Ouachita Expressions Show call for entry

Submitted by Taye Kaye

Mena Art Gallery is pleased to announce our next show, “Ouachita Expressions 2023”! This is one of our longest running, most popular shows. Work will be accepted for entry on Tuesday, June 27, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Please contact the Gallery if you need to bring your art work in before June 27. No work will be accepted after 3 p.m. on June 27.

Artwork will be on display June 28 –Sept. 1.

The competition is open to all art mediums. We are looking for local artists to enter, and encourage entries from people who may not have participated in the past as well as those who have.

This show is open to all members and non-members ages 14 and over. Entries must be original and the artist’s own work. No kits or prints will be accepted.

All 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional mediums will be accepted: Sculptures, weavings, oil paintings, water colors, wood carvings, metal work… you name it!

A reception will be held Saturday, July 8, from 1-3 p.m. Come meet the other artists.

Entry fees are $8 per piece for members and $10 per piece for non-members. Please limit entries to three by any one artist.

All entries must be for sale. No “Not For Sale” (NFS) work will be accepted. Come by the Gallery to pick up a copy of the rules, or call 479-394-3880 to have it emailed to you.

The rules are also available on our website southwestartists.org under “Ouachita Expressions Show.”

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Mena, AR 71953

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In Colorado on April 19, 2023, three teenagers were throwing rocks at vehicles and several were hit, causing injuries and damage. One vehicle was hit and veered off the road into a field. The three teens circled back and took a picture as a memento. Did they check on the driver? NO! Sadly the 20-year-old female driver died. All three have been arrested. One life lost and three wasted. For what?

On March 21, 2023, in Virginia, a schoolteacher is shot by a 6-year-old in her classroom. Due to developmental issues, the child was supposed to have a parent with him during class. For some reason, no parent was there that fateful day. The teacher survived the shooting and many surgeries later will make a physical recovery but it is doubtful the emotional recovery will ever come.

In Chicago on April 16, 2023, a “Teen Takeover” fueled by social media resulted in two teens shot and numerous arrests. Sadly, not the first time for this type of violence in Chicago. There were numerous injuries and extensive property damage.

The number of young people who have died and continue to die doing TikTok challenges are too numerous to mention. The number of people who die taking “selfies” is sad. Our young people seem bent on a few minutes of fame on TV or the internet no matter the consequences.

The senseless acts of violence and mindless acts of self-de- structive behavior are too numerous to list, but these events highlight some of what we all struggle to understand. Is it so important to have strangers view your website or social media that you are willing to die? I wonder exactly what influencers are and what qualifies them to suggest anything to anyone. I would be willing to bet they are driven by monetary greed and short-lived internet fame/attention.

Feel the need to follow an influencer? Try your parents who have worked and sacrificed to put a roof over your head and food on the table. Hollywood actors, singers, and overpaid athletes disrespecting the country that has given them so much or lacking any moral compass will lead you nowhere worth going.

I would suggest to young people that the folks you want to mimic by duplicating dangerous behavior couldn’t care less about you and probably delight in your misery when you mimic their stupidity. Monkey see, monkey do. Misery loves company. What ever happened to being an individual and not a mindless follower?

Always remember your life has meaning and value. Do not squander it. Unlike a video game there are no do-overs or extra lives. Today you wake up and wonder what the future holds. Tomorrow you will wonder where the future went. Hopefully

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HAL continued from page 1 private donations, and $125,000 was provided by the Arkansas General Assembly by Act 510 of 1999.

One of the men paid tribute on that memorial is Herbert A. Littleton. HAL, as he was called, was born July 1, 1930, in Mena, Arkansas. The Polk County native entered service at Blackhawk, South Dakota, as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps reserve.

Through an unselfish act of bravery, Pfc. Littleton sacrificed himself to save the lives of others, resulting in being killed in action on Apr. 22, 1951, in Chuncheon, Korea during the Korean War. His prompt action and heroic spirit saved the other members of his team from serious injury or death.

Littleton earned the nation’s highest military award for valor on April 22, 1951, on Hill 44 in Chuncheon,

South Korea, by deliberately falling upon and smothering an enemy grenade, which exploded. The grenade was one of many thrown at his team’s forward observation post while his observation team was serving with C Company, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. By doing so, he saved the lives of the other Marines including the officer and forward observer in charge of Littleton’s team during the early morning enemy counterattack on C Company.

He also prevented the radio from being damaged by taking it off before he was killed. The radio was used afterwards to direct artillery fire in order to repulse the Chinese attack during the battle to take the hill.

HAL is the only Medal of Honor recipient from Polk County, Arkansas. Perhaps you have seen the nice mon- ument to his memory in front of the Polk County Court House.

Inscribed upon it is the Medal of Honor citation, which reads in part: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as a radio operator with an artillery forward observation team of Company C, in action against enemy aggressor forces… .”

Although the monument in Polk County is quite nice and is visited by several people, including tourists to the Mena area, there’s no doubt that more people visit the Medal of Honor Memorial in Little Rock, designed by artist John Deering. Located on the southeast lawn of the Arkansas State Capitol, the memorial includes 26 other military personnel, including Little Rock’s own Gen. Douglas MacArthur. The memorial sits within walking distance of eight other historical markers.

The Medal of Honor Memorial honors men from the Civil War through the Vietnam War. It was dedicated Nov. 18, 2000.

When the Medal of Honor Memorial was constructed in 1999 to 2000, corners were cut to reduce the cost of the memorial. Instead of using actual bronze placards, they used aluminum with a bronze-colored coating on each plaque. Time and the environment have caused the bronze-coating to begin to chip off exposing the aluminum.

This damage is not exclusive to HAL’s plaque. It has affected all 24

See HAL continued on page 9

One of the pieces of legislation signed into law this year creates Women Veterans Day as a state memorial day to be celebrated on June 12 each year.

Act 115 states Women Veterans Day is acknowledged as an effort to honor the work of women in the United States Armed Forces and recognizes the unique challenges women have faced.

It was on June 12, 1948, when President Harry S. Truman signed into law the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948. This act allowed women the right to serve as permanent, regular members of the United States Army, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, and United States Air Force. Prior to then, only women nurses could serve in the regular and reserve forces during peacetime.

Though not officially recognized for many years, women have served in America’s wars throughout our history, demonstrating their unwavering commitment, resilience, and courage in defending our nation.

Today, there are almost two million women Veterans in the United States. More than 19,000 women Veterans call Arkansas home. Women make up 8.6% of our Veteran population. Women are contributing their skills and expertise across all branches of service. They serve as pilots, engineers, doctors, intelligence analysts, and much more.

As we commemorate this day, it is important to not only recognize their contributions but to continue to support and empower them in their transition from military to civilian life. From eliminating taxes on retirement income to cutting red tape for those entering the civilian workforce, the Arkansas General Assembly is continually working on ways to improve the lives of veterans in our state. We’ve posted links to resources available to our veterans at arkansashouse.org.

This June 12, join us in honoring the brave and resilient women who have served our country. Their sacrifices have shaped our history and inspired future generations. Happy Women Veterans Day!

The Arkansas Human Services Department has officially petitioned the federal government for authority to make changes in the Medicaid expansion program.

The program is known as ARHOME and provides health coverage to about 312,000 Arkansas residents. The state has to first get approval from the federal government before making significant changes, because the state provides 10 percent of the funding and the federal government provides 90 percent.

People are eligible for ARHOME if their income is less than 138 percent of the federal poverty level. This year, the poverty level is $30,000 for a family of four and $14,580 for an individual.

Arkansas Medicaid officials are seeking authority to focus on the most poor of the ARHOME recipients, the people whose income is only 20 percent of the poverty level. The Department will assign them a “success coach” if they are not on track toward meeting certain requirements of the ARHOME program.

Success coaches will develop an individual plan to help them meet their health-related needs. If they still do not engage in taking care of their lives and their health, after three months they will be moved from ARHOME to the traditional Medicaid program. There is an incentive to take advantage of the opportunities made available through the success coach because many people consider ARHOME care to be better than traditional Medicaid.

In the ARHOME program, the government buys private health insurance for the recipient. Under traditional Medicaid, the government reimburses physicians, hospitals and pharmacies for treating Medicaid patients.

Some physicians don’t accept Med- icaid patients because the reimbursement rates are less than they get from private health insurance companies. Another change sought by state officials is in how to gauge whether or not recipients are complying with requirements to work, volunteer or continue their education. State officials say the goal is to simplify the process so that recipients don’t have to fill out paperwork to prove that they spent the required amount of time looking for work or attending class.

Instead, ARHOME officials will rely on computer data to track whether recipients are working toward self-reliance. For example, if they have taxable income it can be assumed that they have a job. The amount of income will indicate whether they work part-time or full-time.

If they get food stamps, it’s assumed they’re complying with work requirements and if they’re enrolled in adult education, it’s presumed they are taking classes. If they live with someone who has a disability, or with a dependent child or an elderly person, it is presumed that they are caregivers.

ARHOME puts a special focus on helping the most vulnerable, such as residents of rural areas with mental health problems, veterans, young people who have been incarcerated or who have lived in foster homes and pregnant women.

The Human Services Department will train 100 existing employees to be success coaches, and another ten employees to be supervisors.

More than 1.1 million Arkansas residents qualified for Medicaid services earlier this year, but state officials are trying to lower than number by requiring them to re-apply for eligibility.

This fiscal year the program will cost an estimated $9.7 billion, with the federal government paying $7.8 billion and Arkansas providing almost $1.9 billion in matching funds.

Mr. Johnny D. Wiles, age 73, passed away peacefully Saturday, June 10, 2023. He was born on December 12, 1949, to Gaylord L. Wiles and Winnie Lille Wiles. On July 19, 1976, he married Sharon Keener.

A graduate of Mena High School, John served in the US Air Force from 1968 to 1972. After retiring he attended Rich Mountain Vocational Technical School and began his career as a precision machinist. He retired after 30 years at Brodix Inc, a leading manufacturer of racing components in the United States.

John (KC5YDA) enjoyed his hobby of amateur (ham) radio, especially doing C W late at night. He and Sharon loved driving up on Rich Mountain around dusk and seeing deer and sometimes bears. They were never tired of the beauty of the Mountain. They attended First Freewill Baptist Church as long as John’s health permitted.

John is survived by his loving wife; brother, Tom and wife Susan of Little Rock, Arkansas; nephews, Terry Keener and wife Rita, Billy Keener and wife Jo Ann; niece, Beth Scott and husband DeWayne; sisters-in-law, Cordelia Keener and Erma Keener; and many other family and friends too numerous to mention.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Gaylord and Winnie Wiles; fatherin-law and mother-in-law, Wiley and Helen Keener; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jay and Alice Keener, brotherin-law, Rush Keener, brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Alton and LaVerne Keener, sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Daphne and Pete Heisch.

The family would like to give many thanks to the Greenhouse Cottages girls and guys who helped and cared for Mr. Wiles.

Funeral services for Mr. Johnny Wiles will be held Wednesday, June 14, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., at the Rocky Cemetery in

Mena, Arkansas. Brother Donnie Jewell will be officiating under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Visitation will be general.

Online obituary and guest book available at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com

Rita Mae Smith, born on May 26, 1931, in Gowanda, NY, and passed away on June 5, 2023, at the age of 92. Rita was a spirited and creative person, who lived a full life and touched the hearts of many throughout her years. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and friend who found joy in her family, her work, and her hobbies.

Rita was employed as a factory worker for much of her adult life, having spent many years working for General Electric making transistors and later, Fischer Price Toys. She was a thoughtful and hardworking individual who took pride in her work. Rita enjoyed being a part of OLT productions, helping with costumes and being an actress. She also was a vendor at many arts and craft fairs all over. She was an avid card player, especially canasta, and always found humor in everything. Rita and her late husband traveled all over North America and loved every minute of it. They also were both avid bowlers and did league play. Rita’s grandchildren meant the world to her, and she cherished every moment spent with her beloved family.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Herbert Smith; her parents, Arthur Remington and Minnie Trautman; her siblings, Earl Remington, Marian Remington, Minnie Remington-Wood, Nelson Remington, Claire Remington, and Agnes Remington-Wanner.

Rita is survived by her children, Linda and Victor Schell and Cynthia and Donald Buckles; her grandchildren, Chuck and Michelle Schell, Christopher Schell, Victoria and Jason Ball, Kristin

Benefield, and Kevin and Joni Buckles; fourteen great-grandchildren; ten great-great-grandchildren; and a host of others whose lives she touched. No services are planned at this time. Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas.

Bernard

Wayne Mize, age 74, of Mena, Arkansas, passed away on Sunday, June 4, 2023, at his home. He was born on Friday, August 20, 1948, to Bernard Mize and Nita May Hicks Mize in Batesville, Arkansas.

Bernie was a good man who loved his family. He was a devout Christian and longtime member of the Christ Community Fellowship Church in Mena where he was the co-coordinator of the security team. Bernie graduated from Batesville High School in 1966 and later went to the University of Arkansas and graduated in 1975 with a degree in Civil Engineering. He worked for the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department, starting in 1967 as an Engineers Aide. He married the love of his life, Erma on January 1, 2000, and moved to Mena in July of 2001. Bernie was the supervisor of the Geotechnical and Structures Laboratories before retiring in June 2001, with over thirty years of service.

Bernie volunteered for the Ninth Street Feeding Ministry, U.S. Forest Service, Rich Mountain Fire Tower, Mena Medical Center and as a campground host at Shady Lake Recreation Area. He was a dual member of the Camden Masonic Lodge #11 and the Dallas Masonic Lodge #128, where he was a past Master of the Dallas Masonic Lodge #128 and Mason of the year in 2007.

Bernie was the Fourth District Representative to the State Republican Party Executive Committee from 2009-2011 and Chairman of the Polk County Republican Committee from 2007-2013.

He served for 8 years on the Governor’s Advisory Council on Aging in January 2006 and served for eight years under the appointment of Governor Mike Huckabee and Governor Mike Beebe.

In his free time, he enjoyed Western and Arkansas history, turkey hunting, hiking, camping and outdoor photography. He was always willing to help where he was needed and could make a difference. He loved to travel with his beloved late wife, Erma. Bernie was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and a great friend and will be missed by all who knew him.

Bernie is preceded in death by his parents and he is finally reunited with his lovely bride, Erma Mize who he deeply missed.

Bernie is survived by his stepson, Russell Steed of Benton, Arkansas; his stepdaughters, Donna Lewis of Marquez, Texas and Vicki McCoy of Houston, Texas; sister, Kathie Mize of Mena; four grandchildren, Mason McCoy of Houston, Texas, Brittney Hufeld of The Woodlands, Texas, Ashley Perera of The Woodlands, Texas and Declan Steed of Benton, Arkansas; four great-grandchildren, Cadence, Ryleigh, Landon McCoy of Houston, Ethan Rhett of Austin, Texas and a host of other friends.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, June 10, 2023, at 2:00 PM at the Christ’s Community Fellowship in Mena with Brother Bobby Blasingame officiating. Interment will follow in the White Oak Cemetery in Mena. Visitation will be held on Friday, June 9, 2023 from 5:00 - 7:00 PM at the Bowser Funeral Home Chapel in Mena.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Christ Community Fellowship here: https://www.ccfmena. com/give

Pallbearers will be Luke Sawyer, Joshua Hennings, Declan Steed, Kelsey Moran, Dan Lawrence, and Greg Lawrence.

Honorary Pallbearer will be David Lumbert.

Family preferred florist: Allbaugh’s Florist in Mena, Arkansas at 479-3944616.

Online Guestbook: bowserffh.com

Daniel Dixon He was preceded in death by his parents, and six siblings, two wives, two sons-in-law, and a stepson.

Daniel was born to Vernie and Harvey Dixon in Deer Park, Washington, the second oldest of seven children. He departed this life to be with the Lord on May 19, 2023, at the Rehab cottage in Mena, Arkansas. Daniel was 99 years old. He spent most of his childhood in Washington. At the age of 17 he enlisted into the Army Air Corp. He was a Fighter Pilot during WWII. The Army Corp later became the United States Air Force. Over the course of his military career, he was stationed in Santa Anna Tulane, Concord, and Bakersfield, California; Chandler, Arizona; Hamilton Field, where he went by rail to Newport News, Virginia, and shipped on the Liberty Ship to Algiers, Africa. He spent his 20th birthday on board. He was then shipped to Foggia, Italy, on the Adriatic Sea. During his career he flew missions to Austria, Czechoslovakia, Southern France, and Romania, Hungary, Poland, Yugoslavia, and Bad Tolz, Germany. He flew the AT6, AT9, RP322, P38, P39, UC78, P61, AT6, F84, P51, F80, and F86.

After his Air Force career, he joined the National Guard and retired as a Major in 1962. He then purchased a Dude Ranch in Colorado and later sold it and became a carpenter and foreman. He worked as a trail guide for hunters. He loved camping in the open spaces in the Rocky Mountains. He became an architectural draftsman and later received his license as an Architect. He had his own company and later formed a partnership as Dixon/Carter Architects. He had his practice in the Rocky Mountains in Granby, Colorado, until the late 1990’s when he retired. During those years, he and his wife had several horses. Due to health issues at such a high altitude, he and his wife, Renee, with their horses, moved to Tarkington, Texas. At one point they had 12 horses. They later moved to Cove, Arkansas, in 2011 and joined the Cove First Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, Renee, one sister-in-law, Betty Dixon in Washington; a son David, and a daughter-in-law, Glennita in Colorado; daughters, Linda Groom in California, Angela in Colorado, Theresa Mikesell, Texas, a stepdaughter Tammy and husband Ron Uecker in Colorado, four stepsons, Stephen Hedges in Utah, Billy Hedges and wife Tami in Texas, Don Hedges and Julie Petro in North Carolina, and Michael Hedges an wife Amy in Colorado. He and Renee have 15 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and two more expected, and five great-great-grandchildren: several nieces and nephews and their families.

A full military memorial service will be held at Cove First Baptist on June 3rd, at 1:00 p.m., with interment at Fort Logan Veteran’s Cemetery in Denver, Colorado, at a later date. Cremation services are entrusted to Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers you may donate to the Ouachita Humane Society, Mena, Arkansas or the U.S. Veteran’s Hospice, P.O. Box 96229, Washington D.C. 200906229

Online obituary and guest book available at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com

Bernie enjoyed the farm life, raising both chickens and cattle. He was a man of faith, and he was a long-standing member of the Acorn Baptist Church, fulfilling many roles there throughout his life. He was a committed member of the Acorn community, having served the Acorn School District as a bus driver and a long-time school board member. Bernie was a founding member of the Acorn Rural Water Association and Acorn Fire Department.

Bernie is preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Harold and Irvin Boyd; grandsons, Ross Boyd and Phillip Hay; and great-granddaughter, Madison Boyd.

Bernie is survived by his wife of 67 years, Peggy Boyd; three sons, Andy and Cheryl Boyd, Curt and Susan Boyd, Dean and Cindy Boyd; one daughter, Gayle and Ronnie Hay; Grandchildren, Kyle and Jessica Daniels, Jonathan and Lisa Daniels, Carrie and Tony Pennington, Ryan and Jacqueline Boyd, Jason Boyd, Anthony and Wendy Padgett, Ryan and Kaylan Hay, Alicia Brewer, Ramie Hay and Quincy Cotton, Randy and Elisa Boyd, Reece Boyd, Russell Boyd, and Brittney Meador; one brother, Harley Boyd; 26 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; and a host of other family and friends.

Mrs. Virginia Grant, age 82, of Smithville, Oklahoma, passed away on June 6th, 2023. Virginia was born June 3, 1941, in Talihina, Oklahoma, to Sherman and Ruth Wilson.

Virginia was a homemaker, and was married to Mr. Abner Grant on June 6, 1959, until his passing. She enjoyed traveling to new places, seeing cities with tall buildings, going camping and loved visiting the beach. But above all else she loved being around her family.

Mrs. Grant is preceded in death by her loving husband, Abner Grant; daughter, Tracy Grant; and by her son, Darrell Grant.

Bernie Lee Boyd, 86, of Acorn, Arkansas, passed away on Friday, June 9, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. Bernie was born on September 8, 1936, in an adobe house in Gruver, Texas, to the late Harrison Lewis and Eva Isabelle (Mayhieu) Boyd. He was a 1956 high school graduate of Gruver, Texas, and on May 31, 1956, he married Peggy Darlene Sloan, and they just celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary.

Funeral Services will be at 10:00, Thursday, June 15, 2023, at Acorn Baptist Church, with Pastor Roger Bishop officiating. Interment will follow at Owens Chapel Cemetery in Acorn, Arkansas. A general visitation will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.

Pallbearers will be grandsons: Jason Boyd, Anthony Padgett, Kyle Daniels, Randy Boyd, Ryan Boyd, Jonathan Daniels, Reece Boyd, Russell Boyd, and Ryan Hay.

Honorary pallbearers will be his granddaughters and great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Acorn Baptist church in support of the children’s missions.

Online obituary and guestbook at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com.

She is survived by her daughters; Cheryl Blaylock and husband Rex of Poteau, Oklahoma, Elaine Belue and husband Jimmy of Ft. Smith, Arkansas; son Jeffery Grant and wife Karen of Hot Springs, Arkansas; grandchildren, Stephanie Graham and husband Johnathan, Garrett Blaylock, Ryan Armstrong, Savannah Grant, Tanner Grant, Ashley Whittaker and husband Jared, and Cole Grant; great-grandchildren, Keelan Youngblood, Kayla Youngblood, Ethan Youngblood, Raylee Youngblood, Chelsea Whittaker, Riker Whittaker; sisters, Hazel Battiest, Artie Cooper, Carol Schmidt, Cora Johnson, Rozetta Carney; brother, Hughes Wilson; and many nieces and nephews she loved very much.

Funeral services for Mrs. Grant will be held at 1:00 p.m., Saturday, June 10, 2023, at the Live Oak Baptist Church, in Cove, Arkansas. Pastor Paul Pullen will be officiating under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Interment will follow at the Smithville Cemetery in Smithville, Oklahoma. Visitation is general.

Pallbearers are Alan Jones, Russell Wilson, Michael Wilson, Jason Wilson, Jerome Carney, and Jesse Price Online obituary and guest book available at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com

A memorial service for Ruffus

Cary Miller was held Friday, May 5, at 6 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home in Harker Heights.

Mr. Miller died April 25, 2023. He was born May 23, 1938, to B.L. and Irene Miller in Polk County, Ark. He was one of seven children, 2 girls and 5 boys.

He went to school in Wickes, Ark., leaving school in his senior year to join the United States Navy where he was stationed on the U.S. Ticonderoga, an aircraft carrier.

After finishing his time in the Navy, he tried civilian life for 3-4 months, then joined the United States Army. In 1960 he married Floy LaVerne and they recently celebrated their 62nd wedding anniversary.

While in Korea he adopted two Korean girls, Moni, 5, and Soni, 1, and raised Ed Burris, 14. The family of 5 made their home in Harker Heights, Texas, where they still reside. Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife, Floy LaVerne (Fannin) Miller, daughters, Soni Berkhemer and Moni Taylor and son Edward Burris, 8 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

There will be a celebration of life and burial of ashes held at Duckett Cemetery, Wickes, Ark., June 18, 2023, at 3 p.m.

It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Sigurd “Sonny” Fugelseth, who left us on June 8, 2023. Born on Oc It is with heavy hearts that we share the passing of Sigurd “Sonny” Fugelseth, who left us on June 8, 2023. Born on October 2, 1937, in Chicago, IL, Sonny was a man who truly lived life to the fullest and brightened the lives of those around him.

An accomplished supervisor and printer for Century Greeting Cards, Sonny developed a passion for mechanics during his time in the Air Force. This love for repairing machines carried forward throughout his life, earning him the admiration of many. His enthusiasm for fishing led him to become a dedicated member of Salmon Unlimited, and his love for the outdoors was matched only by the love he had for his family and friends.

Sonny is survived by his daughters, Denise Weil and Desiree Gesky; brothers, Ed (Teri) Fugelseth and Robert (Barbra) Fugelseth; sister-in-law, Eileen (Roy - deceased) Fugelseth; grandsons, Cory (Heidi) Ecklund and Cody (Lindsey) Ecklund; great-grandchildren, Leena, Alexander, Annabella, Abigail and Addilyn; sister-in-law, Marion; friend and caregiver, Elaine McLemore; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Sigurd Sr. and Martha Fugelseth; brother, Roy Fugelseth; wife, Annie Fugelseth and ex-wife Carol Tomao; and sister-in-law, Marge.

We encourage everyone to share their fondest memories and upload cherished photos of Sonny to the memorial page, as we come together to celebrate the life of a remarkable man who left an indelible mark on the hearts of those he touched.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, June 24, 2023, from 1:00 to 4:00 PM at Sonny’s home, 153 Redbird Lane in Mena, Arkansas. Please call his daughter Denise at 224-656-4149 with any questions about the celebration of life.

Thomas Cyril Earhart, age 100, of Mena, passed away Monday, June 5, 2023, in Mena, Arkansas. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 12, 2023, at the First Christian Church in

Mena, Arkansas. There will be a visitation one hour prior to the services (10:00 a.m). Interment with military honors will be at Pinecrest Memorial Park in Mena, under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home.

Thomas was born in Mena, Arkansas on October 18, 1922, to Wesley and Jewell (Wiles) Earhart. He was raised on a small farm across the highway from the current Ouachita Country Club.

Thomas graduated from Mena High School in 1939. After high school he worked at the Shady Gap CC Camp. From there he went to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to help convert a GE plant to war time production. He was drafted in ’43 and served till the war was won. He was a sergeant in the Army Air Corps (which later became the Air Force) and was a member of the 38th Bomb Group Ground Crew that repaired B-25 bombers in the Southwest Pacific from Australia to Okinawa. He was very proud of his military service and attended several 38th Bomb Group reunions located in different cities around the country. He was always eager to share his war stories. He was grateful to have had the opportunity to go on one of the Honor Flights that took WWII veterans to Washington, D.C., to see the WWII Memorial and other sites. After the war Thomas returned to Mena and worked in various positions until he opened Earhart Sheet Metal at 524 DeQueen St. in Mena. He married Virginia Wallace of Mena on July 22, 1950, at First Christian Church in Mena. They had two children, Treva and Tommy. They lived their entire married life in Mena in homes that Thomas had designed and built. After retiring from the sheet metal business, he became a building contractor and built numerous houses in Mena and the surrounding areas. Thomas and Virginia were long time members of the First Christian Church in Mena. Thomas served on the board for 66 years. He gave freely of his time to maintain, remodel and update the church building and grounds. He loved flowers and planted them to beautify his home and the church grounds. He served 29 years on the Board of Pinecrest Cemetery and spent countless hours selling grave spaces, marking graves and assisting people who had lost loved ones.

Thomas is survived by his two children; Treva Sawatski of Fayetteville, Arkansas and Tommy Earhart of Mena, and one sister, Barbara McMillan (Roger) of Jonesboro, Arkansas; four grandchildren, Ashton Herod (Adam) of Mena, Jay Sawatski (Ashley) of Farmington, Arkansas, Carla Cheek (Jesse) of Farmington, Arkansas, and Johanna Hudson (Morgan) of Farmington, Arkansas; 9 great-grandchildren, Macy, Maddox, Makenzie, and Myles Herod of Mena, Arkansas, Paxton Sawatski of Farmington, Arkansas, Caleb Conner and Colson Cheek of Farmington, and Joelle Hudson and MJ Hudson of Farmington; nieces and nephews, Shanda Rogers (Blake) Shelle Morgan (Jay) and Roger Allan McMillan (Leslie) all of Jonesboro, Arkansas, Jerry Bowen (Sharon) of O’Fallon, Illinois, and Rod Bowen (Kay) of Conway, Arkansas.

Thomas is preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Virginia (Wallace) Earhart; his parents, Wesley and Jewell Earhart.

Pallbearers are Adam Herod, Jay Sawatski, Jesse Cheek, Morgan Hudson, Rod Bowen, and Brian Hilton.

Online obituary and guest book available at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com

HAL continued from page 4 Arkansas Medal of Honor recipients’ plaques.

The Arkansas Medal of Honor Commission has proposed replacing all plaques with true bronze. This will ensure that the memorial will retain its integrity in the future.

The Medal of Honor Memorial is publicly funded, however, then-Attorney General Leslie Rutledge earmarked $50,000 state funds to help with the restoration on Nov. 10, 2022. The funds are to be allocated from the consumer education and enforcement fund.

At the time of the announcement, Rutledge said, “This memorial honors our state’s Veterans who have made tremendous sacrifices for our great nation.”

Three additional Medal of Honor recipients need to be added to the memorial, making a total of 27 plaques.

“As the daughter of a Veteran, I am humbled and honored by the 27 Arkansans represented at the memorial,” Rutledge said, “and I am proud to make a small contribution that will enable future generations to reflect on the great sacrifices made by Arkansas Veterans.”

Total cost for restoration now stands at approximately $160,000.

The Herbert A. Littleton Detachment of the Marine Corps League of Mena would like to propose a community effort to raise $3,500, which will cover the cost of replacing HAL’s plaque and podium.

This project will ensure that HAL’s sacrifice to our freedom is properly memorialized at our state capital.

The Marine Corps League of Mena have also requested the image on the plaque be changed. throughout their discussions with HAL’s family over the years, they have been told that the family was never fond of the image. The League was able to secure an image of HAL that was pleasing to the family.

Donations can be made at Union Bank of Mena in the Herbert A Littleton Marine Corps Fundraising Account. A QR code has also been set up for easy scanning and making a donation to a Go Fund Me page, which is in need of more donations to reach their goal.

HAL did for us. What can we do for HAL?

By Richie Lawry

When my granddaughter was young, she would ask to listen to “those southern stories” when she rode with me. She was referring to a podcast called Tales from the South that I liked to listen to. The podcast features true stories written and told by the Southerners who lived them, in front of a live audience. One of her favorite stories was “Rainbow Cheerios” by Paul Strack. When she asked if we could listen to southern stories, she often added, “Can we listen to the Rainbow Cheerios story?”

Paul starts his story by saying, “Cool – You have Rainbow Cheerios!” He explains that on the night of April 26, 2011, tornadoes hit the Mayflower, Arkansas, area. His 13-year-old daughter learned that the tornado destroyed her friend’s house.

He asked the family, “What can we do to help?” The family needed someplace for their teenage daughters Rachael and Taylor to stay for a few days. Paul recounted, “With three teenagers of our own, and a 10-year-old to boot, we have a pretty good understanding of the adolescent attitude. What was odd and completely unexpected was the positively bubbly, effervescent attitude that these two brought with them. And to have this attitude after immediately being displaced was nothing short of remarkable.”

When Paul told them how sorry he was for their loss, Taylor replied, “Oh well, what are you gonna do? It’s just a bump in the road.” Rachael quickly chimed in, “Yeah, they will bulldoze our house, and we will get to rebuild. And anyway, Mom finally gets to get her new carpet.” He couldn’t believe their positive attitude.

The following day at breakfast, Paul heard Rachael exclaim, “How cool!” Rachael repeated – “How Cool! You guys have Rainbow Cheerios!” In the podcast, Paul explained, “We often buy our more