Jackson Boles the 2023 Foresters for the Future Scholarship recipient

LITTLE ROCK, AR – The Arkansas Department of Agriculture’s Forestry Division and the University of Arkansas at Monticello (UAM) have named Jackson Boles as the recipient of the 2023 Foresters for the Future Scholarship. The scholarship provides $4,000 per semester, for four years, to an incoming freshman pursuing a forestry degree at UAM’s College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources.

sources. “He has a readily apparent affinity for working in forestry, already gained experience before coming to college working with the Forest Service and has goals for his education and career. It’s a privilege to help get Jackson started with the Foresters for the Future scholarship.”

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Boles is a native of Waldron, Arkansas, and has had a longtime desire for a forestry career. His favorite activities have always been outdoors, and in high school he most enjoyed biology and environmental classes and was active in the environmental club. A visit with a career counselor pointed him in the direction of forestry because of his interest in nature and biology. After he graduated high school, he interned for the United States Forest Service, where he received training and certifications in prescribed fire, chainsaw use, and other forestry activities that bolstered his passion for pursuing a forestry degree.

“I feel very blessed for this opportunity, and I look forward to having an impact and working with my colleagues and professors to make the UAM forestry program an even better place,” said Boles.

“Jackson has impressed us all with how well-formed his ambitions for a career in forestry are, “said Dr. Michael Blazier, Dean of the UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Re-

Foresters for the Future Scholarship recipients will participate in a paid internship exploring the various sections of the Forestry Division annually throughout their college career. The internship will allow them to experience the many career paths within forestry and strengthen their skill set before they enter their respective field.

“The Foresters for the Future Scholarship is a wonderful way to provide support and introduce students to the wide range of careers in forestry,” said State Forester Kyle Cunningham. “We are excited to provide Jackson Boles with this opportunity and proud to collaborate with UAM.”

The scholarship program was established by Act 399 of the 2021 Regular Session of the Arkansas General Assembly. Learn more about the program at uamont.edu/academics/ CFANR/forestersfor thefuture.html.

By Ethan Nahté

Mount Ida’s young team this year has had a rough go of it, but Friday night they made it rough for the Foreman Gators, beginning the game with an 11yard onside kick recovered by the Lions’ No. 25 Ben Woodfield. Then on the first play, No. 23 Beau Weston ran for a 45yard touchdown in the first :10 on the clock.

They scored again at 9:29 but missed the extra point.

The only senior on the Lions is No. 31 Payton Dorrell. He ran for 12 yards, then another 5, then a touchdown, his first of the season. When Dorrell wasn’t running the ball, he was busy knocking the daylights out of the Gators. No. 7 on the Foreman team, Cannon McElhannon, seemed to receive the majority of the hits.

Woodfield ran for one more touchdown before the first quarter was over. The Lions got the two-point conversion, ending the first 28-0.

Dorrell ran for his second touchdown early in the second. Then one of the two largest players on the team, No. 69 Braden Rowland, intercepted a bad pass and scored. It was the second TD of the sophomore’s career.

Not too far from the end of the half, Foreman finally managed to get a first down. Their game had been plagued by turnovers until that point. They left the field at halftime 42-0.

The third started out with a double fumble on the kickoff and Foreman got on the scoreboard but missed the extra point.

After a couple of plays, Woodfield scored once more for Mount Ida. Mount Ida brough some of their freshmen out on the field to get some playing time and one of those players made a 20-yard run for a touchdown.

At the end of the third quarter, the coaches agreed to call it, ending the game 55-6.

Mount Ida is now 2-3 in conference play and 2-6 overall. They’ll be seeded No. 4 as they take on No. 5 Dierks on Thursday night, not Friday.

Ethan

Nahté

The Mena Ladycats won the 4A West Conference Championship on Tuesday, Oct. 17, with a 3-0 win over Fountain Lake (2520/25-16/25-19).

Mena wrapped up the regular season on Thursday, Oct. 19, when they played Arkadelphia at the Union Bank Center, defeating Arkadelphia 3-0. (25-14/2514/25/13)

Oct. 19 was also Sr. Night for Mena Ladycat Volleyball, and four seniors were honored: Elaina Aleshire, Caroline Cannon, Mallory Farringer, Jocelyn Hernandez

These four Ladycats have been a part of three conference championship teams. They have an overall record of 83 wins and 12 losses.

The Ladycats played Batesville Southside in the first day of play at the 4A State Tournament at Shiloh in Springdale on Oct. 24, winning 3-2 (25-21/21-25/22-25/2518/15-13).

They could not overcome the Gravette Lions on Wednesday afternoon in the quarterfinals, losing 0-3 (23-25/14-25/13-25).

The Ladycats ended the season on the plus side, 18-6 overall and 15-1 in league play.

By Ethan Nahté

The Mena Bearcats lost their road game against the Ashdown Panthers on Friday, 34-20. They fell to 4-5 overall on the season, and 0-4 in conference play.

The No. 5 Bearcats will play the No. 6 Waldron Bulldogs in a conference game next Friday at Bob Carver Bearcat Stadium for their final game of the regular season. Arrive early for the Sr. Night activities, which begin at 6:30 p.m.