November 2018 by 501 LIFE

2 | 501 LIFE November 2018

Unity Health and Mayo Clinic - collaborating for your care

Unity Health & Mayo Clinic are

Working Together YOU for

Achieving our vision of world-class healthcare is even closer due to our membership in the Mayo Clinic Care Network, an innovative collaboration which brings the expertise of Mayo Clinic to our patients. As the first member of the Mayo Clinic Care Network in Arkansas, our depth of specialty care has been enhanced with new resources and tools while keeping patient care right here at home. Innovation. World-class care. Unity Health. For more information, please visit Unity-Health.org/mayo.

Unity-Health.org November 2018 501lifemag.com | 3

501 LIFE

EDITOR'S NOTE

OWNERS Donna Spears, Sonja J. Keith EDITOR Sonja J. Keith

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Donna Spears

ART DIRECTORS Jennifer Godwin and Nick Walker ASSOCIATE EDITOR Levi Gilbert PHOTO DIRECTOR Mike Kemp

DISTRIBUTION MANAGER Tom Keith CONTRIBUTORS Donna Benton Don Bingham Tanner Cangelosi Brittany Gilbert Laurie Green Linda Henderson Vivian Hogue Megan Ledbetter Karl Lenser Mark McDonald Mark Oliver

Todd Owens Bill Patterson John Patton Susan Peterson Dr. Robert Reising Robin Richards Jan Spann Donna Lampkin Stephens Callie Sterling Jaison Sterling Katelin Whiddon

FAULKNER COUNTY EDITORIAL BOARD Johnny Adams Jack Bell Don Bingham RaeLynn Callaway Glenn Crockett Kay Dalton Beth Franks Russ Hancock Spencer Hawks Mathilda Hatfield Roe Henderson Jerry Hiegel Mike Kemp Julie LaRue

Nineteen-month-old Christopher Slatton stood and saluted the color guard during the Faulkner County Fair Parade. “His great-granddad has taught him that when you see the flag you salute,” wrote Christopher’s mom, Nicole Slatton of Vilonia. Christopher’s dad is Tyler Slatton, and his great-granddad is retired Army Master Sergeant Wayne Langley. 501 LIFE joins Christopher in saluting the flag and all of our veterans.

Celebrating an attitude of gratitude It’s that time of year again – the season of thankfulness. Many of us are blessed beyond measure, but sometimes we let the busyness of life get in the way of an attitude of gratitude. Instead of focusing on the positive, it’s all too easy to dwell on the negative, like health issues or work problems. While social media has its positives, like reconnecting with friends from childhood or keeping up with others we rarely see, there are some definite negatives. We tend to see vacation photos or other celebratory moments that feed the idea that someone else’s life and family are perfect. And life isn’t. We all have “things” that we are going through in “real” life. That’s when an attitude of gratitude can help, or as the hymn I learned in my grandparents’ Baptist church goes – “Count your blessings, name them one by one.” In addition to family and friends, I am thankful we live in such a beautiful area with amazing people. I’m also deeply appreciative of those involved in 4 | 501 LIFE November 2018

501 LIFE – from our advertisers and editorial board members to our incredible team of contributors. The magazine has been such a blessing in my life, and I hope in the lives of others.

VETERANS DAY With Veterans Day happening just a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, it’s only natural that we would reflect and give thanks to the many men and women who have served our country as well as those in the military today. We appreciate their willingness to serve and are grateful not only in November, but throughout the year. It’s a busy time of year with more events and activities packed into October and November than I can remember, but if a little time allows, attend one of the Veterans Day celebrations in the 501. And given an opportunity, whether in November or any other time, thank a veteran for his or her service. Until next month, here’s to “Loving LIFE” in the 501.

Karl Lenser Monica Lieblong Lori Melton Kiera Oluokun Deanna Ott Pat Otto Jon Patrom Amy Reed Lori Ross Margaret Smith Jan Spann Kim Tyler Jennifer Whitehead

CONWAY COUNTY EDITORIAL BOARD Mary Clark Shelli Crowell Dr. Larry Davis Shawn Halbrook Alicia Hugen Alisha Koonce

Stephanie Lipsmeyer Stewart Nelson Kristi Strain Jim Taylor Morgan Zimmerman

WHITE COUNTY EDITORIAL BOARD Betsy Bailey Tara Cathey Cassandra Feltrop Phil Hays Natalie Horton Matt LaForce

Hannah Owens Mike Parsons Brooke Pryor Carol Spears Kristi Thurmon

To subscribe or order back issues, visit www.501lifemag.com. The subscription rate is $20 for one year (12 issues). 501 Advertising and Publishing 701 Chestnut St. Conway, Ark. 72032 501.327.1501 info@501lifemag.com

501 LIFE is published monthly by 501 Advertising and Publishing (701 Chestnut St., Conway, Ark. 72032, 501.327.1501). The contents of 501 LIFE are copyrighted and materials presented may not be copied or reproduced in any manner without the written permission of the publishers. Articles should not be considered specific advice, as individual circumstances vary. Products and services advertised are not necessarily endorsed by 501 LIFE. 501 LIFE is produced on recycled paper.

CONTENTS

November 2018 Volume 11 Issue 7

features&departments 50 Entertaining

Thanksgiving at Don Bingham’s house has always been a grand time of beginning the holiday season.

On the cover

In this month’s edition, 501 LIFE is all about “Celebrating fall and Thanksgiving.” (Mike Kemp photo)

53 Home

Donna Benton shares some suggestions on how to create a holiday centerpiece.

66 Sports

Regardless of records or playoff implications, Faulkner County is rife with tension when the Greenbrier Panthers and the Vilonia Eagles face off for the First Service Cup.

72 Travel

On Veterans Day and six other times each year, Morrilton is the site of a special flag display honoring veterans.

neighbors

50 26

22 Couples

Ashley and Jason Braswell are “Loving LIFE” in Conway.

24 Youth

Mayflower High School’s Tayshun Mattison shares his class assignment.

26 Conway

Judi Lively has a lot to be thankful for as she considers the upcoming holiday season.

32 Searcy

During her fight with breast cancer, Stacy Rice knew the importance of having support from family, friends, hospital staff and God.

regulars

4 8-9 10-15 50-55 78

78 Person of the month

With 32 years of military service, Fairfield Bay’s Calton Mitchell has received numerous awards.

Be dazzled! This edition of 501 LIFE includes a feature story on this year’s Dazzle Daze co-chairmen Amy Reed and Shelia Isby (Page 40), as well as a special insert that details this year’s event. 501 LIFE is proud to serve again this year as a Presenting Sponsor for Dazzle Daze, which is presented by the Conway Regional Women’s Council.

LIFE pics 16-19

'501 KIDS' 501 LIFE contributors Kellie Bishop, Brittany Gilbert and Katelin Whiddon present some great tips in the 501 Kids section (Pages 58-61). Have a story idea or a young person you would like to see featured? Send suggestions to info@501lifemag.com.

6 | 501 LIFE November 2018

Editor’s Note Calendar Loving LIFE Home Person of the month

501 LIFE would like to thank its advertising partners for their continued support and encourage our readers to support these businesses:

501 LIFE is you!

twitter.com /501lifemag

B Baptist Health, 29 Bledsoe Chiropractic, 35

facebook.com /501lifemag

Central Arkansas Pediatrics, 59 Conway Corporation, 27 Conway Downtown, 20 Conway Pain Clinic, 44 Conway Downtown, 20 Conway Regional Dazzle Daze Insert Conway Regional Health System, 39,45,79 Conway Regional Rehab, 56 Conway Symphony Orchestra, 57 Crain Automotive, 47

D DJM Orthodontics, 25 Doctor Rachel Deal, General Dentist, 49

E Edward Jones, 51

F First Security Bank, 80 First Service Bank, 13 French Hill for Congress, 36 Freyaldenhoven Heating and Cooling Inc., 31

H Hartman Animal Hospital, 77 Harwood, Ott & Fisher, PA, 23 Heritage Living Center, 5 Hiegel Supply, 53

Get “LIFE” at home! For a limited time, 501 LIFE is offering a special subscription rate for new subscribers - have the magazine delivered to your home for only $20 for one year, $40 for two years. While the magazine is distributed through more than 700 locations in Central Arkansas, copies go fast. Home delivery ensures readers they won’t miss a single issue. Readers can visit 501lifemag.com or call 501.327.1501 to subscribe.

Tune in at 12:30 p.m. the last Tuesday of each month to KARK Channel 4 for a segment on the current issue of 501 LIFE.

Writers’ Room

J Jason Rupert for Senate, 48 Jim Baker, Re-elect for Faulkner County Judge, 21 Julie’s Sweet Shoppe, 69

L Luxury Pool & Spa, 55

M Magie Smith Charton Eye Clinic, 53 Methodist Family Health, 75 Middleton Heat and Air, 38

O Ott Insurance, 28

P Patterson Eye Care, 65

S Salem Place Nursing and Rehab, 2 Shelter Insurance, 43 Smith Ford, 73

T The Bridgeway, 69

U Unity Health, 3, 17, 33 University of Arkansas Community College Morrilton, 24 University of Central Arkansas, 43 UCA Reynolds Performance Hall, 41

W Wilkinson’s Mall, 65 Woodland Heights, 61

Brittany Gilbert moved to Conway in 2005 when she started school at the University of Central Arkansas. She has a bachelor’s degree in family and consumer sciences education. She and her husband, Levi, have three children. Brittany loves most the opportunities that are available in the 501 for her entire family. The community feels small but has so much to offer. Describing herself as a balanced minimalist, Brittany doesn’t like clutter and doesn’t collect things. “I like for everything in my house to be intentional.” A regular contributor in the 501 Kids section of 501 LIFE, Brittany can be reached at b.gilbert37@ gmail.com.

Equal parts dreamer and doer, Jennifer Godwin has been with 501 LIFE since the beginning, helping with the visual look of the magazine, down to the logo. A former editor, digital strategist and communications manager, she now does public relations in Memphis. She can be reached at jennifercg@gmail.com.

Nick Walker has been issue. Longtime residents of the 501, Nick and his wife, Jennifer, moved to Memphis in 2017 where he works for the City of Memphis.

A regular contributor to 501 LIFE, Susan Peterson writes the “Authors in the 501” feature. Susan has lived in Conway nearly 35 years and enjoys most the abundant Crepe Myrtles in the 501. She has a PhD in education from the University of Akron in Ohio and is retired from the University of Central Arkansas. She has two children, Ashley and Dan, and their families live in the 501. Susan enjoys traveling, reading and making art, especially painting and pottery. To see her work, visit susanleepeterson. wixsite.com/suzart. November 2018 501lifemag.com | 7

CALENDAR

November S 4

M 5

T 6

W 7

11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 The University of Central Arkansas will host Homecoming 2018 from Sunday, Oct. 28, through Saturday, Nov. 3. This year’s theme is Mardi Gras. Homecoming week is sponsored by Conway Regional Health System and Nationwide. For a current schedule of all homecoming events, visit uca.edu/homecoming. “Murder At The Midnight Hour,” a mystery dinner theater, will be presented at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2, and Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Rialto Gallery, 213 East Broadway in Morrilton. Doors open 6:30. Tickets are $25 in advance and can be purchased at the Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce, 115 East Broadway, or at RialtoMorrilton.com. For more information, call 501.477.9955 or email Sharon. Clarkson@outlook.com. The Conway Symphony Orchestra will present a concert titled “Violin Hero” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas. Guest artist Kiril Laskarov will bring his masterful interpretation of Mendelssohn’s violin concerto. The full orchestra will also perform Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, “Eroica.” Purchase tickets through the UCA Box Office at 501.450.3265 or ConwaySymphony.org. For more information on concerts and other programs, visit ConwaySymphony. org or call 501.269.1066. Pioneer Village will host its annual Fall Fest from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 4. Activities specifically for children include pioneer games and farm animals. There will be food, live music, kettle corn, fresh roasted peanuts, dancing, demonstrations of pioneer life, antique tractors and crafters. Village buildings will be open for touring. There is a free commemorative coin to mark the Village’s 50th Anniversary. Admission and parking are free. Donations accepted. All proceeds benefit the maintenance, upkeep and improvement of the Village, a part of the White County Historical Society. For more information, call 501.580.6633 or 501.278.5010. The Second Annual Salute Our Veterans Car Show will be held at 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Veterans Outreach Ministries Center, 1120 South 8 | 501 LIFE November 2018

Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas will welcome The Ten Tenors, an Australian music ensemble, at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13. The Ten Tenors are one of Australia’s greatest entertainment success stories, with more than 2,500 headline concerts and 20-plus years of sell-out performances around the world. Tickets for The Ten Tenors are $30, $35 and $40, plus fees. Children and students are only $10. Purchase online at uca.edu/Reynolds, at the Reynolds Box Office from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or by calling UCA Ticket Central at 501.450.3265, or toll-free from anywhere in Arkansas at 1.866.810.0012. Main Street in Searcy. Proceeds will benefit the center. The registration fee is $20 per vehicle. Awards in various categories will be announced at 2:30 p.m. The 91st Annual Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce Banquet will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, at Sacred Heart School Gymnasium. Michael Preston, executive director of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission, will be the guest speaker. Various chamber awards will be presented. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 501.354.2393. The University of Central Arkansas will host its annual Veterans Day Celebration on Thursday, Nov. 8. The event will honor the service of all U.S. Armed Forces veterans and will include food, music and a veterans’ information fair. The theme is the 50 years of Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program at UCA. The event will begin at 1 p.m. on the lawn on the east side of McAlister Hall. In the event of rain, it will be moved to McCastlain Hall. For more information, contact David Williams at veteranservices@uca.edu or 501.852.2999. The Commemorative Air Force AirPower History Tour will present a Barnstormer Event at Cantrell Field near Conway from 2 to 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 10, and Sunday, Nov. 11. The event will feature the B-24 Bomber Diamond Lil. A Veterans Day celebration is 1 p.m. Saturday. For ramp access, admission is $10 for adults, $5 for youth ages 11 to 17, with children 10 and younger free. For more information and to book rides in advance on the B-24, a T-6 and PT-13, visit airpowertour.org. A special Veterans Day celebration will be hosted by Julie’s Sweet Shoppe in Conway on Sunday, Nov. 11. All veterans are invited to attend the event, which starts at 2 p.m. There will be prize drawings and

giveaways for veterans. The Ten Tenors will perform at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Reynolds Performance Hall at the University of Central Arkansas. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit uca.edu/Reynolds. Dazzle Daze will be held Thursday, Nov. 15, through Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Conway Expo Center and Fairgrounds. The event is sponsored by the Conway Regional Women’s Council and benefits Conway Regional Health System. (For more information, visit dazzledaze.com or see the insert in this month’s edition.) The Arkansas Arts Center Children’s Theatre on Tour will perform Snow White at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, at The Rialto Theater, 217 East Broadway in Morrilton. Show tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce, 115 East Broadway, online at the RialtoMorrilton.com or at the door. Tea with Snow White in the Rialto Gallery starts at 9:30 a.m. Tickets are $13 for a child’s tea and play, and $15 for adults. For more information, contact Rialto Gallery Director Kristi Strain at 501.242.3593 or kristi.strain@sbcglobal.net. The Fourth Annual United Way of Central Arkansas Turkey Trot 5K and new Gobble Wobble 1-mile run for kids will be held Thursday, Nov. 22. Money raised will benefit United Way of Central Arkansas funded partner programs. Early registration is $25 for the 5K (which starts at 8:30 a.m.) and $20 for the 1-mile run (which starts at 8 a.m.) for children 10 and younger. To register, visit uwcark.org/turkey-trot. Participants are asked to bring nonperishable food items to donate to Bethlehem House, CAPCA, the Faulkner County Council on Aging, the Salvation Army and the Women’s Shelter of Central Arkansas.

NEWS/NOTES

Merry Marketplace

Healthy Women of Unity to host event Nov. 8-10 The Healthy Women of Unity — a Unity Health Foundation resource — is hosting its inaugural Merry Marketplace: A CommUnity Event from Thursday, Nov. 8, through Saturday, Nov. 10, at Robbins Sanford Grand Hall in Downtown Searcy. The Merry Marketplace will feature vendors from around the state, including Simple Sassy Suppers, The Shops at Unity Health, Carousel Cake Pops and many more. The shopping event is designed to help individuals find holiday gifts at one location. Door prizes will also be given away for those who attend. The event will kick off with Shopping ‘She’Nanigans from 4 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 8. This ticket is a three-day pass for ladies only, and it is $25 online or at the door. This evening will include

fun activities including door prizes and delicious refreshments. On Friday, Nov. 9, Merry Marketplace is open from 1 to 9 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 10, from 9

a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 online or $12 at the door. Shopping ‘She’Nanigans tickets and general admission tickets can be purchased at unity-health. org/merry-marketplace. All proceeds will be used for medical advancements at Unity Health facilities to continue to improve healthcare in the communities. Healthy Women of Unity is a membership group open to all women who are advocates of Unity Health and who want to support healthcare in the community. Their mission is to empower women with the knowledge and confidence to make informed health care and well-being decisions for themselves and their loved ones. To become a member, visit unityhealth.org/women.

Members of the Conway Women’s Chorus were “Loving LIFE” and dressed in period contest as they prepared for a special performance recognizing the centennial of WWI.

Chorus to recognize WWI centennial The Conway Women’s Chorus will observe the centennial recognition of WWI, in conjunction with the Department of Arkansas Heritage, with a special tribute performance titled “1918: The Gift of Peace” at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 1, and 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2. The WWI ensemble group will wear dresses of the era as they present popular music of 1917 and

1918. Other performers include Irby Studio dancers and carolers from Julia Lee Moore Elementary School under the direction of Bryan Cole. The event includes a meal based on popular foods of the time. Meals are served 45 minutes prior to show time (6:15 p.m. and 1:15 p.m.) at the

Wesley United Methodist Church, 2310 E. Oak Street in Conway. Tickets are $20 per person and may be ordered by calling Joan Hanna at 501.339.7401, emailing faulkneraarts@yahoo.com or visiting conwaywomenschorus.org. A limited number of spaces are available.

November 2018 501lifemag.com | 9

LOVING LIFE

Sharing the 501 LIFE spirit

501 readers are enjoying LIFE and sharing their trips and special occasions with others. An overwhelming number of readers are submitting “Loving LIFE” photos for inclusion in the magazine, and every effort is being made to publish them as soon as possible. Headed out on a special trip? Pack a copy of 501 LIFE in your suitcase, snap a photo at your destination and send it to us for publication in a future issue. Have a special occasion or get-together coming up? Take 501 LIFE along, take a photo and send it to us. Photos can be submitted by email to info@501lifemag.com or by mail to Reader Photos, c/o 501 LIFE, 701 Chestnut St., Conway, Ark. 72032. Please include the names of those in the photograph and their hometowns along with contact information. (Sorry, photos will not be returned by mail but can be picked up at the 501 office.) Here’s to “Loving LIFE.” – Sonja Keith

Representatives of the Conway and Jacksonville senior centers took 501 LIFE along on a trip to South Dakota. Class Two of Leadership Conway County was “Loving LIFE” along with Bubba Arnold (far left), administrator of CHI St. Vincent Hospital in Morrilton, where the photo was taken. The hospital was the sponsor for the session, which included a tour hosted by the Morrilton Parks and Recreation Department. Moriah Wedaman was “Loving LIFE” as she headed to the University of Central Arkansas Honors College “to begin the next chapter in her 501 LIFE,” her grandmother, Claire Koon Haun wrote on Facebook. A 2018 graduate of North Little Rock High School, Moriah is a daughter of Jay and Laura Wedaman. She plans to study linguistics.

10 | 501 LIFE November 2018

“Loving LIFE” and celebrating 12 years cancer-free with Deanna Logan at her new home in Greenbrier: Cheryl Hartwick (front, from left), Laura Meek, Deanna Logan, Sherry Myatt, Rebel McKnight; Kelly Tapley (back), Linda Owen, Becky May and Jennifer Freeman.

Donna Spears and Calton Mitchell were “Loving LIFE” in front of a beautiful sunset at Mount Magazine.

The Perryville Lunch Bunch was “Loving LIFE”: Patty Brazil (from left), Barbara Cox, Billie Jo Branscum, Karen Brazil, Kay Hill, Ida Rose, Cindy Hopper and Brenda Reeder.

Members of Fellowship Bible Church-Conway, Women of the Well, were “Loving LIFE” after they were awarded the Sister Pierre Vorster Award by the Arkansas Gerontological Society at a luncheon at the Ferndale 4H Center. The award is given in appreciation to individuals/groups for service projects. Women of the Well is greatly involved annually in the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child project. They wrapped close to 6,000 boxes in 2017 for children around the world. They also participate in the MobilePack for Feed My Starving Children annually. Receiving the award were Sondra Pugh (from left), Peggy Combs, Sandy Dell, Wanda Tankersley, Susan Hooper, Dawn Hamm and Darlene Hertz. Not pictured: Jean McGinn.

The staff of Greenbrier Children’s Clinic in Greenbrier was “Loving LIFE” while supporting National Autism Awareness.

November 2018 501lifemag.com | 11

LOVING LIFE

Don Smith of Conway took 501 LIFE along on a six-day trip to Guadalupe Island, about 180 miles west of Mexico, which included an excursion on the Nautilus Explorer Liveaboard. Don had an opportunity to enjoy his hobby of underwater photography in a shark cage and took a laminated copy of the magazine with him to capture the moment for 501 readers.

12 | 501 LIFE November 2018

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY!

JUSTIN ZIMMERMAN Loan and Business Development Officer

JANET MCPHATE Sr. Operations Manager

We are excited to have Justin, Janet, and Corey join our team. Come by and let them tell you about the latest in banking technology at First Service Bank. We are here to serve you.

COREY THRONEBERRY Loan and Business Development Officer

LOVING LIFE

Carrol Smith and Dustin Smith were “Loving LIFE” while celebrating Dustin’s bachelor’s degree from Oklahoma State University.

The Tucker Family was “Loving LIFE” at Copper Mountain, Colo.: Carson, Allison, Steve and Jackson.

14 | 501 LIFE November 2018

Jessica Wiley was representing the 501 in the 303 while attending the 17th Annual Early Hearing Detection & Intervention (EHDI) meeting at the Hyatt Regency in Denver. It was her first time in Denver and her first time attending the EHDI Meeting. She learned some valuable information and had great experiences. She was excited to share her newfound knowledge with the members of Arkansas Hands & Voices, a nonprofit organization made up of parents and professionals that work together to benefit children and families with children who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Katy and Ashley Jones of Perryville were “Loving LIFE” in Oahu, Hawaii, for Katy’s high school graduation trip.

John and Amanda Woodward were “Loving LIFE” on their honeymoon to Hawaii in March. They thought it would be unique to bring along the “First Responders” issue of 501 LIFE, as John is a paramedic for MEMS Ambulance and Amanda is a nurse.

“Loving LIFE” in England. “We are a military family from Cabot, stationed overseas at RAF Mildenhall in England,” wrote Misty Fitzgerald. “We came home for Christmas in December and my aunt introduced me to 501 LIFE. I really enjoyed your magazine and following you on Facebook. We brought your magazine back with us to England and my kids and I took it with us on a trip to Highclere Castle, also known as Downton Abbey. My kids took two photos with your magazine for your ‘Sharing the 501 LIFE spirit’ section. The first picture is of my kids, Katie and Andrew Fitzgerald, at Jackdaws Castle on the grounds of Highclere Castle in the background. The second picture is of my kids directly in front of Highclere Castle.”

Guy Mayor Sam Higdon and his wife, Janet, took 501 LIFE along to cheer on the Oma-Hogs at the College World Series in Omaha, Neb.

Gary and Marsha Wallace of Greenbrier and their granddaughter, Avery, were “Loving LIFE” while watching the Atlanta Braves play baseball at SunTrust Park.

November 2018 501lifemag.com | 15

LIFE PICS

Debi and David House.

Renewal Ranch Kitchen Shower

Representatives of Cabot United Methodist Church: Lee Vaught (from left), Doris McKernan, Yvonne Doney, Frances Wittenberg, Dorothy Putt, Ann Hankins, Barbara Garza, Jean Davenport and Mary Ann Taft.

Sonja J. Keith photos

Renewal Ranch recently hosted a kitchen shower to raise funds for the ministryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s new Restoration Center. The Ranch is a faith-based ministry in Perry County that helps men overcome addiction. Funds will support the commercial kitchen at the center, which will be used daily to feed the men at the Ranch as well as cater special events. Don Bingham served as host for the event and treated guests to a demonstration, preparing Baked Chocolate Pudding with Sour Cream, which was served via a parade of desserts by Ranch participants. The program also included testimonials by individuals impacted by the Ranch. For more information, visit therenewalranch.org or call 501.269.4306.

Don Bingham prepares a chocolate dessert during a demonstration at the event.

Julie Goodnight presents her gift as Ranch representatives unwrap others for the centerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s kitchen.

Lisette Washispack (from left), Carol Harrison and Lisa Wilcox.

Margaret Smith (from left), Andrea Woods and Amy Reed.

Peggy McKaskle (from left), Donna Gober and Judi Lively.

Scott Taylor (from left), Mark Carter and James Loy.

Jon Cody (left) and Jack Montgomery.

Susan Isom and her daughter, Allie. 16 | 501 LIFE November 2018

A Shopping Extravaganza Event! Robbins Sanford Grand Hall 118 N. Spring St. | Searcy, AR 72143

Thursday, November 8 | 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. Girl’s Night of Shopping and Shenanigans

Friday, November 9 | 1 p.m. – 9 p.m. Saturday, November 10 | 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Shop with these local vendors and more:

Carousel Cake Pops | Deer Bunny Soaps Usborne Books & More | Simple Sassy Suppers The Shops at Unity Health

LIFE PICS

Amy Gilstrap Dodd (left) and Kris Anthony.

Chelsea Andrews (left) and Kristan Spradlin.

Linda Newsom (left) and Lisa Haviland.

Ladies Night Out at Bledsoe Chiropractic Sonja J. Keith photos

Ladies were recently treated to shopping, food, fun and door prizes during Ladies Night Out at Bledsoe Chiropractic. A variety of vendors set up at the clinic for the event. Conway chiropractor Dr. Amanda Bledsoe combines a passion for family and faith with effective, focused care at Bledsoe Chiropractic, located at 1155 Front St., Suite 1, in Downtown Conway. For more information, call 501.504.6999 or visit bledsoechiropractic.com.

Mattie Goad (left) and Wendy Tritt.

Selena Ulasewich (left) and Beth Foster. 18 | 501 LIFE November 2018

Jami Witting (from left), Kim Crow, Adam and Dr. Amanda Bledsoe, Dr. Tracy Tedford and Stephanie Maree.

Louise Witcher (from left), Christi Berry and Jessica Merritt.

Kathleen Isaacs (left) and Susan Sperry.

Deanna Ott (left) and Anne Mann.

Kaitlynn Webb (from left), Brandi Coleman and Sharon Larker.

Diane Dudzik and her son, Ryan.

BayFest in the Park Sonja J. Keith photos

The Currie Family: Luke, Anna, Natalie, Summer with Chewy, and Brooke.

James Quintanilla (from left), Tiffany Evans, Eli Quinktanilla and Briggs.

BayFest in the Park was recently held at Woodland Mead Park at Fairfield Bay. The event featured five bands, a pet parade with prizes, KidsFest, craft and food vendors, a baggo tournament and a mini-golf tournament. For more information and list of other events at Fairfield Bay, go to visitfairfieldbay.com.

Imagine that Band performs at BayFest. Diane Phillips (left) and Juanice Carr.

Josh and Heather Downie with Rosie and Annie.

Macy Massey and Roxi.

Catherine Swift and Porsche.

Dale and Linda Ritchie.

Sherry Martin and her granddaughter, Kadence Garrison, with Gigi (left) and Cheech. November 2018 501lifemag.com | 19

20 | 501 LIFE November 2018

November 2018 501lifemag.com | 21

NEIGHBORS couples

HIM

Jason Braswell

NATIVE OF: Greenwood, Miss. WHERE DID YOU GROW UP: Morgan City, Miss., through age 5, and then Jonesboro

through high school.

EDUCATION: Valley View High School; University of Central Arkansas (bachelor’s de-

gree in business administration).

JOB: Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR VOCATION: I enjoy working with people, and it’s very

satisfying helping them reach their financial goals.

PARENTS: Tommy and Linda Gail Braswell of Cookeville, Tenn.; Jim and Betty Whalen of Mountain Home. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Business Network International; member of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce; Life Choices board member; Bible Study Fellowship.

HOBBIES/SPECIAL INTERESTS: I have played soccer since I was 5, and I still play in

a recreational league at Burns Park in North Little Rock. I don’t take time to go very often, but I enjoy canoeing, fishing and camping on the Buffalo and Eleven Point rivers.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF: I tend to be laid back. If you’ve seen me truly angry, you have probably known me a long time!

WHAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU: The dimple on my left cheek is actually a scar from a bicycle accident I had when I was about 4 years old.

MOST ENJOYED WEEKEND ACTIVITY: Playing soccer at Burns Park on Sunday after-

noons.

WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO: Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT LIVING IN THE 501: The people. Conway is such a friendly place to live. Our son is very fortunate that he will grow up here!

22 | 501 LIFE November 2018

Jason and Ashley Braswell are loving life in Conway, where he works for Edward Jones and she is a sales director with Mary Kay. (Mike Kemp photo)

HER

Ashley Braswell

WHERE DID YOU GROW UP: Pine Bluff and Con-

way.

EDUCATION: Conway High School; University of

Central Arkansas; University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.

JOB: Sales director with Mary Kay. WHY DID YOU CHOOSE YOUR VOCATION: It provides a safe and secure environment to pursue entrepreneurship, priceless friendships and amazing mentors for both life and business. PARENTS: Hugh and Wrenetta Austin of Conway. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Business Network International, Women Influencers.

HOBBIES/SPECIAL INTERESTS: Pursuing physical

fitness. I am currently incubating the future starting forward of the World Cup, so I’m doing all I can to give him a head start!

WHAT IS ONE THING PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU: My dad hired me for my first job at

age 14, and I worked with him every summer through high school and college. He taught me honesty, good customer service and a hard work ethic — more is caught than taught.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY MOST ABOUT LIVING IN THE 501: Conway offers so many opportunities to be involved and serve our community. Most of my family lives here, so we get to visit with each other often.

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RESIDENTS OF: Conway. CHURCH ACTIVITIES: New Life Church, Merge group leaders. We have served on several medical/dental mission trips to Honduras in the last decade.

HOW WE MET: We were both part of the college/career Sunday school class at Woodland Heights Baptist Church in Conway and went on a spring break ski trip to Colorado.

THE PROPOSAL: On our one-year dating anniversary (March 1, 2004), we went to lunch at Ashley’s at the Capital and then ice skating where Jason proposed while a song that was meaningful to us played.

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FAMILY ACTIVITIES: Traveling the world, planning our next adventure, relaxing and watching movies, walking the dogs and eating at the many fabulous restaurants in the 501. November 2018 501lifemag.com | 23

NEIGHBORS youth

Class assignment

Understanding ‘who is Tayshun Mattison’ by Tayshun Mattison

I was born Tayshun Jordan Michael Bean on Nov. 3, 2001, in Mesquite, Texas. I went into foster care at the age of 4. I had many experiences in the foster care system. I was in and out of foster homes, both good and bad. Many of the good experiences were with my little sister, Taylor. I also have an older brother, whom I do not know so well because we were separated into different homes while in foster care. Sometime around my sixth birthday, I was supposed to meet my mom, but that did not happen because I found out that she had been killed a couple of days before my birthday. This event was a sad part in my life along with the time I flew to Dayton, Ohio. I was supposed to be adopted by a family who wanted me, but they later changed their minds. These were both heartbreaking times in my life. The excitement from these two events were short-lived as the plans did not fall through, but it was after these incidents, I made it my mission to get adopted, by anyone. At that point, I did not care who it was. I just wanted to be somewhere permanently. In 2010, I arrived at Ridgeview Drive hoping that this would be my final destination. From the jump, I made it clear that I wanted to be adopted. I stayed at this home for a little over three years, and I saw many kids go in and out of the Taylor house. I began to become hopeless, thinking it would never happen for me. I remember sitting on the stairs and praying to be in a home. I did not know it, but my prayers were being heard and they were being answered. Ms. Taylor’s

Tayshun Mattison, a junior at Mayflower High School, wrote the following essay for his AP U.S. History Class, taught by Sabrena Thacker. Tayshun plans to attend college and hopes to own his own business.

Tayshun Mattison and his mother, Jeannie. (Mike Kemp photos) mother came to visit often. I remember thinking how wonderful she was. For almost four years, Ms. Taylor was my foster mother, but on April 3, 2014, she became my sister. Ms. Taylor’s mom and dad, Jeannie and Ricky, adopted me. For the first time in my life, I had a forever home.

I moved to Conway, and my journey of uncertainty had come to an end. Six months later, after being adopted, we legally changed my name to Tayshun Jordan Michael Mattison. For the first time, I felt accepted. I had a mom, dad, a 45-yearold sister, a 39-year-old brother and many nieces and nephews. I even have a nephew the same age as me. I have a family. Now it has been four years, and I am a junior in high school. Even though my high school career will be coming to an end, I feel like my life is just beginning. Some of the goals that I have for the future are to get my high school diploma and go to college. I don’t quite know what I want to do yet, but I do know that I want to be successful. I am very self-motivated. I have gone through some of this stuff by myself and obtained bumps, scars and bruises. But through it all, I keep my head high. When I turn 18, my mom is going to give me files from foster care. I am anxious to see how much I have grown. My love and involvement in sports and other recreational activities have helped me to overcome all adversity.

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Tayshun’s role model and hero is his mom, Jeannie Mattison. “Her love for family comes from her dad, my papa. She is my role model because she believes in me even when I don’t believe in myself at times.” One year ago (Aug. 16, 2017), my adopted papa (Roy Lee Jones) passed away. He was a big influence in my life. His legacy and love for family still live on and will always be a part of me. Aside from him, my role model and hero is my mom, Jeannie Mattison.

Her love for family comes from her dad, my papa. She is my role model because she believes in me even when I don’t believe in myself at times. She has always treated me like her son and nothing less. She has owned and operated her daycare for over 40

years, and through it she has touched many people’s lives. My mom is the best, and I have the best family in the world. I am Tayshun Jordan Michael Mattison, and this is my story.

November 2018 501lifemag.com | 25

Judi Lively, executive director of Bethlehem House, has worked with residents with addiction problems and now, her son. (Mike Kemp photo)

Judi Livelyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s son, Rob, at age 3.

26 | 501 LIFE November 2018

NEIGHBORS conway

Giving thanks Family has special reason to look forward to holidays by Sonja J. Keith

Judi Lively has a lot to be thankful for as she considers the upcoming holiday season. Most of all, she is thankful that her oldest son is getting help with his addiction problem and her family will all be together during the holidays for the first time in four years. Judi grew up in Little Rock before her family moved to Mount Vernon when she was in high school. After high school graduation, she worked at Acxiom for 27 years and raised three sons as a single mother beginning when her oldest son, Rob, was 12. The close-knit family spent a lot of time at athletic events. “Our lives revolved around where the next ballgame was,” she said, adding that she remarried five years later. “Jim is really good to them and with them.” After her father died, Judi’s two brothers moved to the Florida Keys. Both struggled with addiction issues, and her older brother became homeless, which impacted her. “Both of my brothers died from addiction-related illness before they were 50.”

HELPING THE HOMELESS When an opportunity presented itself to join the Bethlehem House board, Judi volunteered. She was serving as the board secretary and on the interview committee for a new executive director when she felt called to include her name. “I was never satisfied with those we interviewed,” she said, explaining that she questioned whether the applicants cared enough and if they would treat the homeless like people. Although it was a drastic cut in salary, Judi and her husband, Jim, felt it was the right move. “I believe God has throughout my life prepared me for major things years in advance. I don’t know that’s what He is doing at the time,” Judi said. “My heart for the people we serve is never ending.” Now, she sees that God prepared her for her son’s addiction through her work at Bethlehem House. Judi has served as the executive director for Bethlehem House for 13 years. In those years, she has seen various reasons why individuals and families become homeless. She estimates that addiction is probably a factor in about 70 percent of homeless cases with various reasons for addiction. For some of them, they were introduced to drugs as children by their parents. “Often, after we do those interviews, we just think, ‘I need to go home and hug my child.’ I need joy,” she said. “Addiction is a huge issue, but not the only one.”

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METH ADDICTION Over the last five years, Judi and Jim have faced difficulties and challenges as her oldest son battled a methamphetamine addiction. “I think Rob used drugs for many years before I was aware.” The problem came to light when Rob, a construction worker, had a heart attack and had to have triple bypass surgery. “It shocked us all,” Judi said. “It was very traumatic for us as a family and just the realization of how close we came to losing him.” Judi said after the heart attack and surgery, the family noticed changes in Rob, who began making poor choices. In January 2015, Rob was in a car accident and broke his back, which required surgery. Judi had thought Rob was using pills but she learned he was actually using meth. “I kind of lost it,” she said, considering the dangers and risks involved with the substance. “I became very upset.” Even though he was unable to use drugs for a while after back surgery, he went back to meth and his addiction worsened, according to Judi. “His addiction kind of took over.” For the next three and a half years, Judi and Jim saw very little of Rob. He did not visit or attend family gatherings, including holiday celebrations. He was arrested several times, usually for drug-related offenses. “He really alienated all of us,” she said. “I believed he did it because he didn’t want to drag us down that rabbit hole with him.” When Rob did come around, what he talked about seemed odd. “I really convinced myself, in my denial, that he must have become bipolar. I chose to believe that because it was easier to me in a way than for him to be a full-blown addict.” Living in a camper in a barn, Rob lost relationships and a “great job” during this time. “He was just somebody we didn’t know,” Judi said. “It was almost like losing him although there was still hope we could get him back.” During this time, Judi said she didn’t sleep a lot but she did pray a lot and so did friends and co-workers. When it would get really tough, she and Jim would visit their grandchildren. Still, there was a reminder of the family interaction that Rob was missing. Judi also suffered physical ailments related to the stress she was under. On some of the occasions when he would visit, Rob

28 | 501 LIFE November 2018

would bring strangers to the couple’s house. “He would say, ‘Mom, you have no idea how bad it is out there.’” Judi told him she worked with the homeless so she was familiar with the conditions. Still, he insisted that she did not know. “It was very hard, not knowing where he was. It was very hard not knowing if he was alive, because there would be times when we wouldn’t hear from him for weeks.” During this difficult time, there were some things that were important to Judi, including paying for Rob’s phone so if he needed to call, he could. She also had food at their home if he needed it. In late January, Rob was trying to drive a friend home when the police attempted to stop him but he fled. When he was stopped, Rob was arrested and charged with a felony. Rob called Judi from jail and asked her repeatedly to bail him out. “I knew it wasn’t the right thing to do…We realized we had to do something. His life was in danger,” Judi said, adding that he had lost a lot of weight. “His bail amount was significant and we decided not to do it.” Rob continued to call every night for the first week he was incarcerated. While very difficult, Judi continued to tell Rob that they were not going to get him out, using the excuse that they couldn’t afford it.

RENEWAL RANCH On one call, he asked Judi about going to Renewal Ranch, an alcohol and drug addiction ministry in Perry County. Judi was familiar with the Ranch and its executive director, James Loy, as Bethlehem House and the ministry have had a good working relationship and shared clients. She contacted James Loy, the executive director, and asked him to talk to Rob, warning him that Rob had some “strange ideas” about who God is. “I didn’t know what else to do,” Judi said. “It was the only thing I knew to do.” James visited with Rob and then contacted Judi. He told her, “he has some very strange ideas about God, but I think we can help him.” After 33 days in jail, the judge released Rob to the ranch. During the initial 30-day “quiet” phase at the Ranch, Judi had no contact with Rob. She regularly contacted Ranch leaders to check on Rob to check on how he was doing. Judi was excited when his first Saturday visitation finally rolled around. “I could not get to the

ranch soon enough,” she said, explaining that she arrived at 9:30 a.m. for the 10 o’clock chapel. She was happy with what she saw. “He had life in his eyes and he had put on some weight,” she said, adding that it was as if her lost child was being returned to her. “He was so happy to see us. I can’t tell you before that when he was happy to see us.” On the Saturdays that followed, Judi noticed more progress and a little more life in her son, who re-dedicated his life to God. Relationships with other family members also began to be re-built. “He is truly a different man. My husband says there is contentment in his face. I believe he is filled with joy.”

HELPING OTHERS On a personal and professional level, Judi has seen the damage done by addiction. She has shared her experience with others to help provide hope. “I’m disgusted with drugs and what they are doing in our society. If we can’t talk about and be real (about addiction), nothing will change,” she said. “Most of us have someone who has been touched by drugs or alcohol.” For others facing an addiction situation similar to Judi’s, she strongly encourages them to reach out for help. “Believe in God, first. God cares about that individual. Also, there are organizations and people who care,” she said. “I don’t think you can walk that path alone.” Rob has joined the family for gatherings, including a recent birthday dinner for him. “The kids are all over him,” Judi said of her six grandchildren. Describing Rob as a “man of God,” Judi said for 20 years she had been uncertain of where he stood with God. Now, he challenges her at times with her faith. “It is so fun to see the results of years and years of prayer, because long before I ever thought about drugs in his life, I didn’t know where he stood with God. For many years, I’ve prayed for his spiritual life and his salvation and his relationship with Jesus. To know that whatever happens, I believe we will all be together in heaven.” With the holidays around the corner, Judi looks forward to the time her family will spend together. She recognizes that in the past she took the time family spent together for granted but now it is much more special. “Having our family together for the holidays, I can hardly wait. I don’t care what we eat or where we meet. I just want us to be together and to be able to enjoy that… I look forward to that for many years.”

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FEATURE

Restoration Center Ministry offers facility for special events

The 4,560-square-foot chapel area at the Renewal Ranch Restoration Center is multi-purpose and can accommodate around 300 for a sit-down meal and about 500 with just chairs in the space. by Sonja J. Keith Mike Kemp photos

Groups or businesses looking for a venue to host a party or meeting now have a new option – the Restoration Center at Renewal Ranch. Located in Perry County, about 15 minutes from Conway, Renewal Ranch is a faith-based addiction recovery program for men. According to James Loy, executive director of the Ranch, the Restoration Center was designed to meet four major needs on campus. Previously, the ministry had to host Saturday chapel services off-site. He said the new chapel in the center accommodates 200 to 300 who attend the 10 a.m. service on Saturdays, which also is a time for family visits and men can apply for the program. The center also features a commercial kitchen that is used for daily and special event dining. “We had been feeding 36 men on a four-burner stove for the last several years,” he said. The kitchen, designed with the 30 | 501 LIFE November 2018

help of noted chef Don Bingham and restaurant owner David Stobaugh, can also be used to cater events at the center. Tables, chairs and dinnerware have also been purchased. “It’s exciting that the public can utilize this facility,” James said, noting the scenic beauty of the 102-acre property. The third need addressed by the center is additional teaching space, which is partially complete. “It needs insulation, Sheetrock, taping, mudding and painting and it will be ready.” The fourth area, which is not complete, is the addition of 22 more beds to serve more men at the Ranch. “We will be able to help so many more men and their families. That’s so important because the volume of the applicants that we have.” James said the Ranch received more than 400 applications for the 31 beds it has currently. “We are just overwhelmed with the needs that are out there,” he said, adding that addiction is at epidemic proportions. “We’ve seen a spike in opioid and heroin addictions and of course methamphetamine.”

Eventually, the center will also house some offices for the ministry. The Ranch hosted its first event, which was sold out, in the Restoration Center last December. “We worked up until the day before the event with Mike Huckabee,” James said. “That was the first official event and the grand opening of the facility.” A $1.75 million project, about $250,000 for electrical and heating/air units is needed to complete the building. James said with an additional $180,000, the parking lot and road into the ranch would be paved. He expressed his appreciation to individuals, groups and businesses for their donations, making the center possible. “That’s how this place exists. It exists by the spirit of the Lord speaking to God’s people and them responding and recognizing God’s work out here.” The ministry, which is a non-profit organization, does not charge the men or families that are served. “We are always looking for creative ways to provide streams of income and utilize the resources

God has blessed us with,” James said, adding that the center is available to be rented for special events. “The key to everything we do is this all belongs to the Lord. We are just stewards of what he blesses us with.” Bryce McGhee, marketing and development coordinator at the Ranch, has a background in hospitality and will be overseeing outside events at the Restoration Center. The facility has already been the site for several special events hosted by the Ranch and two wedding receptions. In addition, the center has been booked for a small Christmas party and a women’s conference in March. According to Bryce, the space is ideal for small gatherings as well as larger events. Catering will be provided by the trained staff at the Ranch or Jill McCollum Catering. In addition, the Ranch can handle other arrangements for events, including decorations. The men at the Ranch are available to serve the food and are also involved in the setup and tearing down. “We can do it all,” said Bryce. The 4,560-square-foot chapel area is multi-purpose and can accommodate around 300 for a sit-down meal and about 500 with just chairs in the space. There is audio-visual equipment and three screens for presentations. Events in the chapel can also be livestreamed to the entrance area and neighboring classroom. Bryce pointed out that at other venues, a sound system typically has to be brought in. The chapel also has a baby grand piano, a recent gift from Pleasant Grove Baptist Church in Conway. James said the chapel area is bigger than most church fellowship halls and may meet a need in the community. Bryce added that he would like to see

The Restoration Center has a commercial kitchen that is used for daily and special event dining. other non-profits host events at the Ranch, providing an opportunity for collaboration, and businesses will utilize the space for meetings or one-day conferences. A smaller space off the chapel can accommodate groups of 50 to 80, with access to the sound and audio-visual system. Rates have been created for churches, non-profit groups and businesses. Alcohol will not be permitted. To contact Bryce for more information about reserving the center or to make a reservation, call 501.733.4263 or email Marketing@RenewalRanch.Net.

Bryce points out that money generated by outside events at the Ranch will go back into the ministry, providing resources to help more men battling addiction. “It is making a difference in the men, their families, their children,” James said of the ministry. “We want to take a stand together against addiction and how it is ripping across the fabric of our communities and our families. The needs are overwhelming. It’s just having resources to meet them at their need. That takes finances. It’s more like an investment that is bearing fruit.”

November 2018 501lifemag.com | 31

NEIGHBORS searcy

Battling cancer Hope is stronger than fear

The Rice Family – Stacy and Keith and their daughter – love to travel and spend time outdoors. by Taryn Brown

Support — a concept everyone grasps, and something every person needs. Support keeps you going in times of despair and difficulty. During her fight with breast cancer, Stacy Rice knew the importance of having support from family, friends, hospital staff and God. Rice was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in April 2016. She remembers first being scared and fearful of the unknown future that was ahead for her and her family. Her mind automatically feared for the worst. “Cancer steals a lot from you,” she said. “I’m always scared it will come back, and it’s always in the back of my mind.” She found herself becoming exhausted perform32 | 501 LIFE November 2018

ing simple tasks like brushing her daughters’ hair and running into town. There was constant fear of getting sick and catching germs from another person, but the biggest fear was the possibility of no longer being with the ones she loved. “The scariest part of being diagnosed was knowing I had a 3-year-old and worrying I wouldn’t get to see her grow up,” Rice said. “My husband and I had only been married for 10 years, and the thought of not being with them was scary.” After learning of her diagnosis, Rice and her husband, Keith, initially did not plan to stay in Searcy for treatment. A friend eventually talked her into it, and she said she would not change a thing. The care and support she received from the staff at the Pyeatt Family Cancer Center was above and beyond what she could have expected.

“Dr. Koch and his staff were wonderful, and I cannot express how well they treated me and cared about me,” Rice said. “Even the workers in the unit were a blessing to us, and I’m so glad God put them in my life. We have a great group here in Searcy.” Rice’s family and friends also surrounded her with an overwhelming amount of love and support throughout her battle. She said she does not know what she would have done without her family and her faith in God. Her parents live in town, so they were able to help take care of her daughter, Blakeley. This allowed her husband to go to work and spend time with her when he needed to. Even members of the community reached out to make meals and send positive cards and thoughts her way. Rice and her family love to travel and spend time outdoors. They go on camping trips throughout the

For Stacy Rice, her breast cancer diagnosis caused her to pause and appreciate the simple things more. It woke something up inside her, and she stopped worrying about things she could not change.

year, and she had to miss trips after she was diagnosed. Rice has been in remission for two years and has been living life to the fullest. Because they love spending time together in the outdoors, the family decided to take a trip at the end of her treatment. It was something she kept looking forward to on the tough days, and they made it to that end goal. “You don’t realize how depressed you can get sitting at home in the same four walls, so we set a goal to go to Florida for a week,” she said. “That trip meant a lot to me because it made me feel like I was

back in the real world.” Her diagnosis caused her to pause and appreciate the simple things more. For Rice, it woke something up inside her, and she stopped worrying about things she could not change. A bracelet with the phrase “hope is stronger than fear” stays on her wrist and serves as a constant reminder of the support she received from family and doctors, and the strength God gave her to overcome her fears. Cancer has made Rice a stronger woman, it has made her bolder in her life and she says she would

not be the person she is today without the experience. She hopes she will be an encouragement to other women who are going through this same battle. “I would encourage women to ask for help, and that it’s OK to do so,” Rice said. “Ask for support because you can’t go through this or life by yourself. Remember you are not alone. You have your family, friends, an oncologist, radiologist and God. I just want to be there for the next person because I had great support.”

THE TRADITION OF

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NEIGHBORS conway

A tribute

Conway vet runs for those who didn’t get chance

Mike Mason pays tribute to veterans by carrying an American flag while participating in local 5Ks. (Bill Patterson photos) by Dwain Hebda

Even though his seaworthy days are behind him, Mike Mason, U.S. Navy, never stopped serving alongside his brothers in arms. Seated at a table in one corner of Julie’s Sweet Shoppe in Conway, he chats and laughs with a group of vets who, like himself, were inspired to answer their country’s call to arms. It’s what’s jokingly referred to here as the young guys’ table, made up of Vietnam veterans. The grown-up table, with its collection of soldiers, sailors and airmen from the Korean conflict, have their own table yonder. Mason, 70, is proud to be included among these men of honor. But he’s equally cognizant of the ones who aren’t here, who didn’t make it back 34 | 501 LIFE November 2018

from foreign shores or who vanished and whose families wait for them still. So, when he got the running bug a few years back, he thought of a way to honor the memory of these fallen heroes. “About four years ago, I got to thinking, ‘There’s a lot of my brothers and sisters from Vietnam that didn’t make it back. They can’t run or anything,’” he said. “I guess it’s been about two years now I had this T-shirt here made. My running shirt.” Mason’s olive drab T-shirt, which he wears in local 5Ks, bears the Vietnam service medal ribbon imprinted on the front. On the back it reads, “Running for the 53,307 that are not here to run.” To top things off, he carries a full-sized American flag as he runs, in honor of his comrades. “I’m not out there running for speed, especially

when you’re carrying a flag,” he said. “If there’s any kind of wind at all, it’s tough. “I just think people need to realize that the people who are in the service put their lives on the line for this country every day. They signed a contract for that when they joined, up to and including their life. I just hope people realize that.” Mason’s own love affair with the military endured for more than 20 years in some capacity or another, both overseas and in his hometown of Conway. “I dropped out of UCA (University of Central Arkansas), well, back then it was SCA (State College of Arkansas), and joined the Navy,” he said. “I did four years in the Navy, and while I was in there, I was very fortunate. I got to make a Caribbean cruise, a Mediterranean cruise and my ship

Mike Mason carries an American flag during the Toad Suck Daze Run. got decommissioned. I actually volunteered for Vietnam.” Landing in southeast Asia in the spring of 1970, he served aboard a small boat that helped execute ambushes on the inland waterways south of Saigon. Later, he was transferred to Cam Ranh Bay at an armory where he finished his yearlong tour. From there, he landed on an aircraft carrier that sailed off the Vietnamese coast, a cruise that closed out his service in 1972. “The people (in Vietnam) were really, really friendly towards us,” he said. “Especially up around Cam Ranh Bay, they had beaches and it was a real pretty white sandy beach. I enjoyed the whole country and the people up there. Someday I would love to go back just to see if I could find some of the people that I served with.” Mason came home to a reserved reception (“I had a lot of bad looks and everything, but as far as someone spitting on me, it didn’t happen,” he said.) and set to work with local companies. But he hadn’t quite got the military bug out of his system. On the advice of a relative, he joined the Army National Guard’s 489th Combat Engineers for six years, then completed the trifecta by joining the Air National Guard, a hitch that lasted 11 years. “So I ended up with almost 21 years of military service. I don’t know if I ever met another (vet) that was in all three branches,” he said with a grin. That alone would have been impressive enough, but Mason wasn’t done serving others. He joined Team Rubicon, a local group that pitches in during the aftermath of natural disasters. He and his group worked the 2014 Mayflower and Vilonia tornadoes and have gone as far as Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas to lend a hand. He sees it as living out the life of service he started with Uncle Sam. “In the military, it’s all about my service to my country, that’s what I’m most proud of,” he said. “There are people that for whatever reason can’t or won’t serve, but I’m still out there. Just like I read one time, my time in uniform is up, but my service never ends.” November 2018 501lifemag.com | 35

COLUMNIST

The ends of things There is always a sign of the ending of things, whether they are bad or good. As I write this, our tomato plants have succumbed to a blight, but they were plenty and delicious while we had them. The cicadas have left after most became summer delicacies to the blue jays. Dozens Vivian Lawson left their cast-off shells of outerwear found on Hogue fences, patios and brick A native of Conway, Vivian houses, and I guessed Lawson Hogue graduated they were flying around from the University of Central Arkansas with a degree in art in their underwear. I education. A retired teacher, she wished I could tell them worked in the Conway School District for 23 years. She can be they could at least pick reached at vhogue@conwaycorp. up after themselves. net. A subtle change in the sunlight happens in August due to the approaching September equinox when the sun is directly overhead and does a selfie when

Vote Early Starting October 22nd

it is exactly on our planet’s equator. It transfers a little hope for fall and the mellowing end of the year. The despised squirrels knock the fat, green pecans off the tree that had promised this year we would have a crop. They munch loudly on what is left up there, surely delighted as shell pieces land in my hair. The caladiums have been beautiful, but only because I defended them against those squirrels, using every type of wire covering I could find. I will soon dig the bulbs up to save for another year, and next spring the fight will be renewed. In fact, it never ends. Even our lives will end just as surely as we are born, but there is much to enjoy or experience in the middle. I recall how the world was before I began college in 1961, and clearly remember endings that occurred afterward as I advanced to another life level. No more hunting for four pennies so I could buy a postage stamp. However, the convenience of needing just one coin wasn’t balanced well against the fact I was paying another penny for that convenience. Life expectancy was 70.1 years, and my 65-yearold parents paid no attention to that. In our community, our three drug-free colleges would have to deal with a growing factor of alcohol and drug use that interrupted some students’ desires beyond want-

ing knowledge and future employment. Feminism was a foreign word. I was appalled that protesting women would go bra-less, much less burn their underwear in front of the whole world. Still worse was the fact that most of us didn’t know what the protests addressed! So has personal and human decorum come to an end? I did not realize that we would one day see headlines with vulgar words and images attributed to women. I was disappointed that they would be printed in newspapers, as I still believed in paying my dime to read “all the news that’s fit to print,” as the New York Times used to say. “The Pill,” along with cultural alterations through music, movies and literature would change the world, and not in the way it was intended. Now we struggle to explain to our children the things they shouldn’t have to know until their ages are appropriate. Crowds of women, now seen and heard screaming obscenities because they are apparently unable to express themselves otherwise, have no use for being a “lady.” All good things come to an end, and for most we are powerless to stop their direction. Your favorite

Things continued on Page 75

Re-elect

Election Day November 6th

Affordable Healthcare Lower Taxes Smaller Government Stronger Economy Paid for by French Hill for Arkansas 36 | 501 LIFE November 2018

COLUMNIST

Taking out the trash

Hunter Bledsoe stands next to his dad’s pickup truck, which his dad, Adam Bledsoe, recently purchased.

Adam Bledsoe Originally from Northeast Ohio, Adam Bledsoe moved to Arkansas in 2000 to attend Harding University after active duty service in the U.S. Air Force. He is married to Dr. Amanda Bledsoe, and they have two children, Audrey (10) and Hunter (6), who attend Wooster Elementary. Adam is newly employed by THV11 as a feature reporter, focusing on a variety of feel-good community related stories.

How many of you all enjoy taking the trash down to the end of the driveway every week? That was my chore this morning. My quartermile uneven gravel driveway makes it nearly impossible to roll the can, so I either load it up in the bucket of my tractor or heave it up in the bed of my truck or utility vehicle. I moan and groan as I try to complete this mundane task. “Is this going to be the best day of my life?” One of my favorite movies of all time is “The Green Mile.” John Coffey (like the drink but spelled differently) said, “You can’t hide

what’s in your heart.” We could spend our days worried about everything going on around us, holding on to hatred for someone or worrying about things out of our control. This is stealing our joy, and you can’t hide that. Every Tuesday morning, as I take the trash to the end of the driveway, I drop off the kids to load on the bus. I snapped a photo (on Instagram @ adambledsoe1978) of them this morning as they crossed the road to load on the bus. It is so important they hear from me as they cross the road. “I LOVE YOU!” More importantly, they must see I love them through my consistent loving actions. I yearn for them to see what is in my heart for them. I sure do love them. Thanksgiving is upon us. We ask our children for what they are thankful. Do I contemplate this enough myself? Within the last 10 months, I graduated with my bachelor’s degree from Harding University, turned 40 years old and started a pretty cool new job. Maybe you heard about it. As I reflect on the 40th year of my life, I noticed a strong sense of nostalgia. I recently purchased a 1995 Ford F-350 dually pickup truck (photos on

Instagram). I ride around with the windows down and the wing windows popped open. I’m telling you it took me back to riding with my dad in his Ford pickup with the same kind of windows. Now I find myself looking for excuses to drive my kids around with the windows down and the winged windows open. I am so thankful for the quarter-mile long driveway for which I have to haul my trash can. I’m thankful to have a trash can to hold the undesirable items from my beautiful home. I’m thankful for my warm home with the scent of pumpkin spice and everything nice. Most importantly, I am thankful for relationships with family, friends and co-workers who bring such delight. I am eternally thankful to God for providing a Savior who gave His life for me. As we approach the holidays, look deep into your life and examine the amount of gratitude in your attitude (spoken so well by my Conway Human Development Center friend Roy Johnson). We live in the greatest nation on this planet. I feel like today is going to be the best day of my life. I love you! November 2018 501lifemag.com | 37

FAITH

Do more than give thanks! You may remember that Mark Thanksgiving is my McDonald, a Methodist favorite holiday. My minister, extended family has served churches in gathers each year, Northwest and we catch up Arkansas, Booneville, with each others’ Jacksonville lives as we enjoy the and Conway. His family settled in beauty of the woods Faulkner County in the 1840s. in North Central He attended Hendrix College, Arkansas. We’ve where he serves as a trustee. He and his wife have six children all done this for three living in Central Arkansas. decades, and it has become the cornerstone of my year. When I arrive, I exhale deeply, then breathe in the opportunity to dream of my life in a different way. In fact, that is the time I usually begin my New Year’s resolutions. I literally go back into my room for hours at a time, surrounded by the people that I love, and ask what I should do next with my life. I know, that is the wrong time. But I’ve found that starting my resolutions at Thanksgiving is much more helpful than waiting until January for two primary reasons. First, waiting until January means that I start my resolutions right after the most expensive holiday, right after I’ve eaten way more than I should have, and right after the busiest time of the year. Americans typically spend $1,000 on Christmas, gain 5-10 pounds and sleep less (probably because of what we have eaten or drank, as well as how much we spent!). Second, and more importantly, I have found that I simply set better goals when I come in gratitude to ask God what is next. Thanksgiving is my “bonus” holiday: I get TWO weekdays off, by Mark McDonald

38 | 501 LIFE November 2018

have a four-day weekend and I’m not at the end of a mad rush of parties, shopping sprees and vacation plans. I do go right back to work, but it feels different than the normal Monday-only holidays we normally get. There is a Christian story I think gives us a model for doing more than just saying thanks. It is a story of Jesus, who meets 10 lepers and heals them of their disease. All of them are grateful and cannot wait to get on with their life. In fact, they all run away to get to their families and life. One comes back to Jesus to thank him, and he bows down to wait for a word from Jesus. He is undoubtedly anxious to see family, get back to work and work for his living instead of begging for his existence. And that is one that Jesus gives a plan: “Get up and go on; your faith has healed you” (Luke 17:19, CEB). I know, that does not sound like much of a resolution. But it does point out that the one who came back has something different than the other nine. To me, it sounds like he has a brighter future! I like to think of that moment at Thanksgiving; all 10 have something to be thankful for, but only one waits for God’s plan for a better life. Thanksgiving can be a time to be thankful, to recognize what is good in your life and to return thanks. But it also offers a model for Thanksgiving that isn’t what we might expect. It calls us to name what we are thankful for and wait to see what plans God wants us to make now that we recognize what we have. Make this Thanksgiving more than a time for counting blessings. Give thanks and seek a plan that lets you “get up and go” in a whole new direction!

17th Annual

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Photos with Santa

Friday, November 16, 4pm – 8pm Saturday, November 17, 10am – 3pm Professional photo packages starting at $15

presented by:

501-513-5191 • www.DazzleDaze.com

FEATURE

Be dazzled!

Co-chairs excited about this year’s event

Dazzle Daze co-chairs Amy Reed (left) and Shelia Isby at the Frauenthal Estate (home of the Conway Regional Foundation and Marketing offices) with the 2018 Mustang Coupe that will be given away as the grand prize in this year’s Dazzle Daze raffle. (Mike Kemp photo) Dazzle Daze co-chairs Amy Reed and Shelia Isby are passionate about women’s health issues and are leading efforts to help raise funds that will be poured back into the 501 area. Both are members of the Conway Regional Women’s Council, which is planning the 17th Annual Dazzle Daze on Thursday, Nov. 15, through Saturday, Nov. 17, at the Conway Expo Center. Since its inception, Dazzle Daze has raised more than $700,000 which has been used to purchase equipment at Conway Regional Medical Center, fund scholarships and provide teacher grants. “Women’s health issues are changing constantly,” said Amy. “It makes me proud to be a part of a group of women who support our community and are ready to tackle those issues head on.” “Dazzle Daze provides financial resources for educational scholarships, fitness memberships, building campaigns and advanced technology equipment to provide the best medical health for women and our community,” said Shelia. This year, Dazzle Daze proceeds will be used to expand 3D mammography at the Conway Regional Women’s Center. “This year seems dear and near to my heart as the proceeds will go toward the Tomography 3D which will help in the early detection of breast cancer,” said Shelia. “My family was fortunate and blessed enough to have a family member be diagnosed early, 40 | 501 LIFE November 2018

treated for breast cancer and is now a survivor.” Shelia has been on the women’s council for 17 years and is the only original member from the founding group. “I have been on the Dazzle Daze Committee and served as Dazzle Daze Co-Chair for three years prior to this time,” she said. Amy has been a women’s council member for 12 years and on the Dazzle Daze Committee for about 10 years. “I honestly joined the Dazzle Daze Committee because I love Christmas, shopping and hanging out with my friends. I’ve stayed all these years because this is a tangible way we can give back to Conway Regional Medical Center and help meet the needs of our community and area.” Both have put in many hours, along with the Dazzle Daze Committee, to plan this year’s event. “Dazzle Daze provides an awesome shopping event for the community and surrounding areas,” said Shelia.

GIRLS’ NITE OUT Dazzle Daze will kick off with early bird shopping at Girls’ Nite from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15. 501 LIFE is a Dazzle Daze Presenting Sponsor, and the sponsor for Girls’ Nite Out. The evening will include free food, door prizes and an opportunity to get the first peek at the items offered by the 80-plus merchants in the juried show. The first 500 in the door will receive a swag bag with special

items ranging from cosmetics and coffee to jewelry and potpourri. “Girls Nite Out is a fun filled evening for ladies to get together and shop with their friends and share fellowship,” said Shelia. “If you have never been to Girls’ Nite Out, I highly recommend it. If you have been before, I hope you will join us this year to see some of the new things we have planned,” said Amy. “Come ready to shop and eat, knowing that every purchase is helping a woman in our community. I am so excited that this year’s proceeds are going toward helping with the purchase of a new TOMO machine. Conway Regional has one, but to meet the high demand of 3D mammography, they need another.”

RAFFLE One of Amy’s favorite aspects of Dazzle Daze is the annual raffle, where someone walks away with a new car. This year’s grand prize is a 2018 Mustang Ecoboost Coupe in Race Red, from Smith Ford. The four-passenger sports car has a 10-speed automatic transmission and ebony interior. “The car is gorgeous,” said Amy. Tickets are $100 each and only 500 will be sold.

Dazzle continued on Page 75

November 2018 501lifemag.com | 41

1 HEALTH

Alzheimer’s disease Doll therapy can help caregivers

Donna Beshears (left), activity therapist with Conway Regional’s Senior Behavioral Health, accepts a baby doll to be used for therapy from Tammy Smith with Abundant Amity Care. by John Patton

While much remains unknown about Alzheimer’s disease and its numerous effects on the brain, finding ways to reach patients who are in the throes of the disease and temporarily relieve their distress is a challenge to therapists and caregivers. What makes one patient become agitated to the point of screaming might be soothing to another. The most unlikely action, tone of voice or familiar behavior might help a caregiver calm a scared loved one or inadvertently set them off. One of the methods being used by Conway Regional’s Senior Behavioral Health program to calm agitated patients takes them back to childhood play. Playing with baby dolls opened up a world of adventure to many children. Now, in some instances, it can help to briefly relieve the distress experienced by dementia patients. “It provides a comfort to some of our patients,” 42 | 501 LIFE November 2018

November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Month and National Family Caregivers Month. said Donna Beshears, an activity therapist in Conway Regional’s Senior Behavioral Health. The geropsychiatric unit provides short-term, inpatient evaluation and care for patients who are diagnosed with certain forms of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease. “They may be crying out and they see the doll, and it brings them back to a more pleasant place. Some patients may even try to feed the baby doll.” While she said the effects of the baby dolls must be evaluated on an individual basis, Beshears has found that they can provide a distraction for patients who are going through moderate to severe stages of dementia.

According to Tammy Smith, a certified dementia specialist with Abundant Amity Care, the baby dolls can be helpful because “sometimes the senior has regressed back to the age where they were caring for children of their own.” She added, “Often, they will sleep with the dolls and tuck them into bed the same as they would an actual baby.” Smith’s organization has been donating the baby dolls and fidget blankets, which are used to help relieve anxiety among the male patients, to Conway Regional’s Senior Behavioral Health through a program called “Timeless Guys and Dolls.” The fidget blankets have keys, shirts, toy cars and other items sewn into them to draw the attention of the male patients. The blankets are placed on a desk during therapy sessions. “We are very thankful for the donation of the dolls and blankets,” Beshears said. “We have been doing the doll therapy for years, but Guys and Dolls is saving us the expense of buying them.” Smith said Abundant Amity Care has donated

about 100 baby dolls and 30 blankets to skilled healthcare facilities that care for Alzheimer’s patients, including hospitals and nursing home facilities. The organization depends on donations from churches and other organizations to provide the dolls. “We want to reach all the disciplines that touch patients,” she said. Smith left a financially stable career with International Paper about 15 years ago because she was drawn to providing care for senior adults. That move eventually led to the founding of the personal care agency. “Sometimes you just have to follow your heart,” said Smith. Doll therapy can be used in a variety of settings. It’s not just for persons living in Memory Care Centers. Doll therapy can help alleviate the anxiety of a person living with Alzheimer’s disease and provide a caregiver with a few minutes or hours of respite, according to Elise Hensley, outreach director for Alzheimer’s Arkansas, a statewide, not-for-profit caregiver support organization. “We strive to meet the needs of the caregiver where the caregiver is even if that means for just a few moments of respite (a break),” said Hensley. Not all caregivers agree that doll therapy is helpful, which is why Beshears recommends taking a careful approach toward introducing them into the lives of each individual senior patient. Alzheimer’s disease experts advise that caregivers who may want to use doll therapy in the home setting should do so by keeping a few tips in mind, including: Communicate the purpose of the doll to everyone else who may be providing care. Do not force a doll on any senior, allow them to approach, hold and be stimulated by the doll on their

own. Do not call the doll a doll. Remember, the senior may view the doll as an actual baby. Do not purchase a doll that loudly cries out as that could be upsetting. According to a National Institute of Health study in 2014, Doll Therapy was adopted from Bowlby’s Theory of Attachment and that human beings are predisposed to form attachments with others to survive in the world.

“In layman’s terms, we as humans are looking for attachment, usually that attachment can come in the form of one’s caregiver,” said Hensley. “The caregiver can easily become frustrated, so providing a Alzheimer disease or dementia person a ‘baby’ can alleviate the need for attachment. We have had caregivers provide their loved ones with a ‘baby’ and witness the Alzheimer’s person’s personality completely change from agitated and abusive to loving and careful with the baby doll.”

344,448 LIVES SAVED

HOMECOMING 2018 OCT. 29 - NOV. 4

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports seat belts have saved 344,448 lives since 1975, when NHTSA first began recording this data.

ALUMNI & FRIENDS PARTY Conway Country Club | NOV. 2 | 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.

Because we care, we encourage you to buckle up EVERY TIME EVERY TRIP EVERYONE Seat belts save lives!

Kick off homecoming weekend at Conway Country Club for the annual “Alumni & Friends Party” and formal presentation of the Alumni Service Award. Join us as we celebrate Susan Hoggard and the legacy of Greg Hunt. Reconnect with friends, old classmates, and fellow alumni as you dance the evening away! Tickets are $25 and include a seated dinner, beverages and dessert.

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Roe Henderson

1416 Price Street Conway, AR 72034 501-327-3888 RHenderson@ShelterInsurance.com

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November 2018 501lifemag.com | 43

1 HEALTH ROUNDUP Baptist Health welcomes Dr. Jamie Trapp Dr. Jamie Trapp recently joined Baptist Health Family Clinic-Conway West. Trapp, a North Little Rock native who specializes in family medicine, graduated from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She completed her residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences – West Fam- Dr. Jamie Trapp has joined Baptist ily Medicine in Health Family Clinic-Conway West. Fort Smith. “My practice philosophy is that patients come first,” Trapp said. “I truly hope to practice full-spectrum family medicine and be able to see entire families, really get to know them and develop a trusting relationship built on mutual respect. “I hope to improve my community through education and outreach, and empower patients to take control of their health.” Trapp’s services include routine yearly physicals, sports physicals, joint injections, screenings and preventative care for adults and children. Baptist Health Family Clinic-Conway West is located at 625 United Drive, Suite 120, and is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

44 | 501 LIFE November 2018

Unity Health receives Governor’s Award Unity Health recently announced that it has received the prestigious Governor’s Quality Award. The honor was given to hospital representatives at the recent Governor’s Quality Award banquet, in which Gov. Asa Hutchinson recognized Unity Health with the award. “We know that the future of healthcare rests in our ability to provide superior care for our patients,” said Unity Health President/CEO Steven Webb. The Arkansas Governor’s Quality Award is the highest level of recognition presented to state organizations that have demonstrated the highest level of performance excellence through their practices and achievements. “It is an enormous honor to accept this award and we are so humbled to be the only hospital or any organization that has won this honor three times,” said Vice President of Patient Services LaDonna Johnston. “We hope this truly paints a picture of our long-term commitment to utilizing this process and our recognition of the processes value to our organization and to our customers. It is the quest for excellence that we all strive for in healthcare. “The Governor’s Quality Award allows organizations like ours to look at various areas of our hospital, from a leadership and strategic planning perspective, as well as human resources and processes in order to measure our overall results. tIt is a transparent and objective way of looking at our level of achievement and how we arrived here, much like a road map guides your journey to a specific destination; we want to continue on this route to achieve even higher levels of success in providing quality patient care and creating a healthy community.” Unity Health is the only organization in Arkansas to receive the Governor’s Quality Award three times; the hospital also received the prestigious Governor’s Quality Award in 2002 and 2012.

Representatives from Unity Health accepted the prestigious Governor’s Quality Award. The honor was given to hospital representatives at the recent Governor’s Quality Award banquet, in which Gov. Asa Hutchinson recognized Unity Health with the award. Unity Health is the only organization to have ever received the honor three times. The goal of the Governor’s Quality Award Program is to encourage Arkansas organizations to engage in continuous quality improvement, which leads to performance excellence, and to provide significant recognition to those organizations. The Governor’s Quality Award was founded by Arkansas business leaders who understood the need to recognize companies reaching for the highest standards in their products, services and processes and who understood the need for organizations to have the tools and training to improve and to strive for performance excellence. The Governor’s Quality Award Program, a private non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, was established in 1994 for the purpose of supporting the broad based use of quality principles throughout Arkansas to drive performance improvement.

SILVER BELLS, SILVER BELLS. ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S CHRISTMAS TIME IN CONWAY. RING-A-LING, HEAR THEM RING. SOON IT WILL BE DAZZLE DAZE.

Join between November 1st-15th to take advantage of our discounted enrollment fee and receive 2 free Dazzle Daze tickets!

NOVEMBER 15 - 17 CONWAY EXPO CENTER

For information call 501.450.9292 or visit ConwayRegional.org/HealthFitnessCenter.

November 2018 501lifemag.com | 45

1 HEALTH

‘The best part’

Doctor inspired by patients’ transformation

Dr. Paul Edwards examines Joan Baldridge. by Sonja J. Keith

It was seeing patients go from a painful and crippling condition to returning to an active lifestyle that inspired Dr. Paul Edwards to pursue a career as an orthopedic surgeon. A native of Fort Smith, Edwards earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He attended graduate school and medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He did his surgery internship at the University of Oklahoma at Tulsa. He completed his orthopedic residency at the University of South Florida at Tampa. After completion, he moved to Charlotte, N.C., where he completed a Hip and Knee Joint Replacement Fellowship at OrthoCarolina Hip & Knee Institute. Even though his education and training took 46 | 501 LIFE November 2018

him out of state, he knew all along that he would return to Arkansas to practice medicine. His wife, Heather, is from White Hall. Edwards, who enjoys outdoor activities like fishing and golf, recognizes the importance of being active, which plays a role in his work. “For me it is the perfect field, because I know how important it is to be active and to be able to have a lifestyle that is pain-free. Fortunately, we often have the tools to be able to provide that.” He also enjoys traveling for speaking engagements and teaching opportunities related to his field.

PERSONAL APPROACH Edwards – a board certified, orthopedic surgeon, specializing in treatment of the hip and knee – sees patients in clinics in Little Rock and Conway. UAMS Baptist Health Orthopaedic Clinic-Conway is located at 625 United

Drive, Suite 350. (For more information, call 501.614.2663 in Little Rock and 501.358.6792 in Conway.) Edwards takes a personal approach to patient care, spending time getting to know his patients and their lifestyles to determine the best course of care, which does not always involve surgery. “Taking care of patients is more than just performing surgery, hip and knee replacement,” he said. “It’s also getting to understand socially who they are, who their friends are, what type of work they do, what their lifestyle is.” There are times when treatment does not require surgery, according to Edwards. “For certain patients, for a variety of reasons, non-surgical treatment may be the best option.” Edwards said about half of the patients he sees do have surgery. Many of the patients seen at the clinic have already been treated by a primary care

“ Taking care

of patients is more than just performing surgery, hip and knee replacement. It’s also getting to understand socially who they are, who their friends are, what type of work they do, what their lifestyle is.

”

— Dr. Paul Edwards physician or a sports medicine specialist, who have tried non-operative treatment which did not work. If a patient has not received non-surgical treatment, it may be an option before considering surgery. “There is knee arthritis, osteoarthritis and hip osteoarthritis are the most common problems I see and treat,” he said. “Osteoarthritis is more commonly idiopathic. We don’t understand exactly why it occurs. There is a genetic component. I see more patients that we don’t know why they have osteoarthritis. There is nothing they could have done in their life to change it. “Occasionally, it is secondary to a traumatic event in their life, if they were in a car crash or had an ACL injury or some type of sporting event injury.” One of the non-operative treatment options is stay active and fit. “Movement and mobility is really key to improving joint pain,” Edwards said. “It sounds a little counter-intuitive but it’s actually not. There’s data that shows staying fit and staying active, losing weight, are good keys to offloading the hip and knee joints and decreasing pain.” Other options are non-steroid anti-inflammatory medicine. If they are not effective, there are stronger, prescription anti-inflammatory drugs that can be used. “Physical therapy can be a great benefit to improve range of motion to work on strengthening the muscles surrounding the knee and hip.” For knees, patients may also get injections or use a brace. Edwards also treats patients experiencing painful or failed joint replacements. He said November 2018 501lifemag.com | 47

much higher.” Edwards said more hip and knee replacement procedures are being performed on younger patients than previously. “It used to be a surgery that was reserved for 80-year-old patients and now we are performing it on 50-year-olds routinely.” Another trend, according to Edwards, is improved outcomes. “The results are better and complications are less,” he said, adding that he attributes that to a better understanding of how to manage patients in the early post-operative period including early discharge to home. He said it sounds counter-intuitive but complications are fewer because their stay in the hospital is less. “Our goal is to get patients home quickly and get them moving quickly. We’ve seen significant improvement in results with that.”

some doctors will not see patients who have already had the procedures because it can be more difficult to identify the problem. “My partners and myself, we all see painful knee and hip replacement as well,” he said. “If you’ve had it done elsewhere and it’s not functioning like you expect, we are happy to see you and evaluate it. Oftentimes we can find something that may be an improvement.”

‘BEST PART’ When asked about the inspiration for his work Edwards said “the best part” of his job is getting to see the transformation in the quality of life in his patients, who inspire him. “That’s why I even chose orthopedics but even further sub-specialization with fellowship training in hip and knee replacement only. I am trained in that specifically because the results are outstanding. That’s exactly why I do this job.” Edwards said he will see patients who are very debilitated and unable to play with their grandchildren, walk around a park or even go to the grocery store without pain. “Simple things in life, that we often take for granted, they no longer can do because the pain is so severe in their hip or in their knee.” If non-operative measures failed, Edwards can offer “absolutely life changing” hip and knee replacement surgery. “I’ve watched patients go from unable to walk out of a wheelchair to being fully independent, no wheelchair, no cane. They are able to play with their grandkids, able to garden again, able to ride a bicycle, just enjoy the things in life that as we age we hope we are able to enjoy still.” Edwards said there is nothing greater than seeing patients the day after surgery and they are walking down the hall or to the restroom “with very little pain and smiling. They want to hug

FUTURE

A native of Fort Smith, Dr. Paul Edwards is a board certified, orthopedic surgeon, specializing in the treatment of the hip and knee. you or tell you, ‘For the first time in a really long time, I’m able to do some things without a lot of pain.’” He added that with hip replacement the improvement is almost immediate while knee replacement can take a little longer.

TRENDS In the field of orthopedics, as the Baby Boomer generation ages, physicians are seeing more cases of osteoarthritis sooner. “I don’t know that the percentage is higher but the thought of what our expectations are out of life are greater,” he said. “We want to have a pain-free retirement… Our expectations of quality of life are

Edwards said he sees a bright future in the area of hip and knee replacements. “I think we will continue to evolve in the way that we manage our patients, pre-operative, intra-operative and postoperative,” adding that the focus is on minimizing risk and optimize patients before surgery. Pre-operative optimization includes finding alternatives to opioids, getting patients off of any opioids prior to replacement surgery, weight loss and controlling other medical conditions like diabetes. “We now recognize, with the data that we have, the more optimized we can have a patient before surgery, the better the result after the surgery.” Edwards said he is excited about the Conway clinic and the expanded access it represents with the Little Rock clinic. “It provides Arkansans access to great health care and great orthopedic surgeons.”

IN GOD WE TRUST

PAID FOR BY JASON RAPERT FOR SENATE

J ASON R APERT F OR S ENATE . COM 48 | 501 LIFE November 2018

EVENTS

CARTI Festival of Trees in November Tickets are on sale for the 42nd annual, three-day CARTI Little Rock Auxiliary Festival of Trees. This year’s theme, “A CARTI Christmas,” unites the individual events centered around seasonal celebrations that benefit CARTI and its statewide network of cancer care facilities. A “forest” of elaborately decorated trees once again serves as the focal point of the festival. Since its debut in 1977, the CARTI Little Rock Auxiliary has put on one of the most spectacular fund-raising events in the state, raising more than $7 million for CARTI and the cancer patients of Arkansas. Festival of Trees, held at the Statehouse Convention Center, features decorated trees and offers some of the most unique special events for children and adults. Funds from CARTI’s Festival of Trees provide cancer patients with transportation, housing, emotional counseling, massage therapy, nutritional supplements and more. Free general viewing, “Stroll Through the Forest,” is scheduled 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16. Official Festival of Trees events include: Sugar Plum Ball. Visions of sugar plums dance not only in the head, but also on the dance floor at this classic daddy-daughter date night. Each

The Sugar Plum Ball is among the events planned during the CARTI Little Rock Auxiliary Festival of Trees. little princess and her Prince Charming step into a storybook setting for an evening of dining, dancing, tiaras, party favors and ballet dancers, all while mixing and mingling with Santa and Mrs. Claus, as well as the newly crowned Mrs. Arkansas. It will be held 6-8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15. Tickets are $50 each. A limited number of reserved tables for 10 are $1,000. Ticket sales are limited and typically sell out early. Festival of Fashion. Enjoy the hustle and excitement of a professional runway show in the tradition of New York Fashion Week as you get an up-close

look at the latest styles and trends from Arkansas’ chicest local boutiques. We will also honor 2018 Style Icon Stephanie Duty, who has been involved with Festival of Trees for more than 20 years, serving this year as live auction chair. Doors open at 5 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 16, and the show begins at 6:30. Tickets are $50 each. A block of 10 seats is available for $500, and a limited number of VIP box of 10 seats are available for $1,000. Tux ‘n Trees. All the splendor of the season comes into view in a celebration of traditional holiday elegance at one of Central Arkansas’ premier holiday events. Live and silent auctions showcase an evening filled with fine dining and dancing to live entertainment by Dizzy 7 as the CARTI Little Rock Auxiliary honors its original four radiation oncologists: Dr. D.R. and Ann Harris, Dr. Ducote and Susie Haynes, Dr. Bob and Joyce Landgren, and Dr. Al and Fran Nelson. Festival of Trees’ premier gala is 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, Tickets are $250 each, and reserved tables of 10 are $2,500. For more information on Festival of Trees or to sponsor, please contact Michaela Johnson at 501.660.7616 or mdjohnson@carti.com. The complete schedule and tickets are available at CARTI. com.

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�

ENTERTAINING

‘Come, Ye Faithful’

Spinach Strawberry Salad served with Strawberry Vinaigrette is a family favorite during the holidays. (Mike Kemp photos) Thanksgiving at our house has always been a grand time of beginning the holiday season. We are thankful every day of the year, but this special time of celebrating with family and friends is always heightened with gratitude for all things. Even the difficult times throughout Don Bingham the past year bring delight that “all is safely Recognized throughout the gathered in er’er the state as an accomplished chef, Don Bingham has authored winter storms begin.” cookbooks, presented television We have lost friends programs and planned elaborate events. and family members since last Thanksgiving. We also have the joy of our 12th grandchild this past year, and the appreciation of life has certainly deepened — and with that comes a greater “at50 | 501 LIFE November 2018

titude of gratitude.” Our usual menu is composed of favorites handed down through generations — so many choices are presented that foods are sometimes placed at various locations throughout our home. As we consider the thought of “gearing down” and “simplifying,” it’s oh so difficult to decide which dish we will omit or rotate until next year. Thanksgiving is a heartwarming and God honoring time for our family. The sounds of the hymn always ring in our hearts that “This is my Father’s world, and though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet!” Given with this article are a few of our favorites — some old, some new! May your Thanksgiving be filled with the joy of “the best is yet to come!”

SPINACH STRAWBERRY SALAD 2 cups walnuts 1/2 cup sugar

2 bags baby spinach 1 red onion, chopped 15 strawberries, diced 1 avocado, peeled and sliced 1 cup Craisins 8 ounces feta cheese Toast nuts in a skillet. Sprinkle with sugar over low heat and stir until sugar crystalizes. As the sugar melts, it will coat the nuts. Spread walnuts on jelly roll pan and let cool. In a large serving bowl, combine baby spinach, chopped red onion, sliced strawberries, diced avocadoes, Craisins, sugared nuts and feta cheese. Toss salad ingredients together and chill. Serve with Strawberry Vinaigrette.

STRAWBERRY VINAIGRETTE 1/2 cup strawberry jam 1/4 cup olive oil 1 1/2 cups strawberries, chopped 1/2 cup water 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar

Salt and pepper to taste Mix all ingredients in a blender. Chill before serving.

GRUYERE GRATIN 4 pounds russet potatoes 1 yellow onion, thinly sliced 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 tablespoons butter 2 cups plus 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream 2 1/2 cups Gruyere cheese, grated 2 teaspoons kosher salt 1 teaspoon coarse black pepper 2 cups sliced mushrooms 2 tablespoons melted butter 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley Preheat oven to 350. Peel and thinly slice potatoes. Sauté onion in olive oil and butter on medium-low heat for 5 minutes or until tender. Mix potatoes in a large bowl with 2 cups cream, 2 cups Gruyere cheese, salt and pepper. Add the sautéed onion and mix. Pour potatoes into a buttered 9-by-13 baking dish. Coat mushrooms with melted butter and spread over potatoes. Combine the remaining 2 tablespoons cream and 1/2 cup Gruyere cheese and sprinkle on top. Bake for 1 1/2 hours or until the potatoes are tender and the top is golden. Garnish with chopped parsley.

HEAVENLY CRANBERRY SAUCE 2 pounds cranberries 2 cups walnuts, coarsely chopped 3 cups granulated sugar Juice and grated rind of two lemons 2 cups orange marmalade

Wash and drain well cranberries. Place in shallow baking dish and cover with chopped walnuts, sugar, juice and grated lemon rind and orange marmalade. Cover tightly and bake for 45 minutes at 350 degrees. Makes 2 quarts — plenty to share with others.

ORANGE RAISIN CAKE 1 cup granulated sugar 1/2 cup shortening 2 eggs 1 cup buttermilk 1 orange 1 teaspoon soda, dissolved in milk 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon allspice 2 cups all-purpose flour 1 cup raisins Grind orange (thin skinned) and raisins. Use half in cake and half in icing. Cream sugar and shortening, add milk and eggs and beat well. Sift dry ingredients and add to creamed mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Fold in 1/2 orange and raisin mixture. Bake in two layers at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes. Cool completely before icing.

Icing: 1 box powdered sugar 1 stick butter (softened) 1 cup nuts Boiling water to spread Combine powdered sugar with butter and add nuts and remainder of orange-raisin mixture. Add enough boiling water to spread easily and spread between layers and on top of cooled cake.

November 2018 501lifemag.com | 51

HOME

52 | 501 LIFE November 2018

There is just something about a holiday table, set with care and ready for friends and family to gather for food and fellowship. (Donna Benton photos)

Creating a holiday table Home My sister and I each had one end of a giant dead goose. I can’t remember where it came from, but it looked like one of those yard geese, the kind that attack people in YouTube videos. Maybe it was one of those attack geese, and it went after the wrong Donna Benton aunt or cousin and it got Donna Benton is a maker of a little Thanksgiving juscustom home furnishings and tice. I had a goose foot in specializes in classic painted each hand, and my sister finishes for antique and vintage furniture. You can see her work had a double handful of at WaterHouseMarket.com. its skin, and we pulled and tugged until it was a gangly, three-foot naked fowl with a long feather pelt dangling from its neck. My husband says this tango of girls and goose guts was the exact moment that he knew it would be forever! I thought he might be ready to take a Greyhound home. He comes from a more traditional background. I’m sure his Thanksgiving bird came from the butcher and the only bird guts he ever saw were in the giblet gravy. His family gathered around the

Earthy wooden bowls and a reclaimed centerpiece box juxtapose with antique French silverware to give this holiday table the perfect balance of rustic and formal. table, held hands and gave thanks. Two extra table leaves would usually accommodate his whole crew. The holiday meals at my Central Louisiana home were regional bashes. It was the usual aunts, uncles and cousins, then this mix of people that you

had never seen before and you haven’t seen since. Dinner was a “Cajun meets country” potluck affair that usually spread out across several folding tables

Holiday continued on Page 55

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Get the look: Holiday centerpiece Article and photos by Donna Benton

The centerpiece featured on the holiday table is filled with freshness and the colors of fall. I love making these arrangements for Thanksgiving in the spirit of the classic cornucopia, filled with the bounty of the season. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how to get the look for your holiday table.

Select a container that is the style, size and shape that you want for your table. Gather sturdy leafy greens like lettuce or purple cabbage leaves for the foundation of the arrangement. I like the color and texture of kale and it looks great here. Shop the produce section for fruits and veggies with intriguing shapes and textures. Gather seasonal gourds and pumpkins and potted winter cabbages.

3 Place potted plants in plastic bags to keep the dirt intact and slightly moist. This arrangement will last for several days. Pick out parts that wilt to keep it looking fresh.

Place groupings of kale, lettuce or cabbage and position the large Items making sure to balance the piece.

6 Place the smaller items by grouping or clumping them together. Fill in any bare spots with more kale. 54 | 501 LIFE November 2018

Enjoy it for a few days, then be sure to eat the veggies before they go bad and plant the potted winter cabbages. You can use this same arrangement for your Christmas table. Just add fresh magnolia leaves and substitute the fall items with red and green apples, pomegranates or wild red sumac berry pods. Happy holidays!

Holiday continued from Page 53 on the screened porch. Aunt Lucille often headed up the cooking. Not because of her culinary skill, but because she cooked on an off-shore oil rig and she had big pots. She could put oysters in the dressing and make you like it. She slow-roasted a raccoon one Christmas and lost her kitchen privileges for a while. Once we had a particularly memorable Thanksgiving dinner in my Granny Editha’s truck stop. They are open 24/7, so she prepared dinner in the kitchen where they usually fry Chester Chicken, and she handed off stirring duties only when she had to ring up an occasional fuel purchase. It was epic country cooking!

Tradition It was touch and go for a while as my husband’s classic holiday customs melded with my unconventional, and maybe a little dangerous, family traditions, but we kept the traditions that we liked, discarded most of the ones that could cause lasting damage to the kids and created a few new ones that are just for us! We are all self-proclaimed epicurean entertainers, so most of our traditions are in the kitchen and at the table. My youngest son Ben was 6 when he challenged his older brother to enter the church pumpkin pie contest. His brother worked all afternoon on a scratch Martha Stewart recipe with homemade crust complete with little oak leaf cutouts. Ben followed the recipe on the pumpkin pie can, but accidentally doubled the sugar. Not only did he beat big bro in a blind taste test, but also, by effect, he beat all the other church ladies, too. We had two takeaways from the pumpkin pie contest — Ben’s traditional double-sugar pumpkin pie and a life lesson to never beat the church ladies at their own game when you are 6. Every Thanksgiving, my boys (the young ones and the old one) cook the turkey. They put lots of study and planning into the process, the preparation and the presentation. It may be spatchcocked with root vegetables one year and lowered into a fryer by some Rube Goldberg device the next. You usually think of a tradition as a custom that never changes, but I’m pretty sure “one-upping” last year’s turkey has become our tradition. We have a new tradition that I am feeling pretty sentimental about. I wanted a table that would fit our entire extended family, so we took a head count and designed a 12-footer. We finished it just in time to host a summertime birthday party for my father-in-law under the big oak tree out front. After birthday cake, we passed around knives and carving tools and we all made our mark on the table top. New guests who sit at our table are invited to add their name, initials or inspired art. Many times I walk by the table and run my hand across the carvings, and I get excited about documenting the love and laughter, heartfelt discussions, successes, failures, pep talks and celebrations that have taken place, and will take place around this table.

Table Setting a beautiful table is important to me, especially during the holidays. I’ll share a few of my favorite table setting guidelines. They are really more like antiguidelines, not that formal stuff that you learned in cotillion. I have some really

Celebrate a bountiful fall harvest with a living cornucopia of colorful fresh vegetables, pumpkins, gourds and living fall greens. nice china packed away somewhere. That matchy china look just seems kind of boring to me. I like to use the fancy stuff outside where you might expect paper plates, or paired with a really rustic table. I like to mix old and new. Modern-style plates on a farm table is my new favorite thing. I am a terrible plate breaker. I think I have seven of everything, but if I keep my table eclectic enough no one will notice if their plate doesn’t match their neighbor’s. You can probably tell that I am a rule-breaker, too! I like to use things that I have a personal attachment to. Some of my favorite things, like my favorite cooking tools, I have had for years, but I have some new pieces that I love just as much. Once, at an antique auction, I bought an old buffet that had come straight off of a container from France. It had a drawer that I couldn’t get open, and when I turned the piece on its side, it jangled like a thousand Spanish doubloons. After some jimmying, the drawer became unstuck, and a waterfall of vintage mixed and matched silverware came pouring out. Now that silverware is an instant favorite because it’s got a story. Most of it is someone else’s story that I don’t even know, but that is part of the fun.

Gather A stunningly crafted table adorned with beautiful china and a fabulous centerpiece will be pleasing to the eye, and it will be a great foundation on which to serve a well-planned and carefully prepared holiday meal. And that meal will nourish bodies and warm spirits. But the most important element of the holiday table is the people around it. Gather the people that you love and cherish your time with them, whether you see them every day or only on special occasions. Treat them with respect, young and old. Listen to them and learn from them, and have happy holidays.

OVER

YEARS IN BUSINESS

2665 Donaghey Ave, Ste 103 Conway AR • (501) 327-1772 www.luxurypoolarkansas.com November 2018 501lifemag.com | 55

ENERGY SMART

Conway Corp names winners This October, Conway Corp celebrated Energy Awareness Month and Public Power Week by encouraging local students to show their energy smarts and participate in a poster, essay and video contest. Students in grades PreK through fourth were asked to create a poster Beth on the theme “My Life, Jimmerson Powered by Conway A long-time Conway resident, Corp.” Students in fifth Beth McCullough Jimmerson through seventh grade is the marketing coordinator for Conway Corp. She has and eighth through 12th a bachelor’s degree from the grade were asked to University of Central Arkansas and a master’s degree from the write an essay or create a University of Arkansas. She can video on the same theme. be reached at beth.jimmerson@ conwaycorp.com. Prizes were awarded in each age category. Marguerite Vann Elementary second-grader Hayes McClurkin won first place in the poster contest. Hayes won a Conway Corp prize pack, an Energy Smart pizza party for his classroom and $100 donation for his classroom. Anna Mason won second place, and Lailah Berry won third place. Anna is a fourth-grader at Woodrow Cummins Elementary. Lailah is in kindergarten at Conway Christian School. Anna and Lailah each won Conway Corp prize packs. In the digital video category, Bo Cunningham won first place, and Marshall Cunningham won second place. Both students attend Conway Christian High School and won cash prizes. Their videos can be viewed at ConwayCorp.com/EnergySmartCon-

56 | 501 LIFE November 2018

Anna Mason won second place. test. In the fifth through seventh grade essay category, Octavio Menon won first place for her essay “From India to Conway Corp.” Colton Makara won second place for his “Lives Powered by Conway Corp” essay, and Ethan Elrod won third place for his “The Power of Conway Corp” essay. Octavio is a sixth-grader at Simon Middle School. Colton is in fifth grade at Carl Stuart Middle School, and Ethan is a sixth-grader at Courtway Middle School. “Conway Corp: Makers of a Modern Age” by Marshall Cunningham won first place in the eighth through 12th grade essay category. “Every Day in Every Way, Conway Corp” by Blake Hopkins received second place, and “The Power of a Closet Light” by Sarah Kemp received third place. Marshall is in 11th grade at Conway Christian School. Blake and Sarah are both seniors at Conway High School. Students in the essay contest won cash prizes. Below are excerpts from Marshall’s and Octavio’s winning essays. Marshall: We who live in the 21st century must be the luckiest group of humans to ever exist. Instead of forging all day with the sun constantly

Lailah Berry won third place. beating down upon us, we can merely tap a few buttons and have all the food we could ever dare to imagine arrive right upon our doorstep. Instead of planning excursions out into the wild, filled with dangers of all kinds, lurking, ready to pounce on every living soul, we have the ability to turn a key, start up our car and travel wherever our minds may take us. Instead of waiting weeks or even months for the slightest bit of communication to reach our uninformed ears, we can, with minimal effort, talk to hundreds if not millions through call or text. Our lives have been made better, easier and more efficient due to the brilliant increase and advancement of technology in our world; and Conway Corp, to me, helps make this dream happen for thousands each and every day. Octavio: “RRRRrrrrr pfft!” The three wheeled scooter with no seatbelts or doors, otherwise known as an auto rickshaw, skidded to a halt in a jungle of tightly packed concrete buildings. My family and I stepped out into the blaring honks

of anger, frustration and thanks. In fact, it seemed as if every vehicle in India were greeting each other through those honks. I took in my surroundings. Lots of trash was thrown across the sidewalk and water leaked from pipes blocked up with trash. As I walked through the metal gate to my grandmother Achamma’s house, I looked around her huge front yard. I saw a small wilderness of lush vegetation, providing rest to the exotic lizards, snakes and other creatures. Achamma welcomed us with open arms, barefoot in the moist cobblestone. She took us up the steps of stone into the house, and happily showed us around. When inside, she suddenly broke out in a wheezing cough, and went to bed early. The next day, Achamma fell terribly sick, and was taken to a hospital. Life in India is much tougher than in Conway. The electricity would randomly spark and go out, leaving us with no lights or not being able to cook food for hours and hours. There wasn’t much hot water, which was actually a good thing because of the sweltering heat of the tropical weather. There was pretty much no Wifi connection during my trip to India. One of the hardest parts of the trip was the fact that we did not speak Hindi (the national language) and Malayalam (the local language). This restricted us from going out of the house much, because we couldn’t interact with people on the street or the house maid who cooked. Luckily, a miracle happened and Achamma got better. I realized how much Conway Corp impacts my life a little after I got back from India. Conway Corp provides clean

Marguerite Vann Elementary second-grader Hayes McClurkin won first place in the poster contest.

and potable water for people living in Conway, and it takes little over a minute to pour yourself a glass of water. Electricity is also very helpful and provided by Conway Corp. Power lines stretch across Conway to provide

c i ss a l C A s a m t s i Chr

electricity around the clock. Everywhere I look, Conway Corp is there. From my home, to school, to the soccer fields, Conway Corp guides me through my life. Even every lively light twinkling with joy on the annual

Christmas tree is powered by Conway Corp. Conway Corp powers my life in so many ways, and without it, I would be a very different person today. Congratulations to all the winners of the 2018 Energy Smart Poster, Essay and Video Contest, and thank you to all students who submitted an entry. Conway Corp is proud of these students who continue to remind us how integral Conway Corp is to our daily lives.

Take time from your hectic preparations to be a kid again! Experience the wonder and joy of your holiday favorites, plus new highlights of The Nutcracker with the Arkansas Festival Ballet in this holiday extravaganza.

Come early for Nutcracker Sweets! Tickets at ConwaySymphony.org

0 PM 3 : 7 8 DEC FRIDAY, Reynolds Performance Hall • UCA Campus, Conway • Tickets (501) 450-3265 • ConwaySymphony.org

501 kids

Teaching children thankfulness Thanksgiving is just around the corner and many families have already begun the process of planning their holiday events. While holiday gatherings are highly anticipated by most, the meaning behind all the food and gifts is often overlooked. We now live in a culture that is vastly Kellie different than the one Bishop most of us grew up in. Kellie Bishop is a pediatric nurse Life is fast-paced and practitioner at Central Arkansas the holiday season seems Pediatrics in Conway. She lives in Plumerville with her husband, to be the most hectic Greg, and two dogs. She obtained time of the year. It often her bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degree in nursing at the University of Central seems impossible to slow Arkansas and her masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and down during the months doctorate degrees in pediatric primary care at UAMS. of November and December long enough to ensure children are learning and enjoying the true meaning of the season. Teaching thankfulness does not have to be complicated and you may even find that your holiday season is more enjoyable by slowing down and practicing a few activities to instill the thankful spirit you wish for in your children. During the month of November, be thankful. Children are naturally self-centered. A child who has been blessed with a loving family, loyal friends and countless possessions does not always appreciate what they have. One way to help them realize this is to have a white board or chalkboard at home and each day all family members write something they are thankful for. This will allow all family members to not only reflect on their own blessings, but also the blessings within their home and family. You can expand on this idea by giving back to others based on the blessings your family identifies. If your child is thankful for the food that is always available in your home, you could take them to volunteer at a soup kitchen. It does not have to be extravagant, but a simple act such as serving the underprivileged can further instill gratitude in your child for the things they often take for granted. Similarly, a friend of mine stocks a variety of thank you cards for the month of November and her children take 10 minutes each evening for the entire month to write a note to a relative, friend, teacher, doctor, etc. to say thank you. This allows the child to identify those who enrich his or her life all year and say thank you for how that individual has blessed 58 | 501 LIFE November 2018

them. As Christmas approaches, be giving. Children have come to expect expensive gifts and that mentality has many negative effects on their social development. When a 3-year-old receives a tablet that costs as much as a mortgage payment, what will they expect as a gift the following year? The expectations for gifts are increased at earlier ages which leads to a generation of children with higher expectations, less gratitude and less versatility. If a child is taught they will always be given the best whether they earn it or not, this leads to unrealistic expectations later in life and the inability to be flexible and content. However, emphasizing the thought behind a gift can help combat this issue. Instead of emphasizing the gift itself, highlight how kind it is of the giver to give the child such a nice gift. It is also important to instill giving back in children. Many of my relatives and friends go through their childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s toys with them in November and they help the child choose toys to donate

to underprivileged children. This teaches the child to appreciate their blessings and pay it forward by giving to others. It also limits the clutter that can surface in your home during the holidays which is a win in my book! Similar to the thank you notes during the Thanksgiving season, I have heard of several parents who make their children write thank you notes to those who gave them Christmas gifts before they are able to use the gift they received. Writing the note allows the child to reflect on the kindness that was shown to them and allows them to express the gratitude that may have otherwise not been realized. Children are very impressionable and though they lack innate appreciation for what they have, it is easy to teach them thankfulness and gratitude. Instilling these concepts in your children from a young age will allow them to be more versatile and adaptable adolescents and adults while also ensuring they have the aptitude to give back and make a difference in the world.

Spencer Rohrscheib AGE: 6. CITY: Conway. SCHOOL: Kindergarten at Carolyn Lewis Elementary School. FAVORITE SUBJECT: Dinosaurs as of right now.

Spencer Rohrscheib

FAMILY: Cotton and Donna Rohrscheib (Daddy and Momma), Bridgette Wallace (aunt), Jachin and Kavanaugh Wallace (cousins), Don and Pat Holden (grandparentsPappy and Nonnie) and

Henry and Billie Sue Rohrscheib (grandparentsDadoo and Nanny). MOST CHERISHED POSSESSION: His T-Rex Dinosaur stuffed animal. MORE INFORMATION: When he was 15 months old, he played Aaron Burlsworth (Brandon Burlsworthâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s youngest nephew) in the movie â&#x20AC;&#x153;Greater,â&#x20AC;? the story of the Arkansas Razorback walkon football player who became an All-American.

November 2018 501lifemag.com | 59

501 kids

Protecting wellness during the holidays With the cooler weather, we start spending less time outside, and the germs go crazy. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have time to be sick around here. We have a full fall and holiday schedule. We have travel plans for holidays, and having to cancel those would mean missing out on seeing family Brittany that we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get to see Gilbert often. Thankfully, I have preventative measures in Brittany Gilbert is a former FACS teacher at Maumelle High place and plans if sickness School. She and her husband, does occur. Levi, have three children and live in Conway. Brittany can be Daily health and reached at cleanliness measures b.gilbert37@gmail.com. Wash those hands! Whatever you need to do to keep this in the forefront of your kidâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s minds, do it! Put pictures up on the bathroom mirror to remind them, and sing songs to help them get excited about it and to know how long they should be washing their hands. Twenty seconds with soap and warm water is the recommended protocol for proper hand washing. This is about the length of singing the Happy Birthday song twice or practicing the alphabet. You can take it a step further and show your kids videos and teach them about why we need to wash our hands properly. Keep hand sanitizer handy. We donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use hand sanitizer a whole lot. Some germs are good for us, and these products tend to wipe away everything. However, there are times and places when you canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t wash your hands right away, but you really need to. If there is a new baby in your family or circle of friends, please take extra precaution. RSV and whooping cough are extremely dangerous for babies and so easy to catch. Teach your kids that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not a good idea to touch babies, and when they cough, they need to do it in the crook of their elbow. Also, as moms, we may seem healthy but also may be carrying whatever germs our kids have, so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s totally OK to look at precious newborns and not have to hold them. This also goes for those with compromised immune systems. Practicing cleanliness and mindfulness can keep a lot of people from getting sick. Seasonal preventative steps and products to add to your medicine cabinet Last year, when the flu season was in full swing, store shelves could not keep elderberry syrup in stock. Elderberry syrup is a homeopathic syrup that is excellent for immune support. You can take it 60 | 501 LIFE November 2018

every day to help protect your immunity. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s something I feel good about giving my entire family, and I have seen the benefits whenever we do have a bug going around our house or the full blown flu. When treating an entire family, elderberry syrup can get expensive, so this year will be my first year to make my own, using organic flash frozen elderberries from Amazon and the Instant Pot. I have been an essential oil user for almost five years. I still remember when I was introduced to them. I remember feeling so thankful to have these natural remedies at my fingertips. I still feel that way. Pure, therapeutic grade essential oils are amazing to have in your medicine cabinet. There are all sorts of benefits of oils: they can be anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and the list goes on. Make sure to find a credible resource for safe essential oil usage and do thorough research on the different brands. Then watch the amazing benefits they provide! We diffuse oils in our house to not only kill germs in the air and protect our health, but also to make our house smell like fall or Christmas. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heavenly. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve recently been introduced to vitamin C powder â&#x20AC;&#x201D; not whole food vitamin C, but the vitamin in its purest form, ascorbic acid. With the approval of our doctor, we added it to our regimen. Whenever our kids have had a sore throat, I have given them

a glass of water with this powder, and by the end of the day, the soreness or cough is gone. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s been an easy and safe product to add to what weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re already doing and feel comfortable knowing that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s not just treating symptoms, but building up our immunity as well. Prebiotics and probiotics have been all the rage for the past few years and for good reason. Now that weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve realized that the root cause of so many issues lies in the gut, we know we need to protect it and heal it. Prebiotics and probiotics do that and also help protect us from getting sick. Maybe youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve noticed that I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t mentioned a multi-vitamin in this article. Multi-vitamins arenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t necessarily important. Often times, they have a ton of sugar and very little value to our bodies. However, prebiotics and probiotics are extremely beneficial. Sometimes, you can find a multivitamin that has these in it already. Again, do your research and talk to your doctor to find something that works for you. These are products that we have seen lots of results with since weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve added them to our routine. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take my word for it, do your own research and find what works for your family. Adding natural and homeopathic remedies has saved us from using a lot of prescription and over-the-counter medication. More than anything, it has helped us stay well so we can enjoy the holidays with our family.

Enjoying outdoor fall activities Arkansas is known for its outdoor beauty, yet we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take full advantage of our natural surroundings. Central Arkansas is home to many outdoor resources and opportunities. With temperatures cooling and fall foliage emerging, autumn may be one of the best times Katelin to experience our Whiddon state. Many of these events and locations A native of Conway, Katelin Whiddon is a family nurse are nearby and free of practitioner. She and her cost. husband, Daniel, have two daughters. A graduate of the Try Petit Jean, University of Central Arkansas, Sugar Loaf, Pinshe has her bachelorâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s and masterâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s degrees. nacle Mountain, Mount Nebo, Mount Magazine, Devilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Den, areas surrounding the Buffalo River, Blanchard Springs, Mammoth Spring and Queen Wilhelmina State Park for your outdoor recreational pleasure. There are numerous outdoor activities, camps, animal adventures and many more events throughout the state to partake in. These areas are just the tip of the iceberg of natural beauty here in Central Arkansas. While the Little Rock Zoo is a fun location for your family to experience a variety of wildlife, there are several additional options in the Natural State. The Elephant Sanctuary in Quitman (elephantsanctuary.org) takes elephants regardless of species, gender or behavior. Donations can be made to the organization â&#x20AC;&#x201D; both financial and non-monetary â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and donations are tax deductible. The Sanctuary offers options to adopt an elephant as well. The sanctuary hosts a visitors day for the public on the first Saturday of every month between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Reservations are not needed. There is a $5 donation admission per person, children 2 years old and under enter free. Although not in the 501, Gentry (Benton County) is home to the Wild Wilderness Drive Through in which you can view a variety of animals from inside your own vehicle. Turpentine Creek Wildlife Refuge is located in Eureka Springs and houses mostly big cat species. This organization allows visitors to view the animals at feeding time, so be sure to call

ahead and schedule to be present during that allotted time. Consider taking your family for a day trip or even an overnight camping adventure to a state park to experience the beauty of Arkansas in the fall. Hiking trails, community events, museums, horseback riding and historical demonstrations are just a few of the adventures these areas have to offer. Water activities are also available at nearby rivers and lakes. Depending on the season and location, consider stopping by some local farms to experience what goes on to produce our local meat and produce. As discussed in a previous article, it may make children more likely to eat fruits and vegetables when they are able to see it grown. Again, try contacting the farms prior to visiting to arrange for the best experience.

Throughout the fall, pumpkin patches are open around the state. Conway, Quitman, Scott and numerous other Central Arkansas regions host thousands of Arkansans each year in their farms. You can enjoy hayrides, mazes, petting zoos, arts and crafts and historical demonstrations in these attractions. Some pumpkin patches are free to enter but may require a small fee to participate in additional activities or purchase pumpkins to take home for carving or decoration. With kids in school it may be more difficult to take longer family vacations, but in Arkansas, we have so many opportunities to experience our lovely state and enjoy time with family and friends. Make it a tradition to take weekend or day trips to experience what is offered right outside your door.

November 2018 501lifemag.com | 61

AUTHORS IN THE 501

Thomas uses literacy to help students

Jamille Rogers Thomas (from left), Evangeline Guest and Monica Garcia. Guest came to purchase books for the Teen Promise non-profit mentorship program she runs. Helping young males become successful members of society is Jamille Rogers Thomas’ goal. She is a former classroom teacher and now a library media specialist at Marguerite Vann Elementary School in Conway. Although no longer in the classroom, she uses her newly published Susan book, “Be Kind. Be Peterson Brave. Be a Hero,” to Susan Peterson holds a PhD in educate youth on how to education and taught succeed. at the University of Central Arkansas and Slippery Rock Jamille founded and University in Pennsylvania. She directed The Distinretired in 2004 and now spends her time doing artwork (painting guished Gentlemen’s and pottery). She is the executive Club at Vann. The secretary of the Arkansas Reading Association, a professional empowerment program organization for educators is designed for male that has about 800 members statewide. students in grades second through fourth and teaches social responsibility and leadership skills. Using her father as a role model, Jamille writes 62 | 501 LIFE November 2018

about an African-American male who manages to overcome his experiences with racism and bullying. Monica Garcia, a kindergarten teacher at Marguerite Vann, was the illustrator for the book. In her quest to help others be successful, Jamille has achieved quite a few accomplishments herself. She has been recognized by Gov. Asa Hutchinson and was presented with a citation by the Arkansas House of Representatives. The School Library Journal featured her as a local hero who is striving for equity through literacy. In 2016, she was recognized by the American Library Association for her efforts in the Conway School District. Jamille knows the power literacy can have in helping to motivate and instruct. Pairing the right book and student can be magical. She used the book with the Distinguished Gentleman’s Club. Jamille has traveled to various schools, sharing her effective strategies and was a special guest at the 2018 Texas Library Association state conference. She has a contagious enthusiasm for helping male students be successful in and out of the classroom. With her book, she is able to spread her message of hope and inspire her readers to develop positive character traits. Jamille lives in Conway with her husband, Korey. For more information or to purchase books online, visit JRTandMore.com.

Dick Mitchell at Barber Service in Little Rock recently retired after more than 50 years in the business.

Longtime barber a fixture Photo and story by Dwain Hebda

Landmarks come in all shapes and sizes. Some are easy to find; they dominate town squares or loom majestically in nature or stand silent and dignified behind a brass plaque denoting their place in time and history. Other landmarks, however, are harder to see, woven as they are into their neighborhoods, existing day to day as a thread in the fabric of a community. These are no less important for being subtle, burnished and smoothed with the passage of time. Barber Service in Little Rock, and its proprietor Dick Mitchell, are just such landmarks. “I got a customer been with me over 50 years,” Mitchell said. “I’ve had as high as four generations in one family.” Even with the traditional barber pole by the front door, you couldn’t be blamed for missing the shop, a small single space amid larger, more garish neighbors in a nondescript shopping center. But stepping over its threshold is to take a step back through time when barber shops were more than a place to get a trim and a shave; they were where neighborhood guys congregated, swapped stories and discussed the news of the world, checking political correctness at the door. “I’ve been coming here for 40 years, and I don’t feel that old, but I guess I am,” said customer Tim Laughlin. “You know, it may be longer than that because I started coming here in the early 1970s, so you do the math.”

Laughlin glances at Mitchell, and grins. “I had black hair, but something on their equipment has turned it a little gray.” Mitchell, who’s been orchestrating such conversations for 60 years, has done so on this spot for 52 of them. In that time, he’s cut hair on toddlers to centenarians-plus and every age in between. At 86, his is still producing a five-day workweek, Tuesday through Saturday. “I need something to do,” he said, simply. Mitchell was born into a farm family of eight children in Searcy. Orphaned at the age of 9, he was raised by his sister and entered the Navy in 1952. “I made three roundtrips to Korea,” he said proudly. After his military hitch ended, he was looking for something to do when his cousin Glenn Polk offered a suggestion. “My cousin said he was going to Little Rock to see about going to barber school, and I said, ‘Well, I might as well go with you,’” Mitchell said. “It was Heaton Barber College in Downtown Little Rock; not there anymore.” The cousins went into business together, not long after a former roommate and his wife rigged a blind date between Dick and Joy Whitten, a pretty, young nurse. That encounter led to the couple marrying in April 1962 in a small ceremony officiated by a preacher whose hair Dick tended. Two sons and two granddaughters have followed over the years as the riotous cacophony of photos stuck into the mirror at Mitchell’s workstation attest. But then, most everyone who came into the shop

was some form of family, blood or not. “I’ve seen a lot of boys who grew up through here,” said Susan Greeson who started cutting hair here a few years ago. “Boys who went to Holy Souls (School), grew up through Catholic High, go off to college and have their family come through here. Their dads brought them here when they were kids. Then they started bringing their kids here.” Greeson’s arrival was big news in the history of the shop. Mitchell didn’t cut women’s hair and wasn’t looking to expand his repertoire; he just needed some help. Any woman taking on that role in one of the last true bastions of man-dom had to have thick skin, at least off the start, and Greeson fit the bill. “It was different, but we got along pretty good soon as I started letting her do what she wanted to. We got along alright,” Mitchell said. “Some of the customers couldn’t tell the kind of jokes they’d been used to.” “Dick and Susan can’t be beat,” Laughlin said. “This is an institution in this part of town. We’re going to miss Dick when he decides to hang up his scissors.” That event came to pass this summer when Mitchell shut out the lights for the last time. Age and infirmity had ushered his cousin from the shop some time ago, and Mitchell himself had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. The tremor in his left hand making it impossible for him to cut hair, he bowed out with customary grace and humor. “Joy retired 10 or 12 years ago. She’s been wanting me to retire for 15 years,” he said with a gentle smile. “I didn’t have time.” November 2018 501lifemag.com | 63

SPORTS ROUNDUP

Parkhurst Field Foundation signs ‘Chasing Moonlight’ book deal David Karpinski, executive director of the Parkhurst Field Foundation, recently announced that the Foundation has signed a book deal with the authors of “Chasing Moonlight,” an inspirational book about Moonlight “Doc” Graham of the movie fame “Field of Dreams.” In 1906 and 1907, Graham played seven documented games at A.J.&G. Park/Parkhurst Field as he pursued his dream of making it big in Major League Baseball. In “Chasing Moonlight,” Brett Friedlander and Dr. Robert Reising prove that truth is more interesting than fiction. The real-life Moonlight Graham didn’t play just a half-inning for John McGraw’s New York Giants, as depicted in the movie. Neither did he retire from baseball after his lone major league appearance. Rather, he became a fan favorite during a noteworthy professional career, all the while juggling baseball with medical residencies. The JAGs, the local semi-pro team which played at Parkhurst Field from 1906-1908, are mentioned in the classic book a number of times as it chronicles the playing career and life of Graham. “As the co-author of ‘Chasing Moonlight,’ I am delighted that the Parkhurst Field Foundation has committed to assisting efforts to keep alive a story as inspiring as it is enriching,” said Reising, who lives in Conway and is a 501 LIFE contributor.

“Archibald Wright ‘Moonlight’ Graham possessed uncommon intelligence and integrity and remained throughout his lifetime unshakable in his belief that service to humankind merited primacy among his priorities, regardless of the personal and professional price to be paid. The University of Central Arkansas, with its recently created Moonlight Graham Sports Medicine Award” shares my delight that the Foundation has joined the struggle to honor an exemplary human for decades to come.” The Foundation has secured the remaining book inventory from the publisher and will exclusively make the book available for sale through a number of book stores and outlets, including the Baseball Hall of Fame, and at the future park’s gift shop. “Through the generosity of Brett and Bob, proceeds from the sale of the book will go to our capital campaign to re-develop Parkhurst as a baseball destination,” said Karpinski. “We will also give a copy of the book as our ‘thank you’ to all donors who donate more than $50 to our campaign.” To support the capital campaign or purchase a copy of “Chasing Moonlight,” visit parkhurstfield. org or the Parkhurst Field Facebook page. The cover of the “Chasing Moonlight” book written by Brett Friedlander and Dr. Robert Reising, a 501 LIFE contributor.

CBC softball team presented World Series champion rings In recognition of their 2018 National Christian College Athletic Association World Series championship, the Central Baptist College Softball Team recently received their championship rings at a special ceremony at the Story Library at CBC. This was the second NCCAA National Championship for the Mustangs, following their triumph in 2010. “I would like to thank the friends, families, faculty, staff, Mustang Club, VP Ryan Johnson, VP Sancy Faulk, our AD Lyle Middleton, President Kimbrow and anyone else who followed these girls last year for the amazing outpouring of support,” said head coach Jordon Jones. “Tonight was something these girls will never forget and it was made possible by so many people. “Thank you to Erik, our SID, who continues to follow us and keep everyone updated with our progress! We will continue to play for you all and be grounded by the fact that this game is a blessing and can be used as a way to bless others. Go Mustangs and let’s keep building!” The Mustang softball team went 42-19 last season and played for the American Midwest Conference championship. In the NCCAA playoffs, the Mustangs went 7-0, winning both games in the NCCAA Central Regional and then sweeping through the World Series, beating Oakland City 7-3, 64 | 501 LIFE November 2018

Members of the Central Baptist College Softball Team were “Loving LIFE” during a special ceremony where they received rings in recognition of their 2018 National Christian College Athletic Association World Series championship. Trinity International 6-5 in nine innings and Cincinnati Christian 8-0 in five. The team then defeated Warner 9-5 in the semifinals before capturing the title by a 5-2 score over Belhaven.

Kymberlie House was named the most outstanding player of the tournament and was joined on the all-tournament team by Allison Seats and Alyssa Estrada.

get f ra m e d at

Pa t t e r s o n E y e C a re

The Conway Christian Homecoming Court was “Loving LIFE”: Megan Pelley (from left), Katie Hall, Katherine Huff, Kali Guilliams, Hannah Dixon, Raegan Malone, Abby Austin, Maddie Allison, Eden Brister and Ella Ford.

2505 Donaghey, Ste 102 • Conway, AR

501.450.9900

pattersoneyecare.com

Members of the Ruth Doyle Middle School Volleyball Team in Conway were “Loving LIFE” after recently winning its 30th volleyball game in two years against Simon Middle School. The volleyball program has grown over the years to be one of the best around. “I will say the program has come a long way,” said Coach Rhonda Lasker Holloway. “We definitely started from the bottom and have worked hard at building a successful program. The last three groups have taken it to a new level. Each group worked hard and worked together, as well as this year’s team. I expect them to have a great season too. Hopefully, I’m preparing these girls to go on to do even greater things in junior high and high school.” November 2018 501lifemag.com | 65

SPORTS

First Service Bank representatives Brittany Witham (from left), Matthew Carter and Robin Hackett with the First Service Cup, a traveling trophy presented to the winner of the Greenbrier vs. Vilonia game each year. (Mike Kemp photos) 66 | 501 LIFE November 2018

First Service Cup Greenbrier, Vilonia clash again Nov. 2

Greenbrier’s Seth Howard was selected to this year’s 501 Football Team, sponsored by Conway Ortho and Sports Medicine Center, Conway Regional Health System and First Security Bank. by Levi Gilbert

Regardless of records or playoff implications, Faulkner County is rife with tension for two communities every year in Week 10 of the high school football schedule. The Greenbrier Panthers and the Vilonia Eagles face off for the First Service Cup in their annual county rivalry Friday, Nov. 2. For Vilonia’s Tanner Loter and Greenbrier’s Seth Howard, this single game carries more weight than any other on the schedule. “I’ve been competing in football against Greenbrier since third grade, and every game is just as important as the last,” said Tanner Loter, a senior linebacker for the Vilonia Eagles. “I want to win this game more than any other game all year.” Greenbrier comes into the matchup favored and leading the series rivalry. But, history is rarely a helpful guide for a rivalry game. “The rivalry always makes me anxious to play them,” said Seth Howard, a senior running back and defensive back for the Greenbrier Panthers. “I always try my hardest, but when we play them, I’m a different person.”

Vilonia’s Tanner Loter was selected to this year’s 501 Football Team, sponsored by Conway Ortho and Sports Medicine Center, Conway Regional Health System and First Security Bank.

Loter and Howard were both selected to this year’s 501 Football Team — 28 players representing all 11 counties of the 501. The team, sponsored by Conway Ortho and Sports Medicine Center, Conway Regional Health System and First Security Bank, boasts the best the 501 has to offer both on and off the field. The two seniors were nominated by their respective head coaches. “Tanner has shown a tremendous work ethic and attitude throughout his football career,” Vilonia Coach Todd Langrell wrote in his nomination. “He has a football mentality with a high level knowledge of the game. Whether it’s on the field or in the weight room, Tanner leads by example while also motivating his teammates. Tanner is a coach on the field.” For Loter, this storied rivalry has been built up his entire life. “It’s something we grow up talking about,” Loter said. “There’s a little extra in everyone’s tank the entire week. The bragging rights are big to each community. We have to play a mistake-free game and take advantage of all of their mistakes. They are a solid team, but I feel like we are, too. As a team and a community, we’re all hungry to bring home the

First Service Cup.” Greenbrier Coach Randy Tribble knows that Howard is the just the type of player he needs leading his team in a high stakes rivalry game. “He’s a very humble person,” Tribble said of Howard in his nomination. “He’s very loyal to his friends and teammates. He’s as happy for a teammate’s success as he is for his personal success.” Howard is focused on soaking in his final First Service Cup battle against Vilonia. “It’s going to take good communication between our team and good preparation that week,” Howard said. “There is no doubt in my mind that we will bring the Cup home again. It means a lot to our community. The atmosphere that week is amazing, and everyone is always pumped for that Friday night. There is no room in the stands that night.” Since 2001, Greenbrier leads the series, 9-8, and has won the last six matchups. As of press time through Week 7, Greenbrier (4-3, 2-2) and Vilonia (3-4, 2-2) are both still vying for the last two playoff berths out of the 5A West. Greenbrier plays host to Vilonia for the First Service Cup at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 2. November 2018 501lifemag.com | 67

SPORTS

Hot Spring County: Bob Burrow From the rafters of Rupp Arena, the largest basketball-only sports auditorium in the nation, hangs a well-worn jersey on which a name and a number important to Central Arkansans glisten in white on a sea of blue. “Burrow” is the name and “50” the number, and they honor a native of MalDr. Robert vern who brought glory Reising to himself, Hot Spring County and the UniverDr. Robert Reising retired from the University of Central sity of Kentucky. Arkansas in 2013 after holding a Six hundred miles variety of teaching, coaching and administrative posts during more southwest of the arena than a half-century in education. is the timber-rich region His doctoral dissertation at Duke treated literature and sports. of “The Natural State,” where Robert Brantley Burrow was born on June 29, 1934. In the aftermath of the Second World War, Bob’s lumberjack father received an attractive offer to serve as foreman of woods with a major lumber company in Wells, “a sawmill town” but an important railroad hub in central East Texas. He accepted it, yet never were the Burrows to sever ties with Bob’s native soil. In 2018, his sons retain ownership of numerous acres surrounding Malvern. Bob fared handsomely in the town with fewer than 800 people. Athletically as well as academically, Wells developed him for both life and higher education. In his two years at the high school, he was a favorite both on and off the court, serving as editor of The Buccaneer, the school’s yearbook, graduating fourth in his class and earning election by his peers as “Mr. Wells High School” as well as “Best Athlete.” Townspeople were so taken by the 6-foot-7 student-athlete that they delighted in calling him “Slim” and joking about his need to duck when slipping through a doorway. Awaiting him upon graduation in 1952 were several basketball offers. But he imposed an unusual demand upon recruiters: he would accept a scholarship only if it were accompanied by a scholarship for a less gifted teammate, Billy Brown, the small guard on the Wells High basketball team whose passes had allowed “Slim” to score almost at will. One coach responded positively. Otis Printer “O.P.” Adams, at now-closed Lon Morris Junior College in Jacksonville, Texas, detected so much court potential in the tall but unpolished center that he surrendered two scholarships to land him. During the two years that followed, as Brown escaped into junior varsity obscurity, “Slim” catapulted to national stardom. “O.P.” proved to be the ideal mentor for developing every part of his game, especially his rebounding and shooting, and “Wells’ Finest” emerged from the institution, diploma in hand, as “The No. 1 Junior-College 68 | 501 LIFE November 2018

Bob Burrow when his number was retired at the University of Kentucky. Player in the Country.” Bob’s basketball excellence was so widely trumpeted throughout the nation that every major

university coach hungered for his services. One who had never seen him play but believed the superlatives in which his assistant coach bathed

501 LIFE is once again profiling noteworthy athletes from Central Arkansas, one from each of the 11 counties in the 501, in a special series titled “Celebrating athletic excellence.” The 11 are representatives of the quality of athletes found throughout Central Arkansas and are not meant to be the best or the most noteworthy. This is the fifth installment in the second series. the 1954 National Junior College Tournament’s “Most Valuable Player” was quick to offer him a scholarship. Adolph Rupp’s reputation had preceded him: Bob was so flattered that the iconic mentor wanted him for his fabled program that he unhesitatingly accepted. Neither Rupp nor Bob regretted the sightunseen recruitment. The latter was a Wildcat star from Day One, and accomplished more in two seasons than many an outstanding performer accomplishes in four. Leading Kentucky to a 43-9 record, Bob poured 1,023 points through the

Bob Burrow surrounded by his family.

nets and collared 823 rebounds before graduating in the spring of 1956. He averaged 20 points per games during the two seasons, leading the Wildcats in scoring in both, and his impressive 14.6 rebounding average of his senior year, he had exceeded during the previous campaign with the program’s best-ever 17.7 season average. In his junior year, he set a single-game program high against always formidable Temple University by grabbing a spectacular 34 rebounds. Truly, as a sportswriter proclaimed over half-acentury later, “He was the original Mr. Double-

Double” as a scorer and a rebounder. Truly, too, he earned the All-American honors that fell to him after each of his Wildcat campaigns. Two seasons of solid professional play followed. In 81 National Basketball League games, Bob tallied 459 points while garnering 180 rebounds. His heart lay with public education, however, and in the fall of 1958, he launched a multi-decade career that included both teaching and coaching, and in 1997, he retired as superintendent of public schools in Fort Knox, Ky. Today, Bob resides in Franklin, Tenn., grateful that his retired jersey hangs from the rafters of Rupp Arena, indebted, also, to Hot Spring County and the 501, both proud that his origins lie in their soil.

. . l E L a e SSIB R s i e O l P g s i g Y u R r E t The Snd RECOV a

In Arkansas, mental health issues are affecting people of all ages and the suicide rate across all ages is at an all-time high. But there is hope. The BridgeWay provides a continuum of care that is safe, secure and serene. Just as each patient is different, so too are our programs. The BridgeWay is the only psychiatric hospital in Arkansas with distinct programs for seniors 55 and older, adults 18 and older, adolescents, ages 13-17, and children, ages 4-12. Whether it is for mood, thought or substance abuse disorders, we provide separate units for each population.

21 BridgeWay Road, North Little Rock, AR 72113 1-800-BRIDGEWAY | thebridgeway.com

November 2018 501lifemag.com | 69

501 welcomes fall Mike Kemp photos

While summer has tried to maintain her grip, the 501 will soon welcome fall with its cooler temperatures and spectacular colors. Many are eager to say good bye to warmer temperatures and embrace one of the most beautiful times of year in Central Arkansas. Shorts and short-sleeved shirts will be traded in for warmer clothing. Green leaves will be replaced with nearly every color imaginable â&#x20AC;&#x201C; vibrant yellows, rich reds and spectacular oranges as the 501 welcomes fall.

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November 2018 501lifemag.com | 71

TRAVEL

Honoring veterans

Morrilton hosts special flag display

Linda Henderson Jim and Linda Henderson are lifelong residents of the 501. During the week, Jim has a construction business and Linda is a registered nurse at the Conway Human Development Center. On the weekends, they travel the 501 and other areas of Arkansas. Jim drives and hauls equipment. Linda takes photographs of Arkansas. During their travels, they have gained appreciation and love for The Natural State. They have found the 501 has so much to offer for weekend fun and beauty to photograph.

Ever felt you have been in church, but you havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t? That is how I felt as I watched members of the VFW Post 4453 from Morrilton put up flags at the Walk of Flags. The reverence and devotion to honoring fellow men and women who have served our county brought tears to my eyes. In these days filled with controversy over our nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s flag, it was so refreshing to see honor of the flag and service in action. The day I photographed the Walk of Flags display was hot! The sun was already beating down on the small walking park. Placing each of the 808 American flags in their designated spot started early, well before 7 a.m. It began with two men opening the trailers that store the flags, and with great care each flag was unwrapped and straightened. Each flag was then taken to its numbered spot and placed into a concrete holder. Two more post members arrived, and then four more. Before 9 a.m. all the flags were out, decorating the park and representing service to our county. Seven times each year, the VFW Post 4453 presents the flag display along the St. Vincent Morrilton Hospital Walking Trail at 4 Hospital Dr. The Walk of Flags was started July 4, 2007, with less than 50 flags and continues to grow

each year. The Veterans Walk of Flags honors veterans from all wars beginning with World War II. Each flag has been purchased to recognize the service of a local veteran. All 808 flags have the name of a veteran on the pole, as well as the branch of the service they were in. Not all flags represent service members who are from Conway County, but their family members live in the area. Families or individuals who wish to honor 72 | 501 LIFE November 2018

the service of a loved one turn in an application for a flag to the VFW Post. The family pays a one-time fee for the upkeep, storage and cost of flag trailers. Families receive a certification of the flag and of its placement. The Post then purchases the flags, poles and labels and displays them on patriotic holidays. One family member told me as we watched the display being assembled that her father’s service lived on as the flag with his name was brought out every year. There are very special service flags that face East Harding Street. The Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and the Coast Guard flags fly to honor the different branches of service. Another special American flag located facing Harding Street is one honoring Nathan G. Gordon, a native of Morrilton and recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Gold Star, an Air Medal with two Clusters and a Presidential Unit Citation of Merit. Gordon was a Navy pilot during World War II. He served in the Southwestern Pacific Theater and flew a seaplane christened the “Arkansas Traveler.” He was the longest tenured Lieutenant Governor of Arkansas and held that office from 1947-67. Other special flags honor two veterans that the VFW is named for, Harold D. Martin and Elvin V. Bradley. Other days that the flags are displayed include Armed Forces Day (third Saturday of May), Memorial Day, Flag Day (June 14), Independence Day, POW/MIA Day (third Saturday of September), Veterans Day and Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7). The flags are placed at around sunrise and are returned to the storage trailers at the end of the day.

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Dazzle continued from Page 40 All of the raffle prizes are valued at about $40,000 and include the Mustang, a Louis Vutton satchel (valued at $1,800) from Braswell and Sons, a half-carat diamond pendant ($1,600) from Lee Ann’s Fine Jewelry, a Traeger grill and meat package ($1,200) from Moix Companies and a $1,000 gift certificate from Cajun Brothers. Raffle tickets are available at the Conway Regional Health Foundation, Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center, 501 LIFE office at 701 Chestnut St. in Downtown Conway, H3 Home+Décor, Smith Ford, Michelle Phillips CPA, First Security Bank (Old Morrilton Highway and Greenbrier), Log Cabin Democrat, US Pizza, Lee Ann’s Fine Jewelry, H + N Architects, Daisy-A-Day Florist in Greenbrier, First Service Bank in Greenbrier and La-Z-Boy Furniture Gallery in Little Rock.

TICKETS Other activities planned at Dazzle Daze include a Teddy Bear Clinic for children and photos with

Things continued from Page 36 products disappear because of experimental marketing. Your favorite restaurant remodels, losing its former appeal. Your favorite outdoor scenery and travel ways are littered. As a former teacher, I can say that families are not together, and if they happen to be, they are self-distracted by technology. It’s hard changing centuries in the middle of your life! Things end that you enjoyed, and things begin that you wish would end but won’t! But there is still

Santa, taken by photographer Courtney Reynolds. Dazzle Daze tickets are $30 online/$40 at the door for Girls’ Nite Out; $7.50 online /$10 at the door for general admission, and $65 online only for a 10-pack of general admission tickets. For more information, visit DazzleDaze.com.

INVITATION Shelia and Amy are extending a special invitation to those in the 501 to attend Dazzle Daze. “Dazzle Daze provides a fun, shopping extravaganza but more importantly it allows women and residents in the community and surrounding area an opportunity to support the overall wellness of women through Conway Regional Medical Center,” said Shelia. “The Women’s Council and the Dazzle Daze Committee are champions for this cause.” “Christmas is my favorite time of year,” Amy said. “I like to see what’s new and I love the idea of being able to purchase gifts at Dazzle Daze while helping our hospital. I just love it!” a remnant of us who have our memories of the only stoplight in town, the full-scale café meal for 75¢, blue jeans for $3, church services on Sundays and Wednesday nights with all stores closed on Sundays, movies for 50¢, the foot X-ray machine at Mr. Jumper’s shoe store, crossing the river on the Toad Suck Ferry and, ultimately, the closing of Massey Hardware. We couldn’t protest the end of those then, but we can certainly enjoy a long conversation about them now.

Calling all girlfriends! As a sponsor for this year’s Girls’ Nite Out at Dazzle Daze, 501 LIFE is extending a special invitation to celebrate “The Gift of Girlfriends” at the event. 501 LIFE will also be making a special announcement about an upcoming contest and serving a unique dessert at Girls’ Nite Out. “We know there are different types of girlfriend groups, from those who gather each month to play Bunko or celebrate birthdays to those related to school, work and church,” said co-publisher Sonja J. Keith. “Our girlfriends are a treasure, a real gift, and we want to celebrate them at Girls’ Nite Out.” Courtney Reynolds will be on hand to take photos of girlfriends for attendees to order as a keepsake from the night. 501 LIFE will also be taking photos to publish in the January edition of the magazine and collect comments from girlfriends about why their group is special. “Call your girlfriends and get Nov. 15 on your calendar so you can join us as we celebrate those special women in our lives,” said Sonja. Girls’ Nite Out tickets are $30 online and $40 at the door. Visit dazzledaze.com for more information.

Your gift to Methodist Family Health provides behavioral, emotional and spiritual care to almost 5,600 Arkansas children and families. Will you bring light to someone's life this holiday season with your donation?

• Text GIVE to 501-254-6048 • Visit MethodistFamily.org, click Donate Now • Call 501-906-4209 and charge to card • Mail donation: Methodist Family Health, P.O. Box 56059, Little Rock, AR 72215 A real MFH client November 2018 501lifemag.com | 75

NEIGHBORS special friends

Big dreams

Greenbrier rider has goals inside, outside arena

Amanda Tyne of Greenbrier serves as president of the Arkansas Barrel Racing Association and is the owner of Infinity Faith Performance Horses. Story and photos by Dwain Hebda

As world headquarters go, Infinity Faith Performance Horses is hard to beat. The rolling hills and lush banks of trees frame emerald pastures where in the distance, horses slowly graze in the heat of midmorning, their coats stark against the endless green of the field. “It’s peaceful out here,” said Amanda Tyne, owner. “It could use a little brush hogging, but,” she said, cocking her head to one shoulder as if to say, “What are ya gonna do?” Tyne can be forgiven for her pasture being a little on the shaggy side. The 40-year-old tends and trains 24 horses (13 of which are hers), so it’s easy to see where the day goes. But the Texas-born mother of two wouldn’t have it any other way. 76 | 501 LIFE November 2018

“A horse is an animal that has always been instilled in me,” she said. “I’ve always had a passion and a desire to understand them, to read them. It’s something that goes way back, and it’s very deep. That to me, understanding them, is fulfillment, and I have the ability and I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to do it from 8 to 5 every day.” Tyne’s lifelong equine love affair led her to ride and rope at an early age. She competed in rodeos growing up, all the way to becoming a collegiatelevel roper while attending Arkansas Tech University in Russellville. She founded Infinity Faith Performance Horses in 2014 where she trains barrel racing stock — both her own animals and others’ — on her spread outside of Greenbrier. It’s a crowded marketplace, horse training, but one where she’d excelled. Just this year, her horses have placed in the money at major events in Texarkana, Tunica and elsewhere. That kind of success has

both the stables and her heart full. “I give all the glory to God because we have prayed and prayed and prayed about all this,” she said. “And there’s so many people (training horses) around here. But I don’t think they’re as deep in booking out as we are. It’s just been people coming in left and right.” Tyne is so at home here, lugging saddles and hay, it’s hard to believe she actually got out of the horse business entirely for a stretch. When her eldest started into sports, she decided it was time to move into another chapter of her life. She made it six years, but the pull of the ranch was just too strong. “I just like to work with a horse,” she said. “They’re 1,200 pounds; they could kill you. Why they want to work with us, I don’t know. And I see so many of them where the horse is trying to tell people, ‘I don’t like this,’ or ‘Please get out of

my way,’ and people don’t listen because they’re so focused on phones or technology or how they look and just not paying attention. These horses put up with us.” Even though she’s been back in the saddle — literally — for some time now, Tyne has cut back on the number of rodeos she’ll attend in a given year. When she does attend, she watches her mounts from the stands and tries hard not to be a “horse mom.” “I try my best to stay quiet, but inside, there’s this huge chaos going on,” she said. “A lot of times there’s personality number six and 13 and 23 that want to yell, ‘Don’t do this. Don’t do that.’” Tyne, who serves as president of the Arkansas Barrel Racing Association, said Arkansas is producing a number of quality competitors. Racers get their competitive start before the age of 8 and compete in everything from local contests through a national championship, where Arkansas riders regularly place in the top five. “Barrel racing is growing,” Tyne said. “We have really good rodeos and really good barrel races around here. We’ve got probably 10 or 15 pens in Central Arkansas that are notable for good ground; people can come and run a race and know that it’s going to be run smooth.” Being involved with the sport and watching her horses win has inspired Tyne to get back into the competitive arena herself. In December, she will attempt to qualify for The American, a rodeo featuring elite athletes and a $1 million payout, including a $100,000 first prize to the champion barrel racer. “I’m looking to make a comeback, so to speak,” she said with a big smile. “Used to, you would have to be on the road all the time (to qualify). The American, and some of these bigger rodeos, to get qualified you only have to go to one (event).” Whether or not she can make that happen, Tyne still has a life she loves to come home to. Yes, there are stalls to clean and horses to curry and a pasture that needs the brush hog. But Tyne isn’t complaining. “My faith is what got me here, and every morning I thank Him,” she said. “And every night, I’m safe, we’re walking and all of them are fed and nobody’s down and the vet didn’t come. So we’re good.”

Amanda Tyne’s horse’s name is taken from the movie “Legally Blonde” – Elle Woods.

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November 2018 501lifemag.com | 77

NEIGHBORS person of the month

Calton Mitchell

CITY: Fairfield Bay. WORK: Owner of Quality Services and Solutions

LLC., providing quality management system consulting services for small- and medium-size manufacturing companies. I worked for 30 years as a quality assurance specialist for the Department of Defense.

MILITARY SERVICE: Served 12 years in the Navy and 20 years in the Army Reserves. During my 32 years of military service, I supported multiple combat and humanitarian missions during the Cold War, LA Riots, Post-9/11 and Afghanistan. I retired as the Command Sergeants Major of the 420th Engineer Brigade. COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: Reserve police sergeant

for the City of Fairfield Bay Police Department, supervising the Reserve Police program and providing patrol services.

FAMILY: Three daughters, Courtney, Whitney and Trinity; a son, Tyler; two grandsons, Hudson and Lincoln.

EDUCATION: Master’s degree from Great Commission Bible College; working on a doctorate in theology. LAST BOOK YOU READ: “Her Majesty’s Wishes” by Jackie McCool.

FAVORITE MEAL: Red beans, cornbread and rice. MOST CHERISHED POSSESSION: Dog tag of my battle buddy who was seriously wounded in Afghanistan. MOST ENJOYED WEEKEND ACTIVITY: Traveling

with my special friend visiting those hidden treasures that Arkansas has to offer.

FAVORITE QUOTE: “I was a soldier, I am a soldier, I will always be a soldier.” NO. 1 VACATION SPOT: I love visiting the mountains of Arkansas, especially the Ozarks and Boston Mountains. FAVORITE PLACE IN ARKANSAS: My community,

With 32 years of military service, Fairfield Bay’s Calton Mitchell received numerous awards, including the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Enlisted Surface Warfare badge and Combat Action badge. (Mike Kemp photo)

the City of Fairfield Bay.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN THE 501: I have traveled around the world and seen

many countries, but they do not compare to the beauty of the 501. The people of our community make the 501 beautiful through their constant efforts of volunteering to support our veterans, our seniors, our children and our Arkansas way of life. 78 | 501 LIFE November 2018

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