The Nashville Leader

Curtis Turner Jr., superintendent of the Eureka Springs School District, will take the helm at Mineral Springs School District July 1.

A former teacher, Turner served in leadership roles including superintendent at South Pike County School District, Delight School District, Clinton School District and Centerpoint School District. He also worked in the Fiscal Distress Unit at the Department of Education. Turner has a master of education from Henderson State University and received a state superintendent certification from the University of Central Arkansas.

Commissioner of Education Dr. Tom Kimbrell said, “Mr. Turner has experience in assisting fiscally distressed school districts develop and work through recovery and improvement plans. I believe he is the right person to look at the big picture and know what the priorities are.”

Turner said his goals are to foster clearer communication, listening, learning from the past and moving on together. “We have to set a new strategic direction in Mineral Springs to put the district on sound financial footing and have schools that are student centered and focused on academic achievement.” Turner will replace Bill Blackwood who came out of retirement to temporarily lead the district. Kimbrell expressed appreciation for Blackwood’s leadership in managing the district during the transition.

Arkansas Education Commissioner Dr. Tom Kimbrell exercised his authority, Thursday, under state law to dissolve the school board of the Mineral Springs School District.

The action was taken to immediately move toward stabilizing the finances and management of the troubled district in Howard County. The district is facing a severe budget deficit and does not have sufficient cash flow to finish the district’s fiscal year.

“This action was necessary to keep Mineral Springs public schools operating and serving students despite the district’s extreme financial difficulties,” Dr. Kimbrell said. “Our number one concern is the education of the students in this community. For the future of the district, students and the staff, state action had to be taken now.”

Dr. Kimbrell and other key ADE staff arrived in Mineral Springs this morning to inform acting superintendent, Bill Blackwood, of the changes in district governance. Blackwood has agreed to stay on board until Kimbrell appoints a new superintendent.

Steps have been taken to secure school records and to ensure district operations will continue uninterrupted.

The State Board placed the district in fiscal distress in December, 2012. Under the Omnibus Quality Education Act of 2003, the education commissioner has authority to exercise a state takeover of districts in fiscal distress that don’t adequately address their problems.

Caught in the never land of “fiscal distress,” the Mineral Springs Saratoga School District cannot enter into new contracts with teachers.

Last month, interim Supt. Bill Blackwood said there was a possibility of the district losing certified teachers.

It has happened.

Monday night at the end of a 50-minute executive session, the district board voted to accept the resignations of 11 certified employees, including MS High School principal Davy Jones. Jones is reportedly going to Centerpoint.

Three teachers are going to Nashville, including high school math teacher Beverly Tallman, elementary teacher Tabitha Jones, and English teacher Angie Barfield.

The MS district is also losing Pam Wendell, parent center coordinator; Bill Hathcoat, vocal music and art; Andrew Schroeder, science; Saratoga elementary secretary Denise Juniel; Emma Loop, middle school science; Crystal Evans, school improvement coordinator; and Kim Dunham, middle school english. Some are retiring, some are going to other schools.

There was little action before the board. Supt. Blackwood said that a $5,000 large capacity water heater for the cafeteria had to be replaced.

Present for the regular meeting for May were board members Joann Walker, Doyle Green, William Dixon, Dale Gathright, Jr., Linda Ross and chairman Mike Erwin. Also present were Supt. Blackwood, principal Charles Hanson and federal program coordinator Jeanie Gorham.

The executive director of the Elberta Arts Center, who also operated his own business within the center’s building on Main Street, has been arrested and faces a class A misdemeanor theft charge.

Scott Wendell Turner, 32, white male, Nashville, was interviewed at the police station on Saturday, May 11, after employees of Ivan Smith Furniture noticed the theft of more than $500 from a cash drawer at the store, and connected his visit to the store with the missing money. The charge is for stealing less than $1,000.

Turner’s district court date is May 23. He was released on his own recognizance after being processed at the jail. He is reportedly no longer with the arts center.

A motorcycle poker run event sponsored by the Howard County Democratic Party will be a benefit for the Bread of Life Soup Kitchen.

The run will be Saturday, May 25, and registration is from 9-9:30 a.m. for $20 per motorcycle. All proceeds will go to the soup kitchen, according to party chairman Albert Motta.

Motorcyclists will check in at points along a circular route roughly following De Queen, Umpire and Kirby. Participating riders will also be eligible for prizes donated by local merchants, including catfish dinners from Starz. Motta said there would be a prize drawing at the conclusion of the ride.

Motta said that the political organization was conducting the event “because we are a community organization and we should be helping our fellow man.” He said that the soup kitchen was able to feed and help many people who are in need. “This is the sort of thing we should be doing.”

The Howard County Democratic Central Committee will meet Tuesday, May 21, at Western Sizzlin’ in Nashville.

The meeting will begin at 6 p.m. and the public is invited. For more information contact Reba Sharp, secretary-treasurer at 286-2342.

A Hot Springs woman was killed last Wednesday evening in a head-on crash near Glenwood in Pike County, according to a report filed by the Arkansas State Police.

Melissa A. Mitchell, 49, died in the wreck, which happened on Highway 8 East.

A 2000 Ford truck driven by Anthony A. Jones, 52, of Arkadelphia entered the westbound lane and struck a 2004 Mitsubishi Galant driven by Mitchell.

Mitchell was pronounced deceased by Pike County Deputy Coroner Tina Launius while Jones was transported to Baptist Medical Center in Arkadelphia with undisclosed injuries.

ASP Cpl. Mike Thomas described the weather and road conditions as “clear” and “dry.”

A Lockesburg man was killed Monday evening in a single-vehicle accident in Sevier County, according to the Arkansas State Police.

William Clinton Wray, 54, was traveling north on Highway 71 in a 2000 Ford Truck when his vehicle traveled left of center and struck a guardrail, causing the truck to overturn. He was pronounced deceased on the scene by Sevier County Coroner Rusty Williams.

ASP Cpl. Chris Bussey reported the weather and road conditions were “clear” and “Dry.”

In the past, persons who pleaded guilty to felony charges were sometimes granted a few days of liberty in order to settle their personal affairs before returning to the jail and being transported to prison.

That practice has come to an end.

Both of the judges of the Ninth-West Judicial District have told “The Leader” that they are ending the practice. In the future, any person convicted of a felony will be returned immediately to the county detention center where they will await their transfer to the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC).

Charles Yeargan of Glenwood, the district’s senior judge, said he was amending this practice because of an adverse experience in another county in the district. Judge Tom Cooper told “The Leader” that he agreed with Judge Yeargan’s reasoning and would follow suit.

In criminal court here, last Wednesday, Judge Yeargan heard a variety of pleas including guilty, not guilty, true and no contest.

A not guilty plea was given by Lena K. Goodwin, 25, white female, no address listed, charged with residential burglary, a class B felony, and misdemeanor theft of property. She allegedly broke into the home of her mother and stepfather. Pretrial motions will be heard May 29. She will be represented by the public defender, Aaron Brasel.

A not guilty plea was also given by Daniel Charles Humphries, 36, white male, 9172 Hwy. 278 W., Nashville, charged with sexual indecency with a child, which is a class D felony. He will also be represented by the public defender. Pretrial motions are to be heard July 10, and a trial date of July 16 was set.

One defendant pleaded ‘no contest’ to a criminal charge, and ‘true’ to the charge in a probation revocation trial. William L. White, 48, white male, 1825 Hw. 371, Nashville, was facing two separate criminal trial actions. A 2013 criminal charge was felon in possession of a firearm, a class B felony, and possession of methamphetamine and cocaine, class D felony. His plea of ‘nolo contendre,’ or no contest was tantamount to a guilty plea. He was sentenced to eight years in the ACD on the first charge and six on the second, with the sentences to run concurrently.

In his probation trial, White was charged with failure to live up to the terms of a December 2004 conviction for theft of property and of fraudulent use of a credit card, both class C felony. He was sentenced to eight years in the ADC to run concurrently with the other sentences, and he must make restitution of $856.61 still owed from the 2004 conviction.

A true plea was given by Robin Whisenhunt, 36, white female, Lockesburg, charged with failure to meet the terms of an August 2011 conviction for possession of pseudophredine with intent to manufacture. She was sentenced to four years in the ADC with two years suspended.

A defendant who made a guilty plea was given a deferred adjudication to ‘drug court.’ If the drug court program is successfully completed, he will not serve time and will not have a criminal record. Charles S. Reed, 22, black male, 841 Yellow Creek Road, Fulton, pleaded guilty to class B felony charges of possession of cocaine with purpose of selling, and possession of drug paraphernalia; also misdemeanor possession of marijuana. He was fined $1,500. If he does not successfully complete the program he will serve five years in the ADC. The fine is not deferred.

By John Balch

Leader staff

A longtime bus driver with the Dierks School District has been suspended and facing a charge following an incident where she reportedly trapped an elementary student in the bus door and drove away.

Wanda Kirkpatrick, who Dierks Superintendent Donnie Davis said has worked for the district since the 1970s, is at the center of an investigation by the Sevier County Sheriff’s Department. Davis told The Nashville Leader last week that Kirkpatrick has been suspended while the incident is investigated.

The incident happened last Wednesday afternoon in the Provo community near Lockesburg and involved seven-year-old Dakota Mathis, according to the child’s mother Cindy Mathis. The mother told Sevier County Deputy Brian Hankins that she was waiting for the school bus to drop off her kids when she witnessed Dakota being shut up in the door and Kirkpatrick driving away. The boy’s face, arm and leg were closed up in the door, according to an incident report filed by the deputy.

The mother and Francis Brakeville “took off screaming” in an attempt to get Kirkpatrick to stop the bus. “(Cindy Mathis) stated she cussed at Wanda and she stated Wanda apologized, that she was watching the other children,” according to the report.

The child, who was taken to the emergency room at the De Queen hospital, was uninjured in the incident except for “red marks on the left side of his face, right arm between his shoulders and elbow and his right leg around the knee.”

Kirkpatrick’s statement to Dierks Officer John McKee stated there were four kids that needed to get off the bus at the stop, “so she watched the children head down the steps. She stated she looked up and spoke to another student. She stated she activated the door to be shut. She stated she looked down and saw the youngest boy (Dakota) had sat on the step and had his hand in the door.”

Kirkpatrick said she opened the door and the grandmother yanked the boy up. She said she tried to apologize but the two women continued to “yell and cuss” at her. Kirkpatrick said she contacted Davis about the incident.

The report does not indicate how far the bus traveled.

Sevier County Chief Chad Dowdle said Thursday the incident report has been turned over to the prosecutor’s office to be considered for charges. Kirkpatrick could be charged with endangering the welfare of a minor.

Cindy Mathis told the newspaper that last week’s incident was not the first involving her children and Kirkpatrick. She said a few months back that Kirkpatrick allegedly closed the bus door in the face of her other son, Shane, and drove away.

By John R. Schirmer

Leader staff

Their meetings in the past have settled conference championships, regional championships and questions of bragging rights.

Friday night in northwest Arkansas, the stakes will be higher.

The Nashville Scrapperettes and Ashdown Lady Panthers will play for the state Class 4A softball championship Friday at 7 p.m. at Bogle Park on the University of Arkansas campus in Fayetteville.

The Scrapperettes are the defending state champions and have played in the championship game 3 of the last 4 seasons. The Lady Panthers won state in 2008 and finished as runners-up in 2011.

Nashville advanced to the title game by defeating Mena 3-1 in the state semifinals Saturday afternoon at the Ashdown City Park.

Ashdown defeated Hamburg 4-1 in the other semifinal game.

“We’re playing a conference foe, Ashdown, who bested us twice during the season,” Coach Paul Ernest said Monday morning.

Ashdown defeated the Scrapperettes 2-1 in their regular-season game at Nashville. The Lady Panthers came from behind to take a 7-4 victory in the finals of the District 7-4A tournament in Little Rock.

As they prepare for the championship game, the Scrapperettes are focusing on “what the Ashdown pitcher’s strengths are,” Ernest said.

They are also working on their areas of improvement.

“We’re working on small ball at batting practice this week. We struggles in the tournament to get runs across,” Ernest said.

They Scrapperettes will also “do some clean-up stuff. We’ll work on fly balls. We’ll work on bunt defense and first and third defense. We’ll try to work on every possible scenario,” Ernest said.

Ashdown won the Class 4A South regional May 6 at Monticello, with the Scrapperettes finishing third. As a result, “We’re the visitors. We know we have to get them out” late in the game,” Ernest said. “We’ll try to do what we did at state.”

Playing the same opponent for the third time of the season is “a challenge for both sides,” Ernest said. “It’s a challenge for me as a coach to objectively evaluate where we were when we played before and where we are not and find ways to improve. From his standpoint [Ashdown coach Wiley Cunningham], it’s difficult to not be over confident. They’ve won 17 games in a row, and 2 of those wins came over us.”

Along with game preparations, the Scrapperettes have other activities during the week.

Tonight (Wednesday), they will have dinner on the field at the Nashville City Park. There will be a team meal prepared by Coach Billy Dawson Thursday night. The schedule will work around the Lions Club Honor Graduate Banquet that night.

Three Scrapperettes – Jenna Hendry, Nicole Drummond and Maddie McJunkins – are honor graduates. Nashville graduation will be Friday night, and the three seniors will receive their diplomas at Bogle Park before the championship game.

“They’re missing graduation. We want them to go to the honor grad banquet,” Ernest said.

The team will leave for Fayetteville Friday morning, with a stop planned along the way for them to break up the four-hour drive. They’ll practice in Fayetteville, then go to the park for the game.

Brookland

For the Scrapperettes, “It’s been a tough road to get there,” Ernest said of the return to the championship game.

“We beat three quality teams” at Ashdown, he said, including Brookland, Pottsville and Mena.

Nashville met Brookland Thursday afternoon in the opening round of the state tournament and came away with a 3-2 victory.

“That was the best first round match-up in 4A and maybe in every classification,” Ernest said.

“They were 26-2 coming in. Their pitcher had dominated all year. If they had won that first game, they might be going to the finals.”

The Scrapperettes were “fortunate. We only struck out four times. That was a big plus – no free outs. We struck out 11 times against Hamburg” in the consolation game at regionals, Ernest said.

“We got big hits at big moments in the game” against Brookland.

The Lady Bearcats got on the board first with a run in the third inning.

Nashville tied the game in the fourth and scored twice in the sixth while giving up a run to Brookland.

Avery Kesterson scored first for the Scrapperettes. Shayla Wright tied the game, and Jenna Hendry put up the game-winning run.

“Keeley Miller hit a double. Jenna had a triple. Other girls did a great job” to fuel the Scrapperettes’ scoring.

Miller doubled to left field in the bottom of the fourth to score Kesterson.

In the sixth, Wright reached third on an error. Hendry then hit her triple to right field, scoring Wright.

A bunt by Kesterson set up Hendry’s score.

“We couldn’t play much better,” Ernest said. “Jenna pitched great throughout the tournament at Ashdown.”

For the game against Brookland, Nashville had 3 runs on 4 hits with no errors. The Lady Bearcats had 2 runs, 6 hits and an error.

Scrapperette hits included 2 from Miller and 1 each from Hendry and Kesterson.

Hendry, Kesterson and Miller recorded RBIs.

Hendry struck out 4 batters on 74 pitches.

Pottsville

The Scrapperettes defeated Pottsville 1-0 in 8 innings Friday afternoon in the quarterfinals.

The two teams met last year in the state championship game at Fayetteville.

“It was a battle all the way,” Ernest said of this year’s encounter with the Lady Apaches. “We didn’t play well offensively but scratched out 5 hits and took advantage of errors,” Ernest said.

The Scrapperettes had runners at second and third twice but couldn’t get them home. “We’ve got to be able to score,” Ernest said. “They played good small ball defense.”

The game went to extra innings after regulation ended 0-0.

In the top of the eighth, Avery Kesterson was the Scrapperettes’ runner at second base under softball’s extra innings rule.

“Great execution by Kathleen Lance at bat let Avery advance to third,” Ernest said. Miller flied out to center field; McJunkins singled to right field and Kesterson scored on an error by the center fielder.

In the bottom of the eighth, “They got some hits. We had huge outs by Shayla and Keeley and won a nail-bitert. It was a good one,” Ernest said.

For the game, the Scrapperettes had 2 hits from McJunkins, with 1 each from Lance, Nicole Drummond and Miller.

Hendry had a perfect game going into the seventh inning. She had 5 strikeouts and threw 79 pitches.

Mena

The Scrapperettes defeated Mena 3-1 in the semifinals Saturday afternoon. They had lost to the Lady Bearcats 4-3 in the second game of the season March 1.

“We’re much better now” than in the first game, Ernest said. “They struck us out 12 times the first time we played.” The Lady Bearcats managed only 2 strikeouts in the rematch.

“I told the girls that 5 was the magic number. We needed to strike out fewer than 5 times and get to 5 runs. I couldn’t see them scoring over 5,” Ernest said.

“Mena hit hard, but Jenna kept plugging and made plays for us.

The Scrapperettes had 6 hits against Mena and 1 error. The Lady Bearcats had 4 hits and an error.

Kesterson recorded 2 of Nashville’s hits, with 1 each from Kynnedi Gordon, Wright, McJunkins and Miller.

Scrapperette scores came from Iesha Neal, Wright and Maddi Horton.

Kesterson and McJunkins had an RBI each against the Lady Bearcats.

“Maddie hit well that day. I turned her loose in a 1-1 game and she hit a triple to left field. Iesha scored. That was the big play of the game.

Hendry faced 27 batters and recorded 4 strikeouts.

She threw 86 pitches in the game, bringing her total for the season to 2,352 with 1 game remaining.

Ernest credited assistant coaches Phillip Miller and James Reed for the team’s success in the state tournament.

“Coach Miller calls every pitch. He did a great job. He calmed Jenna down, and that was the difference. Coach Reed did a great job. We have some girls that can really run. They’re gifted. Coach Reed knows what to do.”

LAKE CHARLES, La. – Jasmine Ellis of Nashville, a senior at the University of Central Arkansas, won the Southland Conference heptathlon Saturday afternoon during the conference’s outdoor track and field championships at McNeese State.

Ellis won the heptathlon with a school-record and stadium-record 5,125 points, breaking the 1994 record of Texas-Arlington’s Jennifer Robeson.

Ellis was first in the long jump (18-7), javelin (125-4) , 100-meter hurdles (14.18), high jump (5-4.25) and 200 meters (25.31). She was third in the shot put (35-11.25) and was seventh in the 800 meters (2:40.26).

Ellis beat second-place Shambrail Woods of Stephen F. Austin by 330 points.

UCA’s Megan Snow was third (4,764) and April Martin was sixth as UCA grabbed 19 points in the event.

Ellis won the Arkansas high school heptathlon in 2008 as a junior on the Scrapperette track team. She was second in the 2009 heptathlon.

By Jana Copeland

Leader staff

Thirteen years of making memories, classes, pep rallies, ball games, and other school events all lead up to every senior’s dream… Graduation!

As these Nashville seniors look back on their high school careers, they realize what all they will be missing. Maddie Mcjunkins said that she will miss building stronger relationships and making memories that she will never forget with her friends the most.

Tamira Stewart said, “The people. I have met some of the most unique, caring, exceptional people during the past 13 years. They made me who I am today,” would be what she missed the most.

Jared Riggs said that he would definitely miss his friends and hometown the most.

Hannah Vines said, “I will miss being around my friends everyday the most. I never actually realized how after graduation, I would never see some of these people again.”

Stephen Kreul, Nicole Drummond and Jared Riggs all three said that they would miss the homework given the least.

McJunkins said, “I will hardly miss waking up in the mornings.”

“The school lunches are what I will miss the least about high school. Even though they will probably be the cheapest meal I can ever get!” Vines said.

These seniors said that what they have learned while being in the Nashville schools has prepared them for life and will help them to achieve their goals. Jacobi Lampkin, who plans to attend UCA and major in business, said, “I have learned that I can achieve any goal that I have set for me and that nothing is too big to over come.”

Stewart, who plans to attend Southern Arkansas University in Magnolia for two years, then I plan to transfer to Spelman College in Atlanta to major in developmental psychology and minor in sociology, said that attending Nashville Public Schools has taught her that hard work pays off. “You will definitely get out what you put in. That applies to all aspects of life.”

Drummond said that one thing that will help her the most later in life is her Spanish classes that she took her three years of high school. She wants to further her Spanish and hopefully become fluent one day. She will be attending UCA and majoring in mathematics.

Donyell King plans to attend Arkansas Tech to play football and major in criminal justice.

“I learned good character and how to keep a positive attitude about everything, and that will help me become a better person.”

Kaylie Efird, planning to attend the University of Arkansas and major in nursing, said that Nashville is big on sports. “Because of that, not only did I learn to have pride for my school, I learned the importance of being competitive. Whether it’s with sports or in the classroom.”

“Nashville taught me to have confidence in myself and to never under estimate my abilities. To always strive for perfection and when you miss, you’ll still hit near,” McJunkins said.

For these seniors, graduation is a bittersweet time, a time of looking back to old memories. Hayden Kirchhoff said, “My favorite memories would have to be between being a part of the 2012 homecoming court and the Fall Scrapnet team -they were both wonderful experiences.”

Drummond said that one of her favorite memories from high school would have to be when they won the softball State Championship last May. “I was even more excited the second time we won because I felt like I was more a part of the team.”

Stewart said, “My favorite memory of high school was actually a recurring event. Everyday at lunch Breona Jefferson and I would do act crazy at lunch; by the end of lunch our energy had rubbed off on everyone so we all just acted wild and had a lot of fun.”

Kreul said that his favorite memory was pulling pranks on people during Scrapnet in the Fall. “I was blessed with the honor of cheering on the Scrappers for four years. Whether it was on the field or the court. My favorite memories were always when I was in uniform. There truly is no other feeling than being on the sidelines after a huge win. It’s something I’ll never forget,” Efird said.

Michael Steele said that his favorite memory was his entire senior year.

Maira Martinez said, “I have soo many! I have the best friends a girl could ask for and we’ve made so many memories but my favorite from school would be getting voted on the homecoming court!”

McJunkins said that her favorite memory from high school is hard to define. “I loved making funny segments on scrapnet, clowning at lunch, or newspapering my coach’s room.”

Riggs said that his favorite memory was the first semester of his senior year.

“My favorite memory of high school would be Homecoming. I always grew up in Nashville getting to go to the homecoming pep rallies and looking up to those girls so much and dreamed about getting to be in it and finally that dream came true and I hope I was a good role model to the younger ones who look up to me as well,” Vines said.

Kirchhoff said, “I’m so blessed to have gone to Nashville High School. The community, fellow students, and faculty have helped me in numerous ways as I’ve gone through this chapter in my life.”

Martinez said that everyone that is in school needs to know something. “I’m sure you have heard it before, but its true! Live it up and make as many memories as you can because time really do fly by and you will miss it so much! Trust me!!”

Stewart wanted to thank all of the teachers and students at NHS for supporting her and for bringing out the true Scrapper in her. “I would also like to thank Breona Jefferson, Kassidy Snowden, Kirby Kell and Iesha Neal for making these past three years amazing! God bless you all.”

It is also a time for new beginnings. As the class of 2013 leaves Nashville High School, as students, for the last time, underclassmen wish them well and hope that their journeys will bring them joy, happiness, and at some point back to Nashville.

Once a Scrapper, Always a Scrapper!

Graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2013 at Nashville High School will be held Friday, May 17, at 8 p.m. at Scrapper Stadium. In case of rain, the program will be moved to the Scrapper Dome.

The ceremony will include speeches by students and a faculty charge to the graduates.

Counselor Kelli Webb will review scholarships awarded to the seniors. Assistant principal Kim Slayton and school board president Monica Clark will award diplomas.

The valedictorian, salutatorian and final list of honor graduates had not been announced by press time Tuesday.

Three seniors will receive their diplomas earlier in the day. Olivia Nicole Drummond, Jenna Janelle Hendry and Maddie Lee McJunkins will play for the Scrapperettes in the state Class 4A softball championship game at 7 p.m. in Fayetteville. Principal Tate Gordon will present their diplomas before the game begins.

Members of the senior class include the following:

Eduardo Almazan, Cecil Hunter Anderson, Deontrel Marqwon Armstrong, Matthew Allen Ayers, Kiana Janay Banks, Kassandra Delfin Barron, Ana Merida Bran, Gabriel Alexander Briggs, Clara Leshae Brown, Thomas Luther Brown Jr., Silver Star Burton, Roberto Elias Bustamante, Samuel Deandre Tan-Dre Butler, Lynzie Faye Callaway, Jose Enrique Camacho, Amy Lorraine Castle, Alejandra Chavez, Calee Shaee Coffman, Kevin James Conant, Cayden Roy Conrad, Huston Hunter Couch.

Deangelo Darnell Coulter, John Peyton Cox, Virginia Codi Crawford, Jacolby Deangelo Crow, Kara Grace Cumbra, Doyle Marcus Anthony Davis, Olivia Nicole Drummond, Richard Mark Dunn III, Kaylie Brooke Efird, Cristian Eduardo Escamilla, Emanuel Ramirez Estrada, Ashley Lachae Fatherree, Ryan Taylor Fox, Esmeralda Isabel Fraire, Ashley Osha Gaines, Ja-Karee Sharif Gaines, Tania Gallardo, Kyndra Shauntaye Golston, Colby Skye Gorena, Tesean Marquette  Green, Tyronda Lynn Haney, Tessah Harris, Taylor Dakota Harwell, Holly Ann Hausman, Raven Tyann Nishay Heard, Kristen Shena Hendrix, Ques Lajuan Hendrix.

Jenna Janelle Hendry, Kevin Joel Hendry, Darleen Hernandez, Eduardo Hernandez, Mayra Hernandez, Mirna Hernandez, Gabriel Pace Hill, Jeremiah Scott Hill, Lakeisha Ann Hughes, Shumarae Travaughn Jernigan, Corina Taylor Johnson, Marquis De’Angelo Johnson, Montorey Jamall Johnson, Jerrad William Jones, Kelsey Leann Jones, Kerstein Cheyenne Kane, Michael Austin Keith, Kirby Marie Kell, Jason R. Kelley, Justin Blake Kennedy, Malisa Diane Kennedy, Donyell Michael King, Jessica Kinsey, Hayden Brooke Kirchhoff, Stephen Patrick Kreul, Jacobi Rashad Lampkin.

Jonathon Burt Lance, Timothy Daniel Lawson, Vuong Le, Ashleigh Paige Lemons, Austin Steed Lovelis, Maira Alejandra Martinez, Robert Tanner McAlister, Matthew Tyler McCammack, Katrina Louise McClane, Lorenn Drew McJunkins, Maddie Lee McJunkins, Montana Mikulek, Melinda Marie Moncus, Martin Hayden Murphy, Chasity Shuntell Ogden, Eduardo Padilla, Cheyenne Marie Parker, Tesla Alley Sham Payne, Cynstella Inez Penigar, Alexander Silvi Perez, Phuc Tan Phan, Johnny Lee Pierce, Zachary Alan Pounds, Daniel Jared Pressler, Jesus Puente, Kameron Neil Quinonez.

Juan Alfonso Quintero, Braden Tyler Rather, Christopher Shawn Rider, Jared David Riggs, Heather Marie Rios, Dillon Lee Roberts, Viviana De Pilar Rojas, Sterling Joseph Clay Ross, Marshauntie Timbra Ra Quon Sanders, Skyann Marie Serigne, Winneesha Estelle Shorter, Samantha Jean Sipes, Dudley Jacob Slatyon, Samuel Ray Smith Jr., Steven Lavell Snell Jr., Alexander Kennedy Snodgrass, Kayla Gail Sparks, Michael Dewayne Steele II, Malachi Payne Stephens, Tamira Reshey Stewart, Phyllis Evelyn Stinson, Kianna Patrice Taylor, Wesley Alan Terwilliger, Lavonte Christopher Thomas, Katherine Renaee Tribble.

Stephen Augustus Turner, Edwin Sanchez Valente, Hannah Kaylee Vines, Ramiro Violante, Samantha Nicole Weathers, Caleb Price Webb, Lauren McKamie Webb, Lynze Nicole Webb, Nolan Spencer Webster, Colton Ray Whisenhunt, Chelsea Deaiyshee White, Shuntell Tiara White, Taneiya Jan’ee White, Jalen Jawon Whitmore, Abigale Grace Williams, Briana Laquan Williams, Devin Markel Williams, Christopher Lee Nyles Wincher, Tyler Heath Winters, Janice Anne Witherspoon, Alexander Wayne Woodruff, Mai Xiong Yang and Alfredo Zuniga Jr.

HAVE YOU NOTICED how the North Korean generals who surround Glorious New Leader Chick-Pok-Pok always have notebooks and pens at hand in case they need to write down one of Mr. Pok’s utterances? The generals are always attentive, and appear to be most anxious to learn from Glorious New Leader who was apparently born wise.

I would like a chance to bid on being the supplier of those notebooks and pens.

Also, does anyone besides me think the North Korean army hats look ridiculous?

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MY MISTEAK. In an earlier article about the ‘old’ hospital campus and its future, I wrote that concerned citizens would meet with the quorum court at its next meeting. That meeting will be at noon on Monday, May 20.

Eight or 10 years ago the court’s meetings were on Tuesdays. I still have Tuesday meetings stuck in my feeble mind, and hope you will excuse the error.

To repeat: The meeting will be at noon on Monday, May 20.

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A POX ON WASHINGTON.

I’m mad at both sides. The Republicans are intent upon skewering Hillary Clinton for the deaths at the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi despite testimony from investigators — a retired Navy admiral and a 40-year diplomat — to the contrary. What they are REALLY wanting to do is to damage her credibility for a possible future Presidential campaign. Otherwise, why do the Republicans want to take more testimony in secret? They can ‘spin’ that testimony any way they want to, and it ain’t gonna be to Hillary’s advantage.

And President Obama’s reputation is tarnished because of the IRS selective investigation into the Tea Party and for the Department of Justice getting phone info of the Associated Press. He is certainly open to criticism because he’s the boss. Just like George Bush was when terrorists flew into the Twin Towers.

Our leaders are so busy fighting each other they can’t objectively face our nation’s problems. I wish they had the same medical insurance and retirement benefits of ordinary citizens, but they have taken real good care of themselves over the last few years.

I am willing to go to Washington to straighten everything out. Remember my pre-election write-in promise: I will only steal what I need.

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AND THEN SOME people are just stupid. Like the guy from Saudi Arabia who was stopped by authorities because he had torn out some pages of his passport and was carrying a pressure cooker in his luggage. Pressure cookers are of interest to Homeland Security agents because of the horrific bombing in Boston. The missing pages are of interest only if he had been spending time in terrorist training camps in places that hate America.

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CHANNEL SURFING recently I came across a documentary on the Sundance Channel. It was an old film of the voyage of “Kon-tiki” and explorer Thor Heyerdahl, my hero. Apparently, someone is doing a remake of the old film. Sundance showed the old one, and clips of the making of the new one.

One of my personal treasures is an autographed photo of Heyerdahl on horseback at his ranch in Chile. It was from Chile that he launched his balsa raft, Kon-Tiki, and sailed west toward South Pacific islands.

He later sailed from Egypt to the east coast of South America on a reed raft woven by South American Indians. He had to use the skills of the Indians because the Egyptians had forgotten how to weave reeds for a raft.

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UPDATE ON ‘MARK YOUR CALENDARS.’

Beginning Monday, May 20, and continuing through Sunday, June 2, Nashville police will conduct a “Click it or Ticket” operation.

They’ll pull you over just to see if you’re belted in properly, and they’ll also be looking for children who are not in proper restraints.

You WILL get a ticket if you’re not doin’ right, and we’ll see your name in this newspaper’s District Court report. Officers hope to raise awareness for seatbelts and child restraints.

Any child not properly restrained will be ductaped to the rear seat. Or maybe not.

Let’s all buckle up.

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NECESSITY IS THE Mother of Invention. I heard that somewhere.

A last minute obstacle kept the annual Howard County Children’s Center telethon from being broadcast from the Carter Day Training Center on North Main Street. Instead, the center had to broadcast from the dining facility on the HCCC campus.

It worked splendidly, HCCC board member Jimmy Dale reports. The annual telethon, which is sponsored nominally by the Nashville Rotary Club, raised in excess of $50,000 all of which will be used for capital improvements.

It’s a wonderful project and reflects so well upon our community.

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PUNS AND ADULT TRUTHS from my piano friend at Fellowship:

“This girl said she recognized me from the vegetarian club, but I’d never met herbivore.”

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HE SAID: “In faith there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don’t.” Blaise Pascal, philosopher

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SHE SAID: “I’ve loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night.” Sarah Williams, poet

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SWEET DREAMS, Baby

Clayton S. Friend, 90 of Dierks, Ark., died Sunday, May 12, 2013 in Dierks.

He was born March 8, 1923 in the Muddy Fork community north of Nashville to the late George Washington and Alice Brandon Friend.

He was retired from Weyerhaeuser, was a Christian, and was an Army Air Corps veteran of WWII. He served on the Dierks Volunteer Fire Department and was also an ambulance service driver.

He was preceded in death by three brothers: George Wallace Friend, Jewell Hayes Friend and Lawrence Valentine Friend.

Survivors include: his wife of more than 67 years, Virginia McClure Friend of Dierks; two children, Clayton Seal Friend, Jr., and wife, Rhonda, of Prescott, and Helen Chism Friend of Dierks; also grandchildren, great-grandchildren and a great-great-grandchild.

Graveside services were Tuesday, May 14, 2013 at 10 a.m. at Fellowship Cemetery with Scott Vaughn and Teresa Stephens officiating. Arrangements were under the direction of Nashville Funeral Home.

Send the family an online sympathy message to nashvillefh.com.

Ruby Dell Wilson, 85, of Amity, Ark., died Thursday May 9, 2013.

She was born Sept. 25, 1927 in Arkadelphia, the daughter of the late George and Nancy Etter (Karr) Cooper.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie E. Wilson.

Survivors include: a brother, James Cooper, of Dierks; two sisters, Doris Barker of West Virginia, and Rena Cooper; two sons, Thomas Wilson and wife, Gloria, of Brownstown, Ark., and John Wilson and wife, Linda, of West Virginia; four daughters, Carolyn Ray of Amity, Dorothy Provence of Nashville, Gladys Walston of Hot Springs, and Shirley Young of Nashville; also grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Visitation was 6-6:30 p.m., Saturday, May 11, 2013, at Latimer Funeral Home.

Funeral services were at 10 a.m., Monday, May 13, 2013, at the Latimer Funeral Home Chapel in Nashville with Bro. David Blase officiating. Burial followed at East Memorial Gardens Cemetery in Texarkana, Ark.

Send an online sympathy message at latimerfuneralhome.com.

IN MEXICO. Emily O’Neal (left) of Nashville, a recent graduate of the University of Central Arkansas, visits children in Oaxaca, Mexico during one of her four trips to the city.

By Emily O’Neal

Guest writer

It seems like it was just yesterday. I was a curious senior at NHS about to graduate and embark on my collegiate adventure.

It was 2009. I had decided I wanted to go to the University of Central Arkansas. I was accepted into the UCA Honors College and had decided to study International Politics and Spanish. Luckily, those plans never waivered. I graduated May 4 with two degrees, one in International Politics and the other in Spanish.

During my time at UCA, I was just as involved as I was at NHS, if not more. I loved being a part of everything I could be at UCA. I was a part of governmental clubs, language clubs, leadership teams, and the Student Orientation Staff.  I was an event planner for New Life Church and even lead a small group Bible study. Basically, college for me, was an incredible, full experience.

With my International Politics degree and Spanish degree, I was able to land internships with two different immigration lawyers. I helped in giving legal aid to both documented and undocumented immigrants.

I have been a volunteer with El Zocalo Immigrant Resource Center as well. Through El Zocalo, I was able to visit detention centers and host citizenship conferences where I helped give legal aid to Spanish-speaking immigrants hoping to obtain their citizenship.

I was involved with local DREAM act campaigns in Little Rock at the capitol. I became so involved with local immigration issues, I dedicated my undergraduate thesis research within the Honors program at UCA to immigration issues and helping solve the immigration debate.

The title of my thesis was Uniting U.S.: Solving the Immigration Debate through the Development of a Guest Worker’s Exchange Program.

In my four years at UCA, I have had the opportunity to travel to Rwanda, Africa, to do mission work with genocide victims, orphans, and in small village communities.

I have also traveled numerous times to Oaxaca, Mexico. I was presented with the opportunity to volunteer at a local church as well as a small women’s shelter in 2011.

Of course, I fell in love with the community there and was able to use my Spanish-speaking skills to communicate and teach Bible classes. I helped with Vacation Bible Schools and taught Bible studies as well.

I have now traveled to Oaxaca four different times and have made countless memories and consider Oaxaca a second home now.

Hay una cierta magia romántica acerca de Oaxaca, México, que se mantiene en los sentidos. Oaxaca es el espíritu de México. Se queda con su espíritu una vez que salga. Un viaje a Oaxaca no satisface el alma. Al menos, eso es lo que dicen todos. Oaxaca tiene un celo infeccioso que va mucho más allá de las cuestiones políticas o sociales en México. Uno puede sentir en los mercados zumbidos, verlo en la riqueza de las artesanías, y se puede degustar en la especialidad culinaria: mole. Yo he experimentado eso insatisfacción del alma también. Después de haber viajado a Oaxaca tres veces saben, pasando la cuarta vez, puedo decir con confianza que es uno de los secretos mejor guardados de México. 

June 30^th begins my newest adventure, Panama. I will be moving to the country for one year to teach English as a second language to adults. I am beyond excited and ready to start this new chapter of my life. When I return, I will be attending law school to be an immigration lawyer. I am thrilled to someday be in a position to help the Hispanic community even more.

I have to thank God for all of the opportunities that have been presented to me my entire life, my family for always supporting my wacky adventures and dreams, and the wonderful community of Nashville that helped set me on the life path that I am now on.