OCE February 24, 2022

To speak .

INDEX Features Opinions Events Obits Sports Arkadelphian

No. 7

Vol. 4

1 2 2 3 4 4

February 24, 2022

F4: The tornado 25 years ago

Photo courtesy of Steve Fellers - HSU Archives

The clocktower at town hall received some damage due to the tornado.

Photo courtesy of Steve Fellers - HSU Archives

Tara Brown (left) breaks down while viewing the destruction of Main Street. She is comforted by Julia Dunham.

Photo courtesy of Steve Fellers - HSU Archives

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers led the cleanup effort in Arkadelphia. This home on Cutler Street was approved for demolition.

These photos were taken in the immediate aftermath of the March, 1 1997 tornado that ravaged Arkadelphia. All photos come from the HSU Archives and were taken by Steve Fellers. Go to hsuoracle.com to see a gallery of 25 photos of that fateful event.

Changes at Chick-fil-A Katlin Williams

Contributing Reporter One of the most favorite spots here among students is Chick-Fil-A, which offers delicious chicken nuggets and sandwiches, salads, wraps, and the most known item: their waffle fries. Before Covid came onto campus, the

hours of operation were 7:30 am to 9:00 pm.

Though the opening time has remained the same, closing has been changed to 8:00 pm. It may not seem like an issue for some, but students have raised concerns about the change. Most students like to have the option of eating at later times

because of the various schedule changes that can occur over the semester.

There are also different events on different days and varying amounts of homework that can make it difficult for students to eat throughout the day.

But fret not. Henderson provides other options for all students to be

accommodated.

The Reddie Grill has a wide variety of foods such as cheeseburgers, wings, french fries, and many other options. Since they do not serve breakfast as Chick-fil-a and Starbucks do, they operate between 10:30 am and 8:00 pm. On Saturdays and Sundays, however, the

grill is closed. Apart from the dining hall, all retail dining is closed on weekends.

Luckily, the dining hall is available to students all throughout the week for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Morning hours for Monday through Thursday are 7:00 am to 9:30 am, then 10:45 am to

1:30 pm. Dinner hours are 4:45 pm to 7:30 pm, with Friday closing 30 minutes before seven. Weekends provide brunch and dinner options between the hours of 10:30 am to 1:30 pm, then 4:30 pm to 6:30 in the evening.

Border crisis: Ukraine Lance Brownfield

Editor-in-Chief

*NAMES IN THIS ARTICLE HAVE BEEN CHANGED TO PROTECT THEIR IDENTITY* When the crisis on the border of Ukraine heated back up last October, many in the countries involved did not believe we would be sitting at the brink of war several months later. Today, there is so much up in the air as Russian President Vladimir Putin seems

determined to reclaim the former Soviet territory at any cost.

While most were skeptical of the threat of war up until the 2022 Olympics in Beijing, more of the Russian-speaking world is accepting the possibility of a major conflict in Europe.

“Putin is going to start a war,” said Kseniya, a student in Kazan, Russia. “He is crazy. That’s why I want to move to Europe.”

The response from NATO, the European

Union (EU) and other European nations has not been as uniform as one might expect.

UN member nations around the world have rolled out heavy sanctions against the transcontinental country, but support for Ukraine varies from nation to nation.

Germany has halted the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that was set to supply Russian natural gas to mainland Europe but has stopped short of backing Ukraine with military assistance.

Other countries like troops and camps as Estonia have postured well as developments themselves to be more that the mainstream supportive as they also media won’t broadcast. share a border with the “Radio Free Europe” behemoth. has over 22 thousand “ T h e p o l i t i c a l subscribers to the situation here is so Ukrainian language bad,” said Kseniya. channel and is a vital tool “I can’t say what I for those sympathetic t h i n k b e c a u s e t h e to Ukraine’s plight. government will send The network of me to the jail.” radio stations was A channel on the first created in 1949 p o p u l a r e n c r y p t e d to combat communist m e s s a g i n g a p p , media in Europe, and Telegram, is keeping is funded by the United l o c a l s i n E a s t e r n States government.

Europe up to date with Visit hsuoracle.com to locations of Russian read more.

Photo by Lance Brownfield

Info from Weather.com

FRI - Feb. 25 partly cloudy

SAT - Feb. 26 p.m. showers

SUN - Feb. 27 partly cloudy

MON - Feb. 28 mostly sunny

TUE - Mar. 1 partly cloudy

WED - Mar. 2 partly cloudy

THU - Mar. 3 mostly sunny

48o 30

46o 30

55o 23

50o 23

54o 29

61o 33

65o 39

Precipitation: 8% Wind: NNE 9 mph Humidity: 57%

Precipitation: 46% Wind: ENE 8 mph Humidity: 65%

Precipitation: 24% Wind: NNW 11 mph Humidity 64%

Precipitation: 1% Wind: N 8 mph Humidity: 40%

Precipitation: 1% Wind: S 10 mph Humidity: 44%

Precipitation: 4% Wind: S 8 mph Humidity: 52%

Precipitation: 11% Wind: S 9 mph Humidty: 53%

o

o

o

o

o

o

o

2 News

The school with the heart attack Blanton Matthews Opinions Reporter

On Feb. 3, amidst the snow and ice, Henderson State University Chancellor Chuck Ambrose announced new measures the school will be taking to combat its overwhelming indebtedness. All faculty now face a day of furlough a week, effective immediately.

In the weeks to come, we will know more about departments and programs that will be cut and who faces a fate worse than furlough.

The announcement came just two days after Henderson celebrated their one year anniversary with the Arkansas State University System, a move that was voted on and approved by both boards of trustees over two years ago as the school first revealed its dire state created by ousted President Glen Jones Jr. and Vice President of Finance and Administration Brett Powell.

All this time, all this work by the System that was to be Henderson’s savior, and what exactly is there to show for it?

According to Ambrose, the debt has grown deeper, from an already devastating $14 million dollars to a disastrous $78 million. If the

new procedures are so necessary, why are they only now being implemented a year into Henderson’s ASU Systemization?

Has anyone really, honestly done anything to try to fix the mess we have been in? I hate to say it, but it sure seems like nothing has changed in the last two years and that the sinking of Captain Henderson’s ship has only been accelerated.

Meanwhile, Jones and Powell have cushy new jobs at Georgetown University and Baylor University, respectively.

The only consequences they faced were a few embarrassing days in front of state lawmakers, not even a slap on the wrist for their reckless gutting of this once great school.

The picture is bleak.

Am I going to be in one of the final graduating classes of Reddies? Is this school going to be here at all in ten, even five years?

I remember when I was in high school, here in Arkadelphia, class of 2018. Henderson did not seem to do much recruiting. How, I thought, were outof-town schools like Southern Arkansas University pushing so much harder to recruit Arkadelphia students than one of the schools

in our own backyard?

When I was at Arkansas Boys’ State, every University in the state had a table set up in the Capitol building except Henderson. The same thing happened at Arkansas Governor’s School the same summer. Henderson was a no-show. It was not just locally. The whole recruiting situation was a joke.

How can the school combat years of outright neglect, arrogant refusal to even try to bring in new students, especially now with such a great black mark against us?

We are synonymous with failure, corruption, and TV’s “Breaking Bad.” My father died working for this school.

There is supposed to be some fundraising effort for a new scoreboard at the swimming pool in the Duke Wells Gym in his honor. I have not heard anything about it since last fall. I have not heard from hardly anyone in the athletic department about anything since my father, who worked so tirelessly for this school for 39 years, died. Personal promises made to my family have not been kept. Nobody cares. It is a symptom, it seems, of the larger disease: the school with a heart has let that heart grow hard.

Arkansas's black history heroes Sarah Huckabee Sanders AR Governor candidate LITTLE ROCK – February is Black History Month, and today I’d like to pay tribute to some of the Arkansans who have made a real difference in our state and nation.

More than 160 Arkansans have been inducted into the Arkansas Black Hall of Fame.

Many of those are historic figures who contributed to the early growth and governance of Arkansas. Many others are still making news. They have represented Arkansas in the fields of journalism, publishing, and entertainment; law; politics; agriculture; restaurants; nuclear science; computer science; the military; and college and professional sports.

The most recent Hall of Famers to make national news are Annie Abrams and Fatima Robinson. Annie Abrams was in her mid-20s during the Central High desegregation crisis of 1957 who was one of many who knew the students who were known as the Little Rock 9. On the first day of Black History Month this year, a crew from Good

Morning America broadcast an interview with Miss Annie from her house in Little Rock.

She was a friend of L.C. and Daisy Bates, a living connection to that transformative era in our history. At 90, Miss Annie still writes (often by email) and otherwise communicates her view to leaders around the state.

On Sunday, millions around the world watched the work of Little Rock native Fatima Robinson, who choreographed the halftime show for Super Bowl LVI. She also choreographed the halftime show for the Super Bowl in 2011.

Raye Jean Jordan Montague, who died in 2018, was an engineer with the U.S. Navy who produced the first computer-generated rough draft for the construction of a Naval ship.

Estella and Knoxie Hall were entrepreneurs who persevered through setbacks rooted in racial attitudes at the time. In the 1970s, they turned a gas station into a produce market, which grew to include a small restaurant. Their three sons still run K. Halls Produce at 1900 Wright Avenue.

When Lottie Shackelford ran for a seat on the Little Rock

Board of Directors, she became the first black candidate to win a majority in a citywide race.

She was reelected twice, and in 1987, the board elected her as Little Rock’s first female mayor.

Scipio Jones is one of the best known of Arkansas’s historical figures. Scipio was born into slavery in 1863, and after he won his freedom, he began his college career at Philander Smith College. He passed the Arkansas Bar Exam in 1889. Mr. Jones is best known for his defense of twelve black men who were sentenced to death in connection with the Elaine Race Massacre. He ignored threats to represent the men on appeal. The U.S. Supreme Court overturned the death sentences. That victory produced a landmark decision that established a precedent for the use of writs of habeas corpus. Scipio Jones risked his life to seek justice for his clients.

This is a short list whose courage, creativity, and tenacity have enriched our state. Black History Month is an appropriate time to remember them, but let’s not limit our honor of them to a few days every year.

End the IRS refund backlog Bruce Westerman AR Representative Though the 2021 tax season is upon us, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) still has a massive backlog of 8 million unprocessed, individual tax returns dating back to Tax Year 2019, which amassed largely during COVID-19 when employees worked from home. I have recently heard from several constituents who are still waiting for their returns to be processed, one of whom estimates he is owed $12,000 by the IRS. Another, a minority business owner, has waited two years for his tax return to be processed. Since his return has not been touched by the IRS, he has been deemed ineligible for an emergency loan from the Small Business Administration. The situation has deteriorated to the point that the overwhelmed IRS's Taxpayer Advocate Service cannot accept cases solely involving amended tax returns, thereby leaving millions of Americans stuck in bureaucratic limbo.

Oracle: CE

Thursday, February 24, 2022

The IRS has had more than enough time to process these returns and has shown little progress. Every American knows that filing his or her taxes late or incorrectly leads to fines or worse, but, until now, there have been no consequences for the IRS holding folk’s hard-earned money hostage for up to two years.

To hold the IRS accountable and end this unacceptable backlog, I introduced the IRS PRIORITIES Act. When my bill becomes law, it will bar the IRS from hiring additional tax enforcement employees until it clears the backlog of tax returns from the past two years.

In his now thankfully defunct “Build Back Better” plan, President Biden pushed to hire 80,000 new tax enforcers and proposed that banks be required to report all transactions over $600 to close the so-called “tax-gap” and help pay for his radical tax and spend agenda.

Thankfully, neither proposal will come to fruition, but they show where President Biden’s

priorities lie. He’d rather take more of your money than force the IRS to do the job it has neglected for years. Americans do not want a radical climate plan and expansion of the welfare state paid for by more taxes. They want the money they worked hard for and many desperately need considering today’s high inflation.

As the people’s representatives, it is time for Congress to step in and ensure that Americans receive the services their taxes pay for by insisting the IRS perform its most basic function and process returns in a timely manner. I will always fight to enact policy that prioritizes and protects the taxpayer, like the IRS PRIORITIES Act. To ensure that your 2021 tax returns are processed on time, I encourage you to submit an electronic return to avoid the backlog of paper returns. If my office can ever help you with a federal agency, including the IRS, please contact us at (501) 609-9796.

image: Freepik.com

Winter Events Feb. 24 - 28 7:30 p.m. (+2 p.m. on the 26th) HSU Theatre presents "The Revolutionists" in Arkansas Hall Mar. 1 4 - 6:15 p.m.

Day of remembrance for 25 years after the tornado at Ruggles-Wilcox Funeral Home Mar. 3+4 9:30 p.m. + 3 p.m.

Arkansas Chapter of The Wildlife Society annual meeting at DeGray Lake Resort State Park.

Mar. 7 6 - 8 p.m.

Huie and HSU eSports Game Night - Mario Party Mar. 17 Chamber banquet at HSU’s Garrison Ballroom World’s Shortest St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown Hot Springs

Recurring 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. ♦♦♦ 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

William Morris Arapis 6/30/44 - 2/19/22

Marcia Jean Gatliff 7/13/28 - 2/18/22

Wanda Sue Morton 4/15/37 - 2/18/22

Marvin Hathcock 3/15/50 - 2/14/22

Marvin H. Hathcock age 71, of Friendship, passed away on Monday, February 14, 2022, in the V. A. Medical Center in Little Rock. He was born March 15, 1950, to Cecil Magnus and Etta Faye Bosley Hathcock. Marvin was a member of Friendship

Michael Beals 7/29/59 - 2/12/22

Obits 3

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Obituaries William Morris Arapis, age 77, of Arkadelphia, passed from this life on Saturday, February 19, 2022, at Courtyard Gardens Health and Rehabilitation Center in Arkadelphia. He was born June 30, 1944, in Walnut Grove, TX, the son of the late Roger Bruce and Vanilla Belle Morris Arapis.

William was a retired truck driver for A & P Stores. He

enjoyed listening to music and woodworking in his free time. William was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Bruce Williams.

Survivors are one daughter, Jennifer Paige Williams of Arkadelphia, three grandchildren, Katie Gray and Max and Josh Williams, one great grandchild, Cruz Williams, and his beloved pets, Shasta

and Baby.

Private family services are being planned.

Memorials may be made to Humane Society of Clark County, P.O. Box 435, Arkadelphia, AR 71923.

Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia. Visit www. welchfh.net to sign the guest book.

Marcia Jean Gatliff, age 93, of Delight, passed from this life on Friday, February 18, 2022 at Southern Pines Health and Rehabilitation Center in Prescott. She was born July 13, 1928, in Hadley, PA, the daughter of the late Arthur and Mildred Minnis Kuhn.

Marcia was a graduate of Hadley High School. She was a homemaker and worked at Wal Mart. She was preceded in death by her parents, one son, Ben

Salter, III, three sisters, and five brothers.

Survivors are her husband of fifty-six years, Grant Gatliff of Delight, two sons, Bruce Salter (Debra) of Brentwood, CA and Doug Salter (Sharon) of Delight, one daughter, Linda Maas of Oregon, one brother, Bob Kuhn of Florida, one sister, Carole Ann Chenowyth of West Virginia, eight grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren and one great great grandchild.

Graveside services will be held at 2:00 PM Tuesday, February 22, 2022, at Delight Cemetery with Brent Alexander officiating.

Memorials may be made to Delight Cemetery Fund P.O. Box 84, Delight, AR 71940.

Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia. Visit www. welchfh.net to sign the guest book.

Wanda Sue Morton, age 84, of Arkadelphia, formerly of Bryant, passed from this life on Friday, February 18, 2022, at Courtyard Gardens Health and Rehabilitation Center in Arkadelphia.

She was born April 15, 1937, in North Little Rock, the daughter of the late Delmer and Valerie Weaver Shuffield. Wanda was a retired secretary at Arkansas

Cash Register Systems in Little Rock. She was a Baptist by faith. Wanda enjoyed camping, sewing and cross stitching in her free time. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Norman Morton, one sister, Nancy Leamons and one brother, Bill Shuffield.

Wanda is survived by one daughter, Jan Robinett of Cabot, two sons, Del Hancock

(Gail) of Arkadelphia and Lee Hancock (Sharon) of Benton, one sister, Peggy Witherspoon of Clarksville, five grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Private family services are being planned.

Final arrangements are entrusted to The Welch Funeral Home of Arkadelphia. Visit www. welchfh.net to sign the guest book.

Missionary Baptist Church where he served as a deacon.

Marvin was a Master Brick Mason by trade, a member of the Malvern Bricklayer’s Local Union, and a very hard worker.

He was loved by anyone that worked with him. He enjoyed hunting, trapping, and telling jokes and stories.

Marvin was a lifelong cartoonist and enjoyed writing humorous songs and poems. He was a father figure to many kids and a mentor to many young adults. He loved his Lord and Savior and his family very much.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Survivors are his wife of fifty-two years, Sandra Hathcock; his children,

Melanie Jackson and husband, Chris, of Antioch, Cecil Hathcock and wife, Lucretia, Stephanie Fowler and husband, Josh all of Friendship; seven grandchildren, Samantha Crow, Alec Crow, Spenser Jackson, Connor Jackson, Hunter Hathcock, Kelton Fowler and Larson Fowler; one great-granddaughter, Crystalyn Jewel; two sisters, Malinda Hathcock Clark and husband, Steve of Friendship and Betty Hathcock Irvin and husband, Glen of Magnet Cove.

Visitation will be 1:00 PM Saturday, February 19th at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church. Service will follow at 2:00 PM with Darrell Morrison, Billy

Bosley, and Josh Stacy officiating. Burial will be in Gilchrist Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Raymond Jones III, Brad Morrison, Roger Treadway, Randy Morrison, Daymond House and James Bosley. Honorary pallbearers are Alec Crow, Kelton Fowler, Hunter Hathcock, Connor Jackson, and Larson Fowler.

The family would like to express their gratitude and thanks to the Little Rock V. A. Medical Center Palliative Care Unit for their excellent care.

Memorials may be made to Gilchrist Cemetery Fund 1706 Dogwood Dr. Malvern, AR. 72104 or to Friendship Missionary Baptist Church 85 Church St, Friendship, AR. 71923.

Michael Wayne Beals age 62, of Arkadelphia, passed away Saturday, February 12, 2022 in Hot Springs. Michael was born July 29, 1959 to Wayne Monroe and Mary Catherine Martin Beals.

He was a member of Trinity Temple Assembly

of God Church. Michael was a press operator.

Michael enjoyed fishing was a huge wrestling fan. He was preceded in death by his parents and one sister, Melinda Shaw.

Survivors are his wife, Barbara Jo Key Beals;

one daughter, Amber Brown and her husband, Tyler Ray of Arkadelphia; one brother, Tim Beals of Arkadelphia; several nieces and nephews.

Memorial service will be announced.

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

How to place Classified Ads in the

Send an ad with payment addressed to “Oracle” to 1100 Henderson Street Box 7693. Tell us how often the ad should run.

Deadline for ads: For ad changes, to cancel ads; tell us by Thursday. The week before publication. No extra charge for bold or caps. Phone number and full name are one word.

Cost: 25¢/word “$7/photo.”

Call Reddie Media Group (RMG) at 870230-5220 or rmg@hsu.edu for a detailed rate card or any other questions. Ask us about our duration packages.

Want all the Oracle with less of the hassle?

Catch up with the times and read the Oracle Online.

hsuoracle.com

HOW TO REACH YOUR ELECTED OFFICIALS Arkadelphia Mayor Scott Byrd 700 Clay Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (870) 246-6745 Arkadelphia Treasurer Shacresha Wilson (870) 246-9864 shacresha.wilson@ arkadelphia.gov Prosecuting Attorney Dan Turner 414 Court Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (870) 246-9868 dan.turner@ClarkAR.us Clark County Judge Troy Tucker 401 Clay Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (870) 246-5847 Clark County Sheriff Jason Watson 406 South 5th Street Arkadelphia, AR 71923 (870) 246-8859 Governor Asa Hutchinson 250 State Capital Bldg.

Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2345

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge 323 Center Street, Suite 200 Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 682-2007 State Senator Alan Clark P.O. Box 211 Lonsdale, AR 72087 (501) 844-6800 Congressman Bruce Westerman 130 Cannon House Office Bldg.

Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3772 U.S. Senator Tom Cotton B33 Russell Senate Office Bldg.

Washington, DC 20515 (202) 225-3772 U.S. Senator John Boozman 1 Russell Courtyard Washington, DC 20510 (202) 224-4843

SUBSCRIPTION FORM NAME: ADDRESS: PHONE:

Never miss an issue of the Oracle: Community Edition!

Mailed subscriptions rates: - $60 for 6 months - $100 for a year Contact 870-230-5221 or mail your contact info and check to address below (credit card not accepted) The Oracle 1100 Henderson Street, Arkadelphia, AR 71923

Editor in Chief: Lance Brownfield General Manager: Keyuna Thrower Oracle Editor: Kaela McKim Sports Editor: Donovan Lee Staff Reporters: Izzy Oliver, Emmberlynn Pendergraft, Blanton Matthews Adviser: Steve Listopad

oracle@hsu.edu 870-230-5221 1100 Henderson Street, Arkadelphia, AR - 71923

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

Oracle: CE

Thursday, February 24, 2022

Busy week for Badger athletics Aaron Weatherford Sports Editor

Last week Arkadelphia saw many of their student athletes in action. From postseason basketball, to state wrestling competitions.

Postseason basketball is normally decided with a district, regional, and state championship.

Arkadelphia High School had the privilege of hosting the 4A-7 District Tournament.

The Lady Badgers were given the six seed in the tournament and would need at least two wins to have a guaranteed spot in the regional tournament. The men were awarded the two seed in the tournament after losing to only Fountain Lake in the conference season and would only play in the semis and the championship or consolation game.

The girls would kick things off in round one as

they took on the Hope Lady Bobcats. After the first half Arkadelphia looked in control, leading 23-11. The lead grew bigger as Hope stood no chance against a hot shooting Lady Badger team. Arkadelphia took round one by a final score of 56-34. Unfortunately, that would be the last win of the season for the Lady Badgers. In round two they faced Mena who had swept them in the conference play. The Lady Bearcats again took down

Arkadelphia for the third and final time, beating the Lady Badgers 54-40.

Later on in the semis of the boys bracket, Arkadelphia would be challenged by the DeQueen Leopards. This game however, was not close.

Arkadelphia lit up the scoreboard and cruised to a 70-43 victory over the Leopards, setting up a title shot with Fountain Lake. The Badgers and Cobras battled back and forth throughout the

championship game. With the final minutes winding down, Fountain Lake was able to pull away just enough to take home a 4944 district title victory over Arkadelphia. With that loss, the Badgers became a two seed at the 4A South regional at Nashville.

Arkadelphia Wrestling has been known now for having a great wrestling program. The Badgers have won conference and dual state champions.

The City of Arkadelphia

Photo courtesy of Dustin Grimmett

Wrestling coaches Dustin Grimmett (Left) and Andrew Steely (Right) pose with their state title trophy.

The Arkadelphia wrestling team after winning the state title.

watched its high school’s wrestling program win its first ever outright state championship. Head Coach Dustin Grimmett was awarded the 1A-4A Coach of the Year. Also must point out, this team was made up of a lot of the same football players that won multiple postseason awards.

For more on Arkadelphia Badger Sports, follow their Facebook at Badger Athletics.

Photo courtesy of Badger Athletics

www.arkadelphian.com

New bid on the block: Project 'Innovex' Joel Phelps The Arkadelphian

Three potential employers, one of which has emerged in the past month, will be discussed this week at the February meeting of the Economic Development Corp. of Clark County.

Dubbed Project “Innovex,” the prospective industry is among others on the agenda, the details of which are left to the imagination. “Innovex” joins the list of two other projects the 15-member EDCCC board will have to talk about.

Project “Cupcake” has been on the table since it was announced in late November, predated by Project “Yellow Pine.”

The EDCCC during that meeting offered a $2 million incentives grant for “Cupcake” to land in Clark County, one of three potential sites for the nationally known company. Officials remain tight-lipped on the project, citing a nondisclosure agreement with the company.

Both “Cupcake” and “Yellow Pine” are promising prospects, according to J.L. Griffin,

CEO of the EDCCC, which oversees a voter-passed 1/2-cent sales tax for job creation.

New EDCCC members With three outgoing members whose terms expired, Griffin will introduce new members at Tuesday’s meeting.

Selected by the county judge, the volunteer EDCCC board members must be approved by the Clark County Quorum Court before beginning their two-year terms.

At this week’s Quorum Court meeting, County Judge Troy Tucker announced his three

candidates: Lori Ross, Bill Conine and Terry Bird.

Ross is president of Citizen’s Bank. She has a degree in business administration from Henderson State University and has 16 years of banking experience.

Conine is a retired Cl ark Co u nt y nat ive .

He has a degree in business administration from Ouachita Baptist University. He has served as CEO of South Central Electric Cooperative, Petit Jean Electric Cooperative and the Little-Rockbased Arkansas Electric

Cooperative.

Bird is vice president of the Bank of Delight in Gurdon. He has 28 years of banking experience, 13 of which have been in Clark County.

These three will “bring a lot of experience to the table and help lead us as we move forward in economic development,” Tucker said of the candidates. The court gave its approval of the recommendations after Justice Albert Neal asked about the application of the Rev. Johnny Harris, who publicly voiced his interest in serving at the

January EDCCC meeting.

Tucker was brief in answering Neal’s inquiry, saying there were “several people that were interested” in a seat on the panel.

Other business Also on the agenda is the county’s tax utilization by the EDCCC, as well as an update on trails.

The meeting begins at noon Tuesday, Feb. 22, at Fairfield Inn & Suites, 258 Red Hill Road, Arkadelphia. EDCCC meetings are open to the public.

from the arrest log, so don’t even think about asking.

Arkadelphia Police Department Sunday, Feb. 20 11:45 a.m.

A man reported he forgot to remove the license plate from a vehicle he sold to a Hope man earlier this month, and wanted a report on file in case the plate was used illegally.

Saturday, Feb. 19 5:15 a.m.

A wheelchair-bound woman reported her

live-in caretaker, whom she alleged had been “smoking weed and crack”, became upset with her for no reason and struck her in the eye.

The responding officers saw no signs of visible injury and advised her of warrant procedures.

She refused medical treatment.

Friday, Feb. 18 12:17 p.m.

Officers took a report of a vehicle accident at 18th and Walnut streets that had happened earlier in the day.

Thursday, Feb. 17 12:08 p.m.

Officers responded to a West Pine Street business for a report of terroristic threats a customer made to an employee.

Clark County Sheriff’s Office Saturday, Feb. 19 4:29 p.m.

Deputies responded to the Caddo River access on Highway 182 for a report of vehicles being broken into while their owners were floating the river.

Friday, Feb. 18 4:14 p.m.

An Alpine woman reported being tailgated on Highway 8 and followed to her home.

The responding deputy was able to make contact with the other driver, a Glenwood man, who relayed that the complainant had pulled out in front of him; he said his actions were to communicate he didn’t appreciate her poor driving.

Arrests Friday, Feb. 18

Brightson P. Hughes, 38, was booked for a weekend stay, one of four consecutive judgeordered stays.

Saturday, Feb. 19 Timothy Alan Means Jr., 28, was arrested by Arkansas State Police for third-degree domestic battery and interfering with emergency communications.

Sunday, Feb. 20 Terry J. Roberts, 45, was arrested by Arkadelphia police for a warrant.

Dispatch Desk: Monday, Feb. 21 Joel Phelps The Arkadelphian

The following incidents were gathered from reports filed at the Arkadelphia Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office.

Names of arrested individuals were collected at the Clark County Detention Center on Crittenden Street in Arkadelphia. They are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. The Arkadelphian does not withhold names

Teachers share Peake history, donate to 3 causes Submitted Information

of Peake Rosenwald School with the Clark County Retired Ida Tramble did a T e a c h e r s ( C C R T A ) . superb job of sharing At one point after the the history since 1928 school building burned,

a very determined community built back bigger and better. They overcame any and all obstacles in order to keep their children in

school. The Peake High School Buffaloes have published a book that is very detailed and informative.

Each month CCRTA

donates to a cause. For February, the Humane Society along with the Perritt Primary and Gurdon Primary schools received

donations. Many items were brought per their lists as well as some monetary donations.