Polk County Pulse - June 28, 2023

Splashpad parks about to make waves

ByEthan Nahté

A project that has been a year-plus in the making is coming to fruition, and the feedback on social media last week appears to be making waves in a very positive way. Mena will be getting a splashpad at Janssen Park… and Tapley Park.

Tracee McKenna and Michael Rosenberg of Western Arkansas Planning & Development District (WAPPD) came to Mena for a town hall meeting [see PULSE, June 15, 2022] and spoke of matching grants for improvements and projects for Mena’s outdoor activities for a 50-50 matching grant. Their goal was to find qualifying viable plans that fell within the guidelines for a grant worth up to $250,000 from Arkansas Department of Parks Heritage and Tourism (ADHPT).

Littleton story makes KTHV Channel 11’s Saluting Heroes

By Ethan Nahté

Ed Anderson with the Marine Corps League of Mena was interviewed at the war memorial located at the Polk County Court House on Wednesday, June 21. Specifically, he was being interviewed about Polk County’s sole Medal of Honor war hero Herbert A. Littleton by Rolly Hoyt of KTHV Channel 11 out of Little Rock.

Littleton is commonly referred to by his initials as HAL. The memorial

at the courthouse is a beautifully inscribed stone marker. Anderson told Hoyt about HAL’s unselfish act of bravery to save the lives of several others, as well as the radio communication equipment during a battle on Hill 44 in Chuncheon, Korea, on April 22, 1951. HAL jumped on a grenade, using his body to absorb the explosion, killing him.

Anderson also spoke about HAL’s family and friends, including one of his best buddies who was fighting that

Anderson being interviewed by KTHV 11’s Rolly Hoyt. (Ethan Nahté/Pulse)

The result — a large splashpad at Tapley Park and a smaller splashpad at Janssen Park. The concept art created

Tapley Park concept art

LITTLETON

continued from page 1

same day but was not at the same location when HAL made his sacrifice.

Anderson travel on Thursday to the Medal of Honor Memorial in Little Rock, which honors men from the Civil War through the Vietnam War. He presented a $1,000 check from Rainwater, Holt and Sexton law firm at 11 a.m. to go toward the fundraising effort the Marine Corps League of Mena is raising to replace the dilapidated plaque and podium. HAL is one of 24 honorees at the memorial, including that of Little Rock native General Douglas MacArthur.

HAL served with Company C, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines. This was their flag.

Anderson and the news crew then visited the Mena/Polk County Chamber of Commerce. There, he showed photo albums, maps of Korea, more historical ephemera, and a special flag.

The KTHV broadcast of the interview and check presentation aired on the monthly Saluting Heroes special, sponsored by Rainwater Holt and Sexton Tuesday evening and once again on the following morning’s newscast. The segment honors veterans and first responders.

(Ethan Nahté/Pulse)

Rainwater, Holt & Sexton Injury Lawyers donated $1,000 to assist in replacing the Herbert A. Littleton plaque and podium at the Medal of Honor memorial. (Submitted photo)

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I recall the parable of the farmer’s donkey that fell into an old well and could not climb out. He cried loudly and the farmer started throwing dirt on him in an effort to bury him and shut him up. After a while the weight of the dirt became excessive, and he shook it off. The dirt fell into the hole and he stepped on it, raising himself in the process.

Dirt was still being thrown on him and he continued to shake it off, climb up, until finally he was able to step out of the hole and walk away unharmed.

The lesson was when you find yourself in a hole and are crying you cannot get out and people are throwing dirt on you, quit crying, shake it off, and rise above the problem.

Often old parables still have lessons for us today. Our former president, Donald J. Trump finds himself in a hole. He was the focus of The Steele Dossier, constant impeachment attempts, and the target of several FBI employees from the top down.

To name a few was the former director, James Comey; former acting director, Andrew McCabe; former agent Peter Strozk; and former FBI attorney Lisa Page.

The Steele Dossier was supposed to be a bombshell report promising to expose then President Trump as being in collusion with Russia. Almost daily, Congressman Adam Schiff of California assured us the evidence would be forthcoming. That evidence never existed.

On June 9, 2023, special counsel Jack Smith held a press conference concerning the indictments recently brought against former President Trump. He made several statements that bear scrutiny. To quote him “We have one set of laws in this

country and they apply to everyone”. That was laughable. There have been too many failures to hold other politicians accountable for the same or even more egregious offenses.

He also praised the FBI agents involved for their quick and thorough investigation leading to the prosecution of Mr. Trump.

If I were on the jury hearing these allegations, it would be difficult for me to believe these are fair, factual, impartial indictments and not another effort to keep the former president from office. To be clear, I am not trying to justify any of his actions, nor am I a die-hard Trump supporter. But if he were to say to me as an impartial juror that he took the papers home to protect them from disappearing or being destroyed I may find that plausible given past actions by members of our own government and intelligence agencies towards him. Perhaps one day he will quit crying loudly and shake it off.

Thank you for a forum to express my thoughts though we may at times peacefully disagree.

With respect and kindest regards, Ronald Goss, retired, Mena

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Celebrating the great outdoors

Sen. John Boozman

June is recognized as Great Outdoors Month. First celebrated as a week-long event in 1998, there is so much beauty in our backyard it deserved an entire month. As Arkansans, we are well acquainted with Mother Nature’s offerings. The Natural State provides numerous opportunities for locals and visitors to enjoy the great outdoors. These resources make Arkansas a destination for people from across the country and the globe. They help drive the economy in communities across our state by supporting area businesses, spurring critical development and fueling commerce. The recreation and tourism industry accounts for more than 39,000 jobs and contributes $3.5 billion to our state’s GDP. Ensuring we remain an attractive location to vacation and connect with the outdoors is a priority at all levels of government.

As the nation’s top rice producer, thousands of acres of flooded fields after harvesting create an ideal habitat for migrating ducks, making Arkansas the duck hunting capital of the world. Estimates by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) indicate hunters contribute nearly $1 million each day of duck hunting season.

Outdoor enthusiasts have an interest in preserving the fish and wildlife habitat so they can continue to enjoy their favorite pastimes. In the Senate, I’m contributing to those efforts by championing the “Recovering America’s Wildlife (RAWA) Act,” legislation that supports investments in conservation work in Arkansas and throughout the country to restore habitat to endangered and threatened wildlife.

In addition to the wildlife offerings, folks are flocking to our state to enjoy the growing system of bike trails. Outside magazine recently named Arkansas Monument Trails the best

mountain biking trails in the country. This network, part of the state parks apparatus, challenges the most experienced riders while highlighting the landscape of our state.

We’re also working to improve popular destinations managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by allowing these sites to retain the money they collect to reinvest funds in facilities in need of repairs. Some of Arkansans’ favorite summer recreation locations like Bull Shoals, Beaver, Ouachita, Greers Ferry and Norfork Lakes are managed by the Corps and could benefit from this policy update.

We all want what’s best for our public lands, and we all want to be able to utilize these national treasures for years to come. Recently Congress has made significant investments in the conservation and preservation of public lands with passage of legislation including “America’s Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Act.”

This law advances and expands programs to safeguard wildlife and ecosystems. AGFC Chairman Bobby Martin has been a leader in state and national conservation work, including helping Congress pass the landmark ACE Act. He was instrumental in building the coalitions critical to advancing this legislation and protecting our natural resources. His commitment to environmental education and outreach programs has fostered a sense of stewardship among Arkansans of all ages. As his tenure as Chairman comes to an end, we celebrate his contributions to preserve our landscape and wildlife. We can be proud of the numerous conservation efforts throughout our state. Our ancestors had the vision to set aside lands we use today and we will continue to honor that legacy by expanding on that mission and creating opportunities for more people to connect with Arkansas’s outdoors.

In Arkansas, an estimated 58,000 Arkansans aged 65 and older were living with Alzheimer’s in 2020. This number is expected to climb to 67,000 by 2025.

Nationwide, more than 6 million Americans are living with Alzheimer’s dementia and that number is expected to grow to as many as 14 million by the year 2050.

June is Alzheimer’s & Brain Awareness Month. It is an opportunity to hold a conversation about the brain and share the fact that Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are major public health issues.

In 2021, the Arkansas General Assembly passed legislation creating the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Advisory Council. The council examines the needs of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias, services available in the state for patients and their family caregivers, and the ability of healthcare providers and facilities to meet current and future needs.

Last year the council issued an update to the Alzheimer’s State Plan and made several recommendations to the General Assembly. The 94th General Assembly passed several pieces of legislation as a

result of those recommendations.

Act 202 requires the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training to train new officers on the topic of interacting with persons who are affected by Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias.

The General Assembly also passed Act 335 which sets minimum dementia training requirements for staff members who are employed by an assisted living facility and requires the Department of Human Services to adopt rules regarding the training requirements.

In addition, the legislature passed ACT 682 and Act 70. Act 682 creates the fulltime position of Dementia Services Coordinator within the Division of Aging, Adult, and Behavioral Services of the Department of Human Services. ACT 70 requires at least four hours of dementia training for home caregivers.

Act 102 adds additional members from the assisted living and home-based care industry to the Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia Advisory Council. The council will continue researching ways to improve care in Arkansas and make future recommendations.

In 2021 the legislature approved Act 626, making Arkansas the first state in the nation to prohibit physicians from performing gender transition procedures on minors.

Since then at least 19 other states have enacted similar laws to prohibit procedures such as hormone therapy and surgery for adolescents under 18 who wish to change their genders.

Legal challenges were quickly filed against Act 626, and on June 20 a federal judge struck the law as unconstitutional. His ruling received national media attention and it probably will be referenced in the legal challenges filed in others states against their laws that seek to prohibit gender transition procedures for minors.

The law is called the Safe Act, which stands for the Arkansas Save Adolescents from Experimentation Act. It passed the Senate by a vote of 28-to-7 and the House of Representatives by a vote of 70-to-22. The governor at the time vetoed it, saying it went too far by denying care to adolescents who were already receiving medical treatment. The legislature overrode his veto.

Since the Safe Act was passed in 2021, Arkansas has elected a new governor and a new attorney general. The current governor criticized the federal judge’s ruling and the current attorney general said that the state would appeal it.

The federal judge ruled that Act 626 violates the equal protection clause of the Constitution because transgender adolescents would be denied medical care recommended by their physicians after consultation with their parents.

Every parent has the right to seek medical care for their children, the judge ruled, adding that the state’s evidence was insufficient to support its claims that the procedures banned by Act 626 are more dangerous than other medical procedures that are allowed for children.

The parents of adolescents who have received gender transition medical treatment testified that it helped their children. The state did not rebut their testimony. Several physicians and expert witnesses testified about the positive effect of gender transition medical treatment, and the state presented no evidence to dispute them.

The state presented only one expert witness who has experience treating adolescents with gender issues. The judge said he was a credible witness. However the witness’s testimony revealed a conflict between his scientific knowledge and his faith.

Another expert witness for the state is a sociologist. The judge did not credit his testimony because he lacked relevant experience and his evidence did not support his conclusions.

The judge said that another expert witness for the state, a physician who does plastic surgery, was not qualified to offer opinions in the case.

The state’s expert witnesses cited public health guidelines in the United Kingdom, Sweden and Finland to defend Act 626. However, the judge ruled that evidence shows that those countries do not prohibit gender transition care for minors.

“Most of the state’s expert witnesses … were unqualified to offer relevant expert testimony and offered unreliable testimony,” the judge said in his ruling. On the other hand, the expert witnesses presented by the plaintiffs all showed deep knowledge of the subject matter, and provided credible testimony relevant to the case.

The judge said on numerous occasions in his 80-page ruling that testimony presented by the state was lacking, or insufficient or irrelevant.

According to the evidence presented at trial, Act 626 would prohibit medical procedures that benefit adolescents, the judge ruled. His order prevents the state from enforcing it.

John Maddox Terry Rice

Chris

Chris Bruce, age 64, of Plunketville, Oklahoma, died Monday, June 12, 2023, at his home. He was born on Tuesday, April 21, 1959, to Elva Bruce and Roberta Wilson in Mena, Arkansas.

Bruce Bruce. Chris is survived by three brothers and sister-in-law, Giles and Dorothy Bruce of Mena, Ray Bruce of Plunketville, Oklahoma, and Ronald Bruce of Plunketville, Oklahoma; two sisters and brother-in-law, Dorie and Jerry Smith of Plunketville, Oklahoma, and Normie Curry of Smithville, Oklahoma; numerous nephews and nieces and a host of other relatives and good friends.

Chris was a funny, generous, and reliable man who touched the lives of many. He resided in Plunketville, Oklahoma, where he was known as a successful logger and a completely self-made businessman. Throughout his life, Chris worked hard to develop a successful business in the timber industry and was admired by his community for his unwavering dedication and perseverance.

Chris’s love for the outdoors extended far beyond his work in logging. He enjoyed traveling for work, working on vehicles, and listening to old country western music. A man of many talents, Chris was a top-notch mechanic, always ready to lend a helping hand to friends and family in need. Every Sunday morning, he enjoyed listening to gospel music on the radio. He was well-liked within his community and never hesitated to share his warmth, humor, and kindness with those around him. Above all, what mattered most to Chris was his late wife, Karla Bruce, whom he cherished deeply.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Elva and Roberta Bruce; three brothers, Eugene Bruce, Harvey Bruce, and Harold Bruce; and three sisters, June Daly, Doreen Bruce-Youngblood, and Bertie Jean

Expanding the education pipeline to ensure access to health care

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at 2:00 P.M. at the Bowser Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mena, Arkansas. Cremation arrangements are entrusted to Bowser Family Funeral Home in Mena, Arkansas.

New medical school graduates will begin their training as doctors in the coming days at hospitals in Arkansas and across the country. The residency program provides novice physicians the opportunity to improve their skills, gain confidence in treating patients and earn their license to practice while improving the health of the community.

As our population ages, the demand for quality, accessible medical care is increasing. We must reform outdated policies to strengthen the pipeline of physicians because of how urgent the need for change is. An analysis of physician supply and demand by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) shows the U.S. is expected to face a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034.

This topic was recently highlighted by the AAMC during its “Day of Action” on social media to raise awareness about the issue and build support for a measure to expand the Medicare-supported graduate medical education (GME) program.

Medicare is the primary source of payment for doctors-in-training, helping to offset the costs teaching hospitals incur. In 1997, Congress froze the number of Medicare-funded GME positions, yet today we face a shortfall of qualified medical providers. That’s why I’m leading the “Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act,” legislation that’s backed by the AAMC and other medical organizations.

This bill would gradually raise the number of GME positions by an additional 14,000 over seven years and prioritizes an increase in positions in hospitals located in states like Arkansas, with new medical schools, training over their caps, in rural areas or serving Health Professional Shortage Areas – locations with a shortage of primary health care professionals and

facilities. More than 500,000 Arkansans live in an area defined by the federal government as lacking the adequate number of medical providers to serve the population.

I’m proud to champion the “Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act” so we can expand training opportunities for medical school graduates and ultimately enhance access to quality health care.

This has been a longtime effort and we have made incremental progress with the addition of more than 1,200 new Medicare-supported GME slots in the last three years, but there is more we must do.

Arkansas is home to the College of Medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Smith and the NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine in Jonesboro, but up to one-third leave the state for residency training. In recent years, there were nearly half as many available residency positions as medical school graduates in the state, meaning a large share of prospective new doctors are forced to continue their medical training elsewhere. This is a problem because physicians are more likely to practice within 50 miles of their final residency training. We want to retain these doctors in Arkansas, so it’s important they train here.

There is a lot of hard work involved in getting into medical school and completing the clinical work to graduate. We must ensure there are places for these doctors to train and help patients. The good news is the “Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act” has bipartisan, bicameral support, and momentum is growing to address this looming crisis. I’m proud to be at the forefront of this practical step to ensure we are prepared to respond to evolving health care challenges.

Sen. John Boozman

Here bring your wounded hearts, here tell your anguish; Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal.

~Thomas Moore

Polk County Democrats seek non-partisan litter solution

By Ethan Nahté

One doesn’t have to look far to find littler alongside our highways and byways, and that includes throughout beautiful areas of Polk County, lakes and streams, the Ouachita National Forest and mountains. This past spring, the Polk County Democrats looked into adopting a section of highway rather than wait for something to happen elsewhere.

According to Cynthia Thanos-Wade, some members were out taking pictures around the county for proof there is a problem when presenting the issue again. The group contacted Arkansas State Representative John Maddox.

“He was pleasant,” she said, “but off hand it was difficult to think how to solve this problem. I told him I would get back with concrete possibilities. I like that personally John Maddox is cordial, receptive, and does talk to his constituents.”

Thanos-Wade is also a member of Human Rights Mena. Members of the group gathered at Mena Lake on Earth Day to collect trash along the shoreline, boat launch and parking area.

“Our Human Rights Mena group is fed up waiting for help elsewhere and seeing our Mena looking this bad.”

At the monthly Polk County Democrats meeting held May 8 the members voted on a section of Highway 71 to be designated for litter pick-up through the state sponsored Adopt a Highway® program.

Thanos-Wade said, “The Democrats are still hoping to work in a non-partisan manner with others

in the community to tackle the litter problem currently facing Polk County. We are hoping to get a mile section from Hillcrest Road down Hwy. 71 South but they have to decide if that is available.”

The program looks at a variety of things when considering whether a section of highway is adoptable or not, including traffic volume, traffic type (percentage of large trucks), posted speed limits and the geometrics of the highway. If the one-tothree-mile segment of highway is determined unsafe or inappropriate by the Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDOT) district engineer, the request will not be granted.

According to the official site, at a minimum, litter pick-up should be performed every three months within a year (once a quarter). Participants are encouraged to schedule at least one of their required four pick-ups to coincide with the Great American Trash-Off (held in the spring) or the Great Arkansas Clean-Up (held the first weekend after Labor Day).

After their June 12 meeting, Thanos-Wade said, “The Democrats are anxious to begin the Adopt a Highway® program to begin a stretch of litter removal.”

The Polk County Democrats meet the second Monday of each month. Restaurant locations and times may vary. It’s advisable to look for details in the Around Town section of the Polk County Pulse or call Linda G. Johnson at 479-234-7966 for questions or details. They openly invite the public to attend.

Secretary of State mobile offices scheduled

(LITTLE ROCK, ARK.) – Outreach staff for Arkansas Secretary of State John Thurston will be conducting mobile offices around the state in the next couple of weeks. These mobile offices will allow citizens to get information about the various services the Secretary of State offers, including voter registration, business services, notary training, and more.

“Not everyone can come to Little Rock to access these services. Our staff will help them take care of business where they

live,” said Thurston. “We want to make doing business with the state as easy as possible,” he said.

The upcoming mobile office times and location for western Arkansas: July 6 9 – 11 a.m. Polk County Library 410 Eighth Street Mena, Arkansas 71953

ArDoT opens comment period for Hwy 278E bridge replacements

By Patrick Massey

WICKES - The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ArDoT) is seeking public comment regarding replacing the Highway 278 bridges over the Cossatot River and Baker Creek in the Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area.

Many residents will know the scenic bridge over the Cossatot River within the Cossatot River State Park/Natural Area. The bridge raises high above the Cossatot River just past the park’s Visitor Center, above the aptly named low bridge that serves as a popular swimming area for visitors.

A draft Section 4(f) Evaluation document evaluating potential impacts on the recreational values of Cossatot River State Park-Natural Area is available for public review.

Interested citizens are encouraged to visit the Lawrence Magdovitz Public Library, 109 S 1st Street in Wickes,

or the Arkansas Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Office, 2269 Highway 371 West in Nashville to review the document during normal business hours.

The document will also be available on the Arkansas Department of Transportation website at  www.ardot.gov/ publicmeetings.

The public may view materials and provide written comments; comments will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. Thursday, July 6.

Submit online comment forms to ARDOT via email to  EnvironmentalPIMeetings@ardot.gov or print the form and mail it to: Environmental Division, 10324 Interstate 30, Little Rock, AR 72209.

If you do not have internet access, please contact Karla Sims at (501) 5692949 or  karla.sims@ardot.gov to ask questions about the proposed project.

Polk County Broadband Initiative

Submitted by Polk County Judge Brandon Ellison

As all of you are aware, Polk County has a need for better internet connections with broader coverage throughout the county. Although my office has been working on this problem for a few years, we haven’t been able to get much traction coaxing new and willing internet service providers (ISP’s) to build a service area here.

By the end of the year or early in 2024, I expect to have an opportunity to incentivize the right ISP or ISP’s to compete for our service area. The Arkansas Broadband Office will open a grant window later in the year to accept applications from a partnership of the county and an ISP. There can be multiple applications from the county with other ISP’S. The goal of the Polk County Broadband Initiative is to achieve complete coverage of the county with quality and affordable internet.

In order to be prepared for this opportunity, it will be wise to accomplish some tasks to make our application(s) more attractive. We will begin by forming a County

Broadband Committee. The committee will consist of community leaders, elected officials, representatives from business, agriculture, education, tourism, communication professionals, and interested citizens.

The committee will identify potential resources such as possible matching funds for infrastructure, digital skills training classes, and affordability outreach programs.

Another project for the committee will be to identify willing internet service providers and then evaluate them for potential partnership with the county. We must also develop a list of broadband priorities from infrastructure to skills training. The grantor will want to know that we have a plan to train the unskilled how to operate on the internet safely.

A high percentage of the proposed plan to distribute the internet will likely be carried on a fiber cable, however, fixed wireless systems using high elevations, towers and other structures will be considered for more remote locations or even densely populated areas. So, the committee should identify high vertical assets that might be available. Right of ways for installations will also be sought out. The committee should ask for any policy changes or waivers from the local governing bodies that will help accomplish or save expense for internet construction.

If you have special expertise or you are just really passionate about this initiative, contact the County Judge’s Office for consideration for membership on this committee.

Call 479-394-8133.

The current standard for internet speed that is eligible for grant funding is 100 megabits download x 20 megabits upload (100x20). The price per month will need to be $60 or less. According to the Polk County internet audit, 98% of our citizens are either unserved or under-served by that measure.

There is some progress developing in our mission to get connected that I want to tell you about. Currently construction is underway by Four States Fiber from just south of Cove to the Sevier County line to supply a fiber internet connection to EVERY structure that has an electric meter.

This was made possible by the participation and cooperation of Southwest Arkansas Electrical Cooperative by using their poles and right of ways exclusively inside their territory. Polk County residents that receive electricity from Southwest, will have access to quality and affordable fiber connections for around $60 per month.

In another development last week, Hilliary Communications, headquartered in Lawton, Oklahoma, contacted me requesting a support letter for an Oklahoma grant. This is for a project that comes across the Arkansas line and captures an area on Highway 8W to Rocky. This is a proposed project and I will not know the results for some time.

I am committed to do whatever is reasonable to get Polk County complete coverage of quality and affordable internet. Please stay tuned for periodic updates on the broadband initiative.

Arkansas to receive over $1B to expand broadband

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (June 26, 2023) – Today, the Arkansas Department of Commerce, along with Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, announced that Arkansas will receive $1,024,303,993.86 from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) program administered by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The funds will be used to expand broadband access in Arkansas and address affordability and digital skills needs throughout the state.

“This announcement will be transformational for Arkansas,” said Governor Sanders. “With more than $1 billion now at our state’s disposal to fund broadband access, we will finally be able to close the digital divide between rural and urban Arkansas. This puts every part of our state on an equal playing field and unlocks a world of potential for businesses, schools, and everyday Arkansans.”

The priority for Arkansas’ allocation of BEAD funding will be to address the lack of broadband access at an estimated 215,000 homes and businesses located throughout the state. Funds can also be used to improve high-speed internet at vital community anchor institutions such as hospitals, libraries, and schools. Arkansas’ workforce will also benefit from funding to improve digital skills.

“These funds are an economic game changer,” said Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Hugh McDonald. “As a small rural state, we have too many households and businesses that are not connected to broadband. This affects our bottom line –from education and skills development to entrepreneurship and opportunity. Broadband is no longer a luxury; it is an absolute necessity for individual upward mobility as well as to develop strong and vibrant communities that will attract business and industry to the state.”

The Arkansas State Broadband Office, housed within the Arkansas Department of Commerce, will administer the BEAD funding allocated to Arkansas. In accordance with BEAD program requirements, the Broadband Office must submit to NTIA a five-year action plan and other documentation by the end of 2023 before funding will be released to the state. The Broadband Office, working under the leadership of Governor Sanders, will ensure that plans for BEAD funds address the priorities of the state and include opportunities for feedback by local communities. Use of BEAD funds will also be subject to legislative review and appropriation.

Polk County 4-Her’s compete at District 4-H O’rama

Submitted by Sherry Beaty-Sullivan

Six 4-H’ers from Polk County competed at District 4-H O’rama held at the Malvern High School on Tuesday, June 13. Competitions included skills contests, illustrated talks, and demonstrations. Young people competed with others in the 25-county district.

Representing Polk County 4-H: Remi Hopper competed in Gun Safety

& Marksmanship, Ethan Fields competed in Performance Arts-Vocal and placed second, Nathaniel Fields competed in Wildlife Id and placed third, Layla Horton competed in Food Fair and placed first, Bella Horton, competed in Livestock Skills and placed third, and Ruby Hopper competed in Animal Science and placed second and qualified to compete at State O’rama in late July on the U of A-Fayetteville campus.

Hunter of Mena graduates from U of A’s Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences

FAYETTEVILLE, AR (06/23/2023)

— Anna Hunter of Mena recently graduated from the Fulbright College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Arkansas with a Bachelor of Science in Biology.

Hunter joined more than 900 additional undergraduate Fulbright College students who graduated in spring 2023 and whose academic achievement was celebrated during the commencement ceremonies on Friday, May 12, in Bud Walton Arena.

“On behalf of our faculty, staff, and the entire U of A community, we offer Anna a big congratulations,” said Kathryn Sloan, interim dean of Fulbright College. “We’re so incredibly proud of Anna for reaching this incredible academic achievement.”

“To Anna and the entire Class of 2023, I’ll add this: You’ve grown in the face of these obstacles, you’ve adapted, and your resiliency has brought you to this moment. You’ve worked so hard for so long, and now you’ve reached the graduation milestone you’ve been striving for,” Sloan said. “Congratulations!”

Mena High School offers ACT Boot Camp

Mena High School is excited to be offering an ACT Boot Camp to next year’s 10th-12th graders this summer.

The camp will take place July 10-14 from 8 a.m. - noon in the MHS math hall.

Parents and/or students, please email colby.singleton@ menaschools.org to sign up or call Mena High School with any questions at 479-394-1144.

Collectively, Fulbright College awarded nearly 1,200 bachelor’s degrees to students this spring in areas of study that span across four academic disciplines in the college: fine arts, humanities, natural sciences, and social sciences.

“I hope that Anna, all of our new alumni, and all who supported them on this journey to commencement will take a moment to reflect on just how momentous this is, on all it took to get to this point, and all the incredible potential the future now holds,” Sloan said.

The Fulbright College  commencement website https://fulbright.uark.edu/commencement/ includes a complete  list of our Spring 2023 graduates and information about our college’s featured student speaker.

Videos of the live-streamed 2023 spring commencement ceremonies are also available on the  U of A’s YouTube channel https://www. youtube.com/user/UniversityArkansas/videos Printed program books were handed out to graduates and are  available online at https://registrar.uark.edu/commencement.pdf

ORSD to destroy certain special education forms

State and Federal guidelines require that all special education due process forms and records be destroyed after six years after a student leaves the special education or speech therapy program.

If your child was dismissed, graduated, or found not to be eligible for special education or speech therapy services during the 2016-2017 school year, you have the right to review and request copies of your child’s due process records before they are

destroyed.

Your child also has the right to review the records, provided your child is 18 years of age or older. If you wish to view the records, they will be available at your child’s school building from Aug. 21 - Sept. 1, 2023, 8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Records will be destroyed on Sept. 12, 2023.

The records are not your child’s permanent records.

(L-R) Layla Horton, Remi Hopper, Bella Horton, and Ruby Hopper (not pictured Nathaniel Fields and Ethan Fields) (Submitted photo)

Mena School Board held two meetings in June

Submitted by Mark Hobson

The Mena School Board held a pair of meetings for the month of June. They convened in special session on Thursday, June 8, at the District Administration Building. Personnel recommendations were the only item on the agenda. The board accepted resignations:

• Corey Collins-Head junior high boys basketball coach, health/ PE at Mena Middle School (MMS) and assistant baseball coach.

• Claire Williamson - seventh grade social studies.

The board approved the hiring of the following effective July 17:

• Robert Sweere - head jr. boys basketball coach, health/PE at MMS.

• Kobe Morris - head baseball, assistant football, health/PE at Mena High School (MHS)

• Rodney Rowland - assistant baseball

• Jessica Bradley - lead preschool at Louise Durham Elementary (LDE)

• Joshua Starr - A route bus driver/grounds/transportation maintenance

• Alexander Fulgencio Sr. - C route bus driver

• Cheyenne Owens - D route bus driver

• James Foster - C route bus driver

• Shane Torix - C route bus driver

• Randi Brown - special education paraprofessional at Holly Harshman Elementary (HHE)

The Board also met for their regular June meeting on Tuesday, June 20, in the District Administration Building.

The meeting began with a report from a representative of Petry Construction, the district’s new construction manager, on the status of the indoor activity center and a new concession/bathroom facility at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium. He stated that revisions have been made to the plans for the activity center and that the project should be ready for bids in mid-July. He also plans to meet with the architect in the near future on the concession stand project.

Superintendent Lee Smith then informed the board that the Arkan-

sas Supreme Court had lifted the injunction preventing the “LEARNS Act” from being implemented but that a few legal hurdles remain. Specifically, the court decision on the takeover of the Marvel-Elaine School District by Friendship Academy and the possibility of LEARNS becoming a ballot issue in November.

Assistant Superintendent Bridget Buckley updated the board on professional development that district teachers have been undergoing.

In old business the board revised the plan for athletic passes that was approved at the May meeting. The revisions included allowing sixth12th grade students free admission to all athletic events and also set the maximum out of pocket expense for admission to athletic events per family at $20.

Smith also informed the board of two new community service partners. They include the Dallas Avenue Baptist Church and Homelife Academy. The board approved.

In new business the board quickly approved a resolution to comply with act 2015 of the 2017 legislative session.

At the May meeting the board approved a new certified salary schedule but there were a pair of mistakes that warranted the board’s attention. Those being the indoor track position and a numerical error on the transportation schedule. Those corrections were approved.

Next on the agenda was a facilities update. Smith said the new security fence installation at Louise Durham Elementary had been delayed due

to weather but that it should begin soon.

He also presented a bid from Flooring Outfitters of De Queen for the installation of new baseboards in the commons areas at the schools in the amount of $27,000. That bid was approved by the board.

Smith then asked the board to approve the purchase of two used buses to replace old route buses in the district’s fleet. Plus, purchase a 2022 Ford F-350 for the agriculture department from Mena Ford. Both were approved.

Smith then addressed the financial report for the month of June. He stated that revenue outpaced expenses for the month and end-ofyear status is still looking very positive. The board approved.

In personnel the board approved moving Amy Martin from sixth grade literacy to seventh grade social studies and also the hiring of Esther Chung to the position of sixth grade literacy.

Next was the appointment of board members to committees and the election of board officers. The board elected to leave all positions as is for another year.

Finally, Smith asked the board for permission to make any necessary hires prior to the July board meeting. The board approved and the meeting was adjourned.

Polk County native to join Maddox & Maddox

The Mena law office of Maddox & Maddox is pleased to announce the hiring of Meagan Davis. Davis will join the firm on July 10 and will practice in a variety of legal areas including estate planning, domestic relations, real estate, business, civil litigation, and personal injury.

Davis, a graduate of Van-Cove High School and daughter of Danny and Vicki Davis of Hatfield, is excited to return home to the Mena area. “After 15 years away, I’m thrilled to call Polk County home again!” Davis said.

Davis is a licensed attorney and holds a bachelor’s degree in history, a Juris Doctorate from the William H. Bowen School of Law, and a master’s in business administration with a concentration in finance. Additionally, Davis is a certified human resource professional by the Society for Human Resource Management. Davis is also a graduate of Leadership Greater Little Rock Class XXXVI and is a member of LeadAR

Class 20.

Davis has a variety of legal experience. After passing the bar exam, Davis worked for Justice Robin F. Wynne at the Arkansas Supreme Court. Later, she served as in-house counsel for a real estate development company in North Little Rock, focusing on complex real estate transactions including Low Income Housing Tax Credit Developments. Next, Davis served as chief deputy county attorney for Pulaski County where she practiced civil litigation in county court, circuit court, and appeared before the Arkansas Supreme Court. Most recently, Davis served as vice president of government relations and strategic partnerships for inVeritas, a global public affairs firm based in Little Rock. There, Davis led the firm’s government relations division and advocated priorities before the Arkansas legislature, regulatory entities, and at the local government level.

Outside of work, Davis has maintained a high level of community involvement and looks forward to reen-

gaging in the Polk County community. She has served as development vice president for the Junior League of Little Rock, chair of the William H. Bowen School of Law Young Alumni Board, secretary of the Judges and Lawyer’s Assistance Program (JLAP) Foundation Board, and advocacy chair for the ACANSA Arts Festival Board of Directors. In addition, Davis regularly donates her time and talents completing live event paintings for a variety of non-profit fundraising events.

Maddox & Maddox has served a broad range of legal needs for clients throughout western Arkansas since 1972. John Maddox said, “We’re glad to welcome Meagan home and to add her wide range of experience to our legal team.”

Davis will begin taking prospective client meetings on July 12. To schedule an appointment, please call the Maddox & Maddox office at 479-394-6060.

By Richie Lawry

The public address system on our train car crackled to life, and a scratchy voice announced, “Nächste station, Murnau.” “That’s our station,” I said to my wife and sister as I got out of my seat and started getting our luggage. Each one of us had a suitcase and a backpack. I grabbed my wife’s and my sister’s luggage and gave it to them. They headed for the train doors while the car was still moving. When the train came to a halt, I was grabbing my luggage off the overhead rack.

With my suitcase in one hand and my backpack in the other, I rushed down the steps from the train car to the doors. My wife and sister stepped onto the train platform as I ran for the door. There was one man between my travel companions and me. I stepped toward the door but was suddenly jerked back as the straps of my backpack caught on the railing beside the two steps down to the door. I turned around to free my backpack as the door closed. I frantically pushed the open-door button, but the doors would not open. In a few seconds, the train started moving out of the station.

Through the glass panes on the train door, I watched as my wife and sister stood on the platform, and I moved away from them on the train. “I can’t believe that just happened,” I thought. “What am I going to do now?”

I have been traveling through Germany with my wife and sister for the past week. When I planned the trip, I researched the German rail system and decided we would travel by rail. I purchased rail passes that allowed us to take as many journeys as we wanted on Deutsche Bahn trains. We had already used our passes to travel from Frankfurt to Hannover, Hannover to Berlin, and Berlin to Erfurt.

Today we were traveling from Erfurt to Oberammergau. After changing trains several times, our last change was in Murnau, where we would get the train to Oberammergau. But instead, I was still on the train headed

An Arkie’s Faith The Murnau incident

buktu.” I took out my phone to see where I was going and my options. My friend Bernd had taught me how to use the Deutsche Bahn app, and I quickly found that the next stop was in the small town of Ohlstadt. If I got off the train there, I could board a train back to Murnau in a little over an hour.

options here in the Bavarian countryside. I saw that in 10 minutes, there was a bus going to Murnau. But to my dismay, the bus station was on the other side of town from the train station. I decided to try to catch the bus.

I started walking as fast as possible with my bad legs, backpack on my back, and suitcase bouncing down the cobblestone streets. I can’t imagine what people were thinking as they saw an older man with a backpack and suitcase half running through their sleepy little town. I reached the bus stop with a minute or two to spare. I had just enough time to snap photos of the incredible scenery surrounding me. As I boarded the bus, a sense of relief washed over me. It was going to be okay. I would reunite with my wife and sister in a few minutes.

to Garmisch-Partenkirchen, and I had the rail pass with me. My wife and sister were stranded at the train station in Murnau, and I needed to figure out what to do.

As I thought about my options, I remembered the advice I had read on the blog Brian’s Guide to getting around Germany. “Make sure you are ready to jump off when the train arrives at your destination — remember that at some stops, the train only stops for a minute or two. If you’re not ready, you may end up taking an unscheduled diversion to Germany’s Timbuktu. As the train pulls into your station, be standing at a door, and when the wheels grind to a halt, open the door and leap off. To open the door, look for a green button. As the disembarking passenger, you have the right-of-way over people trying to clamber aboard but be prepared to shove your way through any Teutons who aren’t minding their manners.”

“Well,” I thought, “here I am on an unscheduled diversion to Germany’s Tim-

“That is my best option,” I thought. A few minutes later, I stood in front of the train door with my luggage in tow as the train stopped in Ohlstadt. I quickly pushed the open-door button and, a few seconds later, stood on the deserted platform beside the train, watching it leave the station.

No one had boarded the train, and I was the only one who had disembarked. I looked around at the surreal scene. The train station was a small shelter beside the train tracks with several benches. I sat down and took a moment to look at my surroundings. I was in a beautiful small town in the Bavarian Alps. Fantastic mountain views surrounded me, but I couldn’t take the time to appreciate the beauty around me in every direction. I had to figure out what to do.

I checked the train schedule once again. It would be an hour before another train arrived. I pulled up my maps app and clicked on the transit button. I found the app very useful in navigating the city streets of Berlin and Erfurt and checked to see if there were any

That evening as we walked through the quaint town of Oberammergau, I thought about the day’s adventures. Our journey started by walking from our apartment to a tram stop a halfmile away, where we took the tram to the Erfurt Hauptbahnhof. We took the train to Munich, where we changed to a train headed to Murnau. After the Murnau incident, we finally arrived in Oberammergau at about 5 o’clock.

Gentle Reader, in Revelation 22:11 (ISV), the Bible says, “Let the one who does what is evil continue to do what is evil. Let the filthy person continue to be filthy. Let the righteous person continue to do what is right. And let the holy person continue to be holy.” This scripture is a dire warning regarding death and the end times.

People who reject the gospel do not receive a second chance for salvation if they die. Eternity does not change anyone’s status. The person who dies in an unsaved condition will be unsaved throughout eternity, and the saved person will be saved throughout eternity. Someday it will be too late for the unsaved to change their destination by repenting and believing in Jesus. Don’t let the doors close on you before you can change your destination.

The Deutsche Bahn train is fast. Its doors are faster. (Photo by Richie Lawry)

Wickes Trade Day

Saturday, July 8, 9 a.m. - TBD

Located in Wickes on Hwy. 278 on the lawn between Union Bank and the fire station. Vendor set-up is at 8 a.m. Support local businesses. Enjoy Hispanic food, BBQ, baked goods, tumblers wood works, items from Double R Forge, freshies, homemade cards, floral arrangements, key chains, clothes, jewelry, pony rides, face painting, and more. Vendors are not guaranteed to be present as unforeseen circumstances may arise. Call 479-216-8234 for any questions.

Queen Wilhelmina State Park

Fun On The Fourth

Tuesday, July 4, 1 - 6 p.m.

Spend Independence Day enjoying the great outdoors at Queen Wilhelmina State Park for a free event. Meet at the campground near the bathhouse where canopies will be set up. There will be watermelon and ice cream. Hang out and play a few games including sprinkler tugof-war, cornhole, egg toss, sack races and scavenger hunts. Activities will take place on an as-requested basis beginning at 1 p.m.

JUBILEE IN JUNE

by Ethan Nahté

Friday - Saturday, June 30 - July1

134th Annual Vandervoort

4th of July Celebration

Hwy 246 East

Friday, June 30

• 6:30 p.m. – cakewalk and auction

• 9 p.m. - dance

Saturday, July 1

• 8 a.m. 3-on-3 basketball sign up and parade line-up

• 9 a.m. – 3-on-3 tournament and parade (games and events to follow)

• 7 p.m. – Little Miss & Mister Vandervoort

• 8 p.m. – dance

• 10 p.m. - fireworks

Saturday, July 1

Mena Advertising and Promotion Commission’s Fireworks Celebration at Tapley Park

2562 Hwy. 71

• 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. (approximately)

Family-friendly, free event. Festivi-

4th of July festivities

ties will kick off at 5 p.m. with bouncy houses, concessions, youth firefighter games, co-ed softball tournament, dunking booth, face painting and more. Concessions available for purchase. The incredibly talented Shades of Gray will be performing, beginning at 8 p.m. The fireworks display will begin around 9:30 p.m.

Monday, July 3

Sugar Creek Lodging

135 Polk County Road 602, Mena

• Dark Free Admission

Tuesday, July 4

Elks Lodge No. 781, Mena Hwy. 375 East and 124 Elks Lane

• 4 p.m. – 11 p.m.

Bring a blanket or lawn chair. Water slide, obstacle course, kiddie castle, pie eating contest, hot dog eating contest, live music with Mike Mayberry & the Slow Hands. Fireworks begin at dusk.

All free with the exception of food and drink purchases. There will be hamburger and hot dog meals, pulled pork sandwiches, snow cones and drinks.

God & Country Fireworks

Wickes School Ballpark

• 7 - 9:15 p.m. Concession and Mexican food. Bring your lawnchair.

Outside of Polk County

Monday, July 3

City of De Queen’s 25th annual Freedom Fest fireworks show and Independence Day Celebration

Possibly the Sportsplex - Hwy. 70 West and Home Run Drive.

Tuesday, July 4

Hochatown 4th of July

Freedom Festival

Crystal Lake Ranch

5148 N. 259 Hwy., Broken Bow, Oklahoma

• 2 p.m. - midnight - Live music, DJ, food and games

• 9:45 p.m. - Fireworks ($20 entry fee/vehicle. VIP parking available)

Little River County Chamber of Commerce Fourth of July Fireworks

Ashdown Junior High School

• 4 p.m. - Live music, food, games

• Dark - Fireworks

Lockesburg Fireworks in the Park Ida Margaret Coulter Stone Park

• 3 p.m. – Bingo and cornhole tournaments

• 4 p.m. - Cakewalk

• 6 p.m. – Outlaws and Law Dawgs band / Veterans recognition

• Dark – Fireworks

by donating blood.

Did you know someone needs blood every two seconds? One pint of donated whole blood can save up to three lives. There is also platelet donations that help people such as cancer victims and babies born without clotting factors, and plasma donations to treat burn victims and those with trauma or clotting disorders..

At press time, the winner outcome, as well as the amount of blood donated was not available. We hope to have those figures and more photos of a few of the blood donors available in the days to come.

Separating the Boots & Badges Community Challenge Blood Drive competition, Mena Fire Chief Steve Egger (left) and Mena Police Chief Tommy Stueart (right) battled it out with their teams

The Polk County Housing Authority will be closed Tuesday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.

Free sack lunch each Tuesday, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m., for all ages, at Janssen Park pavilion. Bubbles, chalk, free books, games, and music. Sponsored by First Presbyterian Church. Meals will be available all summer, May 30 through August 15.

Polk County Social Seniors lunch will be at noon, Tuesday, July 11, at Sassy Squatch, 504 Hwy. 71S (lime green building), Mena.

Please let me know if you are planning on attending, so I can give the restaurant appropriate number of people. Bring a friend! Hope to see you there.

Questions? Call Linda Johnson (956) 241-2633

Narcotics Anonymous meet at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. on Monday, noon - 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 7 p.m. on Thursday, 7 p.m. on Friday, and 6 p.m. on Saturday at the old bus barn at the Crossing Church. For information call Erica at (479) 2345289 or Candice at (501) 356-8300.

The Polk County Housing Authority has Rental Vouchers available. They are also in need of Applicants and Landlords. Contact them at 509 S. Morrow, Mena, (479) 394-1565 or polkarhousing.com

First Presbyterian Church will be presenting a study, “The Evolution of the Bible”, in its Adult Sunday School Class on Sunday mornings beginning at 9:45. The class will be conducted by Earl Harrell. Anyone with an interest in this study is invited to attend. Classes will be at the church in the parlor, 904 Church Ave., Mena.

Around Town

The Ouachita Beekeepers Association is now meeting on the second Thursday of the month, 7 p.m. in the Education Building of the UA Extension Office, 211 DeQueen St. in downtown Mena. Come early and enjoy refreshments and bee talk with other beekeepers.

GriefShare continues to meet every Thursday from 10 a.m.-noon at First Presbyterian Church Mena for anyone in the community who is grieving the loss of a loved one.

Giles Parker 51st reunion will be July 1, 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. at the American Legion building in Acorn. Potluck with the meat and drinks furnished. Bring a dish and auction items and enjoy the day with friends and relatives. Questions? Call Mary Parker at (870) 387-5364.

The Hatfield Branch Library is open every Tuesday and Friday from noon - 4 p.m. The library is located at 121 Cemetery Rd. (old Agri building) in Hatfield.

The Cove Branch Library is open Monday and Thursday from noon - 5 p.m. The Library is located next to Cove Town Hall at 5568 Hwy. 71 S.

The Mena/Polk County Senior Center will have The Gator and Friends band performing in Mena every Thursday, 10:30 - 11:30 a.m.

The Center has an exercise class on Mondays and Thursdays, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. Contact Trena Looney with questions, (479) 394-5459.

Polk County Disabled American Veterans and Auxiliary will be holding their monthly meetings on Thursday, July 6, at Veterans Park in Acorn. There will be

a potluck at 6 p.m. with meetings to follow.

Free meal and a message at Living Word, 171 W. Johnson, Hatfield, Wednesdays @ 6 p.m.

The Cossatot Senior Center in Wickes has meals and activities for seniors. If you need to make delivery arrangements or changes call (870) 385-2373.

Kane Riggs coming to Cornerstone Church, 1129 Hwy. 71 S., Mena. From the 633 Men’s Recovery Ranch, 10:45 a.m., Sunday, July 2. Come hear Kane give testimony of his struggle with addiction and hear other powerful testimonies from residents at the Recovery Ranch. Lunch will be served. Hope to see you there.

Christ’s Church of Cove, 5234 Hwy. 71 S, Cove gathers every Tuesday, 8:30 - 9:30 a.m., for free coffee and conversation.

Hatfield First Baptist Church

“Shepherd’s Closet” Open Wednesdays, 10 a.m. - noon. Large selection of good, used clothing & a limited supply of non-perishable food items. Free to anyone in need.

Human Rights Mena will be setting up at the corner of Cherry Hill and Hwy 71 (the Walmart light) to canvas with ARCapes, Friday, June 30, 6 - 8 p.m. and Friday, July 14, 6 - 8 p.m. The signatures are being obtained to have the “LEARNS Act” put on the November ballot for vote. We need 280 people to sign in Polk County.

Human Rights Mena will (at these same times) be protesting for better laws and protection for people with disabilities.

Alcoholics Anonymous meet at The Crossing Church, 3 p.m., Sundays; at 5 p.m., Tuesdays; and at 8 p.m. Saturdays at the old bus barn. For information call (479)

234-8366 or (479) 216-3786.

The Food Pantry at the Mena Seventh Day Adventist Church is open every first and third Monday of each month, 4 - 6 p.m., located at Fair Grounds Road. For more information, call (479) 437-4018.

American Legion meets every 2nd Tuesday at the Legion Hall in Acorn. Potluck at 6 p.m., meeting follows.

Come play Bingo, Saturdays and Mondays, starts at 6 p.m., doors open at 4 p.m.

Reynolds Gardner Community

Men’s Breakfast every Tuesday, First United Methodist Church, Mena, 8 a.m. (full breakfast for small donation). All men from the community are invited to attend.

Alcoholics Anonymous meet at 7 p.m. Fridays at the First United Methodist Church, Ninth Street and Port Arthur. Discussion/Book Study for information call (479) 243-0297.

Bluegrass Jam Session is open to musicians and fans alike. Bring your instruments for an unplugged session to the Daisy Room (behind Janssen’s Avenue Florist & Gifts) the first and third Thursdays of each month, starting at 6:30 p.m. Free event. Some snacks are provided.

It’s easy to have your event listed in Around Town, which will be read on radio stations KENA and KQOR daily. Simply send your Around Town announcement to news@mypulsenews.com or call (479) 243-9600 and let us know about your event! To have it in the Polk County Pulse newspaper, we need to know by FIVE on FRIDAY. We look forward to continuing to serve the community!

Operation Safe Streets nets another 788 arrests

The numbers are in for the third stage of Operation Safe Streets, which occurred over the June 17-18 weekend. Arkansas State Police is reporting 788 arrests for violations including 121 driving at excessive speeds and 24 driving while intoxicated.

More than 45 Troopers from Arkansas’ 12 Troops, including members of ASP’s command staff, made contact with 1,274 violators during the 48-hour effort.

Operation Safe Streets, which kicked

off May 13 and has included three weekends, is an initiative to saturate the Little Rock metropolitan area with an enhanced law enforcement presence intent on shutting down criminal activity. The ongoing stratagem has been enormously successful, with a running grand total of 2,404 officer violation contacts, with 1,473 arrests that include 53 DWI violations and 202 excessive speed violations.

Protect your freedom this Independence Day: Drive sober or get pulled over

This Independence Day, protect your freedom and the lives of others by committing to sober driving. Arkansas law enforcement will be teaming up with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over high-visibility impaired driv ing enforcement campaign. The primary goal of the increased law enforce ment presence will be to help prevent tragedies previously seen around the July 4th holiday.

According to NHTSA, 13,384 mo tor vehicle crash-re lated deaths in 2021 in volved alcohol-impaired drivers. This represented 31% of all traffic fatalities in the United States for the year, and a 14.2% increase from 2020.

That same year, 538 people died in motor vehicle traffic crashes over the July 4th holiday alone (6 p.m., July 25:59 a.m., July 6). Thirty-nine percent (212) of those fatalities occurred in alcohol-impaired-driving crashes.

With many Fourth of July festivities wrapping up in the evening or late at night, more cars are on the roads at night. Over the 2021 July 4th holiday period, of the 212 people who died in alcohol-impaired motor vehicle traffic crashes, 82% of those fatalities occurred in nighttime crashes (6 p.m.–5:59 a.m.).

“During the July 4th holiday, we will pull over and arrest drunk drivers,” said Colonel Mike Hagar, Arkansas Public Safety Secretary. “We have zero tolerance. Everyone knows the law: It is illegal to drink and drive. Still, people ignore the danger and drive after consuming alcohol. We know how to spot a drunk driver on the road. Drunk driving is selfish and arrogant, and it endangers the drivers, their passengers,

and other people on the road.”

Remember: A few dollars spent on a ride is a lot cheaper than a DWI, which can cost up to $10,000.

Something else to consider: Don’t too proud or embarrassed for a ride. Allowing a sober er to help you get home keeps you and others safe. Want to know what’s more embarrassing than drunkenly asking for a sober ride home? Spending the night in jail. Having your car impounded. Losing your job or your security clearance. Take your pick. Always have a plan before you head out for the evening. If you wait until after you’ve been drinking to figure out how to get from one place to the next, you might already be too impaired to make the right choices.

The Arkansas Highway Safety Office recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:

• Designate a sober driver or plan to use public transportation or a ride service to get home safely.

• If you see a drunk driver on the road, call 9-1-1.

• If you know someone who is about to drive a vehicle or operate a motorcycle while impaired, help them make other arrangements to get to their destination safely.

• Buckle up, always. Your seat belt is your best defense against a drunk driver.

For more information on impaired driving, visit  https://www.nhtsa.gov/ risky-driving/drunk-driving or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at 501618-8136.

For more on Arkansas’ ongoing Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities, visit www.TZDArkansas.org

The following information was received from Polk County law enforcement agencies. The charges against those arrested are allegations and the cases are still pending in the courts. Individuals charged and whose names appear in this column may submit documentation to us at a later date that the charges have been dismissed, or that they have been found innocent, and we will include that information in this space in a timely manner.

POLK COUNTY SHERIFF’S LOG

June 19, 2023

Dustin Chenoweth, 33, of DeQueen was arrested on a Parole Hold.

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Hidden Lane near Mena leading to the arrest of Eric Nault, 18, of Mena on charges of Disorderly Conduct and Criminal Trespass. Deputies responded to a walk-in complainant in reference to Identity Fraud.

Deputies were dispatched to an area on Hwy 71 S near Hatton in reference to a vehicle fire.

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Hwy 71 S near Hatfield in reference to a stolen vehicle.

June 20, 2023

Kirk Blair, 52, of Mena was arrested on a Criminal Trespass Warrant. Deputies responded to a report of a break-in at a residence on Polk 85 near Cherry Hill.

June 21, 2023

Deputies responded to a report of a structure fire at a residence on Hwy 71 S near Cove.

June 22, 2023

Deputies responded to a report of Financial Identity Fraud.

Deputies were dispatched to a possible break-in.

June 23, 2023

Justin Price, 43, of Gillham was arrested on a Felony Warrant for Theft of Property.

Kimberly Huff, 30, of Mena was arrested on a Felony Warrant for Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

A traffic stop on Polk 671 near Mena led to the arrest of Darrin Dunaway, 53, of Mena on charges of DWI and Driving Left of Center.

Karson Crawford, 30, of Mena was arrested on a Felony Warrant for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Deputies were dispatched to a business near Cove in reference to a vehicle fire.

June 24, 2023

Deputies were dispatched to an address on Polk 648 near Mena in reference to a welfare check.

Deputies responded to an address on Port Arthur Street near Grannis in reference to a break-in.

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Hwy 375 W near Mena in reference to a disturbance leading to the arrest of Martin Caldwell, 23, of Mena on charges of 1st Degree Terroristic Threatening, Disorderly Conduct, Public Intoxication and Obstructing Governmental Operations.

Deputies were dispatched to an area on Polk 402 near in reference

to an ATV accident.

June 25, 2023

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Polk 64 near Shady in reference to a burglary.

Derek Tarkinton, 31, of Mena was arrested on two misdemeanor Failure to Appear Warrants.

Deputies were dispatched to a residence on Tilley Rd near Hatfield in reference to an ATV accident.

Polk County Sheriff’s Office worked 1 vehicle accident this week.

Polk County Detention Center

Jail Population: 45 Incarcerated Inmates with 20 Inmates currently on the Waiting List for a State Facility.

MENA POLICE REPORTS

June 18

A report of theft was taken from Walmart.

June 19

A report of theft was taken from Walmart.

Brian Majors, 42, was charged with Driving on Suspended License, and Erica Lucena, 39, was charged with Obstruction of Government Operations and Possession of Schedule 3 Controlled Substance after a traffic stop on Highway 71.

June 20

No report.

June 21

A report of harassment was taken

at a residence on Church Street.

A report of criminal trespass and theft was taken from a walk-in complainant.

A report of forgery was taken from a walk-in complainant.

June 22

Cheryl Teague, 63, was charged with Criminal Mischief and Disorderly Conduct after a disturbance call on Morrow Street.

A report of harassing communications was taken at Country Express.

A report of theft was taken from a walk-in complainant.

June 23

Shawn Tyndall, 37, was served with warrants on Eagle Gap.

A report of theft of motor fuel was taken at Exxon Superstation.

June 24

A report of harassment was taken at Phillips 66.

A report of theft was taken from Walmart.

- PUBLIC NOTICE -

INVITATION TO BID

PCDC Administrative Offices and Adult Wellness Center

100 9th Street

(formerly Mena Manor) Mena, AR 71953

Front Awning/Pavilion and Bus Drop-off, Also, Sidewalks with Covered Seating Areas

Licensed and bonded contractors who are interested may pick up a Scope of Work packet at 100 9th Street beginning Thursday, June 29, 2023, from 9:15 a.m5:00 p.m.

See Bethany Hughes or Angie Graves for more information.

Bidding closes Thursday, July 27, at 4:00 p.m. T0705

Public Notice for Quarry NOI Five-year Refiling

In accordance with the provisions of Arkansas Code Annotated§ 15-57-403, public notice is hereby given that as of 6/20/2023, a Notification of Intent to Quarry has been refiled with the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) for the continuing operation of the SBM Materials Quarry. The quarry is located at 218 Jasmine Lane, Grannis, AR 71944 in (Section 2 Township 6 Range 32) in Polk County Arkansas. This quarry will continue to be operated by SBM Earthmoving & Construction, LLC, 7931 N State Line Ave, Texarkana, TX 75503, telephone number 903-794-1976. Any questions concerning this operation may be sent to Delmer Vaughn at the above listed address. Any interested parties may contact Mr. James F. Stephens, Senior Manager, Mining Program, Office of Land Resources, ADEQ, 5301 Northshore Drive, North Little Rock, AR 72118-5317, telephone number (501) 682-0809 for additional information. Property owners within one half mile of the proposed quarry may send a request to ADEQ for a public meeting with SBM Earthmoving & Construction, LLC within ten days after the publication of this notice. T0628

- SERVICES -

Wendell’s Tree Service - Tree Removal and Trimming. Experienced and fully insured for ALL your tree-trimming needs. Call (479) 394-0227 or (479) 216-4328. T0628

Mobile lawnmower repair and repair flats. Minimum, $20 service call. For details, call Bill Duff (479) 216-5204. T0628

Construction, steel buildings, welding, pads, ponds, and roads. Military discounts. Insured. Give RC Customz a call for free estimates at (479) 216-2976. T0628

Tree services, forestry mulching, storm cleanup, stump grinding. Signs and light replacement. Give RC Customz a call at (479) 216-2976 for Free estimate. T0628

Carter’s Excavating - Licensed Contractor: Heavy and light dozer work, heavy excavation, soft ground to rock excavation, heavy off-road hauling, road design and construction

50 years in trade, 40 years in area. Subsidiary of RCI Construction (479) 394-9227

T0809

Mena Shuttle - Ground transportation to AR and TX airports. Doctor and emergency appointments. Also, light deliveries. (870) 490-1191 T0628

Carter’s Excavating - Licensed Contractor: Roads, bridges, house pads, building pads, basements, land clearing, small lots to large tracks, ponds, stream crossings, farm roads, building demolition, site planning & prep.

50 years in trade, 40 years in area. Subsidiary of RCI Construction. (479) 394-9227

T0809

- YARD SALE -

- HELP WANTED -

F.M. Dix Foundry is accepting applications for general labor positions. Applications may be picked up at the office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

T0628

Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for an experienced CNC Machine Operator. Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

T0628

Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for general labor positions. Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment

T0628

Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for a technical/phone sales position. Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, answering technical inquiries, providing product information and recommendations, troubleshooting with potential and current customers, and processing orders in a fast-paced office setting.

Parts, automotive, and computer experience would be helpful.

Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

T0628

Brodix, Inc. is accepting applications for an experienced TIG Welder for a permanent day shift position. The applicant must be proficient in welding aluminum. Applications may be picked up at the Brodix office, located at 301 Maple Avenue in Mena, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Competitive starting wages with benefits available.

Notice to Applicants: Screening tests for alcohol and illegal drug use may be required before hiring and during your employment.

T0628

- FOR SALE -

479-243-0405. T0621

T0705

For sale by owner - 40 acres, mostly pasture land with home. West of Cove, Ark. $260,000. Call (870) 571-7858 (cell) or leave message at (870) 387-3049.

- HOUSE WANTED -

Gun cabinet for sale, wood with locking glass door and lower cabinet, 74 inches tall. $150. Call Joan Evans

Estate/Yard Sale, 505 Mt. View Dr., 8 a.m. - 3 p.m., June 30 - July 1 and July 7 - 8. New stuff daily. T0705

Kwik Kamp bike trailer, garage kept. Mesh biker jackets, size Large and Medium. In Grannis, (903) 821-7766 T0705

Looking to buy a small 2 - 3 bedroom house in Mena/Polk County. Cash buyer. Minimum half-acre. Open to all situations. No realtors. Please call (719) 491-8524. T0628

Time to think about the fair

Submitted by Kathy Hagler

This year’s Polk County Fair will be Aug. 29 – Sept. 2, and there’s been a change at the Education Building — we have new hours!

Exhibits will be brought in on Tuesday, Aug. 29, from 1-7 p.m., except for candies, baked goods, and fresh florals. Those entries will be accepted on Wednesday, Aug. 30, from 7:30 a.m. - 10 a.m. No late entries will be accepted. Farm crops, and fruit and vegetable crops will be accepted both days.

Here’s where the changes take place. Judging will still begin noon on Wednesday and run until they’re done with all entries. However, the Education Building will not be open to the public on Wednesday. This will allow the volunteers time to properly display or hang all entries.

Thursday - Saturday, the Education Building will open to the public at 2 p.m. and close at 8 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.

On Saturday, the building will close at 7 p.m. to allow volunteers to take down the exhibits, then reopen at 8 p.m. for entry pickup. Checks will also be available at this time.

4th of July brings 4 nights of the Wright City Rodeo

By Patrick Massey

WRIGHT CITY, Okla. — Rodeo lovers get ready because the 89th Professional Championship Rodeo & Homecoming is gearing up to present four nights of professional rodeo entertainment July 1-4 in Wright City, Oklahoma.

Sponsored by the William Wright American Legion Post No. 74 and the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma, the

Veterans will receive free entry to the rodeo all four nights with a veteran’s ID card. Events kick off at 8:30 p.m. nightly with gates to open at 6:30 p.m. and mutton bustin’ at 7 p.m. Each night will also include a dance. July 1 will include a parade at 4 p.m.

Books will open Monday and Tuesday, July 26-27, from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. both days. Call 903-379-3441.

For those who cannot pick up their items on Saturday, they can pick up their items on Tuesday, Sept. 5, from 3 - 6 p.m.

All entries must have been made/ completed since last year’s fair; All entries must be clean and smoke free or they will not be accepted;

Where there is no competition, the item will be judged based on merit. Be on the lookout for this year’s fair catalog for a complete list of rules and entry categories.

event will feature four nights of rodeo events and other activities on Fourth of July Weekend.

The action-packed rodeo begins July 1 with senior night when everyone 65 years of age and older gets in for free.

Kid’s night is July 2 and July 3 with all children 12 and under admitted for free. Anyone with a CDIB card will be admitted for free on July 1 and July 4, compliments of the Choctaw Nation.

Books open for Junior Barrel Racing and Pee Wee Barrel Racing on Tuesday, June 27, from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. by calling 580-212-1222. Entry fee is $25.

Make sure to check out Rodeo Clown Kody Gray and “The Yellow Rose of Texas” all four nights of the rodeo.

A free and gigantic fireworks display will be held at dark on July 4. Cost of entry is just $10 for adults and $5 for children six - 12. Kids five and under get in for free.

(Ethan Nahté/Pulse)

(Ethan Nahté/Pulse)

Reflecti ons from History and Faith: 70 years of class

By Jeff Olson

For all my adult life, I have been a fan of classic American cars. Some more than others, of course. Like many of you, I have my favorites, and then my very favorite. Mine is the 1957 Oldsmobile. There is no particular reason inherent in that car that initially made it my favorite, but for me it was strangely enough more of a relationship than anything else.

By that I mean it was a family sort of thing, in that my parents bought a brand new one in the spring of 1957. This made it the very first car I can remember riding in and a car that our family crossed the western United States in on vacations and family visits. I can recall having the backseat all to myself (before my younger sister was born), and the back dash served as my own personal racetrack and parking lot for my little race cars. That Oldsmobile and I bonded and it has remained a part of me ever since.

Several months ago, I wrote an article called “My Memories of the Ride.” This article could have the same title for many of you who have your own memories of THE Ride… your ride. Your ride was likely not the two cars I wrote about, but it may just have been another beautiful automobile — such as the Chevy Corvette. For some of you, your ride is still the Corvette as evidenced by the number of them I see around my community and beyond.

As I celebrated the birth of the Ford Mustang in that article earlier this year, I now celebrate the birth of the Chevy Corvette. I hope that my brief treatment of it here will inspire you to do your own research.

In the early 1950s, Chevrolet was experiencing a sales slump. Management’s solution came from design executive Harley Earl. Having noticed many of the GIs returning home from Europe with British sports cars, it inspired in him an idea of creating an American-made equivalent. Under the name “Project

Opel,” the idea was to design a distinctly American sports car, but with a hint of British styling.

Named Corvette after a military naval ship because of its small size and amazing speeds, the new sports car had a fiberglass body, a 235-cubic-inch straight-six engine and a two-speed automatic transmission. It received a warm reception at its debut as a “dream car” at General Motors’ Motorama at New York’s Waldorf Astoria Hotel in January 1953. Seventy years ago this week, June 30, 1953, the first Chevy Corvette rolled off the assembly line in Flint, Michigan.

able three-speed manual transmission. This innovation gave new life and identity to the Corvette, essentially transforming it from a small roadster to a genuine sports car.

Even with these improvements, it wasn’t until the 1956 model year that the Corvette experienced transformational change with the engine’s capacity increased to 210 horsepower. A second carburetor was made available which raised the output to 225 horses. The front end was also redesigned to favor the Mercedes-Benz 300SL coupe, and the scalloped sides gave it a more distinctive look.

1957 brought even more improvements when Chevrolet enlarged the V-8 displacement to 283 cubic inches and added a fuel injection system which gave it a maximum capacity of 283 horsepower.

Besides having the opportunity to see many beautiful Corvettes, I also learned much about Corvette history. I plan to visit this amazing museum again later this year.

After 70 years, the Corvette remains America’s only mass-produced sports car and the world’s longest-running, continuously produced passenger car. The current generation of the Cor-

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much passion among buyers for the 300 1953 model Corvettes built. It was indeed an inauspicious beginning to what would become in the eyes of many — “America’s sports car.” The 1953 Corvette sold for around $2,500.

By the end of 1953, Chevrolet moved production of Corvettes from Flint, Michigan, to St. Louis, Missouri, but even by the end of 1954 Chevrolet was still struggling to sell the number of Corvettes it had the capacity to build.

Evidently, performance was a key issue. So, in 1955 engineer Zora Arkus-Duntov, considered the “Father of the Corvette”, helped introduce the car to its first V-8. The 1955 Corvettes were equipped with a 265-cubic-inch, 195 horsepower engine with an avail-

The 1958 Corvette came with a new dual headlight design and still more power. The 1961 and 1962 models rounded out the first generation of Corvettes, again with more power and minor design changes. By this time, the Corvette had secured its place in the sports car world which has kept ever since.

Between 1953 and 2023, there would evolve a total of eight design generations of Corvettes, each with new features and innovations which kept the “Vette” at the forefront of American automobile ingenuity and public popularity.

In June 1981, production moved to Bowling Green, Kentucky. I will never forget my experience in visiting the National Corvette Museum there in 2012.

vette is the C8, which was released in 2020.

The Corvette brand also remains on the leading edge of technology. Later this year, Chevrolet will release the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray, the first-ever “electrified,” or hybrid, version of the iconic sports car. It also features all-wheel drive, another first for the eighth-generation, or C8, Corvette. The price tag starts at about $104,000.

Much more could be said about the Corvette, but for now I will close with a few thoughts from those who have kept a close eye over the years on this American marvel. “But true to the American spirit, there are few car-based problems that a big V-8 and lots of horsepower can’t fix, and the Corvette has followed that timeless formula ever since, much to the joy of car fans from sea to shining sea.”

“One thing we know for sure, the Corvette still inspires both fierce loyalty and excitement, no small feat after seven decades.”

SPLASHPADS

continued from page1

by Power-Play out of Bixby, Oklahoma showcases different types of equipment for each park. The company has extensive experience with splashpads, aquatic play and spray parks. They also have some really interesting and colorful designs, including multi-level structures and set-ups that appear to accommodate kids of all ages.

Mena Mayor Seth Smith said, “We received a $250,000 matching grant from the Outdoor Recreation Grant Program from the Arkansas Department of Parks Heritage and Tourism. Out of the 20 communities awarded, Mena was 1 of 3 awarded the maximum amount of $250,000.

“The Mena A&P Commission is contributing $125,000 with the match since a portion of their tax collection goes to the development of Tapley Park.

“SWEPCO Foundation is making a monetary donation to the splashpad that will be built in Janssen Park.

Mena Water Utilities (MWU) and Redneck Boring broke ground this past Friday, June 16, tapping into the city’s

water pipe at the entrance to Tapley Park. They began the process of digging a trench and laying pipe to the location where the splashpad will be created.

MWU Supervisor James Looney said, “We will be done this week on running the water extension and setting the meter for the pad. That is our only involvement at this time. We ordered 1000 feet of pipe. We will run all of that and then may add just a little to get a good location for the fire hydrant.

Although MWU’s work began at Tapley, the splashpad at Janssen may be the first one ready before the end of summer.

“We were going to do Tapley first but we may do Janssen first since it’s a smaller project,” the mayor said. “We’re hoping to get some use of it by the end of summer before the colder temperatures arrive. I’ve got to get with the contractor, RJR Enterprises out of Rogers, Arkansas.”

RJR, of Rogers, Arkansas, is supplying the equipment and services to create the splashpads once the waterlines are in place.

As for Tapley Park, next to the splashpad the city will be adding a restroom and two pavilions. The restrooms will be similar to the new restrooms installed last year at Janssen Park.

When the news of the splashpads appeared on the Pulse Facebook page, there were several people excitedly discussing the subject, over 2,400 post engagements and more than 10,700 impressions.

Smith said, “This will bring more outdoor activities for families to enjoy in hopes of getting everyone outside and away from screens. The splashpads will also give residents the opportunity to enjoy an activity locally instead of going out of town.”

What’s even better, and will help draw a crowd, is the cost. “There will be no fees for admission,” Smith said. “This will be free for the citizens to enjoy as long as it is taken care of and used properly. Any destruction or vandalism done to the facilities will be investigated and

punished to the fullest extent allowable by law.”

There were also several questions from the public, including the status of the skate park. Originally, the skate park was going to be created off Mena Street close to Fire Station No. 2. Once it was determined there were no nearby public restrooms, the plan for the skate park was moved to Tapley Park. The location has changed once again.

Smith said, “Once we get the pavilions built at Tapley we’re moving the skate park to McMillan Park.”

With the proposed skatepark in Mena, it will give riders a place to do tricks safely away from the street and moving vehicles. If it’s anything like the Valley Street Skate Park in Hot Springs, it’ll be a popular destination. The mayor is hoping the skate park will be ready to go by autumn.

The end result will be new seasonal activities for families at all three of Mena’s city parks.

Janssen Park concept art

Bucks Baseball selects Junior Weaver as new coach Spigner returns to UCA

MENA, Arkansas (June 12, 2023)– Bucks Athletic Director Jerod McCormick is excited to announce the hiring of Junior Weaver as the new head baseball coach at UA Rich Mountain. Lance Spigner resigned at the end of May to take an assistant baseball coaching job at the University of Central Arkansas.

Weaver comes to UARM as the assistant tournament director and stadium operations for perfect game in Millington, Tennessee, where he oversaw recruiting for tournaments at the USA Baseball Stadium Complex.

With vast experience across all levels of baseball, Weaver has been a high school head coach at Marvell Academy (19911996), Desoto High School (1996-2002), Tunica Institute of Learning (2006-2007), Rossville Academy (2008-2012), and Olive Branch High School (2019-2022). He won a state championship as an assistant at Starkville High School in 1991 and was a state runner-up with his Desoto High School team in 2001 as a head coach.

After a few volunteer college coaching jobs, Weaver became the head baseball coach at Crichton College in 2003. He won the NCCAA National Championship in 2005 and was named as the 2005 NCCAA Coach of the Year, after setting a school record of 37 wins. In 2006, he was inducted into the Tennessee Sports Hall of Fame. In 2012-2013, he joined the staff at Southwest Tennessee as their third

base coach and offensive coordinator. Along with his high school and college coaching stints, he has experience as a Major League Baseball scout for the Cincinnati Reds, Kansas City Royals, Anaheim Angels, and the Baltimore Orioles.

gram!”

Weaver attended East Mississippi Community College as a left-handed pitcher in 1986-1988 and graduated from Mississippi State University in 2003 with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary

Spigner

Lance Spigner, a former University of Central Arkansas Bear, brings more than three decades of coaching experience to the UCA staff. He played for the Bears from 1986-89, playing in 151 career games and hitting .404 as a senior in 1989. He was a starter in the outfield during his four years at UCA and was named to All-Conference while playing for the Bears.

Spigner has 32 years of head coaching experience at the high school and junior college level.

He will coach first base for the Bears, as well as work with defense, assist in base running and hitting.

Athletic Director Jerod McCormick stated, “After my initial phone call with Coach Weaver, I knew he was who we wanted to be our new head baseball coach. He brings a vast experience across all levels of baseball and holds his athletes to the highest standard. Everything he stands for is what we want for our program and student-athletes. I am extremely excited to have Junior Weaver joining UARM to lead our baseball pro-

studies (physical education and political science).

Weaver is a current resident of Marion, Arkansas, and has three daughters, Madison, Morgan, and Aubrie.

In other recent additions to the team, Jorge Ramirez announced on social media that he has accepted the hitting coach position for the Bucks baseball.

Spigner was awarded the ABCA Dave Keilitz Ethics in Coaching Award in 2021. He started the baseball program at UA-Rich Mountain in 2019. In his first two seasons, the UARM Bucks were the 2021 Plains District Runner-Ups and the 2022 Region II Champions. He had a 6746 record (41-19 in Region II). He was also named the 2022 Region II Coach of the Year.

He coached previously at Horatio (Ark.) High School from 1991 until 2019, winning five state championships with the Lions.

[Eds. Junior Weaver’s portion of this article and image were originally published by UA Rich Mountain. They have been reprinted by permission.]