OCE March 31, 2022

To speak .

INDEX Features Events Obits Sports Arkadelphian

No. 11

Vol. 4

1 2 3 4 4

March 31 , 2022

Scott Byrd: Mayor, dentist, biker, Army vet.

Brianna Holmes Contributing Reporter Some know him as their dentist, others as the mayor of Arkadelphia. No matter your connection with Scott Byrd, it is clear that he is not the average man. While this combination of professions may be unexpected, he claims that many are thrown off simply by his appearance.

“It throws a lot of people off that I have long hair and tattoos and I’m a dentist and that I’m the mayor,” Byrd said. “And they’re like ‘you don’t look like any of that.’ So I usually thank them for telling me.”

Though Byrd has made quite the name for himself here in Arkadelphia, his current life is not what he had originally planned for it to be. Before dentistry, he had considered going to medical school.

According to him, he had even swore he would never become a dentist. However, after being convinced to shadow, his viewpoint on the profession had completely changed.

Even following this, another compelling profession presented itself to him. His ROTC scholarship required at least four years of service from him.

Spending seven years total in the army as a dentist allowed him to consider pursuing it as a career.

However, Byrd did not want to continue moving his children around, so he decided to get out.

But despite the roundabout way of ending up where he is today, he holds no regrets. He claims that even if he could, he really wouldn’t do anything differently. He loves his life and his career, and apparently,

not even winning the lottery would stop him from practicing dentistry. Perhaps his favorite thing of all, though, is getting kids for their first appointment to show them they have nothing to fear.

“Most kids are taught to be afraid of the dentist,” Byrd said.

“They’re not inherently afraid of the dentist, they’re taught that.

Get them in here and teach them this can be a fun thing. Now I don’t want you to have too much fun to where you’re coming back every 3 weeks for a filling. But don’t be afraid of us.”

Another perk of his job is how close-knit his dental staff is. He has known and worked with many of them for years.

He was able to give away one of his coworkers at her wedding, and he even met his current girlfriend through her. They all seem to share a very close bond.

While being the mayor is a more temporary gig, Byrd loves having the opportunity to make Arkadelphia the best it can be.

“I love my city, I love working as the mayor,” Byrd said. “It’s always been a great place, but I want it to even be better than it is, and that’s what we’re doing now.”

He was not originally planning on running for another term, but there are many ongoing projects that he would like to see through to completion. The biggest of all was the Martin Luther King Jr Park, where Byrd was the co-chair of the committee that decided to undertake this project.

There is one thing that can sometimes be a downside to living in Arkadelphia, though.

No matter who you are or where you go, everyone seems to know you. This is no surprise for such a small town, but it can be a bit inconvenient at times.

“For the most part I love it [being in a small town], but every now and then it's like ugh. Really?” said Byrd. “And it’s not because I’m Dr. Byrd or the mayor or whatever, it’s not because of that I mean, everybody knows everybody.”

Of course, Byrd doesn’t spend all of his time cleaning teeth or overseeing projects. When he has time away from work, he can often be found working on his antique motorcycles. His love for Harley-Davidsons runs deep; his dentist’s office is full of Harley decor, and he even has a tattoo taking inspiration from the Harley logo with a tribute to his own motorcycles.

“I build them, I ride them, I fuss at them when they break down,” Byrd said.

These motorcycles allow Byrd to indulge in his love for travel. According to Byrd, he has driven both coast to coast and border to border on antique motorcycles multiple times. Many of his travels have been while taking part in the Cannonball Motorcycle Club, and Byrd has described these trips as “the opportunity of a lifetime,” though he has been able to do it multiple times.

However, he claims there is one trip that remains his favorite. He remained very pro-military after his own time served, and so for the 75th anniversary of D-Day, he was able to take a trip to the various sites. He and his group spent a month retracing the steps of

Photo coutesy of Arkadelphia.gov

Mayor Scott Byrd is many things to many people and his long hair and tattoos sometimes surprise people, but it's part of what makes him a unique mayor.

our troops, traveling through Normandy, Belgium, Holland, Germany and Berlin. Though this trip took two years to plan, it was worth the experience.

“The morning of [the 75th anniversary of] D-Day we were all right over there on Utah Beach, watching the sun come

More to Sigma Tau Delta

AR State Police

Photo by Brianna Holmes

Henderson's Sigma Tau Delta chapter is finally starting to rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic and is looking to recruit more members in the near future.

of Faculty Advisor since the fall of 2021, she has already recruited new members. The acceptance letters for these new members were sent out on March 22, and they were able to attend their first meeting on March 29, in which Dr. Barron discussed plans for the rest of the semester.

Despite nothing set in stone, some members have begun discussing their hopes for the future. Brooklyn Bain and Kacie Allen, the current treasurer and secretary, both like the idea of having a literature focussed movie night, considering the amount of book-to-movie adaptations available. Other than that, the two are just happy to welcome the new members.

“The more minds and the more hands that can contribute, the better,” Bain said.

There is actually much more than just campus activities for members to look forward to.

“There are a lot of things associated with the society itself that students can participate in like scholarships, there’s a convention, activities, internships,” Dr. Barron said.

“I'm going to be promoting that more as we go along.”

The potential career opportunities alone seem to be a rather good incentive for joining.

However, members agree there is much more to Sigma Tau Delta than simply another entry on a resume. Dr. Barron, Bain, and Allen have pointed out the sense of comradery they have felt since joining. While members are not required to be English majors, they should still show an interest in the contents of the organization. This common interest in literature can be a great way for members to form a bond.

It is normal to feel nervous about joining a new group, but current members assure there is nothing to fear. Ones that join can expect a casual group with like-minded people who simply love to read. This does not mean there will be no effort to put in, but any member who is willing to contribute is sure to get something out of it.

With more work to be done, it may seem as if Sigma Tau Delta is only at the beginning of this journey to growth. But, things are already starting to look up, and members are hopeful they will only continue to do so.

his various trips and adventures.

“You figure out whatever you have to do to make it one more mile. You make that mile and then you make one more mile,” Byrd said. “I apply a lot of those kinds of lessons to here or my Read the full article on hsuoracle.com

State and local law enforcement plan steppedup enforcement of distracted driving laws

Brianna Holmes Contributing Reporter

Sigma Tau Delta, also known as the International English Honor Society, has held a place at Henderson State University for decades. Originally founded in 1924 at Dakota Wesleyan University in South Dakota, the society is dedicated to fostering all aspects of the discipline of English, or as their vision states, “Transforming the World with Words.”

This goal remains true even today. However, Dr. Stephanie Barron, the Sigma Tau Delta Faculty Advisor here at Henderson, has another goal in mind.

“I’m hoping just to sort of see it revitalized,” said Dr. Barron.

“I know in the past there have been poetry readings, and other kinds of activities. We have had a few activities. We participated in Henderson Halloween which was a lot of fun. We just recently had a book sale for Women’s History Month. Once we get a few more members in, we want to do more poetry readings.”

Despite how long the society has been active here, it, along with the many other campus organizations, took a blow with the emergence of COVID-19.

Student organizations can be a great way to socialize and grow academically, but the risk of sickness can lead to some reluctance to join. Luckily, it seems as though cases are decreasing, giving Sigma Tau Delta the chance to grow once again.

In fact, this process has already begun. Though Dr. Barron has only taken on the role

up,” Byrd said. “There were thousands of people there and you could just almost hear a pin drop. I mean it was just eerily calm. Very peaceful.”

Just speaking about the trip gave him goosebumps all over again. Like many travelers, he applies the lessons learned on

Distracted driving continues to be one of the leading causes of motor vehicle crashes along nationwide roadways. The Arkansas State Police Highway Safety Office is working with state and local law enforcement agencies to encourage drivers to put down their phones while driving.

Stepped-up enforcement of the state’s distracted driving laws is being planned for April 4th – 11th that will involve Arkansas State Troopers, local sheriff’s departments and local police officers. The operation will target drivers who are texting and driving as well as violating other distracted driving laws.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration [NHTSA], between 2012 and 2019, more than 26,000 people died in crashes involving a distracted driver. While fatalities from motor vehicle crashes decreased slightly from 2018 to 2019, distraction-related fatalities increased by 10 percent. The statistical analysis from NHTSA also reported that the number of deaths linked to driver distraction was 3,142 nationwide, or almost 9% of all fatalities during 2019, a 10% increase over the previous year 2018, or 284 more fatalities.

The distraction figure was the largest increase in causes of traffic deaths reported for 2019.

Millennials and Generation Z are the most distracted drivers, often using their cell phones to talk, text, and scroll

through social media while behind the wheel of a moving vehicle. According to NHTSA research from 2017, young drivers, 16 to 24 years of age, have been observed using handheld electronic devices while driving at higher rates than older drivers since 2007.

During 2019, 9% of people killed in crashes involving teenagers (15 to 19 years of age) died when the teen drivers were distracted at the time of the crash.

“Distracted driving has become one of the leading causes of vehicle crashes on Arkansas roadways,” said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “Drivers know it’s against the law, yet the distractions are significantly attributed to texting while driving.”

Many drivers are guilty of a “double standard” when it comes to distracted driving. In its 2018 Traffic Safety Culture Index, the American Automobile Association reported that while nearly 96% of drivers believed it was very or extremely dangerous to read a text or email while driving, 4 out of 10 drivers admitted to doing so within the previous 30 days.

“These drivers give themselves a personal exemption to ignore the law while unfairly putting others at risk,” Colonel Bryant commented. “Beginning April 4th state troopers won’t be issuing warnings, they’ll be writing violator citations as part of the U Text and Drive, You

Pay enforcement operation.”

The Arkansas Highway Safety Office and NHTSA urge drivers to put their phones away when behind the wheel.

If you need to text, pull over to a safe location. Drivers are encouraged to follow these suggestions to ensure a safe driving experience: • If you are expecting a text message or need to send one, pull over and park your car in a safe location. Only after you are off the roadway and stopped is it safe to text.

• Ask your passenger to be a “designated texter.” Allow the passenger access to your phone for responding to calls or messages.

• Do not engage in social media scrolling or messaging while driving.

• Cell phone use while driving can easily become a habit. Consider activating your phone’s “Do Not Disturb” feature while driving, or put the phone in the trunk, glove compartment, or back seat of the vehicle until arriving at your destination.

Texting while driving is dangerous and illegal. Help break the dangerous habit of distracted driving. Remember: U Drive. U Text. U Pay. For more information, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/ campaign/distracted-driving or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 6188136. Also learn more about Arkansas’ ongoing Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities, visit www.

TZDArkansas.org.

Info from Weather.com

FRI - Apr. 1 partly cloudy

SAT - Apr. 2 partly cloudy

SUN - Apr. 3 mostly sunny

MON - Apr. 4 partly cloudy

TUE - Apr. 5

scattered thunderstorms

WED - Apr. 6

THU - Apr. 7

a.m. showers

a.m. showers

67o 44

71o 41

70o 44

71o 51

69o 50

73o 49

70o 44

Precipitation: 6% Wind: ESE 5 mph Humidity: 55%

Precipitation: 24% Wind: NW 8 mph Humidity: 61%

Precipitation: 8% Wind: ESE 7 mph Humidity: 57%

Precipitation: 23% Wind: ESE 9 mph Humidity: 59%

Precipitation: 52% Wind: SE 10 mph Humidity: 79%

Precipitation: 32% Wind: WSW 9 mph Humidity: 67%

Precipitation: 31% Wind: WNW 10 mph Humidty: 59%

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2 News

Oracle: CE

Thursday, March 31, 2022 Graphic by pikisuperstar on Freekpik

Photo courtesy of Crye Leike

Local female business co-owners Kimberly Byrd and Ashley Nelson purchased the strip mall near Atwoods with plans to move their business Crye*Leike Pro Elite Realty to Suite A of the building. Having suffered smoke and soot damage from a fire occurring on Jan. 15 next to their current suite rental at 2401 Pine St., Byrd and Nelson look forward to serving their clients in a fresh environment. The duo closed on the property at 203 S. 26 St. on March 14 and began renovations the next day. Later that week, Crye*Leike Pro Elite Realty received the 2022 Excellence in Small Business Award at the Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance and Chamber of Commerce Annual Banquet.

End COVID travel restrictions Bruce Westerman AR Representative

This week, major airlines including Alaska Air, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Hawaiian Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines sent a letter to President Joe Biden opposing the extension of COVID-19 travel restrictions as cases, hospitalizations, and deaths caused by the Coronavirus continue to plummet and Americans across the country go about their daily lives.

The Biden Administration recently extended the federal mask mandate and testing requirements until April 18 based on the “risk of new variants, national data, and the latest science.” This comes when President Biden himself has said it is safe to take off the masks and go to work. Both red and blue states have recognized the need to move past these mandates, and have rapidly loosened restrictions, allowing communities to get back to normal.

We now understand COVID-19, how it spreads, and who is most at risk. Moreover, thanks to Operation Warp Speed, we now have multiple vaccines that are proven to be safe and effective at preventing hospitalization. I have heard from many doctors and hospitals in the Fourth District who have said that their ICUs are comprised almost exclusively of the unvaccinated.

If one is vaccinated, he or she can be confident in the vaccine’s protection.

Ultimately, Americans should be in charge of their own health and folks have all the information and resources they need to choose for themselves and their families whether or not to take the vaccine or continue to wear a mask.

I was proud to lend my voice to the effort to end TSA’s travel restrictions by sending a letter with my colleagues expressing our frustration with the extension when, according to the CDC, “more than 98% of the U.S. population is in a location with a low or medium COVID-19 Community Level.”

This means the CDC does not advise indoor or outdoor masking requirements, but the administration does not seem to follow the advice of our own public health experts.

White House Press Secretary JenPsakidefendedtheextension by saying folks are moving in between communities with different infection rates, but we know wearing a mask on a plane and instantly taking it off at the destination to go to dinner and events does nothing to stop the spread of any illness. Regardless, we know the vaccine has ensured that those who choose to take it are safe from serious infection and hospitalization.

I commend these airlines for taking a stand in favor of reason and science instead of fear, and I call on the Administration to do the same. The government no longer needs to dictate the lives of Americans and how they approach COVID-19. I will alwaysfightforthefreedomofour communities from government overreach, and I look forward to our communities healing from the effects of this pandemic.

Attorney General Alert: Rutledge joins Arkansas banks in warning of latest scam Leslie Rutledge AR Attorney General LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge joined First Community Bank and banks around the nation warning Arkansans about the latest scam sweeping the State.

The newest scam involves con artists spoofing a phone number to cause the bank’s fraud department name and number to display on the phone’s caller I.D. The scammer will use official-sounding conversation to gain the trust and then ask for the consumer to provide a verification code via text message. The code will give the scammer access to the consumer’s account, and even change the online banking password. The scammer will then transfer the funds in the account via a third party app, such as Zelle.

“Con artists will use any means necessary to trick hardworking individuals out of their money,” said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. “It is vital that consumers are aware of these types of scams and are cautious before giving out personal or financial information. I will continue to sound the alarm to prevent consumers from losing their lifesavings and to hold these crooks accountable.”

“This type of fraud is a growing problem in our state and we want everyone to know that First Community Bank or any bank in Arkansas will never call a customer asking for their

account number or a password,” said Dale Cole, First Community Bank Chairman and CEO. “The criminals are calling, sending texts, emails and sometimes mailing letters. Please be careful and never give any personal information to the criminals when they contact you!”

You should follow these steps to ensure that your personal information and banking information remains secure: Never provide information such as date of birth, social security number or account information over the phone to an unknown caller When in doubt, hang up the phone and call the number on the back of your debit card or visit your local bank branch for assistance Don’t click on suspicious links sent via text message asking for verification Always shred important documents that may contain personal or account information For more information related to scams, call the Attorney General’s Office at (800) 4828982 or visit ArkansasAG.gov.

About Attorney General Leslie Rutledge Leslie Carol Rutledge is the 56th Attorney General of Arkansas. Elected on November 4, 2014, and sworn in on January 13, 2015, she is the first woman and first Republican in Arkansas history to be elected as Attorney General. She was resoundingly re-elected on November 6, 2018. Since taking office, she has significantly increased the number of

arrests and convictions against online predators who exploit children and con artists who steal taxpayer money through Social Security Disability and Medicaid fraud. Further, she has held Rutledge Roundtable meetings and Mobile Office hours in every county of the State each year, and launched a Military and Veterans Initiative.

She has led efforts to roll back government regulations that hurt job creators, fight the opioid epidemic, teach internet safety, combat domestic violence and make the office the top law firm for Arkansans. Rutledge serves on committees for Consumer Protection, Criminal Law and Veterans Affairs for the National Association of Attorneys General. She also served as the former Chairwoman of the Republican Attorneys General Association.

A native of Batesville, she is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Rutledge clerked for the Arkansas Court of Appeals, was Deputy Counsel for former Governor Mike Huckabee, served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Lonoke County and was an Attorney at the Department of Human Services before serving as Counsel at the Republican National Committee. Rutledge and her husband, Boyce, have one daughter. The family has a home in Pulaski County and a farm in Crittenden County.

Apr. 2 9 a.m.

Smith & Wesson Benefit 5K run at 12281 AR-84, Bismarck.

6 - 10 p.m.

Hot Springs Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta 35th Charter Anniversary Celebration at Henderson’s Grand Ballroom in the Garrison.

Apr. 16 9 a.m. - noon Easter Egg Hunt at the Arkadelphia Youth Sports Complex.

May 5 5 - 9 p.m.

Cinco de Mayo fiesta in downtown Arkadelphia hosted by the Arkadelphia Alliance & Chamber of Commerce.

May 12 Dinner OFF Main

5 - 8 p.m.

Recurring Alcoholics Anonymous hosts two meetings a week in Arkadelphia. The meetings are open to anyone interested in AA’s program of recovery. The Arkadelphia Group meets at 7 p.m. every Tues. in the Sturgis Building at North 9 and Caddo Streets.

For more information on the Arkadelphia Group Meetings, call 870-403-3001. The U-Turn Group meets at 7 p.m. every Thurs. on the front, upper level of Park Hill Baptist Church, 3163 Hollywood Road. For information on that group’s meetings, call 870-230-2975 or 870-260-9277. ♦♦♦ With Late ‘til 8, local businesses stay open to 8:00 pm so that customers can shop and also win door prizes! this is a monthly event that happens every first Thursday of every month. ♦♦♦ Pediatrics Plus is excited to announce that our brand new facility is now open. Our new facility is located at 702 Hickory Street. The new facility offers includes a Developmental Preschool and Therapy Services that include: ABA, Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy. In addition, our brand new, state-of-the-art facilities include a House Next Door suite which offers a homey feel for children learning daily living activities like cooking, feeding therapy, making the bed, getting dressed, and more! Other features of the new facility include a new playground, gross motor gym, high stimulation and low stimulation gyms, and a library!

Enroll Now to get a spot in our new location! ♦♦♦ Al-Anon meetings, designed to help family and friends affected by alcohol, are held three days a week in the Arkadelphia area: • Tues. at 7 p.m., Sturgis Building, corner of 9 and Caddo.

• 870-403-2019; Thurs. at 6:30 p.m., Park Hill Baptist Church.

• 870-403-2019; Fri. at noon, Clark County Library, 609 Caddo St., side door. 512-750-2292.

Oracle:CE

Duane Miller 7/21/59 - 3/20/22

Duane Miller, age 62, of Arkadelphia, passed

Thomas "Luke" Hudman 12/9/33 - 3/19/22

Thomas “Luke” Hudman, age 88, of Curtis, passed

Howard Edward Watson 12/11/33 - 3/19/22

Howard Edward Watson was born on December 11, 1933, to Ernest L. and Lucy Watson in Arkadelphia, Arkansas and passed from this life on March 19, 2022,

Kathleen Marie George 5/8/43 - 3/9/22

Kathleen Marie George, age 68, of Sparkman, passed

Obits 3

Thursday, March 31, 2022

Obituaries from this life on Sunday March 20, 2022, at Baptist Health Medical Center in Arkadelphia. He was born on July 21, 1959, in Kansas the son of the Clarence and Alice Schroder Miller.

Duane served in the United States Army. He retired as a stocker from Walmart.

Duane was a member of Third Street Baptist Church.

He enjoyed guns, dogs, wrestling, and working on his truck in his free time.

Duane is preceded in death

from this life on Saturday, March 19, 2022, at his home.

He was born December 9, 1933, in Ringgold, LA, the son of the late Harry H. and Pearl Carson Hudman.

Luke was a 1951 graduate of Arkadelphia High School and a 1960 graduate of Henderson State University.

He was a United States Marine Corp veteran of the Korean War. Luke was a retired football coach in Arkansas and Texas. He was the former owner of a vinyl siding company.

Luke was a Christian by faith. He enjoyed hunting,

in Monroe, Louisiana. At his passing he was 88 years, 3 months and 9 days and he was the youngest of six children. He was preceded in death by his life long love Leona Watson. They were first married in 1954 and again in 2017. He is also, preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Hazel, Charles, William, Robert and Dorothy.

Howard was a brick mason for more than fifty years and worked on many buildings in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Texas. In his younger years, he enjoyed hunting and fishing. In later years, he was a caregiver to many

from this life on Friday, March 18, 2022, ar Arkansas Hospice in Hot Springs.

She was born December 13, 1953, in Chicago, IL, the daughter of the late Mac and Jeanette Urness McMullen. Kathleen was a 1973 graduate of Whitehall Yearling High School and a 1998 graduate of Henderson State University. She worked as an intake specialist for DHS and was a member of Ouachita Baptist Church at Sparkman. Kathleen loved all animals especially her dogs and spending time with them in her free time

Crites & Tackett Tree Service Tree removal, trimming, topping and stump removal.

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501-337-1565 or 501-337-9094

by his father, his wife, Linda, and two brothers.

Survivors include his mother, Alice Miller of Aberdeen, MD, one daughter, Leslie Bohn (George) of Arkadelphia, one sister, Sherry Shaffer of Aberdeen, MD, one brother, Bill Phillips (Sheila) of Kansas, and one grandson, Matthew Bohn.

A Memorial service will be held at 10:00 AM on Friday March 25, 2022, at Welch Funeral Home with

fishing, gardening and watching football in his free time. Luke was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Elizabeth Willbanks Hudman, one son, Thomas H. Hudman, one daughter, Lori Daniels, and one brother, Hildred Hudman.

Survivors are two daughters, Ellen Bauler of Curtis and Timi Ridgway of Hot Springs, one son, Tom Furtado (Monica) of Front Royal, VA, two sisters, Evelyn Dixon of Benton and Freida Conant (Lloyd) of Arkadelphia, fifteen grandchildren and twelve

people, but the most important was the love of his life. He cared for Leona everyday before her passing for 16 years. During the time they had together he renewed his faith in the Lord and enjoyed singing gospel music with friends.

If there was someone in need he was there to help.

Howard is survived by his two daughters, Carrie Watson, Waco, Texas and Dee Anne Nappier, West Monroe, Louisiana, three grandchildren, Lucas Nappier (Kerri) West Monroe, Timothy Nappier (Miranda) Columbia, Louisiana and Tara Nappier (Scott) West Monroe, four greatgrandchildren,

was a passion. She was preceded in death by her parents, and one brother in law, Steve Elliot.

Kathleen is survived by special friend, Timothy Michael Lynch of St. Charles, one daughter, Elizabeth Stroud (Barry) of St. Charles, MO, one grandson, Bruce Stroud of St. Charles, two brothers, Donald Thomas “Tommy” McMullen of Ohio and Scotty Jones of Indiana, two sisters, Donna Elliot of Ohio and Carol Cornette (Guy) of Ohio, several nieces and nephews.

Marc Crawley officiating.

Visitation will be from 9:00 AM until service time.

Memorials can be made to the Humane Society of Clark County, P. O. Box 435, Arkadelphia, AR 71923 Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia. Visit www. welchfh.net to sign the guestbook and view the video tribute.

great grandchildren.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM Saturday, March 26, 2022, at Copeland Ridge Cemetery with Rev. Phillip Runyan officiating.

The family will gather at Curtis Baptist Church immediately after the graveside for a meal and fellowship.

Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia. Visit www. welchfh.net to sign the guest book.

Landon Beach, Hunter Nappier, Kathryn Gilbert and Caden Stiles and several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.

Funeral services will be under the direction of Welch Funeral Home, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas on Friday, March 25th at 4:00 p.m., at the funeral home.

Visitation from 3:00 p.m. until the time of the service.

Burial will follow at Unity Cemetery.

A memorial service will be held at a time to be determined for family and friends at Watson Chapel in West Monroe, Louisiana.

The family will host a memorial service at 6:00 PM Monday, March 21, 2022, at Ouachita Baptist Church with Bro. Carley Davis and Bro. Ken Key officiating.

Memorials may be made to Humane Society of Clark County, P.O. Box 435, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.

Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia. Visit www. welchfh.net to sign the guest book.

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HOW TO REACH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS Arkadelphia Mayor Scott Byrd 700 Clay Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (870) 246-6745 Arkadelphia Treasurer Shacresha Wilson (870) 246-9864 shacresha.wilson@ arkadelphia.gov Prosecuting Attorney Dan Turner 414 Court Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (870) 246-9868 dan.turner@ClarkAR.us Clark County Judge Troy Tucker 401 Clay Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (870) 246-5847 Clark County Sheriff Jason Watson 406 South 5th Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (870) 246-8859 Governor Asa Hutchinson 250 State Capital Bldg.

Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2345

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge 323 Center Street, Suite 200 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2007 State Senator Alan Clark P.O. Box 211 Lonsdale, AR 72087 (501) 844-6800 Congressman Bruce Westerman 130 Cannon House Office Bldg.

Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3772 U.S. Senator Tom Cotton B33 Russell Senate Office Bldg.

Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3772 U.S. Senator John Boozman 1 Russell Courtyard Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-4843

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4 Sports

Oracle: CE

Thursday, March 31, 2022

HSU announces new turf field at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium HSU Sports

Henderson State's long-time home venue, Carpenter-Haygood Stadium, will receive a facelift this spring as a new turf field is installed in preparation for the 2022 season.

The new turf was 100% funded through private donations made specifically for the project through the Henderson State University Foundation.

GeoSurfaces, a professional construction firm that offers full design, development, construction and installation of high performing sports surfaces and lighting systems, will handle the project and also made a significant lead gift for the naming rights to the new field.

"I am excited to announce that generous donors have stepped up and provided the funds to update and enhance our turf field at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium this spring," Director of Athletics Shawn Jones said. "We are thrilled to be able to partner with GeoSurfaces to give our student-athletes a new and improved playing surface that will provide them with the highest safety and performance standards. From an age and safety perspective, it was necessary to replace the turf at this point, and we are so appreciative of those donors who were committed to making this a reality. Our previous turf gave us 11 seasons of excellent use, which featured some of

Photo from hsusports.com

the greatest moments in program history. I have no doubt the new GeoSurfaces Field will experience its fair share of memories made over the next decade or more. As we begin on the new turf project, I want to thank Don and Mary Ruggles for their generous lead gift of our first turf field in 2010. Because of their generosity and friendship, the Ruggles name will always be synonymous with Henderson State University."

Charlie Dawson, GeoSurfaces Chief

Executive Officer, said that the new playing surface will provide the Reddies with a huge upgrade in quality and safety this fall.

"GeoSurfaces is proud to continue our over decade long relationship with Henderson State University," Dawson said.

"By upgrading the stadium surface to our latest version of our GeoGreen high density turf system utilizing our GeoFlo+ shock pad system, this technology places the Reddies on one of the safest sport surfaces ever developed.

This GeoSurfaces system exceeds all impact standards currently recognized by the NCAA, NFL and all other independent testing and standards agencies while maintaining world class footing and playability characteristics."

The newly named GeoSurfaces Field at Carpenter-Haygood Stadium will feature a fresh design that includes Henderson State's updated H-Reddies logo at midfield, as well as the white stylized "REDDIES" font in both end zones. The green turf will

alternate between darker and lighter shades every 10 yards, giving Henderson one of the premier field designs in all of NCAA Division II football.

"The University is grateful for the generous alumni and friends of Henderson who have made this turf replacement project possible," Henderson State Chancellor Dr. Chuck Ambrose said. "Our studentathletes have achieved at the highest academic and athletic levels, recording a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher

for ten consecutive academic terms. Reddie Athletics is setting a high standard for student success at Henderson State University, and I am pleased to see this donorfunded project in support of our student-athletes."

Installation of the new turf will begin in late March with completion expected this spring. The Reddies will open play on the new GeoSurfaces Field on Thursday, Sept. 1 at 7:00 p.m. against Southwestern Oklahoma State.

www.arkadelphian.com

13 pounds of meth discovered in drug trafficking arrests Joel Phelps The Arkadelphian On February 26, 2022, law enforcement witnessed an individual in a pickup truck with a Texas license plate visit a camper located at the Caddo Valley Campground known to law enforcement as a methamphetamine distribution site.

Arkansas State Police Trooper Tim Callison conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle on Interstate 30 in Clark County. During the traffic stop, Trooper Callison located 2 pounds and 4 ounces of suspected methamphetamine in a compartment within the rear door and almost $5,000 in cash inside the vehicle. The driver of the vehicle, Kenneth Mandrell

of Hot Springs, was then taken into custody.

Also on February 26, 2022, Clark County Sheriff’s Deputy Matt Hall conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle being driven

by Glenn Hoover of Hot Springs, the owner of the camper. A search of the vehicle was conducted, and Hoover was found to be in possession of materials commonly used to package illegal narcotics. Hoover was then placed under arrest. Law enforcement then obtained a search warrant for Hoover’s camper. During the search, one kilogram of methamphetamine, various bags of marijuana, and drug paraphernalia were recovered.

Both individuals are facing charges filed by

Prosecuting Attorney Dan Turner following their arrest. Kenneth Mandrell has been charged with Trafficking a Controlled Substance, a Class Y Felony. Glenn Hoover has been charged with Trafficking a Controlled Substance, a Class Y Felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance Schedule I/II, a Class D Felony, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, a Class A Misdemeanor.

In a separate case, a Hot Springs man was arrested this week for his alleged involvement in drug trafficking.

Law enforcement authorities seized seven pounds of methamphetamine in Clark County on March 21.

The seizure occurred after

Dispatch Desk: Monday, March 28 Joel Phelps The Arkadelphian The following incidents were gathered from reports filed at the Arkadelphia Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office. Names of arrested individuals were collected at the Clark County Detention Center on Crittenden Street in Arkadelphia. They are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. The Arkadelphian does not withhold names from the arrest log, so don’t even think about asking.

Arkadelphia Police Department Sunday, March 27 12:27 a.m.

Officers cited a man for

possession of marijuana during a traffic stop at a selfstorage facility on Country Club Road.

9:27 p.m.

An Alabama woman reported dropping her wallet at McDonald’s in Arkadelphia on March 25 without realizing until she was on her way back home.

Saturday, March 26 Officers assisted another agency with a felony case.

4:10 p.m.

A woman at Ouachita Village Apartments reported someone, likely a neighbor, damaged her Easter Island head lawn ornament.

Friday, March 25 2:23 p.m.

A woman reported a hitand-run accident at West

Pine Street near its junction with W.P. Malone Drive.

Officers worked a theft of property case involving a juvenile.

Clark County Sheriff’s Office Friday, March 25 8:13 p.m.

Deputies arrested a woman for public intoxication at Highway 67 near Matlock Road following a report of a female standing in the middle of the road and singing to herself.

Arrests Friday, March 25 Marlinda Francis, 54, was arrested for public intoxication.

Callison stopped a vehicle on I-30 after observing a moving violation.

Callison detected an odor of marijuana and, after performing a search of the vehicle, discovered four grams of marijuana in the vehicle’s interior and seven pounds of methamphetamine in the trunk of the vehicle.

Investigator Roy Bethell with Group 6 Drug Task Force also participated in the investigation, which included seizure of the methamphetamine as well as additional cash discovered in the vehicle.

The driver of the vehicle, Brandon Mallory of Hot Springs, was taken into custody and now faces charges of drug trafficking.

The methamphetamine, which had a street

value of over $65,000, was contained in seven separate packages which were all located inside a garbage bag in the trunk of the rental car Mallory was driving.

Turner commended the Arkansas State Police, Drug Task Force officers and Clark County Sheriff’s Office for their efforts in apprehending the subject and the subsequent investigation and seizure.

“Thanks to diligence and great work by these law enforcement officers and their agencies, they have prevented the delivery of a substantial amount of deadly drugs from being distributed to members of the community,” Turner said. “I am grateful for the hard work these officers are putting in every day to

keep our community safe.

Mallory is being held at the Clark County Detention Center and faces charges for trafficking a controlled substance, a Class Y felony, and unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate a crime, a Class B felony. Turner’s office has also filed a civil forfeiture action for the confiscation of the cash seized from the vehicle.

Clark County Sheriff Jason Watson said, “We are committed to investigating and apprehending those who traffic drugs in our county and surrounding communities. I appreciate the hard work of every agency involved.”

HSU professor gets grant to share chocolate's role in U.S. history Steven Fellers Henderson State News What unique role has chocolate played in American history?

Faculty and students from Henderson State’s chemistry department and innovative media program are collaborating to share that information with middle and high school students.

Henderson chemistry professor Dr. Suzanne Neidhart applied for a Forrest E. Mars Jr. Chocolate History grant, and learned recently that she will receive $5,500 for the project.

“The grant will help us produce educational materials, including videos, to explain the chemistry of chocolate in different historical contexts,” Neidhart said. “For example, I have a student who is researching the differences between ancient mesoamerican hot chocolate (elixirs) and modern hot chocolate.”

She said the project will target students in grades 5-12.

“I am excited to emphasize the interdisciplinary nature of this project, since it can’t be achieved without the cooperation of multiple parties,” Neidhart said.

The Forrest E. Mars Jr.

Chocolate History Grant was created to support institutions dedicated to revealing the intrinsic role chocolate has played worldwide. Launched in 2013, the grant was named after the company’s owner and has a special emphasis on uncovering and sharing chocolate’s role in global history, as well as its influence on heritage and culture.

Mars has been making some of the nation’s most popular chocolate confections for more than 100 years, including M&M’s, Snickers, TWIX and 3 Musketeers.