 in the bottom of the fifth to take a 5-3 lead.
The Bulldogs started the comeback in the top of the sixth when Will King hit a double followed by Aaron Hurst drawing a walk. King then advanced on a wild pitch and the Bulldogs had runners at the corners. The Cedar Ridge pitcher then committed a balk and advanced King to home to score and Hurst to second. David Platt then hit a double and scored Hurst to tie the game 5-5 after the top of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, the Bulldogs weren’t done. Eli Tackett started off the inning with a single. D.T. King then was hit by a pitch and the Bulldogs had runners on first and second with no outs. Timothy Ward then hit a single and King was put out going to second. Will King then hits a grounder and reaches on an error and scoring Eli Tackett to give the Bulldogs a 6-5 lead. Brantley Lane then doubles on a line drive and scores another run. Will King then attempted to score another run but was called out at the plate and Lane advanced to third on the play. The Bulldogs were up 7-5 at this point. Aaron Hurst then hit a single to center scoring Lane on the play to give the Bulldogs an 8-5 lead after the top of the seventh. The Bulldogs got Cedar Ridge to strikeout, ground out and fly out in the bottom of the seventh to win the game.
In the game, Owen Keller went 2 for 4 with 1 run and 2 RBIs, Eli Tackett went 2 for 3 and scored a run. Brantley Lane, Will King, Aaron Hurst and David Platt all contributed an RBI each with Lane, King, and Platt also hitting doubles on the day. David Platt was the starting pitcher for the Bulldogs and he pitched 5 innings, allowing 4 hits, 5 runs, and struck out 7. Pitching in relief was Timothy Ward (1-1) who pitched 2 innings, allowing 1 hit, struck out 4, and picked up the win in relief.
Tuckerman vs. White County Central
On March 15, the Tuckerman Bulldogs played the White County Central Bears in conference action at Morgan Gilbert Field. White County jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning and held the Bulldogs scoreless until the bottom of the third when the Bulldogs started the inning with a single by D.T. King. Timothy Ward then hit into a fielder’s choice with King being put out at second with Ward safe at first. Will King was up to bat next and he sent a pitch over the fence in right center to tie the game at 2 each. White County scored 4 more runs in the top of the fifth and was able to hold the Bulldogs scoreless for the rest of the game to take a 6-2 win against the Bulldogs.
In the game, D.T. King went 2 for 4, Will King went 1 for 3 with 2 RBIs. Aaron Hurst (1-1) was the starting pitcher for the Bulldogs and took the loss on the day. He pitched 4 innings, allowed 2 hits, 6 runs and struck out 9. Pitching in relief was David Platt who pitched 2 innings, allowed 2 hits, 0 runs, and struck out 4 along with Will King who pitched 1 inning, allowing 0 hits, and struck out 2.
Tuckerman vs. Bald Knob
On March 14, the Tuckerman Bulldogs traveled to Bald Knob for a non-conference game. The game was scoreless until the top of the second when the Bulldogs were able to score a run in the top half of the inning to take a 1-0 lead. The Bulldogs were able to score more runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to take a 7-2 lead after five innings of play. Bald Knob added another run in the bottom of the sixth to close the score to 7-3. The Bulldogs added another run in the seventh as did Bald Knob and when the game ended, the Bulldogs came away with the 8-4 win.
In the game, Will King went 2 for 4 with an RBI and Aaron Hurst went 3 for 4 with 2 RBIs. Owen Keller (1-0) was the starting pitcher for the Bulldogs and also picked up the win. He went 4.2 innings and allowed 4 hits, 2 runs, and struck out 5. Pitching in relief was Timothy Ward who went 2.1 innings, allowed 2 hits, 2 runs, struck out 5 and picked up his first save of the season. | 2022-03-24T21:58:31Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Bulldog Roundup | Newport | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/bulldog-roundup/article_4d4c62af-a271-58cb-8df8-911472621428.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/bulldog-roundup/article_4d4c62af-a271-58cb-8df8-911472621428.html |
The Arkansas Economic Development Commission (AEDC) has awarded a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) to Jackson County to aid with the Jackson County Homeless Shelter Project.
Jackson County has been awarded a $156,825 CDBG-CV grant to help with the homeless shelter. The AEDC awarded a total of $2,424,095 to nine cities and counties throughout the state from the CDBG-CV set-aside, a $26.4 million supplemental program to assist local government-level recovery, prevention and preparation efforts relating to the coronavirus.
The CDBG-CV funding was allocated to the State by HUD as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.
To be eligible for CDBG funds, communities must have a population of less than 50,000 and at least 51 percent of the persons benefiting from the project must be of low- to moderate-income, or the project must meet another CDBG national objective, prevention of slum or blight, or meet an urgent need. | 2022-03-24T21:58:37Z | www.jonesborosun.com | County receives grant to aid with homeless project | Newport | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/county-receives-grant-to-aid-with-homeless-project/article_60b89fb9-7836-5ec9-9326-ca4486c0f981.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/county-receives-grant-to-aid-with-homeless-project/article_60b89fb9-7836-5ec9-9326-ca4486c0f981.html |
The Independent Community Bankers of America® (ICBA) recently announced that Jim S Gowen, Jr., President/CEO of Merchants and Planters Bank in Newport was elected to serve on ICBA’s Independent Community Bankers Political Action Committee.
ICBA is the nation’s voice for community banks and is committed to its 92-year mission of creating and promoting an environment where community banks flourish.
“As a civic leader and advocate for my community, I’m excited to work with ICBA to bring awareness to the vital role community banks serve locally and in our nation’s economy,” Gowen said.
“Community banking endures because we continue to place value on the all-important relationship and work hard to earn the trust and respect of our customers. I’m proud to be a community banker and to do my part to ensure our industry’s vitality for future generations.”
In addition to helping shape and advocate ICBA’s national policy positions and programs, Gowen’s duties include engaging in grassroots activities in Arkansas to promote pro-community bank policies and serving as a liaison between community banks and ICBA staff and leadership in Washington, D.C.
“Jim is an exceptional community bank leader who has dedicated time and resources to advance ICBA’s mission and help local communities thrive,” said ICBA Chairman Brad M. Bolton, president, CEO and senior lender at Community Spirit Bank in Red Bay, Ala.
“We are honored that Jim has accepted this appointment to represent the industry and thank him for volunteering to serve as we work to ensure a bright future for community banks and the customers they serve.” | 2022-03-24T21:58:43Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Gowen Jr. appointed to ICBPAC Committee | Newport | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/gowen-jr-appointed-to-icbpac-committee/article_69bd9f9e-ecf2-505d-b9ca-64fe6dde5b85.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/gowen-jr-appointed-to-icbpac-committee/article_69bd9f9e-ecf2-505d-b9ca-64fe6dde5b85.html |
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) is encouraging syphilis testing, prevention and treatment as cases increase in the state of Arkansas.
According to the ADH, Jackson County leads the state with the most syphilis case rate with 174.3 cases per 100,000. However, these numbers may be skewed due to the Grimes and McPherson Units in Newport.
In the state of Arkansas, from 2017 to 2021, there was a 164 percent increase overall in early syphilis cases and a 285 percent increase among women of reproductive ages.
A sexually transmitted infection that can cause serious health problems if not treated, syphilis is divided into clinical stages: primary, secondary, latent and tertiary. There are different signs and symptoms associated with each stage, ranging from open sores, rash, and flu-like symptoms to long-term damage to the heart, brain, and other organs.
Syphilis among pregnant women is especially a concern due to the potential of congenital syphilis, which happens when a mother with syphilis passes the infection to her baby during pregnancy. Untreated syphilis during pregnancy can lead to stillbirth, preterm delivery, and other congenital abnormalities. Congenital syphilis is preventable by early detection of maternal infection and appropriate treatment prior to delivery.
Spread through sexual contact or from an infected mother to newborn, transmission can be prevented and treatment is available. Transmission can be prevented by being in a monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and is known to be uninfected, or by using protection for any sexual contact. If an infection is suspected, get a test from a healthcare provider or the nearest ADH Local Health Unit and notify partners immediately if infected.
The State of Arkansas requires testing of all pregnant women at the first prenatal care visit and third trimester (between 28-32 weeks gestation). Testing at delivery is required if not done during the pregnancy. Syphilis can be treated using a medication prescribed by a healthcare provider. A person can be re-infected after treatment.
Testing at ADH Local Health Units across the state is at no cost. The Jackson County Health Unit is located at 1505 North Pecan Street in Newport. | 2022-03-24T21:59:01Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Jackson Co. ranked first in state for syphilis cases | Newport | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/jackson-co-ranked-first-in-state-for-syphilis-cases/article_d0659ee5-8dee-5c28-a284-ea6402f28912.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/jackson-co-ranked-first-in-state-for-syphilis-cases/article_d0659ee5-8dee-5c28-a284-ea6402f28912.html |
The state Education Department has partnered with a non-profit organization called Forward Arkansas to address a growing teacher shortage in Arkansas.
Statewide surveys indicate that four percent of teachers are uncertified and another three percent are not certified in the subject they teach.
According to the research, a school district with a shortage of certified teachers doesn’t sit unsupervised students in an empty room. However, those students may be in a classroom that is filled to the brim because two classes have been combined under the one teacher who is certified.
Salary disparities are one cause of teacher shortages in some areas of Arkansas. The average starting salary for teachers with a bachelor’s degree can vary by as much as $15,000 a year, depending on where in Arkansas the teacher is hired.
The non-profit organization interviewed paraprofessionals and in some districts, up to 40 percent said that they did not have enough time or money to complete the process of getting a certificate.
The partnership between Forward Arkansas and the Education Department is working to recruit more teachers through four basic pathways. One is for high school students, and it guides them through higher education programs that won’t amass a lot of student debt. Another is for college students at two-year colleges and four-year universities, and it also guides students along a debt-free path toward certification.
A third path is for professionals who want to change careers. They have academic credentials but not a teaching certificate. The fourth is for school staff who are not certified, and who want to teach and increase their pay at the same time. | 2022-03-24T21:59:14Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Working to recruit more teachers | Newport | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/working-to-recruit-more-teachers/article_bd96b019-488c-585e-b30b-c786687db4cb.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/working-to-recruit-more-teachers/article_bd96b019-488c-585e-b30b-c786687db4cb.html |
PARAGOULD — A Trumann man sitting on death row for killing a police officer said in a court filing in Greene County he wants nothing to do with an effort to have him released.
Jerry Lard’s handwritten motion came in response to a lawsuit filed February 8 on his behalf by a man Lard claims not to know.
Someone named Jeremy Edward Ellis, who claimed to be Lard’s “next friend and putative guardian ad litem,” filed a “petition for a writ of habeas corpus and for other relief” on Feb. 8, naming the state, Dexter Payne, director of the Arkansas Department of Corrections, and retired Judge Brent Davis as defendants.
Davis presided over Lard’s capital murder trial, which was held on a change of venue in July 2012, in Greene County Circuit Court.
Lard killed Trumann police officer Jonathan Schmidt and wounded Sgt. Corey Overstreet during a traffic stop on April 12, 2011.
Ellis asked the court to issue a warrant to arrest the former judge for certain illegal activity associated with the trial and to hold a hearing to exonerate Lard of the murder conviction. Ellis identified by name another man whom he claims was the actual killer.
During the trial, the jury watched police dash camera video depicting Lard committing the crime.
On March 14, the state attorney general’s office filed a motion to quash summonses for Payne and Davis that were issued by the Greene County circuit clerk “on the basis they are improper process for a habeas corpus proceeding.”
Assistant Attorney General Rebecca Kane also noted Ellis “does not appear to be a licensed attorney in Arkansas.”
Lard, 48, who had waived his right to postconviction relief following the trial, said in a handwritten letter filed Tuesday he didn’t know anything about the lawsuit until informed by the attorney general’s office. He asked the circuit clerk to send anything filed in the lawsuit “directly to me by mail so I’ll know what’s going on and being done to stop this frivolous unauthorized petition that has been filed without by knowledge or consent by a man named Jeremy Edward Ellis who I do not know.”
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Melissa Alexander. | 2022-03-25T08:25:07Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Killer disavows court filings on his behalf | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/killer-disavows-court-filings-on-his-behalf/article_0010090b-cc6c-5f69-a901-ee1922705a75.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/killer-disavows-court-filings-on-his-behalf/article_0010090b-cc6c-5f69-a901-ee1922705a75.html |
JONESBORO — Police are searching for a suspect in an attempted armed robbery that ended with a Blytheville man being shot at about 4 p.m. Wednesday in the 900 block of Chestnut Street, according to a Jonesboro police report.
William Paxton Haskins, 19, was hospitalized in stable condition at St. Bernards Medical Center, according to Sally Smith, public information specialist with Jonesboro police.
According to officer Greg Trout, “I was dispatched to (the 900 block of) Chestnut Street ... in reference to a shooting. Upon my arrival, I observed officers attending to Victim No. 1 (Haskins, William Paxton). I began to assist them with locating the wounds. A chest seal was placed on the wound on his stomach. I located a second wound in the middle of his back and I placed a chest seal on it. I then cut his clothing off of him to look for further injuries.
“I then deployed K9 Ras to assist with tracking the suspect, who allegedly fled on foot. I was given an area by another officer who stated that a witness saw the suspects running through. K9 Ras was able to pick up a track, which was followed to the address of (the 800 block of) West Matthews Avenue, where it was determined that the track picked up was laid by the witness that spoke with the officer about seeing the suspects. Due to not having better information to go off of, I ended the track.”
Haskins was shot once, with an entry and exit wound, Smith said.
The shooting is the third in one week in which someone was hit by gunfire.
Early Saturday morning, a 14-year-old boy was shot inside of a car which he was riding inside with others at the intersection of North Bridge Street and East Johnson Avenue, police said.
According to the police report, the victims were inside a vehicle when a car drove by them shooting at them.
“He was taken to NEA Baptist and then flown to Regional One in Memphis. The victim isn’t from Jonesboro, and we do not have any further information on his condition,” Smith said Monday.
Police are investigating that shooting, and as of Thursday afternoon no arrests have been made.
The third shooting occurred just after midnight Sunday morning in the 4700 block of Wildwood Lane, according to a JPD report.
The victim, Dallis Austin, 19, who lives in the 5700 block of Prospect Road, was attending a birthday party.
A witness said a gray-colored vehicle went to the end of the street, turned around and pulled back up to the residence when she heard gunshots.
Austin was inside the residence with more than 20 others and was struck in the left shin area.
He was taken to NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital, where he was treated and released with a bullet lodged in his tibia.
Jonesboro police police are investigating the shooting and no arrests have been made as of Thursday afternoon, Smith said. | 2022-03-25T08:25:13Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Police investigate third shooting in 1 week | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/police-investigate-third-shooting-in-1-week/article_3a374a24-c768-57b6-b856-0897d5b4e32f.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/police-investigate-third-shooting-in-1-week/article_3a374a24-c768-57b6-b856-0897d5b4e32f.html |
Rasoul Narimani, assistant professor of electrical engineering at Arkansas State University, recently received a grant from the National Science Foundation to conduct research that will contribute to the reliability of electrical power systems.
JONESBORO — The National Science Foundation (NSF) has awarded a $175,000 federal grant from the NSF’s Division of Computer and Network Systems to Rasoul Narimani, assistant professor of electrical engineering at Arkansas State University, to conduct research that will contribute to the reliability of electrical power systems.
Narimani said that this was the first time writing a grant proposal for himself.
He said that a friend had told him of a grant program for junior faculty in which the research overlapped his own research.
Starting at the beginning of April, Narimani will serve as principal investigator for the two-year project, which is partially funded under the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 as well.
“This project aims to strengthen dependability and robustness of the electric power grid by improving the capability to aggregate power system state estimation (PSSE) methods to monitor and assess the health of a power grid,” Narimani said, noting that the cyber-physical system has layers such as the power and communication systems and his method will help strengthen the safeguards so that if one layer is hit power can be transitioned to another.
“The electric power grid is a cyber-physical system, essential for modern daily life,” he said. “The grid is arguably the largest global engineered structure.”
“The goals of this project are to understand vulnerabilities intrinsic to traditional PSSE methods and improve the dependability and robustness of PSSE algorithms to potentially disruptive conditions,” Narimani said.
He said that his proposal includes three different steps: design a sophisticated attack, improve the safeguards and transition between operation points, which includes checking the feasibility of transfer between points.
The project extends recently developed power system optimization techniques to enable better situational awareness of the operations of the overall power system.
Narimani said that he applied for the grant last September and he received the official announcement by January.
“This will be good for the College of Engineering and junior faculty as it will help to hire two more students for the department as well as allow them to visit K-12 classes and talk with students about engineering,” he said.
Narimani and his research team will work with A-State’s outreach program, “P-20 Educational Innovation Center,” to share their research and encourage students to pursue careers in STEM disciplines (science, technology, engineering and mathematics).
Narimani joined A-State’s faculty in the College of Engineering and Computer Science in August 2021. He completed his Ph.D. in electrical engineering at the Missouri University of Science and Technology.
He also completed a post-doctoral appointment at Texas A&M University before moving to Jonesboro.
He is a member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the American Society for Engineering Education. | 2022-03-25T08:25:26Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Professor receives $175,000 for electrical system research | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/professor-receives-175-000-for-electrical-system-research/article_ab6b13b2-0f0e-57c0-8100-12be00e23bca.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/professor-receives-175-000-for-electrical-system-research/article_ab6b13b2-0f0e-57c0-8100-12be00e23bca.html |
JONESBORO — Sponsors of a professional disc golf tournament that’s been the source of controversy because of its location and the traffic it attracts announced Thursday they will provide a shuttle service to the upcoming Jonesboro Open.
The course is on private land at 3255 Strawfloor Drive, at the end of Casey Springs Road, and sits between the RidgePointe and Sloan Lake Estates residential subdivisions. Residents of those neighborhoods have complained of illegal parking, heavy traffic and litter from past events.
The 6th Jonesboro Open will be held April 22-24. Jordan Lane, assistant tournament director, said in a news release the tournament has increased in participation every year. This year officials are expecting nearly 450 players and another 200-to-300 spectators for the Disc Golf Pro Tour stop.
“There is a reason cities all across the country are trying to secure a stop on the Disc Golf Pro Tour.” Lane said. “Each event brings in hundreds of people to the host community and a six-figure economic impact for the city. We are very lucky to be a part of the DGPT.”
This year The Learning Center of NEA (TLC) and Walnut Street Baptist Church have agreed to help get the visitors around town and to Disc Side of Heaven’s Championship Course.
All fans and amateur participants are invited to park at Walnut Street Baptist Church, 1910 Scenic Road, Wednesday through Saturday. From there shuttles from TLC will take them back and forth to Disc Side of Heaven.
TLC will be added to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital as recipients of the proceeds of the 2022 tournament. The Learning Center has provided services to individuals with disabilities in Northeast Arkansas since 1959. TLC provides facilities and services for children with disabilities from birth to five years of age on two campuses in Jonesboro and provides adult development services for adults with disabilities.
Ridgefield Christian School, located just east of the entrance to Disc Side of Heaven, will once again allow patrons to park at their lot on Saturday and Sunday just like every year except for the Covid year of 2020.
There will be food and drinks available on site, but patrons can bring in coolers with them to watch from the viewing areas. Tickets for the Jonesboro Open are on sale now and tournament officials are working on sponsorships for the event. For more information on tickets or sponsorships go to JonesboroOpen.com.
The news release made no mention of the complaints by neighbors, nor to a proposal that would make the land a city park.
The owners of the land have proposed a combination/donation/lease package to the City of Jonesboro for the land the course sits on. Under the proposal, the city would buy 33 acres for $500,000, B&G Land Co. would donate another 33 acres to the city, and another 76 acres would be provided under a no-cost lease.
Jim Lyons, the attorney for both the RidgePointe and Sloan Lake Estates property owners associations, has threatened a lawsuit if the city accepts the offer. | 2022-03-25T08:25:32Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Shuttle service offered for disc golf tourney | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/shuttle-service-offered-for-disc-golf-tourney/article_a77fcb76-0d4e-5f0a-85c8-8ebd9d5e8839.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/shuttle-service-offered-for-disc-golf-tourney/article_a77fcb76-0d4e-5f0a-85c8-8ebd9d5e8839.html |
Suspicious activity leads to arrest
JONESBORO — A Jonesboro man was arrested just after midnight Thursday after police witnessed suspicious activity at the intersection of East Woodrow and North Church streets, according to a Jonesboro police report.
Officer Tanner Seal wrote, “I witnessed suspicious activity between a male speaking to another male inside of a vehicle stopped in the middle of the roadway obstructing the flow of traffic. I continued to watch the subjects for a brief time until one subject got into the vehicle and the two went about 200 yards down the street and the man that just got inside the vehicle exited the vehicle and walked up to a house and knocked on the front door.”
Scott Isbell, 62, of the 500 block of West Woodrow Street, was arrested on suspicion of possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams with the purpose to deliver, felony possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
In a separate report, a 67-year-old Jonesboro woman told police she was scammed out of money by a man who called her claiming to be from the FBI.
The man told her she must send Target gift cards to him.
The victim sent cards with a total value of $2,400 to the man.
Walmart, 1911 W. Parker Road, reported that a woman used two counterfeit $20 bills to make a purchase Wednesday night. The bills were marked “For Movie Use.”
Police arrested Steve Randle, 45, of the 100 block of Craighead Road 622, on Wednesday night at the intersection of Chestnut Street and West Huntington Avenue following a traffic stop. Randle, who had a felony warrant, is being held on suspicion of felony possession of drug paraphernalia and tampering with evidence. | 2022-03-25T08:25:38Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Suspicious activity leads to arrest | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/suspicious-activity-leads-to-arrest/article_3f0108e1-811d-51c3-a9af-4cb062675d5b.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/suspicious-activity-leads-to-arrest/article_3f0108e1-811d-51c3-a9af-4cb062675d5b.html |
Critz saved, expanded Arkansas Tech
Dr. Ken Bridges is a Professor of History at South Arkansas Community College in El Dorado. He is the proud father of six children. He has written seven books and his columns appear in more than 85 papers in two states. Dr. Bridges can be contacted by email at kbridges@southark.edu. | 2022-03-25T08:26:21Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Critz saved, expanded Arkansas Tech | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/critz-saved-expanded-arkansas-tech/article_fa05a447-ba68-5729-b944-646b6c42f3ae.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/critz-saved-expanded-arkansas-tech/article_fa05a447-ba68-5729-b944-646b6c42f3ae.html |
Tax break?
I am a disabled Veteran. I got it from Agent Orange and I have had medical problems for years because of it. These days I have trouble walking, have been treated for cancer for over 10 years, and am an uncontrollable diabetic. All the things that Agent Orange given to our Vets.
We are supposed to have help with our taxes from all the Arkansas counties. The problem is Greene County makes it so hard that it's impossible to get this tax break. I have visited the court house many times and spent hours on the phone. No luck.
If they had said I couldn't have this help, I wouldn't care but to offer it to us and then make it impossible for us to get, is just unimaginable. I give up. I can't afford the tax and don't know what to do. | 2022-03-25T08:26:39Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Tax break? | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/tax-break/article_1472e0a2-e975-5da5-9210-381f1644651f.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/tax-break/article_1472e0a2-e975-5da5-9210-381f1644651f.html |
There is an old TV program called “You be the Judge.” There is an ongoing controversy of the appropriateness of some of the books in the children’s/teen’s section of the Craighead County Jonesboro Library. I urge you to go to Facebook to “safe library books for kids - Arkansas” to see what is actually in the books and decide for yourselves.
Peggy Northern | 2022-03-25T08:26:45Z | www.jonesborosun.com | You be the judge | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/you-be-the-judge/article_8832e357-b9ca-5484-afb9-5675781bd8cc.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/you-be-the-judge/article_8832e357-b9ca-5484-afb9-5675781bd8cc.html |
Missouri’s Izzy Higginbottom handles the basketball during a Southeastern Conference tournament game against Arkansas earlier this month in Nashville, Tenn. Higginbottom announced on social media Wednesday night that she plans to transfer to Arkansas State.
JONESBORO — Arkansas State women’s basketball coach Destinee Rogers posted a social media message Wednesday night advising Northeast Arkansas to “stay tuned” for big news regarding an addition to the Red Wolves’ recruiting class.
ASU fans weren’t kept in suspense too long.
Former Batesville High School star Izzy Higginbottom announced her commitment to ASU on social media a little later Wednesday night. Higginbottom, a freshman guard this season at Missouri, announced her intention to enter the NCAA transfer portal earlier in the day.
“I’m coming home,” Higginbottom wrote, posting the last word in caps to announce her decision to transfer to ASU.
Higginbottom played in 27 of 31 games off the bench for the Tigers, who finished the season 18-13 after an 83-78 overtime loss to Drake in the first round of the Women’s NIT. She scored 14 points in the season finale, one of four games where she scored in double figures, while playing a season-high 31 minutes.
In November, Higginbottom was named SEC Freshman of the Week after scoring 17 points and a season-high 18 points against Saint Louis and Idaho State, respectively. She scored 15 points in the regular-season finale to help the Tigers upset No. 21 Florida 78-73 in Gainesville, Fla.
Higginbottom set a state tournament scoring record in her next-to-last game at Batesville, putting up 57 points against Little Rock Parkview to break a record that had stood since 1984. A three-time first-team selection to the Arkansas Sports Media Super Team, she scored nearly 2,900 career points at Batesville.
The Lady Pioneers won the 2019 Class 4A state title with Higginbottom earning state MVP honors. Batesville reached the 4A semifinals in 2020 and the 5A quarterfinals in 2021.
ASU coaches watched Higginbottom on campus during Batesville’s appearances in the Northeast Arkansas Invitational. She was ranked as the No. 20 point guard in the 2021 class by ESPNW.
After her introductory press conference March 14, Rogers said ASU had seven spots to fill for its 2022-23 roster.
Former Florida Atlantic guard Bre Beck announced her decision to transfer to ASU earlier this week. Beck, a junior college teammate of ASU’s Keya Patton at Wabash Valley (Ill.), played in 38 games over two seasons at FAU.
Jones (Miss.) College guard Jordan Clark, who signed with the Red Wolves during the November signing period, helped her team reach the NJCAA national semifinals earlier this week in Lubbock, Texas. Clark started all 33 games for Jones, which finished 25-8, and averaged 7.1 points per game. | 2022-03-25T08:26:47Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Higginbottom planning to join Red Wolves | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/higginbottom-planning-to-join-red-wolves/article_abd86703-ef6b-5cb7-8353-0d2f6cffd7cb.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/higginbottom-planning-to-join-red-wolves/article_abd86703-ef6b-5cb7-8353-0d2f6cffd7cb.html |
JONESBORO — The schedule doesn’t get any easier this weekend for Arkansas State.
Coming off their third consecutive one-run loss, Wednesday’s 6-5 setback at Southern Illinois, the Red Wolves will carry a 10-game losing streak into this weekend’s Sun Belt Conference baseball series at Georgia Southern. The Eagles are No. 12 in the NCAA RPI entering the three-game series in Statesboro, Ga.
Today’s game begins at 5:30 p.m. The series continues with Saturday’s game at 1 p.m., followed by Sunday’s series finale at noon.
ASU (4-14, 0-3 Sun Belt) hasn’t won a game since defeating Illinois State in the first game of a March 5 doubleheader. Miscues proved costly Wednesday as SIU (16-5) scored four unearned runs off three ASU errors.
The Red Wolves rank last among Sun Belt teams in pitching (7.09 team earned run average) and fielding (.944 team percentage).
ASU was swept last weekend by nationally-ranked Texas State in a three-game Sun Belt series at Tomlinson Stadium. The Red Wolves held a 7-3 lead after six innings of the series opener, only to see their bullpen yield 10 runs on five hits, six walks and three hit batsmen in the final three innings. The Bobcats eked out narrow victories the next two days, winning 2-1 and 5-4.
Senior left-hander Justin Medlin (0-2, 2.95 ERA) is scheduled to start tonight for ASU. Medlin pitched six innings last Friday against Texas State, giving up three runs (two earned) on seven hits and one walk while striking out seven batters.
Will Nash (1-1) is set to start Saturday’s game after a solid outing last weekend against Texas State. Nash yielded two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five last Saturday. ASU has not announced a starting pitcher for Sunday’s game.
Freshman second baseman Daedrick Cail has an eight-game on-base streak and is batting .345, while senior outfielder Jaylon Deshazier holds a .305 average with 14 RBIs. Sophomore first baseman has a .304 average with four doubles, five home runs and 16 RBIs. Senior third baseman Ben Klutts is at .266 with three home runs and 12 RBIs.
Georgia Southern (14-7, 2-1 Sun Belt) defeated Appalachian State twice last weekend to win its first conference series. The Eagles, who have beaten Georgia and Georgia Tech, among others, lead the Sun Belt in team fielding with a .977 percentage and a league-low 18 errors.
Noah Ledford, Georgia Southern’s designated hitter, is tied for the league lead in RBIs with 24. Outfielder Noah Searcy has a .375 batting average to lead the Eagles, who have put down a Sun Belt-high 18 sacrifice bunts.
While Georgia Southern has the Sun Belt’s best RPI at No. 12, the league has six more top 100 teams in Texas State (38), Troy (45), Coastal Carolina (58), South Alabama (62), Louisiana-Lafayette (78) and Georgia State (80) entering the weekend. Appalachian State (106), ULM (122), Arkansas-Little Rock (163), ASU (198) and Texas-Arlington (231) round out the league.
After trailing 5-0 Wednesday, ASU had the tying run on base in the eighth and ninth innings before falling short at SIU.
Cail led the Red Wolves with a pair of hits from the leadoff spot, while Deshazier scored twice. Brandon Hager and Jared Toler both homered, with Hager’s coming in a pinch-hit situation.
ASU has four home games next week. The Red Wolves host Central Arkansas on Tuesday and Coastal Carolina in a Sun Belt series April 1-3. | 2022-03-25T08:26:53Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Red Wolves continue SBC play at Georgia Southern | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/red-wolves-continue-sbc-play-at-georgia-southern/article_3a215fbe-6c2c-5cab-972d-87a9555a268e.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/red-wolves-continue-sbc-play-at-georgia-southern/article_3a215fbe-6c2c-5cab-972d-87a9555a268e.html |
MoSH to offer variety of April events
MEMPHIS — The Museum of Science and History, 3050 Central Ave., has announced several events scheduled for early April leading off with the return of Fossil Fest, a two-day, family friendly event April 2-3 for those interested in science, archaeology, paleontology or just digging in the dirt.
This year’s event will offer even more activities than last year’s inaugural event.
Besides digging for fossils and discovering which creatures roamed the mid-south, there will be many activities, from learning how dinosaurs hatched from eggs, which were herbivore, carnivore or omnivore, to how dinosaurs’ names were created.
Visitors can study the teeth of modern animals to better understand the teeth of the animals found in the fossil record and determine how they are related to each other. With a paleontologist backpack, kids can dress like a paleontologist and embark on scavenger hunts on the grounds of the museum.
“This event really brings our mission alive – it helps us to connect our visitors to the science behind our natural history,” Michele Arquette-Palermo, director of community engagement for MoSH said in the press release.
“Whether it’s learning how fossils are formed over time or making connections among the different time periods that developed the very land we live on, every visitor will walk away with a better understanding of Memphis.”
Visitors can plan to spend the whole day at the museum, from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day. Tickets are $28 for adults, $23 for adult members $13 for children and $8 for child members.
On April 8, from 7 to 9 p.m., visitors can explore the night sky with MoSH on the front lawn of the Pink Palace Mansion and celebrate Africa in April with special “African Skies” short planetarium shows.
In case skies are cloudy, there will be a selection of telescopes displayed on the mezzanine with experts to talk with visitors about how the different types of telescopes work as well as the pros and cons of each.
Observing on the lawn will be through telescopes operated by the Memphis Astronomical Society as well as planetarium staff.
African Skies will include the Moon Myth of Malawi; observing the annual motion of the sun to see how the ancient inhabitants of Malawi kept track of the time of year in their tropical climate; Radio Astronomy; and Star Myths of Africa.
Planetarium shows will be every half hour starting at 7:30 p.m.
Wristbands will be required, tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for youth, children age 2 and younger will be admitted free.
A special exhibit, Isaac Hayes: Black Moses Gives Back, will open April 9 and run until July 31. The exhibition will showcase Hayes’ dashikis collection and his humanitarian work in Ghana. A grand opening will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 9 featuring musical entertainment from Ekpe Abioto at 11:15 a.m.; a Q and A with the exhibition curator beginning at 11 a.m.; activity stations; and storytime with the Memphis Library will at noon.
With his success writing the musical score for Shaft in 1971 and becoming the first African American to win an Oscar for Best Song, Hayes used his fame to advocate for African American civil rights and the need to celebrate black culture.
More information and tickets for all events are available on moshmemphis.com. | 2022-03-26T10:57:34Z | www.jonesborosun.com | MoSH to offer variety of April events | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/mosh-to-offer-variety-of-april-events/article_24b1f66f-080b-5455-8b37-55f4c47fed1f.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/mosh-to-offer-variety-of-april-events/article_24b1f66f-080b-5455-8b37-55f4c47fed1f.html |
Red Cross blood drives set
JONESBORO — The Red Cross is offering a Red Cross T-shirt for donors who come to give April 1-18.
Donors are asked to schedule an appointment prior to arriving at the drive. To donate blood, simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org, call 1-800-733-2767 or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device to make an appointment. Donors can save up to 15 minutes at the blood drive by completing a rapidpass available online.
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification will be required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age in most states, weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
April 1 – 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Black River Technical College, 1410 Arkansas 304 East, Pocahontas.
April 4 – 12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Valley View Church of Christ, 4500 Southwest Drive, Jonesboro.
April 6 – 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Walnut Ridge High School, 508 E. Free St.
April 7 – 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., Great River Medical Center Leaders Save Lives, 1520 N. Division St., Blytheville; 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Paragould Light Water and Cable, 1901 Jones Road; and 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., Sutton Free Will Baptist Church, 5421 U.S. 62, Pocahontas.
April 8 – 1 to 5 p.m., Southwest Church of Christ, 1601 James St., Jonesboro.
April 9 – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., First National Bank Arena, 217 Olympic Drive, Jonesboro.
April 13 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hoxie High School, 602 W. Hartigan St.
April 14 – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Corning High School, 500 Bobcat Lane and noon to 5 p.m., Arkansas Methodist Medical Center, 900 W. Kingshighway, Paragould.
April 15 – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Greene County Baptist Association, 2501 Linwood Drive, Paragould
April 18 – 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Piggott High School, 533 E. Main St. | 2022-03-26T10:57:40Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Red Cross blood drives set | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/red-cross-blood-drives-set/article_5fa0eca3-3499-5f34-b70f-5b2e6af4847e.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/red-cross-blood-drives-set/article_5fa0eca3-3499-5f34-b70f-5b2e6af4847e.html |
So Percussion will perform at 7 p.m. April 2 as part of Fowler Center’s performing arts series. The concert is in Riceland Hall, 201 Olympic Drive on the Arkansas State University Jonesboro campus.
Sō Percussion to perform at Fowler Center
JONESBORO — Arkansas State University’s Fowler Center will present So Percussion in concert at 7 p.m. April 2 in Riceland Hall, 201 Olympic Drive. The concert is part of Fowler Center’s performing arts series.
According to the announcement, “So Percussion has for 20 years redefined chamber music for the 21st century.”
Their repertoire includes an array of collaborations in classical music, pop, indie rock, contemporary dance and theater.
The group is also recognized for its work in education and the communities where they perform, such as a special opportunity for A-State music students.
The group will be working directly with associate professor of music Craig Collison and students in his percussion studio for a two-day intensive workshop following which A-State students will perform a new piece with the group during the concert.
“The percussion students at Arkansas State University are very excited about performing side-by-side with one of the premier percussion ensembles in the world,” Collison said. “They will be performing on an exciting communal-type composition by Jason Treuting called, ‘Go Placid With Haste.’ The piece can be performed with a variety of percussion and non-percussion instruments.”
Underscoring the importance of the educational opportunities, Garry Holstein, Fowler Center director stated, “We are excited to be able to bring a group of this caliber to the region. I am particularly excited to offer students the chance to not only learn from but also perform with these amazing artists. I am grateful to Mr. Collison for facilitating this opportunity for our A-State community.”
Members of So Percussion also are devoted to a range of programs that advance goals and projects in diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility.
Fowler Center will follow safe-seating guidelines. Tickets, ranging from $18 to $33, are available through the A-State Box Office, astate.edu/tickets.
For more details about this performance, contact Fowler Center at 870-972-3687. | 2022-03-26T10:57:52Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Sō Percussion to perform at Fowler Center | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/s-percussion-to-perform-at-fowler-center/article_5d649fd9-3a2c-5381-9fd7-60b7dfc0c212.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/s-percussion-to-perform-at-fowler-center/article_5d649fd9-3a2c-5381-9fd7-60b7dfc0c212.html |
Vivian and Clem Wixted show her rocking horse that sits on the front porch of their home at Peace Gate Ranch in Jonesboro. Clem said she was so excited when their children found and fixed up the old rocking horse in storage, noting that, at 78 pounds, she can actually ride it. “She had a ball, just bouncing on it for the first time,” he laughed.
Vivian and Clem Wixted at a Fellowship Bible Church event in 2011.
Vivian Wixted (second, from left) is joined by her son, (from left) Mike Wixted, two daughters, Theresa Cardillo and Cathy Irizarry, and her husband, Clem Wixted, for a family photo at Vivian’s 80th birthday party on Sunday at the Peace Gate Ranch in Jonesboro.
Vivian Wixted and her daughter, Theresa Cardillo, meet Ranger the horse for the first time at Vivian’s 80th birthday party on Sunday at the Peace Gate Ranch in Jonesboro. This was the first time in 20 years that she has been able to ride a horse.
After an inspiring lifetime of service to those less fortunate, Vivian Wixted got a huge surprise for her 80th birthday last Sunday, when she had the opportunity to ride a horse for the first time in 20 years.
Because of her progressive Parkinson’s disease, Vivian can no longer speak and has to communicate with the aid of a white board, so her husband, Clem, and their daughters helped share her story on Monday.
Clem and Vivian Wixted have been married for 57 years but have been together for most of their lives, having meet in Catholic School when they were kids.
“Vivian and I met when she was 12 and I was 14. We got married 10 years later and last September we celebrated 114 years of marriage,” Clem laughed as he doubled the 57 because he said they both put in their time.
“I still remember the first time I saw her,” he smiled as he recalled their younger days with joy in his eyes. “I was carrying the candle and she was carrying flowers.”
The couple married in September of 1964 and started their own family.
They have two daughters, Cathy Irizarry of Texarkana, Texas, and Theresa Cardillo of Little Egg Harbor, N.J., and one son, Mike Wixted of Tulsa, Okla.
Although they all live in different states, they remain a close knit family and visit at least two to three times a year.
“Vivian loved horseback riding,” Clem recalled, “and even gave riding lessons to some teen girls, after Bible study, at our home.”
Vivian also served as a volunteer in Pocahontas at a private hippotherapy ranch for a while but she hasn’t ridden in years.
Hippotherapy is a form of physical, occupational and speech therapy in which a therapist uses the characteristic movements of a horse to provide carefully graded motor and sensory input, according to the National Library of Medicine website.
“She always loved horses,” Cathy recalled. “Had eight different horses over the years and generally tried to keep about four at a time.”
Clem is a retired technical writer and then press manager at W.A. Krueger, which was a printing firm and one of the nation’s largest printers of paperback books, magazines and catalogs.
Before his retirement after 57 years in the industry, they would move to Virginia so he could start a job at Red Buck, another printing firm at the time, and would be forced to sell their animals to a neighbor. However, they would get the animals back a few years later when they returned to Jonesboro.
“For her 80th birthday, our family arranged for a therapeutic horseback ride right here on our 10 acres,” Clem said, “where she has ridden many times.”
All three of their children were also there for Vivian’s big day, which was also a surprise for her.
After an internet search, Clem discovered Diego Ranch, Inc., which is owned by Michael Jackson, a resident of Jonesboro for 32 years, who also has a passion for horses and helping others.
Although Diego Ranch isn’t officially open for business yet, after a conversation with Clem, Jackson decided he wanted to help.
According to Clem, Jackson plans to open the ranch to help kids with special needs (like autism) and to provide riding lessons and help kids and adults learn about training.
According to Jackson’s Facebook, www.facebook.com/diegoranch, his vision for his company is to unite the sentience of a horse with that of a person suffering from mental, emotional and physical impairment seeking a natural and powerful healing modality.
When Clem told Jackson about Vivian’s story, Jackson wanted to help.
“Within three or four hours after I contacted him,” Clem said, “he had decided he wanted to bring a horse out to our old ranch.”
Although the Wixteds no longer have any horses, they still live on their ranch, once known as the Peace Gate Ranch.
So on March 20, for Vivian’s 80th birthday, Jackson brought out a three-step ramp and a horse named Ranger.
Vivian said she put her left foot into the stirrup and then got her right leg over the horse and she was ready to go.
“I loved sitting up on the horse,” Vivian excitedly wrote on her board, noting that that was her favorite part of the whole day.
This was a well-deserved reward for such a giving person, according to their proud daughters.
The Wixteds have always been faithful Christians, they noted about their parents.
Clem was a substitute teacher for 20 years at the Ridgefield Christian School and led Bible studies at their church.
“Dad was always a good teacher,” Theresa said.
They are members of the Highland Drive Baptist Church, though since COVID-19 they have had to mostly attend online. They were members of the Fellowship Bible Church before that.
Vivian also led Bible studies, not only for the teenage girls that she taught to ride at their ranch, but also at a local prison.
She was a certified religious assistant (CRA) at the McPherson Unit, which is located in Jackson County, four miles northeast of Newport.
A CRA is a prison volunteer that helps the prison chaplain to help bring faith-based teaching to the inmates.
She had to be selected, approved and trained to go into areas approved by the unit warden without escort to minister one-on-one to inmates and staff on a nondenominational basis, according to her family.
“She still gets letters from inmates,” Cathy said. “They are still her friends, and she still loves them.”
“Mom taught anger resolution and the PAL (Principles and Applications for Life) Program,” she said, noting that the PAL Program included worship services, distributing religious materials and providing counseling services to the inmates.
Theresa said that she would eat lunch with them, pray with them, listen to them, console them, encourage and visit them on her own time as well, “They really were her friends.”
They laughed as they recalled calling to check on their parents and their father, Clem, answering the phone and laughing, “It’s Tuesday, your mom is in prison again.”
“She was there every Tuesday,” Clem said. “She only had to volunteer eight hours a month but she was there for at least eight hours a week.”
She was named CRA of the year at the McPherson Prison in 2017. Vivian would do prison ministry for 20 years before being forced to retire in 2019 after a serious car accident in Cash and finding out that she had Parkinson’s in the spring of 2018.
Vivian keeps all the letters from her dear friends at the prison, and her daughters are helping her organize them into binders.
“The letters are very important to her and she cherishes every one of them,” Cathy said.
Since being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Clem said that it has effected her in many ways, such as her hand-eye coordination, balance, voice and hearing.
“That is why she uses the whiteboard, because her voice is so soft that you cannot hear her,” he said. “It has also impacted our social life.”
He said that she was going to St. Bernards’ Rock Steady Boxing classes, which they loved, but then the pandemic hit and slowed it down.
Vivian said that she had joined some support groups for her Parkinson’s and did receive a lot of good information about her disease and how to cope with it.
“In one of those groups, I learned of a program called Rock Steady Boxing held at St. Bernards Health and Wellness Center,” Vivian wrote in a letter Clem shared. “It is designed to help slow down the progression of Parkinson’s by using vigorous exercises, and the boxing exercises are some of the best.”
“They help with balance, hand-eye coordination, breathing and shouting (for voice improvement), among its many benefits,” she said. “I attended classes three times a week and really enjoyed it. We had great instructors and I made friends with some good people in the class. These classes were going along very well and The Jonesboro Sun did a whole article about me, and the boxing program, with a big photo of me.”
“Can you picture it?” she said in the letter. “A little old, white-haired, 80-pound lady with boxing gloves on hitting a heavy bag and keeping a speed bag going. I loved it!”
“She loved the speed bag and was good at it,” Clem laughed. “She would just keep it going so fast. And the social aspect as amazing.”
“It was a blessing to many people,” Cathy said noting that there were also many Parkinson’s support groups, including the Parkinson’s Support Group at Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital, PWR Exercise Community Class and the Parkinson’s Community Awareness Event on April 1 at St. Bernards Auditorium.
In the wake of her ongoing battle with the disease, Vivian and Clem have also started what they call their “Parkinson’s Partners” booklet, along with local events and meetings for people suffering from the disease in Northeast Arkansas.
Vivian expressed her thanks to her 35 guests and to everyone from all over who sent letters for her birthday.
“But my favorite part was being on the horse,” Vivian reiterated. “It felt so comfortable.” | 2022-03-26T10:58:23Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Remarkable woman gets birthday surprise after lifetime of helping others | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/remarkable-woman-gets-birthday-surprise-after-lifetime-of-helping-others/article_058b15be-4547-549e-b2a2-9909ac0dd6ca.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/remarkable-woman-gets-birthday-surprise-after-lifetime-of-helping-others/article_058b15be-4547-549e-b2a2-9909ac0dd6ca.html |
Craighead bucks U.S. growth trend
JONESBORO — Craighead County bucked a national trend since the coronavirus pandemic began.
According to U.S. Census Bureau population estimates released last week half of all states and nearly three quarters of all counties experienced more deaths than births in their populations between July 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. In Arkansas, only nine of 75 counties had more births than deaths. The others were Benton, Crittenden, Faulkner, Lonoke, Madison, Pulaski, Sevier and St. Francis.
Since the official 2020 census, Craighead County’s population grew from 111,231 to an estimated 112,216 as of July 1, 2021. That’s an increase of 0.9 percent.
During that time, the county recorded 1,710 births and 1,478 deaths, for a natural growth of 232. The remainder of the county’s population growth included a net of increase of 703 residents who moved here from other parts of the U.S., and a net increase of 28 people coming here from foreign countries.
The census bureau estimates that Greene County grew by 1.3 percent from mid-2020 to mid-2021, but it was a different kind of growth.
With 45,736 at the 2020 census, Greene’s population in mid-2021 was estimated at 46,317. But deaths outnumbered births, 738 to 705. The county made up for that deficit with a positive net migration into the area of 616.
Poinsett County’s population dropped by an estimated 1.3 percent since the 2020 census, from 22,965 to 22,660. Deaths outnumbered births by 412 to 277. While the county had a net migration of six people from other countries, a net of 102 other residents moved out of the county to other parts of the U.S., according to the statistics.
Lawrence County experienced 174 births and 268 deaths between the official census and July 2021, according to the report. Yet, the county’s overall population grew 0.5 percent from 16,216 to 16,292. Net migration into the county raised the population by 195.
In Jackson County, the population rose from 16,755 at the census to 16,811 by July 1, 2021, an increase of 0.3 percent. Deaths outnumbered births by 312 to 222 births, but the deficit was made up by a net migration into the county of 146.
Mississippi County’s population dropped below the 40,000 mark for the first time in more than 100 years. The census bureau estimates the county’s population as of July 1, 2021 at 39,661, down 2.5 percent from the official 2020 count of 40,685. Deaths outnumbered births by 584 to 516. The report accounts for the loss of another 1,001 residents due to people moving out of the county.
In 1910, the population of Mississippi County, which was growing at the time, was 30,468. That jumped to 47,320 at the 1920 census. In 1950, the official number peaked at 82,375. That same year, Craighead County had 50,613 residents, according to the census bureau. | 2022-03-30T11:06:20Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Craighead bucks U.S. growth trend | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/craighead-bucks-u-s-growth-trend/article_4500d2e6-38e1-5d6f-99ac-05a6528687c2.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/craighead-bucks-u-s-growth-trend/article_4500d2e6-38e1-5d6f-99ac-05a6528687c2.html |
Gun stolen from vehicle
JONESBORO — A Paragould woman reported to Craighead County sheriff’s deputies that a firearm was stolen from her vehicle over the weekend.
The 28-year-old woman said she last saw her 9 mm Smith & Wesson handgun on Friday and she realized it was missing from her unlocked vehicle on Saturday in the 9700 block of Arkansas 135.
The value of the handgun is listed at $450.
A 49-year-old Jonesboro man told deputies that his 2016 Chevrolet Colorado was stolen Monday from his residence in the 200 block of Craighead Road 7629. The vehicle is valued at $20,000.
Police arrested Angel Cude, 49, of the 300 block of West Center Street, on Monday afternoon following a parole search in the 600 block of South Main Street. Cude is being held on suspicion of possession of meth or cocaine greater than 10 grams but less than 200 grams, felony possession of drug paraphernalia and parole violation.
Police arrested Krystal Latiolais, 29, of the 200 block of Craighead Road 335, on Monday night following a traffic stop at the intersection of East Nettleton Avenue and South Caraway Road. She is being held on suspicion of possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams, felony and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana possession of a Schedule I or II drug not meth or cocaine less than 2 grams, possession of a Schedule IV or V drug less than 28 grams and driving on a suspended license.
Police arrested James Hinchey, 51, of the 100 block of Cross Road 358, Wynne, on Monday night following a traffic stop at the intersection of Latourette Drive and South Caraway Road. He is being held on suspicion of felony possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructing governmental operations, tampering with evidence and careless or prohibited driving.
A 30-year-old Jonesboro man reported that his vehicle was broken into Monday night in the 1100 block of East Johnson Avenue. Stolen were stereo equipment and an air compressor with a total value of $375.
A 36-year-old Jonesboro man told sheriff’s deputies Monday afternoon that his utility terrain vehicle was stolen sometime after Thursday from the 100 block of Craighead Road 407. The side-by-side vehicle is valued at $47,000.
A 28-year-old Jonesboro woman said her 30-year-old boyfriend choked her and threw her phone into the yard following an argument in the 2600 block of Curtview Drive. She told police the next day that her boyfriend had moved his belongings out and that she didn’t want to pursue charges.
A 38-year-old Jonesboro man reported that his 2014 Mitsubishi Outlander was stolen from his residence Saturday in the 200 block of Chestnut Street. The vehicle is valued at $8,000.
A 71-year-old Jonesboro woman told police that someone broke into her residence Saturday in the 1100 block of North Floyd Street and stole multiple items. Taken were six firearms of an unknown brand, valued at $1,000, several tools, valued at $2,000, a guitar amplifier, valued at $200, a computer, valued at $700, $5,000 from a savings account and $5,000 in life insurance money. Also stolen was a 2008 Ford Taurus valued at $4,000.
A 24-year-old Jonesboro man reported that a 9 mm handgun was stolen from his residence Friday in the 900 block of Links Circle. The victim told police he suspects his 20-year-old girlfriend took the gun.
A 34-year-old Jonesboro man reported that someone entered his vehicle Friday morning and stole items in the 3100 block of Parker Annex Road. Taken were two catalytic converters, valued at $250, an in-dash radio/DVD combo, valued at $500, and a subwoofer, valued at $600.
The manager of a Citgo gas station, 5514 S. Stadium Blvd., reported to police Friday morning that an air tank valued at $5,000 was stolen.
A 36-year-old Jonesboro man reported that his vehicle was broken into Monday in the 3400 block of Dan Avenue. Taken were an iPhone and iPad with a total value of $2,500.
The owner of Skinny J’s told police Monday morning that a computer was stolen from his office in the 200 block of Union Street. The computer is valued at $1,500. | 2022-03-30T11:06:26Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Gun stolen from vehicle | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/gun-stolen-from-vehicle/article_3438a43e-1bbd-5e0d-8be5-6649d521093e.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/gun-stolen-from-vehicle/article_3438a43e-1bbd-5e0d-8be5-6649d521093e.html |
Spider buckets protrude from the water at the fishing pier that is located on Dam Road at Lake Poinsett State Park. The lake stood at 300 MSL on Friday and needs to reach 305 MSL to be completely filled.
A fisherman enjoys Lake Poinsett near the Deckleman Landing ramp on March 10 at Lake Poinsett State Park in Harrisburg. Fishing is returning to normal as the renovated lake is nearly full again.
Submitted Photo / Jonathan Wagner
Lake Poinsett officially reopened
HARRISBURG — After a lot of work by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Lake Poinsett State Park will be celebrating the completion of a massive renovation project on the lake, which was constructed near Harrisburg in 1961.
The dedication of Lake Poinsett will be held on Tuesday, April 5, at 10:30 a.m. at the boating access and fishing pier area that is located on Dam Road.
Ben Batten, chief of fisheries for the AGFC, said that the recent renovation was completed just over a year ago, but now the lake is full.
Batten said that a project of this size and investment is really important because a lake of this size is crucial in the flat land area.
“We appreciate the patience of the public,” he said. “The lake is now better than we found it. The fishing is good now, but it will be even better in two or three years.”
He said that they couldn’t have done it without the cooperation of the Arkansas State Parks, noting that this project was key to Poinsett County, Harrisburg and Northeast Arkansas.
“We want to celebrate this successful project,” Batten said on Thursday, adding that there will be a short ceremony, followed by light refreshments.
“We can then tell fishing stories, or even try to catch a fish,” Batten said.
Brett Timmons, project manager and fishery support for Northeast Arkansas’s Game and Fish, said on Friday that the project began in 2017 but it has been in the works since 2006.
Timmons oversees the habitats and fisheries in the region and was in charge of the project for the fisheries division.
He said that the AGFC started draining the 640-acre lake on July 10, 2017, to begin the renovation process, but that the AFGC has been aware that there was an erosion problem at Lake Poinsett since 2006.
“We had to drain the lake to assess the condition of the dam and the functionality of the water control structure,” he said. “It was obvious that there were issues that needed to be rectified.”
“There was 18,000 linear feet of shore line erosion in the lake, which really needed addressed,” Timmons said. “It was discovered in 2006 that there was 1,200 linear feet of shoreline erosion, but nothing was done because the state agency was unable to obtain any funding to fix the issue at the time.”
He said there were a number of issues that had to be addressed in order to move forward, such as damage to the dam.
Timmons said the AGFC spent $1.5 million on repairing the water control structure, $3.3 million to fix 10,271 linear feet of the shoreline and $200,000 on fish habitats.
He said that it took seven or eight months to fix the shoreline and three or four months to fix the water control structure.
Although the project was officially completed on December 31, 2020, it has taken about a year to refill the lake. While the lake is still filling it is extremely close to being full. It stands at 300 mean sea level or MSL at the moment and needs to reach 305 MSL to be considered completely filled.
“It was a lot of work,” Timmons said, noting that they have added 174 GPS located habitat sites for fishers to enjoy, reinforced concrete pipes, and artificial habitats called spider buckets which are created from donated materials, such as cement blocks and plastic pipes.
“We have placed the spider buckets around the pier to promote fishing,” he said, noting that they have created four bank fishing areas for shoreline fishing along the county roads that run along the lake as well.
Timmons said that they have already stocked 800,000 fish and are about to add 20,000 predator fish as well. | 2022-03-30T11:06:44Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Lake Poinsett officially reopened | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/lake-poinsett-officially-reopened/article_4d47d90b-73f3-586f-9fba-26db8190d9bb.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/lake-poinsett-officially-reopened/article_4d47d90b-73f3-586f-9fba-26db8190d9bb.html |
Washington University signs Blazers' Little
JONESBORO — Valley View High School senior Will Little signed a letter of intent Tuesday to compete next year for the swimming and diving team at Washington University in St. Louis.
Little anticipates swimming in the 100 and 200 breaststroke for the Bears, who recently finished ninth in the team standings at the NCAA Division III Championships in Indianapolis. He hopes to get on the relay team as well.
“I’ve always wanted to swim in college, since I was real young, and all these supporters really help me realize how grateful and how blessed I am to have such a great support team, great coaches and a great family,” Little said after his signing ceremony. “I’m super excited to continue the next four years.”
Little is following his older brother Jack into college swimming. Jack was a redshirt junior this season at Arizona State, finishing sixth in the 1650 freestyle at the Pac-12 Championships.
Will, who won multiple state championships at Valley View, said he and his brother would train together on mornings when the team didn’t have practice.
“My brother really drew me into the sport. I don’t think I would be able to compete at this athletic level without him,” Will said. “He went to Arizona State and I definitely considered that, but it just wasn’t right for me. From the moment I stepped on campus at WashU, it felt like home.”
Vic Moore, Will Little’s coach with the Jets Aquatic Club in Jonesboro, described him as someone who works hard in every practice. Moore said he would like to see Little compete in individual medley as well as the breaststroke at Washington University.
“I think he’s got lots and lots of room for improvement with his 400 IM. He’s got four pretty good strokes and if I had more time with him, I’d try to get him under four minutes in the IM,” Moore said. “I think he’s going to the right school. He definitely has an academic mindset.
“The student-athlete, he does it with the student in front of it. He’s one of the hardest-working kids I’ve ever coached. He’s a quiet leader. When he speaks, it’s poignant and I’ve really enjoyed working with him.” | 2022-03-30T11:08:04Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Washington University signs Blazers' Little | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/washington-university-signs-blazers-little/article_e78fd72f-5d29-55ea-a842-d4fc514d1405.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/washington-university-signs-blazers-little/article_e78fd72f-5d29-55ea-a842-d4fc514d1405.html |
A 2.2 earthquake was picked up on the Richter scale in Lawrence County on Saturday morning.
The earthquake, which was detected around 6:30 a.m., had a depth of roughly 2.2 miles below ground and occurred west of Powhatan near Highway 117.
According to recent publications, parts of the central U.S. are at risk of a devastating magnitude 7 earthquake within the next 50 years, experts are warning.
For decades, experts have been predicting a magnitude 7 earthquake in the areas surrounding the New Madrid Fault Line in Missouri, including cities such as Memphis, Little Rock, St. Louis and Indianapolis.
The last major earthquakes from this fault happened in 1811 and 1812, centered near the town of New Madrid, Mo. The quake reportedly managed to ring church bells as far away as South Carolina, caused farmland to sink into swamps and made the Mississippi River flow backward.
Most of the earthquake preparation in the U.S. has been focused on California, which experts say is about 80 years overdue for “The Big One,” a massive earthquake along the San Andreas fault. However, at the beginning of March, emergency managers, transportation leaders, geologists and others met in St. Louis to discuss ways to improve preparations.
While some researchers have long debated how much of a hazard New Madrid poses, the US Geological Survey still predicts a major quake like the 7.5 and 7.7 earthquakes that occurred in 1811 and 1812. The zone stretches 150 miles into Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee and Missouri.
The USGS estimates that there’s a seven to 10 percent chance of a repeat of the 1811-1812 sequence happening in the next 50 years. They also predict the chance of a magnitude 6 earthquake at as much as 40 percent by 2050. | 2022-03-30T11:08:10Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Earthquake registered in LawCo | Times Dispatch | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/earthquake-registered-in-lawco/article_b945e432-da52-5ee5-91c4-0921e9f18113.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/earthquake-registered-in-lawco/article_b945e432-da52-5ee5-91c4-0921e9f18113.html |
Greg Hogue, a native of Lawrence County, recently traveled to Romania to help with the Ukrainian refugee relief. In this photo, Hogue poses for a picture with a family he housed who had fled Kyiv and was on their way to Prague.
Humanitarians, including Greg Hogue, provided several thousand dollars worth of food and baby supplies to the Church of Christ in Cernivtsi, Ukraine, for distribution to those in need.
Lawrence County native Greg Hogue recently traveled to northwest Romania near the Ukrainian border to provide aid with the Ukrainian refugee relief from the city of Cluj-Napoca in Romania.
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 with an attack that is internationally considered a war of aggression. It has triggered Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II, with more than 3.8 million Ukrainians leaving the country, and millions of others displaced.
Hogue joined David Gipson, who has a missions ministry in Jonesboro and travels to Romania yearly to provide aid. The two left for Romania on March 6 from the Memphis International Airport and arrived in Cluj on March 8.
During the two-week stay, Hogue and Gipson provided assistance where needed through the Church of Christ. They helped house refugees, arranged transportation to and from the train station, provided needed supplies such as diapers and medicine, and distributed adult and kids’ Bibles. They also housed refugees and fed up to 150 Ukrainians a day through the church’s food bank they established.
“It all happened so fast,” said Hogue. “We went to mainly address whichever issues we could address and tend to their immediate needs.”
According to Hogue, one of the many needs for refugees is diabetic supplies.
“They can’t get any diabetic supplies to the areas getting bombed,” said Hogue. “And women are making camouflage nets that you can place over artillery guns – that’s what they are making in their spare time. They are trying to get supplies wherever they can.”
Hogue also commented that a majority of large stores in Ukraine have their warehouses in cities that are getting bombed and can’t be accessed, limiting demanded supply.
“The thing that affected me the most was the kids,” Hogue said. “Remembering all of the children who came through the border with their mothers because men aren’t allowed to leave Ukraine – they had to drop their kids and wives off at the border. It was so sad.”
Alongside the sadness of disbursed families crossing the border is a bit of humanity and compassion.
“You could see that people had left stuffed animals along the length of the bridge for all the children who cross fleeing the war,” Hogue said.
In addition to providing aid, Hogue and Gipson also led worship services at a church in Cluj with Hogue teaching class and Gipson preaching.
“Some of the Ukrainians didn’t understand English or Romanian so the worship was also translated in Ukrainian. Afterwards we had a fellowship meal together. What a great time together. Unity and love rise above any language barrier,” Hogue said.
Hogue will speak of his time in Romania and Ukraine on Sunday at his home church, Hoxie Church of Christ, located at 603 Southwest Broad St., during morning worship service at 10:30 a.m. The public is invited. | 2022-03-30T11:08:16Z | www.jonesborosun.com | LawCo native provides refugee relief | Times Dispatch | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/lawco-native-provides-refugee-relief/article_353ab9b3-22c8-58b2-9d2f-e5e90db53937.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/lawco-native-provides-refugee-relief/article_353ab9b3-22c8-58b2-9d2f-e5e90db53937.html |
For the first time in several weeks the number of new cases of COVID-19 reported in Lawrence County outpaced the recovery resulting in an increase in the number of active cases in the county.
All of the case numbers remain low compared to the recent surge caused by the omicron variant.
According to the Arkansas Department of Health website, Lawrence County saw 40 news cases reported in the past seven days. The new cumulative case count for the county is 5,283, up from the 5,243 reported a week ago.
In the same time period, the county saw 33 added to the recovered list, bringing that total since March of 2020 to 5,199, up from 5,166 reported last week.
After several weeks of watching the active case count cut in half over and over, until it reached only two active cases last week, the county saw a turn in the opposite direction this week. The ADH reported nine active cases for Lawrence County as of Tuesday, an increase of seven.
No new deaths have been reported among Lawrence County residents during the past seven days. According to the ADH website Tuesday morning, the county’s COVID-related death count remains at 75. | 2022-03-30T11:08:34Z | www.jonesborosun.com | County sees increase, but case count low | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/news/county-sees-increase-but-case-count-low/article_f3a7a953-aef6-54fc-be4a-78dfdc4ee07a.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/news/county-sees-increase-but-case-count-low/article_f3a7a953-aef6-54fc-be4a-78dfdc4ee07a.html |
Boyce Vance “Jack” Williams died Sunday, March 27, 2022, at home, surrounded by his family he loved so much.
He was born Oct. 10, 1953, in Walnut Ridge, to Boyce Lee “Dick” Williams and Joyce McCormic Williams. He was a loving husband, grandfather and great-grandfather. He never passed on the chance to pull a prank, tell a joke, or lend a hand to someone, even if they didn’t know they needed it.
He lived in the Walnut Ridge area all his life and worked as a farmer and a truck driver hauling grain. Jack was a unique man who brought joy to the lives he touched. His never-ending support for his wife, son, daughter and friends has left a smile on their hearts. His passing brings mourning to all who knew and loved him. He was a good Christian man and was a member of the Hoxie Church of Christ.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Boyce and Joyce Williams; and a nephew, James Franklin.
Jack is survived by his wife, Karen Williams, of the home; son, Joey (Brandi) Williams; daughter, Linda (Manuel) Navarro; brothers, Mac (Carolyn) Williams and Nath Williams; grandchildren, Cloey Lynn, Logan, Kylee Rose, Vance and Ethan; great-grandson, Lakai Vance; aunt, Wanda McCormic; best friends since middle school, Kerry Tribble, Sam Hart and Luther Tribble; nephews, Josh, Ben, Spencer and Dakota; and niece, Natalee.
Visitation is today, March 30, from 5-7 p.m. at House-Gregg Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge. A memorial service will begin at 7 p.m. with Dakota “Turkey” Crossno officiating.
An online guestbook is available at www.housegreggfh.com. | 2022-03-30T11:08:40Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Jack Williams | Obituaries | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/jack-williams/article_fea27d5c-86b6-521a-a68c-0ed98e72294c.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/jack-williams/article_fea27d5c-86b6-521a-a68c-0ed98e72294c.html |
Walnut Ridge’s recycle bin, previously located off East Main Street on Southeast Second Street, has been moved and is now located at 3227 Hwy. 67B, between Gateway Animal Clinic and the Walnut Ridge Fire Station.
The area will be monitored by a new camera security system to assure proper use of the recycle bin.
The NEA Regional Recycling Center has released recycling instructions for the bin. Items that can be recycled include clear glass; aluminum; scrap metal; plastic bottles and plastic bags; cardboard and chipboard; household appliances such as refrigerators, stoves, washers, dryers, water heaters and freezers; newsprint; office and home waste paper and computer paper; and electronics, such as monitors, towers, desktops, keyboards, laptops, telephones and anything with a circuit board.
According to the City of Walnut Ridge, any furniture, boxes, bags, etc., that are left outside the bin is considered littering and is in violation of city ordinance 814-16, where it states that fines are applicable for such actions.
The recycle bin is available to all Lawrence County citizens. For more information about items that can or cannot be recycled, visit the City of Walnut Ridge’s Facebook page “City of Walnut Ridge Arkansas.” | 2022-03-30T11:08:52Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Recycle bin moved, guidelines in place | Times Dispatch | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/recycle-bin-moved-guidelines-in-place/article_304d3bf2-85d7-5277-94cc-be968be7c91a.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/recycle-bin-moved-guidelines-in-place/article_304d3bf2-85d7-5277-94cc-be968be7c91a.html |
Jones selected as College of Business dean
Dr. Logan Jones has been appointed as the new dean of the College of Business at Ferris State University, beginning in June.
Jones will bring several years of experience from the College of Business and Professional Studies at Missouri Western State University in St. Joseph, including serving as dean.
Jones’ background includes administrative duties in a restructured interdisciplinary college as he comes to the Ferris College of Business, which has added academic programs from the former College of Education and Human Services.
Jones completed his Ph.D. in Business Administration at the University of Mississippi and received a master’s and bachelor’s degrees from Arkansas State University.
He is also a 1991 graduate of Jonesboro High School. | 2022-03-31T07:45:39Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Jones selected as College of Business dean | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/jones-selected-as-college-of-business-dean/article_a8863138-f25c-5072-99a8-e3473d00d3e9.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/jones-selected-as-college-of-business-dean/article_a8863138-f25c-5072-99a8-e3473d00d3e9.html |
Registration open for Rural Development Summit
LITTLE ROCK — Registration is now open for the 2022 Arkansas Rural Development Summit, the state’s annual event for anyone interested in improving the quality of life in Arkansas’ rural communities. This year’s summit will be held May 12 at the Statehouse Convention Center, 101 E. Markham St.
The Rural Development Summit is a partnership between the Arkansas Economic Development Commission’s Division of Rural Services and the Arkansas Rural Development Commission.
During the summit, participants will have the opportunity to learn more about the programs and services available through AEDC.
Events will include two breakout sessions, a hosted legislative committee meeting, and the annual Governor’s Award Luncheon where grants will be awarded to communities throughout Arkansas.
In addition, a joint reception will be held the evening before the summit at 5:30 p.m. at the Statehouse Convention Center. The reception will also include attendees from the state’s Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise Matchmaking event, which will be May 11.
Attendees who register before April 28 can take advantage of the early-bird rate of $75 per attendee. For those who register after April 28, summit fees are $100 per attendee. Exhibit space is $200 and provides two complimentary registrations.
Registration fees cover all summit materials as well as entertainment activities and lunch. Cancellations will be subject to a 50-percent charge. | 2022-03-31T07:45:45Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Registration open for Rural Development Summit | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/registration-open-for-rural-development-summit/article_2711dc4b-17a9-5c3c-b8f8-fd473b807643.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/registration-open-for-rural-development-summit/article_2711dc4b-17a9-5c3c-b8f8-fd473b807643.html |
Reinschmidt to direct ASU Museum
JONESBORO — Michael Reinschmidt has been named director of the Arkansas State University Museum, Provost Alan Utter announced Tuesday in a press release.
Recommended by the search committee to succeed long-time retiring director Marti Allen, Reinschmidt begins as museum director on April 11.
“We are extremely pleased that Dr. Reinschmidt has accepted the offer to take over the stewardship of our A-State Museum,” Utter said. “Our museum has become such an important part of our local community, having an individual with such a rich background in the management and nurturing of significant history and cultural museums was very important in our selection process.”
Reinschmidt joins A-State from dual positions of adjunct faculty in museum studies at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, and health promotional education at OU’s Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City.
He most recently directed the Kauffman Museum at Bethel College in Kansas, 2018-20. For seven years prior to joining the Kauffman, Reinschmidt was the administrator of the Tohono O’odham Nation Cultural Center and Museum in Topawa, Ariz.
“We were fortunate to have had a very qualified and extremely strong field of finalist candidates,” Jeff Bailey, director of the Dean B. Ellis Library at A-State and chair of the search committee said. “Dr. Reinschmidt’s academic-based approach to leadership and his many years of leading museums that focused on history and culture, particularly indigenous communities, greatly impressed the committee.”
Apart from his diverse background as a museum director, Reinschmidt has global experience in anthropological research, teaching social sciences, and testing museum decolonization trends on actual shop floors at the peripheries of the mainstream museum world.
This specialization started to shape up when he became the first curator of the Korean American Museum in Los Angeles, which since has evolved into the Korean American National Museum.
Reinschmidt earned his Ph.D. at the University of Göttingen in Germany. | 2022-03-31T07:45:51Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Reinschmidt to direct ASU Museum | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/reinschmidt-to-direct-asu-museum/article_1eb00670-9f85-5968-a993-41cf2716a3be.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/reinschmidt-to-direct-asu-museum/article_1eb00670-9f85-5968-a993-41cf2716a3be.html |
"Rice Reps" to award more than $18,000
LITTLE ROCK — Current high school juniors graduating in 2023 are eligible to apply for and win up to $18,000 in scholarship funding towards higher education.
Arkansas Rice’s “Rice Reps” is a five-month program to help educate students about the rice industry and equip them to act as advocates in their communities and on social media.
Once accepted into the program, Reps actively participate in activities from May through September designed to teach students about rice farming and the importance of the Arkansas rice industry at home and abroad. They are also asked to attend four different exclusive, on-site experiences during the program to better understand the reach of rice in Arkansas.
In August, near the end of their commitment, Reps are asked to fill out a scholarship form, which makes them eligible for one of 10 scholarships. Winners will be awarded and recognized at a final reception, in September.
For more detailed information or to apply online, complete the application visit www.arkansasrice.org/rice-reps. | 2022-03-31T07:45:57Z | www.jonesborosun.com | "Rice Reps" to award more than $18,000 | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/rice-reps-to-award-more-than-18-000/article_a2c1146a-d9a7-5179-9b38-3496ecabf73e.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/rice-reps-to-award-more-than-18-000/article_a2c1146a-d9a7-5179-9b38-3496ecabf73e.html |
By Paxton News Bureau
NEWPORT — Former Arkansas U.S. Sen. Kaneaster Hodges Jr., who served just more than one year in office in the 1970s, has died.
He was born Aug. 20, 1938, the second of six children born to Kaneaster Hodges Sr. and Harryette Morrison Hodges of Newport.
Hodges, a Democrat, served in office from December 1977 until January 1979 after being appointed by then-Gov. David Pryor to fill out the expired term of Sen. John McClellan, who died in office. Hodges, who was also an ordained United Methodist minister, was not allowed under Arkansas law to seek election in 1978 to a full term in the Senate, a race won by Pryor.
Pryor and McClellan were also Democrats. Hodges worked for McClellan’s re-election campaign in 1972 and for Pryor’s gubernatorial campaign in 1974.
His time in the Senate was most noted for casting the pivotable vote in favor of the Panama Canal treaties and he voted against tuition tax credits for parents of private school students.
Kaneaster married Ruth Lindley Williams on June 26, 1960. After marriage, they moved to Dallas, where Kaneaster entered Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University graduating magna cum laude in 1963. During his three years in seminary, he was committed to civil rights and participated in the Methodist Student Movement where he served as national president, traveling the country in support of this cause.
Lindley and Kaneaster moved to Massachusetts in 1963 where he pastored two churches, the Acushnet Wesley Methodist Church and the Long Plain United Methodist Church.
While pastoring both churches, he commuted to Boston University, where he earned a second master’s degree in Pastoral Counseling. In the summer of 1964, they moved to New York City where Kaneaster was a chaplain intern at Rikers Island Correctional Institution.
In 1964, Hodges and his wife moved to Fayetteville, where Hodges attended the University of Arkansas School of Law, where he was named editor-in-chief of the University’s Arkansas Law Review.
Following law school, Kaneaster Jr. joined his father, Kaneaster Hodges Sr., and brother, David Hodges, in Newport at the Hodges, Hodges, and Hodges Firm. He also served as the Newport city attorney and the Jackson County deputy prosecuting attorney from 1967 to 1974.
Kaneaster was a member of the Jackson County, the State of Arkansas and the American bar associations.
The funeral home said services will be at 2 p.m. today in Newport. | 2022-03-31T07:46:09Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Former Sen. Hodges dies at 83 | Newport | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/former-sen-hodges-dies-at-83/article_ad967b7b-70b9-5382-b968-d3914eaa40b4.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/former-sen-hodges-dies-at-83/article_ad967b7b-70b9-5382-b968-d3914eaa40b4.html |
While a storm system that passed through Jonesboro Wednesday dumped a lot of rain, leaving standing water in many roadways including at the intersection of Washington and Bridge, the area was spared from severe weather that had been predicted.
Area dodges bullet with severe weather
JONESBORO — Just days after the two-year anniversary of a tornado that tore through Jonesboro, residents were battening down the hatches in anticipation of severe weather Wednesday afternoon.
Anthony Coy, director of emergency management for Craighead County, said the area dodged a major bullet considering what had been forecast with the storm system.
Coy said there were reports of a pole down on Interstate 555 and a tree uprooted on Arkansas 351, both of which actually occurred ahead of the severe thunderstorm warning for the county. The two incidents caused traffic delays.
High winds were felt in the region throughout the day on Wednesday, with a storm system moving through mid-afternoon bringing heavy rain and strong wind gusts.
Coy said while he is sure there will be reports of other trees down in the area, there had been no reports of structural damage, nor any reports of injuries related to the storm.
“We were monitoring the dispatch channels, too,” he said. “There were a few accidents, but we did not hear anything about storm-related damage.”
Many residents of Jonesboro and the surrounding area remain on edge when severe weather hits after a March 28, 2020, storm system dropped an EF-3 tornado on the city.
The 2020 twister originated from a “supercell thunderstorm” that swept through the area. It started just before 5 p.m. about two miles south of Jonesboro, just north of Interstate 555 and west of Caraway Road, according to the National Weather Service.
The storm traveled 12.55 miles through Craighead County, ending 3.4 miles northeast of Brookland, the NWS preliminary survey report stated. It reached its most intense stage as it approached and moved across the Jonesboro Municipal Airport. | 2022-03-31T07:46:21Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Area dodges bullet with severe weather | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/area-dodges-bullet-with-severe-weather/article_8c0e1859-d972-56dc-a28d-6e15b795a776.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/area-dodges-bullet-with-severe-weather/article_8c0e1859-d972-56dc-a28d-6e15b795a776.html |
New BAM Van closer to reality
JONESBORO — The Bradbury Art Museum (BAM) will soon be able to share art throughout Northeast Arkansas via a traveling art shows that will be possible with the development and completion of the aptly named “BAM Van,” which is a mobile extension of the museum itself.
In response to a proposal from Haley Voges, education coordinator at BAM, the Kays Foundation has awarded a $10,000 grant to the Bradbury Art Museum, which will be used as matching funds for the project.
Voges said that the BAM Van will enable staff to share the art collection across a wider region, benefiting those who might not otherwise have access.
“Having a way to transport our artwork means we can extend our services and strengthen our relationship with the region we serve,” she said. “We now have the opportunity to bring art into the community via pop-up, mobile exhibitions alongside more comprehensive art experiences such as hands-on workshops or activities.”
“We will also be able to have a bigger presence at local schools and festivals,” Voges said, “increasing visibility for our programming.”
“We are grateful and feel lucky to be receiving continued support alongside our growing education program,” Voges said. “It is because of generous contributors such as the Kays Foundation that we will soon have a vehicle to facilitate increased community engagement by extending our services outside of the museum walls.”
“We were able to meet a $30,000 challenge grant from the Windgate Foundation with contributions from the Kays Foundation, Arvest Bank and our namesakes Chucki and Curt Bradbury,” she said.
In May of last year, the Windgate Foundation awarded A-State a matching grant of $30,000 for the BAM Van, according to a press release.
Then in November, Arkansas State University System Foundation announced that they had received a donation of $10,000 from the Arvest Foundation with the purpose of supporting BAM’s upcoming project.
Voges said, “We are happy to have safe and reliable transportation to ensure the care of Arkansas State University’s beautiful art collection for many years to come.” | 2022-03-31T07:46:39Z | www.jonesborosun.com | New BAM Van closer to reality | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/new-bam-van-closer-to-reality/article_c8e3e7ea-e16a-5fa3-8373-99027caf4b28.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/new-bam-van-closer-to-reality/article_c8e3e7ea-e16a-5fa3-8373-99027caf4b28.html |
Traffic stop ends in arrest
JONESBORO — Police arrested a Jonesboro man at about 1 a.m. Wednesday following a traffic stop at the intersection of Flowerland Drive and Greenwood Street, according to a police report.
Justin Hall, 39, of the 1000 block of Rosemond Avenue, was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of drug paraphernalia.
A 16-year-old girl told police Wednesday morning that a 16-year-old boy had sexual intercourse with her while she was sleeping. The suspect could face a charge of rape.
The state Department of Human Services reported to police Tuesday that a 49-year-old woman misused $5,500 worth of public benefits. The incident occurred in the 1700 block of West Matthews Avenue.
A 27-year-old Jonesboro man reported Wednesday morning that his vehicle was broken into in the 1700 block of South Church Street. Stolen was a 9 mm Glock handgun worth $500.
Three victims – ages 12, 11 and 8 years old – told police Tuesday night that a 15-year-old boy pulled a gun on them at the intersection of Puryear Street and West Monroe Avenue. The suspect could face charges of aggravated assault and third-degree battery. | 2022-03-31T07:46:45Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Traffic stop ends in arrest | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/traffic-stop-ends-in-arrest/article_1ec0dbc7-c283-5c6d-a82a-02a6f62a22da.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/traffic-stop-ends-in-arrest/article_1ec0dbc7-c283-5c6d-a82a-02a6f62a22da.html |
Invisible lines
By Mike Gray Guest Column
In the middle of our yard, there is a weeping cherry tree. We call her the “Ginger Bear Tree.” During winter, when she is dormant, she’s not much to look at – a simple 7-foot trunk with a crown of scrawny, naked sprigs throwing themselves out in all directions.
Nestled comfortably in the nook of that crown rests a tiny round nest of dirt, twig, and twine; a summer home for the friendliest goldfinches I’ve ever met. At the bottom of her trunk, we tied a single red ribbon in memory of her namesake; our dearly loved family member, who passed away just two years ago.
In spring, the Ginger Bear Tree bursts into a brilliant flurry of flowers, pink and white all over. When the wind blows, her colors flash and blur with excitement – a sight reminiscent of what was once our dog’s most prominent and endearing feature: her puffy, fluffy, curly-q tail. We say, “See? Ginger Bear is shaking her pom-pom!” And we remember. “She was the best girl,” we tell each other.
A few feet away, there is an invisible line – a border between my neighbor’s yard and mine. On the other side of that border, parallel to our Ginger Bear Tree, there is a fresh mound of earth and clay, which marks the place where my neighbors’ dog was laid to rest just a few weeks ago.
I’d never seen my neighbors cry before that day. That’s not to say they never did, but that I never noticed if they had. Our houses are, after all, much closer than we are. All said, the relationship between our families is unremarkable.
We’ve engaged in the typical neighborly regimen of in-passing pleasantries, small favors, occasional disagreements, and even more occasional moments of sincere and meaningful self-disclosure. We knew that their dog had been sick for some time, just as they knew when our Ginger Bear was dying; we saw them lifting him onto the front porch, just as they saw us carrying our girl in and out of the house, when she could no longer do it herself.
But, it wasn’t until after our girl was gone and we were planting the Ginger Bear Tree that our neighbors learned about the other losses we’d suffered around that time: my mom, my partner’s mawmaw, a former student. Likewise, it wasn’t until I found myself kneeling on the cold ice next to one of the sweetest golden retrievers I’d ever met, helping his people wrap his still-warm body in towels and blankets, that I learned of other losses and hardships they’d recently suffered – a father passing, a mother’s illness worsening – all occurring within weeks of… this.
It is easier to focus on the differences between us than it is to see how much we all have in common. My neighbors attend church every Sunday; we do not. Based on a handful of brief exchanges over the years, it seems that our political ideologies are unlikely to ever align. I doubt they listen to hip-hop; I rather enjoy it. Religion, politics, art – these cultural boundaries tend to divide us, like invisible lines between your yard and mine.
Lines that encourage certain adversarial ways of being referred to by Wendat philosopher Kandiaronk in his debates with French military man Baron de Lahontan roughly 300 years ago as “mine and thine” mindsets. In their book “The Dawn of Everything,” Graeber and Wengrow describe how ancient societies were established and thrived throughout history by employing collaborative and egalitarian ways of being, rather than focusing self-promotion and individualism.
Even at multi-cultural mega-sites like Teotihuacan in Mexico or those built by Cucuteni-Trypillia peoples in Ukraine, evidence supports the reality that success was based largely on collectivist notions of mutual aid and care for one’s neighbor. These ancient ways of being are echoed today in places like the commune of Sainte-Engrace in France, where residents share the responsibility of feeding their neighbors in a clockwise direction, while providing end-of-life care collectively in a counter-clockwise direction. What archaeologists have discovered is that the real history of civilization is based more on friendliness and care than on fighting and competition.
The yard looks different these days, as well. There is a symmetry that didn’t exist before; a symmetry that tells the history of what happened to us here; a material representation of experiences which transcend the boundaries of “mine and thine.” My partner and I talked for years about installing a privacy fence along that invisible line; something to make the “mine and thine” more apparent – more real.
If we had, I could’ve been standing just a few feet away, completely unaware that my neighbor was hurting and needed help that day. Then, I might have missed the chance to provide care and comfort to some of the nicest humans I’ve ever met. | 2022-03-31T07:47:40Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Invisible lines | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/invisible-lines/article_c3737af9-64ee-5ed8-aaeb-4cde349ae017.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/invisible-lines/article_c3737af9-64ee-5ed8-aaeb-4cde349ae017.html |
Mark Twain’s 'Corn-pone Opinions'
If you have not read Mark Twain’s short essay, it would behoove you to do so; that is, if you are or want to be an intelligent, thinking human being. It was true in 1901 and is still today that people, in general, tend to form their opinions from those around them, those who influence them (for good or bad), and those whose opinions they respect (whether they deserve that respect or not). However, today’s world is much different in two ways.
First, the population is better educated. On the whole, public education is exceptional in the United States, in spite of the shortcomings of some of the schools, teachers and administrators. Today, more than ever, schools must spend as much time teaching “thinking skills” as they do core subjects. The latter are of little use without the ability to think, to tear apart an argument or statement and find the truth, the facts (those things for which there is no alternative view).
Second, what is much different from Twain’s era is the advent of and broad expansion of media, from newspapers to radio to television to the internet. People are inundated daily, hourly, almost every minute by facts, opinions and propaganda from television, radio, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc. Is it any wonder that people get confused and suspicious. Thinking skills and education are more important than ever. Today, the person that you trust one day may be proven wrong the next, sometimes even minutes later. You need more than one source to find the “needle of truth in this haystack of information?”
Today our lives, our jobs, our safety and our freedom depend, more than ever, on basing our opinions/beliefs on truth, not just something that we heard that might sound good at the moment. We must dig deeper and decide what is right or wrong, what is important or not, based on facts, not just what someone else says. Regardless of your political or religious bent, truth is truth; facts are facts. | 2022-03-31T07:47:46Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Mark Twain’s 'Corn-pone Opinions' | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/mark-twain-s-corn-pone-opinions/article_a246ee9a-53c0-580c-a84c-e34aea1bcdca.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/mark-twain-s-corn-pone-opinions/article_a246ee9a-53c0-580c-a84c-e34aea1bcdca.html |
A-State's Omier decides to enter transfer portal
JONESBORO — Arkansas State forward Norchad Omier announced his decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal Tuesday afternoon after two seasons with the Red Wolves.
Omier posted a social media message Tuesday saying he plans to test the transfer portal after many conversations and prayers with his family, changing course after saying two weeks ago that he planned to return to ASU for the 2022-23 season.
“I haven’t taken this decision lightly and it’s one I have gone back and forth on many times,” Omier wrote. “However at this point I’m confident it’s in my best interest to explore the options provided.”
Omier was named the Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year this season as a second-year freshman. He was the third player in program history to be named Sun Belt Player of the Year and the first since Chico Fletcher won the honor in back-to-back seasons of 1997-98 and 1998-99.
Omier was also the third player in program history to be named Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year and first since Jason Jennings in 2001-02. Earning first-team All-Sun Belt recognition following his Freshman of the Year campaign a year ago, Omier was the first ASU player to repeat as a first-team All-Sun Belt selection since Jason Jennings in 2000-01 and 2001-02.
Averaging 17.2 points while shooting 64.7 percent from the floor in the regular season, Omier became the first player in league history to average at least 15 points and shoot better than 63 percent from the floor.
In league play, Omier became the first player in Sun Belt history to average 19 or more points (19.1) and 13 or more rebounds (13.3). Among all Sun Belt players in league-only games, Omier ranked second in scoring (19.1), first in rebounding (13.3), first in field-goal percentage (.634), fifth in steals (1.7) and third in blocks (2.0).
Omier said he enters the transfer portal with mixed emotions. He expressed his thanks to the ASU community, coaches and his teammates.
“I’ll cherish the bonds shaped on the court and cherished friendships made here in Jonesboro,” Omier wrote.
Two more ASU players, starting forward Keyon Wesley and reserve guard Mario Fantina, have also entered the transfer portal. | 2022-03-31T07:48:04Z | www.jonesborosun.com | A-State's Omier decides to enter transfer portal | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/a-states-omier-decides-to-enter-transfer-portal/article_97d1ac4b-da45-51ba-9b27-2ff7949c9bd1.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/a-states-omier-decides-to-enter-transfer-portal/article_97d1ac4b-da45-51ba-9b27-2ff7949c9bd1.html |
Running back Ja’Quez Cross takes a handoff from quarterback Wyatt Begeal during practice Tuesday afternoon at Arkansas State.
Red Wolves get back into spring routine
JONESBORO — Head coach Butch Jones saw signs of a football team coming off spring break when Arkansas State resumed spring practice Tuesday afternoon.
The Red Wolves held three practices prior to last week’s spring break. Jones praised the mindset and positive energy his players have shown since returning to campus, even if the execution wasn’t up to his standard Tuesday.
“What we learned today is football is a game of structure, football is a game of routine. We’ve been away from it for over a week,” Jones said after practice Tuesday. “Again, I like the effort and I like the intensity, but it was not very crisp, it was not very clean.
“Too many balls on the ground; we chart every ball on the ground and I want to say we had 67 or 68 from missed snaps to dropped balls to just incomplete passes for the entire length of practice. We just have to get a little bit better each and every week.”
ASU is in its second week of spring football. The Red Wolves will hold their fifth practice of the spring today and will also practice Saturday, which Jones described as a competition day that will include a red zone scrimmage.
Asked about retention from the first three practices, Jones said he could tell some players took advantage of their time off while others didn’t.
“I thought the retention from the older players was very good. The younger players, I think it was about 50-50 and on top of the retention and the install, now we have different elements of special teams going in as well,” Jones said. “It now becomes the accumulation effect. Everything is accumulating on top of them, so they have to do a good job of staying ahead of the game.”
Eleven players who were part of ASU’s recruiting class are going through spring drills. The group includes six Football Bowl Subdivision transfers and five freshmen who enrolled early.
Jones said he’s been pleased with the progress of senior quarterback James Blackman, who is going through spring drills at ASU for the first time after joining the team last August as a transfer from Florida State. Windy conditions and time off contributed to issues completing passes Tuesday, Jones said.
“Everything in the throw game is about rhythm, timing and spacing. Sometimes it may look like he overthrows a ball, but it’s the receiver not running out of his break. When you throw, there are a lot of things that go into that,” Jones said. “Today was a challenge with the elements, but we’re going to have to play in these elements. I think what you saw was the timing was off amongst all the quarterbacks and receivers, and a lot of it is a byproduct of coming back from a week off.”
The receiving corps is adjusting to the loss of Corey Rucker, who entered the transfer portal before spring practice. Rucker led ASU in receptions, receiving yards and receiving touchdowns last season.
Jones said senior Te’Vailance Hunt, the Red Wolves’ second-leading receiver in 2021, hasn’t been fully available yet this spring because of nagging injuries.
“We anticipate as spring goes on to have him back to full strength. That also gives us an opportunity to develop some of our younger players as well,” Jones said. “We expect a lot from Te’Vailance. What I like from him is he’s providing stability to that room. He’s providing leadership and he’s holding everyone around him accountable, and that’s been great to see. Now we just have to get him back and get him healthy. We’re going to be a young group. We’ll continue to add to that group in recruiting as well.”
Jones said the offensive line is being evaluated every day as ASU looks for the right combination.
Redshirt freshman Makilan Thomas, who played in three games on the offensive line last season, played tackle Tuesday.
“We’ve asked a lot of Makilan Thomas. He’s played center, he was doing a really good job at guard and (Tuesday) we moved him to left tackle because, again, as we know that’s one of the most critical spots,” Jones said. “He’s one of our best offensive linemen, but we forget he’s a redshirt freshman. We’ve asked a lot out of him and you could see he was kind of digesting the tackle spot.”
Like Jones, sophomore running back Lincoln Pare said the offense’s performance Tuesday reflected the time away from the game.
“It was good to be back out there, but as far as the offense today, we really have to get back to our structure. You could definitely tell we had a week off with our timing and stuff like that,” Pare said. “Definitely the biggest thing on offense is timing and details, stuff like that, so getting back in for Thursday, I would say that’s the big thing we have to clean up.”
Junior safety Eddie Smith said the defense had a good first day back on the field in terms of its energy.
“Usually when you come back from spring break it’s typically lousy, a lack of energy,” Smith said. “I didn’t feel like there was any of that (Tuesday). I feel like guys were flying around and playing with joy.” | 2022-03-31T07:48:16Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Red Wolves get back into spring routine | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/red-wolves-get-back-into-spring-routine/article_e0a1eb9b-b4e0-5f46-bcf9-42bc97fbdb03.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/red-wolves-get-back-into-spring-routine/article_e0a1eb9b-b4e0-5f46-bcf9-42bc97fbdb03.html |
Tuckerman vs. Stuttgart
On March 25, the Tuckerman Bulldogs traveled to Batesville to play in the Pioneer Classic for their first game since playing in the Ozark Classic the prior weekend.
In their first game they played the Stuttgart Ricebirds. In the top of the first inning Will King got a double, which turned out to be the only hit of the game for the Bulldogs. Stuttgart managed to score runs in the first three innings to take a 7-0 lead after three innings of play. Stuttgart pitching continued to keep the Bulldogs off the bases and off the scoreboard the remainder of the game and the Ricebirds took the 7-0 win. In the game, Will King went 1 for 2 at the plate and David Platt (2-1) was the starting pitcher and took the loss on the day and pitched 5 innings and struck out 6 batters.
Tuckerman vs. Jonesboro Westside
Also on March 25 the Tuckerman Bulldogs played Jonesboro Westside in the first round of the losers bracket of the Pioneer Classic.
In the first inning, the Bulldogs were able to score a run and Westside countered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first to take a 3-1 lead after one inning. In the second inning, the Bulldogs got the bats going with Will Tubbs reaching on an error, D.T. King and Timothy Ward hitting back to back doubles and then Will King, Brantley Lane, and Aaron Hurst drawing walks to load the bases with 1 out. David Platt came up to bat next and had a 2-2 count and hit a grand slam over the center field fence to put the Bulldogs up 9-3 after two innings of play. In the third inning, both teams were able to score 2 more runs each with the score being 11-5 after three innings of play. The Bulldogs were able to hold the Warriors scoreless the remainder of the game while adding on 1 more run in the top half of the last inning to come away with the 12-5 win.
In the game, David Platt went 3 for 4 with a run and 4 RBIs, D.T. King went 2 for 4 with an RBI, Brantley Lane went 2 for 3 with 3 RBIs, and Aaron Hurst went 2 for 3 with an RBI. Aaron Hurst (2-1) was the starting pitcher in the game and picked up the win. He pitched 5.1 innings and struck out 6. Pitching in relief was Timothy Ward who pitched 0.2 innings and struck out 2.
Tuckerman vs. Viola
On March 26 the Tuckerman Bulldogs played in the 5th place game of the Pioneer Classic against Viola.
In the first inning, the Bulldogs picked up where they left off the day before by scoring 9 runs in the top of the first inning. The Bulldogs added another 7 runs in the top of the second while holding Viola scoreless through the first two innings. In the top of the third inning, the Bulldogs added another two runs while Viola got on the scoreboard with 2 runs in the bottom of the third to make the score 18-2 after three innings of play. The game ended with a run rule after the fourth inning.
In the game, Will King went 2 for 2 with 3 RBIs, D.T. King went 1 for 2 with 3 RBIs, Aaron Hurst went 2 for 4 with an RBI, Will Tubbs went 1 for 2 with an RBI, Anthony Holliday went 1 for 1 with 2 RBIs, and David Platt went 1 for 1 with 2 RBIs. Timothy Ward (3-1) was the starting pitcher for the Bulldogs and picked up the win. He pitched 3 innings and allowed 2 hits and struck out 2. With the win the Bulldogs improve to 8-5 overall and 2-1 in conference play. | 2022-03-31T16:49:25Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Bulldogs win two at Pioneer Classic | Newport | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/bulldogs-win-two-at-pioneer-classic/article_0e93e31b-e6db-5ce5-903c-35a4da7798da.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/bulldogs-win-two-at-pioneer-classic/article_0e93e31b-e6db-5ce5-903c-35a4da7798da.html |
The Arkansas tourism industry is recovering from the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Based on collections of the state two percent tourism tax, the industry now exceeds pre-pandemic levels of economic activity. However, other gauges of tourism indicate that fewer people are working at Arkansas hotels than in 2019.
The two percent tourism tax is collected when people rent hotel rooms, condominiums, lodges, motor courts and other accommodations. It also is collected from campground fees and boat rentals. It is added into the price of tourist attractions.
In 2021 the state collected $20.5 million from the tax, which was a record. In 2020, when the tourism industry was affected by restrictions due to the Covid-19 pandemic, collections from the tourism tax were $13.6 million. That was the lowest it had been since 2013.
Revenue from the tourism tax pays for the state’s marketing budget.
According to the director of the state tourism department, Arkansas came through the pandemic better than other states that are competing for the tourists. One reason is that Arkansas quickly stopped marketing in other states, so as not to waste dollars on advertising campaigns when people were not traveling.
Tourists and visitors to Arkansas spent about $6 billion in 2020, down from about $8 billion in 2019.
The state Tourism Ticker is sponsored by the Arkansas Hospitality Association and operated by Talk Business & Politics, news-gathering website. The ticker measures the health of the tourism industry using three categories. One is revenue from hospitality taxes collected by 17 Arkansas cities and towns. Another is revenue from the state two percent tourism tax. The third category is employment figures compiled by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The employment statistics indicate that Arkansas has not completely rebounded from the pandemic. For the first ten months of 2021 the average number of jobs in the tourism sector was about 111,500. That is better than 2020, when the average was 103,650, but it is still below 2019, when the average number of jobs in tourism was 122,900.
Northwest Arkansas is the only area in the state which has seen job growth in the tourism sector above pre-pandemic levels. In 2019 the average number of tourist-related jobs in the area was 26,000. It is not 26,500.
Many cities levy an advertising and promotion tax, or a hospitality tax. Sometimes it is colloquially known as a “hamburger tax.”
During the first ten months of 2021, hospitality taxes in 17 Arkansas cities were up more than 30 percent from 2020. They were up 5.6 percent from 2019.
In total, the 17 cities collected $47.8 million in hospitality taxes in the first ten months of 2021. Of that amount, restaurant taxes, also known as prepared food taxes, accounted for about $36.5 million, compared to $33 million collected in the same period of 2019.
The tourism department adapted its marketing strategy in response to the pandemic. Previously the state tourism magazine, which is digital, was titled “Discover Arkansas.”
In recognition that long-distance travel was most affected by the pandemic, the department changed the title of the magazine to “Rediscover Arkansas.” It changes the target audience to Arkansas residents and urged them to get to know the tourist destinations close to their homes. | 2022-03-31T16:49:29Z | www.jonesborosun.com | The Arkansas tourism industry | Newport | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/the-arkansas-tourism-industry/article_307590b9-4d9e-555b-802d-193266008501.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/the-arkansas-tourism-industry/article_307590b9-4d9e-555b-802d-193266008501.html |
‘The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible,” said Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Such words describe the life of Gen. William O. Darby, a hero of World War II and an Arkansas native. The integrity and courage of Darby was an important contribution to the American victory and the future of the U.S. Army through his efforts leading the Army Rangers.
William Orlando Darby was born in 1911 in Fort Smith. His father made a respectable living as a printer. He attended local schools as a child, and graduated Fort Smith High School in 1929. Darby earned an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he was respected among his fellow cadets.
After his graduation from West Point in 1933, he was assigned as a supply officer with a field artillery unit at Fort Bliss, Texas. A year later, he was assigned to command a mounted artillery unit in New Mexico. He attended the field artillery school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in 1937, and spent the next several years moving from post to post. In 1940, he was promoted to captain.
The entry of the United States into World War II in December 1941 led to a massive reorganization of the army. The success of British commandos early in World War II had inspired American leadership to similarly create a new, specialized fighting unit. Ranger units were part of an army tradition that found its roots in the American Revolution. Sometimes called “partisans,” these early Ranger units were known for their mobility and relative self-sufficiency. The army, however, had not had a formal Ranger unit since the Civil War. Having worked with the commandos starting after his arrival in January 1942, Darby was tapped to organize and train an American unit with a promotion to major. He organized the 1st Ranger Battalion in Northern Ireland in July.
‘“Darby’s Rangers,” as they came to be called, which was also the title of the 1958 James Garner film on their exploits, saw their first combat in North Africa. They conducted a series of daring night raids in November 1942 as American forces stormed into Nazi-occupied Algeria. Darby led the raid himself, braving machine gun fire and grenades to win the day. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions. A few months later, as American and British forces in neighboring Tunisia linked up, Darby’s Rangers were sent to the new front lines. The success of the 1st Ranger Battalion prompted the army to expand these units. As a result, by early 1943, Darby, now a lieutenant colonel, had organized and trained the 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions. These Ranger units played important roles in the last battles that swept the Nazis out of Africa.
With the invasion of Sicily months later, the Rangers played a crucial role in the landing at the beaches. Darby’s Rangers were also the first to land on the mainland of Italy in September 1943. His forces continued their push through Italy. At Cisterna, just south of Rome, they battled the Nazis for days. The Americans would not give in, and the city fell to the Allies in March 1944. The battle was won, but 96 percent of the city lay in ruins. The people of Cisterna, so grateful for American efforts to liberate their city, would later name a school after Darby, and in 1984 became a sister city to Fort Smith, Darby’s hometown.
After the battle, he was promoted to full colonel. He was reassigned to the general staff at the Pentagon. He returned to Italy a year later in 1945 on an inspection tour in the war’s final weeks. On April 23, Gen. Robinson Duff of the 10th Mountain Division was injured, and Darby assumed command. The Nazis put up bitter resistance as they retreated. Darby in response was planning to cut off their retreat and capture their remaining forces.
On April 30, in the midst of the fight, an artillery shell exploded, killing Darby instantly. The last Nazi forces in Italy surrendered two days later. The entire Nazi regime surrendered on May 7.
On May 15, the army posthumously promoted Darby to brigadier general. His bravery and contributions to the military were not forgotten. In 1955, Fort Smith’s junior high school was renamed in honor of Darby, with the mascot changing to the Rangers to further honor the general. The army itself bestowed many honors on Darby. Army camps in Italy and Germany were named for him after World War II as well as a Ranger camp at Fort Benning, Georgia. Ranger training would continue after the war, producing generations of elite army troops. The Ranger School now offers the William O. Darby Award for Ranger trainees who show the best leadership qualities. | 2022-03-31T16:49:31Z | www.jonesborosun.com | William O. Darby and his Rangers | Newport | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/william-o-darby-and-his-rangers/article_e32f0ceb-3547-51aa-a90f-5a574199d438.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/william-o-darby-and-his-rangers/article_e32f0ceb-3547-51aa-a90f-5a574199d438.html |
A-State's Sills enters name in transfer portal
JONESBORO — After spending a season at Arkansas State, Desi Sills is planning to finish his college basketball career away from his hometown.
Sills announced his decision to enter his name into the NCAA transfer portal on Thursday. The former Jonesboro High School star is one of five ASU men’s basketball players to go into the portal this week, a list that also includes Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Norchad Omier.
In a social media post, Sills thanked ASU’s coaching staff, teammates and fans for welcoming him back to Jonesboro. He began his college career at Arkansas, playing in 98 games over three seasons with the Razorbacks, before transferring to ASU last year.
“A-State fans, it was great coming home and playing in my hometown at the collegiate level,” wrote Sills, a 6-foot-2 guard who has one year of eligibility remaining. “The fans, my teammates, and being home with my family made this season one of the best I’ve had in my college career. Jonesboro will always be my home and hold a special place in my heart.”
Starting 27 of 28 games that he played, Sills averaged 12.6 points as ASU’s No. 2 scorer behind Omier. He led the Red Wolves with 51 steals and was third in assists (79) and rebounds (101).
Sills scored in double figures in 18 games with a high of 25 points against Arkansas-Pine Bluff. He averaged 11.7 points in Sun Belt Conference games with a high of 21 against regular-season champion Texas State.
Combining three seasons at Arkansas and one at ASU, Sills has made 74 career starts and scored 1,110 career points.
Reserve forward Lazar Grbovic also announced his intention to enter the transfer portal on Thursday. Grbovic played in 14 games as a freshman, scoring nine points against both Mississippi Valley State and Central Baptist.
Omier, who averaged a double-double of 17.9 points and 12.2 rebounds as a second-year freshman at ASU, announced his plans to enter the transfer portal on Wednesday afternoon. Forward Keyon Wesley, who made 23 starts this season and 40 over two seasons, and reserve guard Mario Fantina have also entered the transfer portal.
With senior guard Marquis Eaton having completed his eligibility and Omier, Sills and Wesley in the transfer portal, guard Caleb Fields is the only regular starter from this season’s team remaining on the roster for the 2022-23 season.
ASU finished 18-11 overall this season, including an 8-7 mark in Sun Belt games. The Red Wolves were eliminated in the Sun Belt tournament quarterfinals by Georgia State for the second consecutive season.
Earlier this month the university announced a two-year contract extension for fifth-year head coach Mike Balado, whose contract had been scheduled to expire March 31. | 2022-04-01T02:01:50Z | www.jonesborosun.com | A-State's Sills enters name in transfer portal | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/a-states-sills-enters-name-in-transfer-portal/article_b6df1df3-d2ab-5f7d-ba88-2b233f72dbdb.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/a-states-sills-enters-name-in-transfer-portal/article_b6df1df3-d2ab-5f7d-ba88-2b233f72dbdb.html |
LITTLE ROCK — Gov. Asa Hutchinson recently announced a number of appointments and reappointments.
Jonesboro residents appointed included Harold Perrin to the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Development Finance Authority, replacing Gregory Stanfill with a term expiring Jan. 14, 2025; Jerry Morgan to the Board of Trustees of the Arkansas State University System, replacing Dr. Timothy Langford with a term expiring Jan. 14, 2024; Shawna Barber to the Veterinary Medical Examining Board, replacing Phillip DeSalvo with a term expiring March 1, 2027; and Jeffrey Steiling to the Arkansas State Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, and Interior Designers, replacing Michael Jelong with a term expiring April 26, 2027.
Jonesboro residents reappointed were Andrea Allen to the Arkansas Tobacco Settlement Commission, with a term expiring Oct. 1, 2025; Vern Green to the Arkansas State Board of Registration for Professional Soil Classifiers with a term expiring Nov. 1, 2026; Kimberly Clayborn to the Arkansas State Rehabilitation Council with a term expiring Feb. 1, 2025; Alicia Storey to the Breast Cancer Control Advisory Board with a term expiring Jan. 14, 2025.
Others receiving appointments were Lindsey Wingo of Rector and John Newcomb of Osceola, both to the Arkansas Economic Development Council.
Lingo will replace Jim Andrews with a term expiring Jan. 14, 2026. Newcomb replaces Tom Denniston with a term expiring Jan.14, 2025.
Brandon Harris of Bono was appointed to a newly created position on the Arkansas Apprenticeship Coordination Steering Committee with a term expiring Dec. 1, 2025.
Donald Felts of Joiner was appointed to the Boll Weevil Eradication Committee replacing Glenn Brackman with a term expiring July 1, 2025. Reappointed to that committee were Travis Senter of Osceola with a term expiring July 1, 2024, and Gregg Garner of Lake City with a term expiring July 1, 2025.
Other reappointments included Randy Henderson of Blytheville to the Arkansas Workforce Development Board with a term expiring May 1, 2025, and Tiffany Sharp of Brookland to the Arkansas Early Childhood Commission with a term expiring June 30, 2024. | 2022-04-01T06:44:37Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Governor announces appointments | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/governor-announces-appointments/article_21eeba2c-1979-5f46-82eb-261677edf452.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/governor-announces-appointments/article_21eeba2c-1979-5f46-82eb-261677edf452.html |
JONESBORO — A Jonesboro husband and wife were planning a move to their new home in Wisconsin when they got scammed in a wire fraud transfer Monday.
According to a Jonesboro police report, the couple was expecting an email from Dairy State Bank in Wisconsin about closing costs for the new home.
They transferred $109,646.80 in response to the email.
According to Jonesboro police officer Cody Howard on Monday, “I was approached at the desk by Victim No. 1 who stated that she needed to file a report about a fraudulent wire transfer. The victim stated that on (March 25), she was supposed to close on a new home in Menomonie, Wis. She stated that her husband had received an email on (March 24) that appeared to be from the title company with instructions to wire money for closing costs.
“The victim and her husband were expecting an email of this nature from Dairy State Bank. (She said she) and her husband completed the wire transfer to the account listed in the instructions from their account at Success Credit Union in Jonesboro. After they completed the transfer at the amount of $109,646.80, the victim and her husband found that the email was not from the correct address.
“They contacted the Dairy State Bank and verified that they had not received a wire transfer. The victims immediately called Success Credit Union and attempted to reverse the transfer but were unsuccessful.”
Sgt. Brian Arnold of the Jonesboro police’s Criminal Investigations Division said it’s the first wire fraud case of this magnitude that he’s seen since he’s been back at CID.
“It’s the first one I’ve heard of,” he said. “We usually don’t have that here.
“They were expecting an email. Everybody’s trustworthy.”
Arnold said before sending any money, people should contact the bank beforehand to verify that they sent the email.
He said the FBI typically gets involved in cases of wire fraud that cross state lines.
Arnold said the bank would probably reimburse the couple through the FDIC.
Howard wrote that the victim provided the account information where the transfer was sent.
“The transfer showed to be sent to a Carlos Herrera at Bank of America in Spring Hill, Fla.,” Howard wrote.
“Scammers are out there,” Arnold said. “Make a phone call and verify.” | 2022-04-01T06:44:56Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Couple scammed by email for $109,646 | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/couple-scammed-by-email-for-109-646/article_d7d4bb27-2b58-5e9e-a443-5e3e0ab0c441.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/couple-scammed-by-email-for-109-646/article_d7d4bb27-2b58-5e9e-a443-5e3e0ab0c441.html |
JONESBORO — The departure of Kelly Damphousse as chancellor of Arkansas State University will be felt beyond the Jonesboro campus, some local leaders said Thursday.
Damphousse announced his resignation, effective June 30, to become president of Texas State University. Though he’s a native of Canada, Damphousse said he considered Texas home, because that’s the childhood home of his wife, Beth.
Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver said Damphousse laid the foundation and an excellent example of what a chancellor should be.
“The work that Kelly set in place, to always create good synergy in our community partnership, I’m looking forward to the next leadership doing the same thing: advancing,” Copenhaver said.
Mark Young, president of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce, asid Damphousse has been a key member of the community.
“I appreciate the leadership Dr. Damphousse has provided for Arkansas State University and to the Board of Directors of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce,” Young said.”I wish he and Beth the best. He has been a tremendous advocate for the university and our community.”
Harold Perrin, an ASU graduate and former mayor of Jonesboro, said Damphousse was a community partner since taking the position in 2017. In fact, Perrin said Damphousse may have been the best campus leader the university has seen in Perrin’s lifetime.
“I’d have to put Kelly up at the top, because he was very transparent, very open,” Perrin said. “He worked with the students extremely well.”
Perrin noted that Damphousse insisted on including teaching duties in his contract as chancellor.
“He wanted to teach so he could be in the classroom, and that’s something unusual for a chancellor,” he said, noting that Damphousse and wife Beth are a good team as they interact with students day and night.
“He loved the students. That’s why the university is there,” Perrin said.
“He was very much involved in trying to assist economic development or whatever we needed to help better our community,” Perrin said. “Every time I would call him to sit down, maybe serve on a committee or try to help me, being mayor, he was always very appreciative and worked with me on projects, so I’m certainly going to miss him.”
Craighead County Judge Marvin Day called Damphousse a “great, wonderful person.”
“He’s been a fantastic leader not only for Arkansas State, but really for our whole community and he’s going to be greatly missed,” Day said. “I’ve definitely enjoyed my time with him and I’m very sad for us, but I’m just tickled to death for him and the opportunity he’s been given. I know he’ll do a fantastic job.”
ASU officials said no decision has been made regarding an interim appointment or a search process. | 2022-04-01T06:45:02Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Damphousse earns praise from community | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/damphousse-earns-praise-from-community/article_a9b3cc25-3d3a-522d-bd0e-7fc3941dda2c.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/damphousse-earns-praise-from-community/article_a9b3cc25-3d3a-522d-bd0e-7fc3941dda2c.html |
A-State announced Thursday that Dr. Kelly Damphousse had resigned as chancellor, effective June 30.
Damphousse resigns as chancellor of A-State
JONESBORO — Dr. Kelly Damphousse announced on Thursday his resignation as chancellor of Arkansas State University effective June 30, 2022, after completing five years of service to A-State.
Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, announced earlier in the day that Damphousse had been named as the sole finalist to replace Dr. Denise Trauth as president on July 1, 2022. Trauth has been president of Texas State since 2002, and will retire June 30, 2022.
“When I came to A-State five years ago, I pledged to do everything that I could to help the members of our faculty and staff reach their full potential, to ensure barriers to success were removed for our current and future students, and make our former students and friends proud of their university. That was the essence of the idea behind Every Red Wolf Counts,” Damphousse said. “As Beth and I take this opportunity to be closer to her mother, our family and friends, we pray that our A-State family understands our decision to return home, and knows that we gave our university and adopted hometown everything we had during our time here.”
A native of Canada, Damphousse completed his bachelor’s degree at Sam Houston State University in Huntsville, then earned his master’s and Ph.D. at Texas A&M University. The Damphousses met and married in Bryan, where Beth grew up and her immediate family lives today. The Damphousses’ oldest daughter, Kayleigh, lives in Austin.
“We have been blessed by a welcoming A-State and Jonesboro community, and we will never forget our time here,” Damphousse continued. “We will also forever be grateful for the leadership of the A-State Cabinet, our wonderful trustees, and especially President Chuck Welch, whose guidance, compassion, mentorship, faith and good humour has sustained us both during our time at A-State.”
Damphousse became the third permanently appointed chancellor of Arkansas State on July 1, 2017, and the sixth to hold the title since it was instituted in 2006. He is the 13th chief executive of the institution since it was founded in 1909.
In December, Damphousse was appointed to the NCAA Board of Governors, which is the primary governing body of the organization. He also serves as president of the Sun Belt Conference.
“This is certainly a bittersweet moment as we hate to lose the Damphousse family at A-State,” said Dr. Chuck Welch, president of the ASU System. “But we are also proud of them for this new opportunity and the ability to live closer to family. Kelly has been a trusted colleague and friend, and I always knew that his top priority was our students and their success.
“Kelly leaves the university in a very strong position and well-poised for the future,” Welch added. “His leadership during the past two years of the pandemic was exemplary. Financial positioning, fund-raising efforts, exciting new facilities, and academic program growth have made A-State a better place because of Kelly’s leadership.”
Welch said he would meet with university constituency groups to determine next steps and how to proceed regarding a possible interim appointment and search process. | 2022-04-01T06:45:08Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Damphousse resigns as chancellor of A-State | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/damphousse-resigns-as-chancellor-of-a-state/article_78c50e2e-ed19-5a96-9590-c0319dafa25c.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/damphousse-resigns-as-chancellor-of-a-state/article_78c50e2e-ed19-5a96-9590-c0319dafa25c.html |
Greg Hogue, left, who recently traveled to Romania to help with the Ukrainian refugee relief, poses for a photo with a family he housed who had fled Kyiv.
Humanitarians, including Greg Hogue and David Gipson, provided several thousand dollars worth of food and baby supplies to the Church of Christ in Cernivtsi, Ukraine, for distribution to those in need.
Greg Hogue of Jonesboro, a native of Lawrence County, recently traveled to northwest Romania near the Ukrainian border to provide aid with the Ukrainian refugee relief from the city of Cluj-Napoca in Romania.
Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24 with an attack that is internationally considered a war of aggression. It has triggered Europe’s largest refugee crisis since World War II, with more than 3.8 million Ukrainians leaving the country, and millions of others displaced.
Hogue joined David Gipson, who has a missions ministry in Jonesboro and travels to Romania yearly to provide aid. The two left for Romania on March 6 from the Memphis International Airport and arrived in Cluj on March 8.
During the two-week stay, Hogue and Gipson provided assistance where needed through the Church of Christ. They helped house refugees, arranged transportation to and from the train station, provided needed supplies such as diapers and medicine, and distributed adult and kids’ Bibles. They also housed refugees and fed up to 150 Ukrainians a day through the church’s food bank they established.
“It all happened so fast,” said Hogue. “We went to mainly address whichever issues we could address and tend to their immediate needs.”
According to Hogue, one of the many needs for refugees is diabetic supplies.
“They can’t get any diabetic supplies to the areas getting bombed,” said Hogue. “And women are making camouflage nets that you can place over artillery guns – that’s what they are making in their spare time. They are trying to get supplies wherever they can.”
Hogue also commented that a majority of large stores in Ukraine have their warehouses in cities that are getting bombed and can’t be accessed, limiting demanded supply.
“The thing that affected me the most was the kids,” Hogue said. “Remembering all of the children who came through the border with their mothers because men aren’t allowed to leave Ukraine – they had to drop their kids and wives off at the border. It was so sad.”
Alongside the sadness of disbursed families crossing the border is a bit of humanity and compassion.
“You could see that people had left stuffed animals along the length of the bridge for all the children who cross fleeing the war,” Hogue said.
In addition to providing aid, Hogue and Gipson also led worship services at a church in Cluj with Hogue teaching class and Gipson preaching.
“Some of the Ukrainians didn’t understand English or Romanian so the worship was also translated in Ukrainian. Afterwards we had a fellowship meal together. What a great time together. Unity and love rise above any language barrier,” Hogue said. | 2022-04-01T06:45:14Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Local missionaries provide refugee relief | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/local-missionaries-provide-refugee-relief/article_f7f8b079-18f2-54eb-9769-de705e1c4da9.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/local-missionaries-provide-refugee-relief/article_f7f8b079-18f2-54eb-9769-de705e1c4da9.html |
JONESBORO — A Monette man pled guilty in March to second-degree sexual assault.
On Tuesday, Circuit Judge Dan Ritchey sentenced Stephen Ross Ward, 48, to two years in the state Department of Corrections and gave him a four-year suspended sentence.
Ward must also register as a sex offender.
He was fined $690.
The victim told investigators that Ward began sexually abusing her when she was 16 in 2019.
She said she stayed with Ward and his wife, who are related to her, when the assault began.
In the affidavit, Ward admitted to touching the victim inappropriately. The vicitim said she asked Ward to stop every time he did so, according to a probable cause affidavit by Special Agent Mike McNeill. | 2022-04-01T06:45:20Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Monette man pleads guilty to sex assault | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/monette-man-pleads-guilty-to-sex-assault/article_54e98df2-b943-51a7-b2c0-427b77f025d2.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/monette-man-pleads-guilty-to-sex-assault/article_54e98df2-b943-51a7-b2c0-427b77f025d2.html |
JONESBORO — A Trumann man was arrested Wednesday following a traffic stop at the intersection of West Parker and Woodsprings roads.
Trevor Poston, 41, of the 200 block of Bell Terrace, is being held on suspicion of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, being a felon in possession of a firearm, possession of marijuana with the purpose to deliver and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.
Poston is being held at the Craighead County Detention Center in lieu of a probable cause hearing today.
A juvenile probation officer told police Wednesday afternoon that one of her juvenile offenders, a 14-year-old girl, was raped. The suspect is listed as a 19-year-old man. No further information was released.
A 21-year-old Jonesboro woman told police her residence was broken into and items were stolen in the 100 block of North Rogers Street. Taken were a 50-inch television, valued at $250, a set of earrings, valued at $100, a jewelry box, valued at $100, and a tablet, valued at $100.
A 44-year-old Jonesboro man told police his residence was broken into sometime on Wednesday in the 700 block of Locust Drive. Taken was a jar containing $114 in quarters. | 2022-04-01T06:45:32Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Trumann man held on gun, drug charges | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/trumann-man-held-on-gun-drug-charges/article_1202ecc9-d71b-5abe-8b21-a99bf2eaf1f3.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/trumann-man-held-on-gun-drug-charges/article_1202ecc9-d71b-5abe-8b21-a99bf2eaf1f3.html |
For the first time in 40 years, Dr. Stephen Woodruff did not walk into a full outpatient clinic. Over the past four decades, he has worked along-side his partner, Dr. Ray Hall, and has dedicated a career to providing excellent care for patients in Northeast Arkansas.
Beginning March 20, though, Dr. Woodruff assumed the role as the full-time chief medical officer of NEA Baptist Health System. In that position, he will lead the day-to-day operations and strategic development of NEA Baptist’s medical staff as NEA Baptist Hospital’s top physician executive.
“Dr. Woodruff’s dedication and impact will only accelerate as he steps full-time into the CMO role that he has assumed as part of his many roles and responsibilities for many years now,” Sam Lynd, CEO and administrator at NEA Baptist, said. “Dr. Woodruff will now have the opportunity to focus on impacting patient care from a systemic perspective as he guides our institution into the next 100 years of healthcare in Northeast Arkansas.”
In a statement, Woodruff addressed his patients, noting that he dreamed of becoming a physician early in life.
“Fortunately, my dream became a reality with training at UAMS, service in the US Navy, and nearly 40 years of practice here in Jonesboro,” he said. “Along the way, I have been blessed with numerous awards, and the chance to contribute to the growth of the Jonesboro medical community. However, my greatest blessing has been the opportunity to serve as your primary care doctor throughout good and occasionally difficult times.”
Woodruff said that teaching a group of talented internal medicine resident physicians, many of whom are staying on staff at NEA Baptist, has been very rewarding, as well. Since 1994, he has also functioned as the clinic medical director and more recently, filled the same role in the hospital.
“Our local system has grown tremendously with over 200 physicians and advanced practice providers, 2,000 plus employees, and more added each year,” he said. “These changes locally and at a system level have made it necessary for me to assume the role of full-time chief medical officer for the Baptist System in Arkansas.”
Woodruff said because the need for the transition was urgent, it called for him to cease his Internal Medicine Clinic practice on March 28, though he will continue to refill current prescriptions through July of this year.
“We have recently added Dr. Veryl Hodges, and in July Dr. Ben Mills, both skilled and capable internists, to assume my day-to-day practice over time,” he said, adding that the clinic’s advanced practice providers will also aid in this transition.
Woodruff, MD, MACP was awarded a Mastership by the American College of Physicians in 2019 which is a highly prestigious award given to physicians nominated by their peers as highly accomplished and providing significant contributions to the field of medicine. Woodruff was one of only 50 worldwide to receive the honor in 2019.
As chief medical officer, Woodruff has provided insight and expertise to ensure the health system remained equipped, safe and ready to serve the community as the COVID crisis entered the region. He remains a mentor to many physicians.
Dr. Ray Hall Jr. MD, MACP, long-time friend and colleague and founder of NEA Clinic, had this to share about Woodruff, “Dr. Stephen Woodruff has been vital to the growth and improvement of health care in our region over the past four decades. He is a distinguished internist and highly respected by his patients and colleagues.” | 2022-04-01T06:45:38Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Woodruff named CMO at NEA Baptist | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/woodruff-named-cmo-at-nea-baptist/article_81bf94ac-f94b-5133-a232-b774ce5c4d9b.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/woodruff-named-cmo-at-nea-baptist/article_81bf94ac-f94b-5133-a232-b774ce5c4d9b.html |
China’s President Xi Jinping and Russia’s President Vladimir Putin lately sent a flotilla of 10 warships – destroyers, frigates, corvettes – five Chinese and five Russian – through the Tsugaru Strait between Japan’s home islands of Honshu and Hokkaido and then back again through the Osumi Strait off the Japanese island of Kyushu.
“China has equipped at least three islands it has built in a disputed area of the South China Sea with anti-aircraft missile systems, fighter jets and laser and jamming equipment – a buildup that threatens all other nations in the region, a top US military commander said.”
Last week, in what Australia’s former Prime Minister Kevin Rudd called “one of the most significant security developments ... in decades,” the Solomon Islands revealed that it was signing a security pact with Beijing that would permit the establishment of Chinese bases there.
Nor has Taiwan, which spends a piddling 2 percent of GDP on defense, despite the growing menace of Beijing. In the final analysis, all of our allies and partners on the far side of the Pacific depend for their defense on America.
Before the Ukraine crisis exploded with the invasion ordered by Putin’s Russia, the foreign policy consensus was that America would be making a historic “pivot to Asia.” For that is where the challenges of the future to America’s global primacy would appear to come. | 2022-04-01T06:45:57Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Asia's autocrats are calling, Mr. Biden | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/asias-autocrats-are-calling-mr-biden/article_2edaec29-ec23-5226-a05c-1dbce2eba4d4.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/asias-autocrats-are-calling-mr-biden/article_2edaec29-ec23-5226-a05c-1dbce2eba4d4.html |
Darby true hero, leader with Rangers
‘The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible,” said Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. Such words describe the life of Gen. William O. Darby, a hero of World War II and an Arkansas native. The integrity and courage of Darby was an important contribution to the American victory and the future of the U.S. Army through his efforts leading the Army Rangers.
William Orlando Darby was born in 1911 in Fort Smith. His father made a respectable living as a printer. He attended local schools as a child, and graduated Fort Smith High School in 1929. Darby earned an appointment to the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, where he was respected among his fellow cadets.
After his graduation from West Point in 1933, he was assigned as a supply officer with a field artillery unit at Fort Bliss, Texas. A year later, he was assigned to command a mounted artillery unit in New Mexico. He attended the field artillery school at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in 1937, and spent the next several years moving from post to post. In 1940, he was promoted to captain.
The entry of the United States into World War II in December 1941 led to a massive reorganization of the Army. The success of British commandos early in World War II had inspired American leadership to similarly create a new, specialized fighting unit. Ranger units were part of an Army tradition that found its roots in the American Revolution. Sometimes called “partisans,” these early Ranger units were known for their mobility and relative self-sufficiency.
The Army, however, had not had a formal Ranger unit since the Civil War. Having worked with the commandos starting after his arrival in January 1942, Darby was tapped to organize and train an American unit with a promotion to major. He organized the 1st Ranger Battalion in Northern Ireland in July.
‘“Darby’s Rangers,” as they came to be called, which was also the title of the 1958 James Garner film on their exploits, saw their first combat in North Africa. They conducted a series of daring night raids in November 1942 as American forces stormed into Nazi-occupied Algeria. Darby led the raid himself, braving machine gun fire and grenades to win the day. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his actions.
A few months later, as American and British forces in neighboring Tunisia linked up, Darby’s Rangers were sent to the new front lines. The success of the 1st Ranger Battalion prompted the Army to expand these units. As a result, by early 1943, Darby, now a lieutenant colonel, had organized and trained the 3rd and 4th Ranger Battalions. These Ranger units played important roles in the last battles that swept the Nazis out of Africa.
With the invasion of Sicily months later, the Rangers played a crucial role in the landing at the beaches. Darby’s Rangers were also the first to land on the mainland of Italy in September 1943. His forces continued their push through Italy. At Cisterna, just south of Rome, they battled the Nazis for days. The Americans would not give in, and the city fell to the Allies in March 1944. The battle was won, but 96 percent of the city lay in ruins. The people of Cisterna, so grateful for American efforts to liberate their city, would later name a school after Darby, and in 1984 became a sister city to Fort Smith, Darby’s hometown.
After the battle, he was promoted to full colonel. He was reassigned to the general staff at the Pentagon. He returned to Italy a year later in 1945 on an inspection tour in the war’s final weeks. On April 23, Gen. Robinson Duff of the 10th Mountain Division was injured, and Darby assumed command. The Nazis put up bitter resistance as they retreated. Darby in response was planning to cut off their retreat and capture their remaining forces.
On April 30, in the midst of the fight, an artillery shell exploded, killing Darby instantly. The last Nazi forces in Italy surrendered two days later. The entire Nazi regime surrendered on May 7.
On May 15, the Army posthumously promoted Darby to brigadier general. His bravery and contributions to the military were not forgotten. In 1955, Fort Smith’s junior high school was renamed in honor of Darby, with the mascot changing to the Rangers to further honor the general. The Army itself bestowed many honors on Darby. Army camps in Italy and Germany were named for him after World War II as well as a Ranger camp at Fort Benning, Ga. Ranger training would continue after the war, producing generations of elite Army troops. The Ranger School now offers the William O. Darby Award for Ranger trainees who show the best leadership qualities. | 2022-04-01T06:46:03Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Darby true hero, leader with Rangers | Opinion | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/darby-true-hero-leader-with-rangers/article_6f267dff-e6a7-56b8-91f6-246c0200ebfb.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/opinion/darby-true-hero-leader-with-rangers/article_6f267dff-e6a7-56b8-91f6-246c0200ebfb.html |
Arkansas State’s Daedrick Cail crosses home plate to score during the Red Wolves’ victory over Central Arkansas on Tuesday. ASU hosts Coastal Carolina for a Sun Belt Conference series this weekend.
JONESBORO — Having finished March with a victory, Arkansas State will try to start April on the right note this weekend as Coastal Carolina visits Tomlinson Stadium for a three-game Sun Belt Conference baseball series.
The Red Wolves (5-17, 0-6 Sun Belt) are looking for their first conference victory after being swept by Texas State and Georgia Southern the last two weekends. ASU led four of its first six Sun Belt games in the seventh inning or later, only to relinquish the lead each time.
“We need to keep learning how to take the game later,” ASU head coach Tommy Raffo said after Tuesday’s game against Central Arkansas. “We’ve had some issues later in games to be able to take them, to be able to grab it.”
The Red Wolves prevailed in extra innings Tuesday night for their first victory in more than three weeks. Mickey Coyne’s 11th-inning RBI single lifted ASU to a 4-3 victory that broke a 13-game losing streak.
ASU, which played without first baseman Jared Toler and catcher Cason Tollett because of illness and injury, used its 18th different batting lineup against UCA. The pitching staff has also been missing a couple of players.
“We’re missing some dudes who, three or four weeks ago, we had,” Raffo said. “But that’s the fun part to see this happen (Tuesday night’s victory).”
Game time tonight and Saturday is set for 6 p.m. The teams close the series Sunday at 1 p.m.
Left-hander Justin Medlin (0-2, 3.62 earned run average) started series openers against Texas State and Georgia Southern. Medlin struck out seven while giving up two earned runs and seven hits in six innings against Texas State, then fanned eight while yielding four runs and eight hits in six-plus innings at Georgia Southern.
Freshman second baseman Daedrick Cail carries a 12-game hitting streak into the series opener. Cail ranks 14th in the conference and leads Sun Belt freshmen with a .351 batting average.
Senior outfielder Jaylon Deshazier, who is batting .311, has a 19-game on-base streak and is the team leader with 19 runs batted in. Senior third baseman Ben Klutts is batting .291 and Toler is the team home run leader with five.
Coastal Carolina, the 2016 national champion, is visiting Tomlinson Stadium for only the second time and the first since 2018.
The Chanticleers (13-10-1, 2-3-1 Sun Belt) went 1-1-1 in a home conference series against Louisiana-Monroe, battling to a 17-17 tie that was called after eight innings because of the Warhawks’ travel plans. Coastal Carolina lost two of three last weekend at Texas State, then fell 8-4 Wednesday night at Wake Forest.
Coastal’s Tyler Johnson, a senior from Bentonville, was named Sun Belt Player of the Week on Tuesday after hitting .500 with four home runs and nine RBIs last week. Johnson has a .354 average with five home runs and 17 RBIs. Third baseman Dale Thomas is tied for the league lead with eight home runs and outfielder Austin White is the Sun Belt leader with 14 stolen bases. | 2022-04-01T06:46:15Z | www.jonesborosun.com | A-State seeks first Sun Belt victory | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/a-state-seeks-first-sun-belt-victory/article_aba830a1-56fe-5508-98f6-1caccbaa2c60.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/a-state-seeks-first-sun-belt-victory/article_aba830a1-56fe-5508-98f6-1caccbaa2c60.html |
Annual Honors Recital set
JONESBORO — The Department of Music at Arkansas State University will conduct its annual Student Honors Recital at 7:30 p.m. Monday in Riceland Hall of the Fowler Center, 201 Olympic Drive, during the Convocation of Scholars.
This year’s performers and their selections are:
Alec Black of Bonne Terre, Mo., English horn, and Ryan Sowell of Cabot, bassoon, “Coconut Cake (Birthday Wishes to Annalisa)” by Mike Curtis.
Holly Farrah of Marion, piano, “Prelude in C Sharp Minor (op. 3, no. 2)” by Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Noah Wright of Ash Flat, clarinet, “Premiere Rhapsodie” by Claude Debussy.
Genghong Cai of China, tenor, “Dein ist mein ganzes herz (from Land des Lachelns)” by Franz Lehar.
Aubrey Triplett of Cottonville, Miss., “Sonata in C Minor, Op. 13 (first movement)” by Ludwig van Beethoven.
Harrison Bruner of Highland, French horn, “En Foret” by Eugene Bozza.
Holly Henson of Paragould, soprano, “Lucy’s Area from The Telephone” by Gian Carlo Menotti.
Howling Winds Quintet (Brittney Munoz of Jonesboro, flute; Alec Black of Bonne Terre, Mo., oboe; Sydney Rush of Jonesboro, clarinet; Ryan Sowell of Cabot, bassoon; and Jaden Berry of Batesville, horn), “Ballade Slave,” by Claude Debussy.
Collaborative pianists for these performances will be Dr. Lauren Schack Clark, Bryan Chuan and Dennis Hay.
The students auditioned and were chosen for this concert by a panel of judges representing the Department of Music. | 2022-04-02T09:32:01Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Annual Honors Recital set | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/annual-honors-recital-set/article_b2935ab0-15e4-560d-9d7a-dfd63d1c81b5.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/annual-honors-recital-set/article_b2935ab0-15e4-560d-9d7a-dfd63d1c81b5.html |
The Gravel Yard will be the closing act for this year’s Arkansas Roots Music Festival in Jonesboro. The free, outdoor event set for April 16 is a part of Arkansas State University’s Delta Symposium XXVII.
Arkansas Roots Music Festival returns
JONESBORO — KASU and the Department of English, Philosophy and World Languages at Arkansas State University, together with the West End Neighborhood Association, will present the Arkansas Roots Music Festival on April 16. The outdoor festival is free, pet friendly, and open to the public.
The festival will begin at 1 p.m. at City Water and Light Park, 1123 S. Culberhouse St. In case of rain, the festival will move to Fowler Center on the A-State campus.
“This festival is always a fun event,” Mark Smith, KASU station manager commented in the announcement. “It’s exciting to see the community come out for a great afternoon of music. KASU is proud to be a part of it.”
KASU 91.9 FM radio personality Marty Scarbrough will serve as master of ceremonies. Recordings made at the event will be used for various radio programs, including the station’s noontime show “Arkansas Roots.”
The festival, presented in conjunction with Delta Symposium XXVII, will feature a variety of musical styles.
The United Voices Gospel Choir will open the show at 1 p.m. Formed in the late 1960s on the A-State campus in Jonesboro, the choir has performed at numerous events across the country and has maintained a consistent presence on the A-State campus.
Fayetteville native Caleb Ryan Martin will take the stage at 2 p.m. He performs in a variety of styles of acoustic music including bluegrass, folk and roots music. For this performance, Martin will be joined by Randal Morton of Memphis, a past winner of the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship and a member of the Memphis bands Grassfire and Devil Train.
From the Arkansas Ozarks, Grace Stormont will perform at 3 p.m. In 2021, she received the Song of the Year and Acoustic Act of the Year honors at the Arkansas Country Music Awards. She has been nominated for multiple 2022 ACMAs including Americana Artist of the Year, Inspirational Artist of the Year, Acoustic Act of the Year, and Album of the Year.
The show’s closing act, starting at 4 p.m., features the Central Arkansas band The Gravel Yard. The ensemble’s musical mix is bluegrass with elements of country music, Americana and progressive acoustic music. The Gravel Yard is nominated for the 2022 ACMA Bluegrass Artist of the Year award.
For more details, visit the A-State Delta Symposium website. | 2022-04-02T09:32:07Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Arkansas Roots Music Festival returns | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/arkansas-roots-music-festival-returns/article_d709dc0c-7569-57b1-b4dd-1d4fc6f336b9.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/arkansas-roots-music-festival-returns/article_d709dc0c-7569-57b1-b4dd-1d4fc6f336b9.html |
Kainan James LaRocque and Kinna Jane LaRocque are the names chosen by Felicia King and R.J. LaRocque of Jonesboro for their twins who arrived Sunday, March 13 at University for Medical Sciences Medical Center in Little Rock.
Their son, Kainan, weighed 3 pounds, 13 ounces and their daughter, Kinna, weighed 3 pounds, 10 ounces. | 2022-04-02T09:32:13Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Birth | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/birth/article_da14f554-1cf0-5ab8-9f76-4750b9d394ad.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/birth/article_da14f554-1cf0-5ab8-9f76-4750b9d394ad.html |
Blood drive to honor parishioner
Valley View Church of Christ will hold a Red Cross blood drive from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday in honor of a longtime parishioner Dana Hayes.
Hayes has a form of blood cancer and has needed blood transfusions as a part of her treatment.
Donations can be made in her honor at the church, 4500 Southwest Drive in Jonesboro.
Appointments can be made at rcblood.org/ 3NDqdS7.
King documentary to be shown
Arkansas State University will offer public screenings of the documentary, “At the River I Stand,” which reconstructs events in Memphis during the two months leading up to King’s assassination.
It will be shown at 9 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., Monday in the Reng Student Union Auditorium, 101 N. Caraway Road at Arkansas State University.
A panel discussion will follow the 6 p.m. screening, featuring Emma Agnew, president of the Craighead County Branch of the NAACP; Dr. James D. Conway, assistant professor of history and coordinator of African American Studies; Dr. Cherisse Jones-Branch, dean of the Graduate School and James and Wanda Lee Vaughn Endowed Professor of History; and the Rev. Dr. Ray Scales, pastor emeritus of New Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Jonesboro, and a founding member of the Craighead County Dr. Martin Luther King Committee.
Bruner to talk with journalism students
Andrea Bruner, former managing editor of the Batesville Guard, will be featured in the spring semester Dr. Joel Gambill Distinguished Speaker Series, hosted by the School of Media and Journalism at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.
A 1996 graduate with a degree in journalism and a minor in history, she returns to campus to speak to classes from 9:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. Monday and Tuesday.
The endowed series was initiated in 2008 in honor of Dr. Joel Gambill, longtime journalism educator and department chair, who served at A-State for 44 years. More than 40 alumni of the program have participated.
Retired teachers set meeting
The Craighead County Retired Teachers Association will be meeting at noon Thursday at the Harlin Henry Senior Citizens Center, 1210 S. Church St. in Jonesboro.
Remnants of Rock coming to The Ritz
The Remnants of Rock will perform in concert at 7 p.m. April 9, at The Ritz Theater, 306. W. Main St. in Blytheville.
The band features music from the golden era of Rock ‘n’ Roll, 1959-69, presented by The Ritz Foundation, proceeds will benefit the organization’s efforts to renovate and maintain the historic theater.
Tickets are $35 for premium seats or $20 for general admission and are available at www.ritzciviccenter.com or by calling 870-827-2582.
‘The Wall that Heals’ coming to NEA
“The Wall that Heals,” the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Replica and Mobile Education Center will be on display from Thursday through 2 p.m. April 10 at Old Schoolyard Park, 1301 Old U.S. 64. in Crawfordsville.
Visits to the display are free and it is open 24 hours a day until the closing date.
UAW retirees to meetThe United Auto Workers retirees will meet at 11:30 a.m. April 14 at Grecian Steak House, 210 Airport Road in Paragould.
Deadline nearing for Oasis Arts, Eats
The deadline for artists, musicians, restaurants and home bakers to participate in this year’s Oasis Arts and Eats festival is April 15. Application can be made online at oasisfest.org.
The event will take place on Main Street in downtown Jonesboro from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m, May 14. This festival is open to the public with free admission.
This event is sponsored by The Foundation of Arts, The Downtown Jonesboro Alliance, NEA Artist Collective, Jonesboro Radio Group, Recovery Room, A-State Department of Art and Design, Perspective Gallery and Framing, the Arkansas Arts Council, and the Jonesboro A&P Commission.
Game night set
KLEK radio will host a game night from 7 to 9 p.m. April 16 at the E. Boone Watson Community Center, 1005 Logan Ave. in Jonesboro. A donation of at least $5 is requested from all attendees.
The event will include board games, cards, dominoes and trivia.
The Northeast Arkansas Tea Party will meet at 6 p.m. Monday at Golden Corral, 2504 E. Highland Drive in Jonesboro.
This meeting will be devoted to any candidates who are running for state, local or federal office and who wish to speak to the group about their positions and platforms.
There will also be an update on the Arkansas Medical Freedom Amendment petition drive.
For more information contact Iris Stevens at 870-219-1917.
Craighead historical society to meet
The Craighead County Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Fellowship Hall of First Baptist Church in Jonesboro. Attendees are asked to use the 700 Union St. entrance.
This month’s program will be “The Great Bank of Bono Robbery” of 1932 presented by Glenn Pfeifer of Bono.
The event is free and open to the public. The location offers space for social distancing. Masks are optional. For more information contact CCHS President Danny Honnoll at 870-926-2985 or email danny@honnoll.com. | 2022-04-02T09:32:19Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Events | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/events/article_77fb93af-4b66-511b-838d-9d76546b12ff.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/events/article_77fb93af-4b66-511b-838d-9d76546b12ff.html |
Foundation of Arts to host dinner theater
JONESBORO — The Foundation of Arts will present a dinner-theater performance of the upcoming musical, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.”
With book by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart and music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, the play is based on the plays of Plautus and is described by the Foundation as a light, fast-paced, witty, irreverent farce.
“… one of the funniest musicals ever written. A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum takes comedy back to its roots, combining situations from time-tested, 2000-year-old comedies of Roman playwright, Plautus, with the infectious energy of classic vaudeville.”
The dinner theater is scheduled for April 14 at Embassy Suites Hilton Jonesboro Red Wolf Convention Center, 223 Red Wolf Blvd.
The buffet dinner will begin at 6 p.m. with the show at 7 p.m.
Tickets are $35 and cover the meal, show and water or tea, and can be purchased at The Forum Box Office, 115 E. Monroe Ave., online at foajonesboro.org or by calling 870-935-2726. Additional drink tickets to access the bar are $10 and are available through the box office or at the door.
Tables of eight are available but seating can be adjusted to individual needs. Advance tickets for this performance are recommended.
The musical will move to the main stage of The Forum from April 22-25. Showtimes will be 7:30 p.m. opening night, 6 p.m. April 23 and 25, and 2 p.m. April 24.
Tickets for the theatrical performances are also available from FOA by phone, online or at the box office, and are $20 for adults and $18 for seniors, children, military personnel and Arkansas State University students for floor and lower balcony seating. Upper balcony seating is $18 and $16 respectively.
The April 25 performance will be a pay-what-you-can event. | 2022-04-02T09:32:25Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Foundation of Arts to host dinner theater | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/foundation-of-arts-to-host-dinner-theater/article_808660b6-ce00-564c-b188-c0a4f2d763cc.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/foundation-of-arts-to-host-dinner-theater/article_808660b6-ce00-564c-b188-c0a4f2d763cc.html |
Kiwanis Pancake Day scheduled for April 30
JONESBORO — The Jonesboro Kiwanis Club’s “Pop” Stricklin Pancake Day will return this spring after a year off because of the pandemic. The event had been started as a club fundraiser in 1940 and took place annually for 80 years until 2021.
The 81st Pancake Day breakfast will be from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 30 at the First Presbyterian Church, 710 Southwest Drive.
Roy Ockert, club president, said the event is normally held on the first Saturday in March, but the Kiwanis Board of Directors opted for a later date because of the omicron surge.
“We didn’t want to be selling tickets and then have to postpone or cancel the event,” Ockert said, “and that now looks like a good decision. The surge is winding down and barring another one, we’ll be cooking pancakes on April 30.”
Tickets will be $6 per person in advance, with kids 6 and younger eating free, and may be purchased from any member of the Kiwanis Club. The ticket price at the door will be $7.
Thanks mostly to Pancake Day, the club has been able to award about $225,000 in scholarships to help area high school graduates in their first year of college at Arkansas State University. This year the level of each of the three scholarships is being raised by $500 to $2,500.
Although the club was unable to hold Pancake Day in 2021, the Kiwanians hosted a City Employees Luncheon in the summer to show public appreciation for the work done by city employees, especially in the wake of a pandemic.
“Many local businesses joined us as sponsors of that luncheon and enabled us to cover expenses, plus fund some other service functions,” Ockert said. “Because of the success of that event, we’d like to do another Public Employees Appreciation Luncheon this summer, and we think our Pancake Day sponsors and ticket sales will make that possible.”
Pancake Day chairman is Brad Magee. | 2022-04-02T09:32:31Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Kiwanis Pancake Day scheduled for April 30 | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/kiwanis-pancake-day-scheduled-for-april-30/article_6de3ffae-fa93-5ff8-810f-5b244ba5042e.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/kiwanis-pancake-day-scheduled-for-april-30/article_6de3ffae-fa93-5ff8-810f-5b244ba5042e.html |
NEAHS revives traditional Easter fundraiser
JONESBORO — After a two-year absence, the Northeast Arkansas Humane Society will again host it’s Easter Bake Sale fundraising event.
The bake sale has been a mainstay of the organization’s fundraising efforts for more than 25 years, driven by the support of volunteer and professional bakers throughout the community.
This year’s event will be held April 15 in Faith Free Will Baptist Church’s Family Life Center, 1008 E. Highland Drive. It will begin at 7 a.m. and continue until all items are sold.
For those interested in donating an item to the sale, NEAHS is seeking all types of baked goods including dog and cat treats and special diet items. Donations can be brought to the sale location between 4 and 7 p.m. April 14 or any time during the event.
Items should be packaged for sale.
All proceeds from the event will be used to support the organization’s animal shelter, 6111 E. Highland Drive. For more information about NEAHS or how to adopt animals from the shelter, go online to www.neahs.org or www.facebook.com/ HumaneSocietyNEA. | 2022-04-02T09:32:37Z | www.jonesborosun.com | NEAHS revives traditional Easter fundraiser | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/neahs-revives-traditional-easter-fundraiser/article_eab26f0b-f94d-5a31-802d-22b90fef09b1.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/neahs-revives-traditional-easter-fundraiser/article_eab26f0b-f94d-5a31-802d-22b90fef09b1.html |
NYITCOM accepting ‘Project H.E.A.R.T' applications
JONESBORO — New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State University is now accepting applications for its annual summer program, Project H.E.A.R.T., scheduled for June 13-16 on the A-State campus.
Project H.E.A.R.T. (Health Education, Advocacy, Reflection, and Training) serves to further NYITCOM at A-State’s mission to develop students for service in Arkansas and the Delta region. There is no cost to the student to attend.
“The program is a one-of-a-kind experience that can open doors to enlighten students about future career opportunities in health care and to the overall well-being of their community,” Brent Owens, NYITCOM director of pipeline programs and Project H.E.A.R.T. director said in a press release.
“We are really excited to have the students back on campus this summer after holding the event virtually the last two years.”
Project H.E.A.R.T. gives students a chance to learn about health care and higher education while participating in educational activities. Campers tour NYITCOM facilities and learn about a day in the life of a medical student. Their experience includes an opportunity to dissect a bovine heart in the anatomy lab.
Students receive tours of Northeast Arkansas’ two biggest hospitals, NEA Baptist Hospital and St. Bernards Medical Center, where they learn about the many different medical professionals that play a role in delivering health care.
They also hear from Arkansas State University faculty who give them an overview of how to prepare for college and some of the career paths available to them.
Evening activities include a movie night and recreation time at the Red WOLF Center. NYITCOM medical students serve as counselors for Project H.E.A.R.T.
Students applying for Project H.E.A.R.T. must be entering the 11th or 12th grade in August.
Applications are available online and must be submitted no later than April 22. Interested participants must submit a personal statement with their application.
For more information, email Ginger Johnson at ginger.johnson@nyit.edu. | 2022-04-02T09:32:43Z | www.jonesborosun.com | NYITCOM accepting ‘Project H.E.A.R.T' applications | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/nyitcom-accepting-project-h-e-a-r-t-applications/article_9bbaa30f-b265-5e92-9d19-2a7b1436ac32.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/nyitcom-accepting-project-h-e-a-r-t-applications/article_9bbaa30f-b265-5e92-9d19-2a7b1436ac32.html |
A-State senior and canoe captain Ziyad Lamalki helps fill Arkansas State University’s canoe as part of the concrete canoe competition at Craighead Forest Lake on Friday. Students had to first submerge their canoes with only two minutes for the canoes to resurface before rowing from the ramp across to the beach. This was part of the 2022 Mid-South Student Symposium, which was hosted by Arkansas State University’s student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers this year.
Lipscomb University canoe captains, sophomore Anna Davidson and junior Liz Sass, row from the ramp across to the beach on Friday at Craighead Forest Park in Jonesboro. The 2022 Mid-South Student Symposium is an annual event featuring competitions among more than a dozen engineering schools from across the Mid-South.
University students gathered around Craighead Forest Lake to cheer on their schools as they watched the concrete canoes plunge into the water on Friday at Craighead Forest Park in Jonesboro.
Arkansas State University’s student chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) hosted the 2022 Mid-South Student Symposium this year, which started on Thursday night with the check-in and business meeting at the Embassy Suites.
The symposium is an annual competition among more than a dozen engineering schools from across the Mid-South who participated in one or more aspects of the symposium including:
Bryan College (part of conference but not attending)
Harding University (guest participant)
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
University of Tennessee at Martin
The event was coordinated by Arkansas State University’s Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering Jason Stewart, who is also director of civil engineering and director of accreditation.
Friday would start off the competitive events with the concrete canoe competition at 7 a.m. at Craighead Forest Park.
In attendance was the concrete canoe competition’s founder, Thomas Parsons.
Parsons is a former professor of civil engineering at Arkansas State University, who retired from A-State in 2014 after 30 years at the university.
“I brought the concrete canoe competition to A-State in 1984, when I first started at ASU,” Parsons said, noting that he himself had raced in a concrete canoe when he was senior at Youngstown State University in 1974. He said it was nice to see the tradition carried on throughout the years.
In addition to that competition, students also conducted surveys at the park on Friday, which was followed by a social event that evening for the students at the A-State Equine Center.
Today marks the end of this year’s symposium, as students erect steel bridges, present scholarly papers and network with sponsors at the First National Bank Arena, followed by the awards banquet this evening at 6 at the Embassy Suites. | 2022-04-02T09:32:50Z | www.jonesborosun.com | A-State hosts 2022 Mid-South Symposium | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/a-state-hosts-2022-mid-south-symposium/article_65290c02-cfdf-5c30-8a7f-9f747528d6cc.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/a-state-hosts-2022-mid-south-symposium/article_65290c02-cfdf-5c30-8a7f-9f747528d6cc.html |
Capt. Greg Johnson (right) talks to retired Capt. Steven Wright on Thursday at Johnson’s retirement reception. Wright, who retired from the department in 2016, was one of many who attended to wish Johnson well.
JONESBORO — After 31 years on the job, Jonesboro Fire Capt. Greg Johnson hung up his fire helmet for the final time on Thursday.
Johnson, who joined the department as a firefighter on Nov. 1, 1990, was honored with a reception Thursday afternoon at Fire Station No. 3 on Brazos Street. Fellow firefighters and retired former co-workers showed up to honor Johnson’s service to the city.
“Part of me doesn’t want to go,” Johnson said.
Johnson, who became a driver-operator in 2000 and was promoted to captain in 2008, said three of the most memorable fires were the recent one at the Nestle plant, the 2012 fire that destroyed the Roller-Farmers Union Funeral Home on East Johnson Avenue and the railroad Roundhouse fire in downtown Jonesboro in November 2018.
The fire at the funeral home was intense.
According to a Sun news story in March 2012, two aerial trucks were pouring water onto the roof of the of the funeral home as firefighters on the ground also worked to bring the fire under control. The heat from the fire was intense even at the farthest corners of the large parking lot.
“These were some big fires that no one was injured in,” Johnson said.
He said he and his wife didn’t worry about his personal safety while on the job.
“We accepted the position. Most people don’t dwell on it,” Johnson said.
He called his fellow firefighters “a close-knit community” and that he’ll miss making runs and working with crews.
“There’s a lot of camaraderie there,” he said.
He plans to keep in touch with them in retirement.
Assistant Chief Martin Hamrick said Friday that Johnson’s presence at the department will be missed.
“Greg was very much devoted to the department,” he said. “He never shirked any job out there. He helped out the younger guys.”
Hamrick said Johnson was a member of the department’s hazardous materials and special operations and rescue teams.
He added that Johnson assisted the department’s part-time mechanics in keeping the department’s vehicles running.
Johnson said he and his wife plan to spend time with their six-month-old grandson and do some traveling.
“We’re going to hit the road and see things we’ve always wanted to see,” he said.
Number one on the list is a trip to Yellowstone National Park.
And there’s always one of his favorite getaways: His place on Lake Norfolk where he loves to fish. | 2022-04-02T09:32:56Z | www.jonesborosun.com | After 31 years at JFD, Johnson calls it a career | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/after-31-years-at-jfd-johnson-calls-it-a-career/article_d08d5516-7766-5b23-83f3-903d892c271b.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/after-31-years-at-jfd-johnson-calls-it-a-career/article_d08d5516-7766-5b23-83f3-903d892c271b.html |
An electronic vehicle charging station will soon open at 219 E. Monroe Ave. The charging station is a joint project of City Water and Light and the City of Jonesboro.
Courtesy CWL
JONESBORO — Arkansas will have more than $8.4 million in federal funds per year available over the next three years to expand the number of electric vehicle charging stations across the state.
The Arkansas Department of Transportation is seeking public comment on how to use the money.
ArDOT has proposed an amendment to its Statewide Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) for federal Fiscal Years 2021-2024.
“The purpose of this proposed STIP amendment is to allocate and utilize funding from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) that were apportioned to the State of Arkansas for the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Formula Program (NEVI),” ArDOT said in a news release. “These funds will be utilized to strategically deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure and establish an interconnected network to facilitate data collection, access and reliability.”
Federal money will pay 80 percent of the cost of any project. The remaining 20 percent would have to be paid by local entities, according to the proposed amendment.
Alan Pillow, director of the Northeast Arkansas Regional Transportation Commission, said he anticipates coordinated efforts across the state to secure money for projects.
“It is important that our area is included and appropriately represented in this national EV network,” Pillow said Friday.
Some local businesses, such as hotels, have EV charging stations available, primarily for their regular customers, but City Water and Light and the City of Jonesboro have teamed up to place some chargers in public parking lots.
CWL spokesman Slade Mitchell said one charging station at 219 E. Monroe Ave., near Municipal Center, is nearing completion. A second, to be located at Monroe and Union Street, is also under construction, Mitchell said.
Both will have two charging ports each.
CWL will continue to look for more opportunities to make vehicle charging more accessible, Mitchell said.
ArDOT invites public comments on the proposed STIP amendment by April 30.
For more information, or to request a copy of this proposed STIP amendment by mail, contact the ArDOT Program Management Division at (501) 569-2262.
All comments should be submitted to STIP@ardot.gov or in writing to: Jared Wiley, assistant chief engineer – Planning, Arkansas Department of Transportation, P.O. Box 2261, Little Rock, 72203. | 2022-04-02T09:33:02Z | www.jonesborosun.com | ArDOT seeks comment on car charging stations | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/ardot-seeks-comment-on-car-charging-stations/article_c81e9164-fa6e-53d3-af2a-f4a3acfcb31f.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/ardot-seeks-comment-on-car-charging-stations/article_c81e9164-fa6e-53d3-af2a-f4a3acfcb31f.html |
JONESBORO — A 13-year-old girl told Jonesboro police Thursday morning that a man made sexual contact with her, leading her to become suicidal.
The suspect is listed as a 34-year-old man.
No other information was released in the case.
A 30-year-old Jonesboro woman reported Thursday morning that her residence was broken into in the 1600 block of West Matthews Avenue and items were stolen. The total value of televisions and other items taken was listed at $1,754.
B&B Electrical and Utility Contractor, of Hernando, Miss., reported Thursday morning that a storage unit was entered and tools stolen in the 2800 block of Fair Park Boulevard. The total value of the tools is listed at $8,000.
A 40-year-old Jonesboro man reported a burglary Thursday afternoon in the 600 block of Roseclair Street. Stolen was a Fender guitar valued at $250.
A 38-year-old Jonesboro woman told police two suspects who were let into her residence stolen items Thursday night in the 2200 block of Amy Ann Street. She said the 14-year-old girl and 18-year-old man took a variety of items with a total value of $1,100.
A 55-year-old Brookland woman told Craighead County sheriff’s deputies that fencing her landlord, a 72-year-old Mountain View woman, ordered was stolen from the property in the 300 block of Craighead Road 726 in Brookland. The fencing is valued at $16,000. | 2022-04-02T09:33:08Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Girl, 13, reports sex assault | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/girl-13-reports-sex-assault/article_cd042f3d-e9d5-5ea1-b001-583b010d3a29.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/girl-13-reports-sex-assault/article_cd042f3d-e9d5-5ea1-b001-583b010d3a29.html |
This BT-13 airplane on display at the Wings Of Honor Museum in Walnut Ridge shows the skeleton of the type of aircraft that was used to train pilots at the Walnut Ridge Army Air Field from 1942 until 1944.
Photos by Nena Zimmer / The Sun
Harold Johnson, president of the Wings of Honor Museum Board, tells the story on Wednesday at the Wings Of Honor Museum in Walnut Ridge of how they finally got the BT-13 airplane they had dreamed about for years, although they will have to build another hangar for the newest display first.
Harold Johnson shows a locker on display from the Walnut Ridge Army Air Field base, which still contains the clothes of a local officer, Lt. J.D. Bracket.
Museum Board President Harold Johnson points to one of the names listed among Arkansans killed during WWII on Wednesday at the Wings Of Honor Museum in Walnut Ridge.
Women in World War II is one of the newest exhibits on display at the Wings Of Honor Museum in Walnut Ridge.
Since 1942, the Walnut Ridge Army Air Field (WRAAF) has seen it share of history and since the opening of the Wings Of Honor Museum in 1999, it has been sharing that history with the hope of teaching and inspiring others.
Harold Johnson, president of the Wings of Honor Museum board and one of the founding members of the 12-member board, said on Wednesday that the museum started as a dream but has grown to so much more over the years.
“We wanted to preserve the history of the airbase,” Johnson recalled. “It has such a rich history that is so important not just for our area but for the nation.”
“We started in a little building back in 1999, but by 2004 we already had to expand,” he said, noting that the first expansion took two years and they moved into the bigger building by 2006.
However, the museum continued to grow over the past 23 years, with two more 20 ft. by 80 ft. expansions in 2013 and 2015.
“We are privately funded,” he said, “although we did receive a loan from the city back toward the beginning.”
They also received some appropriated funds in the early 2000s from state representatives that totaled about $100,000 over the first three or four years. However they needed $600,000 to actually build the bigger building. The museum received a few grants including a $7,000 railroad grant, $25,000 Arkansas State Parks grant and a few $1,000 grants from Walmart, but the rest came from donations by sponsors and through events such as raffles, bake sales, and such.
Johnson noted that the museum was primarily funded through donations and still is today. Although the museum is free to the public, he said that they do accept donations and they reinvest the money from gift shop sales to keep the museum going.
“Once we had the building, we moved in and told the story of the World War II flight training,” Johnson said, noting that flight training had many phases.
“The story is important. So many more pilots were needed after Pearl Harbor because there were only 26 schools, which could train hundreds of pilots, but the Army Air Forces (AAF) needed to train hundreds-of-thousands of pilots,” he said, noting they already had a 100,000 people signed up who needed stationed at the time. So they had a hundred colleges across the United States, who took them in for five months as new flight schools began.
He said they started with nine Basic Flying Schools, including Newport and Walnut Ridge, and would eventually have 56 Basic Flying Schools.
The WRAAF was born when the AAF, once known as the Army Air Core, chose the Moran community site north of Walnut Ridge as a substitute for the Dyersburg, Tenn., site, after it was rejected because 5,000,000 cubic yards of dirt would have had to have been moved.
“So the Army Air Forces site selection board recommended Walnut Ridge after a scout plane found the area and brought the Corps of Engineers and took core samples,” Johnson said, adding that they liked Walnut Ridge as a good substitute spot.
“By April 15, 1942, they had begun a two-week courtship,” he said. “They were armed with maps, letters of support, core drilling results, preliminary surveys and plans and more.”
There were three training areas across the U.S. including the Southeast, Gulf and Southwest, he noted, and the commanding general of the Southeast Air Corps Training Center approved the site on April 20, 1942.
By May 12, the War Department in Washington directed the Army Corps of Engineers to build an air field, which was named the Walnut Ridge Army Air Field, Johnson said, noting that the air field was designed to accommodate 5,114 military personnel and a civilian workforce of 976.
Construction of the facility would begin on June 20, 1942, with three main runways that were 5,000 feet long. Johnson said there were originally eight planned for the air field.
The air field was activated Aug. 15, 1942, with the arrival of key personnel, but the buildings were not ready, and a temporary headquarters was established in Walnut Ridge.
By Oct. 12, 1942, troops were finally beginning their training. Over the next 20 and half months the WRAAF would train 4,641 men and 82 babies would be born on the base.
“There were exactly 42 boys born here and exactly 42 men died here,” Johnson said, noting the chilling fact that that’s one baby boy born for every one man who died.
“The last class would graduate from the flight school in July of 1944 and by September Marines would be stationed there until 1945,” Johnson said.
The airbase would be used for other purposes through the years, all of which visitors can find out about at the museum, along with which of the 100 buildings were sold and moved to schools, how William Baptist University in Walnut Ridge, once Southern Baptist College at Pocahontas, began on the airbase after a fire and so much more.
Exhibits range from the history of the people of Walnut Ridge and the WRAAF to the list of Arkansans who died in WWII (by county) and a Women of WWII exhibit, plus a variety of war memorabilia from WWII through the Vietnam and much more.
Visitors will also soon be able to see the newest addition to the collection, a BT-13 airplane. The BT-13 is not only the type of plane used for training at the base, but it is also one of the original planes from the WRAAF Base, although a new hangar will have to be built before they can exhibit it to the public.
Johnson said they had hoped for years to get a BT-13 but never could find one like they wanted and could afford, “But then... four years ago, we found one that was originally from Walnut Ridge, complete with its original markings.”
The problem was that it was still more then they could afford, he said... $80,000 more.
“So we began to raise more funds,” he sighed, laughing that they managed to raise all but $59,000 of it through the generous donations of the community and proceeds from the sale of a different plane that was donated to the museum to help raise funds.
“Then, one day the B-17 known as ‘Yankee Lady’ came through for a special event,” Johnson smiled thinking back. “I had a wish list up for the museum, which listed the BT-13, and an anonymous donor, who didn’t wish to be named, came in. He saw the wish list and asked me about the plane we had found and how much more we still needed.”
Johnson said that after the more than generous donation for the remaining $59,000, the plane was finally theirs however there was a little snag. “The owner had never had it registered and had lost the bill of sale, so he had to get another bill of sale before we could have it moved from Mississippi,” Johnson said.
The plane, which they had hoped to have on display by last April, didn’t actually arrive until Oct. 8. In the meantime, they managed to find another BT-13, which was bought and delivered from Newport. It was more affordable and though incomplete could be used as another display showing the skeleton of the plane.
“But now we have two,” he bragged.
They have also added a few exhibitions including the Vietnam Exhibit, the Underaged Soldier Exhibit and the Women of WWII Exhibit.
The next exhibit to open will be Arkansas in WWII, which will open in about two to three weeks, according to Johnson.
“We will also be adding a Cold War Exhibit in the near future,” Johnson said, noting that they still have a lot they they want to exhibit but they are going to have to expand yet again to do so.
He also said that they are in desperate need of volunteers.
“It’s been 23 years now,” Johnson laughed, “and we have gotten a lot older and some have retired or passed away.”
For more information on the museum or volunteering call at 800-584-5575 or email Johnson at wraaf@outlook.com. | 2022-04-02T09:33:32Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Wings of Honor continues to grow and inspire | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/wings-of-honor-continues-to-grow-and-inspire/article_e5e04c18-888f-53b6-998b-9f1ff20deb3e.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/wings-of-honor-continues-to-grow-and-inspire/article_e5e04c18-888f-53b6-998b-9f1ff20deb3e.html |
Junior safety Eddie Smith (8) covers a receiver during Tuesday’s practice at Arkansas State.
A-State expecting leadership from Smith
JONESBORO — Arkansas State is counting on Eddie Smith for more than tackles and pass coverage as part of the Red Wolves’ secondary.
Second-year head football coach Butch Jones wants Smith to take on a leadership role. While this is his first semester at ASU, Smith has been around college football for four seasons after spending time at Alabama and Illinois.
“It’s a huge role. I know when I was recruited, Coach told me he needs me to step up and be a leader,” Smith said after Tuesday’s practice. “He said guys will listen to me. At first it was uncomfortable, but kind of like the first weeks here, guys took me in and they showed me that they believe in me.”
Smith, a junior from Slidell, La., got to know Jones while he played for Alabama from 2018-20, seasons when Jones was on staff with the Crimson Tide. He played last season at Illinois, seeing action in four games.
Jones said the Red Wolves have looked at Smith at both safety positions, starting off with field safety and then boundary safety.
“Eddie is a young man who is very hard on himself. He has an unbelievable work ethic and not only have we challenged him in terms of learning the safety positions, but he needs to grow into a leadership role,” Jones said. “I know he just got here and that’s very difficult, but that’s what I expect from Eddie. Eddie has been through a lot in his career.
“You’re a byproduct of your experiences and I had him speak to a bunch of guys on Sunday, his experiences of the other two places, good, bad and indifferent. When you have individuals on your team who are high-character, high-quality like Eddie, you have to be able to tell those messages. We expect a lot out of him.”
Smith (6-0, 190) said experience helps in picking up a new playbook. Learning multiple positions isn’t a problem, either, since he has played all over the back end of the defense in his career. As a high school prospect, Smith was sought by most college programs as a cornerback, and he’s willing to line up at either safety position as needed.
“I was versatile in high school. I played a lot of cornerback and I was recruited as a corner. When I first got to college, I immediately moved to safety and when I transferred schools to Illinois, I played strictly corner,” Smith said. “Here, I’ve been playing boundary and free safety, just trying to see what’s the best for the defense. If they need me to play some corner, I can even play corner.”
Smith played in six games on special teams as a true freshman at Alabama. He redshirted in 2019 and saw action in a couple of games in 2020.
ASU returns several cornerbacks who saw action last fall during a 2-10 season. There is less experience at safety, where three of the four players listed on the season’s last depth chart are no longer with the program.
Jones said he’s been encouraged by the play of ASU’s secondary under new defensive backs coach and defensive pass game coordinator Jay Simpson, who came to the Red Wolves after spending six seasons at Alabama-Birmingham.
“They’re really kind of setting the tone with our football team in terms of their work ethic, their attitude, their effort on and off the field. They’re in the coaches’ offices every single day and I think that’s a byproduct of Coach Simpson,” Jones said. “I think he’s come in and they’ve really kind of embraced him. They’ve gravitated to him and I think you can see his mindset really being spilled over into that position group. I see them bringing out the best in each other. I see a competitive component in that entire room. I’ve been really pleased to date with where they’re at.”
Smith said he’s thankful Simpson came to ASU, too.
“I don’t want to be biased, but I feel like Coach Jay is one of the best DB coaches in the country,” Smith said. “Since he’s been here, I feel like all players can relate to him and I think him being here with his energy and his joy for the game, he makes his players want to play for him, so we have no choice but to be good because we’re trying to play to his standard.”
Smith also praised his new teammates’ habits, saying he sees them working out at all hours, and they’ve paid attention when he speaks.
“Honestly since I stepped in, every guy here has listened to me,” Smith said. “Anything I have to say or any advice I have to give, most of the guys listen to me. I haven’t had a problem with anybody not listening to me.” | 2022-04-02T09:34:15Z | www.jonesborosun.com | A-State expecting leadership from Smith | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/a-state-expecting-leadership-from-smith/article_856b785a-6305-55c5-8cbf-c125c4a0652d.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/a-state-expecting-leadership-from-smith/article_856b785a-6305-55c5-8cbf-c125c4a0652d.html |
Arkansas State head coach Mike Balado talks to players on the court during the Red Wolves’ home game against Appalachian State.
JONESBORO — Mike Balado knew Arkansas State was going to have some departures via the NCAA transfer portal this spring, just not quite as many as the Red Wolves have seen this week.
Five players, among them Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year Norchad Omier and former Jonesboro High School standout Desi Sills, have revealed their intentions to enter the portal since returning from spring break.
“It’s obviously unfortunate with some of the guys who have left that was a surprise,” Balado said during a video conference Friday. “Three of them were ones that we love, but were going to move on to play at other places where they could play more minutes, and one of them graduated. It’s the landscape of college basketball. It’s a new era in what’s going on with recruiting.
“Unfortunately the one-time transfer exception is going to hurt a lot of mid-majors. It is what it is. When you have a good player and you pluck one from the unknown, as we did with Norchad, develop them, a lot of times they’re going to have the opportunity to go to a higher level and get plucked from our league. I don’t know how many guys from our league are in the transfer portal, but it’s going on everywhere in the country. I’m a little surprised why everybody is so shocked by it.”
Omier, a second-year freshman forward, figures to be a hot commodity on the transfer market after averaging 17.9 points and 12.2 rebounds this season at ASU. He was also the Sun Belt’s Defensive Player of the Year.
On March 14, Omier posted a message on social media saying he planned to return for the 2022-23 season with the Red Wolves. He reversed course Wednesday when he posted a message revealing his intent to explore the transfer portal.
What changed? Balado said Omier would need to answer that question.
“When outside influences get involved that are beyond my control, things change. That’s unfortunate, but it’s something where you’re going to have to ask him because when we spoke, it was that he was coming back,” Balado said. “There was no question about it. He took a trip and when he came back, he changed his mind.
“By the way, I want to put this out there – I love the young man like my son. There is no ill will. I love him, so I want him to be successful. Of course I want for it to be here and I think he can get to the NBA from here. Unfortunately, some other people don’t think that.”
Balado said he knew Sills, a guard who spent three seasons at the University of Arkansas before transferring to ASU last year, was “a little bit on the fence” about returning next season for his final year of eligibility.
Sills was ASU’s second-leading scorer in 2021-22 at 12.6 points per game.
“I thought he was just going to go play pro. I didn’t know if he was going to play his last year,” Balado said. “He just wanted to go make money, which I understand, and I would support him for that. I don’t know what the process is for him to go again in the transfer portal. … I really don’t know where his mindset’s at in that realm. I don’t know what advice he’s getting from, again, outside influences, what they’re telling him.”
Other Red Wolves to enter the transfer portal include Keyon Wesley, Lazar Grbovic and Mario Fantina.
Wesley was a two-year starter at forward, though his averages dipped to 4.3 points and 3.4 rebounds per game this year. Grbovic and Fantina were reserves who have three years of eligibility remaining.
Marquis Eaton, like Sills a former Jonesboro High School standout, was ASU’s third-leading scorer this season as he put up 11.5 points per game while completing his eligibility. Guard Caleb Fields, who averaged 7.3 points and a team-best 4.4 assists, is the only starter presently expected to return.
While transfer portal departures can happen at any time, Balado said he does not expect others to leave the roster this spring.
“I’ve spoken to the ones who are here and they’re very excited and very committed. I feel good about the guys who are here right now,” Balado said. “I feel great about the freshmen coming in, I feel great about the guys that we had individual workouts with. We had meetings with all of them, meetings with the team. I can’t control everything that goes on with everybody else, but I don’t see anybody else leaving, no.”
ASU announced a two-year contract extension March 15 for Balado, a former Louisville assistant whose original five-year contract was to expire at the end of March. He has a 69-80 career record with the Red Wolves, who were 18-11 this season.
In the university’s March 15 announcement, Vice Chancellor for Intercollegiate Athletics Tom Bowen said ASU’s men’s basketball program is moving in a good direction, but added that neither he nor Balado is satisfied with the overall on-court results.
Balado said he will not use the word “rebuild” in the wake of ASU’s roster changes, adding that he plans to restructure the way his program recruits.
With the Red Wolves’ top three scorers leaving, Balado said scoring and shooting are their greatest needs, although he said Fields, Markise Davis and Malcolm Farrington can make up some of the losses in point production.
“Obviously we’re going to hit the transfer portal really hard,” Balado said. “If it’s something that has been an effect negatively for us with kids leaving, then we’re going to try to use that as a positive. When you have kids who transfer in with a one-time exception, chances are you won’t lose those kids because they’ve already transferred once.
“You’re going to have to rebuild your roster every two years now. It’s very hard for us at this level now to evaluate well, like I think we’ve done, and take a kid that nobody knew about and develop them, because in two years there’s a chance he might leave again. We’re going to go transfer heavily, junior college and transfer portal. We brought in two freshmen who are going to be very good and they’re locked into their commitment, which I’m excited about. They’re more excited than ever to come in and help.”
ASU signed two freshmen during the early period, guard Terrance Ford Jr. of Victory Rock Prep (Fla.) and Izaiyah Nelson of Marietta, Ga.
Omier isn’t the only 2022 Sun Belt award winner in the portal. Troy’s Duke Deen, the Freshman of the Year, and Georgia Southern’s Elijah McCadden, the Sixth Man of the Year, have also expressed transfer intentions. Texas State guard Caleb Asberry, like Omier a first-team All-Sun Belt choice, has also said he plans to enter the portal.
DeVante’ Jones, the 2021 Sun Belt Player of the Year at Coastal Carolina, transferred to Michigan for the 2021-22 season.
Aside from adding Sills, the Red Wolves were not impacted by the transfer portal a year ago. Now they have roster openings to fill.
“I knew it could have been a possibility last year before we came back this year, but I was happy we were able to keep everybody. We had a great nucleus back and we added one as well,” Balado said. “Now we have to change our approach, just have to change it. It is what it is. I’m not going to sit here and sulk, I’m not going to sit here and put my head down. You’re not going to get that from me.
“All these people saying negative stuff and all that, I don’t hear it. I’m here to build the program, that’s what I’m here for. I’m here to make Arkansas State the best program it can be and win a championship, and that has not changed. We’re going to renew and we’re going to rejuvenate. That’s it, that’s all we’re going to do.” | 2022-04-02T09:34:21Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Balado points to "outside influences" in Omier's decision | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/balado-points-to-outside-influences-in-omiers-decision/article_fa1543e5-62ca-5cb7-8217-1b11fccb209b.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/balado-points-to-outside-influences-in-omiers-decision/article_fa1543e5-62ca-5cb7-8217-1b11fccb209b.html |
Quarterback James Blackman tries to elude a defender during Arkansas State's practice Saturday at Centennial Bank Stadium.
Defense winner on A-State competition day
JONESBORO — Competition Saturday ended with Arkansas State's defense earning a majority of the points.
Head coach Butch Jones said ASU's defense won 118-100 under a system where every repetition, whether it was one on one or in a team setting, was scored. The Red Wolves worked on numerous scenarios that included live tackling during their sixth practice of spring football.
"We need to continue to grow and get better, but what I see is a major shift in our culture in terms of energy, guys holding each other accountable, confidence, enjoying coming and playing football," Jones said afterward. "We still have a long way to go. It's really hard at times to assess where you're at because you're playing each other, but I do know this — I know we're making each other better on both sides of the ball because we're competing. In spring, that's what you want to do."
The defense was especially effective late in practice during the red zone lockout scrimmage, where the ball was placed 25 yards from the end zone.
A holding penalty marred the first drive for the No. 1 offense, which was eventually pushed back 23 yards during a series that included a quarterback sack by linebacker Jordan Carmouche, a senior transfer from Houston.
Sophomore Cam Jeffery returned an interception about 80 yards for a touchdown to end the next possession on the first play. Alabama transfer King Mwikuta had a tackle for loss and senior end Thurman Geathers was credited for two sacks on the third drive that started from the 25.
"Everybody was just matching each other. That's one thing I think I've said before and I know Coach Butch has said it a thousand times," senior linebacker Kivon Bennett said. "We have to go out there and match each other's energy."
Jones praised the defense for stepping up during the red zone work.
"That's what it's all about in the red zone," Jones said. "You're looking at both sides of the ball, so it's great to see the defense step up with generating negative yardage plays, but on the offensive side, there's so much that goes into toughness.
"There's so much that goes into physical to mental to emotional toughness and when we got down 14-0 in the red zone lockout, I saw some (offensive) guys starting to hang their heads instead of going, 'Hey, it's the first team to 18 (points), we still have an opportunity.' Those are all great teaching points, and you'd rather learn these lessons now than wait for training camp or the fall."
Jones said the Red Wolves still had too many pre-snap penalties but did a better job of taking care of the football.
Senior quarterback James Blackman and junior wide receiver Jeff Foreman teamed up for a 58-yard touchdown pass during a couple of live periods where the offense started drives 60 yards from the end zone.
Blackman rolled away from the pass rush to keep the play alive. Foreman slipped behind a defensive back who took a few steps forward when Blackman moved out of the pocket and caught the pass on the run.
"On that one, it was just instinct on making a play on the field," Foreman said. "One of our DBs jumped it, so I went behind him and went for a touchdown."
Jones said Blackman and Foreman did a great job on the touchdown pass.
"We talk about the scramble drill and keeping plays alive, and Jeff did a great job of mirroring the quarterback. James did a great job of throwing on the run," Jones said. "We talk about being a high-vision quarterback and that's being able to feel the rush and escape the pocket but keep your eyes downfield. He was able to do that, and I like the way Jeff did some things in terms of catch and advance the ball, get the ball north and south. I thought he took a great step in moving forward the way he advanced the ball."
Foreman also had an 11-yard reception during the live work. Blackman also completed passes of 17 yards to Adam Jones and 12 yards to Seydou Traore, while running back Lincoln Pare broke an 18-yard run.
Bennett, who was second-team All-Sun Belt last fall with eight sacks at defensive end, is learning to play linebacker this spring. While he was listed as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 scheme when he played for Tennessee, Bennett said he was on the line most of the time with the Volunteers.
"I think Kivon continues to be a work in progress. He's learning a position he really hasn't played since little league football," Jones said. "A lot goes into playing at the second level of the defense at the linebacker position, a lot of instincts, understanding the blocking schemes, where he goes in his pass drops and match principles.
"I see Kivon getting better and better each day and like we talked about, he has 15 opportunities (in the spring) and then the summer and then training camp to get game ready. I like what I see. I like his attitude, he's very eager and very willing."
The Red Wolves return to practice Tuesday. Their first full scrimmage is scheduled for next Saturday.
ASU will also conduct two other scrimmages, including the April 23 spring game.
"I think the personality of this team continues to grow with each practice. Some strengths continue to evolve and some of our deficiencies continue to be magnified," Jones said. "We have to continue to look at where we're at, assess where we're at after spring, and then how can we grow and elevate our football program in recruiting and development over the summer." | 2022-04-03T10:58:51Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Defense winner on A-State competition day | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/defense-winner-on-a-state-competition-day/article_9a876ee1-0885-52e2-b887-31a0178f4014.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/defense-winner-on-a-state-competition-day/article_9a876ee1-0885-52e2-b887-31a0178f4014.html |
A-State holds annual Convocation of Scholars
JONESBORO — The 44th annual Convocation of Scholars at Arkansas State University gets underway this week with events scheduled throughout the month, leading into the conclusion of the semester and Spring Commencement at 10 a.m. May 7, in Centennial Bank Stadium.
Convocation of Scholars will culminate with the presentation of the R.E. Lee Wilson Citizenship Award and the Distinguished Service Awards at a campus ceremony on Thursday, April 28. These are A-State’s top awards for graduating students.
While recipients and immediate families will gather for the event at Cooper Alumni Center, others may follow through the livestream.
The Excellence in Diversity awards ceremony will start at 6 p.m., Wednesday conducted by the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement. The awards recognize campus stakeholders whose work demonstrates the highest commitment to enhancing excellence through diversity.
Faculty Honors Convocation will be April 12, beginning at 2 p.m. in the Grand Hall of Fowler Center, and it also will be livestreamed.
The new recipient of the Chancellor’s Medal for Research and Creative Activities, the highest award given to a faculty member, will be announced.
The 27th annual Delta Symposium, with a theme this year of “Commemoration and Reunion in the South” will run April 15-17. The full conference schedule is online.
The 12th annual Create@State: A Symposium of Research, Scholarship and Creativity, involves scores of students in scholarly and artistic presentations, will be April 18-20, concluding with the awards ceremony at 4 p.m. on the final day. More details are available on the Create@State website.
The Strong-Turner Chapter of the A-State Alumni Association will conduct its annual 3.0 ceremony recognizing the top African American students at 6:30 p.m., April 22.
Students and alumni will celebrate the Honors College’s 40th anniversary at a 7-10 p.m. gala April 23.
The Distinguished Service Awards, Create@State, Faculty Honors Convocation and Delta Symposium are open to the public through each of their online platforms.
Academic units that have scheduled events are:
College of Engineering and Computer Science awards banquet, 6 p.m., Wednesday;
Neil Griffin College of Business honors banquet, 6:30 p.m., Thursday;
University College honors reception, 2 p.m., Monday;
College of Education and Behavioral Science, 6 p.m., Monday;
School of Media and Journalism honors ceremony, 4 p.m., April 13;
Department of Communication awards ceremony, 4 p.m., April 21;
College of Liberal Arts and Communication awards ceremony, 5:30 p.m. April 21;
College of Agriculture honors banquet, 6:30 p.m., April 21;
College of Sciences and Mathematics honors ceremony, 5:30 p.m., April 26;
Department of Physical Therapy pinning ceremony, 6 p.m., April 28;
School of Nursing pinning ceremony, 6 p.m., May 6.
Other scheduled recognition events conducted by honor societies and departments include the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society initiation, 6 p.m., April 12; and Career Services’ student employee of the year award program, 12 p.m., April 21. | 2022-04-05T06:29:09Z | www.jonesborosun.com | A-State holds annual Convocation of Scholars | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/a-state-holds-annual-convocation-of-scholars/article_b92f5c59-89bb-5948-a046-cc031026f22d.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/a-state-holds-annual-convocation-of-scholars/article_b92f5c59-89bb-5948-a046-cc031026f22d.html |
Spring LETA graduation set
Black River Technical College Law Enforcement Training Academy will hold Spring graduation at 1 p.m. April 15 in the Randolph County Development Center on the Pocahontas campus.
Guests of the graduates and members of the community are invited to attend.
Gosnell Elementary receives award
On March 31 Gosnell Elementary School received the Success Program Achievement Award for K-12 schools that have reached a 5 percent improvement in reading skills and graduation rates from the previous school year.
The school was awarded $29,800.
Eddleman inducted into Alpha Chi
Sarah Eddleman of Blytheville was among 11 students at Freed-Hardeman University in Henderson, Tenn., inducted into the Alpha Chi National Honor Scholarship Society in March. Eddleman is earning a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting.
Alpha Chi membership is by invitation only to juniors and seniors with a minimum grade point average of 3.75 on at least 80 credit hours and in the top 10 percent of their class. This semester’s inductees all have a GPA of 3.95 or higher.
Free GED classes offered
Ozarka College is offering free GED classes from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays-Friday at Ozarka College Melbourne; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesdays-Thursdays at Ozarka College Mammoth Spring; and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays at Ozarka College Mountain View.
For additional information, call the Ozarka College Adult Education Department at 870-368-2051. | 2022-04-05T06:29:21Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Education briefs | Announcements | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/education-briefs/article_20fa885e-3aac-5aa1-866f-fb166a9a2868.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/announcements/education-briefs/article_20fa885e-3aac-5aa1-866f-fb166a9a2868.html |
Jonesboro School District hosting special fund-raising events
JONESBORO — The students and staff at Jonesboro School District will be raising funds this week at both the Jonesboro Pre-K Center and the Health and Wellness Elementary School.
The 18th annual Jonesboro Pre-K Trike-A-Thon for St. Jude Children’s Hospital will be on Friday, April 8, from 8:30-10:30 a.m.
Marcie Cheatham, Jonesboro School District director of marketing and communications, said on Friday that to date they have raised $64,783.35.
The event, which was started in 2004, kicked off on March 28 and as of Monday morning the trike-a-thon had already raised $5,532. For more information about donating, a link can be found on the the school’s Facebook page.
In addition, the Jonesboro Health and Wellness Elementary School will be having the 13th annual HWES Plant Sale on Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“HWES has greenhouses where the students grow flowers, vegetables and herbs to be sold at their annual plant sale to raise money for their school,” said Cheatham. “This year they added cuttings of houseplants that they propagated that they will sell.”
The school features three separate outdoor courtyard learning environments that include three greenhouses, 20 raised garden beds, an outdoor kitchen area and pavilion covered patios with classroom seating.
They began preparing for the sale back in November.
The school will sell the plants for $2 each, and the sale is open to the community. Students and faculty will be able to purchase the plants at discounted rates. | 2022-04-05T06:29:46Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Jonesboro School District hosting special fund-raising events | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/jonesboro-school-district-hosting-special-fund-raising-events/article_e9a0d144-868f-553c-aacd-4b43e2fb47c8.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/jonesboro-school-district-hosting-special-fund-raising-events/article_e9a0d144-868f-553c-aacd-4b43e2fb47c8.html |
JONESBORO — A Jonesboro man was shot at about 10:20 p.m. Friday after three males forced their way into his apartment in the 2000 block of Belt Street and robbed him, according to Jonesboro police.
Lamon Burgess, 24, was shot as he attempted to retreat to a back room of his apartment. Police said there were bullet entrances and exits in both legs between the knees and hip area.
Burgess was taken to St. Bernards Medical Center for treatment. His condition was unknown Monday.
According to the police report, between $500-$700 in cash was stolen.
If caught, the suspects face charges of first-degree battery, aggravated residential burglary and theft of $1,000 or less.
In three separate and unrelated gun crimes over the weekend:
Police arrested Alexander Martinez, 19, homeless, at about 3:45 a.m. Saturday after a 27-year-old Ash Flat man told police he was robbed at gunpoint in the parking lot of St. Bernards Medical Center.
According to police, “An officer, who happened to be in the (emergency room) on an unrelated incident, was notified by staff that a robbery had just occurred. We had officers on scene and due to the proximity of their location, this contributed to the apprehension of the suspect.”
According to a probable cause affidavit, Martinez entered the victim’s vehicle and pointed a handgun at the victim’s face and demanded all of his money. The victim told officers he got out of the vehicle and ran from the scene. Martinez was detained as he left the hospital.
The police report said Martinez admitted to meeting with the victim, stating he was attempting to obtain an illicit drug.
In a probable cause affidavit, police said a BB gun that looked like a real handgun was found on Martinez.
While in custody, Martinez was identified as a suspect in two residential burglaries that occurred in January in the 3700 block of Griffin Street.
On Monday, District Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause to charge Martinez with aggravated robbery, misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructing governmental operations, two counts of residential burglary, first-degree criminal mischief and theft of less than $5,000 but more than $1,000.
Fowler set Martinez’s bond at a total of $285,000 cash-only.
In another incident, a 62-year-old Jonesboro man told police Saturday afternoon that someone fired gunshots at his residence in the 100 block of West Gordon Street.
Police found eight shell casings at the scene.
In the fourth incident involving guns, a 45-year-old Jonesboro man told police at about 10:40 p.m. Saturday that someone had fired gunshots at his vehicle in the 900 block of Warner Avenue.
The victim’s vehicle, a 2015 Ford F-150 pickup, had flat tires on the front driver’s side and on the rear passenger’s side and three bullet holes in the license plate.
A 14-year-old girl was arrested, and police listed two suspects as males 19 and 20 years old. | 2022-04-05T06:29:52Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Man shot during burglary; 3 other gun incidents reported | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/man-shot-during-burglary-3-other-gun-incidents-reported/article_e7adc248-628b-538c-b948-7638b5ec2393.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/man-shot-during-burglary-3-other-gun-incidents-reported/article_e7adc248-628b-538c-b948-7638b5ec2393.html |
Barrett Harrison, president of the Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority and vice chairman of the NCWC, talks about the restoration project on Thursday at the ground breaking ceremony for the Ready Alert Compound of the National Cold War Center at the Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville. Behind Harrison is NCWC Chair Mary Gay Shipley, County Judge John Nelson and Mayor James Sanders, who all also spoke at the ceremony.
Gage Fears / Submitted
BLYTHEVILLE — The National Cold War Center (NCWC) held it ground breaking ceremony for the Ready Alert Compound on Thursday at the Eaker Air Force Base in Blytheville, formerly the Blytheville Air Force Base.
The extensive restoration and structural stabilization of the Ready Alert Compound has been an ongoing project for the NCWC.
According to a press release from the NCWC, the ground breaking marks the beginning of the second phase in the NCWC’s development plan, and visitors will soon be able to experience the Cold War from the perspective of the brave men and women who stood ready to defend the United States from an imminent Russian threat for much of the 20th century.
Mary Gay Shipley, chair of the NCWC’s Board of Directors, said that once complete, the historic Ready Alert Compound building will give visitors the opportunity to experience the realities of military life during the unique rivalry of world superpowers we know as the Cold War.
“This exhibit will serve as the heart of the NCWC and will share the story of this unique international conflict, highlighting true historical events through the lens of real human experiences,” Shipley said.
Blytheville Mayor James Sanders said on Thursday that the Blytheville Air Force Base, originally known as the Blytheville Army Airfield, opened in 1942 as a training facility for World War II pilots, and the base operated throughout the Cold War before it closed in 1992.
“This year marks the 30th year since this base closed,” Sanders said, “as the Cold War project gives new signs of life to the base.”
“This new museum can be a game changer for Byltheville,” he said, noting the potential for millions in revenue for the area.
Barrett Harrison, president of the Blytheville-Gosnell Regional Airport Authority and vice chairman of the NCWC, said on Thursday that money will dictate when the new Ready Alert Compound will actually open.
“We have recently received a $2 million challenge gift,” Harrison said, noting that if they can turn the $2 million into $4 million then they can hopefully to have it up and running in a couple years.
He said that this will be the only alert facility in the world open to visitors.
Harrison also said that they have put in a request to the U.S. Airforce for a B-52 bomber to be a static display.
He also noted that there is potential for other types of exhibitions at the base such an exhibit on ICBMs or nuclear submarines with the cooperation of other organizations.
Those in attendance at the ground breaking also had the chance to tour the renovated facility as well as watch the scheduled flyby of a B-52 bomber over head, which ran just a little late.
“Apparently they don’t take off quite as fast now as they used to here,” Shipley joked.
Gage Fears contributed to this report. | 2022-04-05T06:29:58Z | www.jonesborosun.com | NCWC enters phase two of development plan at break ground at the Ready Alert Facility | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/ncwc-enters-phase-two-of-development-plan-at-break-ground-at-the-ready-alert-facility/article_71320cea-a0b8-5bf7-b932-7ba403c0601a.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/ncwc-enters-phase-two-of-development-plan-at-break-ground-at-the-ready-alert-facility/article_71320cea-a0b8-5bf7-b932-7ba403c0601a.html |
Pediatricians and other medical staff and students gather for a photo on Thursday night in the St. Bernards Auditorium in Jonesboro during a pediatric conference that had attendance from members of several medical facilities across Northeast Arkansas including St Bernards, Le Bonheur, NEA Pediatrics, Kion Pediatrics and NYIT.
JONESBORO — Pediatricians and other medical staff from across Northeast Arkansas gathered for a pediatric conference on Thursday in the St. Bernards Auditorium in Jonesboro.
The event started with an inter-professional mingle and hors d’oeuvres and was followed by a presentation called “Pediatric Potpourri: Fever and Breaks” by Le Bonheur Emergency Medicine Physician Dr. Rudy Kink, after which the floor was opened for questions and discussion.
Kink is the medical director and pedi-flite for the Department of Emergency Medicine at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, as well as an associate professor at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (CME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians and CME credits were available for medical doctors and nurse practitioners, as well as nursing credits.
Dr. Enrique Gomez, chair of the Department of Pediatrics and medical director of the NICU, Pediatrics and Palliative Care at St. Bernards Regional Medical Center, said on Friday that there are no pediatric conferences held in Northeast Arkansas.
“So this is a unique opportunity for all the pediatric providers,” he said. “Normally we need to either go to out of town conferences or get online Continuing Medical Education hours.”
“The objective is to make this a recurring event and have all the pediatric providers in Northeast Arkansas get together and discuss topics, besides learning and working together for the community,” Gomez said.
“We had a great time [Thursday], we had people from NEA pediatrics, Kion Pediatrics, The Children’s Clinic, NYIT Pediatrics Clinic, St Bernards ER and St Bernards Pediatrics Hospitalist program, as well as some medical students from NYITCOM,” Gomez said, noting that it has been his dream to get all pediatric providers in the area together to get to know each other, collaborate and work together for the community.
“A few months ago, Shannon May, regional office manager for Le Bonheur Childrens Hospital, and I started working together and we were able to put this conference together,” he said.
“To do this,” he added, “we have the support from Mead Johnson – Enfamil through their Rep Sandy Morton, Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital and St Bernards.” | 2022-04-05T06:30:04Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Pediatric conference held at St. Bernards | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/pediatric-conference-held-at-st-bernards/article_05963fc2-c6b3-5e30-bd33-63162a0c0575.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/pediatric-conference-held-at-st-bernards/article_05963fc2-c6b3-5e30-bd33-63162a0c0575.html |
JONESBORO — Retired Jonesboro Police Department Captain Scott Roper will serve as the city’s new director of code enforcement, Mayor Harold Copenhaver has announced.
Roper’s 33-year career in law enforcement included 20 as a captain.
“I think Scott’s experience as a leader at JPD and his ability to see the needs of our city holistically will make him a great leader for what is already a great team in our code rnforcement department,” Copenhaver said in a news release.
Roper, an Arkansas State University graduate who grew up in Atlanta and graduated high school in Ohio, has lived in Jonesboro since 1986. He graduated from A-State in 1991. He was inducted into the ASU Hall of Honor in 2010.
He replaces Mike Tyner, who resigned last month.
Roper said the new position will be a challenge because of Jonesboro’s growth over the years, as well as aging neighborhoods that challenge city officials, but more important, home owners.
“It is important to have strong codes and code enforcement because we’ve seen tremendous growth in not only the economy but population since I came here,” Roper said. “It’s through strong and enforced codes that we beautify and keep our neighborhoods clean.”
Roper has been married to his wife, Vanessa for 32 years, and they have a daughter, Hunter, who is a senior at ASU, and a 14-year-old son, Ben, at Valley View High School. | 2022-04-05T06:30:10Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Roper commands code enforcement | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/roper-commands-code-enforcement/article_4eef3992-b469-510f-8e17-035222cb108e.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/roper-commands-code-enforcement/article_4eef3992-b469-510f-8e17-035222cb108e.html |
Jackson Co. COVID numbers reported
The COVID-19 numbers remain small for Jackson County, but included in this week’s figures is one additional death among county residents, according to the Arkansas Department of Health.
From March 28 through Sunday, 12 new cases of COVID were reported, a decrease in five since the previous week, making a total of 29 active cases. One death was reported, making the total death count for Jackson County 61.
As of Sunday, Arkansas reported only 1,103 cases statewide. The health department reported 313 new cases statewide during the previous seven days. There were only 47 deaths attributed to the disease statewide, including three residents of Randolph County, two in Clay and Mississippi counties and one each in Jackson and Lawrence counties. | 2022-04-06T13:21:17Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Jackson Co. COVID numbers reported | Newport | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/jackson-co-covid-numbers-reported/article_a77793cc-2fae-59c9-bd00-ae59a37b0ae7.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/newport/jackson-co-covid-numbers-reported/article_a77793cc-2fae-59c9-bd00-ae59a37b0ae7.html |
Robert Zimmer, AGFC natural resources program technician, releases 2,100 nine-inch channel catfish as a ceremonial stocking of fish at the conclusion of the Lake Poinsett dedication ceremony on Tuesday morning at Lake Poinsett State Park.
Ben Batten, AGFC chief of fisheries, leads the dedication ceremony for Lake Poinsett on Tuesday morning as the lake was officially reopened following repairs.
Lake Poinsett officially opens
HARRISBURG — Local residents and fishermen, along with several state, county and local officials gathered for the Lake Poinsett dedication ceremony on Tuesday at the boating access and fishing pier area located on Dam Road near Harrisburg.
The Lake Poinsett restoration project, which began in 2017 and has been in the works since 2006, has finally come to an end. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) completed the project with assistance from many state, county and local officials.
The ceremony was led by Ben Batten, AGFC chief of fisheries, who said that he was proud of the work that had been done. He also thanked everyone for their patience during the completion of the project.
Stan Jones, AGFC commissioner, said that “fishing is a big deal in Arkansas,” noting that fishing brings in $1.2 billion in revenue, provides 9,500 jobs and brings local and out-of-state visitors to Arkansas’ outdoors.
Chris Racey, AGFC deputy director, said that he had watched through all the different phases of the restoration project, and that the lake should now last another 50 to 75 years. He noted that $3.5 million had been invested into the project to fix the shorelines, as well as repair the dam and spillways, with more than two miles of bank stabilization and five new fishing sites.
“We already have stocked 700,000 fish into the lake including blue gill and catfish,” he said, noting that bass had already made their way in as well.
“I hope Lake Poinsett will be the next ‘Home of Arkansas State Crappie’,” Racey said.
Shea Lewis, Arkansas State Parks deputy director, said that, throughout the pandemic, Arkansas State Parks has seen the highest numbers with people wanting to get outside and into nature, noting they expect to see at least 1.4 million visitors in 2021.
“We were very excited to see the return of our lake,” Lewis said. “We saw 65,000 visitors last year even with the lake being repaired, and we expect more this year.”
He noted the importance of the partnership between the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the Arkansas State Parks.
Poinsett County Judge Randy Mills, who was Harrisburg’s mayor at the time the project began, said that he applauded the work that everyone involved had put into to the project.
He said he remembered the heat that they had all taken during the project, after which he noted that he could remember having to have police at some of the meetings.
The dedication ended with a ceremonial stocking of fish, instead of the traditional ribbon cutting, as they released 2,100 nine-inch channel catfish and local fisherman cheered.
Jonathan Wagner, assistant superintendent at Lake Poinsett State Park, said that he was delighted to see the return of much of the wildlife such as kingfishers, double-crested cormorants, ducks and other water fowl, noting that frogs and other wildlife were also returning.
“Water brings life,” Wagner said. “Not only to the lake but to the community.” | 2022-04-06T13:21:23Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Lake Poinsett officially opens | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/lake-poinsett-officially-opens/article_8c202543-42e5-5e88-a8e2-e5bbe3981324.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/lake-poinsett-officially-opens/article_8c202543-42e5-5e88-a8e2-e5bbe3981324.html |
Library director seeks common ground
JONESBORO — Vanessa Adams, director of the Craighead County Jonesboro Public Library, has been working to build a consensus about books and policies there.
Adams, who took over the reins at the library in February, has been meeting with members of the community to find a compromise over issues about placement of some books dealing with LBGTQ+ themes and restricting patrons under the age of 17 from checking out R-rated DVDs at the library.
At the library’s board meeting on Monday, members will consider a policy where parents can waive the restrictions and allow their children to check out R-rated DVDs. To do so, the parent would have to show a photo ID at the circulation desk and state that they waive the restriction.
One group that Adams met with comprised eight people representing conservative churches, members of the LBGTQ+ community as well a one parent of a library patron and one concerned citizen.
“The group responded really well,” she said Tuesday. “It was a little tense at first, but we made some progress when I agreed to move some books (in the children’s library) to the parent/teacher area.”
Adams said she has also met several times with groups of two people, going out for coffee or lunch.
“I like to meet face-to-face with people,” she said. “They seem to be open to some compromise. No one gets 100 percent of what they want.”
Adams and her staff having been in the planning mode lately, discussing what displays will be shown in the library and where they will be placed.
While she said the library will have a gay pride display in June, it will not be in the children’s section.
Adams said there have been discussions about adding a world religions section in the children’s library.
In other library news, Sara Stuart has been named assistant director at the library, Adams said. Stuart is a longtime employee at the library and previously service as director of adult services.
Adams said Stuart is currently working on a master’s degree in library sciences from the University of Tennessee.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for the Brookland branch, 401 Holman St., on April 25 and a grand opening ceremony is set for April 30. The library branch is currently open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and noon until 4 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed on Sundays.
Adams said she is meeting with Poinsett County library officials on Friday about the damage to the roof of the Lepanto branch sustained last week during a windstorm.
The branch is closed until further notice. | 2022-04-06T13:21:29Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Library director seeks common ground | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/library-director-seeks-common-ground/article_65558ff2-119e-5ede-863d-687b3aa4dfba.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/library-director-seeks-common-ground/article_65558ff2-119e-5ede-863d-687b3aa4dfba.html |
JONESBORO — A Jonesboro man and woman were arrested Monday night after a probation search of the woman’s residence in the 400 block of State Street.
Pat Bass, 63, of the residence, and Robert William Head, 57, of the 2400 block of Jones Street, were arrested on suspicion of possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams, felony and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.
Bass also had a felony warrant for failure to appear.
An employee of Candlewood Suites, 2906 Kazi St., told police a Cordova, Tenn., woman left the hotel without paying her bill. The theft of services was for $3,476.12.
Police arrested Rose Marie Foreman, 52, of the 500 block of North Main Street, on Monday night after a 54-year-old woman called police about Foreman, who was criminally banned from the residence in the 500 block of East Allen Street. Foreman is being held on suspicion of felony and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia, criminal trespass and possession of marijuana.
Police arrested Stephanie Lynn Garner, 33, of the 3400 block of East Nettleton Avenue, on Monday night at her residence. She is being held on suspicion of possession of meth or cocaine less than 2 grams and felony possession of drug paraphernalia. | 2022-04-06T13:21:35Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Pair arrested on drug charges | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/pair-arrested-on-drug-charges/article_7d962d54-3aab-5465-8165-ea031685aed6.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/pair-arrested-on-drug-charges/article_7d962d54-3aab-5465-8165-ea031685aed6.html |
Proposed land donation still under consideration
JONESBORO — A proposition that’s been considered by three different mayors to preserve property for a park near two affluent subdivisions remains under consideration, city officials said.
But a firm plan for the 142-acre tracts along Strawfloor Drive hasn’t been finalized, Bill Campbell, the city’s communications director, said Tuesday.
“We’re still listening and trying to mitigate concerns and take suggestions,” Campbell told The Sun Tuesday.
The land is owned by the Sloan family and their B & G Land Co.
City officials are considering an offer from the family in which the city would buy 33 acres for $500,000. The company would donate another 33 acres, and John and Lee Ann Sloan would provide another 76 acres to the city in the form of a no-cost lease.
The land at 3255 Strawfloor Drive is primarily scenic woods, but also includes a large disc golf course that hosts a national professional tournament. The crowds attracted by the tournament has been one source of complaint among many of the neighboring residents.
The city held a public meeting on March 10 to discuss the proposal and was met with opposition and even threats of lawsuits from residents of the RidgePointe and Sloan Lake Estates. But there were also expressions of support from other residents of the area.
The Sun recently requested documentation of the evolution of the land proposal, which apparently dates back to the term of former Mayor Doug Formon, who served from 2005 through 2008. The request also included any correspondence involving the proposal.
No documentation of previous offers were found, but Danny Kapales, the city’s parks director, said in a memo to Campbell following The Sun‘s information request, said the Sloans’ offers over the years has had a number of verbal renditions.
Harold Perrin, who succeeded Formon in 2009 and served as mayor through 2020, told The Sun, he decided not to pursue the project because of budget constraints in maintaining parks and recreation properties the city already owned.
The Sloans’ latest offer came shortly after current Mayor Harold Copenhaver took office in 2021.
“After hearing the latest offer from Mr. Sloan I feel a responsibility to allow council to consider his donation offer,” Copenhaver wrote to Kapales on Feb. 18. “I do have a few considerations that I think are important and need to be clear in any agreement moving forward to make sure nearby residents’ concerns are addressed as best we can.”
There’s been no indication of when a formal proposal would be submitted to the city council.
Following the March 10 public meeting, city officials continued to receive emails regarding the proposal, both for and against.
On March 13, Kitty Sloan, writing on her own behalf and not on behalf of the family, criticized city officials for not providing residents with more information in advance of the meeting.
“Nowhere does the city’s announcement indicate that the property in question involves two disc golf courses operated since 2013 by a private enterprise, Disc Side of Heaven, and that the questions swirling around the proposal are whether and how the city will operate the courses and the popular tournaments that have taken place there. Disc golf was to be ‘the elephant in the room.’”
She said the city should have been prepared to answer questions such as:
What is going to happen April 22-23 during the next Jonesboro Open disc golf tournament?
What is the future of championship disc golf in Jonesboro?
What’s on those 142 acres now and what will continue to be?
Development of a city “plan.”
Sloan said what is planned for the Jonesboro Open “will go a long way toward mitigating or aggravating some of the neighborhood concerns and could determine the future of disc golf at that location.
A few days later, organizers of the Jonesboro Open announced plans to offer shuttle service for players and spectators from Walnut Street Baptist Church to the tournament site in order to reduce traffic issues.
Organizers said they were expecting nearly 450 players and another 200 to 300 spectators for the Disc Golf Pro Tour stop. | 2022-04-06T13:21:41Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Proposed land donation still under consideration | News | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/proposed-land-donation-still-under-consideration/article_49b8b04a-531a-59e2-936d-86cddfb160f2.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/proposed-land-donation-still-under-consideration/article_49b8b04a-531a-59e2-936d-86cddfb160f2.html |
Bearcats' Matthews signs with Clarke football
BROOKLAND — Head coach Eric Munoz describes Kaden Matthews as representing what he wants in a Brookland football player, so much so that he encouraged the Bearcats to learn from Matthews’ example as he signed Tuesday to play at the college level.
Matthews, an all-state running back as a senior, will play for Clarke University in the fall. He moves on to the Pride after running for 1,602 yards in his final two seasons with the Bearcats.
“If I could have 50 of him, I’d take them in a heartbeat,” Munoz said. “I tell the team that all the time, that we need more guys like him who put the extra effort in and work, that you don’t have to worry about not working hard or anything like that. He’s a guy that I really want to show these kids what a Brookland football player needs to be. He represents that.”
Matthews (5-10, 175) fought through injuries to finish his senior season with 799 yards and six touchdowns, helping lead the Bearcats to a 5-5 overall record and a 3-4 conference mark in their second season of Class 5A football.
Early in the season, Matthews rushed for 117 yards against Westside and scored one touchdown each against Nettleton and Wynne, the top two teams in the 5A-East. He overcame injuries in the last two games to finish with 130 yards and two touchdowns against Paragould and 222 yards and two more touchdowns against Forrest City.
Matthews said he trusted his teammates to clear running lanes when he had the football.
“It was just being slow and being patient, just trusting my teammates, my linemen to do the work, trusting everybody around me,” he said.
Munoz said Matthews was in a lot of pain in the last couple of weeks and didn’t show it.
“He played with a broken hand and a bruised rib/back toward the end of the season,” Munoz said. “He didn’t practice for an entire week and goes and has a 200-yard game. I think that’s a testament to how tough he is and how hard he works.”
Located in Dubuque, Iowa, Clarke plays at the NAIA level. The Pride, which finished 1-10 last season, played its first season in 2019.
Munoz said Clarke head coach Miguel Regalado was his position coach during his senior season at Baker University, adding that Matthews will be a good fit for Regalado’s program.
“Their personalities are going to mesh, player and coach,” Munoz said. “Coach Regalado wants guys who are going to work super hard and be leaders, and that’s what he’s going to get out of Kaden.”
Matthews is eager to show what he can do.
“I’m really excited to go off to Clarke and show them what I’ve got, just to work and be myself pretty much, show my work ethic over there,” Matthews said. “I’m pretty excited to have this opportunity.” | 2022-04-06T13:22:48Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Bearcats' Matthews signs with Clarke football | Sports | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/bearcats-matthews-signs-with-clarke-football/article_3a4ae2b6-055e-59d2-ac87-641b1ced5afa.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/sports/bearcats-matthews-signs-with-clarke-football/article_3a4ae2b6-055e-59d2-ac87-641b1ced5afa.html |
Hoxie School considers four-day week
The Hoxie School Board is considering the benefits and impact that a four-day school week would have on student learning, families and staff.
If passed, Hoxie will switch to four days a week, Tuesday through Friday, from 7:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. The four-day schedule would go from Aug. 16, 2022, to May 26, 2023, with 144 contract days.
With the additional 45 minutes a day, students would benefit from tutoring enrichment and an additional recess.
By switching to a four-day schedule, bus pickup would run four days a week from 6:40 a.m. to 7:20 a.m. and from 3:50 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. While the morning route would not be affected, the afternoon route would run 30 minutes behind the current schedule.
For parents needing child care on Mondays, the school would offer “Mustang Steam Camp,” which would be similar to the school’s summer camp. However, parents would have to apply for the camp and be approved, as well as guaranteeing to send their child at least two Mondays out of each month.
Athletics and activities for high school students would still continue on Mondays, despite the school being closed for the day.
Based on a survey conducted by the school, parents are split with roughly 50 percent for and 50 percent against the new schedule. However, according to school board member David Dobbs, around 75 percent of Hoxie’s faculty is in favor of the change.
“As a parent, I have real concerns about going to a four-day school week,” said Sara Kopp of Walnut Ridge. She and her husband, Jon, have two children at Hoxie, Claire and Cady Kopp, both kindergarten students.
“I am concerned about the logistics of it all since I am a working parent Monday through Friday, but my primary concern is how this will impact my kids’ education. No one can tell me what the academic benefit is to the students. I fear the children will fall behind.”
Dobbs said school board members will decide no later than May 1, which is the deadline to submit the school calendar. The next school board meeting will be held on Monday, April 11, at 6 p.m. in the administration office.
All patrons are welcome to attend the school board meeting, but if they wish to speak, they’ll have to appear on the meeting’s agenda beforehand. | 2022-04-06T13:23:19Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Hoxie School considers four-day week | Times Dispatch | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/hoxie-school-considers-four-day-week/article_e188807c-64fb-520e-95bc-5d0e2cbad093.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/hoxie-school-considers-four-day-week/article_e188807c-64fb-520e-95bc-5d0e2cbad093.html |
Vera Aleta Miller, 84, of Doniphan, Mo., was called home to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 31, 2022, at Mercy Hospital in St. Louis. Surrounded by loved ones, she left this earth to go to her eternal home in Heaven.
Aleta was born in Lynn on March 28, 1938, to the late Ozro and Mary Effie Goodwin. On Jan. 6, 1964, she married Don Lynndal Miller. They were married for 53 years when he preceded her in death on Jan. 22, 2017. Together they owned and operated a farm and sawmill for 48 years at Pine-Bardley. Aleta was also a real estate agent for several years.
She was a member of Briar Missionary Baptist Church and was a Sunday school teacher for many years. Aleta was a dedicated Christian, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and friend. She loved her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. She had a servant’s heart and helped others in need whenever possible. Aleta enjoyed spending time with her family and working in her garden.
Aleta is survived by one son, David (Sheila) Miller; three daughters, Darla (Nathan) Gordon, Donna (Brian) Dilbeck and Dana Allen; six grandchildren, Jeremiah (Stephanie) Gordon, Nicholas (Christina) Gordon, Anita Sturgeon, Monica (Michael) Van Gent, Joshua Miller and Ryan Allen; nine great-grandchildren, Hannah, Callie, Jobe, Noah, Levi, Emma, Laney, Paisley and Annabelle. She is also survived by two sisters, Joyce Goodman and Jane Ward; two brothers, Jerry Goodwin and Larry Goodwin; and many nieces and nephews.
Aleta was preceded in death by her husband, Don Lynndal Miller; parents, Ozro and Mary Effie Goodwin; two sisters, Nina Goodwin Casper and Barbara (Bobby) Goodwin Penn; and two brothers, Sandy Goodwin and RC Goodwin.
A funeral service for Aleta was held at Edwards Funeral Home in Doniphan on Sunday, April 3, at 2 p.m. with Brother Leonard and Brother Grubb officiating. Burial was in the Pine Cemetery in Pine, Mo. There was no visitation.
Memorials may be made to the Holland Coat Drive at Peoples Bank or Coat Drive, 307 N. Green Street, Doniphan, MO 63935. | 2022-04-06T13:23:37Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Aleta Miller | Obituaries | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/aleta-miller/article_10927acd-f90e-580c-a9bc-ed3b7fe51dda.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/aleta-miller/article_10927acd-f90e-580c-a9bc-ed3b7fe51dda.html |
William “Bill” Robertson, 77, of Pocahontas, passed from this life on Saturday, April 2, 2022, at his residence.
He was born May 2, 1944, in Black Rock, to the late Vernon and Loreta Fleming Robertson. He was employed as a factory worker during his life. Bill attended First Baptist Church in Pocahontas. He was an avid reader.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, and one brother, James Robertson.
Bill is survived by his brother, Ray Robertson (Tommie Jean); sisters, Linda Robertson and Kathy Robertson; and sister-in-law Christy Robertson, all of Black Rock; several cousins, nieces and nephews. | 2022-04-06T13:23:43Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Bill Robertson | Obituaries | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/bill-robertson/article_407806b6-2197-52c1-9da5-318110ec5c78.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/bill-robertson/article_407806b6-2197-52c1-9da5-318110ec5c78.html |
Dennis Ray Sharp, 74, of Saffell, passed from this life on Friday, April 1, 2022, at The Springs in Batesville.
He was born on Jan. 12, 1948, in Batesville, to the late Johnny and Louise Eiland Sharp. He was a painter for Eastman Chemical in Batesville during his life. Dennis was of the Christian belief.
In addition to his parents, Dennis was preceded in death by brothers, Albert Lee, Elbert Lee and Delbert Lavell Sharp.
Dennis is survived by sister, Carolyn Huskey (Lavon) of Saffell; nieces and nephews, Marissa Watkins, Lanae Bookout, Tunene Weston, Kevin, Kerry, Tim, Terry and Ricky Sharp; and a host of other family members.
Graveside services were held Monday, April 4, at 2 p.m. at Union Cemetery, near Saffell, with Gregg Tucker officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Cox Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge.
An online guestbook is available at www.coxfhwalnutridge.com. | 2022-04-06T13:23:49Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Dennis Ray Sharp | Obituaries | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/dennis-ray-sharp/article_45be163f-ddd5-5c97-8e18-400a222f2124.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/dennis-ray-sharp/article_45be163f-ddd5-5c97-8e18-400a222f2124.html |
Donald Ray Clayton passed away to his Heavenly home on April 4, 2022, at the Flo and Phil Jones Hospice House in Jonesboro.
Donald was born Oct. 25, 1943, in Batesville, and grew up in Saffell and Black Rock. He was a 1962 graduate of Black Rock High School. Donald worked at Martin Marietta Materials for 54 years, where he was the office manager and where he had many coworkers and truck drivers who were his friends.
Donald surrendered his life to Jesus Christ as a teenager and was a member of the Black Rock Methodist Church and was a lay speaker. Donald was also proud to be in the Lions Club and a member of the Masonic Aurora Lodge 423. He was also a member of The Gideon’s International, where he loved passing out New Testaments. He served in many positions and was president of the local Gideon Camp.
One of his passions was old cars and street rods. He owned many classic cars and trucks, and was a member of the North East Arkansas Street Rod Association, where he had many friends.
Survivors are his mother, Imolene Slayden of Saffell; brothers, Randall Slayden (Saffell), Jerry Clayton (Lebanon, Mo.) and Gary Clayton (Little Rock); sisters, Rita Ann Drake (Saffell) and Patricia Clayton Ward (Strawberry); nephews, Todd Drake and Brian Slayden; niece, Lisha Foust; great-nephew Destyn Drake; great-niece, Heaven Foust; cousins, Bob Callahan, Dan Callahan and Samantha Callahan Davis; aunt, Libby Sue Callahan; and many other friends and loved ones.
He was preceded in death by his father, John Allen Clayton; grandparents, Robert and Zona Callahan; and beloved uncle R.D. Callahan.
Visitation will be Thursday, April 7, from 1-3 p.m. at House-Gregg Funeral Home in Walnut Ridge. Funeral services will follow immediately at 3 p.m. with Reverend Dennis Calaway officiating. Burial will be in Lincoln-Ward Cemetery in Saffell under direction of House-Gregg Funeral Home of Walnut Ridge and Lynn.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Gideon’s International so that Bibles can be placed in Donald’s memory. These can be mailed to P.O. Box 23, Walnut Ridge, AR 72476. | 2022-04-06T13:23:55Z | www.jonesborosun.com | Donald Clayton | Obituaries | jonesborosun.com | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/donald-clayton/article_ed423094-5b8d-5de1-9852-995f874e2780.html | https://www.jonesborosun.com/times_dispatch/obituaries/donald-clayton/article_ed423094-5b8d-5de1-9852-995f874e2780.html |
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