In a Friday night game played at Southside Gymnasium in Southside the Pocahontas Senior Boys Redskins beat the Southside Southerners 60-44. Southside scored the first two points of the game but that was their only lead. Redskins led 17-7 at the end of the first quarter. The Redskins maintained their lead at half 26-18.
The 7th annual Hope Ball was held this past Saturday at The James Ranch in Randolph County. With over one hundred and fifty guests and dignitaries in attendance, the evening was regarded as the most successful fundraising event in the history of Bridge of Hope.
Davis Tries for Third Term State Rep. Mike Davis of Ravenden Springs has announced that he will seek re-election in the Democratic primary on May 26.
Before Covid I loved to travel. I still love to travel but I just do not get to go like I want. My best friend and I traveled to my motherland of Germany. It was a magical trip. We stayed in Munich and learned history, ate amazing food, rode the train, and explored. We took a daytrip to Bodenheim, Germany. The place where my people began. It was fantastic. A trip of a lifetime. After that I trip, I took another trip with a dear friend out west. We met up in Denver and caught the train. We would get off the train and explore for a few days and then get back on the train all the way to Seattle. Another magical trip. I saw things and learned history. I hiked and explored. We tried new foods and laughed. I am ready to travel again with people that I love.
I gave someone directions using “Before you get to The American Legion”. They had no idea where that was. You’re kidding? I remember being 10 years old sitting at the bar with a Shirley Temple while daddy played shuffleboard. I just assumed everyone else did too. No?
William F. Blackwell was a successful merchant during the mid-1850’s in Randolph County. William was born in Lawrence County on December 20, 1851. He was the son of James and Parnesia Jane (Smith) Blackwell, natives of Virginia. William was educated in the schools of Lawrence County, and from boyhood up, has been familiar with mercantile life, having acted in the capacity of salesman at Powhatan, Smithville, Walnut Ridge, Delaplaine, Lauratown, and finally in Pocahontas. One year after coming to Randolph County, he engaged in business for himself, forming a partnership with W.W. Tanner, the firm being known as Tanner and Blackwell.
Pocahontas has had many nicknames through the years. I’ve covered the disputed elections of 1836 that made it the county seat and resulted in leaders in Columbia Township naming it Poke-it-on-to-us.
An energetic group of driven individuals met recently to piece together some ideas for the 150th celebration for the Old Randolph County Courthouse. Sponsored by the city of Pocahontas and Randolph County, the Downtown Network will be chairing the event on May 20-21. I jokingly, or maybe not so jokingly, told the group the three things I love the most in life are my daughter, food, and chairing festivals. So, a lot of love will be poured into this event.
As happens every year, when college football closes, I shift a lot of my focus to college basketball. Sure, I’ll watch some of the early season non-conference matchups and follow along on social media just to see how my teams are doing, but normally I don’t pay a lot of attention to the hardwood until mid to late January. By this time of year, the teams are almost halfway through their conference season. At this point, the win-loss records start to give you a feel for which squads are decent, and possibly headed for the NCAA Tournament, and which teams are decidedly not decent and would need a miracle finish run to even make the Tournament. What makes this current season stand out is that for the first time in a loonnggg time the Arkansas Razorbacks AND the ASU Red Wolves are both playing pretty decent basketball at the exact same time.
