No. 1
Vol. 2
C l e a r e d f o r Ta k e o f f Lance Brownfield Editor-in-chief
As we circled over my dad’s mechanic shop from just under 1000 feet, I texted him to come out to the parking lot. When he came outside, we tipped the wing to him before we flew on back to Arkadelphia. After the detour, I took the controls back from Cody Barbery and we headed back to Arkadelphia’s Dexter B. Florence Memorial Field. He took us down for the landing then let me take off once more. We followed the left hand traffic pattern to make another approach. I was supposed to land this time, except the Maule we were flying was just a little bit harder to control than anything I’ve ever flown. I gave controls back to him just to ensure a safe landing then I taxied us back to the hangar. Our one hour flight took us from Arkadelphia to Hot Springs and on to Malvern before returning. Although I don’t have a license, I’ve flown an old Cessna around a few times with a friend. In true flight instructor fashion, Barbery let me take the left seat in the cockpit and fly for most of the time we were in the air. Barbery is a recent graduate of Henderson’s aviation program and a former flight instructor. The 23-year-old is from a small town near Fort Smith called Greenwood. He started flying when he was 18 while beginning the program at Henderson, although he’d taken discovery flights when he was 16. He has an older brother
in planes regularly and go to airshows in Fort Smith. They used to live next to the airport in Fort Smith, but moved when Barbery was just 2 years old. Barbery’s father actually started training to become a pilot as a young man, but walked away from it when he started his family. When Barbery started the program in 2016, he and the rest of the aviation industry had no idea that a thing like COVID-19 would shake things up just as he graduated. Barbery was able to become an instructor before his senior year and finished his studies on time even with the disruption caused by the coronavirus. “It never crossed my mind,” Barbery said. “It never crossed any of our minds.” The industry, however, is not new to upheaval, with a major change happening about every 10 years in recent history. 9/11 and the 2008 recession were two of the biggest blows to the aviation industry. COVID-19 may be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many who wish for a more stable line of work. According to marketwatch.com, the industry was already set to be seriously understaffed in the near future before COVID-19 shut everything down. On top of that, an aging workforce means that more young pilots are needed to replace the baby boomers who’ve already pushed back retirement once before. That means there are definitely going to be enough jobs for pilots like Barbery once the industry recovers.
Photo by Lance Brownfield Henderson owns almost 20 planes and is the only aviation program in the state.
and two younger sisters, but he is the only pilot of the family. His love for flying was nurtured by his father who was a travel agent. The family would go on trips
“Ya know, the airline industry, the travel industry as a whole, is a sensitive industry.” Barbery said. “It’s fragile. It can be knocked down real easily, but it can
May 13, 2021
Rainbow Croc Crook Lance Brownfield Editor-in-Chief
Photo by Lance Brownfield
Cody Barbery runs through his preflight checklist before taking off from Arkadelphia’s Dexter B. Florence Memorial Field
On Thursday, May 6, a man picked up and walked off with every copy of last week’s Oracle CE. Caught on surveillance footage b y t h e H S U P o l i c e D epartment, the perpetrator grabbed the stack of newspapers mid-morning from outside of the Oracle office in the Garrison building. The university police have not released the footage of the theft as of yet. According to police, the suspect looks to be an 18 t0 25-years-old Black male around 6 feet tall with an athletic build. He was wearing a white shirt and black pants. Perhaps, however, his most noteworthy feature is his rainbow colored Crocs-like shoes. This is the fourth instance of newspaper theft this academic year, and the first time that the suspect has been caught on camera. The value of the most recent heist is estimated at $1,500. If you have any information on the suspect or the thefts, please contact the HSU Police Department by calling 870-230-5098.
Photo by Lance Brownfield
Cody Barbery stands in front of a Maule owned by Henderson at Dexter B. Florence Memorial Field.
be brought back up real eas- just a narrow margin. Rook ily. I think you’re gonna see is the faculty sponsor of the a bigger need for pilots.” fraternity. “Keep the horizon a quarHenderson’s aviation ter way up the windshield to program has steadily grown stay level,” Barbery said as I to meet this demand. The started to let the plane drift university’s almost 20 downwards. planes are constantly in use With his reminder, I as more and more students pulled back on the controls take up the program with to pitch us back up where the average plane getting 50 we needed to be. Barbery to 100 hours per month. As has the same cool demeanor the only aviation program in the air that he has on the in the state, Henderson gets ground. As we make our students ready for the job final approach, he continues market in as little as 1000 to teach me more about the flight hours, while most aircraft. other routes into the field, or Barbery has stayed busy sky, take up to 1500 hours. despite the lack of work “Cody was one of our best across the industry. After flight instructors,” Charles finishing up as a flight inRook, a professor of avia- structor, Barbery took a job tion said. “And I’ve had him in Texarkana with a comin class. He’s been a stellar pany called Airborne Flying student. I just gave him a Services. He mostly gets reference for a job interview called out for air ambulance for an airline.” flights, but the company also According to Rook, Bar- charters private flights. He bery was President of Alpha also still works as a flight Eta Rho, the worldwide instructor on the side. aviation fraternity, during His plans for the future his junior year. Henderson’s are to fly for a company out chapter is actually the sec- of Fort Smith called Arkanond largest in the world by sas Best Freight (ABF). Go-
ing corporate means that he can be home every night and have holidays off, whereas for commercial pilots, holidays are the busiest time. His position at Airborne allows him to rack up hours in a Piper 2XL and a Piper 3. These multi-engine hours are necessary for him to qualify for a future job at ABF. The majority of his 1300 hours in the air is single-engine time. “My end goal was always flying for a corporate company,” Barbery said. “They actually called me and said they’ll need two more guys in the next three years. COVID-19 has certainly caused some turbulence but it’s nothing the industry can’t handle. While the future is uncertain, Barbery is well prepared and has a positive outlook on his career going forward. Landing a good job can be tricky, but Barbery is a pilot, after all. “Anyone can fly an airplane,” Barbery said. “But it takes a pilot to land a plane.”
Photo by Lance Brownfield
The most recent in a string of newspaper thefts was caught on camera by the HSU Police Department on last Thursday. The estimated $1,500 worth of newspapers was carried off by an individual in rainbow colored Crocs-like shoes.
Portrait of Maurice Horton Sr. Unveiled at ceremony
Photo Courtesy of hsu.edu
Ed Martin, professor emeritus of art at Henderson was commissioned to paint the portait of Maurice Horton – the first African American to recieve a degree from the university.
Photo Courtesy of hsu.edu
Maurice Horton’s family poses besides his portrait. The painting made by Ed Martin, professor emeritus of art at HSU, celebrates the man as the first African American to receive a degree from the university.
2 News
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Leadership Clark County Now Accepting Applications Saybra Scott Clark County Chamber of Commerce
Leadership Clark County, a program of the Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance and Area Chamber of Commerce, is currently accepting applications for Class IX. Leadership Clark County is aimed at creating local leadership, as well as encouraging and supporting the character and heritage of Clark County. The program seeks to produce a networked group of leaders who understand the county’s special sense of place and share a common commitment to support and sustain our economy.
Participants will attend orientation in October followed by full day sessions once a month, for nine months, covering a wide variety of topics such as Clark County history, education, economic development and state government. A graduation ceremony will be held in July. The cost for the program is $300 which includes all costs associated with the program. A limited number of scholarships are available based on financial need. Participants can be nominated or sponsored by themselves, employers, organizations or other individuals. Applications for Leadership Clark County can
be downloaded at www. arkadelphiaalliance.com or picked up at the Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance and Area Chamber of Commerce Office at 201 North 26th Street in Arkadelphia. All applications must be received no later than Tuesday, August 31, 2021. Applications can be mailed to Leadership Clark County, P.O. Box 400, Arkadelphia, AR 71923 or emailed to saybra@arkadelphiaalliance. com. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, please contact Saybra Scott at 870-246-1460 or saybra@arkadelphiaalliance. com.
Ouachita’s annual Elrod Center service awards ceremony honors Ian Cosh and student volunteers Mandy Halbert OBU Media
ARKADELPHIA — Ouachita Baptist University’s Ben M. Elrod Center for Family and Community held its annual community service awards ceremony on Tuesday, April 13, recognizing the service efforts of university students, faculty and staff during the 2020-2021 academic year. Ian Cosh, vice president for community and international engagement, also was honored for his more than 33 years of service to Ouachita and the Elrod Center. Cosh received the Community Service Excellence Award in recognition for serving as director for the Elrod Center since its founding in 1997. He will retire this summer from his position at Ouachita. “The Elrod Center has been one of my great passions since its start in 1997,” Cosh said. “We set a goal
to transform the culture of Ouachita to include a deep and abiding commitment to service, and I believe that we have achieved that goal. “The joy of serving impacts every student and instills a love of serving that will last a lifetime,” he added. “Periodically, we give a Community Service Excellence Award for outstanding and faithful service to Ouachita and the community,” said Dr. Ben Sells, Ouachita president. “Ian is uniquely identified with Ouachita’s Elrod Center as a Ouachita graduate, the founding director of the center and leading the university’s community service since 1997.” The Elrod Center, Campus Ministries and the Grant Center for International Education also honored volunteers and made special mention of seniors who have served in their programs. “We are so grateful for
all the many things our students do on campus, in the community and beyond to enrich the lives of others,” said Judy Duvall, associate director of the Elrod Center. Duvall will be director of the center following Cosh’s retirement. The Elrod Center for Family and Community was founded in 1997 by Ouachita as a way to encourage service by students, faculty and staff by providing service opportunities within the community. “It has been rewarding to see students genuinely enjoy service and learn how to serve faithfully according to their passion,” Cosh said. “Students have so much to offer to our community, so watching students become empowered servant leaders has given me great pleasure.” For more information, contact the Elrod Center at 870-245-5320.
LITTLE ROCK – On Wednesday, I traveled to Poinsett County for the dedication of the state’s newest water trail. Today I’d like to share a bit of the story behind the Sunken Lands Water Trail, which was created by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, the St. Francis Lake Association, the Trumann Area Chamber of Commerce, and by what insurance companies refer to as an act of God. The roots of the story reach back to the New Madrid earthquakes more than two centuries ago. There is enough history, heartbreak, and political intrigue per square foot of this 37,000-acre patch of northeast Arkansas to keep genealogists, geologists, foresters, engineers, historians, and novelists busy for years. The Sunken Lands Water Trail, which is a path for paddlers rather than pedestrians, is the Game and Fish Commission’s fourteenth water trail. Sunken Lands takes its name from the earthquakes in the early 1800s when the land literally sank and disappeared under water. The quakes began in December 1811 and contin-
ued through March 1812. Land in the counties of Craighead, Mississippi, and Poinsett disappeared. An eyewitness wrote that the ground moved like waves on the land, and that the earth burst open and sent up huge plumes of water and sand. Where forests and hills once dominated, only flooded land remained. The quakes dug chasms as deep as fifty feet and dumped land into the St. Francis River. Many who survived the quakes lost everything they owned and moved away. Some who moved west settled at Crowley’s Ridge, the only high ground left. For more than a hundred years, Arkansans worked to make something of the waterlogged regions. Their ingenuity produced the Steep Gut Floodway with a lock and sluiceway in 1926, and Marked Tree Siphons, which went into operation in 1939. A newspaper reporter for the Marked Tree Tribune wrote that the siphons lifted “the whole river thirty feet across a dam and deposited it on the other side.” The siphons and the floodway controlled and drained the water, and allowed towns such as Lake City, Turrell, Lepanto, Marked Tree, Tyronza, and Trumann to thrive. A loop
Oracle: CE
Upcoming Events Upcoming Events
Disaster Response Training for National Park College students & 2020 graduates is free and available for sign up now. Go to EventBrite. com for more details. >>> <<< Showing at the Arkadelphia Arts Center, “Springtime! Window Exhibit”, a collection of Spring-themed art by several members of the Caddo River Art Guild. Contact information for each of the artists is listed on ID cards on the art. For more information about the Caddo River Art Guild and the Arkadelphia Arts Center go to Facebook, or visit CaddoRiverArtGuild.com or CCAHC.org.
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 870-230-2975 or 870-260-9277. >>> <<< H& R Block has a new location at 2749 Pine St in Arkadelphia, AR! Visit their new office today to put their expertise to work on your refund. >>> <<< 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.
Governor Hutchinson on the Sunken Lands Water Trail Asa Hutchinson AR Governor
off U.S. 63 runs through much of the Sunken Lands region, including the St. Francis Sunken Lands Wildlife Management Area, famous for its hunting and fishing. The Marked Tree Siphons is on the National Register of Historic Places, which you can still see and which continues to siphon water. More than two-hundred years later, Arkansas has found another use for the waterway by creating the water trail, which will draw thousands of tourists. The St. Francis Sunken Lands Water Trail was conceived by local officials and nature lovers, who were assisted in their dream by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. Game and Fish Biologists Jeremy Brown and Jessica Holman spent hundreds of hours on the project. Chris Colclasure, deputy director of Game and Fish, Neal Vickers, retired executive director of the Trumann Area Chamber of Commerce, and Congressman Rick Crawford supported the project. On Wednesday, I saw the trail from the shore and from a boat. The day was sunny, and the scenery was beautiful. Sunken Land Water Trails is another jewel in the Natural State’s crown, a place packed with history and primed for the future.
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. >>> <<< Pediatrics Plus is excited to announce that our brand new facility is now open. Our new facility is located at 702 Hickory Street. The new facility offers includes a Developmental Preschool and Therapy Services that include: ABA, Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy. In addition, our brand new, state-of-the-art facilities include a House Next Door suite which offers a homey feel for children learning daily living activities like cooking, feeding therapy, making the bed, getting dressed, and more! Other features of the new facility include a new playground, gross motor gym, high stimulation and low stimulation gyms, and a library! Enroll Now to get a spot in our new location! >>> <<< 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.
Oracle:CE
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Amped Up for the Revamp
Page 3
Reddie for the Real World Logan Starkey & Ally Cooper Staff Reporters
Henderson’s class of 2021 all graduated Friday, May 7, but they did not all graduate together. Spanning several hours, the event was spread across the entire campus with each department assigned their own time slot in their designated location. The Ellis College of Arts
and Sciences students graduated in the Garrison Center while the Teacher’s College and the School of Business students graduated in Duke Wells Center. Henderson followed CDC guidelines by requiring people to wear masks and only allowing each graduate nine guests. The ceremonies ran smoothly and each graduate had their moment to
walk down the red carpet and receive their diploma that they worked so diligently for. The graduates received their copies of the 2020 yearbook along with an HSU mug from the alumni association. After graduating, the now former students gathered around outside to take pictures and introduce their families to their professors.
Photo by Tessa Wagner
The Captain Henderson House is under renovation for the first time since 2001. The popular bed & breakfast will be open again later
Photo by Tessa Wagner
The Captain Henderson House, which is registered on the National Register of Historic Places is undergoing restoration and is not taking reservations.
Photo by Ally Cooper
Henderson’s class of 2021 graduated Friday, May 7 in two different locations on Campus. The event was spread across several hours and two locations.
Arkansas Department of Health COVID-19 Update
Photo by Lance Brownfield
The Clark County Humane Society will be open all summer adopting out cute faces such as this one. The shelter is located at 627 Walnut Street in Arkadelphia.
Arkansas Department of Health
According to the Arkansas Department of Health Administration in its COVID-19 update, there are a total of 73,396 probable cases in
the state as of April 19. In reference to ADH’s graph, there are a total of 337,586 cases. There have been 251,659 individuals partially immunzed and 810,325 fully immunized. The counties are col-
Crites & Tackett Tree Service
Tree removal, trimming, topping and stump removal. Free estimates, worker’s comp, and liability insurance. 501-337-1565 or 501-337-9094
ored 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. Vaccines are now available for a limited amount of people. Baptist Health in Arkadelphia has been supplying shots for weeks for selected employees across town. Golf, softball, women’s volleyball, and basketball are in full swing, so sports teams are keeping an eye on CO-
VID guidelines. 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 President of the United States and vaccines being given to those that meet the needed qualifications, things are changing week by week. People are encouraged to continue social distancing and staying at least six feet away from others. Testing is widely available in most cities.
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Editor in Chief: Lance Brownfield Ads Manager: Harley Whisenhunt Oracle Editor: Kaela McKim Sports Editor: Donovan Lee Staff Reporters: Phoebe Darley, Blanton Matthews, Tierra McCraney, Juliann Reaper, Aaron Weatherford, Jaylon McKewen, Madison Hardcastle, Haven Hughes Adviser: Steve Listopad
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870-230-5221 1100 Henderson Street, Arkadelphia, AR - 71923 Calls will be returned. Mailed subscriptions now offered -$60 for 6 months -$100 a year All views and opinions are those of Oracle writers and editors and they do not represent the beliefs of Henderson State University. The Oracle: CE is printed by the Nashville Leader in Nashville, AR*
4 Sports
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Oracle: CE
Reddie Men Place Sixth Bison Steal Series from at 2021 NCAA Regional HSU in Saturday Finale David Salley HSU Sports
David Salley HSU Sports
KANSAS CITY — Henderson State shot 21-over 305 on Saturday in the final round at the 2021 NCAA DII Central/Midwest Regional to take sixth-place in the 16-team field. The Reddies finished with a 54-hole score of 26over 878, just 10 shots back of fourth-place Washburn, who claimed the region’s final automatic bid to the NCAA DII National Championships. Photo courtesy of hsusports.com Mitchell Ford and Grayson Jones led HSU in the Reddies Men’s Golf sink to sixth place at the NCAA Regionals. final round of play. Ford shot 3-over 74 to end in 18 holes and tied for 23rd Central Missouri won a tie for 17th, while Jones individually. Krog had a the Central/Midwest Renotched a Top-15 individual team-high four birdies in gional title by carding a finish and tied for 13th with the third round. Josh Mc- three-day team score of a 5-over 76 on Saturday. Nulty and Miller Harris 5-under 847. Stuart Krog turned in finished with scores of 78 a 6-over 77 for his final and 79, respectively.
SHAWNEE, Okla. — Oklahoma Baptist scored nine unanswered runs in the finale of the weekend series to defeat Henderson State 9-1 in the last game of the regular season for both teams. The loss dropped HSU to 23-16 overall and 18-15 in GAC play. The Reddies are the No. 7 seed in next week’s GAC Tournament and will travel to play No. 2 seed Southern Arkansas at 6 p.m. on Friday in Magnolia, Photo courtesy of hsusports.com Arkansas in the league quarFreshman Ethan Perry eyes his target before lobbing the ball terfinals. at Saturday’s game. The Reddies scored first but were held to six hits in the recorded his first triple of the courtesy of the deep fly. Oklahoma Baptist also shortened game and had just season in the sixth. The Bison, who lead the got a strong performance on three in the final four innings. Matthew Baker and Daniel conference in home runs, the mound from its starter Colasantoeach had two hits to hit five in seven innings in Brek Gilbreath, who pitched lead HSU at the plate. Baker the rubber match. Seven a complete game and struck of OKBU’s nine runs came out seven Reddie batters.
Tigers Finish Season With Victory At SNU OBU Sports
Ouachita Baptist baseball finished its 2021 campaign with a 9-3 victory over Southern Nazarene in Bethany, Oklahoma, on Friday. Simmons Sowell and Louis Steen drove in three runs each in the victory. The Tigers scored the first runs of the game in the fourth. Tyler Riebockscored the first run of the game, coming around on a throwing error following a successful double steal attempt. Jaxon Chaney
scored the second run on CW Schrader’s RBI groundout. Jared Free doubled with one out in the fifth and scored on Riebock’s RBI single. The Crimson Storm broke up Beau Burson’s shutout bid with a run in the bottom of the frame. Sowell extended the Tiger lead in the sixth with a two-out, three-run home run to left center. Steen singled home a run in the seventh to pad the advantage further. SNU scored a pair of runs in the bottom of the
seventh, but that would be the end of the home team’s offense Friday. After Steen’s two-run single ran Ouachita’s lead to 9-3, Garrett Hermes put the finishing touches on a perfect relief outing, recording two of his four strikeouts in the final frame. Burson earned the win with 6.1 innings pitched, allowing three runs on five hits with six strikeouts and two walks. Hermes threw the final 2.2 innings, striking out four of the eight batters he faced.
Photo courtesy of OBUTigers.com
OBU’s Simmons Sowell rips a ball on Saturday’s 9-3 victory over South Nazarene University.