Arkadelphia Dispatch - October 08, 2020

Vol. 2, No. 36

Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020

Black Lives Matter march a success at Henderson State University Kelly Stiles EIC, HSU Oracle

Chanting filled the crisp early autumn air. “No protest, no change,” a sea of people dressed in black yelled, many bearing signs reading, “Black Lives Matter.”

On Oct. 1, students, faculty, and community members gathered to protest the ongoing mistreatment of black people by American police forces. On the heels of controversy surrounding the murder of African American medical worker Breonna Taylor by police officers in Louisville, Ky., protesters held this example in the forefront of their minds.

“It’s nice to see people of different organizations, colors and walks of life come together,” senior nursing major Lanee Boyd said.

Participating in her third Black Lives Matter protest, Boyd enjoys seeing her fellow Reddies stand up for what they believe in.

The march was led by Henderson’s Black Student Association. Beginning near the Hendrson fountain, the group walked the borders of campus and approached the auditorium entrance to Arkansas Hall. There, the masses gathered to listen.

President of BSA Kamryn Harris addressed the crowd from a microphone behind a wooden stand. She thanked everyone for participating in the event, then proceeded to introduce BSA member Ciera Ferguson, who sang an acapella song about freedom.

Chaplain of Angelic Voices of Christ brother Charles Craig II delivered a message surrounding the biblical verses of Ephesians 4:1-6 which discusses how people who worship God should be unified with each other.

As Craig left the podium, Harris stepped back behind the microphone and quoted a song she had heard earlier that day, “Bigger Picture” by Lil Baby.

“It’s bigger than black and white,” the song states.

The event ended once president of the Student Activity Board and BSA member Orlando Goodwin reminded the crowd to social distance as they left.

“This is my first time at a Black Lives Matter protest,” senior sports management major Jessie Walker said.

Having moved to Ark. from Calif., Walker has heard about the injustices brought against black people from the perspectives of different geographies. While

Photo courtesy of Kelly Stiles.

The Black Student Association at Henderson State University arranged a march on Oct. 1. Hundreds of students, faculty, and Arkadelphia citizens were in attendance.

he expected this march to be longer than it was, he was glad to have taken part in it.

“We are bringing aware-

Ouachita Baptist hosts

ness,” junior aviation management major Clarissa Holcomb said. “It brings me hope.”

For more coverage of Henderson’s Black lives Matter march, watch the video created by Henderson

Television on their YouTube channel.

HSU celebrated National

Fall 2020 Tigers Serve Day College Radio Day last week Julia Shands Ouachita Baptist University

ARKADELPHIA, Ark.— Ouachita Baptist University’s Elrod Center for Family and Community held its Fall 2020 Tiger Serve Day event on Saturday, Sep. 26, with 116 teams and 850 total volunteers participating. A total of 112 projects were also completed around the Arkadelphia community, despite physical distancing and other changes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, as Ouachita students, faculty and staff reflected this year’s theme, “Back to the Streets.”

Several adjustments were made to Tiger Serve Day in order for the Ouachita community to safely give back to the city. In previous years, volunteers would work closely with an Arkadelphia resident by assisting with indoor house projects, yard work or painting. This year, teams of eight or fewer people were given only outdoor tasks, were required to socially distance, and wear face coverings. They were assigned projects such as cleaning up streets, neighborhoods and the outsides

of businesses and schools.

“Because of COVID, we switched gears and served our community in very tangible ways,” said Judy Duvall, associate director of the Elrod Center. “We all live in Arkadelphia, we all receive so much from our community, and I think it’s just wonderful that we have the opportunity to give back.”

“A lot of safety measures have been taken to minimize contact between people as much as possible, like having teams work directly at their work sites,” said Caleb West, a senior biomedical sciences major from Marion, Ark., and member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team. “The day was still great just knowing that we’re serving our community and the people in it and ultimately doing God’s work.”

While this semester’s Tiger Serve Day looked different than past years, it allowed the Fall 2020 Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team to consider new ways of serving.

“I think helping clean up our community and going back to the streets gives us a sense of pride in the place

that we live in,” said Kallen Smith, a sophomore biomedical sciences major from Jonesboro, Ark., and member of the Tiger Serve Day Leadership Team. “It helps us respect our community and realize how thankful we are for it.”

The Fall 2020 event also placed an emphasis on thanking Arkadelphia’s city officials. Each team was given a card to sign and to deliver to the city’s police officers, firefighters and sanitation crews.

“I think it is such a great and special thing that Tiger Serve Day gives us an opportunity to reach out and thank the people that are loving and serving Arkadelphia year round,” said Emily Dodson, a sophomore Christian studies/Christian ministries and Biblical studies double major from Trussville, Ala., and Fall 2020 Tiger Serve Day volunteer.

“I love that we were able to do our part in showing them that they are so appreciated and loved.”

For more information, contact the Elrod Center at (870) 245-5320 or visit www.obu.edu/serve.

RaeLynn Dinger Staff Reporter

On Fri., Oct. 2, hundreds of student-run radio stations across the world came together to celebrate College Radio Day. KSWH on Henderson campus was one such station.

The goal of College Radio Day is to raise greater awareness of the college and high school stations run largely by students, and encourage people who normally wouldn’t tune into such stations to take a listen.

Promoting long-term listening boosts station ratings and yields more engagement with them, giving way to better opportunities for the station.

College Radio Day participant Walker Walthall, a senior mass media major, got involved in college radio through his Radio Practicum class.

Photo courtesy of OBU.

no surprise that he advises a college station now.

“College Radio Day is a way for all my old and new radio friends to get together as a community of radio and music lovers,” he continued.

Celebrating their 10 year anniversary, World College Radio Day has had participants from more than 40 countries across the world.

From the United States to Jamaica to Colombia, the reach of college radio is larger than you think.

“World College Radio Day is important!” said Walthall, “College radio is essential to the college experience and helps give a platform and a voice to students. Nothing is more important than that.”

If you ever want to give KSWH a listen, you can turn your dial to KSWH-LP 102.5 fm the Pulse, right here in Arkadelphia.

Harry Post, Joe C. Eckert face trials this month Ayanna Williams Crimes Reporter

Despite COVID-19 related fears, Ouachita Baptist University was able to hold a successful Tiger Serve Day last week. Pictured is the TSD Leadership Team.

“College radio has given me a chance to support my favorite artists that don’t get much air time,” he said, “It’s given me a voice. Because of college radio, I’ve had a chance to talk about what I love and have others listen.”

Students of all majors can tune in or walk past the station located within the Garrison.

“It benefits smaller artists and it can create a bigger sense of community because it’s created by students for students,” said Tessa Walthour, senior English major.

KSWH is headed by radio and TV Professor Paul Glover. He said, “I’ve been around college radio since as long as I can remember.

WVUA 90.7 fm from the University of Alabama and my friend Dave Keller’s Friday night show ‘Hard Edge’ always played the best heavy metal.”

To Professor Glover, it’s

The jury trial for the case against Harry Post is set to occur on the week of Oct. 26 at the Clark County Circuit Courtroom at 9:00 a.m..

Originally from Okolona, Post is being charged with arson and theft, as well as fleeing the scene of an accident.

The incident first happened on June 1. A 911 call was made by a woman saying that Post had set her car on fire. She also claimed that Post advised that he was going to set another nearby house on fire. When authorities came to the location where he was said to be, the fire department was seen putting out the fire. At the scene, there was only a gas container and a cell phone, which turned out to belong to Post.

Meanwhile, Post had gotten involved in a car wreck with a diesel truck, and while someone stopped

to check on the accident, Post stole the man’s vehicle and fled. After a pursuit including both Pike County and Clark County’s officers, Post was taken to the police department where he admitted to the charges in an interview.

Post had no contact orders served against him within the following week, and he appeared for the hearing of his plea and arraignment on July 7. Post’s pretrial hearing occurred on Oct. 6 in the Clark County Circuit Courtroom.

The pretrial and jury trial hearings for the case State vs. Joe C. Eckert will be held this month. A current resident of Gurdon, Arkansas, Eckert is facing charges for the two felonies of illegal firearm possession, and the possession of drug paraphernalia.

In June, before the arrest, authorities received information regarding the possibility of Eckert cooking methamphetamine. When

researching his background, it was found that Eckert had a felony warrant out of Texas. The authorities made contact with Eckert’s parents, who advised that Eckert moved to his current residence down the road from them in Gurdon.

When officers made contact with Eckert at his residence, Eckert stated that he did not have any methamphetamine in his possession, but did advise that he had a meth pipe in his bedroom.

When asked if there were any weapons or any other illegal objects, Eckert advised that he had a twelve gauge shotgun, and a .22 caliber rifle in his residence. The weapons and the meth pipe were taken as evidence.

His plea and arraignment was held on Aug. 4, and the pretrial hearing will be held on Oct. 13 at 9:00 a.m. in the Clark County Circuit Courtroom. The jury trial will be held the week of Oct. 26 at the same time, in the same location.

2 News

Maloch on legislators Bruce Maloch AR Senator

LITTLE ROCK –Arkansas legislators approved using $165 million in federal relief funds to shore up the state unemployment insurance trust fund.

Legislative leadership approved an emergency request to allocate the $165 million in order to prevent increases in rates that businesses have to pay into the fund to keep it solvent.

However, approval of the funding was not a smooth process. The Legislative Council convened in a hastily called meeting to express frustration that officials at the Division of Workforce Services (DWS) failed to inform legislators until the eleventh hour that automatic rate increases in unemployment insurance were imminent.

The division administers claims for unemployment, which have set records due to layoffs caused by the spread of the coronavirus.

Also, during the pandemic the division has received many more fraudulent claims than is normal.

The dramatic increase in unemployment filings has threatened to deplete the trust fund below certain thresholds. If the fund balance were to fall below

those thresholds, businesses would be hit with automatic increases in the rates they must pay in order to maintain the fund’s solvency.

Legislators expressed frustration that DWS officials failed to keep them informed of the rapid decrease in the unemployment fund.

By the time they were notified of the problem, legislators had almost no time to work on a solution and their options were limited. Legislators were under extreme pressure to approve the DWS request in order to prevent a rate increase on businesses that already have been hard hit by the pandemic.

Several lawmakers expressed frustration that it was not the first time that a lack of communication had put them in a difficult position with constituents.

For example, at the beginning of the pandemic, when laid off workers had to wait extremely long periods of time to submit their claims for unemployment, legislators received a flood of complaints about the slowness of the system.

One senator said that the legislature is consistently the last body to be informed about executive branch decisions, and perhaps he would support new laws to require

Thursday, Oct. 8, 2020

more timely and more accurate financial reporting from state agencies to legislative committees.

Also, legislators wanted assurances from DWS officials that failures to anticipate trust fund depletions will not occur again.

In the economic recession of 2008 and 2009, claims filed by unemployed workers drained the fund to the extent that Arkansas had to borrow $360 million from the federal government.

That had serious financial consequences for Arkansas businesses and workers.

Act 802 0f 2009 raised the amount that companies have to pay into the fund and Act 861 of 2009 reduced benefits for laid off workers.

Act 512 of 2019 sets the taxable wage base that determines how much businesses have to pay in unemployment insurance. This year the taxable wage base is $7,000 but will go up to $10,000 in 2021, according to DWS officials who spoke to the Legislative Council. In effect, that will increase the rates that businesses pay for unemployment insurance.

The Legislative Council is the committee of lawmakers that monitors the operations of state government during the interims between regular sessions.

Big News for Computer Science Education in Arkansas Asa Hutchinson AR Governor

LITTLE ROCK – In the six years since I signed the Computer Science Initiative legislation, the success of it has far exceeded my expectations, and today I’d like to talk about a new report that offers some bold recommendations for the future of computer science education in Arkansas.

The report is the work of the Arkansas Computer Science and Cybersecurity Task Force, which I established in December 2019.

The team, which included representatives from education, business, industry, and technology, and philanthropic organizations, formally submitted its report to me this week, which I released at a news conference on Thursday.

In 2015, the first bill I signed as governor required every public school in the state to offer at least one computer-science course.

Arkansas was the first state to do that.

National publications and

technology organizations such as Wired magazine and Code.org have noted our success. The executive director of Computer Science Teachers Association told Education Week that no other state “has done more than Arkansas. They have a really strong, multifaceted plan that is well thought out. … The state is far better off than anyone else.”

But we can’t rest on our success. In the spirit of our past initiatives, the task force recommends two dramatic changes. The first is that Arkansas require students to have at least one computer-science credit to graduate. The second is that every school in Arkansas employ at least one certified computer science teacher. I am fully committed to these recommendations.

I also shared news about other initiatives that will give even more students access to high-speed internet.

As part of its Project 10Million, T-Mobile is donating 18,000 internet access devices to Arkansas students.

The company also is donat-

ing 100 gigabytes of data also at no cost to eligible households. Combined with the 20,000 devices the state is providing through CARES Act funding, more than 38,000 will be distributed around the state.

I also announced that we will increase high-speed broadband capacity to K-12 school districts, charter schools, and education cooperatives from the current 200 kilobits per second per user to at least 1 megabit per second. That is five times faster than current speeds.

Arkansas will be one of the first states in the nation to meet the new standard of 1 megabit per second per user.

The upgrade to the network should be completed by July 1 of next year.

This has been an important week for Computer Science Education in Arkansas. We have developed a national reputation for our computer science initiatives, which is nice. But our motivation and the payoff is the high-quality opportunities we are creating for our young people.

Fixing our Healthcare in a way that works for everyone Bruce Westerman AR Representative

It’s no secret that America’s health care system is broken. You don’t need to look any further than the recent presidential debate, where both candidates sparred over health care proposals and what should be done on a federal level.

Many people are saying that Republicans don’t actually have a plan, but that simply isn’t true. U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) and I have teamed up to introduce the Fair Care Act of 2020 (FCA), a health care bill that takes more than 75 bipartisan provisions and many other ideas and brings them to-

gether into a comprehensive bill.

With two goals of increasing those covered by health insurance and lowering the overall cost of health care, this legislation brings both commonsense and innovative solutions to a complex health care problem. Some of the main provisions include: Increasing the number of insured individuals Protecting patients with preexisting conditions Ensuring affordable coverage for those who need it most Simplifying and expanding tax-free contribution towards medical expenses

Promoting transparency and fair practices in all forms of health care Lowering the cost of prescription drugs, premiums and health care services Bringing modern solutions to health care in a postcoronavirus world This bicameral bill is one I’ve been working on for almost three years, and I’m really looking forward to talking more with my colleagues about why this can be a conservative solution to many of the health care issues we’ve faced. It’s time to put party politics aside and come together to solve these problems in a way that works for everyone.

One Pine Bluff Detective dead and one woulded following gunfire Arkansas State Public Affairs Office

A Pine Bluff Police Detective is dead and another wounded following an exchange of gunfire that occurred today in Pine Bluff at 210 North Blake Street.

Detective Kevin Collins, 35, a five year veteran of the department, was pronounced deceased at Jefferson Regional Medical Center shortly after 2 PM. Lieutenant (Detective) Ralph Isaac, 42, a twentyyear veteran of the depart-

ment, sustained a non-life threatening gunshot wound.

The police officers were met with gunfire as they arrived at the Econo Lodge Motel about 12:05 PM. The officers were at the location in connection with an ongoing local criminal investigation. A third detective, Kelsey Collins, 28, a twoyear department veteran, did not sustain any injury.

Two individuals believed to be involved in the shooting were wounded. Both were treated for non-life threatening wounds at a

local hospital and later released for questioning by state police.

The homicide investigation will be led by Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division. The FBI has been requested to assist in the investigation. An investigative file will be submitted to the Jefferson County Prosecuting Attorney for the consideration of criminal charges.

Arkadelphia Dispatch

Upcoming Events >>> <<< The Spring Hazardous Household Waste event that was scheduled for last Sat. was cancelled as a result of COVID-19 precautions. The Southwest Regional Solid Waste Management District will continue with the Fall Household Hazardous Waste event on Oct. 17.

The Southwest Regional Solid Waste Management District is the planning board that oversees solid waste management for Clark, Garland, and Hot Spring Counties. >>> <<< Garvan Gardens will be open from 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. daily. The Chipmunk Cafe is open 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. daily.

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. >>> <<< Through the summer the Arkadelphia Arts Center will have original art on display created by members of the Caddo River Art Guild. The window exhibits will vary through the weeks so check back often. The artists’ name and contact information are displayed next to 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, Oct. 8, 2020

Ballot Issue 1: The Transportation Sales Tax Continuation Amendment Julie Young University Correspondant

Most registered voters know that the 2020 presidential election is fast approaching, but beyond Donald Trump versus Joe Biden, or Republican versus Democrat, do they know what else is on the ballot this year?

Voters don’t only decide who they want to lead the country; There are other measures, typically three or four, on the ballot as well.

There are currently three constitutional amendments to the Ark. ballot that registered voters will have the

chance to decide on in the coming weeks. Issue one, a legislatively referred constitutional amendment, is the Transportation Sales Tax Continuation Amendment.

If this sounds familiar, that’s because it is. Back in 2012, ballot issue one was a temporary 0.5% sales tax which would provide additional funding for a four-lane highway system.

Ark. went from paying a 6% sales tax to 6.5%. Since its approval, the tax revenue has been put towards state and local transportation including state highways and bridges, county roads and

bridges, and city streets and bridges. The tax revenue, essentially, pays off $1.3 billion in bonds for the construction and improvement of a four-lane highway. Once the bonds are paid, the tax will expire. Or so that was the original plan.

This time around, this issue is not whether to authorize the sales tax but whether to continue it. Today, it is set to expire in 2023. Should people vote yes on this issue, however, it will continue as special revenue after the bonds are repaid.

With early voting only

two weeks away, and election day in less than a month, Ark. voters are deciding how they’ll vote on these issues -- if they’re even aware of what they are, or have taken the time to research them. Some of these voters are college students, and for many of them, this is their very first election.

“I haven’t voted before, but I do intend on voting this month,” Tessa Walthour, a senior English major at local college Henderson State University, said. Though she has yet to cast her ballot, she knows the importance in planning ahead.

“I know that they are trying to make it hard for people to cast their votes, which is why my whole family has had to plan when we’re going to vote,” Walthour said.

“My Mom and I are going to educate ourselves before we go.”

Like Tessa Walthour, Walker Walthall, a senior Mass Media major, wasn’t old enough to vote on issue one in 2012, or even old enough to participate in 2016’s presidential election.

Since turning eighteen he has voted in both the 2018 midterm and 2020 primary.

While he might not have

voted on the approval of the sales tax, he plans to vote in support of its continuation.

“I’m in favor of issue one on the ballot this November,” Walthall said. “I think we can’t go wrong investing in our own infrastructure.

We save ourselves in the long run if we continually invest into infrastructure instead of having to find a way to get money all at once for bigger projects. If this passes I hope we see more investment into public transportation in our cities.”

Early voting for Ark. begins Oct. 19.

Arkansas law to participate in high visibility enforcement effort “U Drive. U Text. U Pay” for the month of Oct. ARKANSASBeginning today and continuing through October 12th, Arkansas law enforcement officers will join forces with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to participate in a high visibility enforcement effort directed at drivers violating

distracted driving laws.

Arkansas has joined the national “U Drive. U Text.

U Pay.” operation formed to stop distracted driving.

Police and sheriff’s departments have pledged the support of their officers and deputies to spread a unified message that distracted drivers are not only a danger to themselves, but everyone

operating a motor vehicle on Arkansas roadways.

Between 2012 and 2018, nearly 23,000 people died as the result of motor vehicle crashes attributed to distracted driving, according to NHTSA records. While there were 2,841 deaths from crashes caused by distracted driving during 2018, a 12 percent decrease

from the previous year, law enforcement agency leaders say additional emphasis devoted to stopping violators is still needed.

Millennials and older Generation Z drivers have become the most egregious offenders of texting while driving. A comparison of NHTSA statistics indicate that since 2007, drivers 16

Continuing Arkansas Dept. of Health tracking of COVID-19 by county

– 24 years of age have been using handheld electronic devices while operating a vehicle in greater numbers of instances than older drivers have. During 2018, eight percent of the people killed among teenage drivers (15 – 19 years old) were distracted at the time of the crashes.

“It’s inexcusable how common it has become to see people driving while looking at their phone,” said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. “That’s why Arkansas motorists can expect to see an increase in law enforcement presence on streets and highways looking for distracted driving violators who will be stopped and issued a ticket.”

Many drivers are guilty of practicing a double standard when it comes to distracted driving. A 2018 American Automobile Association Traffic Safety Culture Index reported that nearly 96 percent of drivers believe it is very or extremely dangerous to read a text message or email while driving, yet, 4 out of 10 drivers admitted to doing it within the previous 30 days.

Commenting on the report, Colonel Bryant said, “People know that texting while driving is dangerous and illegal, yet without considering the consequences

that could end in someone being injured or losing their life, they do it anyway.”

Arkansas law enforcement and NHTSA urge Arkansas motorists to lay their phones aside while driving and practice the following suggestions, ensuring everyone remains safe: While driving, if you’re expecting a text message or need to send one, pull over and park the vehicle in a safe location. Once the vehicle is safely off the road and parked, it’s safe to text.

Ask your passenger to be a “designated texter”.

Allow them access to your phone to respond to calls and messages.

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

Cell phone use is habit forming. Activate your phones’ “Do Not Disturb” feature or place the phone in the trunk or an out of reach location until you reach your destination.

Texting while driving is dangerous and illegal.

Break the cycle.

Remember: U Drive.

U Text. You Pay. For more information on distracted driving, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov or contact the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 6188136.

Arkadelphia Dispatch

AR. Department of Health

According to the Arkansas Department of Health Administration in its COVID-19 update, there are a total of 3,372 probable cases in the state as of Oct. 5. In reference to ADH’s graph, there are a total of 83,698 cases with 23,732 probable and 79,052 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.

Gov. Asa Hutchinson announced in early August that contact sports are expected to continue as planned in the fall. Football players may only practice in helmets, however.

Schools have begun

opening at both collegiate and pre-collegiate levels.

They have many guidelines in place that were recommended by the ADH. People are encouraged to continue social distancing and staying at least six feet away from others. Testing is widely available in most cities.

Editor: Pete Tubbs Online Editor: Harley Whisenhunt Crimes Reporter: Ayanna Williams Sports Reporter: Hannah Hodge University Correspondant: Julie Young Staff Reporter: Lance Brownfield Staff Reporter: Philis Woods Staff Reporter: RaeLynn Dinger Contributing Reporter: Kelly Stiles 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, Oct. 8, 2020

Arkadelphia Dispatch

Mitchell Ford took first place at Hot Springs OBU launches track and field, cross country teams Country Club Amateur Invitational

Photo courtesy of HSU Sports.

Mitchell Ford of Henderson State University Men’s Golf came out on top last week when he shot 8-under par to take home the first place trophy at the Hot Springs Country Club Amateur Invitational.

David Salley Ford, from Little Rock, Dir. of Athletic Comm. HSU shot a 3-under 69 in the first

Henderson State senior Mitchell Ford took home hardware on Sunday when he finished 8-under par to take first place at the Hot Springs Country Club Amateur Invitational.

round on Saturday before closing things out with a 5-under 67 on Sunday to secure individual medalist honors. He was one of just three players to finish the 36-hole tournament under

par and edged out the tournament runner-up by two strokes.

Several other Reddies posted strong finishes at the tournament, which hosted a plethora of collegiate golfers from the region. Stuart Krog took third place and shot

1-under par for two rounds, both Jackson Cole and Josh McNulty notched Top-10 finishes, and Kasoma Paulino, Brady Perkins, Grayson Jones, Miller Harris, Nick Shapiro and Nathan Cossement all wound up inside the Top-25 overall.

Ford, Shapiro, Woods named Srixon/ Cleveland Golf All-America Scholars NORMAN, Okla. — Three Henderson State golfers were recognized for their efforts in the classroom this week, as Mitchell Ford, Nick Shapiro and Christian Woods each received 201920 Srixon/Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar honors.

To be eligible for Srixon/ Cleveland Golf All-America Scholar status an individual must be a sophomore, junior or senior academically in Division I, II, III, and NAIA, or receiving their

Associate’s Degree and in their last year of athletic eligibility in the NJCAA. In addition, they must have a stroke-average under 76.0 in Division I, 78.0 in Division II, 78.0 in NAIA and 79.0 in Division III, 77.0 in NJCAA, and maintain a minimum cumulative career grade-point average of 3.2.

Shapiro, a senior from Plano, Texas, played in 17 rounds this season for the Reddies — tied for most

of any player on the roster — and carried a team-best stroke average of 72.59. He had two Top-5 and three Top-10 finishes in seven total events.

Ford, a junior from Little Rock, Arkansas, had a stroke average of 74.07 during the 2019-20 season.

He played 15 rounds and six events for Henderson and had two Top-10 results at The Battle for the Belt and The Arkansas Collegiate.

Woods, a senior from

Summerville, South Carolina, played in six events and 14 rounds for the Reddies this season. He finished with a stroke average of 75.86 and secured a Top10 individual finish at the Missouri Southern Fall Invitational.

Ford, Shapiro and Woods were three of 404 golfers from around the country, and just 87 total from the NCAA Division II level, who were honored during this awards period.

This day in Henderson State Athletics

Kenny Fells Stars, Ground Attack Pounds East Central | Oct. 5, 1985 Running back Kenny Fells carries the ball 25 times for 219 yards and four touchdowns as the Reddies blast East Central 55-28 at home. As a team, Henderson sets a then-school record with 462 rushing yards in the win — still the second-most yards ever rushed for in a single game

by HSU. The Reddies average just under eight yards per rush and score seven touchdowns on the ground

in the victory.

Henderson Rushes Past West Alabama, 17-3 | Oct. 5, 1996 The Reddies rumble for 309 rushing yards on the day — 92 of which come from Tyrone Fogle — and defeat West Alabama 17-3 in Arkadelphia. HSU’s defense intercepts three passes in the win, with captain Carlton Bragg snagging two of them.

HSU Outlasts Southern Arkansas in Five-Set Road Win | Oct. 5, 1999 The Reddies drop the first set on the road in Mag-

nolia, Arkansas but rebound to take three of the next four — including a heartstopping 16-14 victory in the final frame — to defeat SAU 3-2. Three of the five sets in the match are decided by scores of 16-14 with the outlier coming in the second frame which Henderson wins huge, 15-1. Teri Shurtleff finishes with 14 kills and 14 digs, Heather Willis adds 13 kills and 15 digs, and Ilena Stamp dishes out 46 assists for HSU. Three Fourth-Quarter Turnovers Lift Reddies Over ATU | Oct. 5, 2002 Henderson State picks off two passes and forces

a turnover on downs with less than a minute remain-

ing at its own 10 yard line to hold on and defeat Arkansas Tech 18-12 inside Carpenter-Haygood Stadium in Arkadelphia. Bryan Hamel snags the first interception of the final period and Sam Witcher picks off the second in the end zone with less than three minutes to go.

Dancer Helps Reddies Sweep Christian Brothers | Oct. 5, 2002 Nikki Dancer finishes with 20 kills on 33 attacks as Henderson rolls through Christian Brothers 3-0 in Memphis. The Reddies rack up 10 service aces in three sets and compile a .364 attacking percentage in the win.

ARKADELPHIA, Ark.— Ouachita Baptist University has expanded its competitive running program this fall with a new NCAA Division II women’s track and field team as well as a men’s cross country club team. The men’s cross country club is expected to transition to an NCAA intercollegiate team in fall 2021. The additions were approved in the March 2020 Board of Trustees meeting.

“It’s very exciting to me that we have added the opportunity for more women to compete in an NCAA sport,” said David Sharp, Ouachita’s director of athletics. “Adding women’s track and field enhances our existing women’s cross country program, as well. They tie together, and having Steve Guymon as their coach, we instantly have experience and expertise. Coach Guymon is an established and proven coach with a wealth of knowledge and recruiting experience, which is key in not only building a team, but a competitive team.

“I am also enthusiastic about seeing Ouachita provide a club opportunity for men in cross country,” Sharp added. “Both of these opportunities for women and men are showing our commitment to Ouachita students to engage in extracurricular activities.”

“We believe these two additions better serve our students – providing more opportunities for female student-athletes and answering the call to bring men’s cross country back to Ouachita – and advance the strong athletics legacy of our institution,” said Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita president.

“These strategic offerings answer gaps in the market, utilize facilities we already have in place at Ouachita and in the community and leverage Coach Guymon’s outstanding experience and leadership.”

Guymon, who has served as Ouachita’s head women’s cross country coach and the director of competitive club sports since he was hired in spring of 2019, now also will oversee women’s track & field and the men’s cross country club.

“We are excited about adding women’s track and field to Ouachita,” Guymon said. “It will benefit our cross country program and give more opportunities for women to come to Ouachita Baptist University. We will work hard to build a strong program here and make the Ouachita cross country alumni proud.”

At the start of the fall 2019 semester, seven total students were listed on the track and field and cross country program rosters, which later grew to 15 when the season began. Now, the cross country roster totals 25 student athletes, and track and field totals 30.

In August of 2020, the Great American Conference

announced that competition would be suspended through December 31. With track and field and cross country being non-contact sports, both teams have been practicing physicallydistanced and adhering to national, state and local health guidelines.

“At first I was worried about this year’s team because we’re basically training without a season due to COVID-19,” Guymon said.

“But every day they are just getting better and better.

They came up with this slogan at the start of the year: ‘We are unbreakable.’ It’s something we’ve been talking about, and they are holding each other accountable, which is great. I’m proud of them.

“This season has definitely been a challenging one with the restrictions due to the coronavirus,” he added.

“I have been so blessed with a team that has come to practice each day with a positive attitude. They have been training hard for the unknown.”

Unlike women’s track and field, a men’s running program is not new to Ouachita; the university last fielded a men’s cross country team in 2001. The return of men’s cross country as a club team, Guymon said, has been exciting for incoming student-athletes and Ouachita alumni alike.

“With the men’s program, we have several freshmen who have committed already to being part of the team when it becomes an NCAA sport in 2021,” Guymon said. “And a lot of the alumni have been looking forward to it. It was strong in the past, and my goal is to have success while building the numbers.”

“Ouachita is well known for its academic programs and athletics success,” he said. “I am excited to hopefully bring that success back to cross country and track like Coach Bob Gravett had years ago.”

Before coming to Ouachita, Guymon was named conference Coach of the Year 28 times and NCAA South Region Coach of the Year 12 times at his previous institution. His cross country and track student-athletes earned 110 All-American honors, and his teams won 25 conference championships in cross country and track and field and competed nationally dozens of times.

Guymon is a member of the Arkansas Track Coaches Association and Arkansas Activities Association; he has served as president, first vice president and second vice president of the United States Track Coaches Association; as an NCAA South Region Representative; and as a member of the NCAA Sports Connection Committee.