Volume 9 - No. 49

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Upward Bound

The Hope Box aims to help p. 7

Question of the Week

Who are you cheering for at this year’s Super Bowl?

Former Upward Bound student graduates early

« Zach Chambliss “I have a feeling it’ll be the Seahawks who take the win.”

Heath Waldrop

Marketing, Communications Coordinator South Arkansas Community College

El Dorado’s Erin Malone is impressive. Having graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration last month after just two and a half years of college, she already is enrolled in a master’s-degree program and intends on getting a doctor’s

UPWARD continued on Page 6

» Cody Wakefield “Broncos by a long shot.”

Bound for More: Former Upward Bound student Erin Malone credits the program with helping her find success post high school. — Heath Waldrop / SouthArk

« Evan Martindale

South Arkansas Leader moves to online only The South Arkansas Leader will move online exclusively beginning in February.

The free weekly publication will still be available every Wednesday in its usual online format through Eldoark.com, continuing to provide the same community-oriented content as it has in its almost 10-year run as a print publication.

Since its inception in 2005, the South Arkansas Leader has worked

to showcase stories that highlight the efforts of communities in Union County to excel and prosper. In recent years, the community-interest publication has evolved in its appearance and coverage to continue to be a relevant source of information for its readers.

In 2014, the South Arkansas Leader will continue to evolve, said editor Brooke Burger.

“We are looking to the future and

the ways we can maximize what the Leader has to offer to better serve our community,” Burger said. “We hope that our readers will continue to follow our progress as we evolve as an online publication.”

The South Arkansas Leader will be available online every Wednesday through Eldoark.com. Readers can receive regular updates through the newspaper’s Facebook page at facebook.com/saleader.

“Seahawks all the way, baby!”

» Matthew Tinsley “Red Hot Chili Peppers!”

All the bAnk you’ll ever need. w w w. f i r s t f i n a n c i a l b a n k . c o m

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‘Jack Ryan’ not a total miss, but still not worth admission Nathan Ligon

Red Carpet Crash

I have been a pretty big fan of the Jack Ryan character for many years now.

Previously played by actors like Harrison Ford and Alec Baldwin, Ryan is someone that we have always been able to look up to: He is an intelligent analyst who figures out things with his head before his fists can get in the way.

That doesn’t mean that he’s not willing to get in the ring; it just means that he is a hero who chooses brains before brawn.

The intelligent way that Ryan puts the pieces of puzzles together is one of the reasons audiences and readers alike came back so many times for the Tom Clancy character. It’s also that popularity that led writers Adam Cozad and David Koepp to think they could pen an original story based on Jack Ryan for a new generation.

That’s right, people. Tom Clancy had little to do with this one (he passed away last year). So, is this new Jack Ryan worth your time?

Well, the answer is a bit of yes and no. Don’t get me wrong: The

(played by Kevin Costner), but the whole thing just doesn’t make a lot Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit of sense.

Sure, the bombing of a major city » Release date: Jan. 17. will cause markets to swing and the » Run time: 105 min. person who knows it could make a » Rated: PG-13 for sequences of lot of money, but how does this help violence and intense action, and brief the Russian economy or send the strong language.

United States into a depression? The Knightley and Kenneth Branagh. » Director(s): Kenneth Branagh. finer points just don’t add up. » Stars: Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Keira » RCC Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars.

Still, despite its issues, there are a number of things I liked about this film that are making me push you character is still a smart and The issues I had with the sequences towards seeing it sometime down electric one to watch. I also re- were the staging and the god-awful the line (at maybe the dollar theater). ally enjoy Chris Pine in the role cinematography.

The first of those being the cast: Everything is shot so tight on the Everybody, from Kenneth Branagh of Jack Ryan.

The problem here lies more in actors or cars that the whole thing as the villain to Keira Knightley as the hands of director Kenneth looks like crap and the scope of Ryan’s love interest, is extremely Branagh than anything else. He is the picture feels diminished. This enjoyable to watch. It gives me given a pretty exciting story to tell really hurts the final act, making great faith that a better director can (albeit with a few plot holes); yet what should have felt epic come off really deliver something special he mucks it up with poorly con- as anticlimactic. with this team.

Also, despite the mostly intelligent ceived action sequences. I saw The second reason is the biggest this movie in IMAX and I could origin story, there are some plot scene in this entire film. It involves see no reason for anyone else to points that seem a bit iffy.

Knightley’s character keeping The whole idea here is that the Branagh’s bad guy busy while Jack do the same.

The funny thing is that the ac- Russians are planning on crashing Ryan breaks into his highly guardtion sequences are actually pretty the stock market after a big terror- ed facility that happens to be right well edited and do a decent job of ist attack and that somehow this across the street. It is a brilliantly building tension. I especially like is going to send the United States staged sequence that is long enough the scene where Ryan is attacked into a Great Depression. Ryan exRYAN continued on Page 9 in his hotel room. It’s quite intense. plains it briefly to his boss, Harper

SouthArk announces community education classes and ACT prep South Arkansas Community College recently announced a variety of upcoming non-credit courses that it will offer to the community and an ACT Prep class to be offered specifically to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors.

March 8).

All four areas of the ACT will be covered – English, science, reading and math.

The fee is $125 per student. For registration information, contact 870.864.7192 or ce@southark.edu.

ACT Prep class

Community classes

The nine-week non-credit course ACT Prep, open to all area students classified as high-school sophomores and above, is 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday, Feb. 11 to April 10 (with a mock exam at 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on

Several non-credit classes through the South Arkansas Community College community education department are scheduled for the next few weeks.

CLASSES continued on Page 9

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South Arkansas Leader

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Move IRS debt to the top of the list when running your own business Dear Dave, My husband has his own business installing windows. As a result, we now have IRS and state tax debt. We’re managing the payments, but where should these debts be placed in the debt snowball plan?

— Olivia

Getting Connected: Adults in the area looking to enhance their computer and Internet skills will have the opportunity to attend free classes from Connect Arkansas next month at the Barton Public Library. — Courtesy image

Connecting Arkansas Connect Arkansas to offer free local classes on Internet and computer basics

LITTLE ROCK — Connect Arkansas, a project of Arkansas Capital Corporation, will offer free adult digital literacy classes at Barton Public Library in El Dorado.

Classes will take place on Feb. 12 and will last one hour. Computer and Internet FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) classes will take place at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. There is a limit of five students for each onehour class, and each student will be provided with a computer.

The classes will take place at Barton Public Library. To sign up for a class, prospective students should contact Nancy Arn at 870.863.5447.

Connect Arkansas received federal stimulus grants to increase Internet awareness, education and use in Arkansas. As part of that grant, Connect Arkansas launched the Adult Digital Literacy Program. More than 55 classes are scheduled for February throughout Arkansas.

“The Internet has become an integral part of life, and Arkansans deserve every opportunity to participate,” said Sam Walls III, president of Connect Arkansas. “By educating the adults in our communities, we are setting them up to be able to communicate with and stay connected to their families, friends, healthcare professionals and communities more efficiently and effectively.”

Connect Arkansas, established in 2007, is a private, nonprofit corporation dedicated to increasing highspeed Internet subscription and improving and sustaining Internet adoption throughout Arkansas.

The Connect Arkansas Broadband Act was signed into law by Gov. Mike Beebe on March 28, 2007, with the goal of improving personal lives and creating economic opportunity for Arkansans. ACT 604 of the 2007 Arkansas General Assembly states that Connect Arkansas’s mission is to “prepare the people and businesses of Arkansas to secure the economic, educational, health, social and other benefits available via broadband use.”

Connect Arkansas seeks to advance that goal through community-based initiatives. To learn more, visit connect-arkansas.org.

Connect Arkansas is a project of the Arkansas Capital Corporation Group, which empowers entrepreneurs by providing capital in conjunction with community banks to businesses through its capital availability products and advocates for entrepreneurs through capital, educational and technological improvements.

For more information, go online to www.arcapital.com.

Dear Olivia, I don’t usually cheat on the smallest to largest progression of the debt snowball, but I’d recommend moving these debts to the top of the list.

Both state and federal taxes come with ridiculous penalties and interest rates, and the authorities at either level have virtually unlimited power at their disposal to screw with your life if something bad happens. The IRS can actually take your money without suing you. So, you don’t want to become a blip on their radar screen by being late with payments.

Get it cleaned up as quickly as possible, Olivia. You don’t want to mess around with these guys!

— Dave Dear Dave, My husband died eight years ago, and I never closed his bank accounts that were opened when we lived in another state. We lived in Florida before moving to Oregon. I didn’t probate the estate, and he did not have a will.

I’m trying to work with the banks to get this settled, but they’re giving me the runaround. Do you have any advice?

— Melinda Dear Melinda, The first thing you need to do is contact an attorney who handles estate planning. If the accounts were opened in Florida, but you

DAVE Says

both lived in Oregon at the time of his death, technically the estate would be probated in Oregon.

That may be what has to happen.

If so, a judge would appoint you as executor. As executor, you can close the accounts and disperse any money to the rightful heir – which is you.

Be prepared, though. It may take somewhere between $250 and $500 in attorney fees and court costs to make this happen. If you’re lucky, you might get a simple motion from the court that would cost you next to nothing. But find a good estate planning attorney who knows Oregon law inside and out. Estate laws and probate laws differ from state to state, and Florida and Oregon both have some weird laws in these areas.

This probably seems like a lot of trouble, but you have to remember the banks are simply trying to protect themselves and follow the law. Anyone could walk in with a death certificate (they’re public record), and claim to be an heir. So, they have to have a court document in order to avoid any potential liability.

I’m sorry for your loss, Melinda. I know it still hurts after all this time, but you need to address this as soon as possible. I’m sure it’s what your husband would have wanted.

— Dave Dave Ramsey has authored four New York Times best-selling books: “Financial Peace,” “More Than Enough,” “The Total Money Makeover” and “EntreLeadership.”

The Dave Ramsey Show is heard by more than 5,000,000 listeners each week on more than 500 radio stations.

Follow Dave on Twitter at @DaveRamsey and on the Web at daveramsey.com.

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El Dorado Promise: ‘Education makes a difference’ Seven years ago on Jan. 22, 2007, residents of El Dorado learned that a unique initiative called the El Dorado Promise would allow graduates of El Dorado Public Schools the opportunity to earn college degrees tuition-free as a result of a $50 million commitment by Murphy Oil Corporation to El Dorado’s future – its children.

Since its inception, 1,444 students have received Promise scholarship funding.

There was no question for Murphy’s Chairman of the Board Claiborne Deming on why Murphy Oil decided to fund the Promise.

“Education is the one thing you can provide people that can permanently change their lives,” Deming said.

According to the latest El Dorado Promise report, released last week, studies show that higher education makes a difference in the quality of life and economy of a region. The report illustrates a direct correlation between the percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher and the Gross Domestic Product per capita in the state. Arkansas falls far below average in both respects.

In a recent address, Gov. Mike Beebe associated the future health of Arkansas’ economy with the attainment of higher education. Currently, 53 percent of Arkansans and 71 percent of Americans are going to college and only one in five Arkansans holds a bachelor’s degree or higher. Prior to the 2007 announcement of the Promise, approximately 65 percent of El Dorado High School graduates enrolled in college.

The El Dorado Promise report shows that over 90 percent of the Promise-eligible high school class of 2013 enrolled in college in the fall of 2013. Additionally, 91 percent of all Promise college freshmen are completing at least one year of college.

The El Dorado Promise eliminates some of the financial barriers that local students face, allowing them to pursue higher education, many as first-generation college students.

The El Dorado Promise scholarship reaches beyond the boundaries of economic need and academic ability to pay up to 100 percent of college tuition and mandatory fees for all students who graduate from El Dorado High School and have been an

Latest report shows El Dorado Promise still making a difference for students seven years later

Keeping a Promise: Seven years later the El Dorado Promise continues to impact not only the lives of its students, but the state. According to the latest report, the majority of Promise students attend college in state, spread across (shown left) South Arkansas Community College (SACC), University of Arkansas (U of A), Southern Arkansas University (SAU), University of Central Arkansas (UCA), Henderson State University, and other Arkansas public and private schools. Only 15 percent are attending schools out of state. — Couretsy images

El Dorado Public School student since at least the ninth grade.

At the 2013 Academic Signing Day, Director of the Arkansas Department of Higher Education Shane Broadway encouraged students to

reinvest or return to El Dorado after they take advantage of the Promise.

Broadway told students, “Be proud of this community. You have been given a gift not many in this country have been given. Murphy made a decision to invest in you. Always remember where you came from and find ways to give back.”

El Dorado Promise students can attend any accredited two- or

four-year college or university in the United States. The maximum amount of the Promise scholarship is based on the maximum resident tuition payable at an Arkansas public university. For 2013-2014, the highest tuition rate in the state was $7,595 for a student taking 30 credit hours per year.

El Dorado Promise students are currently enrolled in 59 different colleges and universities and have received degrees from 35 colleges and universities throughout the nation.

For more detailed information on the latest analysis of the El Dorado Promise impact, see the 2014 Impact Report at eldoradopromise.com.

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South Arkansas Leader

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Wildfires burn across state, risk high Winter provides ideal conditions for wildfires in state, outdoor fires strongly discouraged

extension forester and volunteer firefighter Jon Barry – negligence.

“Unfortunately, since people don’t LITTLE ROCK — All of Arkan- expect burn bans during the winter, sas remains at high wildfire danger they don’t check before they burn,” status, according to the Arkansas he said. “The result can be a citation Forestry Commission. On Monday for burning during the ban. People alone, 13 wildfires burned across need to be aware that many rural fire 68 acres; 48 wildfires burned across departments automatically request the state over the past weekend. a deputy when responding to calls As of press time, the majority of about burning during burn bans. the state (50 counties) remained un“Those fires can quickly endanger der active burn bans, with wildfires people’s homes and livelihoods,” burning in seven counties, includ- Barry said. “The biggest problem ing: Ashley, Bradley, Clark, Nevada, that we face is that people don’t think Ouachita, Pulaski and Washington. about vegetation being bone dry durWinter winds, low humidity and ing the winter, even after rains.” dried vegetation are an ideal comBecause of winter’s low humidity bination for wildfires, say exten- and winds, “above-ground portions sion foresters with the Univer- of grasses and other fine vegetation sity of Arkansas System Division tend to dry out quickly, even when of Agriculture. the soil is soppy wet,” Barry said.

And there’s one more factor FIRE continued on Page 8 that adds to the fire danger, said

U of A System Division of Agriculture Cooperative Extension Service

Burn ban active

Danger: Only 25 counties are not currently under active burn bans, and the entire state is under high risk of wildfire danger. As such, the Arkansas Forestry Commission strongly advises against outdoor burning anywhere. — Courtesy image

Local workshop to help small businesses get online with free website Small business owners will have the opportunity to build a free, functional website through the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center’s upcoming workshop, “Website in a Day.” The full-day class will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 4.

The workshop will take place at the El Dorado Chamber of Commerce, located at 111 West Main St., and participants will have a one-hour break to lunch on their own.

“Website in a Day” is a hands-on workshop for those who need a website but feel they’ve been held back by a lack of funds or technical skill.

With the ASBTDC’s laptop lab, students will design a free website using Weebly. The class will take participants step-by-step through creating an attractive, functional, five-page website.

The workshop is free to attend and all students will receive a free 20-page workbook with detailed instructions. Registration is required.

For more information or to register, contact training coordinator Julia Nipper at 870.235.5033 or email julianipper@saumag.edu.

The ASBTDC is able to present the seminar at no cost to Arkansas small business owners due to a joint partnership with Connect Arkansas, a private, nonprofit corporation dedicated to increasing high-speed Internet throughout the state.

Provided by the ASBTDC and Southern Arkansas University, “Website in a Day” is co-sponsored

by Connect Arkansas, El Dorado Chamber of Commerce, South Arkansas Community College and the Golden Triangle Economic Development Council.

BARTON PUBLIC LIBRARY » Adult Reference » Fiction and Nonfiction » Teen and Children Titles » Cookbooks and MORE! » $2 reference works » $1 hardbacks » 50¢ softbacks, CDS, etc. » 25¢ paperbacks » 10¢ magazines

Book Sale March 13 - 20 noon to 6 p.m.

TAC House

1101 North West Ave. El Dorado

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UPWARD

continued from Page 1

degree eventually.

She did all of it despite the challenges of growing up one of three siblings raised by a single mother, and with no collegiate role model in her family.

Malone is a jewel in the crown of South Arkansas Community College’s Upward Bound program, a federally-funded measure designed to encourage higher education for those high-school students who might not otherwise pursue it. In 2011 she graduated from SouthArk’s first Upward Bound class and credits it for not only helping her find her way to college, but also find her way through it.

But despite the soaring achievement, this very mature, wisebeyond-years young woman – she just turned 21 two weeks ago – approaches everything matter-offactly. For instance, she took a lowend job at a fast-food restaurant while still in college not because she had to – her expenditures were wellfunded through her many scholarships and grants – but because “I’m used to working.”

She didn’t even have a good shift, working from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“It’s something that everybody needs to experience because it is so humbling,” she said.

She entered her first year of college with 29 credit hours already underneath her belt, through concurrent enrollment and Advanced Placement. She was savvy enough to request of her benefactors that her available scholarships be spread over summer terms rather than lumped only in fall and spring, so that she could utilize them fully.

With the early start and summer course loads, before the start of the 2013 fall semester with an 18-hour course load Malone found herself needing just one more class this spring to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.

“I thought, ‘Do you really want to stay another semester just to take one more class?” she said. “So I went ahead and took 21 hours.”

Upward Bound: Former student Erin Malone reunites with the Upward Bound team (from left) Roy Williams, Martha Dunn and Barbara Howell in the Upward Bound room at

South Arkansas Community College. The program encourages college for young people who have no family members with bachelor’s degrees. — Heath Waldrop / SouthArk

working, two or three jobs. I decided long ago that I didn’t want to do that.”

“You determine your own fate.

Higher education is the path out, Malone said, but individuals must When you want better, you do better.” pave that path themselves. She refErin Malone – Former Upward Bound student erenced late Upward Bound director ——————————————— Debra Mock, who repeatedly told the students that it wasn’t enough to Most colleges consider 12 hours to she said. reach the ceiling of the basement. be full-time and 15 to be a substanUpward Bound’s Roy Williams, “You determine your own fate,” tial schedule; 18 typically is unad- who has been a part of the program Malone said. “When you want betvisable and 21 nearly unheard of. since its start at SouthArk, which ter, you do better.”

But she did it … although she was Malone’s freshman year of high It has helped to have the support would discourage anyone else from school, said that Malone always was of the Upward Bound program, trying it. Because it wasn’t only her level-headed. she said. classes that Malone had to navigate, “When we’d go out to recruit “It’s so easy to get discouraged, but also her job and her position as new students for the program, I’d especially if the people who you the president of her college sorority. always introduce her as my boss,” surround yourself with aren’t do“Which I believe was more Williams said. ing the same thing as you are,” stressful than taking 21 hours,” Malone said that her mother’s tire- Malone said. she half-joked. less efforts were critical in inspiring She said that she tries to be a friend But Malone said that it was im- her own drive for success. and mentor to younger students portant to her to capitalize on such “We never wanted for anything, who, as she was some years ago, are opportunities. but my mother never was around,” trying to determine their next steps “They won’t always be there,” Malone said. “She always was after high school.

———————————————

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Filled with Hope

The HOPE Box: One parent’s quest to help support HOPE Landing

Brooke Burger

who’s been attending HOPE since she was an infant, overcome several physical challenges.

When one parent saw a need ex“I want to give back as much as I pressed by local nonprofit HOPE can,” she said.

Landing, she didn’t hesitate to step So, when Stevens saw HOPE in and help the organization that she Landing had a need for some basic said has helped her family for years. necessities, like paper towels, she “HOPE Landing has given my took on the challenge. Last Thursfamily so much,” Randa Stevens day, Stevens set up the first permasaid. The young mother said the nent donation box, The Hope Box, staff at HOPE Landing has helped at Poppy’s Pizza on Highway 15 in her 4-year-old daughter Henlea, Parkers Chapel.

Stevens said The Hope Box, which Helping Hand: Randa Stevens helps is for paper towels only, would her daughter Henlea drop a donation provide a convenient location for of paper towels in The HOPE Box, those who want to donate, and that located at Poppy’s Pizza in Parkers Chapel. The Hope Box, set up Jan. 23, she hopes to get more locations set Editor

is for paper towel donations only.

— Brooke Burger / South Arkansas Leader

AdoptMe Pet adoptions are available at the Union County Animal Protection Society shelter, 1000 Sunset Road, El Dorado. UCAPS’s hours are noon to 5 p.m.

Wednesday through Saturday. For information about adopting or sponsoring a pet, call 870.862.0502.

Help UCAPS help them Donate Online » Go to the donation site on FundRazr at bit.ly/18nP6qv. » Select your donation amount. » Pay with your PayPal account or a credit or debit card.

Free Checking

HOPE continued on Page 8

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Arkansan not only coins name, but helps create Super Bowl Ken Bridges

South Arkansas Historical Foundation

Each year, millions of football fans wait for the ultimate championship game – the Super Bowl.

But the Super Bowl owes its existence to one determined Arkansas native, Lamar Hunt.

Hunt was born in El Dorado in 1932. His father, H. L. Hunt, had earned a fortune in the oil fields of South Arkansas during the Oil Boom of the 1920s. His education took him to Dallas, Texas, where he earned a degree in geology from Southern Methodist University in 1956. With a portion of the family’s huge fortune to spend, he decided to go into the sports business.

In 1959, at age 27, he applied to the National Football League for the rights to form a new team in the Dallas area. He was turned down in his efforts to start a new

HOPE

continued from Page 7

up with donation boxes through the area.

Stevens first took action in November of last year. Harnessing the powers of the social media platform Facebook, she held a supply drive for paper towels. Stevens put out the word that HOPE was in need; her Facebook friends stepped up, and Stevens personally drove around to collect the donations and deliver them to HOPE. In January, she held another drive to collect not only paper towels, but other necessities, and ended up with more than 160 items.

Those Facebook drives led her to establish the permanent drop box, which said will make the donation process more convenient for donors and allow her to focus her social media-powered supply drives on other necessities like hand soaps and tissue. She plans to hold those drives the first week of every month. As with The Hope Box, Stevens will personally pick up and deliver all donations to HOPE Landing.

HOPE Landing services children from birth to 21 years of age who have developmental needs, a

team or even to buy the existing Chicago Cardinals in the hopes of moving them to Texas.

Frustrated, Hunt approached a number of businessmen in other cities and they formed their own league, the American Football League. Hunt started his own team, the Dallas Texans.

The NFL, by contrast, quickly formed the Dallas Cowboys in order to compete with Hunt and the AFL. Competition between the NLF and the AFL was fierce, and in 1963, Hunt moved his team to Kansas City, renaming it the Chiefs.

Both the AFL and the NFL had plenty of resources to attract the top football talents in the nation and the ability to attract millions of fans. Soon, recognizing the immense support for both organizations, the leagues decided to end their rivalry and merge. disability or both. As anyone with children can probably attest, paper towels are a helpful item to have on hand.

“HOPE Landing loves kids and their messy hands! It’s a constant need that never ends,” Stevens said.

“It is an easy way for anybody to help in a big way. One roll is one more than we had yesterday, and that makes one more dollar that can go to helping a child walk, talk, run, jump, eat or just live a better life than they did the day before.”

For more information on how to get The Hope Box setup at a local business or make a donation, find The Hope Box on Facebook at http://on.fb.me/1f7olto or contact HOPE Landing at 870.862.0500.

HOPE Landing strives to meet the needs of children and their families through five areas of development – physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual. It provides occupational, physical and speech and language therapies; equine assisted therapy, therapeutic riding and horseback riding lessons; pet assisted therapy; aquatic therapy; and inclusion programs such as summer camps, performing arts and family-focused events.

Learn more about HOPE Landing online at www.hopelanding.com.

H

South Arkansas Historical Foundation presents

ist o ry minute

The first step in this process would start with a championship game between the AFL and NFL league champions. Hunt negotiated the terms of this game with NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle.

Initially, the game was to be called the AFL-NFL Championship Game. Hunt would coin the term “Super Bowl,” but he was not very impressed with the nickname he had given the championship game and admitted in a letter that “it could be improved upon.”

On Jan. 15, 1967, the first Super Bowl was played between the NFL champion Green Bay Packers and Hunt’s own Kansas City

FIRE

continued from Page 5

“Most people assume that it is safe to burn since we had a rain two days ago. That often is not the case in the winter.”

And dry grasses aren’t the only hazards, according to associate director of the Arkansas Forest Resources Center Tamara Walkingstick.

“Folks need to understand that fallen, dry leaves are excellent fire starters,” she said.

People who are burning materials may not be prepared if a flying spark ignites a fire in freezing temperatures. With the National Weather Service calling for high winds across the state, sparks would have an easy time taking flight.

“This is a problem if your outdoor spigot is frozen,” Walkingstick said. “You may end up trying to haul water from inside the house, losing precious time to a hungry fire.”

In the event that a grass fire accidentally starts, Barry said to call 911 first, then try to put the fire out.

In addition to open burning, other common wildfire starters are sparks from braking, hot exhaust

Chiefs of the AFL in Los Angeles, Calif. A crowd of more than 60,000 watched the Packers win 35-10. It would be the only Super Bowl appearance for the Chiefs through 48 Super Bowls played so far.

The AFL and NFL would formally merge in 1970, and the popularity of football would explode in the 1970s and 1980s, thanks in part to Hunt’s efforts. Hunt, the ultimate sports fan, would expand his interests to other sports as well.

After his death in Dallas in 2006, Hunt was widely honored for his contributions to football.

Organized in the 1970s, the South Arkansas Historical Foundation has been dedicated to educating the public about Arkansas’s rich history for over 30 years. The SAHF offices are located at 422 North Jackson in El Dorado. For more information, about SAHF call 870.862.9890.

pipes coming in contact with dry leaves or grass, and cigarette butts tossed from car windows.

Active burn bans include: Ashley, Baxter, Boone, Benton, Carroll, Clark, Clay, Cleburne, Cleveland, Conway, Crawford, Dallas, Drew, Faulkner, Franklin, Fulton, Garland, Grant, Greene, Hot Spring, Howard, Independence, Izard, Jefferson, Johnson, Lawrence, Lincoln, Logan, Lonoke, Madison, Marion, Newton, Ouachita, Perry, Pike, Prairie, Polk, Pope, Pulaski, Randolph, Saline, Searcy, Sebastian, Sharp, Stone, Van Buren, Washington, White, Woodruff and Yell.

At this time the Arkansas Forestry Commission strongly advises against outdoor burning in any area of the state. To report a wildfire or inquire about wildfire danger, call the AFC Dispatch Center at 800.468.8834. Direct emergencies to 911.

Information about current burn bans, wildfire danger and AFC updates can be found online at www.arkfireinfo.org.

The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. For more information, go online to www.uaex.edu.

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When water goes bad, will your household go thirsty?

How often have you heard the American Red Cross encourage you to have at least one gallon of water per person in your home for at least seven days? If you’re single, that’s seven gallons of water; for a family of four it’s 28. You do the math for you.

Why is an emergency water supply so important? Think back a couple of weeks to the chemical leak in West Virginia that caused a large area the state to be placed under emergency order to not drink or to even come into contact with any water for more than a week. Can you imagine how difficult and inconvenient that is?

Take a moment to think about how you use water daily. Start with flushing toilets, brushing teeth, bathing, washing your face and hands, and that’s just your first morning routine. Multiply each act by the number of people in your house. You can probably think of a million other needs you have for water. And, you haven’t left the house yet!

So, the next time you’re at the store and you’re walking past the bottled water, don’t look away. Grab some. You don’t have to buy 28 gallons at once.

Commit to a purchase each week or even every other week. Soon, you’ll have your emergency supply of water.

If you are a pet owner, there’s now a new app to help you include your four-legged family members in your emergency preparedness plans.

App for Pet Lovers

The 99-cent Pet First Aid app gives iPhone and Android smartphone users instant access to expert information to learn how to maintain their pet’s health.

“The app provides step-by-step instructions, videos and images for more than 25 common first aid and emergency situations,” said Brigette Williams, American Red Cross in Arkansas Communications information

officer.

Additional topics covered that affected four-legged friends in different ways than their twolegged owners include burns, car accidents and falls and what to do for cold- and heat-related emergencies.

The Pet First Aid App is already earning rave reviews from pet owners, including United Way of Union County executive director Alexis Alexander.

“I think it is great,” Alexander said. “It covers all the issues I have run into with my five dogs – and some I haven’t thought about, like [car] accidents. I travel with mine a lot and never considered what I would do if I had a wreck.”

Other features allow you to: » Create a pet profile with tag identification number, photos, medications list and instructions. » Use the list of early warning signs to learn when to call the veterinarian. » Use “click-to-call” to contact the veterinarian. » Find emergency pet care facilities or alternate veterinarians with the “animal hospital locator.” » Locate pet-friendly hotels.

All Red Cross apps can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps.

The American Red Cross in Arkansas is located at 501 Timberlane Drive in El Dorado. For more information, call 870.863.8196 Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and visit redcross.org/Arkansas.

Union United is a section showcasing the 14 nonprofit partner agencies of the United Way of Union County.

For more information, visit unitedwayunioncounty.com.

South Arkansas Leader

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CLASSES

Shakespeare’s works and make it understandable and enjoyable. continued from Page 2 » American Sign Language is All will be held at the Center for 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday Workforce Development on the East Feb. 4 to March 25. Fee is $79. This Campus. Those interested can regis- course is designed for beginners.

Upon completion, students will be ter by calling 870.864.7163. » Computer Basics is 5:30 p.m. issued a certificate.

SouthArk’s community education to 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 3. Fee is $20.

This course is designed for individu- program offers a variety of opporals who are looking to become more tunities for cultural and educational familiar with the basic functions of activities for all ages. Courses are offered throughout the week at varia computer. » Shakespeare Just for Fun is ous times and locations and vary in 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. each Tuesday length. New schedules are released Feb. 4 to March 25. Fee is $79. three times per year. For more inforStudents will share the best of mation, call 870.864.7192.

RYAN

continued from Page 2

to justify the price of admission (if it’s like a dollar).

So, if I had to sum it up, I’d have to say that this movie could have been better, but it’s still a decent time at the movies. If you are made of money and have seen everything else there is to see, then seeing “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit”

this weekend is not the worst thing you could do.

For everyone else, watch something else and wait for this one at the Redbox or the dollar theater if you really feel like it.

Red Carpet Crash provides review writing on films, DVDs and television; news and updates on all things entertainment; and the occasional free stuff.

Find RCC at www.redcarpetcrash.com or facebook.com/RedCarpetCrash.

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COMMUNITY calendar

» ‘ARTS IN THE HEARTS’ — The South Arkansas Arts Center’s showcase “Arts In the Hearts for Decades” spans 32 years of Artists In Education projects by El Dorado AIE artists and local schools. The exhibition is sponsored by Ann Pruet Calhoon and Paula Pruet James.

When: Now through Feb. 7 Where: South Arkansas Arts Center, 110 East Fifth St., El Dorado Contact: For more information, contact the SAAC office at 870.862.5474 or visit the website at saac-arts.org.

» HEALTH INSURANCE SIGN-UP ASSISTANCE — The Medical Center of South Arkansas is providing sign-up assistance for the Health Insurance Marketplace, through the March 31 enrollment deadline. Based on household income and dependents, you may be eligible for health insurance coverage at no cost through Medicaid; or you may be eligible for new health insurance on the Health Insurance Marketplace.

When: Now through March 31 Where: Medical Center of South Arkansas, 700 West Grove St., El Dorado Contact: For more information or to make an appointment for sign-up assistance, contact MCSA at 870.864.4185. » FRIDAY NIGHT LIVE — New Jerusalem Christian Ministry, under the direction of pastor LaDebra Van Hook, will host Friday Night Live, an uplifting Holy Ghost worship experience.

The public is invited to attend. Musicians are invited to bring their musical instruments, and singers their song and voice. The theme will be “Everybody with Everything Praise Him!” When: Friday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.

Log on to www.eldoark.com ...

Your guide to events happening in communities in and around Union County.

Where: New Jerusalem Christian Ministry, 1400 North Gray St., El Dorado Contact: For service information, contact pastor LaDebra Van Hook at 870.881.9579.

» TAX FORMS AVAILABLE — The Internal Revenue Service will open the 2014 filing season on Jan. 31. Tax payers are encouraged to use e-file or Free File, but individual tax forms will be available at the Barton Public Library during regular business hours. The library will make all forms available as it receives them.

When: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday and Thursday from 1 to 8 p.m.; and Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.

The library is closed on Sundays.

Where: Barton Public Library, 200 East Fifth St., El Dorado Contact: For more information, contact the library at 870.863.5447 or go online to youseemore.com/barton. » PRESERVATION SOCIETY MEETING — The Preservation Society of the South Arkansas Historical Foundation will host a lecture on the history of Shreveport, La.’s Waterworks from retired history professor Dr. Terry Reynolds, entitled “The Struggle for Good Water.” The presentation will look at the history of the city’s water supply problems and attempts to solve them in a period prior to the first municipally owned waterworks, as well as why private water companies failed to maintain their hold. The program is free and open to the public; seating is limited.

When: Monday, Feb. 3 at 5:15 p.m.

Where: Newton House Museum, 510 North Jackson, El Dorado

Tell Us Something Good!

Submit your event, announcement or story idea to the South Arkansas Leader at leader@noalmark.com at least one week before the date of the event. All material must be received the Friday before publication on Wednesday. For more information, contact the Leader staff at 870.863.6126 or by email.

Contact: For more information, contact the SAHF at 870.862.9890 or go online to soarkhistory.com. » SINGLE-PARENT SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE — Applications are available for the Union County Single Parent Scholarship. To be eligible, one must live in Union County, be enrolled in any college or university and be a single parent providing support of a dependent child or children under the age of 18 in the household.

Deadline: The deadline to apply is Monday, Feb. 3.

Where: Applications are available online at www.aspsf.org/students_sp scholarships.html and at the South Arkansas Community College financial aid office.

Contact: For more information about donating to the scholarship fund or applying for a scholarship, call 870.864.7150. » NATURE NIGHTS — On the second Thursday of each month, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and South Arkansas Community College’s Corporate and Community Education will team up to offer Nature Nights, a series for the entire family. The program is free and open to the public. Space is limited, so registration is requested.

Program: A Bed for Bluebirds. Participants will build their own bluebird box to put in their yard.

When: Thursday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m.

Where: Center for Workforce Development, SouthArk East Campus, 3696 East Main, El Dorado Contact: For more information or to register, contact CCE at 870.864.7192 or email Laura Rogers at the AGFC at larogers@agfc.state.ar.us.

» BACK TO BACH — The South Arkansas Symphony will host “Back to Bach,” a concert focusing on one of the greatest composers of all time who influenced the likes of Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms and set the stage for many future musical developments. The program will feature Wideman International Piano Competition winner Asiya Korepanova on piano, along with Roberto Gianola, guest conductor; Kermit Poling, violin; and Elizabeth O’Bannon, violin.

Tickets: $20 for adults; $15 for seniors; $10 for college students; $5 for children in grades K-12 When: Saturday, Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m.

Where: First Methodist Church, 320 West Main, Magnolia Contact: For more information or to purchase tickets, go online to South ArkansasSymphony.org, or contact the ticket office at 800.792.0521. » SAAC 2014 STUDENT ART SHOW — The visual arts committee will host an artist reception for its 2014 Student Art Show and Competition, which opens in the Merkle, Price and Lobby galleries on Feb. 11 and continues through Feb. 28. The contest is open to all students grades K-12, and all two-dimensional, 3-D and multi-media fine arts are accepted.

Some works will be for sale during the exhibition, and cash prizes will be awarded to Best of Show. First, second and third places will be awarded to each of the grade divisions, K-4, 5-8 and 9-12.

When: Tuesday, Feb. 18 from 4-6 p.m.

Where: South Arkansas Arts Center, 110 East Fifth St., El Dorado Contact: For more information, contact the SACC office at 870.862.5474.

Crossword and Sudoku Answer Keys

Jan. 22

01•29•14

... for hundreds of FREE classifieds!

L

SUDOKU

EADER

To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box.

You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes.

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2525 North West Ave. El Dorado, AR 71730 Office: 870.863.6126 Fax: 870.863.4555 leader@noalmark.com

WEEKLY RECIPE Must-haves for any Super Bowl A good Super Bowl party can make the game that much more enjoyable with these must-have items: » Snacks & Dips: Stock up on snacks to keep guests from getting hungry as the party progresses. Be sure to have snacks like potato chips and pretzels, as well as some healthier fare, like vegetable trays, on hand for guests. Of course, snacks taste better when there’s something to dip them into. Encourage guests to bring their own homemade dips, or go store-bought with popular flavors like onion, cheese or some salsa. » Nachos: Certain foods have become synonymous with Super Bowl parties, and nachos certainly fall into that category. If hosts and guests all eat meat, cook up some homemade nachos with tortilla chips; ground beef or chicken; green, red and jalapeno peppers; shredded cheese; and homemade or store-bought salsa. » Beverages: Beer isn’t the only beverage hosts must stock up on. Have plenty of water on hand, as well as some nonalcoholic beverages like iced tea and soda. » Wings: Hosts who want to try their hands at homemade wings can consider this recipe for “Baked Jerk Chicken Wings” from Helen Willinsky’s “Jerk From Jamaica.”

Baked Jerk Chicken Wings The South Arkansas Leader is owned and operated by Noalmark Broadcasting Corporation. The views and opinions expressed in the South Arkansas Leader are those of the staff and contributing writers and do not represent the official views of Noalmark Broadcasting Corporation. All material published in this newspaper and on its website is copyrighted.

The South Arkansas Leader publishes every Wednesday.

All materials for publication must be received no later than noon the Friday before publication. For more information on submitting news releases, photos, event announcements, story ideas or photo opportunities, please contact the editor.

The South Arkansas Leader is a weekly communityinterest newspaper serving Union County, Arkansas.

South Arkansas Leader

Ingredients:

Serves 4 as an appetizer » 18 whole chicken wings, or 12 drumsticks

Directions:

» 1 1/2 cups jerk marinade » 1 1/2 cups tamarind-apricot sauce » 1/4 cup soy sauce

In a baking dish, combine the chicken and 1 cup of the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 1/2 hours or up to 4 hours, turning occasionally. The longer the chicken marinates, the hotter it becomes. Remove the chicken from the marinade and discard the marinade.

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the chicken in a greased baking dish. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes, basting twice with the reserved 1/2 cup of marinade. When done, the juices will run clear when the chicken is pierced with a knife.

Prepare a dipping sauce by combining the tamarind-apricot sauce with the soy sauce. Serve the chicken hot or at room temperature, with the dipping sauce.

CLUES ACROSS 1. Femur head joint 4. Co. name prior to CCN & Experian 7. An encircling route 11. Actor Baldwin 13. Yeman monetary unit 15. Slightly curved blade sword 16. London Int’l. Advertising Award 17. Exchange premium 18. Am. artist Edwin Austin 19. Hyperopia 22. Purplish red color 23. Take in marriage 24. Promotional messages 25. Full of high-spirited delight 29. The study of plants 33. S. Am. camel relative

35. Amounts of time 36. Purplish brown 37. Treat with contempt 40. Set in advance 42. In a lucid way 44. Only laughed once 45. One point E of due N 46. Revolve 50. Harry Potter star 55. Olympic contests 56. A small lake 57. Arabian chieftain 58. Ribonuclease 59. Plants of the genus salvia 60. Small deer of Japan 61. Slang for “alright” 62. ___ student, learns healing 63. Spring ahead

CLUES DOWN 1. One of two equal parts 2. About ilium 3. June’s birthstone 4. Calamity 5. Jefferson named unalienable ones 6. Rest in expectation 7. Baseball’s ____ Ruth 8. Flows away 9. Belonging to Robert E. 10. Attempt 12. House in Spanish 14. Lerner and _____, wrote “My Fair Lady” 15. Summer shoe 20. Formerly Persia 21. A small wooded hollow 26. Duct or cellophane 27. Large flightless birds 28. Genus leuciscus fish 29. A place to sleep 30. Minerals

31. Scarlett’s home 32. Seventh Hindu month 34. Poised to 38. Fitness guru Austin 39. Czech & German River 40. Slogged 41. College army 43. Short sharp barks 44. CA. citrus county 47. Brews 48. Fearful and cautious 49. The people of Chief Kooffreh 50. Euphemistic damn 51. Far East wet nurse 52. Where birds hatch their young 53. Wander 54. Male undergrad social club 55. Programming language

Answer key on page 10.

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stayConnected Stay connected with the Leader online at eldoark.com and on Facebook for all the features you know and love!

lookingAhead Here at the South Arkansas Leader, we are looking to the future as we grow and develop a product that will better serve our community and environment.

We hope that you will grow with us as we move forward to a new and exciting future covering Union County!