EHC raising money for “Cup of Joe” project

By Emilee Moody FCS Agent

Please join the Prairie County Extension Homemaker Clubs in collecting change for their service project

"Cup of Joe for a Joe".

You can find our collection jars at several local businesses around Prairie County. Start collecting your change to provide a cup of coffee to deployed service members.

We have collection jars at the following businesses in HazenPrairie Marketplace, Hornet Hardware True Value, and Grand Prairie Veterinary Services. In Biscoe at

Angie's White River Dairy Bar and De Valls Bluff at the Prairie County Extension Office located in the Courthouse. Also in Des Arc at The Lily Pad Boutique, Des Arc Senior Center, Garth Hardware, Sno-White Dairy Bar and the Veterans Affairs Office.

If you would like a collection jar at your business, please give us a call at 870-998-2614.

For more information about the Extension Homemakers Clubs or to join please contact FCS Agent, Emilee Moody at emoody@uada.edu or 870-998-2614.

(Home Instruction for Parents of Preschool Youngsters) Program had their April group meeting at the Hazen Community Center on Thursday, April 6. The Egg Hunt was to be at the T. A. Cowen City Park, but due to the weather to event was moved inside. There was a guest speaker, Jane Lipton, a story time, an Egg Hunt, and then fun Easter activity stations. The HIPPY Staff welcomed everyone as they came in and signed in. The children were all given a color your own Easter Crown to color while waiting to get started. The parents were given some handouts on “Celebrate Easter with FamilyFriendly Fun “and “Potato Easter Egg.” While the children were coloring their crowns Jane Lipton (SNAP, Employment & Training Coordinator) from the Lonoke & Prairie County Adult Education, explained many of the program services such as getting their GED, Basic Skills Training, Job

Search Training, Employment Counseling, and help with English as a second language.

Deniece Howard read the story “Happy Easter Biscuit” by Alyssa Satin Capucilli. The book was a lift the flap book, the children seemed to enjoy it. When the children could not wait any longer, they all went to hunt for the Easter eggs.

The Easter Activity Stations included the activities Rescue the Easter Egg, Peeps Taste Test, Jelly Bean Sorting & Graphing, Easter Basket Aim Game, and several more. The children who attended the group meet- ing were; Ensley Adair, Joy Gladish, Claire King, Zander Moore, Kennedy Nall, Lillian Potts, and Waylon Sooter.

Thanks to Samantha McDonnel, Beth Smith Alisa Tankersley, Daniece Howard, and Dorema Whitworth for helping at the group meeting. Also a special thank you goes out to all the parents and children in the HIPPY Program, and to the City Of Hazen for letting us use the Hazen Community Center.

The HIPPY Graduation will be held on May 8 at 5:00 in the afternoon.

Shirley C. Gochanour

Shirley C. Gochanour, age 87, of Wales, passed away peacefully surrounded by family April 25, 2023. She was born December 29, 1935 in Hazen, Arkansas to the late Lloyd and Verna McClure, Shirley grew up in Hazen, Arkansas, and graduated from the Hazen High Class of 1953. She enjoyed gardening and working around her house in the county.

She is survived by her children, Eric Enders, Susan Gabriel, Lori (Mike) Pinsonneault; grandchildren, Renee (Dustin) Adkins, Yvonne (Dylan) Gabriel, Leah Tessier, Carly Pinsonneault, Tana Pinsonneault; great grandchildren, Mason Adkins, Lillian Adkins, Lydia Mashburn; and sister Betty Mason. She is preceded in death by her brothers, Jerry McClure, Jimmy McClure; and husband, Richard Marvin.

Cremation has taken place and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. To leave a message of comfort visit www.lcfandson.com

Cecelia Holland

Cecelia Holland began her life’s journey on December 6, 1945. Her parents, Cecil and Ima Brooks made their home in Missouri at the time of her birth. They would live in different areas that included Bakersfield, California where Cecelia attended elementary school.

In time the family traveled to Arkansas where she made many friends while attending Des Arc Schools. On her 26th birthday Cecelia became the wife of Lloyd Webb Holland. After a short engagement the sweet and tender ceremony took place in Little Rock where they chose to remain.

Blessed throughout her life, Cecelia took great pride in her role as a wife, mother, and homemaker. She had a love of family that exceeded all and enjoyed spending time with them whenever she could. She was always the first to say, “I love you.” The first to give a hug, and always enjoyed taking photographs. With every opportunity Cecelia was snapping away to capture the moments. She especially loved looking at photos and remembering the special times they represented.

Cecelia possessed a sweet, sweet nature. She loved everyone around her, and they loved her just as much. With a truly giving and generous heart her home was always open for a meal, or a place to stay. All her life she gave of herself to others, seeing to their needs and wants before her own. Often, she and Lloyd fed family, friends, neighbors, and strangers alike. They hosted an annual July 4 cookout and welcomed all who came.

Cecelia was happiest when she could wait on and take care of others. She excelled at this until her health got her down. Cecelia was also a lady of faith. Knowing the importance of a relationship with her Saviour, Jesus Christ she has been a faithful member of the Fairview Baptist Church in Little Rock for forty-three years.

On April 27, 2023, Cecelia, surrounded by her loved ones, left her earthly home at the age of 77.

She is preceded in death by her parents and brother Raymond Chandler. Cecelia is survived by her husband, Lloyd Holland, two sons: Tommy Joe (Lea) Howell and Leslie DeWayne (Vicky) Howell of Bryant, daughter: Julie Irene Sutterfield of Alexander, five grandchildren: Corey Howell, Ashley (Derek) Wright,

Mandy Brimer, Jonathan Ray, Bryan (Kelly) Morris and four great grandchildren. Also her brother: Bobby Joe (Mary Lou) Brooks and sister: Janice (Ricky) McFarlin all of Des Arc. She will be missed by all that were acquainted with her.

Zona B. Locke

Zona B. Locke, 88, passed away April 26, 2023. She was born in Lonoke, Arkansas to Henry and Mary Harrison.

Zona was a 1952 graduate of Des Arc, Arkansas High School. She was preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Jessie C. Locke and two brothers, David (Norma) and Bob Harrison. Zona is survived by her daughter, Jan Davis of Beebe, Arkansas; sons, Curt (Jennifer) Locke of Florida and Mike (Lisa) Locke of Dallas, Texas; brother, Joe (Shirley) Harrison of Carlisle and sister, Betty (Lewis) Brown of Lonoke. She had four grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, and one loving angelic cat, Marcy.

There will be a graveside service at 11:00

A.M., Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Hicks Cemetery in Lonoke with come and go visitation with the family at 300 Hwy. 236 East in Lonoke after the service.

Arrangements are by Westbrook Funeral Home of Hazen.

Addition

In the William Wesley Caldwell obituary, the names of two granddaughters who preceeded him in death were inadvertently omitted. Their names are Teresa Ross and Angela Vandesteeg. The Herald regrets the mistake.

County Judge Lawrence Holloway displays proclamation with members of Prairie County EHC.

M ay i s E x t e n s ion

By Emilee Moody

May Is Extension Homemakers Month in Arkansas Extension Homemakers in Prairie County will celebrate the contributions of their organization to the community during May as Extension Homemakers Month in Arkansas.

As a part of the observance, County Judge Lawrence Holloway has officially proclaimed May as Extension Homemakers Month in Prairie County. Mr. Holloway attended the EHC Spring Council Meeting on April 27th and we thank him for his support of EHC in Prairie County.

Prairie County has five clubs that meet in

H o mema k ers M ont h

Biscoe, Hickory Plains, De Valls Bluff, Des Arc and Hazen.

The Arkansas Extension Homemakers Council is an organization associated with the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.

Prairie County’s EHC clubs are among the 321 clubs throughout the state, with more than 3,200 members. Their mission is to empower individuals and families to improve their lives through continuing education, leadership development, and community service.

Arkansas Extension Homemakers began in 1912 as Home Demonstration Clubs. In recent years, EHC clubs across the state have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic by sewing and donating more than 30,000 masks to medical facilities, nursing homes, first responders and other groups needing masks in their respective communities. They also collectively raised enough money to provide over four-million meals to food-insecure Arkansas families.

Currently, EHC clubs have adopted a statewide project titled EHC Cares. This project aims to raise awareness for mental health and educate their communities on the importance of one’s mental wellbeing.

EHC has a “SP A ”- t acular mee tin g

By Emilee Moody

Members of Prairie County Extension Homemakers Clubs met on April 27th for their annual Spring Council Meeting. This year’s theme was “EHC is SPA-tacular”.

EHC Council President, Mitzi Osborne opened the event and introduced keynote speaker Nancy Hightower from the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture who spoke to the group about Mental Health and the importance of Self Care. Attendees learned that there are 5 parts of Self -Care –Social, Physical, Environmental, Recreational, and

Ce nt er P oint Ceme t ery don a tion s & mem o r i als

Donations:

Sandra Simoneaux

M/M Charles Greenwalt

Letha Hoover

Judy Swaim

Charla Golding

Jessica Scarborough

Memorials: In Memory of Tommy & Mary Edge

Mark & Sara Beth

Edge

In Memory of Franky

Martin

Curtis Adams

M/M Joe Foster Holmes Farms In Memory of Kee

Family

Charles Kee In Memory of Betty

Jean Holmes

M/M Howard Wallace

M/M Billy Booth

Phylis Wujs Roland Felts Family

Farm In Memory of Guy & Ruth Ewing

Harold & Addie Ewing

Lela Ewing Troy and Frances White Ewing Travis & Eva Ewing

If

Mental/Emotional.

Following up the lesson Prairie County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, Emilee Moody prepared activities that incorporate Self-Care into our everyday lives.

EHC members created a hand scrub, a DIY Stress Ball, and a DIY Rice Warmie with Rice that was donated from Riceland. Each Fall and

Spring Emilee Moody and the Prairie County EHC Council plan county wide educational events to promote EHC and recruit new members. If you are interested in joining Prairie County EHC please contact the Prairie County Extension Office at 870998-2614 or email emoody@uada.edu.

The road to wellness can be a bumpy one, gentle readers. For me it has gone exceptionally well, so far (knock on wood). One of the hardest things about rehabilitating from any major event that strips you of your strength, your dignity, your confidence, and your self reliance is working to regain each in turn.

That road is different for everyone. Mine has been pushing myself to walk, (literally) as fast as possible. I realize that I have never been a stranger to pain or adversity. Usually each of my previous humblings were self imposed. When I was younger, I wasn’t always known for making the best decisions. The only difference here is the fact that I did not have much choice or control over the necessity of this humbling, probably due in part to the poor decisions mentioned earlier. But I digress, as usual.

The main thing I want to pontificate about with you this week, gentle readers, is the role we play in our own healing process. I have always been competitive; however, I have reached a point in my life when I no longer compete against other people but with myself. In a way, that is what I have always been doing, just with the guise of others being in the way. Now the only things in the way are my ego, some pain, and the desire to take the path of least resistance. Pushing the miles per hour up on the treadmill or going to the park to put in some extra walking or doing breathing exercises; each is a choice I either decide to do or not do.

Ultimately, this is true in any trying time. Putting in the work is a choice.

Throughout my time in pulmonary rehab I have met several other lung transplant patients. Most older. Some younger. All at varying points in recovery; striding toward the future or suffering setbacks. Some confident in their futures, others on the brink of giving up. I try to be a source of support to the confident and a cheerleader to the ones on the brink.

To be honest, I have a hard time not getting angry with the ones trying to throw in the towel. I know that is harsh, but here is the deal. Those being the most obstinate and fatalistic (by and large) are those for whom struggle is something new. They are used to things being physically easy, and if it is going to be hard, life doesn’t seem worth the effort.

Some have refused to take meds or be readmitted due to infection or mounting rejection. Some don’t push themselves or have any noticeable goals other than getting through their three required months as quickly as possible.

Here is my take on that attitude, and as usual it comes from a baseball movie: “It is the Hard that makes it great!” (Jimmy Dugan, “A League of Their Own”). If you weren’t willing to work through the good and the bad, you shouldn’t have said “yes” to the lungs. I have spoken to nurses who see their patients give up every day. The light at the end of the tunnel becomes clouded or darkened or shut out entirely for each of us from time to time. That is both the beauty and tragedy of this cruelly glorious thing called life. We each have our crosses to bear. We only have two choices: we either pick them up and put one foot in front of the other or we nail ourselves to them. But make no mistake, if we choose the latter option, we will be the only ones that see ourselves as martyrs to our hardships.

I have picked out a few nails on several occasions throughout my 42plus years on this planet. But each time, I’ve returned them to the metaphoricallystretched bin for one simple reason. Giving up is final. It eliminates all possibility of the light returning. If the great I Am wishes for my presence, He will have to work for it, because I am not done fighting for that next spark of light that may or may not be around the next obstacle! I will fight the big guy upstairs every step of the way. I will not “go gent[ly] into that good night!” My life will have to be pried out of my cold, trembling, clenched fists. I will “burn and rave at the close of [my] day!” Because, I don’t see why this great gift I have been given by both my creator and the young man who died to give it back to me deserves any less.

I’m not the smartest, strongest, or most ironwilled person I know (even out of my close set of friends), but I might be the most stubborn, obnoxious, and contumelious person I know. And, that has to count for something.

I will end this week, my gentle and generous readers, with a quote I repeat to myself every day when I’m on the treadmill as I’m sweating, my legs are burning, and my workout seems like one of Hercules’ labors. It is an amalgamation of the last two stanzas of the poem “If” by the great British author and poet Rudyard Kipling: “If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew To serve your turn long after they are gone, And so hold on when there is nothing in you Except the will which says to them ‘Hold on!’ ... If you can fill the unforgiving minute, With sixty seconds worth of distance run, Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it, And – which is more – you’ll be a Man my son!” The last line needs to be adjusted a bit to serve All sexes, but I will stand by the idea and attempt to fill the unforgiving minute until “[I am] shuffl[ed] off this mortal coil” by my creator.

I hope you decide to do the same when you are met with what seem like insurmountable obstacles. I have faith in you. Because one way or another, this too shall pass. And either way it goes, at the end at least you can approach the Pearly Gates with your head held high and say “I gave all I had. Thank you for giving me the strength to do that.”

If you would like to comment or talk to me about anything, please email me at thatbradowguy@gmail.com. If you are not an organ donor, please consider becoming one. It’s simple. It’s easy. It might be the last gift you can give to the world.

The Lady Hornets squeezed out a victory with a 3-2 win over the Lady Bison last week, qualifying the team for the regional tournament. (Ruth Corley photo.)

L ady Hornets q u alify for re g ional

By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor

The Hazen Lady Hornets split two games last week to qualify for the regional tournament, which starts this week at Riverside High School. Hazen gave conference champion McCrory fits in a 6-5 loss then edged rival Carlisle 3-2 on Friday.

In the loss to McCrory, Hazen led 5-4 heading into the bottom of the eighth. The Lady Jaguars scored two runs in bottom of the frame to get the win.

Hazen took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth.

Hazen led 4-2 after scoring two runs in the top of the seventh.

McCrory tied the game, sending it into extra innings with two runs in the bottom of the seventh.

McCrory scored single runs in the first and third innings. Hazen scored twice in the second.

Scoring for Hazen were Savannah Glover, Jordyn Besancon, Jaci Hackelton and Taylor Griffin.

Lexi Dulany struck out nine in 7 2/3 innings of work.

In the win over Carlisle, Hazen scored all three of its runs in the top of the fifth at Bobby Glover Field. Carlisle led 1-0 after the first inning. Dulany pitched well, striking out 16 Carlisle batters. She gave up only two hits — one each by Laken Golden and McKinnley Cook. Golden scored Carlisle’s lone run. Scoring for Hazen were Besancon, Griffin and London Smith.

Hornets defeat Palestine-Wheatley

By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor

The Hazen Hornets knocked off PalestineWheatley 1-0 last week. Collin Kee threw a four-hitter in the victory. He struck out four Patriot batters. Hazen’s lone run came in the third inning. Eli Weems scored on a sin- gle by Kolton Tosh. The Hornets had six hits in the game. Tosh was 3 for 3. Weems, Nash Arenett and Kee had one hit each.

L ady E a g les ro u t Palestine-Wheatley

By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor

The Des Arc Lady Eagles split two games last week. They lost to McCrory 15-7 on Thursday then routed PalestineWheatley 10-0 on Friday.

In the loss to McCrory, Des Arc led 2-1 after one inning but trailed 13-2 after the top of the sixth. Des Arc scored four runs in the bottom of the frame to keep the

By Mark Buffalo Sports Editor

The Carlisle Bison baseball team remained perfect in league play with a 13-3 win over England last Monday. Carlisle played Hazen in game going. McCrory then scored two more in the top of the seventh. Des Arc plated a run in the bottom of the frame to account for the final score.

Makenzie Williams scored three runs to lead the Lady Eagles.

Kymber Buckner scored twice. Also scoring were Kaylee McDonald and Grace Night. Williams was 3 for 4 with an RBI. McDonald had two RBIs.

In the win over the regular-season finale on Monday.

Palestine-Wheatley, Des Arc scored two runs in the first, third and sixth innings while scoring four times in the second. Harleigh Holloway and Alaina Fields each scored twice for the Lady Eagles. Also scoring were Buckner, McDonald, Gabi Berry, Bella Flanagan, Karly Woodall and Terryanna Daniels. McDonald struck out 15 Lady Patriots hitters to get the win.

The Bison are now 18-6 overall and 11-0 in the 2A-6. They will play in the regional tournament later this week at Riverside High School

Skyway Towers, LLC proposes to build a 260foot Self-Support Communications Tower.

Anticipated lighting application is medium intensity dual red/white strobes. The Site location is 9771 Hwy 38 W, Des Arc, Prairie County, AR 72040, Lat: 34-59-29.2, Long: -91-43-56.6.

The Federal Communications Commission

(FCC) Antenna Structure Registration (ASR, Form 854)

The filing number is A1243408.

ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS –Interested persons may review the application (www.fcc.gov/asr/applications) by entering the filing number.

Environmental concerns may be raised by filing a Request for Environmental Review (www.fcc.gov/asr/environmentalrequest) and online filings are strongly encouraged.

The mailing address to file a paper copy is:

FCC Requests for Environmental Review in northeast Arkansas. In the win over England, the Bison scored five runs in the bottom of the first to lead 5-1. They added two in the second and six in the fourth. England scored single runs in the first, second and third innings. Eli Roberts, Hayden Ingle, Zach Busick and Davis Hayes each hit a double. Jason Sullivan had a triple. Busick scored three runs to lead the Bison. Scoring twice were Roberts, Joseph Cook, Gabe Boyle and Sullivan. Also scoring were Hayes and Holden Jones. Sullivan was 2 for 3 with two RBIs. Roberts also had two hits. Ingle had three RBIs. Jones got the win in relief. He struck out four in four innings of work.

Attn: Ramon Williams 445 12th Street SW Washington, DC 20554.