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What is a top-tier researcher?

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Category: Articles
Published: Thursday, 09 January 2020 00:54
Written by Super User
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Written by D.W. "Darkwing" Lee

 

The ongoing debate continues on what constitutes a Top-Tier researcher, with many trying to make their claim to fame based on trying to proclaim that they are the epitome of being Top-Tier.
 
With the advent and introduction of Facebook into the Bigfoot Community, anyone can proclaim themselves as a leading Bigfoot researcher/expert/authority and there are many gullible people out there that tends to follow those proclamations with die-hard exuberance.
 
Let's look at truly what makes a Top-Tier Researcher, in the eyes of many of the old timers in the Bigfoot Community.
  1. A Top-Tier Researcher must know their Bigfoot History.  The well-known historical events, the major players in the game, and the research that has been done in the past.
  2. A Top-Tier Researcher must know who the hoaxers and the hoaxes are.  Not just the current ones, but the ones in the past too.  I continuously see people regurgitating the same old hoaxes over and over again.
  3. A Top-Tier Researcher also knows how to conduct no-nonsense research, using scientific and verifiable methods, that allows evidence to be brought in.
  4. A Top-Tier Researcher does not spend all their time, every day, promoting themselves on radio shows or on Television.
  5. A Top-Tier Researcher always puts their time in the field to productive use, the don't do like many of the woo crowd does, by taking drugs or alcohol and claiming that they can see invisible Bigfoot when no one else can.
  6. And the most important, a Top-Tier Researcher is always skeptical of all evidence, including their own.
Now I know this will undoubtedly chaff many butts in the Bigfoot Community, especially those who are trying to make themselves into the leading Bigfoot researcher/expert/authority out there on Facebook, and there will be some finger pointing at me, screaming that I am proclaiming myself a Top-Tier Researcher.  I don't consider myself a Top-Tier Researcher, and truthfully, I don't think anyone can make that claim, since most of us don't have the time to put the effort into all this.  But this is what I strive to obtain in my research, to be able to do all 6 points listed here.
 

Mark Lee Lovett March 13, 1966 – October 6, 2026

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Category: Obituaries
Published: Wednesday, 22 July 2026 12:24
Written by Super User
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Mark Lee Lovett, 60, of Van Buren, passed away on Tuesday, October 6, 2026. He was born on March 13, 1966, in Fort Smith. Mark was of the Baptist faith. He was a graduate of Fort Smith Christian School and John Brown University. Mark was an exceptional basketball athlete, playing for Fort Smith Christian, and in college for Central Baptist College in Conway and John Brown University. He worked for the Community Rescue Mission in Fort Smith for many years and had a heart to serve and help people in need, not afraid to share his faith with others. He was also a talented musician with the keyboard. Mark’s gift for music brought joy to every gathering — he could hear a song once and play it in no time, filling the room with melody and laughter. Many hours were spent with the family singing songs together and listening to him play. Mark was an avid fisherman who knew the best fishing spots and baits to use. His love for fishing began early with his father, Jerry, and continued throughout his life, recently sharing those trips with his mother. Memories of Mark’s kindness, music, and faith will live on in the hearts of all who knew him.

He is survived by his mother, Jo Ann Lovett-Davidson and her husband Jack of Fort Smith, sister Lori Raible and her husband Chris of Fort Smith, three nieces Henley Ernst and her husband William of Springdale, Benett Forst and her husband Kalen of Ratcliff, and Emerson Raible of Fort Smith. He’s also survived by his faithful dog, Smokey II.

He was preceded in death by his father Jerry, and his grandmothers, Pearl Bray and Olive Coffman.

Amy Kathaleen Beam July 30, 1971 - August 4, 2026

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Category: Obituaries
Published: Friday, 17 July 2026 06:31
Written by Super User
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Amy Beam, 55 year old Gage resident passed away, Tuesday, August 4, 2026. A family celebration of life will be held at a later date. A visitation will be held Friday, August 7, 2026 from 12:00 pm to 7:00 pm at the Billings Funeral Home.

Amy Kathaleen (McCaslin) Beam was born July 31, 1971 in Shattuck, Oklahoma to Dennis Leo McCaslin and Shirlyn Kathaleen (Wright) McCaslin. She was the eldest daughter and had two siblings Dennis Leo McCaslin Jr. and Mandy Kayleen McCaslin. Amy grew up in Fargo, Oklahoma and attended school there graduating in 1989. She always thought that it was funny to hit the ball hard and show the boys that she could hit the ball just as hard or even maybe further than they could. After graduating Amy went into the workforce she worked at Fluid Pack Pump for a few years and then in 1996 she started working for Walmart. She spent many of her years at Walmart in sporting goods as a manager. She liked sharing stories with her customers about fishing and camp trips. She liked joking with the guys saying that they needed to get a big buck so that she could have lots of deer jerky and they better bring her some if she was giving them a tag. After 20 years at Walmart she decided to retire. She decided to listen to her brother and go work at William S. Key Correctional Facility in Fort Supply. She worked there for a few years until it shut down and she had to transfer to the Lexington then to Helen Oklahoma facilities.

The biggest blessings in her life was when her children were born. The eldest, her daughter Milagros Mae McCaslin and her youngest Mason Dennis Gene Hill. She was so proud of both of them for graduating, getting jobs and being able to live on their own without having to have Mama help them out. She was especially proud of them both becoming managers. Was very proud of her daughter for going to college. She always said she could never express how much she loved her kids in words. Most of all she loved family camping, searching for bigfoot and fishing trips with family and friends. She was always joking about who was catching the biggest and most fish. She loved to play cards and many other games with family and friends.

Amy is survived by her children Mila McCaslin and Mason Hill. Her mother Shirlyn McCaslin. Grandmother Pamela Wright. Her brother Dennis McCaslin Jr. Her sister Mandy McCaslin. Her nephews Andrew McCaslin and his wife Sierra, and Rylie Feerer. Lots of family and friends that she dearly loved.

Amy is preceded by father Dennis McCaslin Sr. Her maternal and paternal grandparents, Gwen Farmer and Robert Right and Rollie and Leona Mae McCaslin.

Esther Schritter Passes on

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Category: Obituaries
Published: Thursday, 16 July 2026 11:23
Written by Super User
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Esther Schritter has joined the search for Bigfoot on the other side. A long time member of the MABRC and other groups, Esther was always full of enthusiasm. She will be missed