Arkadelphia Dispatch - January 14, 2021

Vol. 2, No. 49

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021

Farmhouse Momo Hibachi and Sushi: The under new management consistent and delicious Caroline Derby Dispatch Reporter

Photo by Pete Tubbs, DIspatch Editor in Chief.

Momo may have a cute name, but it is no joke. The new Japanese Hibachi contender in town punches above its weight class with competitive prices, a diverse menu, and a nice atmosphere.

Pete Tubbs Editor in Chief

Warm faces, a chill vibe, and a genuinely good menu await those that visit Momo Hibachi and Sushi. The new restaurant represents a bright light for the dark track record of restaurants that have previously inhabited the spot on North 10th Street.

Located across from Phillips 66 on North 10th Street, Momo Hibachi and Sushi recently opened its doors. Following the quick departure of Captain Express Hawaiian Barbeque and the exit of the Italian Cuisine Restaurant before it, Momo may have looked like it had an uphill battle.

Based on what I’ve seen, though, Momo is well on its way to becoming one of

the standout places to eat in Arkadelphia.

The menu, as stated, prominently features hibachi and sushi. The rolls range from 2.99 to 10.95, and feature all manner of cooking styles.

Traditional rolls like avocado and cucumber can be found on the lower end costwise. Specialty rolls start at 8.99 with the Angry Tail and goes up to the Seafood Lover at 10.95.

Of course, Momo wouldn’t be a southern sushi place if they didn’t sell deep fried rolls, and there’s a huge selection of those here.

They all are priced on the high side, but if that’s your bag, they’re certainly tasty.

The hibachi menu is perhaps the most surprisingly priced. All of the entrees are served with fried rice,

vegetables, and yum yum sauce, and they start at 6.99.

If you’re looking for something a bit lighter, their nigiri (tuna pictured above in the top right corner) ranges from 2.99 to 2.99.

Speaking of lighter foods, I haven’t even touched the appetizer menu.

On the starter side, you can find some traditional japanese staples like wontons, edamame, and seaweed salad. The standout dish of the entire restaurant however, in my opinion, are the jalapeno poppers.

The poppers (pictured above in the bottom left) are halved jalapenos garnished with deep fried spicy tuna and cream cheese and topped with the restaurant’s special sauces. The combination of flavors and textures make this one of

the most interesting tasting foods in all of Arkadelphia.

The restaurant itself is tended by some extremely nice waiters, and is accompanied with low-playing easy listening music that seems like it shouldn’t fit in a japanese restaurant but strangely does. I’ve been five times, and I haven’t spent more than 15 minutes waiting for my food.

If I had one criticism, it’d be the lack of a sashimi collection. While that food would be nice, I can lose that just to get everything else Momo has to offer.

I know you probably couldn’t tell from what I’ve already written, but Momo has my heart. Make no mistake, this is a great place to eat.

Lighthouse Ministries works for the spirit and the community Caroline Derby Dispatch Reporter

In the uncertain times that are upon us all, organizations helping our communities are more important than ever before. The Lighthouse Ministries of Arkadelphia, located on Highway 67 South, is a part of the Red River Baptist Association.

They strive to serve and aid citizens of Arkadelphia and surrounding areas. Since its opening in the early 2000s, the ministry has been providing food, clothing, and household items to people in need. The Lighthouse builds relationships with its clients and helps them spiritually as well.

During the holiday season, the Lighthouse Ministry served citizens by opening a toy shop for parents to come and collect gifts for their children, as well as providing food baskets for Christmas dinner. Debbie

Files, Director of the Lighthouse Ministries of Arkadelphia, has been helping grow the ministry throughout her seven years serving in that role. “The first year, we were helping 25 to 30 families, and now it has doubled,” Files said. In the year 2020, they helped 306 people in 62 families, which included 198 children. Around the Christmas season, the Lighthouse Ministry helps who they can and considers everyone’s needs in the process. “The more people give, the more we are able to help,” Files said. The organization uses donations to assist others in every way they can.

The Lighthouse Ministry relies heavily on the work of its volunteers and always welcomes new volunteers to serve in various capacities. From sorting clothing to working the cash register in the thrift store to preparing for clients to shop the

Christmas section, a variety of jobs are needed to make things run smoothly and efficiently. Recently, however, there has been a need for volunteers. “Working a shift in the thrift store or sorting and hanging clothing are both always a great help to us,” Files said.

For the year 2021, Files wants to continue to grow the ministry and help as many people as possible.

“With corona, so many people who have not been in need before are in need now, and it will take them a while to recover. The more people we can help, the better,” Files said. She is grateful for people’s generosity who have not been as negatively affected as some due to the pandemic. They have significantly aided in continuing the mission of the Lighthouse Ministry.

The Lighthouse is open for shopping and drop-

ping off donations Monday through Thursday. To help prepare for Christmas 2021, buying toys on sale throughout the year and then donating them is a great way to support the ministry’s Christmastime efforts. Those toys will be put away and saved until the next Christmas season arrives.

The Lighthouse Ministry looks forward to serving this community in the years to come. Monetary donations, as well as donating food and time, support the Lighthouse Ministry on a day to day basis. Files said, “We want everyone to know that we are here and that we care.”

In the spirit of the New Year, if you would like to volunteer or make a donation, call (870) 246-9524.

GAC announces format for 2021 men’s and women’s basketball championships

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. – On Wednesday, the Great American Conference announced the format for the 2021 Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships.

For the first time in league history, all 12 teams will qualify for postseason play and campus sites will serve as the venues for both tournaments.

The 2021 GAC Championships will begin on Monday, March 1 with a total of eight first-round matchups.

The No. 3 and No. 4 seeds from both the Eastern and Western Divisions will host the No. 6 and No. 5 seeds, respectively.

On Wednesday, March 3,

the top two seeds will host the divisional semifinals.

The top seeds will take on the winner between the No. 4 and No. 5 seeds. The No. 2 seeds draw the winner between the No. 3 and No. 6 seeds On Friday, March 5, the highest remaining seed will host the divisional championships. On Sunday, March 7, the highest remaining seed will host the GAC Championship game. The league will use a coin toss in the event two equal seeds reach the final.

“I would like to credit our athletic administrators for coming up with a unique plan during this most unique

of basketball seasons, “ GAC Commissioner Will Prewitt said. “The first seven days of March will represent an incredible week as we will get to see all 24 GAC teams compete for championships across the conference footprint.”

Additionally, the league announced that conference games canceled due to positive tests or contact tracing would be treated as no contests. Schools can make up contests up to the 22-game NCAA Division II limit, but those games will not count in the final standings. Win percentage will determine the final standings.

Monday, March 1 No. 5 East at No. 4 East No. 6 East at No. 3 East No. 5 West at No. 4 West No. 6 West at No. 3 West Wednesday, March 3 No. 4/5 East Winner at No. 1 East No. 3/6 East Winner at No. 2 East No. 4/5 West Winner at No. 1 West No. 3/6 West Winner at No. 2 West Friday, March 5 Divisional Championships at highest remaining seed Sunday, March 7 GAC Championship at highest remaining seed (Coin Toss if equal seeds)

The Farmhouse, a small business in downtown Arkadelphia, is under new ownership. David and Tracy Rider, long time residents of the Arkadelphia community, have taken on the new endeavor of running the Farmhouse. They both had always admired the store, and when the previous owners decided to leave town, the Riders did not want to lose the Farmhouse too.

“We immediately reached out to The Montgomerys, who we knew had poured their hearts and souls into making this company what it is. We explained to them that we would be honored to be able to purchase it and carry on the legacy they started in our wonderful little community. Within a month of our conversation, we became the proud new owners of The Farmhouse,” Tracy Rider said.

This store has been a staple in downtown Arkadelphia for several years and has come to be a store locals go to when needing gifts, home decor, and other unique items. Although the Riders are not looking to change much about the store, they will add several new items while keeping the idea and atmosphere the same as it has always been. “We are introducing men’s gifts, pet products, and accessories and trying to bring more children’s items in. We will also be adding more items that contain our amazing one of a kind logo.” These new items will provide more ways to shop within the Farmhouse and help keep the business going.

Small business shop-

ping is essential, and in downtown Arkadelphia, the Riders plan to make sure that their new business also supports other small businesses’ efforts within the town. Rider believes that small businesses are the backbone of communities. When you purchase an item from a local business, not only are you receiving a product or service, you are also helping to keep your community alive. The money you spend at a local business not only helps to provide services within your community, but your money will be spent several times over throughout your town,” Rider said. It is important to the Riders that their business helps keep downtown Arkadelphia alive and flourishing by supporting neighboring companies.

Under this new ownership, the Farmhouse will continue to be a loved part of the Arkadelphia community and a place where people can go shopping locally.

The Riders are not new to Arkadelphia and want to continue the legacy of greatness the previous owners started with the Farmhouse.

Rider said, “We have raised three children here, we have a wonderful church family, an unimaginable number of loving and supportive friends and the best family anyone could ever ask for here. Our hearts are very much in this community, and we want to see it thrive.”

The Riders are excited to be a part of downtown with their “historic, one of a kind corner store.”

The Farmhouse is located at 636 Main Street and will officially reopen on Saturday, January 16th, from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Arkadelphia Public Schools update Arkadelphia Public Schools Update

We hope our students and families were able to get somewhat back into the swing of things last week as we eased into a new semester.

A reminder that APSD will continue “Virtual Fridays” in which students have the option of completing their work working from home each Friday. Also a reminder that breakfasts and lunches are still free for all students thanks to a USDA grant!

PLEASE see the information below regarding COVID-19 guidelines and precautions that will help our district as we navigate through the spring semester. The COVID-19-related information in this week’s Badger Blast isn’t new information, but it’s still an important refresher. As we have new information related to COVID-19 throughout the semester, we’ll relay it here.

Also for those of you who receive this in your e-mail inbox, forward it or share it with your friends when you see it on social media so they can subscribe and receive the Badger Blast each week.

As the semester progresses, the Badger Blast will add more information from all APSD campuses.

UPCOMING DATES Tuesday, Jan. 12 -- Report Cards go home for Perritt and Peake Monday, Jan. 18 -- NO SCHOOL - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Thursday, Feb. 11 -- Par-

ent Teacher Conferences (no school) Friday, Feb. 12 -- NO SCHOOL Monday, Feb. 15 -- Presidents’ Day - NO SCHOOL BADGER ATHLETICS WEEKLY SCHEDULES Most years it is the spring sports schedule that sees last-minute changes due to weather-related postponements and cancelations.

However, with the Covid-19 protocols in place we have seen numerous last-minute changes to schedules. When you see the “This Week in Badger Athletics” weekly schedule either here on the Badger Blast or on social media, please know that it is what is scheduled as of Sunday afternoon of the coming week. For the most up-to-date information on schedule changes, there are a few ways you can find out late-breaking changes: 1) Make sure you and/ or your student have signed up for the preferred method of communication from his or her coach. This could be text messaging, GroupMe, Remind or other messagings apps. Also making sure that your student remembers to communicate important information from coaches or sponsors will help out the process.

2) Visit APSD Athletics social media outlets including Badger Athletics on Facebook and the APSD Athletics Twitter Account.

2 News

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021

Arkadelphia Dispatch

Westerman on last week’s Capitol violence Bruce Westerman U.S. Representative

While members of Congress were peaceably and constitutionally debating the electoral votes on Jan. 6, rioters violently stormed the U.S. Capitol, resulting in death, destruction and a national disgrace. This is unacceptable, and I condemn these actions in the strongest terms.

The Constitution explicitly outlines that federal elections are state legislatures’ responsibility, giving Congress a final check with a provision to object to electors. I’ve said all along that we should let our court system work, and I supported a variety of legal challenges

to investigate election fraud allegations. However, I did not object to the final count of electors.

The failed votes in Congress did nothing to change the outcome of the Nov. 3 election, nor could they have changed it had they passed.

As much as we may not like the results of an election, resorting to mob rule is wholly un-American. We can – we must – be better than this.

Through some of our country’s darkest days, we’ve maintained a peaceful transition of power. This year should be no different.

We cannot flirt with undoing the very foundation of our Constitution and pretend that it will all work out in the end.

My oath was not to defend a party or a person, it was to defend the Constitution of the United States. I will never stop fighting for the Constitution and conservative ideals in Congress, and I know many of you feel as though your voice isn’t being heard. It is, but changes must be done through the appropriate channels. Now, more than ever, we need to demonstrate strong leadership and work to restore trust in our election process through independent audits, oversight and more.

This much is clear: what happened at the Capitol on many different levels must never happen again.

Hutchinson on vigilance and the COVID-19 vaccine Asa Hutchinson AR Governor

We’re almost a month into our COVID-19 immunization program, and today I’d like to emphasize the importance of Arkansans taking one of the two approved vaccines so that we can stop the coronavirus and get back to our lives.

The vaccines are the most important tool in our fight against COVID. The masking, the social distancing, and the hand washing continue to be important, but they are placeholders while researchers developed a vaccine. The vaccine is our big gun, and if people participate widely, the number of cases will decline.

In Phase 1-A, we have received 194,000 doses of the vaccine to date, and we have administered nearly 59,000 to health care workers, long-term care facility residents and staff. EMS and law-enforcement officers and firefighters have also been included as firstresponders. We hope to inoculate all of the 180,000 people in Phase 1-A by January 30.

Phase 1-B, which we plan to start in February, includes people who are at least 70 years of age, teachers and school staff, food and agricultural workers,

firefighters and law enforcement that were not included in 1-A. It will also include manufacturing workers, grocery store employees, public transportation workers, child care workers, and essential workers in government, including legislators.

Phase 1-C will include people at least 65 years of age, people ages 16-64 with high-risk medical conditions, and a number of other categories. From transportation and logistics workers, waste and wastewater employees, food-service workers, shelter and housing employees, and those in finance. It will also include IT and communications employees, media, public safety, and public health workers. Phases 2 and 3 will round out the vaccination program.

Some people are reluctant to take the vaccine, and I understand that. Members of the black community have historically distrusted vaccines, but African Americans are disproportionately impacted by COVID, so it is all the more important that they have the vaccine.

Keith Jackson, a championship football player at Parkview High School, the University of Oklahoma, and in the NFL, has devoted his life after football to improving life for kids in

Central Arkansas. He founded Positive Atmosphere Reaches Kids, or P.A.R.K. He knows that the COVID shot is important, which is why he will roll up his sleeve when it’s his turn.

Joe Booker, star of the Broadway Joe Morning Show, is encouraging his listeners to take the vaccine as well. He has made a public service announcement for the Arkansas Department of Health.

“For me, getting the vaccine is the right choice because I love my family,” he says. “I love my wife, my children. I would do anything to keep them all safe. Right now, the best thing I can do is to commit to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. For those of you who are unsure about getting the vaccine, I urge you to think about your loved ones. Many of you may have underlying health conditions or be at a higher risk of contracting the virus. I know keeping them safe is a high priority to you, just as it is to me.”

Thank you, Broadway Joe. I also have confidence in the vaccine myself. The First Lady and I will be taking the vaccine when it is our turn. I hope you will also.

The January edition of ‘Discover Arkansas’ is now available Arkansas Media and Tourism

The January edition of “Discover Arkansas” is now available at www.arkansas. com/discover-arkansas.

Published by Arkansas Tourism, the monthly digital publication highlights events, activities and trip ideas in The Natural State.

January is the perfect month for a budget-friendly trip across Arkansas. From world-class art museums to

breathtaking views at our state parks, The Natural State offers countless free and low-cost indoor and outdoor activities. Check out a self-guided tour of the capital city of Little Rock, where you can explore new murals and unique architecture. In the Upper Delta, embark on an adventure through outdoor parks and landscapes with views that stretch for miles. Or, travel the “unexpected” route with a road trip through The Un-

expected art revitalization project in Fort Smith.

You can also view previous editions of “Discover Arkansas,” order print publications to help plan your next vacation and sign up for monthly emails that feature deals and coupons for attractions across The Natural State.

For more information, visit www.arkansas.com.

Self named Administrative Law Judge for Worker’s Comp. Comm.

Little Rock, AR – Department of Labor & Licensing Secretary Daryl E. Bassett and the Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) has named Greenwood attorney, Joseph C. Self, as the new Administrative Law Judge for the WCC Northwest Arkansas office. Mr. Self will replace Judge Amy Grimes who was recently elected as Fort Smith District 1 District Judge.

Governor Asa Hutchinson states, “Joseph brings a diverse legal experience to the Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC). His work in both the public and private sectors make him an excellent appointment to the WCC. I appreciate his willingness to serve the

people of Arkansas.”

Both Secretary Bassett and Commission Chairman Dale Douthit expressed their pleasure with Mr. Self’s appointment, noting his distinguished legal background. Chairman Douthit also states, “The Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission is lucky to have Judge Joey Self as our newest administrative law judge serving Northwest Arkansas. To be able to hire someone with as much legal experience as Judge Self is a rare feat, and one which will greatly benefit the worker’s compensation system.”

Joseph Self previously served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney for Sebastian and Crawford Coun-

ties from 1982-86, as well as Chief Deputy Attorney for Sebastian County from 2009-10. In addition, he has been engaged in the general practice of law, including workers compensation law, for over 30 years.

Judge Self will begin his work as an Administrative Law Judge on January 11, 2021.

Secretary Bassett also conveyed his gratitude to Judge Amy Grimes for her years of service to the Workers Compensation Commission and the citizens of Arkansas.

Upcoming Events

Clark County Sanitation will be closed on Monday, January 18th for Martin Luther King Jr Day. If you are a Clark County Sanitation customer & your normal trash day is on Monday, then we will pick up your trash on Tuesday, January 19th. If you have any questions, please call the Clark County Sanitation office at 870-246-7602.

Ongoing

>>> <<< 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 870-2302975 or 870-260-9277. >>> <<< The Arkadelphia Arts Center directors are looking forward to the day when we can open the doors to the public. Meanwhile, enjoy our rotating exhibits that may be seen through the window and glass door. Now on display is an array of holiday and winter themed art. Some of the pieces are for sale and would make wonderful holiday gifts. Contact information is listed on identification cards near each piece.

For more information about the Arkadelphia Arts Center and the Caddo River Art Guild find their pages on Facebook or visit CaddoRiverArtGuild. com or CCAHC.org. >>> <<< 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. >>> <<< 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.

Arkadelphia Dispatch

News 3

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021

Jericho Brown, author of “The Tradition,” to participate in virtual poetry program in 2021

Photo courtesy of Stephanie Mitchell.

Pulitzer Prize winner Jericho Brown wrote “The Tradition.”

LITTLE ROCK—The Arkansas Center for the Book announces a virtual poetry program with Jericho Brown to take place Feb. 4, 2021. The hour long program will include Arkansas Poet Laureate, Jo McDougall, and will focus on Jeri-

cho Brown’s 2020 Pulitzer Prize-winning book of poetry, “The Tradition” (Port Townsend, WA: Copper Canyon Press, 2019). The event will be free of charge and open to the public via Zoom and also livestreamed over YouTube. Additional

information about the program is available on the Arkansas State Library’s website at https://www.library.arkansas.gov/events/ in-conversation-with-pulitzer-prize-winner-jerichobrown/.

Jericho Brown is the recipient of a Whiting Writers’ Award and fellowships from the John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Brown’s first book, “Please” (2008), won the American Book Award. His second book, “The New Testament” (2014), won the AnisfieldWolf Book Award and was named one of the best of the year by “Library Journal,” “Coldfront,” and the Academy of American Poets. In addition to the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, his third book, “The Tradition” (2019), was a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award. Brown’s poems have appeared in “Buzzfeed,” “The Nation,” “The New York Times,” “The New Yorker,” “The New Republic,” “Time,” “The Pushcart Prize” anthology, and several volumes of “The Best American Poetry” anthologies. He is the Charles

Howard Candler Professor of Creative Writing and the Director of the Creative Writing Program at Emory University in Atlanta.

Jo McDougall has been Poet Laureate of Arkansas since her appointment in 2018 by Governor Asa Hutchinson. She earned an MFA in Creative Writing from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and has published seven collections of poetry and a memoir. She has won many awards including a Pushcart Prize (2020), The Arkansas Porter Prize Lifetime Achievement Award in Poetry (2019), and an Academy of American Poets Prize. McDougall was inducted into the Arkansas Writers’ Hall of Fame in 2006. With a proclamation from Governor Hutchinson in 2020, she established the first Arkansas Youth Poetry Day, to be celebrated annually.

The Arkansas Center for the Book was established in 2000 and is affiliated with the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Headquartered at the Arkansas State Library, a division of the Arkansas Department of Education, the Arkansas

Continuing COVID-19 tracking

by Arkansas Dept. of Health

AR. Department of Health

According to the Arkansas Department of Health Administration in its COVID-19 update, there are a total of 47,566 probable cases in the state as of Nov. 30. In reference to ADH’s graph, there are a total of 208,778 cases with 226,700 recovered.

The counties are colored by light to dark in terms of density of cases.

The Dispatch will post an updated version of this

graph weekly according to what is available from the Department of Health and state officials.

As the cases continue to rise, more and more states are reverting back to more strict quarantine and social distance rules.

Masks are nearly universally required to enter most businesses. They are available in most grocery and convenience stores.

Sports are in full swing, with the basketball season currently underway. That’s

not to say that there aren’t precautions, however, as games are being cancelled left and right to coincide with regulations.

With Joe Biden as the new Presidential Elect, many are expecting the nation to re-enter shutdown.

Schools will close to all virtual learning in the upcoming weeks as well.

People are encouraged to continue social distancing and staying at least six feet away from others. Testing is widely available in most cities.

Center for the Book exists to encourage reading, writing, and literacy in Arkansas and to protect the rich liter-

ary history of Arkansas by preserving and promoting books and literature within the state.

Photo courtesy of Jericho Brown.

“The Tradition” was a finalist for the 2019 National Book Award.

CLARK COUNTY HAS BEEN AWARDED FEDERAL FUNDS MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY (DHS)/ FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY UNDER THE EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER NATIONAL BOARD PROGRAM. The county will receive $6,901 to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.

The selection was made by a National Board that is chaired by the U. S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency and consists of representatives from American Red Cross; Catholic Charities, USA; National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA; The Jewish Federations of North America, The Salvation Army; and, United Way Worldwide.

Phase 38 Local Board was charged to distribute funds appropriated by Congress to help expand the capacity of food and shelter programs in high-need areas around the country. A Local Board will determine how the funds awarded to Clark County are to be distributed among the emergency food and shelter programs run by local service agencies in the area.

The Local Board is responsible for recommending agencies to receive these funds and any additional funds made available under this phase of the program. Under the terms of the grant from the National Board, local agencies chosen to receive funds must: 1) be private voluntary nonprofits or units of government 2) be eligible to receive Federal funds 3) have an accounting system 4) practice nondiscrimination 5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs 6) if they are a private voluntary organization, have a voluntary board.

Public or private voluntary agencies interested in applying for EF&S funds must contact:

Dr. Patricia Wright 301 North 23rd Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71923 or call 870.246.5675 for an application.

Application deadline – 1/21/2021

Arkadelphia Dispatch Editor: Pete Tubbs arkadelphiadispatch@gmail.com 870-230-5221 Calls will be returned.

The Arkadelphia Dispatch is published weekly by Nashville Leader, Inc., 119 N. Main, Nashville, AR 71852.

4 News

Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021

Top 10 boys high school basketball teams in Arkansas Arkansas Sports Media Boys High School Basketball Poll

Following is the Overall Top 10 boys high school basketball teams in Arkansas and the top five in Classes 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending January 9. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and last week’s rankings:

2

9. LR Mills 7-2 41 6 10. Maumelle 10-2 28 NR Others receiving votes: Springdale 17, Jonesboro 11, Sylvan Hills 9, LR Christian 8, Viola 1.

CLASS 6A 1. LR Central (9) 11-3 81 2 2. North Little Rock (4) 7-1 66 1

OVERALL

3. Bryant (5) 10-0 56 3

1. Magnolia (10) 9-0 159

4. Bentonville 8-1 34 4

2. LR Central (1) 11-3 151 3 3. North Little Rock (2) 7-1 141 1 4. Marion 9-1 135 4 5. Bryant (5) 10-0 108 7 6. Bentonville 8-1 64 8 7. Fayetteville 11-2 59 9 8. LR Parkview 6-2 58 5

5. Fayetteville 11-2 25 5 Others receiving votes: Springdale 8.

5. Sylvan Hills 10-2 22 5

Others receiving votes: LR Christian 19.

CLASS 4A 1. Magnolia (18) 9-0 90 1 2. LR Mills 7-2 68 2 3. Blytheville 13-2 58 3 4. Southside Batesville 9-0 19 5 5. Ozark 12-2 9 NR Others receiving votes: Brookland 8, Morrilton 8, Monticello 8, Dardanelle 2..

CLASS 3A 1. Dumas (14) 7-1 86 2

CLASS 5A

2. Mayflower (4) 9-1 64 1

1. Marion (18) 9-1 90 1

3. Manila 10-3 54 3

2. LR Parkview 6-2 63 2

4. Osceola 6-3 41 5

3. Maumelle 10-2 47 4

5. Pangburn 14-6 12 4

4. Jonesboro 6-3 29 3

Others receiving votes: Bergman 5, Clinton 3, Riv-

Arkadelphia Dispatch

Henderson Defense Stifles Tech in 70-44 Win

ercrest 3, Corning 1, Valley Springs 1..

RUSSELLVILLE, Ark. — Henderson State’s defense showed up in a big way on Saturday, as the Reddies CLASS 2A held Arkansas Tech to just 24.2% shooting in its own 1. Marianna (14) 4-0 84 1 building and pulled away in the second half for their first 2. Caddo Hills (3) 16-2 win of the season, 70-44.

72 2 Tech was 16-of-62 from the floor in the game and 3. England (1) 2-1 46 3 shot just 7-for-35 in the second half. The Wonder Boys’ 4. Flippin 15-4 38 5 44 points were the fewest allowed by HSU since it 5. Earle 2-0 15 NR limited Southern Arkansas to just 41 on Nov. 21, 2019.

Others receiving votes: Four Reddies scored in Tuckerman 10, Dierks 4, double figures in the win.

Acorn 1, Melbourne 1.

Quawn Marshall led the way with 15 points on 6-of-11 shooting, while Malik Riddle CLASS 1A had 14 and freshman Josh Mason added 10. Jeremiah 1. Viola (18) 20-2 90 1 Toney had a team-high nine rebounds and four assists, 2. Nevada 9-3 57 4 and Tomislav Miholjcic scored eight points in the 3. West Side Greers Ferry final minutes on 4-for-4 12-4 47 3 shooting.

Trailing 11-9 in the 4. Izard County 13-4 44 2 game’s early going, Henderson (1-1) put together a 5. Bradley10-1 18 5 big run and out-scored Tech 21-6 over the next seven Others receiving votes: minutes of action to seize New School 7, Ridgefield a 30-17 lead with 6:15 left in the half. Marshall scored Christian 4, Clarendon 3. eight points during the run for the Reddies, while Mason canned two 3-pointers for the first points of his collegiate career.

After starting the game hot from the field, the lid went onto the basket in the final six minutes for HSU, as it managed just two more points — both from the free throw line — in the period.

CLASS 3A The Reddies’ defense, however, was dominant to end 1. Bergman (9) 21-1 76 2 the half and held ATU to just 1-for-11 shooting in the final 2. Mountain View (5) six minutes. The stifling 7-2 59 3 pressure offset the cold-

Top 10 girls high school basketball teams in Arkansas Arkansas Sports Media Girls High School Basketball Poll

Following is the Overall Top 10 girls high school basketball teams in Arkansas and the top five in Classes 6A, 5A, 4A, 3A, 2A and 1A as voted by a panel of sports media from around the state for the week ending January 9. Ranking is given with first-place votes received, records, total points and previous rankings: OVERALL

9. North Little Rock 8-4 28 8 10. Harrison 9-0 22 NR Others receiving votes: Farmington 7, Fayetteville 5, Lake Hamilton 5, Jonesboro 2, Bergman 2, Viola 1.

CLASS 6A 1. Bentonville (8) 7-2 76 1

1. Bentonville (7) 7-2 161 1

2. FS Northside (8) 12-1 70 3

2. Conway (1) 10-2 152 2

(tie) Conway (2) 10-2 70 2

3. FS Northside (7) 12-1 144 3 4

8. Vilonia 12-1 43 10

4. Batesville (3) 12-0 129 5. Melbourne 13-1 116 5 6. Greenwood 7-3 101 6 7. LR Christian 10-1 72 7

4. North Little Rock 8-4 32 4 5. Fayetteville 6-5 18 NR Others receiving votes: Rogers 3, Bryant 1.

1. Batesville (15) 12-0 87 1 2. Greenwood (3) 7-3 73 2 3. LR Christian 10-1 52 3 4. Vilonia 12-1 34 4 5. Lake Hamilton 9-3 15 5 Others receiving votes: Jonesboro 7, Paragould 1, Greenbrier 1 CLASS 4A 1. Harrison (13) 9-0 84 2 2. Farmington (2) 9-3 70 1 3. Star City (3) 12-3 46 3

3. Valley Springs (2) 145 50 1 4. Dover (1) 12-0 42 4 5. Lamar (1) 7-1 26 4 Others receiving votes: Central Arkansas Christian 6, Atkins 5, Cossatot River 4, Hoxie 2.

CLASS 2A 1. Melbourne (18) 13-1 90 1

4. Mena 9-0 27 5

2. Tuckerman 15-1 68 2

5. Nashville 11-3 20 4

3. Des Arc 8-0 62 3

Others receiving votes: Shiloh Christian 12, Southside Batesville 5, Fountain Lake 3, Pea Ridge 3

4. Marmaduke 15-4 23 4 5. Acorn 13-3

CLASS 5A

Reddies set to clash with OBU ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — After grabbing its first win of the 2021 season in style on Saturday, Henderson State turns its attention to rival Ouachita Baptist for the first of four meetings between the two teams on Monday at 7 p.m. inside Bill Vining Arena.

REDDIES REPORT - Henderson got back on track in a big way on Saturday and limited Arkansas Tech to just 24.2% shooting from the floor in a 70-44 win. The Reddies held the Wonder Boys to just 20% shooting in the second half and led by as many as 30 in the final minutes. ATU’s 44 points were the lowest amount scored by an HSU opponent in over a year.

- Quawn Marshall led HSU wth 15 points against ATU, while Malik Riddle and Josh Mason added 14 and 10, respectively, off the bench. After shooting just 40.2% in a loss to SAU on Thursday, the Reddies hit on 47.4% of their looks against Tech and 41.2% of their shots from beyond the arc.

- Jeremiah Toney currently leads Henderson in scoring with an average of 13

points per game and is also pulling down 10 rebounds per contest through two games. Both Marshall and Riddle have hit four 3-pointers thus far and Marshall, after shooting just 29.6% from deep last season, is 4-of-7 from beyond the arc this year (57.1%).

- Through two games, the Reddies’ defense has been ferocious. HSU is holding its opponents to 35.8% shooting from the field and has forced 17 turnovers per game. Henderson has also shown to be a very deep team early on. The Reddies boast nine players who are playing 10-plus minutes per game and 11 who are playing eight or more minutes.

- HSU has controlled the series with Ouachita Baptist in recent years. Henderson has won four-straight against the Tigers and six of the last seven meetings overall. The Reddies’ last loss to OBU at Bill Vining Arena came on Jan. 16, 2017, and a win on Monday night would give HSU the longest winning streak in the rivalry by either team since the formation of the GAC.

SCOUTING OUACHITA BAPTIST - Ouachita Baptist enters Monday night’s contest 0-2 on the year and in GAC play.

The Tigers dropped their opener at Harding 84-77 and then fell to SAU 69-58 on Saturday in Magnolia.

Monday will be OBU’s first home game of the 2021 season.

- OBU is led in scoring by guard Kendarious Smith, who is averaging 13 points and 4.5 rebounds per game.

Smith has gotten to the line often in his first two contests and is 10-of-14 from the stripe so far this season.

Big man Leon Kalinic has made an impact for the Tigers inside and is averaging

12 points and six rebounds per game.

- The Tigers have struggled to shoot the ball through their first two games and are hitting on just 37.5% of their looks from the floor and 23.7% of their shots from the 3-point line (9-of-38).

Opponents are shooting 47.3% from the field against OBU and over 39% from three. Ouachita has been strong on the glass, however, and is out-rebounding its opposition by 2.5 rebounds per game.

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spell offensively and helped Henderson take a 32-23 lead into the break. The Wonder Boys shot just 29% from the floor in the first 20 minutes.

The cold shooting continued for both teams to start the second half, as the Reddies began the period 2-for9 and Tech a slightly better 4-for-12, which trimmed the HSU lead down to 38-33 with 14 minutes remaining.

With its lead trimmed to five, Henderson responded with four free throws from Mason, a dunk from Riddle, a transition layup from Marshall and a putback from Yuri Swinford to go on a 10-0 spurt and take its largest lead, 48-33, at the 11-minute mark.

The Reddies’ defense took over from there. Arkansas Tech, after scoring at the 10:48 mark to trim the lead to 48-35, did not score again for over seven game minutes, and at one point missed 20-straight shots from the floor. HSU, meanwhile, slowly took advantage and used a 12-0 run in that period of time to pull in front by 25 points, 6035. With the game in hand, Henderson cruised in the final minutes, as every player on the team saw action in a 70-44 win.

Henderson shot 47.4% from the field in the victory and out-rebounded the Wonder Boys 45-43. The Reddies capitalized in a big way on ATU mistakes in the game and out-scored Tech 25-4 in points off turnovers.

HSU returns to action on Monday at 7 p.m. when it crosses the street to take on rival Ouachita Baptist in the first of four matchups between the two teams this season.

Mains’ Career Game Helps Reddies Top SAU

ARKADELPHIA, Ark. — Henderson State got a career-high 35 points from Maci Mains and used a huge second half effort to defeat Southern Arkansas 93-84 in its 2021 season opener at the Duke Wells Center on Thursday night.

Mains was the story for HSU, as she finished 13-of23 from the floor to pour in 35 points — the most in a single game for a Reddie player since Pink Jones scored 37 against Southeastern Oklahoma State in February of 2018. Karrington Whaley turned in 16 points and 11 rebounds for her first double-double of the year, Tamia Templeton had the best game of her young career with 14 points and seven rebounds, and freshman Jadah Pickens added nine points and 11 rebounds in her first collegiate game.

Despite being down two starters due to COVID-19 protocols, the Reddies (10) traded punches with the deeper Muleriders valiantly through the first 20 minutes of play. HSU got 16 first half points from Mains to hang around and trailed just 4542 at the break.

The third quarter was a period of runs, as SAU began the second half with a 13-2 spurt to seize a 58-46 advantage at the 7:59 mark.

The remainder of the quarter belonged to Henderson, however, as the Reddies

put together a massive 24-6 stretch to close out the frame and go in front 70-64 heading to the fourth.

Back-to-back 3-pointers from Mains and Gracie Raby increased the HSU lead to 76-67 to begin the final period, but SAU’s Kylie Warren answered back with two threes of her own to trim the Reddies’ lead down to just 76-75 with 5:38 left in the game.

Needing a response, Henderson got it from two freshmen, as Pickens completed an old-fashioned 3-point play and Annie Coffey hit a corner 3-pointer to restore the momentum for HSU. The veterans took it home from there for the Reddies.

Mains, Whaley and Lani Snowden scored the final 11 points of the contest for Henderson to help it pull away in the final minutes for the 93-84 win.

HSU out-rebounded a bigger SAU squad 56-49 in the victory and hit on 47.8% of its shots, compared to just 35.2% shooting for the Muleriders. The Reddies out-scored Southern Arkansas 47-26 after falling behind by 12 points in the third quarter.

Henderson returned to action on Saturday at 2 p.m. when it faced Arkansas Tech on the road in Russellville, Arkansas.