January 2025

Nobody “Nose” Good News Like Us

I’m not offended if you call me nosy. As editor of 501 LIFE Magazine, I’m in the business of learning about people, companies, nonprofits and community groups who are doing positive, out-of-the-ordinary things. As we step through the doorway into 2025, our team has assembled an issue that will captivate your interest and inspire New Year’s goals.

This is our second annual “Five-Oh-Ones to Watch” issue, and our professional team has written about more than 20 people who are standouts at work, in Arkansas and nationally. Last fall, we accepted nominations from readers and passed them along to a committee. I heard repeatedly from the committee about how hard it was to narrow the list of honorees. Fortunately, I have no shortage of candidates to consider for articles in the coming months.

Could you use some good news? Our motto is printed at the top of the cover, and it states that we are “The Good News Publication of Central Arkansas.” More than a monthly publication, we deliver positive stories each week through two e-newsletters. If you don’t receive the complimentary newsletters, sign up in seconds at 501lifemag.com/newsletter.

Are you tired of searching for a printed copy of the magazine? Then a subscription will solve that frustration and is only $20 a year. You can subscribe at 501lifemag.com/subscribe. Or you can read the magazine online. Bookmark 501lifemag.com as a favorite site!

If you love Central Arkansas like we do, you’ll also want to follow us on Facebook and Instagram. We’ll send positive vibes your way, and the hometown heroes we spotlight will inspire you throughout the year.

We invest a lot of capital to assemble colorful, professional e-newsletters and magazines for our devoted audience. It makes the staff so happy to see you out and about with 501 LIFE! This year, plan to send us a “Loving LIFE” photo when you travel, attend an event, or host a birthday, anniversary or retirement celebration. Send those photos to info@501lifemag.com with written information like you see printed on page 10.

I hope to see YOU on our pages this year. Happy New Year from the Brazile and Higginbotham families! We love bringing a smile to your 501 life each week!

PUBLISHER

Jeremy

EDITOR

Stefanie

Donna

ADVERTISING

Donna

DIGITAL

PHOTOGRAPHER

Makenzie

COPY

FINANCE

BRAND

On the Cover:

by Makenzie Evans

Photo

American Made General Store, 20

_______________________________________

Barksdale Federal Credit Union, 8

Bledsoe Chiropractic, 15

Central Baptist College, 9 Conway Corp, 87

Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center, 91

Conway Regional Rehab, 51

Downtown Conway, 48-49

First Community Bank, 41, 88

First Security Bank, 92

Freyaldenhoven Heating & Cooling, 17

Girl Scouts, 69 Greenbrier Schools, 61

_______________________________________

Hartman Animal Hospital, 77

Harwood, Ott & Fisher, PA, 81

Heritage Living Center, 5

_______________________________________

Karen Ferguson Team, 23

Kilwins Little Rock, 33

KVNE 93.3 Radio, 66

Methodist Family Health, 24

MSC Eye Associates, 33

Ott Insurance, 66

_______________________________________

PCSSD, 25

_______________________________________

Salem Place, 83

Shelter Insurance, 69

Sissy’s Log Cabin, 35

Superior Health & Rehab, 2

UACCM, 47, 67

UCA, 16

UCA Public Appearances, 27

Unity Health, 3

Velda Lueders Coldwell Banker, 80

Yours Truly Consignment, 55

Carol Rolf graduated from Little Rock Central High, where she was editor of the newspaper, and from the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism. She has worked for state and local newspapers. She edits the Newcomers’ Club of Conway newsletter and is PR Chairman for the Arkansas State Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

Dwain Hebda is an award-winning writer, editor, journalist and president of his editorial services company Ya!Mule Wordsmiths. Nebraskan by birth, Southern by the grace of God, he specializes in telling extraordinary stories about everyday people. Look for him at your favorite pizzeria, BBQ joint or brewery.

Mary Eggart lives in Morrilton and is a recently retired English teacher with 20 years of teaching experience. She holds degrees from the University of Arkansas and Arkansas Tech University. The arts and travel are her passions, as she is an avid lover of people, their culture, and the stories that build and shape a community.

ARKANSAS DUCK DERBY

Jan. 10 • Conway

The Conway Regional Health Foundation's annual event is a premier competitive duck hunting tournament. It includes a morning hunt and an evening banquet with auctions, raffle and entertainment.

MLK JR. DAY OF SERVICE

Jan. 18 • Little Rock

An opportunity for youth to honor his legacy through meaningful acts of service that benefit their communities. The goal is to mobilize 7,500 youth volunteers for community clean-ups and food drives.

RANDY TRAVIS MORE LIFE TOUR

Jan. 11 • Little Rock

The tour features Travis' original band, along with co-star James Dupré from "The Price," performing hit songs including "On the Other Hand" and "Forever and Ever, Amen." Special appearance by Travis as well.

HARLEM GLOBETROTTERS

Jan. 25 • North Little Rock

Fans will see all the amazing spins, slams and dunks from the team plus new tricks as players face off. Get there early and join the Globetrotters and Washington Generals on the court.

HEATHER LAND LIVE!

Jan. 18 • Conway

Since arriving on the comedy scene with clever takes on everyday life, Land has given voice to women everywhere who agree, "I Ain't Doin It." Find healing through the hilarious at Reynolds Performance Hall.

ARKANSAS GROWN EXPO

Jan. 30 - Feb. 1 • Hot Springs

Farmers, ranchers and other vendors from across the state share locally grown products including honey, beef, goat milk, flowers and plants. Classes about wine production, apiary laws and bee health.

Janet Scott of Sherwood (Pulaski County) was “Loving LIFE” while on vacation at the Palermo Cathedral in Palermo, Sicily, in southern Italy.

Cody and Holly Davenport were “Loving LIFE” and checking out their photo on the 501 LIFE cover while enjoying holiday shopping with their daughter, Hallie Blair, in Conway.

Diane Billings was “Loving LIFE” and enjoying coffee at Level Ground in Downtown Conway when photographed by her daughter, Karen Ferguson.

You know about Elf on the

Eleanor Whisenhunt (from left), Max Whisenhunt and Mabel Miller were “Loving LIFE” in Clinton, Miss., when they placed at the top of their age divisions at the National Association of Teachers of Singing regional competition. All three will advance to the national quarterfinals in April. They are students of Donald Brazile.

John Ike Zimmerman and Margo Zimmerman were “Loving LIFE” with Wolfie, Santa and Miss UACCM Abbe Umphres at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Night of Luminaries event on Dec. 5.

Mt. Olive Senior Saints were “Loving LIFE” when they attended the annual BMA Senior Adult Conference in Branson, Mo. The magazine was held by 90-year-old Patsy Rorie, who attended all sessions and is a lifetime member of the church.

Shelf, but what about Tim in the Gym? Clinton High School Principal Tim Smith was “Loving LIFE” and making the most of the holiday season with students and faculty on Dec.12 at the school in Van Buren County.

Tammy Keith was “Loving LIFE” when she attended “Beyond The Oval Office: Bill Clinton Reflects on a Changing America,” which was a conversation with President Clinton hosted at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.

Meredith Post and her staff were “Loving LIFE” at her Glow Aesthetics holiday event in Greenbrier (Faulkner County). Post is holding the magazine.

The Jamison Alexander Success Center HELLO After School Program was “Loving LIFE” on Dec. 4 when they hosted “Here Come the Bells” featuring Lady Chops at Mayflower City Hall. Program founder Antonio Jamison, performer Elizabeth Vidos (Lady Chops) and Sylvia Gauvey.

Donna and District Judge Charles Edward Clawson Jr. were “Loving LIFE” at his retirement party held Dec. 12 at Dawkins Welcome Center at Hendrix College. Community members attended to honor his service.

Conway Men’s Chorus Accompanist Paul Bradley (from left), Music Director Jordan Bennett and Board President Mike McCullars were “Loving LIFE” following the Christmas concert at Reynolds Performance Hall.

A house decorating contest was hosted in Menifee with a $150 prize on Dec. 11. Homeowner Ray Payne was “Loving LIFE” when his winning Nativity-themed display was judged by Eric Tyler of KVOM 101.7 radio (from left), Payne, Lisa Hutchison of 501 LIFE and Alvin Polk of the Petit Jean Country Headlight.

Bobbi Boone (from left), owner Ashley Norris and Jami McCormack were “Loving LIFE” at the Bella Rustina Modern Vintage Market at the Conway Expo Center, which hosted 400+ booths.

Jacob Flores was “Loving LIFE” when he performed in Little Rock at an event in the Heights. The musician is from Hot Springs.

ARcare President and CFO T.J. Whitehead (from left) with Founder and CEO Steven F. Collier, were “Loving LIFE” at the company’s Christmas Party.

Preschool children from UAMS Head Start visited UAMS to sing and spread good cheer on Dec. 13 in the Chancellor’s Office. The Head Start Carolers were “Loving LIFE” while singing and jingling bells to popular Christmas songs. UAMS Chancellor Cam Patterson, MD, in front.

Founder and Principal Denver Peacock and PR Director Allyson Pittman Gattin were “Loving LIFE” at the 10th anniversary of The Peacock Group on Nov. 21 at their new location in the Heights in Little Rock.

Leia Morshedi (from left), Halle Morshedi, Catalina Linck and Ed Linck were “Loving LIFE” at The Conductor’s Holiday Party on Dec. 12. Employees and small business owners enjoyed food, trivia and a DJ, and Halle won the ugly Christmas sweater competition.

The Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame, established to honor and celebrate the significant contributions of past and present Arkansas women while inspiring the future, recently announced the appointment of new officers to its board of directors and expressed deep gratitude to outgoing Board Chair Suzanne Clark for her outstanding leadership and service.

After two years of dedicated service Clark, with Clark Law Firm PLLC, will be stepping down as chair but will continue to remain involved with the organization as a board member. Under her leadership, the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame experienced significant growth and made remarkable strides toward showcasing outstanding women for their historical achievements and celebrating accomplishments that have impacted the well-being of our great state.

“On behalf of the entire board and staff, I would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Suzanne Clark for her exceptional leadership and tireless commitment to our mission,” said Derrell Hartwick, president & CEO of the North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce.

“Her vision, guidance, and passion for Arkansas women have been invaluable to our organization. We are deeply grateful for her unwavering dedication.”

In addition, the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame is pleased to announce the following new officers for its board, effective Jan. 1: Stacy Hurst, Tipton & Hurst, chair; Kim Sharpe, CitiScapes Magazine, vicechair; Steve Owen, Complete Care, Inc., treasurer; and Ashley Hight, North Little Rock Chamber of Commerce, secretary.

“These talented individuals bring a wealth of expertise and energy to the board,” Hartwick said. “We are excited to work alongside them as we continue to expand our reach and further our impact.”

Hurst, the newly appointed chair, brings an engaging leadership style that has made her a familiar and effective force in the arena of public service. “I am honored to step into this role and look forward to working closely with the board and staff to advance the important work of the Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame,” she said. “I am excited about the future and the opportunities ahead.”

The goal of the hall is to honor, in perpetuity, women whose contributions have influenced the direction of Arkansas in their community or the state. The Arkansas Women’s Hall of Fame inducts contemporary (living) or historical (deceased) women who were born in and achieved prominence within the state, or been a resident of Arkansas for an extended period after achieving prominence here or elsewhere and have:

• made significant and enduring contributions to their field of endeavor, professional or otherwise.

• affected the social, cultural, economic, or political well-being of the community, state or nation.

• elevated the status of women and positively impacted women and girls.

• helped open new frontiers for women and society in general.

• inspired others by example.

The hall has inducted new members each year. Nominees are not limited to a certain field or accomplishment and can include pioneers, philanthropists, educators, entrepreneurs, athletes, artists, business leaders and political figures. For more information, visit arwomenshalloffame.com.

LEFT: Outgoing Board Chair Suzanne Clark at the 8th Annual Arkansas Womens Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony.

RIGHT: Incoming Chair Stacy Hurst

VELDA for VICE-PRESIDENT

501 Realtor selected by National Association of REALTORS®

Velda Lueders of Conway was installed to serve as the Region 9 Vice President for the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) at their annual gala held November 7, 2024, in Boston, Mass.

Regional vice presidents for NAR oversee the work of the associations and serve as spokespersons for the states in their region. NAR Region 9 is comprised of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

“I am incredibly honored to have been awarded this position,” Lueders said. “I have and will continue to dedicate my heart to this wonderful association and serve all those around me. This is a great opportunity to show off the state organization as a whole, Arkansas REALTORS® Association. Being the connection to the national association on behalf of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma is an amazing platform to communicate REALTOR® needs and affect positive changes for the industry. I am excited to see what this position will allow me to do to further the real estate industry alongside those at NAR.”

Lueders has served on local, state and national REALTOR® boards and committees throughout her 28-year career in real estate. She served as the Faulkner County Board of REALTORS® president in 2005, and again in 2011, and was also the President of the Arkansas REALTORS® Association in 2018. She also held the title of Arkansas REALTOR® of the Year for 2018. Lueders has served as a committee member for the meetings and conference, professional development, and professional standards committees for the national association.

She holds numerous NAR designations that better her ability to serve each of her clients. The REALTOR's accolades include Accredited Buyer’s Representative®, Certified Residential Specialist®, Senior Real Estate Specialist®, Seller Representative Specialist®, At Home With Diversity, Commitment to Excellence, Military Relocation Professional, and Real Estate Negotiation Expert. Lueders is also a REALTORS® Political Action Committee Hall of Fame member for her longstanding dedication and support of the program.

The Arkansas REALTORS® Association is the “voice of real estate,” empowering its members to preserve, protect and advance the right to real property for all. It supports residential and commercial brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors and others engaged in the real estate industry through professional education, communications, technology, legal information and other services. For

Barry and Velda Lueders on November 7, 2024, at the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) annual gala in Boston, Mass. Velda was selected to serve as Region 9 Vice President. Region 9 comprised of Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

HOGS GO WILD FOR A WAMPUS CAT

Grayson Wilson receives a full scholarship to University of Arkansas

By Levi Gilbert

Conway Wampus Cat senior quarterback Grayson Wilson signed his letter of intent to play football for the Razorbacks on Dec. 4 at a reception with his family, friends, coaches and teammates at the Wampus Cat Indoor Facility. He will receive a full athletic scholarship to the University of Arkansas.

Wilson transferred to Conway from Central Arkansas Christian for his senior season. He played eight games for the Wampus Cats and accumulated impressive numbers. He completed 68 percent of his passes, throwing for 2,069 yards and 20 touchdowns. He also rushed for 295 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Wilson helped lead the Wampus Cats to their fifth-straight 7A semifinals.

“It’s pretty easy to be impressed with Grayson from an athletic ability perspective,” said Tim Roach, color analyst for Wampus Cat football on Conway Corp. “He’s big, tall, athletic and has great presence in the pocket. He can throw on the run, is accurate with all of the passes, can run the ball with the best of any quarterbacks in the state, has excellent vision, and is an incredible manager of the offense. If you look at his numbers, he only played about half of the games, and in most of those games only played until halftime. That’s an amazing stat line.

“What I think is more impressive, though, was his ability to come in as a senior, with all the accolades, the commitment to the University of Arkansas, and really jump in immediately to take

control of this team and its offense,” Roach continued. “I talked to Grayson throughout the year. He is a quiet guy, but he has that special element. You can just tell he has IT — whatever IT is. He has such a calm but confident demeanor. He looks you in the eye and doesn’t back down from the hard questions. The Razorbacks have themselves a special young man, and I can’t wait to see what he does up on the Hill.”

Conway High School football quarterback Grayson Wilson was “Loving LIFE” with his coach and family when he signed a letter of intent to play for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Coach Ryan Howard (from left), Doug, Grayson, Brooklyn, Grant and Karla Wilson. Photo by Lisa Hutchison.

warmup WINTER time for a

Turn a cozy comfort into a New Year Souper Star

By Chef Don Bingham • Photos by Makenzie Evans

Nothing says "it's January" like a fresh pot of soup! The "smoke has cleared" from the hustle and pressures of the holiday season, and it's time for lighter fare from the kitchen, maybe a few fewer calories, and dishes that are simple to prepare and make it easy to restore the kitchen in record time once the meal has been enjoyed. Another positive aspect of soup cuisine is the delight of being able to get more than one meal from the investment of time and product! Whether it's stored in the refrigerator for a day or so and revived when there's no time to cook, or if it's placed in the freezer for a few meals down the road, there are many positive aspects to making the SOUP the star of the show!

For this new year’s issue, I am sharing recipes for a few of my favorite soups. The Tomato Velvet Soup is one of our regulars. This soup does not use the usual chicken broth, nor does it contain meat, but the base for the soup is equal portions of Vegetable V-8 Juice and Tomato Juice. After adding the spicy flavors of Tabasco and Worcestershire sauce, the hot liquid is thickened with a roux of equal parts of butter and flour; then comes the grated cheese of your choice, the heavy cream for rich velvet texture – and the "SOUP’S ON!"

We like to enjoy this soup with a hearty side of cheddar-flavored Goldfish crackers, and the addition of the Open-Faced Grilled Cheese Toast is an upgrade from the usual grilled cheese sandwich, (although, a grilled pimento cheese is a great second to the gourmet cheese toast). Nancy's Chicken-and-Rice Soup is a grand time to substitute the "in the freezer" turkey broth from Thanksgiving and use the frozen turkey meat that now sounds palatable again!

We are all about taking advantage of the chile-stew-bisque-soup time of year. Lighten up on the time spent in the kitchen, select that favorite mug from the cabinet and sit in your favorite comfy chair for a dinner of soup and gourmet cheese toast! Bon Appetit with SOUP!

These favorite recipes will make a regular appearance on our family culinary table this month and throughout winter. During these cold winter months, the aroma of tomato and chicken stock coming from the kitchen serves as an announcement that “soup’s on!” Although we will always return to our tried and true favorites, branch out of your soup comfort zone and experiment with a new liquid entree for these winter months. Soup can also make a great gift for the neighbors.

Most of us spend time reflecting and vision-casting during the month of January, with maybe a little dieting thrown in the mix as well! For me, it is a time of introspection, moving past regrets, and accessing the important things, of learning how to encourage those around me. May the new year be filled with the love, grace and peace of Almighty God — our warmest new year’s blessing from the Binghams!

ChiCken and R iCe Soup

1 medium whole chicken, covered and cooked until done, 1 to 1 1/2 hours

1 1/2 cups cooked rice

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped celery

1 Tbsp. butter

Salt and pepper to taste

Debone chicken, reserve broth (you may want to enrich the broth with some instant chicken stock or butter). Saute onion and celery and cook until tender in 1 Tbsp. of butter. Bring broth to a boil and add rice, onion, and celery and season to taste. Makes a great winter lunch on Saturdays! Serves 10-12.

FR enCh onion Soup

FoR the Ca R d pa Rty

7 cups onions, sauteed in 1 pound of butter

10 cups beef stock

OR 2 large cans beef consommé

10 cups chicken stock

OR 2 large cans chicken broth

1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

1 cup sherry

Heat ingredients together. Slice French bread, butter and toast until dried and brown. Place a slice of toast in a soup bowl, top with Swiss cheese, then pour hot soup over toast. Serves 20-23.

tomato VelV et S oup

4 cups good-quality, pure tomato juice

4 cups V-8 Vegetable Juice

1 can of crushed or diced tomatoes with juice

2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce

1 Tbsp. hot sauce

1 1/2 cups grated white cheddar cheese

Salt and pepper to taste

1 cup heavy cream

R oux :

4 Tbsp. all-purpose flour • 4 Tbsp. butter

Heat tomato juice, V-8 Vegetable Juice, crushed tomatoes, Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce in saucepan.

In a side skillet, melt butter, add flour, and incorporate into a paste. Cook just long enough to cook away the flour taste. When tomato/V-8 mixture is near boiling point, whisk in roux to desired velvet consistency. Add white cheddar cheese and gently stir until the cheese is melted. Add heavy cream, stir.

Serve with cheddar-flavored Goldfish crackers on the side.

o pen -FaC e

G R illed C hee S e toa St

1 loaf of sourdough bread, cut in 1-inch slices for toasting

toppinG:

2 cups of grated cheeses: cheddar, swiss, jalapeno, Monterey Jack 1/4 cup mayonnaise

2 Tbsp. diced green chiles

Mix cheese, mayo and green chiles to form spread. Lightly butter on both sides of bread, then spread a generous amount of cheese mixture on top of each piece. Place under grill and toast until cheese melts and toast is lightly browned. Serve with soup of choice.

COUPLE OF THE MONTH

KEENAN AND KELLI WALLACE

GREENBRIER

Photo by Mike Kemp

HER STORY:

I love God and love people. I am incredibly blessed to pour love into kiddos and families through my job, pushing them to their full potential. I am privileged to love and serve students through church ministry and FCA! I've been known to not shy away from hard conversations and am willing to share truth, even when it's hard and uncomfortable.

NATIVE OF: Greenbrier

CHILDREN: We have two amazing children. Gavin, 15, is our oldest. Haven, 6, is our firecracker.

EDUCATION: I have an Associate Degree in applied science in occupational therapy (OTA).

EMPLOYMENT: I work at Therapy Monkey (Pediatrics Outpatient Therapy).

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT THE 501? I love living in Central Arkansas because it is home to me. I was born and raised in the 501, and I have enjoyed seeing the changes and growth over the years! I love living in my hometown of Greenbrier because, while it is steadily growing, it still feels small and homey. I love running into people I know, whether I've seen them recently or not in a while!

HONORS: My classmates in OTA school voted me “Most Likely to Succeed” out of our cohort. My coworkers named me the “Silent Superhero” for “being a silent force to get things done without needing the spotlight.”

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: I have the privilege of serving in our church by helping lead teen girls small groups with our youth group, as well as in our Children’s Ministry. I enjoy volunteering with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes in our Greenbrier community. I’ve been involved with leading some discipleship groups for our youth!

THEIR STORY:

We met when introduced by mutual friends. They thought we would make a great couple, so we all met at SONIC (that is, after Kelli stood Keenan up twice). Once we met, Kelli knew there was something special about Keenan, so she called him first (and he won’t let her forget it). We stayed in touch while Keenan was in military training. Months later we got engaged and then married just three months later. We had a small ceremony in July of 2007 and had a wedding plus a reception in December 2007. We celebrate our anniversary in July each year. This July will be our 18th year of marriage!

A second annual family beach vacation to Orange Beach, Ala. is in our plans for 2025! We enjoy game nights with friends, serving in ministry and community outreach events, and consistently supporting students’ various extracurricular activities. We are always learning from the next generation of world changers. The Wallace family motto is: “We strive to be where our feet are and love each other more than we want to be right.”

HIS STORY:

I would describe myself as relational, radical and enthusiastic. My aim is to see things from others’ perspectives without wavering in my beliefs. I also attempt to think outside the box to fix a problem. I am a little bold and loud when it comes to celebrating my people and community.

NATIVE OF: Twin Groves, Arkansas

EDUCATION: I graduated from Guy-Perkins High School, then earned a Bachelor of Science in leadership and ministry.

EMPLOYMENT: I am the Student Minister at the Greenbrier campus of Second Baptist Church.

WHAT IS THE KEY TO A SUCCESSFUL MARRIAGE? My main goal is to love her more than I want to be right. Whether I agree or disagree, my response should reflect love and protection for my wife. As a young husband, I used to struggle with wanting her and others to know I was right at the expense of relationships. I learned from those mistakes and value this relationship more and more every day.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: I am a Fellowship of Christian Athletes mobilized volunteer at Greenbrier and Guy-Perkins schools.

SPECIAL INTERESTS: Basketball.

YOUR FAMILY. YOUR SCHOOL.

Your Choice

By Jessica Duff

The Pulaski County Special School District is committed to providing exceptional education for all students with a consistent focus on college and career readiness. District educators work year-round to encourage all students to achieve their highest potential. The collaborative and innovative efforts of all stakeholders, including teachers, staff and community members, make PCSSD an outstanding option for Pulaski County families.

Families zoned for a PCSSD school can mark their calendars for important registration windows for the 2025-2026 school year. Registration for new Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 students opens Jan. 13. For kindergarten through 12th grade families who are zoned for, but not currently enrolled in a PCSSD school, registration will open March 10. Current PCSSD families who are interested in moving to a different school within the district can submit an intradistrict permit to Equity and Pupil Services beginning

May 12. Students who currently attend a PCSSD school will be automatically re-enrolled for the 2025-2026 school year.

For families who do not live within the PCSSD school zone but wish to attend one of the schools, the Arkansas School Choice Act is an option. Arkansas Public School Choice enables a student in kindergarten through grade 12 to attend a school in a non-resident district. No transportation is provided by the district for students who attend a PCSSD school via school choice.

“We hope you will consider sending your children to PCSSD,” said Assistant Superintendent for Equity and Pupil Services Dr. Janice Warren. “We take your child’s education personally. PCSSD is committed to providing all students with learning experiences that prepare them for college or career readiness.”

Families who wish to apply for school choice have three options. They can reach out by email to schoolchoice@pcssd.org, in person at the PCSSD Central Office, or mail the application c/o Equity and Pupil Services to 925 E. Dixon Rd., Little Rock, AR, 72206.

PCSSD serves 25 schools across four cities: Maumelle, Little Rock, North Little Rock and Sherwood. Those 25 schools include 16 elementary schools, four middle school campuses, one junior high campus, and four high school campuses.

In the Maumelle area, there are three elementary schools: Crystal Hill Elementary, Oak Grove Elementary and Pine Forest Elementary; one middle school, Maumelle Middle; and one high school, Maumelle High. If you live in the Maumelle area, you are zoned for one of these PCSSD schools. However, school choice opens these schools to families outside district lines allowing students to be a part of the school family, no matter their neighborhood.

If you have specific questions related to registration and school choice within PCSSD, contact the Office of Equity and Pupil Services at 501.234.2021. You can also visit the website to learn more about School Choice and/or registration to PCSSD.

About PCSSD

Pulaski County Special School District spans more than 600 square miles in Central Arkansas and requires highly skilled and passionate personnel to adapt educational policies and personalization to 25 schools. Every school is accredited by the Arkansas State Board of Education. PCSSD has served schools across Pulaski County since July 1927.

PCSSD is committed to creating a nationally recognized school district that assures that all students achieve at their maximum potential through collaborative, supportive and continuous efforts of all stakeholders.

eagles soar!

Conway Christian dominates Class 2A Football, wins state championship

Photos by Brandon Gibson

The Conway Christian Eagles beat the East Poinsett County Warriors 18 to 8 to win the Class 2A State Football Championship on Dec. 6 at War Memorial Stadium.

With a record of 14 wins and no losses, the team marked a first for the Faulkner County private school. “It’s a great accomplishment for our school as our first ever football state championship,” said Head Football Coach and Athletic Director Justin Kramer.

A banquet was held in honor of the team, and each player will receive a state championship ring. Also, the City of Conway declared Dec. 17 Conway Christian Eagles Day in Faulkner County, with County Judge Allen Dodson hand-delivering the proclamation to the team.

Coach Kramer credits his team’s championship to experience and a balanced skill level at all positions. His fellow coaching staff also shares in the glory, and includes Daniel Ellen, Parker Whitson, Clint Hare, Dawson Ingle and Kishia Johnson, athletic trainer.

“We're very proud of our players and coaches for their commitment to not only winning, but doing it the right way,” Kramer said.

As he looks ahead to next fall, he knows it will bring fresh challenges. “We anticipate next year building on this year. We are losing 13 seniors, so we will need guys to step up and fill those roles.”

The excitement of the season continued when Conway Christian School was honored with Kramer being voted Class 2A Coach of the Year. “Being the 2A Coach of the Year just means you have great players and great coaches working alongside you every day, coupled with support from administration and parents. That allows you to do your job as best as you possibly can,” Kramer said.

Conway Christian coaches are Parker Whitson (from left), Dawson Ingle, Justin Kramer, Daniel Ellen and Clint Hare. Head Coach Kramer was voted Class 2A Coach of the Year. Photo by Sommer Holden.

They’re Ready for Their Close Up!

welcome to the second annual

This issue of 501 LIFE shines a spotlight on outstanding people from Central Arkansas whom we have determined to be a “Five-Oh-One to Watch” in 2025.

Last fall, we asked readers to nominate people who make life in Central Arkansas brighter for us all and live in the 11 counties we serve: Cleburne, Conway, Faulkner, Garland, Hot Spring, Lonoke, Perry, Pulaski, Saline, Van Buren and White. The response was overwhelming, with numerous impressive nominations! An editorial selection team spent time with the nominations and compiled a group of honorees who are featured in this year's first issue.

They were selected for their talents, commitment to their community, volunteerism and passion for what they do every day. These “Five-Oh-Ones to Watch” are changing the game in Conway, leading the way in Little Rock, setting new standards in Searcy and taking center stage in Central Arkansas.

We are confident that this elite group of honorees will inspire some areas of your life. Together with our Presenting Sponsor, Methodist Family Health, join us in congratulating them as we unveil the “Five-Oh-Ones to Watch” for 2025.

ON THE COVER

Honoree Rachel Lovelace (center) is a professional sewing instructor and fashion designer who made her tie, Tina Novak’s scarf and Lance Restum’s bowtie for our cover photoshoot, which was shot by Makenzie Evans. Lovelace launched the Young Designers Academy in 2021 and worked with University of Central Arkansas staff members to coordinate the second annual Conway Fashion Week in October at the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts. The cover photos, along with Lovelace’s, Novak’s and Restum’s individual photos, were shot at the beautiful new facility on the UCA Campus.

We thank Amanda Horton, executive director of UCA Public Appearances, and Jakob Miller, facilities manager for the Department of Public Appearances, for making the Windgate stage available so we could shine a spotlight on these honorees.

LOVELACE RACHEL

RAYLOVETHREADS • YOUNG DESIGNERS

ACADEMY CONWAY FASHION WEEK

By Rita Halter Thomas • Photo by Makenzie Evans

Being a creative is the key fabric woven deep in the life of Rachel Lovelace of Conway, founder of RayLoveThreads, Young Designers Academy and Conway Fashion Week. Each entity is part of the same seam, stitched together by a great desire to encourage and elevate others.

Creativity is a familial thread throughout Lovelace’s family. “I’ve been a creative for as long as I can remember,” she said of painting, drawing, sewing, quilting and crocheting as early as 8 years old. Her mom, a hairstylist by trade, is a skilled free-hand seamstress, meaning she doesn’t use patterns to make clothing. Lovelace learned to draw and paint from her dad, who is also a gifted musician. She was further influenced by an aunt and grandmother, both skilled seamstresses, who encouraged her creative pursuits. Lovelace’s passion for fashion began in high school when she made her prom dress with her aunt’s help and began redesigning her clothing for function and fashion.

Lovelace launched RayLoveThreads in 2018 after taking a college sewing course. She began making tote bags, purses, backpacks and fanny packs and gained attention for her Aztec-patterned products. “I made my first bag with this rare material that is now my signature material. I absolutely fell in love with it,” she said. “I chose that fabric because of my heritage. My background is Blackfoot Indian.” Starting as a hobby, Lovelace’s bags sold by word-of-mouth until COVID-19, at which point she launched a website and used social media to drive sales. She later began selling her creations at local vendors and pop-up events.

Encouraged by friend and entrepreneur Jessica Crum, executive director of the Creative Institute of Central Arkansas, Lovelace made connections that led to the 2021 launch of Young Designers Academy. The academy, held at The Studio Downtown, not only teaches students basic techniques of sewing but also cultivates the creativity of young designers. Lovelace said she wasn’t a teacher by any means when she launched the academy, and though she learned a great deal from the women in her family, she is primarily self-taught. “I taught myself everything, including my bags. After I made my first, I tapped into more bags, which included backpacks and fanny packs. It was a lot of trial and error, but every time I made a bag, I surprised myself,” she laughed. It also helped that she worked as an alterations specialist for the manager of a bridal store when she launched the academy.

When she began promoting the academy, she hoped parents and guardians would trust her with their children. They did. “When I first started my classes, I had 10 to 12 [students], and 10 was my maximum because of COVID-19,” she said. Each student has a sewing machine for their use, and each class series is six weeks long. When she started the academy, Lovelace was a full-time entrepreneur. Even though she now holds a full-time secretarial position at Conway Junior High School, she continues to grow her business, run the academy and plan an annual fashion show. She still teaches summer camps, has taught for nonprofit organizations and conducted workshops all over the state. “I’ve probably taught over a hundred kids,” she said of her efforts so far.

Continued on page 34

‘I’ve been a creative for as long as I can remember.’

— Rachel Lovelace

After launching the academy, Lovelace fittingly had the notion to showcase local fashion designers. She coordinated the first Conway Fashion Week Fashion Show in 2023, a success that became the basic pattern for a bigger, better show.

For the second annual Conway Fashion Week, Lovelace partnered with the University of Central Arkansas and reached for the stars — literally. Festivities for the week leading up to the show, held in October at UCA’s new Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, included a “Project-Runway-style” student competition moderated by celebrity designer Korto Momolu (pronounced Cuttoe Mo-mo-lu). She is originally from Liberia and is known for body-friendly designs that blend her African heritage with today’s trending fashion.

Momolu was on Bravo’s fifth season of “Project Runway,” followed by two seasons of “Project Runway All Stars.” Her fashion collections have been showcased at New York Fashion Week and multiple international platforms. During the week, Momolu offered classes, a public lecture and moderated the student competition and fashion show. Her creative designs were also on display, adding another awe-inspiring level to the event.

Another celebrity fashion designer in attendance was Conway’s own Tremain Pollydore, known for his unique line of bow ties and

accessories. Also at the event was Kurvy Kutie, Inc., an Atlantabased, full-figure modeling and entertainment company, that represented fashion for plus-size women. Additionally, Matthew Holbrook, a Conway designer, artist, and hip-hop and rap musician, performed while his models took to the runway.

While celebrities elevated the 2024 event, where more than 60 outfits were modeled, the student expo stitched pride in Lovelace’s heart. “At the end of the show, I highlighted five of my students who had been working hard for about eight to 10 weeks, creating their garments to model in the fashion show.

It was the pinnacle of the show,” she said of fulfilling her desire to inspire her students and give them a platform to showcase their amazing artwork.

Both of Lovelace’s daughters, 11-year-old Skylen Boyd and 5-yearold Forever Lasker, participated in the student expo. Of course, she helped more with the youngest’s designs. Most importantly, she is weaving that creative thread within her children, binding them forever to family traditions and giving them an impressive skill for the future.

Follow on Instagram and Facebook to learn more about RayLoveThreads, Young Designers Academy or the next Conway Fashion Week and Student Expo.

Rachel Lovelace’s launched RayLoveThreads in 2018 after taking a college sewing course. She began making tote bags, purses, backpacks and fanny packs, and gained attention for her Aztec-patterned products. She chose the fabric because of her Blackfoot Indian heritage. Lovelace has a website and social media pages and sells at local vendor and pop-up events.

LANCERESTUM

ARKANSAS

TRAVELERS

By Donna Lampkin Stephens • Photo by Makenzie Evans

In his role with the Arkansas Travelers, Lance Restum is in the business of making memories.

And he is succeeding.

“Baseball’s our product, but our job is to create fun memories that last a lifetime,” said Restum, 45, director of Community Relations for the Travelers, the 501’s iconic minor-league baseball team. “You’re going to remember that corndog you ate, hanging out with a friend, almost catching that foul ball and having the lady next to you snatch it out of your hands at the last minute.

“Those memories are really what we do at the Travs. For the last (almost) 20 years, I’ve been fortunate to be able to help thousands of Arkansans create wholesome, fun memories that last a lifetime.”

Restum is the face of fun at Dickey-Stephens Park in North Little Rock, filling empty moments with on-the-field activities. “In between innings, we sell sponsorships and activities to entertain and inform our fans,” he said. “We copy games that are fun, steal games from other teams and talk to clients about fun games we can play.”

According to the official site of Minor League Baseball, MiLB.com, Restum is “always throwing, spinning, running and acting crazy as contestants compete to win great prizes on-field.” The dizzy bat race is one of the Travs’ most memorable activities, according to Restum. “I’m the dizzy bat guy,” he said, chuckling. “That’s what they remember.”

Restum also serves as director of the Arkansas Travelers Youth Foundation, the official team charity. The foundation, which launched in 2021, focuses on strengthening opportunities for young athletes to play baseball and softball.

Living in Bryant with his wife, Jennifer, and daughters Mallory and Molly, Restum grew up in Texas, but his Arkansas and 501

roots run deep. His father is a University of Arkansas graduate; his mother and brother are University of Central Arkansas Bears. He has family in the Bryant/Benton area.

“Every living relative I have is from Arkansas and went to college in Arkansas, and I got back to Arkansas as soon as I could,” he said.

With degrees in marketing and broadcast technologies from the University of Houston, he went to work for Clear Channel Communications. “I had an opportunity in 2005 to transfer (to the 501) with Clear Channel to be on air and in media and marketing sales,” he said. “I was a DJ for Magic 105 and New Rock 100.3 The Edge.”

Bill Valentine, the Travs’ legendary former general manager, called the radio station looking for “a bingo guy” at Ray Winder Field in 2006 before the move to Dickey-Stephens Park (DSP). Restum was hired for Tuesday and Thursday bingo nights. With the move to DSP, he became the team’s official on-field emcee. Later he became director of marketing and media relations.

“I kept the radio gig until 2013 as a hobby,” he said. “I always had multiple jobs. I emceed the Central Arkansas Roller Derby. When you’re that age, you’ll take any job.”

He eventually became assistant general manager prior to the launch of the youth foundation.

“It was a natural progression with the Travelers,” he said. “For the 12 years prior, I’d been working with non-profits, with youth groups. I was on the field with kids every single game, getting them excited. My role was growing in community outreach, so it made sense to create a non-profit entity. Once we were able to create that, it opened the door for us to help a lot more kids on a much larger scale.”

On September 25, the Arkansas Travelers won the 2024 Texas League Championship with a 5-4 win over the Midland RockHounds in front of a crowd of more than 5,600 fans at Dickey-Stephens Park. The Travelers won the Texas League crown for the seventh time in history, and for the first time since 2008. The 2025 season opens April 4 at Midland, Texas, and the Travs will play the home opener against Tulsa on April 8.

‘Every living relative I have is from Arkansas and went to college in Arkansas, and I got back to Arkansas as soon as I could.”

— Lance Restum

He said the Travs modeled the foundation after those of major league teams. “Our main categories, our pillars, are community outreach, grants and scholarships,” Restum said. “My favorite, by far, is the community outreach. We host half a dozen free kids’ clinics, and everyone is invited. Every bit of equipment is provided; we have refreshments, swag and instruction from professional baseball players. To see the joy and enthusiasm sparked in these kids is the best part of my job.”

He said the foundation is an attempt to combat the sport’s declining attendance, viewership and participation over the last 10 years, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. “It’s not because the kids disappeared, but the enthusiasm for team sports has waned,” he said. “My biggest obstacles are screen time, childhood obesity and childhood diabetes. Those are all directly related to the inactivity of our youth. The best way I know to stir that pot is to get them active, outside and playing ball.”

For 2024, he surpassed his goal of serving 1,000 kids through the six clinics. The final number was 1,281. For 2025, his goal is to reach 1,500 kids in 10 clinics. The foundation has hosted clinics around the 501, including at Little Rock’s historic Lamar Porter Field, where Brooks Robinson played, and Majestic Park at Hot Springs, where Babe Ruth, Cy Young, Jackie Robinson, Hank Aaron and other standouts graced the field when Hot Springs was known as The Birthplace of Major League Baseball Spring Training, according to majesticpark.org.

“We’re really fortunate to have great community partners,” Restum said. “We’ve had several clinics at the North Little Rock Boys and Girls Club; we’ve partnered with the Memphis Grizzlies. It’s a real blessing to have partners.”

The foundation also offers a “cleat closet” that includes cleats, pants and other equipment that would otherwise cost young players hundreds of dollars, and baseball and softball scholarships to a handful of Arkansas colleges.

“In the days when I was growing up, parents would pay $45 and you’d get a T-shirt and hat and you’d practice and play games a couple of times a week, and at the end of the season you might travel somewhere to play an all-star game,” he said. “That was how youth sports worked. You were on a team with the same guys you went to school with, that you went to church with. There was a community of family when you played team sports.

“Now team sports are competitive. You pay to play the travel ball system. You may or may not go to school or church with your teammates. Parents are paying $1,200 to $1,500 minimum just to get their kids into competitive leagues. That has created giant economic hurdles.

“The reality is most kids can’t afford to play baseball. It’s not that the skills aren’t there. That’s why the youth foundation exists.” And why he is so passionate about what he does.

2024 HIGHLIGHTS

$14,000 AWARDED IN COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS

1,281 KIDS PARTICIPATED IN FREE CLINICS:

3rd Annual Black History Clinic; the first Girls-Only Softball Clinic; the Minor League Baseball (MLB) Tour; two Clinics at Majestic Park; and the most successful clinic on record at Lamar Porter.

RECEIVED $21,000 IN DONATIONS: of packing clay, soil conditioner, diamond mix infield dirt, bases and other equipment.

CREATION OF MOBILE YOUTH WELLNESS CENTER:

Center ravels to clinics and promotes proper diet, hydration, pre- and post-workout stretching, hygiene, and oral health — including a bubble gum flavored oral fluoride treatment.

GIFTED BASEBALL UNIFORMS:

41 pairs of used metal spike-molded-bottom cleats, 28 new Under Armour workout shirts, 28 new Reebok wrist guards and eight new pairs of baseball/softball pants.

ENABLED LOCAL RBI ALL-STAR TEAM TO TRAVEL TO DALLAS FOR THE MLB RBI ALL-STAR GAME.

AWARDED $20,000 IN GRANTS FROM FOUR GRANTORS.

LIKESBART

LOL’BART SOUTHERN EATS

By Mark Oliver • Photo by Mike Kemp

When tragedy struck Bart

Likes’ family, he found solace in cooking.

“My mom passed away from domestic violence in 2013,” he said. “She was a big cook. Cooking some of her old recipes felt therapeutic to me, and it was one of the only things that helped me get through that difficult loss.”

At the time, Likes was furloughed from his conductor and engineer position with Union Pacific Railroad and needed work. While serving as a duck hunting guide, he began cooking for outdoor professionals at a private hunting lodge, where his family recipes combined with his unique blend of Memphisand Texas-style barbecue to capture the hunting scene by storm.

Photo and Facebook post tribute from Bart to his mom in 2019.

“Happy Mother’s Day Mom! I’m still learning things from you even though you’re gone. I know you’d love the kids and how great of a mom Kaley has become. I think you’d love all the cooking I’m doing now, and even though you can’t cook with me physically, I know you’re right beside me. I can honestly say while I was growing up I didn’t really know why you always liked to cook for everyone but now that I’m the one doing it, I completely get it.”

It was a turning point for Likes, who found purpose in his passion. While traveling as a private chef and caterer, he realized he could use a plate of food as a means to bring people together. As the old saying goes, one thing leads to another, and he opened Ol’Bart Southern Eats a year later.

Likes lives in Greenbrier with his wife, Kaley, and four children, Novalee, Abbott, Griffin and Jetson. Over the years, his operation has grown substantially.

What began as a food truck in Greenbrier quickly expanded into brick-and-mortar restaurants in Conway and North Little Rock’s Argenta Arts District, as well as an expanded private chef and catering side of the business.

“Our plan is to home in on our North Little Rock location while growing our catering and private chef opportunities,” Likes said. “We have a couple of locations in mind to add restaurants of all types of food, not just barbecue.”

“Seeing the demand that I had for my food allowed me to feel something for the first time since my mom’s passing,” Likes said. “We were selling out for months at a time.

“That support and that trust from the community was everything we needed to keep going.”

Today, he continues to serve the crowds of 501 faithful, while cooking and catering for corporate parties, film festivals, VIP events and more.

“The restaurant game is not for the faint of heart, but I didn’t get into this business to get rich,” Likes said. “It’s the customers who keep me going. Reading reviews about how our food reminds them of home makes us feel honored, and being nominated for various awards makes all our hard work worth it.”

While business is booming for him and his family, the young entrepreneur takes pride in paying his staff well and giving back to the many communities that have supported his journey.

“For us, community is all about trying to help as many people as we possibly can,” Likes said. “Being able to feed our health care workers and teachers as a way of saying, ‘Thank you’ or writing a check to help a youth sports team goes a long way.”

Of all the organizations he lends a hand to, there’s one in particular that allows him to bring his journey full circle.

“One of my proudest accomplishments is being able to donate meals to victims of domestic abuse in shelters,” Likes said. “That’s the whole reason I started cooking. Being able to give back through a plate of food is a big deal for me.”

MYERS ELEISE

CONWAY CORP

By Lori Dunn • Photo by Mike Kemp

Eleise Wood Myers has been leading the business solution team in Conway Corp's marketing division for just more than a year.

The excitement can be heard in her voice when she talks about the job and the company as a whole. “I’ve been here 16 years, and I’m very fortunate to have had a career here,” Myers said.

Conway Corp is a public utility company that provides electricity, water, phone, internet and security for Conway residents. Myers joined Conway Corp in 2008 as a customer care specialist in the call center. In 2012, she was promoted to a commercial sales account executive and worked to grow the Conway Corp commercial voice and internet business.

She was promoted to her new role in December 2023. The business solutions team, which includes Myers and three employees, is responsible for commercial service sales, including voice, video, video advertising and internet to small and mediumsized businesses, as well as fiber/advances services to enterprise customers. They also manage customer support for some accounts.

A native of Conway, Myers loves working in her hometown. “I grew up here, and I’m fortunate to live here. One thing that really drives me is to be able to help people In the community,” she said. “It’s rewarding when you live and work in the same place. I’m personally invested.”

Myers said she can be out in the community on a personal errand, such as a visit to the pediatrician’s office with her daughters, and see first-hand the service Conway Corp provides.

“It can be something like the office phone lines in the doctor’s office. You can see what you do in action, which is really neat.

Being from Conway, I knew Conway Corp had a great reputation when I started working there,” she said.

The customer care specialist credits much of her success to a positive working environment and the mentoring she has received from her direct supervisor, Crystal Kemp.

“It’s great when you have people around you who want to do good things. And they want good things for you also,” she said. One thing she especially likes about her job is the challenge of constantly changing technology.

“There are always new things out there and that makes it fun,” Myers said. Conway Corp began providing services for the city in 1929, when the Conway City Council granted it a franchise to operate the city's electric light plant. By 1997, Conway Corp became one of the first companies in the world to offer high-speed broadband cable internet service.

She stays busy outside of work also. She and her husband, Timmy Myers, are the proud parents of Penelope,11, and Phoebe who is 5. The family enjoys traveling, and one of their favorite places is Branson, Mo.

“The girls really love Silver Dollar City. Mainly we just love to spend time as a family. My biggest accomplishment is my family. Making my girls proud and making an impact in their world is always my driving force," Myers said.

She is proud to serve on the Conway Public School Foundation Board. As the new year begins, Myers is ready to take her team to the next level. "We are still a new team. My goal this year is to really settle into our department and thrive.”

‘It’s rewarding when you live and work in the same place. I’m personally invested.’

- Eleise Wood Myers

MATTHEW EMERY

‘I understand the feeling of having the odds stacked against you — that you need just one break to get back on your feet. I ended up getting my break, and that’s helped lead to where I am today.’

- Matthew Emery

By Mary Eggart •

Everyone in the workplace wishes they had a co-worker and team member like Matthew Emery ... and with good reason.

According to one of Emery’s fellow employees at the University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton, “Matthew works hard to promote UACCM. He’s such a nice man and is always willing to help with projects. He really cares about our college and community and wants to see them succeed.”

As the Associate Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Emery said that the key to being a good team member is listening to his coworkers. “Uniting towards a common goal requires a foundation of understanding and agreement,” he said. “Of course, that can be difficult. For me, the key has been to listen. It is so easy to want to talk, especially in more stressful scenarios, but I’d argue that’s when you should be doing the most listening.”

Matthew added that his pension for listening began at an early age, as his mother was born deaf.

“I was taught the difference between ‘hearing’ and ‘listening.’ She taught me how to truly absorb and process information before responding,” he said. “As I got older, the difference between the two became more and more clear. It also became clear how special it felt to have others listen.”

At UACCM, he leads the traditional and digital marketing and public relations efforts of the college, including social media, advertising, press releases, day-to-day operations, and more. He also is responsible for much of the school’s photography and video production. “I appreciate Mary Clark, director of marketing and public relations at UACCM, for bringing me to Morrilton and helping me grow into my own as a leader,” Emery said.

Photo

by Mike Kemp

When asked what he enjoys most about working at UACCM, he discussed how inspiring the students are. “I love how diverse our student body is. We have classes with grandparents in them, nurses in them, welders in them, single parents in them, teenagers in them and more.”

Emery’s enthusiasm for the diverse student body is personal. He was a first-generation college student who originally dropped out of college and worked full-time at a department store to make ends meet. He said, “I understand the feeling of having the odds stacked against you — that you need just one break to get back on your feet. I ended up getting my break, and that’s helped lead to where I am today.”

Emery’s mother raised him and his brother in Tuckerman (Jackson County). He graduated from Arkansas Tech University in 2017 with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism. He then moved to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to work in campus ministry. His experiences in Alabama taught him much about himself and helped lead him to Arkansas State University to attend graduate school. Following graduate school, he took a position at Crowley’s Ridge College (CRC) in Paragould. He credits Dr. Richard Johnson, president of CRC, for taking a chance on him in the middle of the pandemic. Emery said he will always be grateful to Johnson for helping kickstart his career.

Currently, Emery lives in Atkins with his beloved greyhound Ro, short for Astro. (His favorite baseball team is the Houston Astros.) He is an avid baseball lover and enjoys frequenting DickeyStephens Park to watch the Travelers play. He said that he loves living in Central Arkansas and looks forward to all the future opportunities and experiences headed his way.

A message from Kim Williams

Executive Director, Conway Downtown Partnership

Discover Downtown Conway This January

Kick off the new year with exciting activities and events brought to you by the Conway Downtown Partnership! January is packed with opportunities to explore, connect and support the vibrant heart of Conway.

Downtown Dining Week: Treat your taste buds to exclusive specials at your favorite local restaurants, running Jan. 8-14. Discover hidden gems or enjoy classic favorites with friends and family.

Shop Local Saturdays: Find unique treasures and support small businesses every Saturday in January. Many shops will feature winter sales and special promotions.

Live Music Nights: Experience the local music scene with live performances at downtown venues every Friday evening. Check the Downtown Partnership’s website for the lineup. Whether you’re dining, shopping or enjoying live entertainment, downtown Conway has something for everyone. Follow the Conway Downtown Partnership on social media for event updates and announcements.

Let’s make January a month to remember in the heart of the 501!

AUTHOR OF THE MONTH

SANDRA JONES

CONWAY

By Susan L. Peterson • Photo by Makenzie Evans

Ringing in the new year is often accompanied by thoughts or commitments on how to improve oneself.

Author Sandra Jones may be able to help. Her books, “Encouraging Word of the Day” Books 1 and 2, present interactive devotions to help readers defeat the fears and doubts that may be impacting their lives.

Jones, a devout Christian, believes that helping others is the greatest gift. And throughout her life, she has never shied away from giving others advice or comforting them. Several years ago, with the help of a friend, she started posting a daily word of the day on Facebook. She was surprised when the number of viewers grew and she started receiving positive feedback from strangers about her postings.

She never intended to publish a book. It was a friend, someone she met online during COVID-19, who viewed her postings and suggested others would benefit from them. They turned to Fiverr, an online freelance platform, to have the videos transcribed and edited. The writer credits her community of friends and her trust in God for her successes. Others helped her with the final product since she knew little about the intricacies of self-publishing.

“I took the thoughts of my mind of love and encouragement and placed them in word and video form," she said.

Both books offer the opportunity to read, reflect and then write responses to questions designed to help the reader examine his or her motivations. For example, after relating her ideas about materialism, she asks, “What steps can you take to ward off envy in your life?”

Born in Arkansas, Sandra moved with her family to Wisconsin when she was only 2. But her ties to Arkansas remained strong. Every summer, she would return

to her grandparents’ home in Plumerville (Conway County). She returned permanently in 1989 to help take care of her grandmother who became ill. She always felt Arkansas was her home.

She worked for Levi Strauss and then Kimberly Clark, where she worked her way to the position of lab technician. Following the company’s closure, she and her sons opened PostalAnnex in Conway. The company hit a rough patch during COVID-19. Her sons needed to find other employment, and she nearly closed the business. Sandra again prayed for guidance, but as she said, “God answers prayers, but sometimes the answers don’t come the way we expect.” Taking on a second job as a cleaner, she was able to keep the business afloat, and miraculously she obtained a shipping contract with a new business in town.

Another way Jones helps others is that she mentors five girls at Morrilton High School, giving them advice and guidance. “I’m going to let them see me work on my next book, which will tell more of my own story. I want them to know they can write their own stories too,” she said.

During her free time, Jones enjoys spending time outdoors. She loves to hike and fish, especially with her nieces and nephews and other extended family members.

Her personal guiding statement is: “I am Sandra Jones and I have limitless potential and can be all that God has called me to be.” It is her hope that she can help others find their capabilities and light in order to live their best lives as well.

Her self-help books are on sale on Amazon and other online booksellers. She enjoys attending book signings and speaking to groups and may be contacted through her business.

‘I love encouraging others because I know how great it feels when someone believes in you. It makes me happy to see others succeed and feel confident.’

- Peter Samain

KID OF THE MONTH

PETER

SAMAIN

OAK GROVE ELEMENTARY IN PULASKI COUNTY

By Colleen Holt • Photo by Mike Kemp

When it comes to bringing about change, Peter Samain of North Little Rock has truly taken the reins at Oak Grove Elementary School. Peter, 10, is in fifth grade and serves as Student Council president. His platform was founded on making “real changes.”

“I decided to run for Student Council president because I want to help make Oak Grove Elementary a better place for everyone,” he said. “I saw this position as a chance to make real changes, like improving our playground equipment, which is very old and outdated. It’s exciting to be in this role because I get to work with our amazing principal and the supportive staff, who always encourage us to do our best.”

Peter has been involved in the past with the food drive at school and would love to start an annual school clean-up day and help beautify the school. When considering the viability of updating the playground equipment, he took the needs of his fellow students into account.

“I think having better equipment will make recess more fun and encourage everyone to play outside and stay active,” he said. “I am currently working on setting up a suggestion box, so students feel more connected to each other and our school community. It is really important to me to get everyone's input on how we can improve our school.”

Known as an encourager, Peter is full of ideas for positive results. “I love encouraging others because I know how great it feels when someone believes in you. It makes me happy to see others succeed and feel confident,” he said. “I think I’ve always been an encourager because my family has taught me to lift others up. I believe that when we support each other, we can all do amazing things.”

His principal, Staisey Hodge, said she sees Peter’s encouraging spirit in a myriad of ways.

“I’ve seen him talking to younger students to encourage them to make good choices so that one day they can run for Student Council,” she said. “He gave a fantastic speech to encourage

younger students in his election campaign and is all-around a fantastic Hornet here at Oak Grove.”

Peter said his family members are his biggest supporters. “My parents, Yousef and Jacqueline Samain, encourage me to dream big and shoot for the stars. My grandparents, Jorge and Margarita Nuno, are also a big part of my life even though they live in California. They always remind me to work hard for what I want and never give up,” he said.

Peter has two sisters, Isabella, 14, and Joycelyn, 22, and a brother, Jacob, 18. “I also have a 2-year-old nephew named Raphael, who always makes me smile,” he added.

When he’s not in school, Peter loves playing Fortnite and chess, and hopes to be able to start his own YouTube account and become a content creator. At Oak Grove, he is in the Alpha gifted and talented program.

He wants to take on more leadership roles in school and beyond. “I enjoy helping others and making a difference, so I hope to continue doing that as I grow up,” Peter said. “Right now, I’m thinking about becoming a brain surgeon because I want to help people in a really big way. My parents and grandparents always tell me to work hard and dream big, so I believe I can achieve this goal if I put my mind to it.”

TOP LEFT: Peter Samain attends Oak Grove Elementary and serves as Student Council president. TOP MIDDLE: Playing chess with Paul McCowan, the school counselor.

BOTTOM LEFT: Peter and Jonathan Dearasaugh, his English and history teacher. BOTTOM MIDDLE: Dana Jeremiah, his math and science teacher. BOTTOM RIGHT: Peter and other students distribute canned goods during a food drive.

‘I cannot imagine what my future might bring.’

- Brooklyn Parker

BROOKLYNPARKER

JASON OWENS LAW FIRM

By Carol Rolf

Conway attorney Brooklyn Parker believes she’s an example of the old adage, “Love what you do and you’ll never work a day in your life.”

Parker said she loves her job and cannot imagine doing anything else. “I am licensed to practice in multiple areas of law, but I especially love anything relating to business and entrepreneurs,” she said. “I love to help business owners and those wanting to start a business with their needs … organization, estate planning, employment law, real estate … anything they need.”

She grew up as an “Army brat,” living all over the country but settling down in Conway when her family moved here and she started ninth grade at Carl Stuart Middle School. It was during that time she would decide to become a lawyer; it was also during that time she would meet her future husband, Zachary Parker.

She said she was introduced to law in ninth grade. “Coach Jeff Prince had a lawyer come speak to us,” Parker said.

“I don’t remember much about what that lawyer said, but I thought he was confident, well-spoken and assertive. I told myself, ‘I can do that and maybe do it better.’ I knew then I wanted to be a lawyer.”

Parker graduated from Conway High School in 2010 and the Honors Program at the University of Central Arkansas in 2012.

She graduated magna cum laude from the William H. Bowen School of Law in 2016, where she was managing editor of the UALR Law Review Editorial Board. She worked for various law offices before becoming part of the Jason Owens Law Firm in

Conway in 2019. She has received numerous awards, including Best Lawyers in America: Ones to Watch (2021–2024), Women in the Law: Ones to Watch (2022), and Super Lawyers Mid-South Rising Star (2022–2024).

Parker is committed to her community as well. She is vice president of the United Way of Central Arkansas and of the Kiwanis Club of Conway; secretary of the Woodrow Cummins Parent-Teacher Organization; a board member of the Conway Symphony Orchestra; and an active member of the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce, which honored her with the Member of the Year distinction in 2023. Additionally, she is a member of the Arkansas Bar Association and president of the Faulkner County Bar Association, which she helped reorganize several years ago.

The Parkers were married in 2013, “two weeks before I started law school,” she said, laughing. “I graduated from law school in May 2016, took the bar in September 2016, and one month later found out I was pregnant with our first daughter, Scarlett. We also have a second daughter, Juliette.

“Scarlett does competitive dance, so we travel a lot,” she said. “And Juliette seems to be super athletic, so we are anxious to see what she might be interested in within a few years.

“I cannot imagine what my future might bring,” Parker said. “I feel I have met my life goals. When I was 14, I said I wanted to become a lawyer and marry Zach. I’ve had those goals for such a long time, I’m not sure I know how to set goals anymore. I feel God has put me right where I belong.”

• Photo by Mike Kemp

‘I challenge myself every day to work hard and be better than I was the day before.’

- Keaton Beasley

KEATON BEASLEY

By KD Reep • Photo by Mike Kemp SIMMONS BANK

Named after the first and best actor to portray Batman, Michael Keaton Beasley is quickly becoming a superhero himself. He is an Assistant Financial Center Manager for Simmons Bank in the Little Rock Metro area, and his passion is giving back to the community by teaching financial literacy to children and adults alike.

“I work with nonprofits and schools, anywhere I can give back or share my experience,” Beasley said. “The financial literacy portion of it is about teaching discipline. I speak to any age, from second and third grade up to junior and senior high school to adults. The key is to make financial literacy fun. Sometimes, we work with students to create their own businesses, and they must do everything from deciding what they are going to offer to naming the business to how many people they will employ. As we go through the steps, the students get an idea of what monthly expenses would be.

“For adults, I work with people who have little to no understanding of how finances work,” he said. “It can be something as simple as how to open a banking account. You may think everyone knows how to do this, but there are people who don’t have others in their lives to teach them these things. Maybe someone just got out of prison or just moved to our country, and they have no idea how to manage money. I work with them to get them the information they need to know, such as why it is

important to have a savings account, how to use credit to your advantage, maintaining a sound credit score, etc.”

Before joining Simmons Bank, Beasley, a native of Hope (Hempstead County), moved to Little Rock after attending Henderson State University in Arkadelphia (Clark County), where he studied communications. He then took a job at an AT&T store, where he interacted with customers and built relationships daily. It wasn’t until a fraternity brother (Alpha Phi Alpha) suggested it that he considered banking as a career.

“I was having a bad day, and I really wanted to find something different career-wise,” Beasley said. “He asked if I ever considered banking, and I said no because I was not a fan of math. He told me about a job at another bank, and I went in for an interview. I really feel like for the first time in my life, I’ve found something I'm so passionate about. The thing I love the most is that it allows me to gain information so I can make an immediate impact on communities or underserved citizens or even family members by giving them financial advice. When I come here and sit inside an office, I challenge myself every day to work hard and be better than I was the day before. At some point, I’d like to be able to do commercial lending and get into executive leadership in the future. I'm a true believer that if you find something you're passionate about that you really love doing, it'll take you far.”

TRICIA

GREENBRIER SCHOOL DISTRICT

‘I challenge myself every day to work hard and be better than I was the day before.’

‘My dad always told me I could do whatever I wanted to do as long as I worked hard enough.’

By Carol Rolf • Photo by Mike Kemp

Tricia Benish, PhD, grew up in Conway and graduated from Conway High School in 1995.

“I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do, but I was always pretty good in art,” said Benish, who is a licensed psychologist and director of mental health and behavior services for the Greenbrier School District. She headed off to the University of Central Arkansas, where she majored in education with a minor in art education. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in childhood education in 2001, as well as K-12 certification in art education.

“It was the art that led me to the field of mental health,” she said, adding that she taught middle school art in Little Rock for three years. “As an art teacher, you can form different relationships with kids that you might not be able to if you taught math or English. I saw students with mental health issues, and I knew I wanted to do something to help them. I decided to go back to school and major in psychology.’”

She continued her education at UCA, receiving a master’s degree that qualified her as a School Psychology Specialist in 2005 and a doctorate in school psychology in 2009. Additionally, she served as a Fellow in Pediatric Psychology at UAMS from 2009-2010.

Benish oversees school-based mental health services for the Greenbrier School District, which includes seven schools housing 3,673 students.

She also oversees district wellness initiatives, the school counseling program and specialized behavioral support for students. In addition, she supervises school psychology interns and leads staff training in youth mental health first aid, trauma-informed

- Keaton Beasley

- Tricia Benish, PhD

practices and emotional poverty. She also coordinates socialemotional learning services and suicide prevention initiatives.

“I am passionate about empowering young people to overcome obstacles in the schools,” Benish said. “And I am dedicated to working together with other leaders to make a positive difference in the lives of Arkansas students.

“My dad always told me I could do whatever I wanted to do as long as I worked hard enough,” she said, laughing. “And to never stop learning. I work hard and I enjoy what I do. I want to continue to help kids achieve whatever they can. I want to be able to look back and know that I made a difference.”

Benish and her husband, Jason Benish, have been married for 16 years. Three daughters complete their family: Faith, Hailey and Maddie.

“Hailey and Maddie both play volleyball for Greenbrier, so we spend a lot of time going to their games,” Benish said when asked what she does in her spare time. “I also like to cook. Someday I’d like to get back to my art … I love to draw and paint.”

When asked about being featured in this year’s “Five-Oh-Ones to Watch” issue, Benish said she is “honored to be chosen and to represent [her] community this way.

“I am the first in my family to graduate college and earn a PhD, and I’m proud that my kids will have that example,” she said. “I’m proud that the work I do has decreased the stigma surrounding mental health issues in our community, has prepared more of our staff to recognize the signs of mental illness and has made services more available for our students.”

“If we’re going to make progress with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders research, we must change the conversation.”

- Elizabeth Cleveland, PhD

ELIZABETH

CLEVELAND

FUSION CENTER NETWORK

By

The Conway resident, 37, a former University of Central Arkansas professor in the Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, is branching out with two colleagues into private practice this month with the new Fusion Center Network, a telehealth diagnostic clinic that will eventually serve clients nationwide.

“Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are highly prevalent, one in 20 people, but less than 1 percent ever receive an accurate diagnosis,” said Cleveland, who grew up in Alabama but moved to the 501 in 2014 and earned her doctoral degree at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2020. “There are huge populations of people who are very misunderstood because their symptoms haven’t been diagnosed as a brain-based disorder.”

Very little alcohol is needed to cause FASD, she said.

“More than two drinks at any time during a pregnancy can cause an FASD, including before pregnancy symptoms start,” Cleveland said. “People don’t realize how easy it is to cause one, and also that it is not willful behavior. I’ve never met a pregnant person who was trying to harm their child.”

She has a sibling who has a disability, so she has always been interested in the helping professions. That was a major reason why she became a speech/language pathologist who now specializes in neurodevelopmental disorders.

“I had a mentor in my PhD program who introduced me to FASD my first semester, and as soon as I found out about it, I realized how many people I knew who [the symptoms] described them so well, and that helped me immediately shift my thinking,” she said.

One of the classic presentations of FASD is executive dysfunction,

which can be perceived as disorganization, emotional dysregulation, or difficulty attending or transitioning between tasks. Many of those conditions are similar to those associated with ADHD. Cleveland said 65 percent of FASD patients have an existing ADHD diagnosis, which may or may not be accurate.

“A lot of times the fetal alcohol spectrum disorders [diagnosis] better explains the combination of symptoms,” she said. “For example, if somebody came in with an ADHD diagnosis paired with oppositional defiant disorder paired with anxiety or depression, those separate disorders may be better explained as symptoms of just one disorder.”

One of Cleveland’s goals is to decrease the stigma around FASD. “[FASD symptoms are] perceived as willful behavior, but truly, it’s because of a brain-based condition,” she said. “We need to help the community around these people better understand them so that the expectations they have of them are achievable. Otherwise, we’re setting them up for failure.”

Cleveland is transitioning into private practice from Partners for Inclusive Communities, where she was associate director and led an outreach initiative for FASD that is funded by more than $10 million in grants from the Department of Human Services and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Arkansas. Her previous success there, she said, had given her the confidence to move into private practice.

“Appropriate services can be put in place with an accurate diagnosis,” she said. “What we need is a shift in the environment to support the person, and that happens through understanding. We’re melding into Fusion Center Network because we’re looking for a 50-state solution.”

Donna Lampkin Stephens • Photo by Mike Kemp

BROOKS JUSTIN

Lord, you are Godmy ;

I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.

Isaiah 15:1, NIV

By Rita Halter Thomas • Photo by Mike Kemp

When Justin Brooks said yes to God, he never expected to stand behind a pulpit preaching as the pastor of Conway Cowboy Church, or any church for that matter. He simply knew he wanted to follow the God he encountered as a child at a small church revival in Scotland, Arkansas.

Brooks was raised by a single mother who struggled with alcohol abuse and poor choices in men. His story is full of harsh truths and hard roads that, sadly, is relatable to far too many. “I grew up being one of ‘those people,’” he said, referring to those many see as misfits, if they see them at all. Brooks isn’t shy about his story, although he may still choke up telling parts of it. “My story is the one God gave me, and I gave it to Him, so there’s nothing about my life that is off the record,” he said. It is from his story that Brooks preaches and ministers to others.

While he has been the lead pastor since 2020, he was first brought on staff in 2014 as the youth pastor and worship leader. At student events, Brooks saw tremendous support for student athletes, but noticed significantly less, or an absence of, support for other students. So, he began building a ministry around those kids and launched C3 Student Ministry. “It was awesome, and I’ve still got them. I mean, I’m even [officiating weddings] for those guys now. It’s been amazing. That’s been the whole heart of my ministry. I have a heart for the kid that was like me and my mom,” he said. Brooks said humbly that he doesn’t have all the answers and just gives God credit. “I’m just a dude trying to keep Jesus at the center of everything,” he said. So far, he’s done that. Brooks, a gifted musician, singer and songwriter, found music after his

mom passed away during his senior year of high school. Years later, he turned down a career opportunity to tour with a wellknown musician, telling the artist, “God’s got plans for me, and that doesn’t involve me getting on that bus.” That opportunity was once his life’s dream. But instead of stepping on a tour bus, he said yes to God and stepped on stage to lead worship for a summer Bible camp. Each yes led to another. “I never planned on being a pastor and never planned on being in ministry,” Brooks said. “I just kept saying yes and opportunities kept coming.”

Brooks expressed gratitude to his staff and church members for their focus and support of the ministry God’s building there, including C3 Men, C3 Women, C3 Kids and C3 Recovery. He has seen growth not only in community, but also spiritually.

Brooks and his wife, Felicia, and their son, Nixon, live in Conway. Nixon specifically points out he is 6 ½. Conway Cowboy Church is a nontraditional, come-as-you-are church located at 12 AR-36, Conway. If you’ve thought about visiting, just say yes. If Brooks knows you’re coming, “I’ll meet you at the door,” he said.

Learn more about Conway Cowboy Church and its ministries at conwaycowboychurch.com, or follow on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube.

WE INSURE CONWAY!

‘My story is the one God gave me, and I gave it to Him, so there’s nothing about my life that is off the record.’

- Justin Brooks

CALLICOTT IARA CA

UNITE TO FIGHT POVERTY

“I have a real passion for advocacy. I wanted to apply that passion in a way that will affect my community.”

-

By Judy Riley • Photo by Mike Kemp

For an inspiring life, look no further than 23-year-old Ciara Callicott. She is the founder and CEO of Unite to Fight Poverty, an international nonprofit. While a full-time student working on her master’s degree in business from Arkansas State University (ASU), she volunteers for the nonprofit. And then, there are the interviews and personal appearances she does to prepare for the Miss Arkansas pageant as Miss Saline County.

What drives this ambitious young woman with a big heart to attack something as daunting as poverty? “I grew up in a family of public educators,” she said. “My grandfather, Glen Eskola, coached football at Robinson and J.A. Fair. My parents are both teachers: my father at Pulaski Technical College and my mother at Parkview High School. They never excluded me from adult conversations about students and how best they might help them. They embodied a life of service”

Callicott grew up in Bryant, then the family moved to Little Rock when she was 14 so she could attend Parkview, an arts and sciences magnet school. She began dance lessons, primarily ballet, with the Michael Tidwell School. She now focuses on jazz but continues to help with the Tidwell Project, providing dance lessons to those who cannot afford to pay.

College followed at the University of Alabama, where she saw centralized wealth and much poverty, a system that had failed its children. C0VID-19 spread during her freshman year, and she began working to help provide vaccinations. Her major was political science and international studies with a minor in Russian. Her studies gave her practical experience in how and when to make contacts to influence policy and laws. She learned that, at one time in some schools, those who could not pay for their lunch or had an outstanding balance had an “X” marked on their hands. Fortunately, that is now illegal.

Returning to Arkansas for graduate work at ASU brought her back to the family legacy of helping kids. A visit to her high school and a conversation with her former middle school principal, Todd Sellers, had a great impact. Learning the percentage of students who cannot afford to pay for school lunches became a battle cry for her nonprofit. Already financially strapped public schools ultimately pay off student lunch debt at an alarming yearly amount.

Any given day might find Callicott preparing a social media campaign to secure donations to purchase lunches for students in the Little Rock School District. Her recent effort on Giving Tuesday resulted in $1,000 in donations. Every little bit helps as individuals voluntarily assume the cost of a $3.50 lunch. Her work can be viewed at unite2fightpoverty.com.

Meanwhile, she entered the Miss Arkansas contest as Miss Saline County. Each contestant must have a philanthropy project, called their platform. For Callicott, it was easy. Her platform has two priorities: First to advocate for free school breakfast and lunches, and second, she wants to garner donations from the private sector to supplement the effort.

This brave young woman is working to provide free school meals for students in need. Callicott hopes to become the next Miss Arkansas, sharing her voice on a national stage and making Arkansas proud! Residents of 501, just watch her!

www.GirlScoutsDiamonds.org/FindCookies

Ciara Callicott on why she founded the nonprofit Unite to Fight Poverty

SETZLER ERIKA

CONWAY

REGIONAL HEALTH & FITNESS CENTER

‘I know being active is key to sustaining life.’

- Erika Setzler

By KD Reep • Photo by Mike Kemp

You have to be pretty fast to catch up with Erika Setzler, and that’s not just in running. Not quite 30, she has accomplished so much in her young life that she is helping others to do the same.

A certified personal trainer at Conway Regional Health & Fitness Center, Setzler works with central Arkansans of all ages to reach their potential.

“I went to the University of Central Arkansas doing the exercise science program then graduated in 2014,” she said. “I didn't really have an idea what I wanted to do, but I grew up in sports, so I knew I wanted something in that realm. When a personal training position opened at Conway Regional, Mallory Lefler, who is the fitness manager, contacted me and asked if I wanted to interview.

I got the job and started within the next couple of weeks and immediately fell in love with it.”

That was nine years ago, and Setzler continues to bring her decades of experience as a runner and triathlete to the central Arkansans who train with her.

“The majority of what I do at the fitness center is either one-on-one or group training,” she said.

“I've got roughly 20 clients I train multiple days a week, and then I'm also an instructor for a class I call The Grind, which is three days a week. It’s a high-intensity interval training approach that is very functional. We do anything and everything,

and I can make it as easy or difficult as I want — and I do. Sometimes my clients say, ‘Man, you woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.’ But I really love it.”

A self-described running nerd, Setzler brings to her profession decades of experience in track and field and as a triathlete. A native of Conway, she earned her Bachelor of Science in kinesiology with an emphasis on exercise science, as well as her master’s degree in health science from UCA while being a member of the college’s track and field team. In 2019, she qualified for the USA Triathlon National Championships, placing in the top 18 in her age group and qualifying for the world competition. She went on to compete in the amateur category of that competition, which was held in Australia, placing seventh as an American and 23rd overall for her age group.

Today, Setzler is focusing on helping those she trains to find health and, she hopes, a passion for physical fitness. “I really want to expand the youth sports performance offerings at the fitness center,” she said. “The Youth Fitness Camp is in the summer, and we also offer a youth sports camp and the kids’ triathlon.

“I have always been very passionate about exercise,” she said. “I know being active is key to sustaining life. I had a 90-year-old client, and it's fun to see the growth and how important exercise is just for overall health.”

‘The way artists utilize art to bring awareness to social injustice inspires me’

- Adaja Cooper

COOPER DAJA

CENTRAL ARKANSAS LIBRARY SYSTEM

By KD Reep • Photo by Mike Kemp

Adaja Cooper has been an artist since birth. A native of Magnolia (Columbia County), Cooper, her mother and sister have pursued art in some form as an expression of how they view the world and how art can be a catalyst for change.

“I’ve always sketched or painted. It was just something I always did,” she said. “How that has taken other forms over the years is exciting to me, and it’s provided me a lot of opportunities I never thought I would have.”

Today, Cooper works with the main branch of the Central Arkansas Library System, leading classes in arts and crafts for children and youth. At 23, she has created murals, led the reconstruction of the Little Rock Nine bench across from Central High School and attended Arkansas Governor's School in the area of Visual Arts, where she further developed her skills with acrylics and oils.

“I really started to focus on art in high school when my teacher, Rex Deloney, encouraged me to explore more ways to create,” Cooper said. “After I graduated Central, I went to Hendrix College and studied visual art and business. That is what led me to complete a year-long journey as a recipient of the 2023 Thomas J. Watson Fellowship.”

One of only 40 college seniors nationwide, Cooper received a $40,000 grant to travel the world for a year, creating and

documenting public murals and how they impact communities. As a result, she connected with artists throughout England, Northern Ireland, Italy and Senegal.

“The way artists utilize art to bring awareness to social injustice inspires me,” she explained. “Public art is necessary to help people think about what is going on in their lives in a different way. The mural I painted on Seventh Street in Little Rock is called ‘Ain’t I a Woman,’ and it was inspired by Sojourner Truth, who gave one of the most famous abolitionists and women's rights speeches in American history. That mural was defaced twice, but each time I went back and repaired it. It’s important to me that, through my art, I can explore what identity, culture and community means through the lens of social justice and equality.”

Because of her talent and subject matter, Cooper has won awards in state art competitions, including the Arkansas Young Artists Association, and placed third in the NAACP’s ACT-SO competition in the painting category. Her work is displayed at Hearne Fine Art Gallery in Little Rock and has been featured in various books, magazines and articles. With a reputation for service, she continues to see the power of art to effect change.

“I want to keep inspiring others to use their talents for advocacy,” she said. “Anything to bring light to our collective situations will help us understand each other in the communities we share.”

‘We want to see everybody be successful in our small town, and we compete to win in everything we do.’

- Coach Matthew Post

ATTHEWM

CLINTON HIGH SCHOOL

By Stefanie Brazile • Photo by Mike Kemp

Coach Matthew Post is committed to continuing the legacy of trust, love and support that he learned at home and from his own high school coach.

“I always think that you get the most out of people when you trust and love each other, so we do a lot of team bonding,” he said.

Post is head girls basketball and cross country coach at Clinton High School, a 4A school in Van Buren County. With five years under his belt at this district, the success of his philosophy and skills has been proven by achieving three basketball conference championships and two regional championships, and his team has made it to the state tournament four consecutive years. Additionally, his fellow 4A coaches voted him conference coach of the year three times.

In the cross country realm, Post’s team won two conference championships and, in 2023, was a 4A state runner-up. His peers in the conference voted him 4A cross country coach of the year twice.

He graduated from Mayflower High in 2013 where he played football and basketball for a personal hero, Coach Jed Davis, who is now superintendent at Bald Knob. “A lot of the stuff we do I got straight from him,” Post said. “He’s the main reason I went into coaching. He’s awesome!”

Post attended Arkansas Tech University and earned a bachelor’s degree in health and PE, as well as a master’s degree. In addition to coaching two sports, he teaches health classes. Now a Yellowjacket at heart, he supports fellow teachers and attends many school events.

“I try to support all our kids, teachers and coaches because everybody is working hard,” he said. “I think the more you support others the more they support you. We want to see everybody be successful in our small town, and we compete to win in everything we do.”

A calm man, Post learned the importance of solid relationships and having fun while growing up. He has found other leaders who share his philosophy at Clinton. “Our administration and booster club provide anything we need. One of the best things about our high school is that Principal Tim Smith loves our kids and makes school fun every day so the kids and teachers want to come to school.”

The coach also likes to have fun with the goal of team building. Clinton’s arch-rival is Heber Springs, and the annual football game is known to locals as “The Battle of the Little Red.” Each fall his players create a parody video before the long-awaited football game which is shared on social media. “I think it’s good to teach them how to work hard but to have fun while you’re doing it.”

A meaningful event he duplicated from his youth is a motherdaughter retreat for his seniors and their moms. “I got to see the impact that the father-son retreat had on myself and my teammates. I think it’s important for them to spend one-on-one with their moms before they go out in the world. I have them write letters to one another that I collect and then hand out on seniors’ night in February.”

By emulating the best he learned at home and at school, Coach Post is creating a legacy of caring and success for future generations.

PET OF THE MONTH

PAWS FOR JUSTICE

By Rita Halter Thomas • Photo by Mike Kemp

Susan Bradshaw, program manager for PAWS for Justice, can’t say enough about the program’s future. Launched in January 2022 with grant money and one dog, PAWS for Justice now has four dog-and-handler teams and recently became state-funded.

The program provides certified facility dogs to assist victims of crime during prosecutor, police or forensic interviews, as well as court proceedings across the state. The presence of the dogs (golden retriever and Labrador mixes specifically bred and trained for this purpose) helps victims open up and talk about the worst experiences in their lives.

Bradshaw, of Conway, is a former victim advocate for the Faulkner County Prosecutor's Office. She, along with her assistant program director Fawn Borden, learned about canines used in courtrooms through an email inquiry. One thing led to another, and with thenelected prosecutor Cody Hiland, they applied for the first trained dog.

“Barb (now retired) was the only dog we had the first year, and she covered the whole state,” Bradshaw said. “Then in February 2023, we were able to bring on two more dogs. In April [2024], we brought on our fourth dog,” she said. Currently, there are two teams in Central Arkansas, one each in Benton and Craighead counties. Another handler is working to be matched for the southwest area, and they are looking for another qualified handler for the southeast corner.

“It’s not just somebody who loves dogs, but it’s got to be somebody who can listen to the really hard stuff and respond appropriately,” Bradshaw said. “These are kids who are describing the worst days of their life, in detail (smells, sounds, sight), and not everybody can listen to that and still be OK.”

The need is growing. Teams assist in juvenile court, Department of Human Services cases, divorce, orders of protection, and can even help jurors decompress after a difficult trial. They also help with victims rescued from human trafficking situations.

Canine teams also attend conferences and travel the state, raising awareness and reminding prosecutors they can be another option in their toolbox. However, they do not favor the prosecution or defense. “We’re impartial. We’re just there to make the process of being part of the criminal justice system a little bit more tolerable,” she said.

Bradshaw is working to find the right vehicles to transport the dogs from case to case. Funds have been allocated for the “hot dog packages” like those used in police K-9 units, but handlers are still using their vehicles. She is hoping to find businesses to donate the needed SUVs. Bradshaw explained that, while the dogs are service dogs, handlers do not have a disability, so they cannot legally take dogs in certain places. Therefore, dogs often must be left in the vehicle, with the motor running to maintain safe temperatures.

Arkansas’s PAWS for Justice Teams include Ari and handler Rebecca Petty, Benton County; Pizzaz and handler Sherri Beatty, Craighead County; Roxy and handler/Assistant Program Manager Fawn Borden, Faulkner County; Reinhold “Rhino” and handler/ Program Manager Susan Bradshaw, Faulkner County. Bradshaw and her husband, Jerry, are raising two daughters in Conway. She also leads a Girl Scout Troop and is a leader in her church.

Learn more on Facebook at PAWS for Justice – Arkansas, or on Instagram at arpawsforjustice. Each dog also has a Facebook page, Instagram, YouTube channel and/or TikTok.

‘Of all the music I've played, bluegrass is the most fun because it’s so technical, and it's so fast. It's challenging,.’

- Aaron Farris

AARON FARRIS

By Dwain Hebda • Photo by Makenzie Evans

Every day, Aaron Farris performs magic for a living. As music teacher for grades kindergarten through fifth at Chicot Elementary in Conway, his brand is less the rabbit-out-of-a-hat variety as it is unlocking the beauty and artistry of music for his young charges.

“It's pretty cool,” he says of his day job. “It really is a lot of fun. What's neat to see with those guys is to them it's still like magic. We blow into this instrument and it makes this sound; we strum these strings and it makes this sound. And not only does it do that, but they can learn how to do it too. They can learn how to make that sound. They're like, whoa, that's awesome.”

Outside of school, Farris applies the same principles to his other profession, as a performer and advocate of the Americana roots music bluegrass. He’s a driving force behind the art form, from hosting open jams in the community to performing with the band The Gravel Yard, through which he gratifies current fans and turns on new ones to the genre.

“Bluegrass has been a predominantly white older-folks genre,” he said. “If we perform at a bluegrass festival, predominantly the audience is going to be older folks. But for whatever reason, bluegrass is making a comeback. It's kind of taken a little bit of a hippie turn, and there are younger folks who are starting to hear this and wanting to learn how to do it.”

Bluegrass traces its roots to European settlers who brought their instruments and musical traditions to the mountains and hills of Arkansas, North and South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and especially Kentucky, eventually to be known as the Bluegrass State, from which the musical category gets its name. These settlers and their descendants sang songs about their daily existence on themes of love, loss and times both hard and fine.

According to the Bluegrass Heritage Foundation, the point where modern bluegrass first came into its own is a matter of opinion. Some say it is thanks to Bill Monroe’s appearance at the Grand Ole Opry in 1939 that did it; others say it was Earl Scruggs, who got his start in Monroe’s band where his three-finger picking style on the banjo brought audiences to their feet.

Whoever started it, the art form was all around Farris as he was growing up in Mountain View, arguably the state’s hotbed for Ozark roots music, which still celebrates folk and bluegrass. Not that the youngster really paid much attention to it at the time.

“When I was young, I wasn't really into music, other than being the drum major in high school and stuff like that for the band,” he said. “A lot of people associate me playing bluegrass with being

from Mountain View, but I actually didn't start that until much later.” Little did Farris know that bluegrass was lying in wait for him when he arrived at Lyon College in Batesville with no real idea what he wanted to study. A survey class in music changed all that.

“I got into a music class and it was a lot of fun. It was tons of fun,” he said. “In college a lot of my friends were playing acoustic guitar and stuff like that, and I got into the bluegrass genre through those friends.

“I was like, I've been around this my whole life. I should really learn how to do it, which is what they were saying. They're like, ‘Man, you're from up there. You should know how to do this.’ When I started playing with them I had a group of guys and they were like, we need a banjo player. And I was like, I'll try it. I was actually pretty good at it naturally, and it just kind of took off from there.”

Farris said what sets the musical genre apart for him is the team element where each person in the ensemble has an equal load to carry.

“Of all the music I've played, bluegrass is the most fun because it’s so technical, and it's so fast. It's challenging,” he said. “In a rock band or in a marching band, the percussion section carries the rhythm and everybody else plays over it. In bluegrass, everyone's responsible for the rhythm simultaneously. Everybody has their own rhythmic element that they have to add in and if one of them is out, it won't sound right. It all fits together like a puzzle.

“On top of that, you get to sing; you can sing lead, you can sing harmony or you can sing all of the above. It's the ultimate team activity, I guess.”

In addition to guitar and banjo, Farris is accomplished on standup bass and mandolin, as well as trumpet from back in his school band days. He’s also currently learning the fiddle, which he calls the hardest of all the instruments he’s mastered so far.

Back at Chicot, Farris is also behind a new program to teach the art form to a new generation of students, bringing a new genre to students of color, who have traditionally been underrepresented in bluegrass.

“I applied and received a grant to teach my students here in an afterschool program,” he said. “We slowly started bringing in instruments thanks to lots of donations from the community, which brings that magic I talked about. A lot of these kids are not familiar with this type of music, but when you start doing it, they're like, ‘This is really cool.’ It’s really fun to see that.”

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

DAN HAMPTON DAN HAMPTON

Dan Hampton’s love of music had him playing in the Jacksonville High School band instead of for the Red Devils’ football team, but the coach finally convinced him to put on the pads as a junior. That decision would lead Hampton to the University of Arkansas, a 12-year career with the Chicago Bears and a Super Bowl ring.

By David Grimes

Hampton was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1992 as part of the 34th class, along with Lorietta Blann, Preston Carpenter, Don Dyer and Tom Gulley.

Born in 1957 in Oklahoma City, Okla., his family moved to a farm in Cabot in 1962. When he was 12 years old, Hampton fell 30 feet from a tree, breaking several bones and forcing him to spend six months in a wheelchair. It would still be a few more years until he could run well enough to again play sports. So he turned his attention to music, playing multiple instruments, including guitar and saxophone.

But as he grew to 6 feet 5 inches and 225 pounds, his path led back to football, where Hampton would shine as a lineman on both sides of the ball. Following his senior season of 1974, he was named to the Class AAA all-state team as defensive tackle. Hampton was also selected to the prestigious all-classification Associated Press Super Team.

Coach Frank Broyles offered Hampton a scholarship to the University of Arkansas, where he would compile one of the finest careers of any defender to ever wear the Razorback red and white.

As a junior, now playing for Head Coach Lou Holtz, Hampton starred on the legendary team that upset the Oklahoma Sooners in the Orange Bowl, 31-6. The Hogs finished that season 11-1 and ranked third in the final AP poll.

As a senior, Hampton was named 1978 Southwest Conference Defensive Player of the Year while also garnering All-American honors. A four-year letterman from 1975 to 1978, Hampton would later be named to the Razorbacks’ All-Decade Team of the 1970s and in 1994 to the University of Arkansas All-Century Team as a defensive lineman. He has also been inducted into the University of Arkansas Sports Hall of Honor.

The Chicago Bears selected Hampton with the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft. He made an immediate impact, starting all 16 games for the Bears and finishing third in the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year voting. The following season, Hampton made the first of his four Pro Bowl appearances. Hampton was versatile enough to play both defensive tackle and defensive end for the Bears and was good enough at each to be named to the Pro Bowl at both positions.

Bulked up to 265 pounds in the NFL, he earned the nickname “Danimal” for his intense playing style. That intensity would help him earn the respect of his teammates, opposing players and the media. Former coach and NFL broadcast legend John Madden named Hampton to his All-Madden team six times and to his 10th Anniversary All-Madden team in 1994. Hampton’s style of play also earned him a dozen surgeries to his knees, six on each leg.

Hampton was named first-team All-Pro in 1984, and to the second-team four times. All of this added up to him being selected to the NFL’s All-Decade Team of the 1980s at defensive tackle. The Bears’ defense of the 1980s was one of the best ever assembled, and it culminated in the 1985 season when Chicago dominated the league with a 15-1 record, capped by a victory in Super Bowl XX over the New England Patriots by a score of 46-10.

He retired from the NFL following the 1990 season, having played 157 games, recording 82 sacks and 10 fumble recoveries. In 1999, when Sports Illustrated ranked its 50 greatest sports figures of the 20th century from each state, they placed Hampton at No. 35 for the state of Arkansas.

The Little Rock Touchdown Club annually presents the Dan Hampton Award to the top defensive lineman in the state on both the high school and collegiate levels. Hampton participates in the selection process each year, reviewing tapes of the candidates. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2002 and was finally elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2024, an honor long overdue.

What's New with You? Welcoming 2025 with a look back at New Year's history

By Vivian Lawson Hogue

There are some special days that come and go, and we seldom think about their histories. We know, or should know, the reason for Christmas celebration, but may not know that the church of the Middle Ages originally called it Christ’s Mass. And by the way, the season is not really over until Jan. 6, the twelfth day of Christmas. By that time, it is discovered that the new bike owner needs training wheels and Band-Aids. And those are just for Dad. Many locals remember long ago when the only decoration in town was a Nativity scene on the courthouse grounds and a Christmas tree with a few strings of C-9 colored bulbs. We thought it was magnificent! Downtown streets were festooned with zigzagged strings of colored lights overhead. Then suddenly the Nativity scene was moved to the edge of the grounds and only the tree remained as the new focus. Eventually Jesus and his family disappeared, but you might say that millions of us have found him!

Now, New Year’s Day is a horse of a different color. As usual, it was the Greeks who first celebrated in 600 B.C. to honor various gods of dubious reputations. Thankfully, things settled down and mankind survived to see the day become a federal holiday in 1870. My take gains a different perspective when I realize that one of my grandfathers was born in 1871, another in 1874. My parents were born in 1900 and 1901, so I am honored to have a connection with the turn of the century through people, writings and stories!

I should introduce you to the late Mr. John P. Townsend, born at Caddo Gap in 1902 as a descendant of a Faulkner County pioneer family. He later moved to Conway and lived on Washington Avenue. In his book “As I Remember,” he described a form of celebration carried out in 1918 at the end of World War I. It was also used for New Year’s Day and Independence Day revelry in many rural towns across southern states during that era.

In Mr. Townsend’s description, he gives the recipe for a noisy town gathering. Lacking fireworks, there had to be a substitution! Casper Dum, who had one of the first bakeries in Conway (now the location of Mike’s Place), organized a brass band and they played on every street corner. “Up and down the streets people were shooting firearms – pistols, rifles, shotguns and one muzzle loader,” Townsend wrote.

The main event was firing off four anvils using black gunpowder. Anvils are large blocks of iron with steel work surfaces, best known for use by farriers (blacksmiths) in forging horseshoes. These anvils were placed in the center of town where the Roberts Municipal Court is currently located. Firewood and wooden crates were hauled in and a bonfire was lit.

One anvil bottom was placed upward on the ground. A depression in the center held nearly a half-pint of gunpowder. Another anvil was placed upright over the first one. To fire off the anvils, they first placed a 13-foot iron rod in the fire until red hot. The hot end of the rod was touched to a residual trail of powder, which detonated the charge. “When it went off, it blew the top anvil about two feet into the air and made a noise that jarred the whole town!” Townsend said. But that was Old Conway with a population of 2,000.

Beginning in 1907, the image of Baby New Year with a sash and top hat began to appear in magazines. Alongside the baby was often Old Man Time holding an hourglass signifying passage of time and a scythe suggesting his year had passed and he would move aside and give the new one to Baby New Year. Some people make New Year resolutions to add or subtract behaviors, things or habits from their lives to better themselves. These normally last about as long as it takes a firecracker to pop.

As we advance a year in the blink of an eye, we see that only one second is the difference between our birth moment and the next, and between one year and the next. Our bodies begin to age at conception, and suddenly, we’re applying for Medicare! You started out so flawless, and now you have mended bones and scars from missing or adjusted body parts.

My advice for your New Year resolutions is to tell someone you love them; provide proper parental guidance for your children and pets; acquire a hobby; throw away/give away what you don’t need or use; take your children and yourself to church; cherish and listen to old folks and record their memories.

Then sing it loud – “We’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for the days of Auld Lang Syne!”

SCRIPT TO FIT

Medical Fitness Program helps Wendy Russ reclaim her health

When back pain forced her to wait on her young friends during a work trip to Washington, D.C., while they walked to the Washington Monument, something inside Wendy Russ “just clicked.”

Although her friends were trying to spare her the pain of walking more than a mile to the monument, “I said I’m never going to be left behind again,” Russ said. “That was my defining moment.” After returning to Conway, she began to search for a solution to the back pain she had lived with for decades and found the Script to Fit program on the Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center’s website.

After reading about Script to Fit, Russ asked her new doctor, Clara Zee, DO, about the program. “She was not dismissive and said she loves referring people to Script to Fit.”

She recently took her first lengthy walk since her adult sons were children. She is now capable of simple tasks like standing to cook, doing the dishes or walking to check the mail.

“It feels like I’m reclaiming a piece of myself that I thought was lost,” Russ said. She is overcoming a degenerative disc condition and negative advice.

She had often heard that her pain was “just a part of getting older” or “it wouldn’t hurt as bad if you were thinner,” the 57-year-old said. “I was dismissed often and had all but given up, accepting that a cane or a wheelchair was in my future. Intense pain was a daily struggle, making everyday activities feel insurmountable.” Script to Fit gave her hope that she could make a change.

The program provides exercise and educational programming to help participants manage their chronic health conditions. It features tracks for arthritis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and reconditioning fitness. The eight-week program includes pre- and post-program fitness assessments reported to their physician, InBody analysis to track body composition, a personalized exercise program, ongoing education and access to fitness equipment.

Russ was so appreciative of her experience that she wrote a letter to the Script to Fit staff. “I know I have a long way to go, but I have all of you to thank for giving me the confidence to keep going,” she wrote. “I did the work, but you provided the support, the encouragement, and the plan I needed to succeed.

“I had given up hope. It has been life altering for me in so many ways, and I want to express my deep appreciation. The program is not at all intimidating; the facility has much to offer, but more importantly, the staff is welcoming and top tier.”

Her journey was not easy.

A defining moment came for Russ when her trainer, Trey Norris, used her success as an example to encourage another person. “I was having my toughest day, but I couldn’t leave when he was using me as the example,” she said. “That was a wonderful milestone.”

Gradually, the limp she had on the first day of the program disappeared, and the pain she felt in her back decreased.

Success stories like Wendy’s motivate Norris. “The Script to Fit program is the favorite part of my work here, even more than personal training, because I feel like it makes the biggest difference in people’s lives,” he said.

Russ believes her story can help others.

“Whatever you do, don’t give up,” she said. “I believe in the expression ‘pick your hard.’ Is it hard to work out? Sometimes it is, but which hard do you want? Do you want the hard of being left behind or the hard of moving forward?” Having recently graduated from Script to Fit, Wendy continues working out and has added aquatics classes.

She has even plotted out a 1.3-mile walk, the exact distance of that walk to the Washington Monument, because “I don’t ever want to be left behind again.”

Trey Norris trains Wendy Russ as part of the Script to Fit program offered by the Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center.

It’s that time of year again. The holidays are officially over. We are putting away the decorations and making lists of what we hope to accomplish this year. You can resolve to save energy and money by participating in the

ENERGY SMART CHALLENGE

By Beth Jimmerson

The challenge helps Conway residents make home energy upgrades easy and affordable. No matter how large or small you start, saving energy is a resolution you can stick with to save money in the long run, while making your home more comfortable too.

Ready to take the Energy Smart Challenge? Put these five steps into action over the next year and you will notice changes.

PROFESSIONAL HOME ENERGY AUDIT

A professional energy audit from Conway Corp is the first step in energy savings. Best of all—it’s free. Our certified professionals will help you identify how much energy your home consumes and what measures may be taken to make it more energy efficient. The analysis will show any problems that may, when corrected, save significant amounts of money over time.

During the audit process, a Conway Corp-certified energy professional will perform a walk-through inspection of your home using a variety of techniques and equipment. The inspection will help you understand the energy efficiency level of your home’s heating and cooling systems, look at how your windows and doors seal, inspect insulation levels, show you ways to conserve electricity and help identify leaks in your home.

Annually, homes that have received a free audit from the Energy Smart program save more than $1.8 million combined in utility costs. Over the lifetime of the program, these homes have saved more than $10 million. Some solutions are simple and inexpensive. For example, a $4 tube of caulk might save you $100 in energy costs. Other improvements might be more expensive but can be done over time, like installing efficient low-wattage lighting fixtures, adding insulation, or upgrading to Energy Star-rated appliances.

BENCHMARK YOUR ENERGY USAGE

Staring down 12 months of utility bills can be daunting, but benchmarking is a key step toward seeing how your current energy usage stacks up. By prioritizing projects, you will make a dent in your utility bills. The myConwayCorp app is a great resource for the past 13 months of electric and water usage in your home. Once you have a baseline of your energy usage, you can clearly see when you’re making progress.

MAKE ONE ENERGY-EFFICIENCY INVESTMENT A MONTH

You don’t have to start big. Work at your own pace and start with small upgrades like replacing old lightbulbs with energyefficient LED bulbs. About 10 percent of the energy your home uses goes to lighting costs. By replacing five of your home’s most frequently used lights with energy-efficient ENERGY STAR bulbs, you can save $75 a year in energy costs. Compared to traditional incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent bulbs can yield as much as 75 percent energy savings and last six times longer.

If you want to make a bigger impact, installing and utilizing a smart thermostat can save you 15 percent, or nearly $150 on your yearly utility bills. Switching to ENERGY STAR-certified appliances can save nearly $750 over the lifetime of the item.

The Energy Smart program offers zero percent interest loans to Conway Corp customers for home improvements like replacing old appliances or installing attic insulation. The loan program, funded by the City of Conway through the American Recovery Act of 2009, is available only to Conway Corp customers. Although there are no income limits, applicants must have a good credit history with Conway Corp. Loans are between $500 to $2,500 and are repayable over a 36-month period. To date, Conway Corp has provided more than 400 loans totaling more than $1.1 million dollars.

Set an energy-saving goal that will both challenge you and serve as an attainable milestone to reach by year-end. Aim to reduce energy use by 5 percent and save $300 from last year. Whatever your goal—set it and work toward it.

Once you have made the commitment, visit ConwayCorp.com/EnergySmartChallenge to officially sign up to take the Energy Smart Challenge and pledge to reduce your energy usage and footprint in 2024. You will find other ideas and tips for energy efficiency, along with information on free residential energy audits and zero-percent interest loans for qualified energyefficient improvements.

Customers who register to take the Energy Smart Challenge and schedule their free residential energy audit during January will be entered to win a $100 gift card to help with energy efficiency improvements around the home. The winner will be selected by random drawing in February 2025. To schedule your energy audit or learn more about the zero-percent interest loan program, call 501.450.6000 or email comments@ConwayCorp.net.

A SAFER SEARCY

City awarded grant to improve safety for firefighters and community

The City of Searcy recently announced that it had been awarded a federal grant of $141,818 from the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, in cooperation with the U.S. Fire Administration. The funding will be used to install a Source Capture Exhaust System (SCES) in each of the city's three fire stations, significantly enhancing the safety and well-being of firefighters and the community.

The SCES system is designed to prevent diesel exhaust fumes from permeating the airspace of the bay area and finding their way into the living and sleeping quarters of the stations. By using hoses attached to the exhausts of fire apparatus, the system captures harmful diesel fumes at the source, greatly reducing the risk of exposure to these dangerous carcinogens.

“This grant is a crucial step forward in our ongoing efforts to

protect the health and safety of our firefighters,” Fire Chief Brian Dunavan said. “By reducing their exposure to diesel exhaust, we can help minimize the risk of cancer and other health issues that are unfortunately prevalent in our profession. We are grateful to FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration for recognizing the importance of this project and supporting our efforts."

The installation of the SCES systems will not only benefit firefighters but also protect citizens who visit the fire stations from lingering diesel fumes.

“This funding will allow us to continue to improve the safety of our firefighters,” Mayor Mat Faulkner said. “By investing in the health and well-being of our first responders, we are making strides in our commitment to providing a safe environment for those who serve our community.

PROUDLY PRESENTS

PERSON OF THE MONTH

TINA NOVAK

VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

“Throughout my career at First Community Bank, I have had the honor of receiving Employee of the Year, and I also serve on our Brand Council committee. My job allows me many opportunities to connect and network in our community, and because of that, I have received the Volunteer of the Year award through the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce. I serve on the board of the White County Child Safety Center.

I have to say, though, my greatest accomplishment is being called Mom.”

Photo by Makenzie Evans

HOMETOWN: I have been married to Glen and lived in Searcy for 29 years. We have two daughters, Olyvia and Harlee.

CAREER: My first day at First Community Bank was Sept. 28, 2015. It was one of the greatest days of my life! I am VP business development officer/CSR for the Searcy region. It has been the best job I’ve ever had, and I am blessed to work with the greatest people!

EDUCATION: I am a 1992 graduate of Bakersfield, Mo. Bakersfield is a very small town in southern Missouri. After graduating from high school, I attended Arkansas State University (ASU) in Mountain Home (Baxter County) for two years before getting married in 1995 and moving to Searcy. I’ve had many opportunities to complete leadership programs and training, such as John Maxwell’s program. I’ve continued my education for business at ASU Beebe since I began working at First Community Bank.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: In my current role at First Community Bank, I have the privilege to be involved in public relations in our community. I serve on the board of some of our nonprofit organizations in Searcy, and it also gives me the ability to work alongside other leaders and serve on committees at the Chamber of Commerce. My family attends New Life Church in Searcy. We are all heavily involved in several different things. Specifically, I sing on the worship team, and Glen and I lead a life group.

You co-chair Leadership Searcy. How long have you been involved, and what is the group's purpose?

I have been involved with Leadership Searcy since I went through the program in 2016. The purpose and vision are to develop a network of great leaders and acquaint them with community needs, challenges and opportunities. We believe in the importance of relationship building, teamwork and collaboration. During our monthly sessions, we challenge participants to become involved with local issues and the process of decision making. We are working hard today to make a better tomorrow!

What is a hidden treasure in White County you’ve learned about through Leadership Searcy?

Searcy is FULL of hidden treasures through all of our locally owned and operated businesses. We are gifted with some of the greatest leaders and most talented and creative artists, along with the best bakeries, specialty food trucks and boutiques. The hidden treasure is found in the hearts of everyone who calls Searcy home.