Boozman Honored with VFW Congressional Award

WASHINGTON—Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) honored U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) with its 2023 Congressional Award in recognition of his commitment to America’s veterans and demonstrated success expanding benefits and improving services they have earned.

“I’m honored to advocate on behalf of our nation’s veterans and their families and proud of what we’ve accomplished to strengthen benefits and services to better support their needs. The achievements we’ve made would not have been possible without the dedicated members of the VFW. I look forward to continuing my commitment and working with the VFW to fulfill the promise we made to the men and women called to serve in uniform,” Boozman said.

“Senator Boozman is a consummate champion of the rights, benefits and quality of life of those who served and those who are still serving our great country,” said VFW Commander-in-Chief Tim Borland. “I can’t think of any other elected representative who has done more in reminding Congress that ‘Every Veteran Counts.’”

The senator met with VFW Department of Arkansas members on March 7 to discuss the organization’s priorities for 2023 which includes supporting the

Boozman-backed “GUARD VA Benefits Act,” legislation to eliminate predatory claims practices.

As a senior member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations

Subcommittee responsible for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) funding, Boozman has been a leader in delivering additional resources to support the needs of veterans and their families.

Boozman continues pursuing that agenda in the 118th Congress. Last month, the Boozman-backed “VA Clinician Appreciation, Recruitment, Education, Expansion, and Retention Support (CAREERS) Act,” legislation to bolster recruitment and retention of the VA workforce, advanced through the committee. He also introduced a trio of bipartisan bills to better support the needs of families of loved ones called to serve.

Under the senator’s leadership, a number of significant improvements were signed into law to improve veterans benefits during the last Congress including landmark legislation expanding VA health care to toxic-exposed veterans of all eras, enhancements to veteran breast cancer care and expanded authority for the VA Office of Inspector General to conduct investigations and interviews.

House members will now be taking an extended recess. When the House reconvenes on March 27, members will be addressing public safety legislation, constitutional amendments, and the budget.

In the days leading up to the recess, the House passed a number of bills addressing human trafficking, elections, and employment.

Bills passed this week that amend human laws include SB282, HB1459, and HB1470.

SB282 allows a victim of human trafficking to bring a civil action against a person or entity who knew or should have known that the individual was being trafficked.

HB1459 increases the fines for a human trafficking conviction and trafficking-related charges to a range between $5,000 and $15,000. The bill directs that the fines be divided between specified funds that support exploited children and trafficking victims.

HB1470 ensures victims are eligible for crime victim reparations even if they do not cooperate with law enforcement.

Election bills passing the House this week included SB 250, SB 254, and SB 258.

SB 250 requires counties to pay for the costs if using paper ballots. SB 254 eliminates the write-in candidate portion on a ballot, and SB 258 prohibits absentee ballot drop boxes.

The House also passed HB1207 which requires local governments to act on permit applications in the first 60 days.

And the House passed HB1575 which requires Arkansans to make at least 5 work searches a week when claiming unemployment benefits. That search could include applying for a job or participating in job training.

In addition, the House passed SB81 and SB66.

SB81 amends the law concerning libraries and obscene materials and creates the offense of furnishing a harmful item to a minor. It states furnishing a harmful item to a minor is a Class A misdemeanor.

SB66 requires a commercial entity to use a reasonable age verification method before allowing access to a website that contains a substantial portion of material that is harmful to minors.

We will continue to update you in the remaining weeks of the session. You can watch all House committee meetings and floor proceedings at arkansashouse.org.

John Boozman

1120 Garrison Ave. Suite 2B

Fort Smith, AR 72901 Phone: (479) 573-0189

Fax: (479) 575-0553

Bruce

The legislature has advanced a long list of bills to prevent voter fraud and protect the integrity of elections.

Both the Senate and the House of Representatives have passed HB 1510 to schedule all special elections on the same date as traditional primary elections in May and general elections in November. A motivation of the sponsors is to prevent local officials from holding a special election for a tax increase on a date when few people will know about and go to the polls.

In presidential election years, Arkansas primary elections are in March and that is when special elections could be held.

SB 250, which affects counties that choose to use paper ballots, has been sent to the governor. It requires those counties to use paper ballots that are compatible with the vote counting machines of the Secretary of State, and it requires the county to pay the costs of printing and counting the ballots.

SB 254 eliminates write-in candidates in state elections. It has been sent to the governor.

SB 255, which has been sent to the governor, prohibits state and local election officials from accepting any gifts, services, products or anything of value from any source other than the government entity that employs them. A goal is to prohibit social media, consultants, political parties and strategists from paying for any election expenses.

SB 258 prohibits the use of drop boxes for collecting absentee ballots. All absentee ballots that are not delivered by mail must be hand delivered inside the county clerk’s office. SB 258 has passed in both chambers and is on the governor’s desk. Already in law is Act 236, which affects citizens’ groups trying to place an issue on statewide ballots. They will have to gather signatures of registered voters from at least 50 counties. That is an increase from at least 15 counties.

SB 377, which has been advanced by the Senate Judiciary Committee, would make it a crime to destroy signatures gathered on petitions to place an issue on the ballot.

The bill was prompted by incidents that occurred when competing casino interests paid or harassed canvassers.

HB 1513 creates an Election Integrity Unit with the state Attorney General’s office. It is in the House State Agencies and Governmental Affairs Committee.

The Senate has passed SB 272 to require more audits of elections by the state Board of Election Commissioners.

In odd-numbered years an election audit will be performed in 15 to 20 counties, randomly selected. The Board can order an audit in response to complaints of election fraud, and the legislature’s Joint Performance Review Committee can designate a county to be audited.

Act 194 authorizes the state Attorney General to review ballot titles and popular names of proposed amendments and initiatives. For many years the Attorney General reviewed ballot titles, but in 2019 the legislature transferred that authority to the Board of Election Commissioners.

Last year, in a decision on a proposed ballot issue to legalize recreational marijuana, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that the Board of Election Commissioners had no authority to approve ballot titles.

Reverend Vernual Ridgeway

Reverend Vernual Ridgeway went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Sunday, March 12, 2023. He was born July 10th, 1927, in Abbott, Arkansas. He was united in marriage to Mattie Vineyard in 1945 and they were married for 75 years and 4 months at her time of death. In that same year, he joined the Army and served in the occupation of Japan at the end of World War II. He surrendered to the ministry in 1956 and pastored Baptist churches in Pilot View, Bates, Two Mile and Hatfield Arkansas, in Whitesboro and Shady Point, Oklahoma, and in Detroit, Texas. He pastored at the Board Camp Baptist church for 22 years before retiring from the full-time ministry and then supplied at various churches in the association. He picked up his first guitar at the age of 14 and taught himself how to play. He played with a band in the early 1940’s on Radio Station KWHN in Ft Smith, AR. After retirement, he played with a group of senior adults in Hatfield and they had a band called Ridgy’s bunch. They played at churches and various nursing homes and senior centers in Polk County.

Vernual was an active Pastor for the Ouachita Baptist Association and was Moderator for 5 years, Chairman of the camp committee, and Director of the adult camps for 10 years. He was instrumental in laying the groundwork for the Ouachita Baptist Campgrounds.

He loved mountains, hunting, and fishing, but most of all he loved the Lord, his family, friends and church congregations.

Preceding him in death is his wife, Mattie Vineyard Ridgeway, his parents Dave and Della Ridgeway, his sister Ileze (Elzie) Dodge, Brother David (Juanita) Ridgeway, niece Barbara (Charles) Cusick, niece Sharon Smith, niece Sharla Englebright and nephew-in-law Curly Martin. Sistersin-law Ruth (James) Watson, Doris (Mack) Morgan, June (Ken) Brooks and Brother-in-law Carl Finney.

He is survived by his daughter, Carolyn McIntosh, Grandson Troy (Angela) McIntosh, Granddaughter Kristy (Roger) Frazier, Great-Granddaughters Melissa McIntosh, Tara (Shane) Harder, and Great-Great-Grandchildren Summer Martin, Nathan Harder and Jacob Harder. Nieces Violet Martin, Mary Ann (Ronnie) Richmond, Linda Kay (Bill) Carter, Dava Simpson, Cousin Retha Pennington and sisters-in-law Helen Finney, Joy Boren, and Zella (JD) Harrison and a host of other nieces, nephews, and friends.

Services for Mr. Vernual Ridgeway will be held at, 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 18, 2023, at the Board Camp Baptist Church, in Board Camp, Arkansas. Interment will follow at the Liberty Cemetery in Board Camp, Arkansas. Brother Garry Haskins, Brother Don Youngblood, and Brother Grant Geiger will be officiating under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Visitation will be general.

Pallbearers are Jeff Turner, Larry Eades, James Looney, Jacky Lynch, Jackie Morgan, and Shane Harder.

Honorary Pallbearers are Jim Aleshire, James Martin, Larry Maechler, and Henry Tittle.

Online obituary at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com

Jon Anna WalsworthCalleton

Jon Anna Walsworth Calleton, 80, of Mena, AR, passed away on Monday, February 20, 2023, after a long and courageous fight with cancer. She was surrounded by her husband and children.

Jon was born April 9, 1942, to Tina Brownlee Walsworth and John Alvin Walsworth in Springhill, LA. After Jon graduated from Springhill High School in 1960, she went on to study Medical Technology at Northeast Louisiana State College in Monroe, LA. Jon completed a year-long internship at St. Francis Hospital in Monroe, LA. After completing college, she began work as a Registered Medical Technologist. Her career began at Springhill Hospital in Springhill, LA. She worked as a Med Tech for 46 years, with her last job being at Mena Regional Medical Center, where she worked for 26 years.

In 1960, Jon met Richard Calleton at the public tennis courts in Springhill, LA. During their marriage, they lived in Baton Rouge, LA, Warwick, NY, Guadalajara, Mexico, various places in Arkansas, Shreveport, LA, Hot Springs, AR and finally landing in Mena in 1984. Jon and Richard went on to have 2 children — Kelly Renee Calleton Healy and Jonathan Edward Dewey Calleton (Jed).

Jon spent her free time quilting with friends (Quilt & Chat), gardening, traveling to go fly fishing with her husband and son, reading, PEO, attending community college, and traveling to see her grandchildren and the world. Jon was a Master Gardener for many years and helped with garden- ing projects around town — the most visible the Courthouse. She loved taking care of her own yard as well which included riding her lawn mower.

Jon was preceded in death by her parents, her mother-in-law Dorothy Calleton, her Aunt Lorraine and Uncle Joe LaFreniere, her brother-in-law Ron Corbell, sister-in-law Elizabeth Calleton, and nephew Brian Corbell.

She is survived by her husband Richard Calleton, her daughter Kelly and son-in- law David and grandchildren Spencer and Ava Healy, her son Jed and daughter-in-law Juliet and granddaughter Natalie Calleton, her sister Karen Corbell and niece and nephew Kim Corbell and Ron Corbell, her brother-in-law Ted Calleton sister-in-law Kathy and nephew Jay, niece Susan Germundson and husband Kurt and their children Eric and Rachel, niece Pam Calleton, and nephew Chris Calleton and his wife Jennifer and their children Kylie, Cade, and Keira

Jon will be remembered by her family as a loving and supportive wife, mother, sister, and grandmother and to her community as one of the most generous, hardworking and involved volunteers. Her love and light were warm and beautiful- she will be missed for the time and smiles she gave so freely. She was the personification of grace, kindness, and love.

Visitation will be held on Monday, March 27, 2023, at Beasley Wood Funeral Home with a memorial service to follow at 11:00 am. In lieu of flowers, it was Jon’s wish that donations be sent to the Humane Society of the Ouachitas, https://hsomena.org/ site/donate/ — as Jon was a huge dog lover and had too many to count dog rescues throughout her life.

Online obituary at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com

Dayton Holman

Mr. Dayton Holman, age 90, passed away Wednesday, March 15, 2023, in Mena, Arkansas. He was born November 16, 1932, in Opal, Arkansas, to the late Tom and Leora (Bates) Holman.

Mr. Holman attended Southern State College in Magnolia, Arkansas, for two years and transferred to University of Arkansas, where he graduated receiving his bachelor’s degree in agriculture. He would later go on to finish his master’s degree. He was an agricultural teacher by profession and was known as a master gardener. He loved growing azaleas especially. Mr. Holman was a member of the Wickes Methodist Church in Wickes, Arkansas, from 1965 till the time of his passing.

Mr. Holman is survived by his loving wife, Maxine Holman; son, Terry Paul Holman and wife Rhonda; daughter, Jackie Michelle Holman Wentz and husband Randy; grandchildren, Lyle Holman, Tabitha Mitchell and husband Mitch, Joshua Paul Wentz, Alison Wentz, Maegan Elizabeth Wentz, Nathaniel Burton Wentz, and Andrew Wentz; 5 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren; sister, Lila Roberson; special niece, Lindy Jumper; as well as a host of other nieces, nephews, other family and friends too numerous to mention.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Leora (Bates) Holman; brothers, Thomas Fomby Holman, Newell Holman; sisters, Durrell Simpson, Vivian Foster Muldoon, and Juanita Rainwater.

Services for Mr. Holman will be held at 2:00 p.m., Monday, March

20, 2023, at the Wickes Methodist Church, in Wickes, Arkansas. Brother Steve Copley will be officiating under the direction of Beasley-Wood Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Mt. Gilead Cemetery in Mena, Arkansas. Visitation will be held Sunday, March 19, 2023, at Beasley-Wood Funeral Home from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Pallbearers will be Orvin Foster, Jerry Foster, Randy Rainwater, Joshua Wentz, David Forbes and Bobby Hawkins.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Jimmie Miles, and Jay Fuller.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Mt. Gilead Cemetery in care of Michelle Yahn, 1853 Polk 48, Mena, AR 71953, or the P.C.D.C. Special Olympics, 201 S. Morrow St., Mena, AR 71953.

Online obituary at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com

Dewey Head

Dewey Head, age 83, of Board Camp, Arkansas, passed away Wednesday, March 15, 2023, at his home. He was born on Wednesday, May 3, 1939, to Elmer Daniel Head and Ethel Cole Head in Mena, Arkansas.

Dewey served proudly in the United States Army National Guard for 8 years. He believed in the Golden Rules and always treated others with integrity. Dewey was a very hard worker and was a lineman for the electric company for many years before retiring to run his Cattle Ranch. He shared his wife’s passion for horses and was a member of the Polk County Riding Club. He was an experienced farrier and trained horses for many people in the area. In his free time, he was an avid deer hunter and was also a collector of old rifles. Dewey attended the Yocana Baptist Church and was a member for many years. Dewey was a loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend and will be missed by all who knew him.

He is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Mary Head; three brothers, Elba Head, Gene Head, and Shorty Head; and one sister, Opal Walker.

Dewey is survived by one daughter, Tina McMellon of Board Camp; one brother, Roger Head of Mena; one grandson, Cole McMellon of Board Camp; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.

A funeral service will be held on Friday, March 17, 2023, at 2:00 PM at the Bowser Family Funeral Home Chapel in Mena with Brother Lynn Chiles officiating. Interment will follow at the Board Camp Cemetery in Board Camp, Arkansas. Visitation will be general at the Bowser Family Funeral Home from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM during office hours on Thursday, March 16, 2023.

Pallbearers will be Jason Head, Josh Head, Justin Head, Danny Head, Pat Nelson, and James Looney.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Larry Walker and C. L. Cogburn.

Funeral service will be live streamed at https://bowserffh.com/obituaries/ dewey-head in Mena, Arkansas, on Thursday March 16, 2023. He was born July 28, 1926, in Morrison Bluff, Arkansas, a son of the late Henry Knittig and Josephine Kirchner Knittig.

He was predeceased by his wife of 51 years, Agnes Lienhart and his brothers, Aloys, Robert, Steve and Andrew.

He is survived by six children: Mary Jo Kline (Wendall) of Alma, AR, Carol Janowicz of North Little Rock, AR, Martin Knittig (Cindy) of Mena, AR, Frank Knittig (Nora) of Little Rock, AR, Tim Knittig of Little Rock, AR, and Cathy Trower (Ray) of North Little Rock, AR, and 12 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

He was a WWII army veteran. He was a member of St. Theresa Catholic Church for over 60 years. He was a carpenter for the Donaghey Building in Little Rock for 44 years. He was a man who lived out his faith in his everyday living, and his legacy of faith and family will be remembered forever. Giving to others, carpentry, and gardening were some of his favorite things in life. He gave his garden produce to Helping Hands, and he volunteered for years for the Knights of Columbus. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin, friend and will be missed dearly.

Joseph H. Knittig, age 96, beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather died at The Green House Cottages of Homewood

Visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. Sunday March 19, 2023, at the Roller-Drummond Funeral Home Chapel (501) 455-5800. A mass of Christian burial will be at 10:00 a.m. Monday March 20, 2023, at St. Theresa Catholic Church preceded by a rosary at 9:30 am. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Forrest Ogden as a production test pilot. In 1983 he participated in a flight around the world in a Gulfstream Turbo-Commander in slightly less than 76 hours. This set a world record for that class of airplane.

Forrest was born in Texarkana, Tx. into a family with deep roots in Mena, Arkansas. He enjoyed many happy days visiting the Ogden family on Bethesda Road as his family moved from Texarkana to McAlester, and on to Nashville, TN.

As a young boy he enjoyed riding trains with his father, who was employed by Kansas City Southern. This started a lifelong passion for trains. He also was fascinated by airplanes. His first flight was when he jumped off the garage roof in a homemade airplane made from cardboard boxes. Aviation became his career.

After graduating from Central High School in Nashville, TN, in 1948, he joined the Civil Air Patrol and then the Army Air Corp. While on leave visiting family in Mena in 1953, he was introduced to Shirley Struve by his Uncle and Aunt, Orville and Margaret Ogden. He received his commission, wings and wife in 1954. In 1966 he received the Air Medal with two oak leaf clusters and received various campaign and service awards. In 1966 he was commended for a 1965 mission in which he and his crew rescued 7 fighters under extraordinary circumstances. In 1968, he retired from the U.S. Air Force with the rank of Major and moved to the place he always wanted to live, Mena AR. He worked at KENA, First National Bank, and was a flying instructor. He taught many local pilots to fly.

After their four children graduated high school his aviation skills took him to Oklahoma City where he worked for Gulfstream Aerospace

After his second retirement, he and Shirley enjoyed living in Mena, Arkansas, and spending their summers in Ruidoso, NM. He enjoyed working with his uncles Orville and Paul Roy on their farm along the Mountain Fork River.

He was a lifelong Methodist and was a 55+ year member of the First United Methodist Church in Mena.

He enjoyed the time he spent with the Ouachita Amateur radio club, the Ruidoso New Mexico Amateur Radio Clubs, the Masons and the VFW. He maintained his membership in the Society of Experimental Test Pilots, Red River Valley Association (aka River Rats - a Vietnam fighter pilot organization) and the Order of Daedalians Society. He served on the Mena School board during the infamous Punch Bowl controversy.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Shirley Kay Ogden, his parents Cheatham Ogden, Sr, and Annice Ogden, and his sister Ann Cochran.

He is survived by his 4 children: Steve Ogden of Gunnison, Colorado, Fred and Delilah Ogden of Mena, AR, & Rockwell, TX, Ginger and Aubrey Sterner of Yocanna, AR, and Janet and Jerry Gorden of Broken Arrow, OK. There are 5 grandchildren (Charmian Ogden, Stephen Ogden, Mandy Gorden Green, Benjamin Gorden, & Matthew Bingham, and 8 great-grandchildren.

The family wishes to acknowledge his caregivers: Alice Anderton, Bonnie Stiltner, Melissa Owens, Sandy Endicott, Charity Mabry, Dr. David Henderson, and the wonderful staff of the Homewood Cottages.

A private burial will be held and a memorial service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers if you feel inclined, please make a donation to the first United Methodist Church in memory of Forrest.

Patsy Ruth (Jones) Watts

Patsy Ruth (Jones) Watts, age 85, born February 9th, 1938, to the late Isaac Wade Jones and the late Cordella (Graham) Jones, passed from this life on March 19th, 2023.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Isaac and Cordia; her husband of 64 years, Garland “Crook” Lee Watts; her son, Ronald “Tody” Wendell Watts; her infant daughter, Karen Lee Watts; two brothers, Billy Jones (wife Carol), and Leo Jones and late wife Alma; two sisters, Geraldine “Bobbie” Holt and late husband Hank, and Maxine McCoy and late husband Melvin.

She is survived by three daughters, Grondia Lane and husband Jimmy, Brenda Lane and late husband Justin, and Gwenda “Lilly” Richey and husband Monte; three sons, Ronnie “Sam” Watts, Steve Watts and wife Connie, and Alford Watts and wife Tina; two brothers, Fred Jones and wife Carolyn, and Isaac “Pete” Jones; three sisters, Charlene Harris and Husband Bob, Judy Dunigan and late husband Jimmy, and Shirley Clinton and husband Willie; numerous nieces and nephews; and a host of other family and friends. Patsy had 24 grandkids, and 98 great and greatgreat-grandkids.

Graveside services will be held

11:00 a.m. Wednesday, March 22, 2023, at Piney Cemetery in Blackfork, Arkansas, with Pastor Noah Watts officiating. General visitation will be held at Beasley-Wood Funeral Home on Tuesday from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Pallbearers are Wendell Lane, Sambo Watts, Michael McCravens, Randell Watts, Zack Watts, and Buck Lane. Honorary Pallbearers are John Edwards, Quentin Roberts, Joseph McCravens, Hunter Cox, Matthew McCravens.

Online obituary at beasleywoodfuneralhome.com