Acorn students recognized in Elks Essay Contest

Submitted by Tammy L. Young

The Mena Elks Lodge 781 conducted their annual Americanism Essay Contest in December 2022 for students in grades fifth - eighth. The theme for this year’s essay contest was, “What is Your American Dream?”.

Students submitted essays and the following Acorn High School, students were awarded certificates: Nick Long, Kimberly Cline, Mackenzie May,

Destiny Stearman, and Ruby Dewitt.

In addition to receiving certificates, the following students received gift cards and will be advancing to State competition with their essays: Madelynn Auer, Taylar Kesterson, Addi Ledbetter & Owen Wasif.

Seventh and eighth grade history teacher Andy Arnold coordinated the essay writing activity with Phyllis Caldwell of the Mena Elks Lodge 781.

Special Olympics Arkansas spring games are here

Special Olympics Arkansas hosts the Area 14 Spring Games Track and Field at Mena Bearcat Stadium.

The games begin at 9 a.m. on April 12 with the Parade of Athletes followed by the Law Enforcement Torch Run which will start from The Green House Cottages of Homewood. Officers from the Mena Police Department, Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Arkansas State Police (Troop K and Troop G), Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, 18th Judicial West Prosecutors Office, 18th Judicial West Drug Task Force, Nashville Police Department, and Arkansas State Parks (Cossatot River State Park) will carry the Flame of Hope into the stadium to officially start the 2023 Area 14 Spring Games.

Athletes will be coming from Holly

• Standing long jump and running long jumps

• Motorized and manual wheelchair races

Special Olympics Arkansas is an organization that unleashes the human spirit through the transformative power and joy of sport everyday around the state. Through programming in sports, health, education and community building, Special Olympics Arkansas is changing the lives of people with intellectual disabilities, solving the global injustice, isolation, intolerance and inactivity they face. Special Olympics Arkansas is providing opportunities for more than 19,500 athletes and 16,000 volunteers in all counties across the state of Arkansas.

Harshman Elementary, Mena Middle School, Mena High School, Acorn High School, Cossatot River Schools, and also adults from Polk County Developmental Center and Booneville Human Development Center.

Approximately 200 athletes ranging from elementary to adult will participate in traditional track and field competitions including:

• Walk and Run events from 50m to 4X100m relays

• Throwing events such as softball throws, shot put, and mini javelin throws

Special Olympics Arkansas supports 19,500 athletes across the state that compete and train year-round in 15 different Olympic-type sports. In addition to their 240 competitions throughout the state Special Olympics Arkansas offers programming in education and health and wellness. For more information about Special Olympics Arkansas, visit SpecialOlympicsArkansas.org/ .

The vision of Special Olympics Arkansas is to transform communities by changing lives through sports.

Baseball

4/08 - Acorn vs. Magazine

Softball

4/05 - Acorn @ Mountainburg

4/08 - Acorn vs. Magazine