From a change in leadership at the Arkadelphia Area Chamber of Commerce to a Group Living Inc. resident celebrating 50 years of service, 2023 has been a big year for some Clark County residents. Here’s a glance at some of the people who made the news in 2023:
Arkadelphia leaders honored for Black History Month
The City of Arkadelphia launched its inaugural celebration of local Black leaders, naming 12 honorees, some posthumously, who made an impact on their community.
Arkadelphia Town Hall was packed Monday morning as more than 75 people filed into the atrium to honor the inaugural class of Black History Month honorees. READ MORE about each recipient by clicking the article below.
Despite handicap, Erik Edington champions the golf course
Arkadelphia golfer Erik Edington never let the loss of a limb keep him from doing what he enjoys most. He finished first in a regional tournament.
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Edington dabbled in golf prior to losing his arm but got serious about the sport after the amputation. It would be his dominant arm that he would lose, although he still swings right-handed. READ MORE about how he overcame his disability by clicking the article below.
Showband of Arkansas begins new era under Reddie alumnus
Henderson State University alumnus and longtime high school band director Nevada Mills was appointed this year to direct the very band he was once a member of. Mills also helped revive dwindling band participation since he began his role.
Mills directs the Showband of Arkansas, Wind Ensemble, Symphony Band, and the Reddie Pep Band. READ MORE by clicking the article below.
NAACP names Bruce Bell as local chapter president
Bruce Bell says he’s got the “same bite” as the late Henry Wilson when it comes to speaking out for the African American community. Bell was named Wilson’s successor in January to lead the Clark County branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
Bell admits he’s got big shoes to fill after Henry Wilson’s 2021 death. READ MORE by clicking the article below.
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Tara Rollins picked to head Chamber of Commerce
Clark County native Tara Rollins comes from a long line of generational family businesses, which gives her an edge in aiding Arkadelphia’s small business community.
The Arkadelphia Regional Economic Development Alliance and Area Chamber of Commerce announced that Tara Rollins has its team as Executive Vice President and leader of the organization’s chamber of commerce. READ MORE by clicking the article below.
Bismarck’s Allens named Arkansas Farm Family of the Year
A year after a Clark County family was selected for the honor, Bismarck’s Jeremy and Magen Allen, owners of JA Farms, were named as the 2023 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year.
JA Farms is a diversified enterprise, including a feed business, trucking company and retail farm store in addition to the cattle and hay operations. READ MORE about their farming operation by clicking the article below.
Gurdon native appointed as federal judge
Adrienne C. Nelson, who hails originally from the small town of Gurdon, Arkansas, became the first Black female jurist in the state of Oregon to become a federal judge.
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A Gurdon High School graduate has been appointed by President Joe Biden to serve as a federal district court judge in Oregon. READ MORE about how she overcame discrimination in 1980s Clark County by clicking the article below.
Beehive manager celebrates 50 years with Group Living
If you’ve stepped foot in The Beehive anytime since the mid-70s, chances are Ricky Wright greeted you with a smile.
Arkadelphia native Ricky Wright has served the community he loves through the local non-profit Group Living, Inc. for nearly 50 years. “I just love to help people out,” Wright said. READ MORE about his friendly personality and what he enjoys doing by clicking the article below.
Read more about the people who made local news in 2023 by clicking here and browse the headlines for someone you might know or want to learn more about. Click “More Posts” to view older articles.
With 2023 nearing its end, there are certainly more stories to be told in the year ahead. Some stories fall in our lap, while we hunt for others. If you know someone who has made great strides to improve his or her community, or whose life story would make a fun read, drop us a line at editor@arkadelphian.com.
Arkansas offensive line signee Bubba Craig is expected to report Fayetteville this weekend for the spring semester.
Craig, 6-6 and 315 pounds, of Hutchinson (Kan.) Community College picked the Hogs over Temple, Liberty, Texas -San Antonio and others.
On3.com industry ranking list him the No. 1 interior offensive lineman and No. 23 overall junior college prospect.
Nickname: Bubba
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Favorite thing about playing on the O-line: Moving people
Football has taught me: Patience
My parents stay on me to: Be great at whatever I do
My favorite childhood memory: Building a fort in my yard. It fell over because I was like 10 years old and my siblings and I didn’t know we were doing but ut was still cool.
How Arkansas addressed receiver position in transfer portal
Arkansas offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino lost plenty of production in the passing game to the transfer portal and NFL Draft following the 2024 season.
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With starting quarterback Taylen Green set to return for a second season in Fayetteville, the Hogs had to find the 6-foot-6 passer some new weapons. Star receiver Andrew Armstrong is on his way to the NFL, veterans Isaac TeSlaa and Tyrone Broden are out of eligibility, and speedster Isaiah Sategna transferred to Oklahoma.
Along with those departures, younger prospects Dazmin James and Davion Dozier also elected to hit the portal, which left plenty of recruiting for Petrino, receivers coach Ronnie Fouch and head coach Sam Pittman.
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Armstrong led all Southeastern Conference players with 78 receptions for 1,140 receiving yards in the regular season, but it was really a one-man show with him all season.
TeSlaa added 545 receiving yards and Sategna was second on the team with 37 catches. At 6-foot-7, Broden could never break through as a true difference maker, as he caught just 15 passes for 197 yards and barely played late in the year.
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Of the players the Hogs are set to return at wide receiver — Jordan Anthony, CJ Brown, Krosse Johnson, Bryce Stephens, Monte Harrison and Shamar Easter (moved from tight end to receiver for Liberty Bowl) — the production from 2024 only combined for a total 18 receptions, 243 yards and one touchdown.
Incoming freshmen such as Warren (Ark.) product Antonio Jordan and Missouri City (Tx.) four-star Ja’Kayden Ferguson are intriguing prospects, but it was clear the Hogs needed to add talent in the transfer portal.
So far, the Razorbacks have signed five transfer portal wide receivers. Three of them put together very solid seasons in 2024 for their respective programs, while one — former four-star and Pine Bluff native Courtney Crutchfield — redshirted and the fifth, Ismael Cisse, was a contributor at Stanford.
Arkansas Wide Receiver Production
Note: Courtney Crutchfield is not part of the table, as he did not record any statistics in 2024.
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O’Mega Blake (6-foot-2, 180 lbs) began his career at South Carolina, where he spent three seasons and caught 20 passes for 251 yards and two touchdowns. At Charlotte in 2024, Blake caught five passes for 205 yards and three scores in the Nov. 23 win over Florida Atlantic.
Hailing from Fresno State, Raylen Sharpe (5-foot-9, 165 lbs) is very familiar with Petrino. Sharpe spent 2022-23 at Missouri State, where Petrino was head coach from 2020-22. Sharpe caught 73 passes for 991 yards and seven touchdowns at Missouri State in 2023.
Kam Shanks (5-foot-8, 180 lbs) will more-than-likely be the favorite to return punts after leading the nation with 329 punt return yards and two punt return touchdowns this season. Shanks caught five passes for 31 yards and one score in the Sept. 14 loss at Arkansas.
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After being committed to Arkansas for nearly seven months out of high school, Courtney Crutchfield signed with Missouri and redshirted after appearing in just two games in 2024. He was rated by Rivals as the No. 2 overall recruit and No. 1 wide receiver in the state of Arkansas in the 2024 recruiting class.
The latest addition to the class, Cisse signed with the Razorbacks on Monday evening following a visit over the weekend. He logged 381 snaps as a freshman in 2024, per Pro Football Focus. Cisse is a former three-star recruit out of Cherry Creek High School in Englewood, Colorado.
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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Overshadowed by Arkansas’ 52-point offensive performance was the difficulties the Razorbacks had stopping Tennessee guard Chaz Lanier, who scored 29 points on 10-for-20 shooting, including five threes in a 24-point loss against the No. 1 Volunteers.
Now, the Hogs must deal with a quartet of guards against No. 23 Ole Miss. All four can score in the “randomness” of coach Chris Beard’s system. The Rebels’ top four scorers, Sean Pedulla, Jaylen Murray, Matthew Murrell and Dre Davis are all listed as guards and average double figures.
“These guys run motion,” assistant coach Chin Coleman said. “It’s all random and it’s all different and so, while they’re moving and cutting and screening, you’re going to have to guard every kind of screen there is in the game of basketball. That motion is unpredictable. The freedom of movement, cutting, screening. It’s hard to scheme against. It’s hard to scout.”
Arkansas also must contend with an Ole Miss team that wins the turnover battle on both ends of the floor. The Rebels commit the ninth-fewest turnovers in the country (9.3) and are third-best in turnover margin (+7.0).
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“We want to stay on the attack and make plays for one another and not have a lot of live-ball turnovers,” Coleman said. “Those are the ones that we can’t defend against. We want to make teams play against our set defense, which is one of the best in the country. If we can do that and not have live ball turnovers, we’ll be fine.”
Tennessee forced the Razorbacks to commit 15 turnovers, picked up 10 steals and turned it into 13 points. Ole Miss ranks fourth in the SEC at 10.2 steals a game.
Tipoff between Ole Miss and Arkansas is scheduled for 6 p.m. Wednesday and will be broadcast on ESPN2.
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• Arkansas portal nab has more INTs against Alabama than Hogs past two years
• Razorbacks Better Hope This Year Has No Effect on Next Season
• Calipari, staff hoping Bud Walton crowds help Razorbacks
• Rebels will bring typical Beard team mentality to Bud Walton
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