Sports

Many people from Missouri and beyond are getting ready for their favorite way to enjoy fall—hunting on their national forest lands.  Mark Twain National Forest provides a million and a half acres for these activities. Hunting regulations for Missouri are set by the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) in the Wildlife Code; and those rules govern hunting activities on the Forest as well.  To learn more about the regulations for this season, please visit the MDC 2020Fall Deer and Turkey Hunting Regulations and Information, available online.. ...

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) will offer four separate classes during a one-day clinic for women demonstrating the fundamentals of handgun ownership on Oct. 24, from 8 - 9:30 a.m., from 10 - 11:30 a.m., from 1 - 2:30 p.m., and from 3 - 4:30 p.m. at Big Piney Sportsman Club in Houston...

On Oct. 16, the Thayer Bobcats (6-1) traveled to Festus to play the St. Pius X Lancers (3-5). St. Pius X kicked off to Thayer to start the game. Thayer fumbled the football but managed to recover. The Bobcats scored a touchdown in the first quarter on a Jackson Willison one-yard run, and Kale Willison kicked the extra point. Thayer led at quarter end 7-0...

The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) recently announced 41 Williams Baptist University student-athletes have been named as Scholar Athletes for the 2019-20 school year. In addition, the Eagles had 11 teams recognized as NAIA Scholar teams...

Centennial Bank would like to recognize Highland Rebels Lillyan Stites and Ryen Hale as Players of the Week for the past two weeks of volleyball season. We’re proud of our Rebels.

Star of the Week, 2 Game Score Plus Handicap: Archie Matheny, 217. Matheny is also the yearly tournament winner. Congratulations, Archie Matheny! Oct. 12 game winners: Pit 1: Garner, 98 Pit 2: Matheny and Lofquist, 202 Pit 3: Watts and Brooks, 171 Pit 4: Harbin and Yanke, 182...

As the temperatures drop and the leaves change color, the thoughts of most Arkansans turn to the pursuit of deer, ducks, squirrels and other game. Fishing is put on the back burner, but the changing seasons and dropping temperatures will spur the fish of Arkansas into a feeding frenzy that can lead to some of the best angling days of the year...

This pass week we saw a major cool down of Norfork. This week with the predicted rain we should see a push up the creeks by the stripers to find schooling bait and cold water. I fished both Bennett’s Bayou and above the Missouri line both places are holding fish but only one Missouri has the most consistent bite. ...

The Highland Rebels are scheduled to be back in action on Oct. 23 against Cave City at home in a conference game. The Rebels last played on Oct. 2 when they lost to Trumann 34-8 in an away conference game. Highland enters the game with a record of 1-4. Cave City comes into the game with a record of 2-4, after winning a home conference game against Westside (Jonesboro) 22-19 on Oct. 16...

On Oct. 16, the Cave City Cavemen (2-4) were victorious in a home conference game against the Westside (Jonesboro) Warriors (2-5) by a final score of 22-19. In a come-from-behind win, Cave City scored late in the fourth quarter to beat Westside and recorded the Cavemen’s second victory of the season...

Arkansas Wildlife, the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s award-winning television show, is back with new segments and episodes just in time for fall and hunting seasons. The 13-episode Fall 2020 season started this past weekend and concludes Dec. 27...

The Arkansas Department of Agriculture is pleased to announce the release of the newly created Arkansas Feral Hog Handbook, a guide to resources available in Arkansas to assist with feral hog control and eradication. The handbook includes contact information, websites and brief explanations of the resources offered by state and federal agencies and other entities...

Hunters planning to hit the woods Oct. 17 for Arkansas’s muzzleloader season and Nov. 14 for modern gun deer season may want to check with the deer processor they normally use to make the most of their harvest. Some processors who handle domestic livestock may be seeing a backlog from recent direct-to-butcher purchases at the beginning of this summer’s meat shortage...

The 20-21 Izard County Junior and Senior High basketball seasons kicked off this week with two benefit games, the Black and Gray Games, and the Kailey Moss Scholarship Fund Chili Supper. On Tuesday, Oct. 13, the Junior Cougars played the Flippin Junior Bobcats, and on Thursday, Oct. 15, the Cougars travelled to Flippin for a match up against the Bobcats. Girls teams are not playing due to volleyball season still going on...

The Salem Greyhounds defeated the East Poinsett County (EPC) Warriors (3-3) of Lepanto 42-6 in a non-conference matchup in Salem. In past years, this would have possibly had a conference championship riding on the outcome, however, this year Salem moved up in classification...

The Melbourne Bearkatz had an open date on Oct. 9. On Oct. 16, the Bearkatz (4-1) are scheduled to travel to Riverview (Searcy, Ark.) to meet the currently winless (0-5) Raiders. Melbourne’s wins have been against Clinton (50-21), Quitman (34-6), Cave City (48-12) and Salem (41-22). The lone loss was a road game at Newport that Newport won 21-14...

By Tom Reynolds of STR Outfitters The Norfork Lake water cools down and stripers get active then we keep getting warm afternoons and the water warms up and the bite slows down. This past week I fished both Arkansas and Missouri waters and caught stripers on both sides of the state-line. ...

Hunters planning to hit the woods Oct. 17 for Arkansas’s muzzleloader season and Nov. 14 for modern gun deer season may want to check with the deer processor they normally use to make the most of their harvest. Some processors who handle domestic livestock may be seeing a backlog from recent direct-to-butcher purchases at the beginning of this summer’s meat shortage...

By Bob Mitchum The Thayer Bobcats (5-1) defeated the Ava Bears (4-3) at Thayer on Oct. 9 by a score of 43-6. The Bobcats had the only score in the first quarter. Thayer added two touchdowns in the second quarter and led 21-0 at halftime. The Bears managed 6 points in the second half and Thayer added 22 points to make the final score 43-6...

Star of the Week: 2 Game Score Plus Handicap, Dave Gruger, 201. Oct. game winners: Pit 1: Morgan and Weeks, 193 Pit 2: Matheny and Harbin, 184 Pit 3: Yanke and Hawk, 177 Pit 4: Hollis and Lofquist, 167 Oct. 9 game winners: Pit 1: Gruger, 108 Pit 2: Matheny and Hawk, 193...

The Norfork Lake water cools down and stripers get active then we keep getting warm afternoons and the water warms up and the bite slows down. This past week I fished both Arkansas and Missouri waters and caught stripers on both sides of the state-line. ...

The Highland Tennis teams, both boys and girls, have had a successful season. The girls team consists of two seniors: Carly Haney and Reagan Booth. Both girls have played on the tennis team for four years. They have contributed with many wins throughout their time on the team and will be greatly missed. ...

The Pocahontas Redskins (5-1) defeated the Cave City Cavemen (1-4) in a conference game at Cave City (35-20). Pocahontas jumped out and scored 28 points in the first quarter, and Cave City scored 7. The second quarter was scoreless. Pocahontas added 7 points in the third quarter and held Cave City scoreless. Cave City provided the only points in the fourth quarter scoring 13 points...

On Oct. 9, the Highland Rebels (1-4) were scheduled to play the Blytheville Chickasaws (3-2) at Highland in a conference matchup. However, on Thursday, Highland cancelled the game after learning a staff member had tested positive for Covid-19. In hopes of finding an opponent to replace Highland, Blytheville Coach Lance Stone reached out to teams in the area. ...

Lake Charles (updated 9-30-2020) Shelly Jeffrey at Lake Charles State Park (870-878-6595) said good fishing days, based on moon times, should run through Sunday, but the best days for October should be Oct. 13-19, she says. “The weather is changing every day. ...

With the fall migration of many bird species beginning, birdwatching enthusiasts and educators are just as excited as the most avid waterfowl hunter, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission has a great way to bring more birders into the watchable wildlife ranks. After 20 years the AGFC’s Wings Over Arkansas program has been revamped and is ready to share the outdoors with more people than ever before...

Star of the Week, 2 Game Score Plus Handicap: Dave Gruger, 192. Sept. 28 game winners: Pit 1: Yanke and Simmons, 183 Pit 2: Watts and Howe, 177 Pit 3: Gruger and Hawk, 194 Pit 4: Matheny, 97 Oct. 2 game winners: Pit 1: Prusak and Gruger, 166 Pit 2: Harbin and Watts, 163...

On Oct. 2 the Highland Rebels traveled to Trumann and lost to the Wildcats 34-8 in conference action. The Rebels are currently 1-4 overall and 0-2 in conference. The home record is 0-2. Highland is 1-2 on the road. The Rebels have scored 72 points and allowed 164 points. Trumann’s record advanced to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in conference...

On Oct. 2, the Cave City Cavemen (1-3) traveled to Rivercrest to face the Colts (5-0) in a conference game and lost 48-7. The Colts got on the scoreboard early in the first quarter on a 5-yard touchdown pass, and the point after was good to give the Colts a 7-0 lead. ...

Boys All-Conference Gage Harris, Viola Nash Little, Shirley Elijah Wilkes, Izard County Girls All-Conference Haley Gentry, West Side Kendra Hartness, West Side Emma Johnson, West Side AJ McCandlis, Viola All-Conference decided by top 15 percent of scores...

The Melbourne Bearkatz kept battling in Friday’s conference opener against Newport, but eventually succumbed 21-14 on the road. Hooten’s 3A Game of the Week lived up to the hype as both teams entered the game undefeated on the season. With less than a minute remaining in the contest the excitement was high as the Bearkatz seized the chance for victory. ...

The Salem Greyhounds opened the season at home on Sept. 4 against the Walnut Ridge Bobcats with a 34-14 win. On Sept. 11, the Greyhounds shut out the Dover Pirates 46-0 at Salem. Salem scored 8 points in the first quarter and added 18 points in the second quarter to lead 26-0 at halftime. The Greyhounds added 12 points in the third quarter and led 38-0 at the end of the quarter...

The Melbourne Bearkatz opened the football season with a 50-21 road game win over the Clinton Yellowjackets on Aug. 28. On Sept. 4, the Quitman Bulldogs traveled to Melbourne to face the Bearkatz. Melbourne had a 7-6 lead at the end of the first quarter. Melbourne added another 7 points in the second quarter and led 14-6 at halftime. The Bearkatz held the Bulldogs scoreless in the second half and scored 7 points in the third quarter and 13 points in the fourth quarter to win the game 34-6...

Fish defined as invasive, such as common and grass carp, cannot be used as live bait. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) reminds anglers that a definition for “invasive fish” has been added to the Wildlife Code of Missouri and effects what type of fish is allowed for use as live bait. The definition includes a list of bighead carp, silver carp, grass carp, and common carp...

MDC brood-survey results show turkey production will likely be on-par with last several years. With fall firearms turkey season running Oct. 1 - 31 and archery turkey season underway, the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) advises turkey hunters it could be another challenging season...

A blend of tough Region 16 and non-region teams will make up this year’s shortened Grizzly Basketball season at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP). When NJCAA officials decided in July to shift nearly all competition to the 2021 spring semester due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they limited Division I basketball teams to 22 competition dates...

By Bob Mitchum On Aug. 28, the Thayer Bobcats opened the season at home and lost to the Hayti Indians 40-28. On Sept. 4, the Bobcats traveled to Highland, Ark., to face the Rebels and came away with a win 36-0. Thayer put 29 points on the scoreboard in the first half while holding Highland scoreless. The Bobcats added 7 points in the fourth quarter to complete the scoring...

Centennial Bank would like to recognize the following players for their play throughout the first four weeks of volleyball season. Pictured are from left to right: Aliyah Durham, Abbi Hilton, Hannah Gibson and Morgan Warren.

LITTLE ROCK — Help the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission by having this year’s harvested deer tested for chronic wasting disease at one of more than 100 free testing locations throughout The Natural State this season. “This is not a food safety test, and there’s no confirmed evidence of a human ever getting CWD from eating venison, but we still want to offer our hunters this free test to keep them enjoying the sport of deer hunting,” said A.J. ...

Crown Lake (updated 9-23-2020) Boxhound Marina (870-670-4496) said the lake clarity “is pretty clear.” Surface water temperature was 78 degrees on Tuesday midday. Water level is a little low. Bream are good on redworms, crickets, nightcrawlers and wigglers. No reports on crappie. Black bass are good on topwater lures, crankbaits and plastic worms. Catfish are still being caught in good numbers using chicken liver...

Week of Sept 21 and Sept 25, 2020 Star of the Week 2 Game Score Plus Handicap Gene Ruuska 210 9-21 Game Winners Pit 1 Clementi and Howe 174 Pit 2 Morgan and Harbin 193 Pit 3 Ruuska and Brooks 196 Pit 4 Weeks and Simmons 183 9-25 Game Winners and Ya...

FOOTBALL Oct. 1, 7th grade vs Trumann Home 5:30pm Oct. 1, Jr High vs Trumann Home 7pm Oct. 1, Sr High vs Trumann AWAY 7pm VOLLEYBALL Sept. 28. Sr. High vs Ridgefield AWAY 4:00pm Sept. 29, 7th grade, Jr. High, Sr. High vs Blytheville AWAY 4:30pm Oct. 1 7th grade, Jr. High, Sr. High vs Forrest City HOME 4:30pm...

The Cave City Cavemen opened the season on Aug. 28 with a high-scoring double overtime loss to Hoxie Mustangs. The score was tied 14-14 at the end of the first quarter and 28-28 at halftime. Hoxie had a one-point lead at the end of the third quarter (35-34), and Cave City scored 8 points in the fourth quarter to Hoxie’s 7 to tie the game 42-42 at the end of regulation play. ...

The Melbourne Bearkatz Cross Country teams began competition at Sulphur Rock in the Batesville Invitational on Tuesday, Sept. 15. The JR high girls team combined a team score of 61 to take home the trophy. Kaylin Caraway and Rylee Hoskinds medaled for the JR girls team. Also competing for the JR high girls, Maci Webb, Allie Cone, Carma Byram, Katie Miller, Maggie Pierson and Tinley Bailey...

Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioners watched a special video at their regularly scheduled meeting Sept. 17 from Gov. Asa Hutchinson, recognizing Sept. 26 as National Hunting and Fishing Day in Arkansas and proclaiming the week leading up to it as Arkansas Hunting and Fishing Week...

If the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted your fitness routine, Walk Across Arkansas could be just the thing to get you back on track. Registration is open now for Walk Across Arkansas, set for Sept. 21 – Nov. 15. The eight-week exercise program is organized each spring and fall by the Cooperative Extension Service, part of the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, to help Arkansans improve their health. Participation is free, and online registration is available at walk.uaex.edu...

In its fourth year of recognitions, the Highland High School Rebel Athletic Hall of Fame will honor the following inductees during halftime of the first home conference football game on Friday, Sept. 25: Jim Bowlin, Leslie Bragg Gitz, Sam Hill and Joey Sample...

Their season may have been delayed and shortened, but that hasn’t dampened the enthusiasm the Missouri State University-West Plains Grizzlies feel toward their upcoming volleyball campaign. “At this point, they’re excited to have a chance for a season,” Grizzly Volleyball Head Coach Paula Wiedemann said. ...

The Ozarka College Foundation is pleased to have Centennial Bank serve as the lunch sponsor for the annual Ozarka College Foundation Golf Tournament. The tournament will be a four-person scramble, taking place on September 26, 2020 at Cooper's Hawk Golf Course in Melbourne, Arkansas. There will be a shotgun start at 9:00 a.m. and all proceeds will benefit the students of Ozarka College...