March 6, 2024 edition

Volume

123 Number 9 - USPS 225-680 Serving all of Prairie County and the Grand Prairie Wednesday, March

By Lisa Mills

At the February 26th

Saving

Meeting

Des Arc School Board Meeting, Elementary and High School Principals were hired for the 2024-2025 school year. After meeting in executive session, a motion was approved to renew contracts for Cheryl Holland as Elementary Principal and B.J. Paschal as High School Principal. The board approved Joyce Williams and Megan Weatherly as Cafeteria worker substitutes. Personnel Policies were approved for 2024-2025 with no major changes. The 2024-2025 school calendar was approved. Cheer policy changes for 2024-2025 were approved. Those changes include that all

High School Principal B. J. Paschal and Elementary Principal Cheryl Holland were rehired for the next school year.

cheerleaders must attend camp and camp fees must be paid by the deadline, monthly payment plans will be available for all required fees and must

a.m. Master Gardeners’ meeting PC fairgrounds noon

Columbia, Missouri (01/15/2024)The MFA Oil Foundation has awarded a grant to the Carlisle Bison Band Boosters to assist with purchasing percussion instruments. The MFA Oil Foundation provides support to nonprofit organizations that are working to improve communities where MFA Oil has a significant concentration of members and employees. Since it was established in 1998, the MFA Oil Foundation has awarded more than

March 14 DeValls Bluff City

Sunday March 17 St. Patrick’s Day

Tuesday March 19

Carlisle City Council meeting 6:00 p.m.

Chamber of

be paid in full by the first day of the 2nd semester. If fees are not paid in full by then, the cheerleader will be removed from the squad.

High School Principal

Paschal reported that ATLAS Science Interim tests will be taken this week. The first actual ATLAS test will be on March 5th for writing. The rest of the ATLAS tests will be taken at the end of April.

Elementary Principal Holland reported that the Elementary ATLAS tests schedule is the same as High School. She stated that there are currently 33 students enrolled in the after school tutoring program and it is working great. There are currently 18 students receiving one on one intervention services.

Superintendent Sherrell reported current enrollment for PK12th grade is 696.

Superintendent Marc Sherrell, Treasurer Natasha Richards, High

Carlisle Band Boosters receive MFA Oil Foundation grant.

AR C lima t e Smar t si g n-up no w open

Producers have the option to choose from a variety of management practices and create a contract customized to fit their operation. All producers with a history of growing rice can apply for this funding pool. Producers that qualify as Historically Underserved (HU) according to NRCS definitions will have a second opportunity to apply for structural and

management funds in the coming months. Details on this HU sign-up are still being finalized, but

Eligible Arkansas counties include Arkansas, Prairie, and White. Different from previous Rice Stewardship Partnership projects, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is not the primary project administrator. Therefore, applications will need to be submitted online or directly to your Partnership staff contact, not to your local NRCS office.

Online applications, sign-up periods, and more information can be found at https://www.usarice.com/ sustainability/climatesmart-commodities.

School Principal B.J. Paschal, Elementary Principal Cheryl Holland, and Board Members Drew Widener, Jordan Smith, Billy Hinson, Brent Calhoun, and Charlie Brown were present.

*****

DA School Board holds special meeting

three million dollars in grants.

MFA Oil Senior Director of Employee Engagement and Culture Tom May described the MFA Oil Foundation as "a program that allows our company to give support back to the rural communities that are the foundation of our business. The grants the Foundation awards help support many youth programs and organizations active in addressing and solving community problems and improving the quality of life.”

The film crew from Twisted was on hand to film the interior of the Kocourek building in Hazen on Monday, February 26. The group is documenting the Slovak migration to the Grand Prairie for UpRooted, a nonprofit organization that has been doing research on the Slovak community. The Kocourek family in Hazen was instrumental in recruiting Slovakian immigrants to move from manufacturing jobs in Chicago and other northern cities to take up farming on the Grand Prairie.

Commerce and the Please call F&M Bank

HHS Quiz Bowl team to state...

Senior High Quiz Bowl Team competed at Buffalo Island Central on March 2

in the

Daylight

Des Arc School Board hires 2024-25 principals

MF A O il a w ards g ran t t o C arlisle Band Boos t ers

Hazen’s Kocourek building filmed...

James G. Thomas

DKG hears 2023 Margaret Fisher Literacy Challenge report

Carla Nichols, Sandy

James G. Thomas, of North Little Rock passed February 28, 2024. He was born in Biscoe, AR to the late Pearl and Essie Thomas on February 10, 1943. He was an employee of Matson Construction and was no stranger to working hard his whole life. After retiring he dedicated his life to the Lord and full time ministry. He was a member of the Morgan Full Gospel Church. He was an awesome woodworker and shared his talents with members of the community by building swings, wishing wells and gliders.

James was preceded in death by his parents, five siblings; his wife, Louella Marie Thomas and their infant son, David Garfield Thomas. Survivors include two sons: Matthew Thomas and wife Jennifer, and Alan Thomas; siblings: Pearlene Hall, Jimmy Dale Thomas and Margaret Roach; six grandchildren: Sierra Thomas, Lily Thomas, Brantley Ellsworth, Korbin Thomas, Harper Thomas and Jaxon Thomas; six greatgrandchildren:

Nickolas, Hunter, Liam, Catherine, Landyn and Jaylen; and several extended family members and friends.

Visitation is 2:00-4:00 p.m. Sunday, March 3, 2024 at Smith North Little Rock Funeral Home. Funeral was

held at 10:00 a.m., Monday, March 4, 2024 at the funeral home. Graveside service was 1:00 p.m., Monday at Hickory Plains Cemetery.

Randy Louis Raper

Randy Louis Raper, 74, of Hazen passed away February 26, 2024 at his home.

Randy was born December 21, 1949 in Hazen, the son of William Lamar Raper and Mary Helen (Peggy) Raper. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War and worked several places in Hazen ending his working career at the Hazen Airport.

Randy was preceded in death by his mother and father and his wife of many years and mother of his children, Cory Donaldson.

He is survived by his children, Lamar and Melissa Raper of Hot Springs and Shane and Kendra Raper of Gentry, Arkansas; his grandchildren, Jordan Raper, Trinity Raper, Raven Raper, Katy Raper, Roman Raper, Mason Raper, Ian Raper and Kaci Raper; his sister and brother-in-law, Gail and Warren Edge and his niece Ronna Edge. Funeral services were held at 2:00 P.M., Friday, March 1, 2024 at the Westbrook Funeral Chapel in Hazen with visitation from 1:00 to 2:00 P.M. prior to the service. Burial will be in the Old Carlisle Cemetery with military honors.

Delta Kappa Gamma (DKG) met on March 2 at the Des Arc First United Methodist Church to hear the 2023 Margaret Fisher Literacy Challenge annual report. Mary Ann Williams told the group that 97,847 books from the Dolly Parton Imagination Library have been mailed out to Prairie and Woodruff Counties. Of that amount, 60,912 went to children in Prairie County who are the ages of birth to five years old. Arkansas has received 4.6 million books since this organization started in 2004. “This is why we are asking for donations every year from our Hazen community to help continue this early literacy program,” President Vicki Skarda said. She

added, “We give scholarships to teachers that are continuing their education.”

Skarda said that in the month of January of 2024 she and Monica Lisko have raised over $8600 from the Hazen community to buy books for local children. According to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library 2023 Impact Report, “cognitive processes develop rapidly in the first few years of life” with a child’s brain going from 25% of its adult size at birth to 85% of its adult size by age three. The child’s brain is nearly fully formed by the time he or she enters kindergarten. The report also stated that “children growing up in homes with at least 20 books get two years more schooling

than children from bookless homes despite their parents’ education, occupation, and class.”

In other business,

Prairie County Master Gardener Debbie Carpenter spoke to the group about the Master Gardeners program and her hobby of beekeeping. She told those at the meeting about the different kinds of bees and the different types of honey.

The group would like to thank the following for their generous donations:

Green For LifeSherry Free, Manager Knights of Columbus

The City of Hazen Hazen Schools

The Ladies of Farmers and Merchants BankAndrea Rounsavall,

Felty, Lisa King, Cathay Jones, and Tiffany Alberson

Dee Black

Meg Miller

Sharon Cagle Parts World

Bobby Lott

Eric Greenwalt

Dr. Jeff Dulany

Joe Sabbatini

The Danny Rieke Firm

Skip Hula Farms

Bryan Felty Farms

Brad Caviness Farms

Ross Skarda Farms

Pat Clayton

Phillip Boothe

David Hardke

The Etta Doss Circle

Cody Snider

Bob Juola

Pam Tipton

Bobbie Meiner

Terry Ciganek

The Prescription Shop

Vicki Skarda

Monica Lisko

HHS band members compete...

Des Arc band students receive awards at Solo/Ensemble

Students from both the Des Arc 7th Grade Band and the Des Arc High School Band competed in the Regional Solo/Ensemble contest on February 29th in Cabot. Students who received excellent ratings were:

Zachary Hill (Solo), Ethan Sullins (duet), and Brayden Sanderson (duet).

Those who received superior ratings were:

Mallory Baxter (2 solos & duet), Karly Woodall (2 duets & solo), Greg Devers (solo & duet), Sara Brown (solo), Gabi Devers (solo), Robyon Cooley (solo & duet),

Keylee Williams (solo), Justin Leggett (solo), Kaden Thomas (solo), Jolie Spratt (solo & duet), Cylas Winkowski (solo), Chloe Billings (solo), Kimber Capshaw (duet), Walker Rollins (duet), Logan Pendergrass (duet), Brayden Sanderson (duet), Daniel Diaz (Duet), Nickayla Ramey (Duet), Sarah Bush (duet), Caleb Williams (duet), Valina Osborn (duet), and Will Spratt (duet).

Mallory Baxter qualified to compete at the All-State Solo/Ensemble Contest which will be held on April 30th.

undersigned within six (6) months from the date of the first publication of this Notice, or they shall be forever barred and precluded from any benefit in the Estate. Provided that claims for injury or death caused by the negligence of the Decedent shall also be filed within six (6) months from the date of the first publication of the Notice, or they shall be forever barred and precluded from any benefit in such Estate.

This Notice first published the 6th day of March, 2024.

BOYD & BUIECameron Sandine

Attorneys at Law707 Stuttgart Street 308 Court SquareEngland, Arkansas 72046 DeWitt, Arkansas 72042

ATTORNEYS FOR ESTATE ADMINISTRATOR

Hazen High School Band students recently competed in the regional solo and ensemble contest. Eight students received superior ratings and two received excellent ratings.

Bison open baseball season with rout of 5A Pine Bluff

By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor

The Carlisle Bison baseball team opened the season with a 15-5 win over Class 5A Pine Bluff last week at historic Taylor Field in Pine Bluff.

Taylor Field was the site of the 2012 Class 2A state tournament where the Bison went 30 en route to a state runner-up finish under former coach and current athletic director B.J. Greene.

The Bison jumped out to a 6-0 lead after the top of the second inning — scoring three runs in both frames. Scoring in the first inning were Holden Jones, Dalton Ward and Eli Roberts. Scoring in the second were Gavin Davis, Jones and Ward. The Zebras got own the board in the bottom of the second. The Bison then scored two in the top of the third to lead 8-1. Scoring in the third were Jonathan Pickard

and Jones. The Bison plated seven runs in the fourth inning to lead 15-1.

Pine Bluff scored once in the fourth and three times in the fifth. Jones led the Bison with four runs scored. Ward scored three times. Roberts scored twice. Also scoring runs were Pickard, Cole Averitt, Tyler Thrift, Baylor Hauk and Davis. Jones got the win. He struck out seven in four innings of work.

Lady Bison open season 3-0

By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor

The Carlisle Lady Bison softball team opened the season with three straight victories last week.

Carlisle beat Danville

33-0 on Feb. 26; Little Rock Christian 11-9 on Feb. 27 and Pangburn 19-2 on Thursday.

In the win over Danville, Carlisle scored 17 runs in the first inning 15 in the second one in the third.

Laken Golden and Angie Petrus each scored five runs to lead the Lady Bison.

Kiersten Taylor and Adisun Golden had four runs each. Scoring three times were Jessa Wiles, Anna Stovesand and Carson Mealier.

Mealier and Tessa Sanders combined for a three-inning no hitter and five strikeouts. In the win over Little Rock Christian, the score was tied 6-6 after seven innings. Both teams scored two runs in the eighth inning.

Carlisle then plated three runs in the top of the ninth while holding the Lady Warriors to one run .

Libby McIntyre led

LEGAL NOTICE

Calrisle with four runs scored. She also hit a home run.

Petrus scored three times.

Sanders got the win in relief. She struck out five in six innings of work.

In the win over Pangburn, Carlisle scored eight runs in the first, three in the second and eight in the third.

Laken Golden led the way with four runs. She was 3 for 3 at the plate.

Petrus scored three times.

Mealier got the win, striking out two in three innings of work.

The Des Arc Housing Authority will hold a public meeting to receive comments on its FY 2024 Public Housing Authority Agency Plan to be presented to the Department of Housing and Urban Development as required by HUD Quality Housing and Work Responsibility Act of 1998.

A 45-day public review and comment period commences as of the date of this notice. Said Agency Plan will be available for review and/or inspection by the public at the Lonoke County Housing Authority Office, located at 505 South 2nd Street, Des Arc, AR, during office hours.

The hearing location is accessible. Should you have any questions, need interpreter services or other accommodations are needed, please contact (870) 256-4577 forty-eight (48) hours in advance of the hearing so that arrangements can be made. The public meeting will be held at 505 South 2nd Street, Des Arc Arkansas on April 22nd, 2024 at 10:00 am.

David Gates Executive Director

Lady Bison coach to be new CHS Dean of Students

By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor

After 13 postseason appearances in 13 years in 13 years, Carlisle Lady Bison basketball coach Jonathan Buffalo is stepping away from the sidelines for a new role at Carlisle High School.

Buffalo, 42, was hired as the dean of students for the high school.

“I’m very excited about the opportunity to be dean of students,” he said. “The details are being worked out, but I know for sure that I am going to be handling student discipline at the high school along with other duties that are assigned to me.”

Buffalo, a 2000 graduate of Carlisle, was the head girls coach for 13 years. Prior to that, he was an assistant to William Rountree and Toby Tevebaugh for a year before coaching both junior high teams for two years. Additionally, he’s coached softball for three years, boys basketball for one year, track for two years and golf for five seasons.

Buffalo is also the longest-tenured coach in Lady Bison basketball history since the introduction of 5-on-5 play in the early 1980s.

“It was a hard decision to get out of coaching,” he said. “A lot of tears and emotions went into the decision. I felt like for me to be able to do my new job, I needed to focus on being dean of students full time.”

Buffalo’s teams made the regional tournament

all 13 years. He coached in four state tournaments, making it to the second round twice. His teams won six conference titles and four district tournament championships. His overall record is 237-124.

While wins and losses are important, Buffalo said those aren’t his biggest accomplishments.

“I believe the difference I made in my players’ lives was the most important thing I have done,” he said. “The number of former players who have reached out to me the last couple of weeks has made me realize what I did for them made a difference.”

Carlisle High School principal and athletic director B.J. Greene, who will be the new superintendent on July 1, said Buffalo’s accomplishments speak for themselves. “He’s had an incredible career,” Greene said. “Personally, for me, with Coach Buffalo, he’s one of the best school guys I’ve ever been around in my career. He’s always willing to step up and do the things that need to be done. He’s helped me so much when we’ve had some situations in other sports, where he’s stepped up to the plate for a year and took on that challenge without even questioning it. For me, there’s never been a better Bison as a coach, in my opinion in the time that I’ve been around here. That’s the six years as principal and five years of coach-

ing.”

Greene said Buffalo’s new role is suited for him.

“There’s probably nobody in the district I would trust more, just knowing the role he’s stepping into, to be the disciplinarian for the high school and doing it fairly, than Coach Buffalo,” Greene said. “He knows the ins and outs of it — how to treat kids right. He’s going to completely blossom in that role.”

During his tenure, Buffalo has gotten to coach all three of his children — Devon, Heather and Kaitlyn. Heather was a junior this season; Kaitlyn was an eighth grader.

“For 16 years, I had a coach to work at what I believe is the best school district in Arkansas,” Buffalo said. “I had a chance to live out my dream as the head girls basketball coach for 13 years and leave a positive impact on an already tradition-rich program. My family made many sacrifices to help me live out this dream. I am also partial to the fact that my wife Hopalynn was the best scorekeeper I have ever had, but more importantly, she has been supportive throughout my entire career, especially during this change.”

“Lastly, I would like to thank Coach Greene, Coach Rountree and the Carlisle School Board for this excellent opportunity to further my career in education.”

Carlisle coach Jonathan Buffalo talks to his team during their game with Earle in the first round of the Class 2A North Region Tournament two weeks ago at Riverside High School. (Emmy Buffalo photo.)

“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

Ice cream solves a lot of my problems ...

by Dr. James L. Snyder

Like everybody else, I face problems almost every day. Or maybe I should say, my problem faces me. Every Monday, when I get up, I say to myself, “How many problems will I have this week? How many will I solve?” Unfortunately, myself never replies back. Problems are part of life, but it’s tough for me to get used to problems. Every time I almost solve one problem, two or three new ones pop up. There are times when I hesitate to get up on a Monday morning. Recently, I discovered something related to my problems. No matter my problems or where they come from, I have discovered that a bowl of ice cream solves most of them. This is a recent discovery for me. I only wish I would’ve known it 50 years ago. Since I know it now, I will use it for my benefit. The more problems I have, the more ice cream I need.

Discovering that ice cream is my comfort food has really made a lot of difference in my life. And it has taken me quite a while to get The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage to understand

this about me. She knows much about me, even more than I know about myself. But this one thing about ice cream is relatively new, and she hesitates to acknowledge it. Whenever a problem pops up, I usually get frustrated and bent out of shape trying to figure out how to deal with it. Sometimes I do figure it out, but more often, I do not. Then I discovered something that has changed my attitude for all time.

That discovery is that ice cream is a way of helping me deal with a problem that I might have. Oh boy, this has been a learning curve for me.

I discovered this not too long ago when I faced a problem I just didn’t know how to take. I was driving down the street when I noticed a relatively new ice cream store on my right side. Looking at it, I thought to myself, “What will it hurt if I stop and have some ice cream?” I pulled into the parking lot, walked over, entered the store, and ordered some ice cream. I looked at the menu for a while to order the right ice cream. I saw

some mint chocolate chip ice cream on the menu. I haven’t had mint chocolate chip ice cream, for I can’t remember how long ago. So I ordered it, took it to the table, sat down, and began working on it. I was only three bites in when it finally occurred to me that I wasn’t even thinking about my problem at that time. All I was thinking about was how delicious this ice cream was. This mint chocolate chip ice cream was so delicious I couldn’t think of anything else. When I finished my mint chocolate chip ice cream dish, I couldn’t remember my problem. Unfortunately, when I got in my car and started driving away, the problem finally came back to me. But when it did, it didn’t seem as serious as it did before the ice cream. Something had happened. It’s not every day that I learn something new about myself, but this was one of those days. I don’t know how many kinds of ice cream there are, but I have worked it out so that every problem I face is associated with some flavor of ice cream.

The harder the problem, the darker the ice cream. If I have vanilla ice cream, that means I have a very easy problem to solve. But if I have a really difficult problem, I must have chocolate fudge ice cream. When I got home that evening, I updated The Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage on my discovery. “Guess what I learned about myself today,” I said with a big smile. Looking at me, she said, “I give up; what did you learn about yourself today that I don’t already know?”

Clearing my throat, I said, “I have learned that I need ice cream to deal with any problem that comes my way.”

“Well,” she said sarcastically, “that’s one good excuse to get your ice cream.”

“Oh, no,” I said enthusiastically, “I really mean that ice cream helps me solve my problems.”

I tried to explain to her that every flavor of ice cream helps me solve a particular problem. I’m not sure she believed me, but I was going to prove that that was true.

Later that evening, after supper, we watched

TV in the living room, and then she went out into the kitchen. When she returned, she had a bowl of chocolate fudge ice cream, and looking at me, she said, “I’m not sure if this is chocolatey enough to fix your problem tonight.”

Munching on my ice cream I thought of a Bible verse. Philippians 4:6-7, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Nobody can live without problems. That’s just life. But, as a Christian, I have a special resource called prayer. My prayer connects me with God’s peace “which passeth all understanding.” There is no problem that in anyway compromises God’s peace that He has for me.

Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. Telephone 1-352-2163025, e-mail jamessnyder51@gmail.com, website www.jamessnyderministries.com.

5:30 PM

Holy Hour & Confessions 6:05 PM

Friday (except First Friday) Mass 8:30AM

Saturday Mass in English 5:00 PM

United Methodist Church of DeValls Bluff Highway 70 West, DeValls Bluff AR.

Pastor Chris Wright

Sunday Morning Worship: 9 AM

Friendship Lunch: 3rd

Wed. of Month, 11:30 AM

First Baptist Church of DeValls Bluff

Pastor Bobby Powers P. O. Box 358 Highway 70 West, DeValls Bluff, AR.

Phone (870) 998 - 7118

Sunday School: 9:45 AM

Morning Worship: 11 AM

Evening Worship: 5 PM

Wednesday Evening: 7 PM

Mount Olive MB Church Highway 70,

Rev. Tony Haskins

Sunday School: 9:30AM

Worship Service: 11 AM

Peppers Lake Church of Christ

Sunday-Bible Study: 10 AM Worship: 11 AM Evening Service: 6 PM Wednesday - Bible Study: 7 PM

Union

Pastor Darrell Foster

Sunday School: 9:30 AM

Worship Service: 11 AM

Sts.

The above mentioned vehicle was towed to our lot on December 10, 2023 per request of the Hazen Police Department ,and was towed to storage lot of 1111 Highway 70 West in Hazen. The initial fee due is $125.00, and additionally The storage fee due is $50.00 per day and continues to accumulate daily. The administrative fees due are $150.00 for the processing of the lien, the processing of a stolen vehicle report by our Police Department and the processing of certified letters sent to the owner and lien holder (if any) via mail. The above amounts do not reflect the 11% tax that is due upon releasing the vehicle. Tower storage & administrative costs are accuring daily as legal liability of the owner,

Rick’s Automotive & Wrecker Service claims first priority lien on the said vehicle and its contents for all such charges. The vehicle and its contents will be dismantled, destroyed, or sold at public sale to the highest bidder if not claimed within 45 days and constitutes a waiver by the owner and the lien holder of all right, title, and interest in the vehicle.

To take possession of this vehicle, you must appear during normal business hours, Monday-Friday 8am5pm, and provide proof of ownership and pay all associated charges.

Please contact us immediately at 870-255-3305 if you wish to pick up the abovementioned vehicle.

Rick Wiggins, Owner Rick’s Automotive and Wrecker Service.

JASON MICHAEL JOHNSON, d.o.b. 08/27/83, opted out of Arkansas Code Title 5, effective 10/10/2023 in purpituity.

HHS sophomore class holds annual auction and dinner

The Hazen High School Sophomore Class held its annual dinner and auction on Thursday, February 29 in the Hazen Community Center. The dinner and silent auction began at 5:00 p.m. with the live auction following at 7:00 p.m.

The auctioneers for the evening were Chuck Seidenschwarz and Chad Greenwalt. Farmers and Merchants Bank employees Andrea Rounsavall, Cathy Jones, Sandy Felty, Tiffani Alberson, Carla Nichols, and Lisa King donated their time to keep up with the auction winners and collect their money.

The Tollville Fire Department was in charge of cooking the chicken strip dinner. Businesses and individuals who donated their time and money to provide the food, drinks, paper goods, and other necessities were Christopher VanHouten, Ashley Morris, Markisha Molten, Nicole Fegley, Jennifer Clifton, Janan Sickel, Lori Neil, Chichen City, B&G Pipeline, Stratton Seed, Albert Rogers, Mason Sickel, Seth Skarda, Chad Greenwalt, Katie Reynolds, and Sysco.