May 2024

501Derful Women

I’ll celebrate a birthday this month, and you may ask how old I am. I’m old enough to have been close to a grandmother who was never afforded the career opportunities that I have to choose from, and I’m young enough that my generation sees women as having the same abilities as men. I think having a knowledge of both worlds is a valuable perspective.

When I was a sophomore in college, I was asked to moderate a county sheriff’s debate before the general election. This was a big opportunity for me. At that time, I was fortunate to be influenced by several female professors whom I admired. They saw a nugget of ability in me and wanted to give me a platform to cultivate that. I was also raised by a mother who even now encourages and believes in me. In retrospect, these women were teaching me that Wonder Women need one another’s support and guidance. Naturally, I’ve tried to do all of these things for my treasured daughter.

This issue is “women-centric.” Our articles introduce you to several dozen successful go-getters and explain what makes them tick. In reading all of the articles, I’ve noticed some common opinions.

In one article, psychiatric nurse practitioner Teneal Hill encourages us to reach for our dreams by acknowledging that “Growth is uncomfortable. Get used to that feeling and embrace it. I think we are conditioned to avoid discomfort, but that’s where the good stuff happens.”

Another feature in this issue is about Dr. Amanda Bledsoe. Many of us know about her “hope through healing” mantra, but I love that she supports women with small businesses by sharing space in her chiropractic clinic where they can sell their wares and network. I was also impressed by audiologist Dr. Loni Briley who is a preceptor for many doctoral students and interns, working to grow the next generation of Wonder Women. “I truly love teaching and preparing future providers,” she said.

Outside of comic books and movies, Wonder Women aren’t born; they develop over time from generation to generation. And they continue to develop as we take the time to point out strengths and abilities, celebrate successes and challenge one another to reach seemingly impossible goals. Join us this month as we celebrate moms and all the 501Derful women in Central Arkansas!

Jeremy

Donna

EDITOR

Stefanie W. Brazile

FOUNDERS

BRAND AMBASSADORS

Donald

ADVERTISING

ADVERTISING

Donna

DIGITAL

PHOTO

COPY EDITORS

Andrea

FINANCE

SOCIAL

Morgan

CONTRIBUTORS

Editor Stefanie Brazile had a fun meeting with future 501Der Woman Lillian Holder.

and Morgan Holder, of Conway, are teaching their eldest daughter, Lillian, to be a next generation Wonder Woman. Lillian was celebrating her 4th birthday on the day of the photo shoot.

B&B Safety Training , 78

Barksdale Federal Credit Union, 8, 39

Birch Tree Communities, 62

Bledsoe Chiropractic, 44

CARTI, 38

Centennial Bank, 40

Central Arkansas Karting, 87

Chris Crain Enterprises, 82-83

Comprehensive Tutoring, 51 Conway Corp, 111

Conway Healthcare & Rehab, 29

Conway Regional Health System, 45, 115

Conway Regional Rehab, 47

Diamond Pools, 66

Downtown Conway, 106-107

_____________________________________

Edward Jones, 76

First Community Bank, 93

First Security Bank, 49, 116 FLOATspa, 91

Freyaldenhoven Heating & Cooling, 67

G.A. Bolt, LLC, 71

Glow Aesthetics, 60

Greenbrier Community, 56-57

Greenbrier Public Schools, 52

Hartman Animal Hospital, 15

Harwood, Ott & Fisher, PA, 97

Hearing Life, 41

Heirloom Legal, 77

Heritage Living Center, 5

_____________________________________

Julie’s Sweet Shoppe, 55

Karen Ferguson Team, 17, 70

Kilwins Little Rock, 101

Kindred Mercantile, 73

Max Event Venue, 105

Medlock Aesthetics, 79

Methodist Family Health, 51, 72

MSC Eye Associates, 101 Ott Insurance, 69

____________________________________ PCSSD, 86

Quitman Public Schools, 48

Restoration Wellness, 63

Salem Place, 58-59, 81

Shelter Insurance, 33

Sissy’s Log Cabin, 19

South Conway County Schools, 61

Superior Health & Rehab, 2

TalentRush Executive Search, 53

Tipton & Hurst, 23

Toad Suck Daze Run, 9

UACCM, 27

UCA, 85

Unity Health, 3

Yours Truly Consignment, 34

KD Reep

is the owner of Flywrite Communications, the premier public relations agency of Mabelvale, Ark. She also is the director of communications for Methodist Family Health, a complete continuum of care for Arkansas children and their families. She enjoys napping as much as possible, reading and eating pie.

Tammy Keith worked in newspapers, including the Log Cabin Democrat and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, for 38 years. The ASU graduate is a 12-time Arkansas Press Women Professional Communications winner and three-time national winner. Her biggest honor is being Mimi to her granddaughter, Kennedy.

Have our 11-county publication delivered right to your home or business.

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Laurie Green is a Greenbrier native and a 501 LIFE faith contributor. Laurie and her husband, Will, share seven children, nine grandchildren and a golden retriever named Marlo. They own and operate a lawn care business and are members of New Life Church in Greenbrier. The couple loves cruising the world together.

CHOCOLATE GRAVY COOK-OFF

May 4 • Searcy

The sweetest world championship returns! Take part in the action by sampling each contestant's personal version of the ultimate chocolate gravy. After sampling, submit your vote for the winner of the coveted People’s Choice Award. The Main Street Searcy event is sponsored by First Security Bank, and takes place from 9 to 11 a.m. in downtown. Advanced tickets only $10 at experiencesearcy.com/events-in-searcy.

501FEST

May 4 • SoMa District in Little Rock

The third annual event celebrates the people of Central Arkansas. At one time, area code 501 was the only one designated to the region, which is how the 501 reference began. The free festival is planned for 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. from 101 through 149 East Daisy L. Gatson Bates Drive. It includes live entertainment, vendors, food and kids' activities. Visit 501festival.com.

WORLD MIGRATORY

BIRD DAY CANOE FLOAT

May 11 • Pinnacle Mountain State Park

A guided canoe float on the Maumelle River will allow participants to search for migratory species and local birds. Drift along the stream to see riverbanks teeming with wildlife and experience the unique habitats that define the wetlands. Bring a sack lunch, sunscreen and appropriate clothing. Registration is required. Contact the visitor center at 501.868.5806. The canoe rental is $50.

BLIPPI: THE WONDERFUL WORLD TOUR

May 16 • North Little Rock

Blippi and special guest Meekah are touring the world to discover the differences in cities. They will stop at the Simmons Bank Arena at 6 p.m. on May 16. Families can dance, sing and learn during the energetic performance, which encourages curiosity. Ages 2+ require a ticket ranging from $30 to $59. Visit simmonsbankarena.com.

PHOTO EXPO

May 17-18 • Little Rock

The large trade show at the State House Convention Center offers presentations, hands-on demonstrations and all the major photographic companies will have booths. Official registration opens at 8 a.m. on May 17. Entry tickets are $99, and private classes are an additional fee. Explore the latest gear, trade in camera equipment and learn from world-renowned speakers who will elevate your photography. Visit bedfordphotoexpo.com to learn more.

Festival donates $220,500 to charities, zoo and student scholarships

The 43rd annual Toad Suck Daze festival is planned for May 3-5 in Historic Downtown Conway. The family-friendly event includes concerts, shopping, carnival rides, children's activities and the World Championship Toad Races starring our amphibious friends. There is no cost to enter. Concession vendors and the play area for kids open at 11 a.m. Friday, and the market vendors and carnival open at 3 p.m. Visit toadsuck.org for detailed schedules.

The Conway Area Chamber of Commerce oversees the largest free family festival in Arkansas, with more than 100,000 attendees every year. Since its inception in 1982, it has contributed more than $2.4 million in scholarships, endowments, STEM education, preschool funding, arts education and community development. Toad Suck Daze is presented by Baptist Health, Chris Crain Hyundai, and Genesis of Conway.

“Last year was an incredible one for Toad Suck Daze, thanks to our presenting sponsors and major festival partners,” said Conway Area Chamber of Commerce President & CEO Brad Lacy. “This allowed us to give more than any year in the festival’s history

and establish a new partnership with the Little Rock Zoo, which we are excited about.”

In April, Toad Suck Daze officials announced record charitable giving of $220,500. A $100,000 gift is marked for the Little Rock Zoo to establish the Hidden Corners of the World: Uncommon Creatures exhibit. “As unique as Toad Suck Daze are the creatures within the hidden corners of the world,” said Joy Matlock, director of marketing and development at the zoo. “This exhibit features reptiles and amphibians from all over our planet.”

Other contributions include $20,000 to design and engineer a toad-themed pocket park in downtown Conway; $25,000 to the Conway Downtown Partnership; $33,500 to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library; $17,000 in college scholarships for Faulkner County students; $10,000 to the Toad Suck Daze Emerging Scholars; $10,000 to a “Greetings from Conway” mural in downtown Conway; and $5,000 to the Reynolds Performance Main Stage Series.

Have a special occasion or gettogether coming up? Pack a copy of 501 LIFE in your suitcase, snap a photo at your destination and send it to us for publication in a future issue!

Photos can be submitted by email to info@501lifemag.com.

The Just Older Youth (JOY) group from Four Winds Church in Conway were "Loving LIFE" during a visit to Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Rakhila, a UCA student from Kazakhstan (second from right), accompanied her host mom, Julia Groff (second from left), on the trip.

The 1959 Conway High School class was “Loving LIFE” when they gathered to celebrate their 65th class reunion on March 30th at Vincent’s BBQ.

Coach Patrick Martin and his Greenbrier boys soccer team were “Loving LIFE” during Eclipse weekend.

Lilee Davenport was “Loving LIFE” and getting a double dose of the eclipse in Greenbrier.

Floyd Brantley was “Loving LIFE” at Level Ground Coffee in Conway.

Ira Fortner was “Loving LIFE” in Ms. Kelly Lindstrom's class at First Presbyterian Preschool in Conway while showing his classmates his photo in the 501 LIFE March issue.

Trish and Freddie Mark Wilcox were “Loving LIFE” when they celebrated being named the 501 LIFE Couple of the Month with a night out at Murry’s Dinner Playhouse in Little Rock.

Rylee and Luke Brown were “Loving LIFE” during the eclipse while suspended in a swing.

Cities throughout the 501 planned elaborate eclipse-themed events to mark the Total Solar Eclipse. Many events kicked off on Friday, April 5, three days before the moon took center stage.

Schools and businesses closed, creating a holiday for Central Arkansas citizens.

Publisher Jeremy Higginbotham attended the Main Street Malvern viewing of “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial” under the stars and partygoers dressed as characters from the movie.

Searcy hosted a Star Wars-themed weekend and painted space-themed murals to welcome locals and out-ofstate guests. Sales Director Paulette Higginbotham was impressed by the transformation at Art Alley.

Conway’s events centered around the University of Central Arkansas, with several on-campus activities drawing a huge crowd. Brand Ambassador Lisa Hutchison was thrilled seeing all the cute dogs.

Greenbrier hosted a four-day event at Matthews Park. Piccolo Zoppe’ presented The Eclipse Circus, with guest performers adding to an already spectacular circus. One man was shot from a cannon, and another walked a tightrope over the park’s pond! Editor Stefanie Brazile was amazed by their skills!

Photographer Micheal Murray captured the excitement in Conway County when Main Street Morrilton hosted an electric “Everyone Under the Sun Solar Eclipse Totality Party” downtown, which began on April 5 and lasted through the big event on April 8. The festival offered live entertainment, science activities, presentations, food trucks, local craft and artisan vendors, yoga and kids’ activities.

Community volunteers came together to create a fun-filled weekend and the city’s new Wayland Holyfield Place at 120 N. Moose Street was the location for many activities.

Denna Lambert (from left) and her son Kaleb Lambert were “Loving LIFE” with Emma Bertram and Teresa Bertram. Denna is from Little Rock and works for NASA. She attended the event to help visually impaired children understand the eclipse. Emma and Teresa coordinate events at the Rialto Arts Center.

LEFT: Mayor Allen Lipsmeyer and his wife, Stephanie, with their children Drake (from left), Penelope, Ophelia and River.

RIGHT: Mayor Lipsmeyer with Jim Dailey, the retired mayor of North Little Rock.

Brandon Kim (from left) and Melissa Duggan (both from Alabama) with Jasmin Stenger and Sebastian Stenger, who are from Germany.

Carl Doze, Kim Berkemeyer and Morgan Zimmerman were “Loving LIFE” while volunteering to make the eclipse event an out-of-this-world experience.

Main Street Malvern showed “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” outdoors, with a special appearance by “Ellie N.”

Piccolo Zoppe’ and friends performed an eclipse-themed circus.

In Conway, Chris Lynn, owner of Risky Biscuits food truck, hosted BiscuitFest; UCA hosted Barkanalia. Hendrix Windgate Museum of Art was shooting for the stars with rocket launching.

Searcy space-themed murals were loved by Alex and Stephanie Eshov (from left) and Steven and Trish Beres; Sondra Smart (from left), Dewey Spencer and Linda Terry at Pioneer Village.

PET OF THE MONTH

UCA ECLIPSE BARKANALIA

The University of Central Arkansas offered several out-of-thisworld events in the days before the Total Solar Eclipse and on April 8. Three dynamic festivities ran simultaneously on campus that afternoon.

On the College of Business Lawn, a pet-friendly eclipse viewing party called “Dog Barkanalia” took place. The Event Coordinators were Dr. Gayle Seymour, associate dean of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences and Amanda Horton, executive director of public appearances.

Barkanalia is a play on the word “Bacchanalia,” which gave a nod to the celebratory parties of ancient Greece. It featured eclipsethemed food and dog-themed live music, a dog spa, and a show ring for human and dog costume competitions, and many people

took advantage of the opportunity to show off their fur babies. DJ Timbo played celestial tracks, there was a dog spa, a show ring, a dog kissing booth, a dog treat bake-off, a photo booth and more. The event benefitted local dog rescue organizations.

During this event, a scene from the movie Roadtrip to the Totality Zone was filmed. This is a new, feature-length movie, and this issue features an article about the movie and its Writer and Director, Emily Railsback.

Across campus, hundreds of students and community members gathered at Estes Stadium for an Eclipse Street Fair and Watch Party, complete with food and vendors. Party-goers were allowed to spread blankets on the purple and gray striped field dubbed “The Stripes,” and some onlookers filled the stands.

Photo by Makenzie Evans

HIS STORY:

I am always faithful – Semper Fi.

NATIVE OF: Arkansas.

EDUCATION: I graduated from East Side High School in Menifee (Conway County) and received a degree as a junior accountant from the Hot Springs Rehabilitation Center in Hot Springs (Garland County).

PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: I am retired from the U.S. Marine Corp and, after 45 years of employment, retired from Winrock Farms Inc. as accountant clerk for the estate of Winthrop Rockefeller, Winthrop Paul Rockefeller and Liseanne Rockefeller.

HONORS: I received two Purple Hearts for my service in Vietnam.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: I am chairman of deacons, treasurer and Sunday school teacher at Mount Carmel Baptist Church.

HOBBIES: I enjoy fishing and reading and am a member and treasurer of Chapter 13 Disabled Veterans of Arkansas.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS? I love friendly people.

WHAT IS THE SECRET TO A LONG, HAPPY MARRIAGE? Faith and trust. Keeping our lives Christ-centered and loving my wife, children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

HER STORY:

I am an extrovert who is self-confident and mild-mannered.

NATIVE OF: Arkansas.

CHILDREN/GRANDCHILDREN: Yolanda Criswell (her spouse is deceased) and Schanta Barksdale. Our grandchildren are Brandon Criswell and Brittany Criswell. We are extra proud of our great-grandchildren, Malaysia Criswell, Jayda Criswell and Kamari Criswell.

PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: I work for Workers United.

HONORS: Outstanding Labor Leaders Award, Rosita Tucker Award-A Philip Randolph Institute, Lottie Shackelford/ Jimmie Lou Fisher Honoree and Keeper of the Flame from the NAACP.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: I am the financial secretary for Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc., a deaconess and chair of the Beautification Ministry at Mount Carmel Baptist in Plumerville.

HOBBIES: I collect bells and rare stamps. I have traveled to Europe, South America, all the states in the U.S. except for four and to 25 countries on the continent of Africa. I also work with Faces of Our Children to help find a cure for sickle cell anemia.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE ABOUT LIVING IN CENTRAL ARKANSAS? I love the people and the homey environment. I enjoy state parks, beautiful lakes, rivers and the mountains. I think Arkansas is a beautiful small state with lots to offer. Our state is a well-kept secret.

WHY IS FAMILY IMPORTANT TO YOU?

I am hosting a family reunion this month. I am one of 13 and the 10th child. My family loves me unconditionally. Our family is closeknit; we help each other in hard times, as well as celebrate the good times. Family can be a support mechanism when nothing else is available to you. I describe our family as “love, love, love.”

THEIR STORY:

We met through a mutual friend and relative, Jimmy Charles Rice. We dated for four years before getting married on Easter Sunday, March 26, 1967. We love and respect each other. We both believe that our faith and belief in God helps to bind us together in Christian love.

We love going to different restaurants and trying all kinds of food. You might say we love fine dining. We spend a lot of time together driving throughout Conway County and other parts of our state, getting to know the different cities and the people that live there. What a great time to have on Saturday evening and on a Sunday afternoon!

Libby Roller (from left), Barbara Watkins, Eloise Stowe and Becky Vint enjoying a high tea at the Bingham home.

tea & time together

From Mother's Day to every Tuesday, tea time with the Binghams is a tradition steeped in love.

By Chef Don Bingham

Photos by Mike Kemp

Mother's Day rolls around every year; it's as sure as the fact that we all have a mother! Memories flood my heart and mind when I think of the headaches I must have created for my own dear mother.

Most mothers are amazing, and so was mine. Realizing I was not a normal child (writer's opinion), Mom and Dad gave endless hours of sacrifice in the formation and guidance of this fragmented personality they called their son! For example, Mom and Dad bought me a full pedal Rodger's Organ, a beautiful studio piano, and an antique pump organ, just to have for any training that might occur from age seven through college.

In honor of my mother, I'd like to share a story of how things are not always as they appear to be when it comes to our moms. My mom was a prolific china painter and produced amazing pieces that were available in many locations. Of course, Nancy and I wanted to have as many pieces as possible for our five children to have and for our own use. Each time we traveled home to Alabama, we would look forward to returning to Arkansas with a piece or two of her china to add to our collection. The only "skunk in the woodpile" was that Mom would CHARGE us for each piece! Can you fathom that? Charging her own flesh and blood, her own son, the very idea! I suppose we had the choice of not purchasing, but what fun would that be? So, we pressed on with the goal of our china collection, meanwhile, calling my dear mom every name in the book for her cheap and tawdry treatment of her own family!

The day came when Mom passed away. It was a lovely memorial service, and upon returning home after the service, my dad called my brother and myself, along with our wives, into the bedroom and explained, "I know you all never understood why your mother charged you all these many years for the pieces of china that you wanted, but it was for this day she had been saving that money for you for all these years. She wanted you to have it to let you know of her love for you and for the value of a dollar in life."

Dad then presented my brother and me with a check for $20,000 from my mom! What an amazing lesson we learned from this experience.

Another treasure that has been passed down to the next generations, and to many friends, is that of the china tea services. I say “tea services,” plural, because Mom painted all five of our children complete services of tea pots, cups and saucers, plates and many serving pieces. Nancy has a standing "Tea Party" every Tuesday at 3:15 pm with our youngest granddaughter, Anna Claire, and we often have cherished friends over for High Tea in the Garden Room of our modest home! To celebrate all the mothers and their untold contributions to all of us, we have included some of our favorite recipes for a delightful Tea Time!

Thank you, moms—how very much we love and cherish you all— mothers past, present, and future. You are more valuable to us than "all the tea and china" available!

Recipes continued on page 24

Nancy Bingham hosts her 11th granddaughter, Anna Claire Faulkner, each Tuesday afternoon for a tea party.

In anticipation of her arrival, the tea pot is readied, pastries plated, and pinkies are properly raised for Tea Time with Nanna.

TEa SandwichES wiTh buTTEr-dill- cucumbEr Spr Ead

2 sticks of butter, softened and at room temperature

1 peeled and seeded cucumber, finely chopped, liquid squeezed out and discarded

2 Tbsps. of finely chopped fresh dill

By hand, or with a mixer, beat butter until smooth, add diced dill, finely chopped cucumber, mix to spreadable consistency.

Slice the crust edges from pieces of white bread. Spread butter mixture between the two pieces of sandwich bread. Cut bread pieces in half, forming two triangles. Place on serving tray, cover with a damp towel and refrigerate until ready for use. One loaf of bread and butter-dill spread should yield approximately 20-24 triangular tea sandwiches.

For more flavor: Add thin slices of cucumber on top of spread

chick En Salad Spr Ead for TEa SandwichES

Five boneless, skinless chicken breasts

1 cup finely chopped pecans

1 cup finely chopped celery

1/4 cup finely grated onion (optional)

1 cup mayonnaise

Salt and pepper to taste

Boil chicken breast in salted water until done, about 15 minutes. Remove from heat and drain. Place cooked chicken breast in a food processor with steel blade and coarsely puree.

Place chicken in a bowl; add pecans, celery, onion, salt and pepper to taste, and mayonnaise. Adjust seasonings and mayonnaise as needed.

Slice the crust edges from pieces of white bread. Fill sliced bread or croissants with chicken salad spread.

Edinburgh TEa room SconES

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsps. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. baking soda

6 Tbsps. butter

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 large egg

1/2 cup golden or dark raisins (optional)

½ cup milk to brush tops of scones

¼ to ½ cup granulated sugar

Heat oven to 425. Add flour, baking powder, soda and salt into a large bowl. Stir to blend. Add butter or margarine and cut in with a pastry blender, or two knives, until mixture forms fine crumbs. Mix in raisins (optional) with a fork.

Measure 1/2 cup of buttermilk into a 1-cup measure and beat egg into it. Add to the flour mixture all at once. Mix with a fork just until mixture comes together.

Form the dough 1/2 inch thick, then cut with a 2-inch biscuit cutter dipped in flour. Pat scraps together and cut out again. Place on a baking sheet about 1-inch apart.

Brush tops of scones lightly with milk and then sprinkle with granulated sugar. Bake for 10 minutes until golden brown. Makes about two dozen.

roSEmary cookiES

1 cup butter

2/3 to 3/4 cups of powdered sugar

Dash of salt

2 cups flour

1 tsp. vanilla flavoring

2 tsps. fresh rosemary

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Chop rosemary finely, then add to softened butter, sugar, salt, vanilla and flour. Mix until smooth and stir in nuts. Roll into small balls 1 inch in diameter. Place on an ungreased cookie sheet, 2 inches apart. Bake for about 20 minutes until lightly golden. Let cool for 10 minutes, then move to rack until completely cool.

Hoppy Hunting

Superior Health & Rehab hosts 35th Annual Eggstravaganza

Giggles and excitement filled the air on March 29 when Superior Health & Rehab in Conway hosted its 35th Annual Eggstravaganza, an Easter celebration for residents, employees, their families and the community.

Several hundred people filled the festive grounds, enjoying a carnival ride, two bounce houses, the Conway train, snow cones, a cookout and cotton candy. Kids had the chance to search for 10,000 prizefilled eggs.

“It is difficult to know who had the best time—the residents, workers or kids!” said Vickey Kirkemier, who has been the director for 35 years. “The event is about the kids, and our residents love it because it allows them to ride a carnival ride and

have fun with their grandkids and some great-grandkids. They are making lifetime memories at this fun community event.”

Each Good Friday, the Eggstravaganza is hosted, and the community is invited to participate. Kirkemier orders 10,000 eggs from Sunny Bunny Easter Eggs because the program provides meaningful employment to people with disabilities.

“My favorite moment was when I saw a resident interacting with a staff member and their children,” Kirkemier said. “My uncle is a resident here, and my grandkids came. This gives us the opportunity to really get very close with our staff and residents and become like family.”

Photos by Lisa Hutchison

For the ‘Win’

Morrilton names Rockefeller Plaza for their beloved native son

Photos

and story by

Diane Barnes

The city of Morrilton is home to one of the most influential families in Arkansas's history: The Rockefeller family. On April 4, the community watched as Winthrop “Win” Paul Rockefeller Jr. unveiled the sign naming the downtown’s center “Rockefeller Plaza.”

At the event, the grandson of the famous Rockefeller who made Central Arkansas his home about 70 years ago spoke. Win Rockefeller Jr. said that, while his father's love extended to the entire state, Morrilton and Petite Jean Mountain held a special place in his heart.

Rockefeller Plaza stands at the east end of the Morrilton Depot Museum, which is the center stage of downtown Morrilton. Back in 2011, the city of Morrilton (Conway County) placed a statue of Winthrop Paul Rockefeller in the area that has now been named for his family.

Winthrop Rockefeller, a wealthy socialite of New York City, moved to Morrilton in 1953. He made his home on top of Petit

Jean Mountain. Soon after arriving, he established Winrock Farms. This helped to build Arkansas into the steady-growing land of opportunity that it is today. Winthrop Rockefeller served two successful terms as governor of Arkansas. He died in 1973 at age sixty.

His only child, Winthrop Paul Rockefeller (known as “Win” Paul Rockefeller), was born September 17, 1948, in New York City. He, too, eventually followed his father’s footsteps, which led him to the state of Arkansas, on top of Petit Jean Mountain, only minutes away from the nearby city of Morrilton.

Without hesitation, he moved forward with his father’s work and took over leadership of Winrock Farms. Like his father, he became involved in politics and served as the 17th lieutenant governor of Arkansas from 1996 until his death in 2006, at the age of 57.

The community welcomed his son Win Jr. for the special occasion and a sign was erected in the plaza.

Winthrop “Win” Paul Rockefeller Jr. unveiled the sign naming the downtown center of Morrilton “Rockefeller Plaza.”

Happy landing

Soaring Wings honors Charlie Weaver with new Learning and Counseling Center

Soaring Wings, a non-profit ministry for children in crisis, is excited to announce the naming of a new Learning and Counseling Center for long-time board member and supporter Charlie Weaver. His wife, Linda, surprised him with this gift in his honor.

The Charlie Weaver Learning and Counseling Center will be part of Soaring Wings’ new Welcome, Learning and Counseling Center (WLCC). The WLCC will be an 11,000-square-foot facility under one roof that is comprised of five areas: Welcome Center, Learning Center, Counseling Center, Administrative Offices and Pavilion.

“Soaring Wings is a Christ-centered ministry that serves children who are in crisis through no fault of their own,” said Founder and Executive Director Andrew Watson. “Soaring Wings provides a loving and stable home where children can grow up spiritually, emotionally, intellectually and socially.

The Weavers have been involved with the ministry of Soaring Wings since the early days of its development. “The first time we met, I stopped by Mr. Weaver’s office, unannounced, to talk with him about gravel for the roads that were to be built on the newly acquired 195-acre campus,” Watson said. “That day, Charlie committed to provide all the gravel needed from his mining company. That meeting is where our friendship started. Over the years, Charlie and Linda have been strong supporters of Soaring Wings, and he now serves on the Board of Directors. It seems only fitting that the Welcome, Learning and Counseling Center will bear Charlie’s name. He loves the mission and has been a great ambassador. He and Linda have also been known to ‘spoil’ the children and staff.”

The Learning Center will house after-school learning programs with one-on-one tutoring and access to technology, study aids and educational materials. Additional services provided in the new space are occupational, physical and speech therapy and career

planning. An on-site preschool will provide a daily curriculum for the youngest children (birth to five years) to target developmental milestones and kindergarten readiness skills, according to Watson.

The Counseling Center will offer a comfortable and therapeutic environment for the ministry’s specialized clinical counseling program. “This setting will give our licensed counselors the necessary resources for various types of therapies that our kids require, such as individual, family, group, play, and art therapy,” Watson said. The Counseling Center will also be used for comprehensive case planning and for meetings with families and other agencies.

It was previously announced that the Welcome Center will be named the Earl Noble Welcome Center after a gift from Mr. Noble’s estate from his sister, Norma Roady.

Soaring Wings has been completely debt-free since its inception and is not dependent upon government funds to function. “Thanks to faithful donors and God working on behalf of Soaring Wings, we are pleased to announce that a total of $1,075,000 has been raised for the Welcome, Learning and Counseling Center,” Watson said.

“This is more than two-thirds of the projected $1.5 million needed to complete the project. Because this is more than enough to get the building in the “dry”, construction has begun. In the near future, supporters will be invited to gather for a time of prayer and writing scripture on the stud walls of the building, asking for God’s continued blessing on the construction project and the future growth of Soaring Wings. God is faithful; His people are generous.”

Soaring Wings is located in Vilonia (Faulkner County.) If you would like to support the fundraising goal for the Welcome, Learning and Counseling Center, contact Andrew Watson at 501.849.2253 or at andrew@soaringwingsar.org.

Soaring Wings Founder and Executive Director Andrew Watson, was “Loving LIFE” with Charlie Weaver and Linda Weaver at the unveiling of the facility’s name. Linda surprised her husband, Charlie, with the naming donation.

A rendering of the Welcome, Learning and Counseling Center.

Cody Ferris (from left) and Rik Sowell with Sowell Architects.

Brandon Davis (from left), Kimberly Davis, Fred Weaver and Jon Stalnaker.

Roger Weaver, Charla Weaver Smart and Vicki Weaver.

Photos by Lisa Hutchison

happily ever REGISTERED

Bridal registries are the wedding tradition which are always on trend

For decades, creating a wedding registry has been part of the rite of passage for any couple heading to the altar. While it may feel odd to formally ask for gifts, people love to give presents to engaged and newlywed couples and providing a list of needs and preferences is appreciated.

Nowadays, some brides opt for registering online, while others still seek the opportunity to view items in person, to linger over china patterns, crystal glassware, flatware and table linens. Women love choices and like to see and feel textures. A few stores still offer the personal registry.

While modern brides may opt for different patterns than their mom chose, most still seek guidance from their mom as they craft a custom wedding registry for the unique home they’ll develop with their spouse.

Below, we asked bride-to-be Josie Hurst and her mom Stacy Hurst about her wedding registry. On page 32, we feature recently married Ann O’Neal Carroll.

Josie Hurst - Daughter

Did you seek your mom’s advice, and why?

Absolutely! I don’t think a detail goes by in this process that I don’t consult my mom on. I look to her both for style and design guidance and for her deeper understanding of tablesetting rules, like what all of the pieces are and where they all go. It has been really rewarding to be part of this longer tradition, where I get to learn from and do this with my mom, who learned from her mom, and so on through the generations.

What pattern did you choose?

We haven’t yet finalized our registry for our wedding in 2025, but I put together a full set mixing and matching some of my favorite patterns. I included Blue Wood-Aster from Herend’s American Wildflowers, Royal Limoges’s Nymphea Olivier in Gold, Ginori 1735’s Oriente Italiano in Pervinca (Periwinkle) and Herend’s Silk Ribbon in Olive.

Was it fun to select items for your future home?

It's so fun! I love playing around with different combinations of china colors and patterns and the finishing touches with linens, glassware and other accessories. Knowing that I’m making decisions on items that Harris and I may pass down to our children one day is definitely an exciting part of the wedding planning process.

How do registries today differ from their mother’s registry?

For one, we have the internet and social media these days, so we have access to a whole new world of inspiration. I follow my fair share of tablescape Instagram accounts and Pinterest boards that I’m finding new ideas through.

Stacy Hurst - Mother

Did you give your daughter advice on what to include in her registry? I have so enjoyed talking with Josie about her bridal registry. She has a great eye and understanding of trends. My advice has been to lean into your creativity and personal style and choose pieces that you love.

Based upon your years of entertaining, what items do you feel are essential for a new bride?

If you enjoy hosting large gatherings, remember the serving pieces that will be needed to accommodate larger amounts of food and beverages. These might include platters, pitchers and larger bowls. For more intimate gatherings, don’t forget beautiful linens. Placemats and gorgeous monogrammed napkins are must-haves. Fun and colorful glassware is always a hit.

As an owner of Tipton & Hurst Florist, you are knowledgeable about many beautiful china patterns. Which one did you recommend to Josie?

There are so many gorgeous china patterns that the variety can be overwhelming. I recommend doing a few walk-throughs at our tabletop section in the Heights location and jotting down the patterns that appeal to you. Soon, you’ll identify the patterns that you can’t live without. Every bride, including our dear Josie, must make their own choice based on their personal preferences.

Have you collected any items over time for your daughter?

My mother collected Buttercup by Gorham sterling flatware and I have done the same. When my mother died in November 2022, she willed her flatware to Josie, knowing that I would do the same one day. I have several china patterns that I’ve collected or inherited over the years, including Portmeirion Botanic Garden. Josie uses the Botanic Garden now at her home in Virginia.

What should a bride consider before selecting her registry?

A bride should consider her current lifestyle but also longer-term lifestyle goals. Although “home” might be a small apartment now, a larger home might be the goal in the not-too-distant future. Do you like to entertain? What does your future spouse like? What is your personal aesthetic? What will you inherit from your parents or grandparents? These are all things to consider as registry decisions are made.

How do bridal registries today differ from their mother’s registry? Although it has changed over the decades, we Southerners have long loved a bridal registry. For my generation, we registered for a specific pattern of fine china and everyday dinnerware, and the pieces we received were all within that pattern. Today’s generation likes to mix and match patterns, which is fun and exciting.

Do you recommend an everyday china?

Absolutely! The everyday dinnerware is the one that gets the most use and is the easiest to care for. Find one that makes you happy.

The following are included in this table setting:

Skyros Linho Scalloped Placemat in Round White

Herend Silk Ribbon Charger Plate in Olive

Ginori 1735 Oriente Italiano Dinner Plate in Pervinca (Periwinkle)

Royal Limoges Nymphea Olivier Dessert Plate in Gold

Herend American Wildflowers Blue Wood-Aster Bread and Butter Plate

Juliska Provence Large Glass Tumbler in Chambray

Vietri Optical Gold Wine Glass

Harris Clark and Josie Hurst will marry on May 31, 2025, in Little Rock. Josie is the daughter of Stacy and Howard Hurst, who own Tipton & Hurst Florist.

Ann O’Neal Carroll

Where did you register for china?

Tipton & Hurst in the Heights.

Did you seek anyone’s advice before or while you were registering?

Aaron and I talked about what we liked before we registered and knew that we wanted to choose something traditional yet still fun. Karla at Tipton & Hurst helped me mix and match the different patterns and colors to give some variation in the look of the place settings.

Was it fun to select items for your home?

Yes, it was one of the most fun parts of wedding planning! I loved getting to pick out unique pieces to have in our home and traditional items that we could pass down one day.

For her casual pattern, Ann chose to mix and match Juliska Iberian Indigo, Sitio Stripe with Puro Whitewash.

Ann chose the Herend golden elegance pattern for her dinner and bread and butter plates and the Herend Princess Victoria

dessert and soup plates.

The

Ann O’Neal Carroll married Aaron Carroll on September 9, 2023, at Pulaski Heights United Methodist Church.

reception was held at Country Club of Little Rock.

Green

Outside of comic books and movies, Wonder Women aren't born; they develop over time as women from one generation influence the next. Remarkable women stand on the shoulders of those who came before them, supported by their best friends, spouses and community.

It starts by encouraging little girls to live fearless lives and grow in education, character, faith, talents, hobbies and interpersonal skills. We must encourage them to dream big, work hard, be competitive and believe in themselves.

Join 501 LIFE as we shine a spotlight on the 501Der Women of Central Arkansas. This section introduces readers to talented ladies committed to their vocations, family and friends. What an asset each of them is to this region! We know you'll enjoy meeting the spectacular women in this section.

Photos by Mike Kemp

By KD Reep

Photos by Makenzie Evans

It's not a bird, nor a plane, it's healthcare hero Latricia Maynard in the sky.

As a child, you dream of many roles you’ll play when you grow up: astronaut, cowgirl, movie star, parent. Latricia Maynard knew what she would do when she became an adult, and she is still doing that today: a flight nurse.

“It is all I have ever wanted to do,” she said. “Since I was a kid and growing up in north Arkansas, I would go with my dad, who ran the wrecker service. I was a daddy's girl, so I went everywhere with him on his calls. I got a glimpse of med flight when they came to get a patient, and I was in love. I said, ‘I will do that one of these days.’”

Maynard began pursuing her dream when she earned her paramedic license. “My whole adult life has been geared toward becoming or getting on the helicopter,” she said. “I went to emergency medical technician school and worked on an ambulance in Little Rock and Faulkner County. I then went to nursing school while I was an EMT and became a registered nurse. I think, in total, I’ve been a paramedic for a little over 30 years and a nurse for 17. I started flying in 2010, then came to Survival Flight in 2016, which is where I work now.”

Maynard, who lives in Vilonia, is based out of Russellville, working 24hour shifts with a helicopter pilot and another medical professional, either a paramedic or flight nurse.

“Our shifts start at 8 a.m., and we immediately check our aircraft to make sure everything's functioning as it should be,” Maynard explained. “We stay up to date on our daily education requirements. We never know what our day is going to look like from moment to moment. It may be quiet right now, and five minutes later, we are getting in the aircraft and lifting off for a major accident on the freeway.”

Maynard says Survival Flight helps with hospital transfers from smaller facilities to those that provide more resources the patient needs, like specialized care for neurosurgery or cardiology. The teams, which include a pilot, nurse and paramedic, have everything on board to stabilize a patient to get them to a facility where they can get more care.

‘My whole adult life has been geared toward becoming a nurse and getting on the helicopter.’

Latricia Maynard

“My whole adult life has been geared toward becoming a nurse and getting on the helicopter,” Maynard said. “Whether it was becoming a paramedic or pursuing my nursing degree, I’ve seen lots of stuff, and truly, in my mind, I have the best job in the world. When I get up to come to work, I don’t dread it. I feel like I’m getting up to do what I’ve been called to do.”

Maynard says she is fortunate her family not only understands her commitment to service but also shares in it.

“My husband is a paramedic-turned-nurse as well, and our daughter is also a registered nurse,” she explained. She works in the ICU at Baptist, my husband works for the VA, and we understand each other. I think it's very difficult when you have someone opposite you who is not in the business, and they don't necessarily understand the things that we see and go through and the emotional rollercoaster that sometimes we get into.”

Another benefit of working as a flight nurse is getting to know the patients she treats and following their recovery and life accomplishments. “I’m still friends with some patients that I have taken care of,” she said. “I've got one girl that I flew with when she was 16. She was not expected to survive, and now I talk to her on Facebook. Now, she's engaged, I went to her graduation, and it’s been years since that accident. I feel like every patient I touch gives me an opportunity to make a difference in their life. I take a lot of what I see home, but because I am very passionate about what we do, I want to be here to serve the community. I’m at work today, and it’s supposed to be my day off!”

JEANNIE HILL

SVP/COMMERCIAL LOAN OFFICER, CENTENNIAL BANK

Jeannie Hill places great value in building relationships with her customers and fostering those relationships for the long term. “Calling someone by name when they walk in the door really does mean something,” she said.

Throughout her 22 years at Centennial Bank, Hill has worked to make the banking experience personal. “I believe in going above and beyond for your customers,” she said. “You can’t always beat a rate or snap your fingers to get things done faster, but you can smile and do the best you can.” Hill’s hard work and excellent customer service continue to serve her well. Today, many of those same customers rely on her for their banking needs in her role as SVP/Commercial Loan Officer.

Hill, whose banking career began in 2002 as a teller, stepped into her role as a commercial lender in 2021. She gives Greg Sanson, Division President, credit for much of her success. “I started working for Greg in 2007 when he was a lender and was able to move up with him as he became president,” she said. “I have met some of the most amazing people throughout my career at the bank, some who I now consider family and close friends.”

Hill received the Chairman’s Award from Chairman John Allison in 2017. “To be recognized for all your hard work and dedication to the bank is a huge honor,” she said. “When you love your job, working hard is easy. I enjoy getting up and going to work, and I love working with my co-workers and customers every day.”

While Hill can be proud of her professional life, it is from her personal life she sees her greatest accomplishment: Her 23-year-old daughter, Alexis, is attending LSU and working toward a master’s degree in social work. “I could not be prouder of the person she has become,” Hill said. “She has the biggest heart and lives life to the fullest. She is my inspiration.”

What does the future look like for Jeannie Hill? She plans to enjoy each day as it comes until she retires from Centennial Bank or hits the lottery!

Contact Jeannie today at 501.328.4647 or visit Centennial Bank on 1445 Hogan Lane in Conway.

Member FDIC

LONI BRILEY

AU.D. CCC-A

DOCTOR OF AUDIOLOGY WITH HEARING LIFE

While she may not wear a cape on the job, Loni Briley is truly a superhero. As a doctor of audiology at Hearing Life in Conway, Briley has spent the past nine years changing lives by restoring hearing to the community she calls home.

“The ultimate moment of joy for me is when a patient with hearing loss hears for the first time through hearing devices,” she said. “Seeing their face light up when they can easily hear their loved one’s voice after years of difficulty gets me every single time. That feeling I get from knowing I was able to help make someone’s life better will never get old.”

Dr. Briley’s journey to becoming a 501Der Woman began as a student at the University of Central Arkansas.

“At UCA, I joined the Epsilon Xi chapter of the Delta Zeta sorority, whose national philanthropy is the Starkey Hearing Foundation,” she said. “Through my volunteer work, I learned all about the world of hearing loss and audiology. I found myself very drawn to helping people in that way, and I decided to make a career of improving the quality of life for people through better hearing. I am so grateful for those college experiences, because without them I never would have found this field that I love so much.”

Dr. Briley also volunteers her expertise at community events.

“Dr. Briley is committed to serving the community and often participates in community health fairs, providing complimentary hearing screenings to anyone in need,” said Marcus McFall, District Manager for Hearing Life. She also values time with her family. “My patients share many life lessons with me,” she said. “The one that has impacted me the most is that time is precious, and you don’t get a do-over with your children. It can be difficult for working women with families to find a work-life balance. I decided early in my career that I would never let it come before my family. I’m thankful to work for a company that supports my work-life balance so I never miss events and special moments for my children.”

For Dr. Briley, audiology is more than just a career. It’s an opportunity to grow the next generation of superheroes.

“Being a supervisor to students in my clinic has been the most rewarding,” she said. “I have been a preceptor for many doctoral students, interns and apprentices over the years, and I truly love teaching and preparing future providers.” Contact Dr. Briley today at

By Mary Eggart

Photos by Mike Kemp

Jennifer Bailey Roscoe and her father, Brian Bailey, are committed to Sacred Heart Catholic School in Morrilton. She has followed in his footsteps and is principal, hoping to eclipse the 13 years he served.

Jennifer Bailey Roscoe was born to be an educator and role model. Raised by parents who spent their entire careers in education, Roscoe has influenced countless young lives, passionately carrying on her parents’ legacy. As the current principal of Sacred Heart Catholic School in Morrilton, Roscoe is fiercely committed to her faculty, staff and students. She shares this devotion with her father, Brian Bailey, who, after a long career in public education as a teacher, coach and administrator, was the principal of Sacred Heart for 13 years.

Like both her parents, Roscoe began her career in education as a teacher. Years later, she decided to become a school counselor, which later evolved into her desire to become a school administrator. Now, as the principal of Sacred Heart, Roscoe strives daily to continue the strong caliber of leadership that her father possessed while at Sacred Heart. When the principal position became available, the school was in a process of transition, and Roscoe believed that she had a respect and appreciation for the job that not many other people possessed. This was due primarily to her father’s innovative leadership at Sacred Heart. While at the school, Bailey led the faculty and school community by making many critical changes and improvements that positively impacted the future of the school. When asked about her father’s influence on her decision to become the school’s principal, Roscoe stated, “I knew what the school meant to him, and I had the same respect and appreciation for the job as he did.”

Roscoe’s passion for the school is evident in the way she interacts daily with the students. And much of that rapport began while she was the school’s counselor. Little did she know that these skills as a counselor would lead to her being a principal who was more focused on building connections and relationships with students, faculty, staff and parents — a trait she observed in her father.

Roscoe was a student at Morrilton High School during her father’s 20-year tenure as principal. As the father/daughter duo explained, this often came with obvious trials and tribulations. However, the two both agree that there was much more positive than negative, and they have wonderful lifelong memories of their time together during Roscoe’s high school years. When asked about her experiences as a student under her father’s leadership, Roscoe stated, “What made such an impact on me as his daughter was his rapport he had with the students and his dedication to them. I can remember many nights when various students would be at our house, and dad was tutoring students. That’s when I learned

how important it was to have deeper level of understanding and love for the community you serve.” Experiences like these shaped Roscoe’s personality, her character and her career choices.

When asked about what she enjoys most about administration, it was of no surprise that Roscoe stated, “For me, it’s all about relationships with the kids, and this is where my counseling background comes out as an administrator.” Not only is Roscoe gifted with student relationship building, she is also continually building connections with the other members of the school’s community. Susan Buser, parent and current president of the Sacred Heart School Board remarked, “Jennifer Roscoe creates an environment where students can thrive. Her leadership, relationship building, and communication with teachers, staff and parents show her passion for our school community. She is always looking for ways to improve the school,” a task that her father also committed himself to for 13 years.

Roscoe is only completing her second year as Sacred Heart’s principal; nonetheless, she has accomplished a great deal during that time, and the school has made significant improvements and changes. First, the security throughout the campus has been vastly upgraded and improved. Additionally, Roscoe has led multiple campus-wide projects that have enhanced the school, both internally and externally. But the change that gives Roscoe the most pride concerns the school’s teachers. She said, “Increasing teacher pay has been a priority. We must continue to keep our wonderful teachers and continue to recruit the very best for our students.”

When both Roscoe and Bailey were asked about the challenges of being an administrator, Roscoe stated, “You can’t possibly do it all. There is never enough time.” To which Bailey added jokingly, “This is a family fault for us.”

When asked how Bailey would describe his daughter as a school administrator, he smiled wryly and said, “Well, she came out of the womb in charge. Even as a young girl, she showed that she can take it, and she can give it. But she is also incredibly open and is a really good listener. When asked, she will tell you exactly what she thinks and has a way with kids that is really special. She is everything I had ever hoped her to be —she gets it.”

And the students, faculty, staff and parents of Sacred Heart School are glad she does too.

DR. AMANDA BLEDSOE

CEO & CHIROPRACTOR/BLEDSOE CHIROPRACTIC

Bledsoe Chiropractic is all about giving patients hope through healing, and one way Dr. Amanda Bledsoe and her team do that is by tailoring plans to fit each patient's needs.

“We have a hope-giving healing ministry and mission,” she said of their unique approach to patient care. By focusing on each patient, Bledsoe’s team helps patients not only get better but they work hard to make treatment plans affordable. They also help patients set schedules that give them the visit frequency necessary to reach optimum results.

“It’s an atmosphere and environment of imperfect people trying to give all they’ve got for each person, not cookie-cutter care, but ideally more and more personal with what we learn from each patient to help the next one,” Bledsoe said. “We use every tool we can find and big bold honesty to put our patients first and pray they stick with us long enough to reach a level of healing they never even thought possible.”

Short of her faith and family, becoming a chiropractor was the best decision Bledsoe ever made. “Nineteen years later, I still love what I do every single day.” Few people know that she has lived with chronic back pain for 30 years. She was diagnosed with severe scoliosis at age 14, so she knows what it’s

like to live with pain and feel hopeless. To help ease her pain, she has been adjusted for 25 years. “I feel better than most non-curvy spine folks because of weekly adjustments, daily orthotics, using a cervical pillow, massages and exercise!” she said.

Bledsoe is a tremendous supporter of locally owned businesses and a big shopper herself. “I feel like the Lord has turned what could have been a weakness (shopping) into a blessing for me and many others,” she said. She credits her love of shopping with helping her gain the skill to build community business relationships and partnerships by sharing social media posts and showcasing the unique items or services of others.

“I love giving others a stage to show off their creations at my business,” she said. “I have space that they don’t have, and to give them a couple of hours to make new friends is a cup-overflowing kind of joy!”

You can send Dr. Bledsoe questions today at drbledsoe@bledsoechiropractic.com.

Schedule an appointment at bledsoechiropractic.com, call 501.504.6999 or visit Bledsoe Chiropractic on 775 Amity Road in Conway.

JENNIFER BISHOP

MD, ANESTHESIOLOGIST

CONWAY ANESTHESIOLOGY CONSULTANTS

From a young age, Jennifer Bishop, MD, knew she would attend medical school. After her first rotation in the operating room, she discovered how to compassionately make a difference in patients’ lives through her career.

“Anesthesiology combines performing procedures with an extensive knowledge of how the body works and how medications work on the body, which made it the perfect fit for me,” Bishop said. “It is fast-paced and interesting and is never the same day to day.”

With a Bachelor of Science in microbiology from the University of Arkansas and a Medical Doctorate from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Bishop works for Conway Anesthesiology Consultants, which provides anesthesiology services at Conway Regional Medical Center. She takes pride in providing peace for patients in their moments of vulnerability.

“Surgical procedures can be major sources of anxiety for patients, and helping relieve that anxiety is important to me,” Bishop said. “In most cases, I have a small window of time preoperatively to learn a patient’s medical history, come up with an anesthetic plan tailored specifically to them and communicate effectively that my team and I will take good care of them.”

She thanks the strong female role models in her life for helping her get to where she is today.

“My mom and mother-in-law have prayed for me constantly and helped me in countless ways,” Bishop said. “My daughter amazes me every day as she grows into her own. The physicians who educated me along the way have helped shape my life, as have my fellow female physicians at Conway Regional.”

Her favorite pastime is spending time with her family. “Being with my family brings me the most joy,” Bishop said. “Whether it’s nights at the baseball field, traveling to dance competitions or just being together at home, they keep me going every day.”

Through perseverance, she believes anything is possible.

“Nothing worth having ever comes easily,” Bishop said. “It takes a lot of hard work and patience to get to where you want to be. Learn to give yourself grace. You can’t do everything for everyone all the time, and asking for help is not a bad thing. Learning how to balance career and family takes time but it can be done and is so worth it.”

Jennifer Bishop lives in Conway with her husband, John, and their two children, Brady and Harper.

Closer to Home

Kailey and Dalton Steed feel the impact of local NICU support

Courtney Sick, MD, says closeness to home is a crucial factor for her patients. Sick, an obstetrician/gynecologist, treats her patients and their babies like family, and changes at Conway Regional over the years have allowed for specialized prenatal care and labor and delivery services in Conway, keeping the family unit local.

The Steed family of Greenbrier is a living example of how those services connect. During Kailey's first pregnancy, Sick learned there was a possibility of their child, Henry, developing spina bifida. She referred Kailey to Little Rock for a maternal-fetal medicine assessment. Henry was not positive for the condition.

A few years later, Sick made a similar referral for their youngest son, Hagen. This time, the service was available locally in Conway,

thanks to Dawn Hughes, MD, and her staff at the Conway Regional Maternal Fetal Medicine Center of Arkansas. In addition to spina bifida, Hughes completed testing for other conditions.

"I also had a stomach issue as a baby, so it was precautionary for us to go to Dr. Hughes for our peace of mind, and I only had to take half a day off from work instead of a full day," Kailey said. She was also appreciative of the understanding staff, who found a place for Henry to sleep during an ultrasound test.

"Before Dr. Hughes started her practice here, patients like Kailey would normally have gone to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and that means extra costs, distance, and going back to Little Rock for their follow-up care,” Sick explained.

A team of health care providers at Conway Regional supported Kailey and Dalton Steed of Greenbrier throughout the birth of their children. Left to right, back row: Dawn Hughes, MD, Lindsey Remow, Christina Brown, Jenny Kelley, Ellen Smith, Rebecca Youngman, Sarah Newton, Adam Harrell, MD, Mallory Pavatt and Courtney Sick, MD. In front: Hagen, Kailey, Henry and Dalton Steed.

‘Three nurses were treating Hagen, and Kailey's blood pressure dropped. I was looking at the two people I love, and neither was doing well, but we knew we were in good hands.’

- Dalton Steed

"Now we can send them across the street, which allows us to keep more patients and babies here rather than transferring them. It's much more convenient for families."

While Hagen tested negative for both conditions, that was only the beginning of the Steed family's story.

Kailey and Dalton received unexpected news shortly after Hagen was born in early March. Hagen was having trouble breathing, and pediatricians and labor and delivery nurses in the Conway Regional Women's Center told them he had a condition called meconium aspiration.

"After Hagen was born," Dr. Sick recalled, "He was breathing fast, was resuscitated and taken into the Neonatal Intensive Care Nursery. We kept him there on antibiotics."

Dalton was concerned. "Three nurses were treating Hagen, and Kailey's blood pressure dropped. I was looking at the two people I love, and neither was doing well, but we knew we were in good hands."

Kailey recovered quickly, and they learned that Hagen's condition was treatable. Still, he would have to stay in the NICU while being treated with supplemental oxygen and antibiotics. This unforeseen stay meant that instead of introducing Hagen to 2-year-old Henry at home, Kailey and Dalton spent the next 12 days in the women's center to be as close as possible to their newborn.

"It was stressful, but they said time heals this illness," said

Kailey. "So, we got to know the nurses, and every time we wanted to see him, they allowed us into the nursery. They communicated with our doctors, and we never had to ask for an update."

"It didn't feel like it was 12 days,” Dalton said. “The overall experience was as good as you could ask for. No parent wants to worry about their little one, but the staff was great, letting us come and go from the nursery and keeping us at peace."

"In the past, he may have been transferred to Arkansas Children's Hospital," explained Sick. "Now, we can keep them here closer to their family, and the family can stay in a room here and not go back and forth to Little Rock."

Receiving care here significantly eased the family's burden, especially considering their obligations to Henry at home. The local support system, bolstered by Kailey and Dalton's mothers, Terri and Robin, played a pivotal role in maintaining the family's well-being, ensuring Henry's daily visits to the hospital.

The 12-day stay involved an entire team of healthcare professionals. Kailey praised the care provided by pediatricians Priya Yadav, MD, Steve McNabb, MD, Philip Hopp, MD, and Adam Harrell, MD, who provided their medical expertise during the stay. "Christina Brown, RN, Callie Huffstutler, RN, speech therapist Ellen Smith, and Shanesha Jackson, RN, were great, just to name a few," she added.

"Everybody was great, and we appreciated all the care," she said. "If we have another baby, I will choose Conway Regional."

MANDEE LOVE

SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICER/QUITMAN POLICE DEPARTMENT

As the daughter and sister of law enforcement officers, Mandee Love was always destined to serve. When she became Quitman’s School Resource Officer through the Quitman Police Department in 2015, Love answered her calling to not only protect the community she calls home but also help grow the youth within it.

“I have been around law enforcement my whole life,” Love said. “My dad is a retired law enforcement officer, and my oldest brother was an officer, too. I knew that I wanted to do something that helped youth, so when I discovered that, as a School Resource Officer, I could be in law enforcement and help youth, it was the best of both worlds to me.”

Her work in law enforcement began in 2005 with the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office. Ten years later, she was hired by Quitman. Her duties range from building strong relationships with students, staff and parents to assisting youth who are struggling academically, socially or behaviorally—all while promoting a positive school atmosphere.

To Mandee, law enforcement isn’t work, however, it’s a labor of love. From carrying the Special Olympics torch through the streets of Quitman to receiving the school’s Shine Bright award recognizing her kindness and

compassion, there’s nothing she wouldn’t do to light the way for others.

“It is possible to enjoy what you do as a career, no matter where you come from,” Love said. “You determine where you are going. You can do hard things.”

Mandee’s advice to her younger self and others would be to never forget what makes you unique. “Don’t compare yourself to others,” Love said. “Be comfortable with who you are and never stop fighting for what you believe in. Two things that you are in total control of in your life are your attitude and your effort. Don’t be afraid of hard work, and always ask yourself if you got better today.”

“Officer Love is far more than a School Resource Officer to Quitman Schools and our community,” Quitman Assistant Superintendent and Athletic Director Michael Stacks said. “She is a teacher, a leader and a trusted friend to everyone. She serves on our Response to Intervention team and is always focused on making decisions based upon what is best for all our students. She has the huge responsibility of ensuring everyone on our campus is safe at all times, and she takes that job very seriously. Officer Love is a Bulldog through and through!”

MICHELLE PHILLIPS

COMMERCIAL LOAN OFFICER FIRST SECURITY BANK

Being a 501Der Woman means that sometimes you must fearlessly embrace change to uncover new potential. That’s Michelle Phillips’ story.

After working in public accounting for more than 20 years, including owning her own CPA firm for 12 years, Phillips made the bold decision to sell her firm to become a Commercial Loan Officer at First Security Bank.

It was a leap of faith that has paid off.

“I was looking for a new career that utilized my accounting and financial background while encouraging community involvement, and First Security Bank was the perfect fit for me,” Phillips said. “I have always had deep respect and admiration for First Security Bank and the people who work there.”

Aside from her busy career, she never shies away from the opportunity to give back to her 501 community. She has been a member of the Conway Noon Rotary Club for 15 years, and as Treasurer of Bethlehem House, she takes pride in helping the homeless rebuild their lives.

“Bethlehem House has undergone a major transformation over the last year, and it has been a privilege to witness and be involved,” Phillips said. I love that the program requires residents to be accountable while providing the knowledge and skills needed for life.”

Embracing her servant's heart, Phillips also

works on the board of Arkansas Community Foundation of Faulkner County and as a Subject-Matter Expert with Conductor Connect.

“At Arkansas Community Foundation, we support nonprofit organizations through workshops, grantmaking and philanthropic advice,” Phillips said. Conductor Connect is a no-cost network for small business owners where I provide support related to banking, accounting, tax or business in general.”

Looking back, she recognizes the many Wonder Women in her life who have shaped her into the leader she is today.

“My mama, Rose Ann Naron, my sisters, Donna Cooper and Libby Miller, and my daughters, Shelby and Sydney Phillips, are the biggest Wonder Women in my life,” Phillips said. “I am in awe of them for being resilient, caring, brave and independent. I also have some very dear friends, new and old, who are all significant in my life. These ladies have shown strength and courage in some of the darkest moments of their lives while being humble and kind in their most joyous celebrations.”

KID OF THE MONTH

MALANEY MANSFIELD QUITMAN

By

Photo by Mike Kemp

Becky Bell

For seventh-grader Malaney Mansfield, numbers started making so much sense in the fifth grade that math quickly became her favorite subject because it came naturally.

In fact, Malaney enjoys math so much she likes helping her friends get through equations when they suffer from mathematical mental roadblocks. Malaney and her friends attend Quitman High School, which serves seventh through 12th grades.

Although she isn’t sure what she wants to be when she grows up, she has considered teaching, and she seems to be already practicing some of the skills of a future teacher.

“Sometimes I try to make [equations] that I know we’ve been through, or if it makes more sense, I draw a picture,” Malaney explained about helping her friends with math problems they don’t understand. “If it’s one of my friends who plays [a sport], I try to relate it back to volleyball or just any sport in general.”

While math is her favorite subject, she gets top grades in all her classes. Although she doesn’t always like English class, she does enjoy reading her favorite book in life so far, “The Outsiders.”

“I like all the exciting parts that make you want to keep reading,” she said, regarding the reason she couldn't stop turning pages in the coming-of-age novel published in 1967 about the social divide between the working-class Greasers and the upper-middle-class Socs.

Malaney’s English teacher, Renee Clemmons, calls her a “role model for everyone who meets her” and said she feels lucky to have her in class.

“Kind. Supportive. Friendly. Academic. These four words describe Malaney perfectly! She has a kind heart in everything she does. She is enthusiastically supportive of all her peers, whether athletically or academically,” Clemmons said. “She is one of the friendliest young ladies you will ever meet. Her academic work ethic puts her at the top of her class. She strives for perfection and, most of the time, exceeds it.”

For Malaney, sports are secondary to academics yet still a key part of her life. The time she spends on them takes up a good bit of her time outside of school that she formerly dedicated to helping her father, Mark Mansfield, on their family’s rural farm outside Quitman with all the chores of feeding the animals, including three dogs, a fish, some chickens and cows. Her favorite animal is her new dog, Mae, an Australian shepherd who is medium-sized and is mostly black with white spots.

Malaney plays basketball, volleyball, runs track and is on the cross country team. She has played basketball the longest of all her sports, starting in a community league in third grade.

The person who is most supportive of her sporting activities is her sister, McKinley Mansfield, 15. She said playing with her sister is encouraging on multiple levels. First, it is fun and another way to push herself to be the best she can be. But her sister also lifts her spirits when she needs reassurance about her athletic abilities.

“She is an athlete and does all the same sports as me,” Malaney said, describing her older sister. “She’s very encouraging and makes me feel good when I’m feeling down and thinking I’m not as good as someone else. She helps me when I need it. She doesn’t bring me down, and any questions I have, she tries to explain them to me and pushes me to be the best I can.”

Another supportive person in Malaney’s life is her mother, Magen Mansfield. “I will say it really amazes me how busy she stays with sports but still maintains straight A’s and helps out with the house. Last year, I was in nursing school and the girls really stepped up to take care of things around here. She really amazes me about how much she can juggle, and she does it well.”

Malaney’s mother said she enjoys sitting on the sidelines and watching her daughter compete in sports, but that’s not what makes her the proudest.

“The grades and the kind words I get from parents and teachers about what a great kid she is are what I’m most proud of,” Magen said.

SARA GRAHAM

KINDERGARTEN TEACHER

GREENBRIER EASTSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

For 32 years, Sara Graham has called Greenbrier home. It’s where she went to school, started a family and became one of Central Arkansas’s most respected teachers.

“Upon arriving in the 501, I immediately felt like part of the community and I knew I wanted to contribute by teaching here,” Graham said. “Greenbrier is more than just my workplace—it’s my hometown.”

The granddaughter of foster parents, Graham witnessed firsthand the beauty of mentoring small children and used that experience as the foundation for her career.

“I have always felt a strong connection to Early Childhood Education, and Greenbrier schools have played an essential role in my education,” she said. “As a student and now as a teacher, I continue to learn and grow in the Greenbrier district as a professional and have taken on many leadership roles, including district curriculum planning for my grade level.”

Graham’s impact on her students is cherished within the Greenbrier community.

For the 2021-22 school year, she was named Eastside’s Teacher of the Year and received the school’s Whatever It Takes Award, highlighting her mentorship and servant leadership.

“Sara Graham is a staple figure and an incredibly effective educator,” said Superintendent Scott Spainhour. “She has been instrumental in Eastside Elementary School reaching many goals and ensuring high levels of student learning, including her work in helping Eastside reach Professional Learning Community Model School Designation. We are incredibly thankful for her dedication.”

Her principal also praises her work. “Mrs. Graham is the professional, personal and spiritual anchor to her kindergarten teacher team and the Eastside staff as a whole,” Eastside Principal Melissa West said. “Her years of service supporting students and teachers have been invaluable to the Greenbrier community.”

In June, she and her husband, Chase, will celebrate 28 years of marriage.“Chase and I married very young and made our commitment to each other and to God a priority. We met at Greenbrier Nazarene, and we are still very involved.”

If she could give advice to her younger self, it would be to live fearlessly while valuing personal growth. “Don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and try new things,” Graham said. “Invest time and care into yourself so you can continue to be your best for others.”

A passion for seeing people and organizations succeed drives Britni Rush to do what she can to make a difference not only in the workplace but also in the lives of others. That passion led her into the human resources field, which ultimately resulted in executive recruiting. “What I find most fulfilling is that I get to help people realize their dreams. I get to encourage them and walk alongside them,” she said.

Rush is the owner and managing partner of TalentRush Executive Search, an executive recruiting company that helps businesses find the right professional candidate.

Prior to launching her company, Rush led HR teams for three Arkansas higher education institutions and an Arkansas nonprofit. She served as the president of the Arkansas chapter of the College and University Professional Association for HR (CUPA-HR) and as a board member-atlarge for the CUPA-HR Southern Region as liaison to both the Arkansas and Oklahoma chapters.

Rush has also served on several local boards, including Conway Young Professionals, Deliver Hope, Arkansas Commu-

BRITNI RUSH

OWNER AND MANAGING PARTNER TALENTRUSH EXECUTIVE SEARCH

nity Foundation and Conway Regional Physician Hospital Organization.

Rush earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, a Bachelor of Leadership and Ministry from Central Baptist College and a Bachelor of Speech Communication from Arkansas State University. In addition, she has earned the designation of Certified Professional from the Society of HR Management.

To young professional women today, Rush would share the most valuable lesson she has learned over the years. “No person, no boss and no job determine my worth. Ever, no matter what. I’ve learned to stick to my values and convictions,” she said.

While she is an accomplished businesswoman, she is most proud of her children, and she enjoys spending time outdoors with them. She loves living in the 501 because it has access to many beautiful places to fish and hike.

Contact Britni at 501.255.9815 or email her at brush@talentrushsearch.com.

Come on Greenbrier

Chamber hosts Barbie-themed annual meeting

Heather Aich (from left), Jaci Birdsong and LaDona Simone.

Photos by Lisa Hutchison

Christie Hensley (from left), Meredith Post who was named Citizen of the Year, and Conner Post.

Clara Weatherley (from left) and Bethany Harris.

Dustin and Stephanie Worthey.

The Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce staff and board of directors went all-out Barbie! Christie Hensley (from left), Dr. Kelli Martin, Dena DeValle, Paula Winn, Chris Ward, Ashton Pruitt and Billy Henry.

Stoney Iberg (from left), Katie Iberg and Josh Odom.

Christ El West and her son Elijah Weaver, who was named Student of the Year.

Scott and Christy Corker, who was named Volunteer of the Year.

It has been a fun and fabulous month in Greenbrier. In the last few weeks, Greenbrier Chamber published its annual city directory, hosted a community and business awards party for a lot of Barbies and Kens, and had a four-day festival in Matthews Park to celebrate the eclipse. The fun keeps going with several ribbon cuttings scheduled, the Miss Greenbrier Pageant and Junk and Drive on 65. With more than 100 miles of antique stores, flea markets, specialty stores, yard sales and even farmers markets. This event is worth the drive, so mark your calendars for May 10th and 11th and shop Greenbrier!

MEREDITH POST

OWNER/GLOW AESTHETICS

Esthetician and owner of Glow Aesthetics in Greenbrier, Meredith Post credits God for using her personal struggles to set the course for her career. “It was all a God thing,” she said. “When I started to have serious skin conditions and was truly struggling with them, that was the start of this path for me.” She said if she had not struggled with skin conditions, she would not be where she is today.

Post works hard to make her customers and the people around her feel valued. “I have always cared for people. It’s important for me to feel valued, and I want everyone I come in contact with to feel the same way,” she said.

She must be doing something right. The Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce recently honored Post as the 2024 Greenbrier Citizen of the Year. “I am deeply grateful and humbled by the recognition,” she said, adding that the honor is something she’ll be proud of for the rest of her life and career.

Giving back is also important to Post. She recently completed two terms on the Board of Directors for the Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce. “Helping small businesses succeed and encouraging them is a passion of mine. It is important to me to give back in as many ways as I can,” she said.

Post feels Central Arkansas is booming with opportunities for women. “It’s so inspiring how many women-owned businesses are all around us,” she said. “The 501 is blessed with many passionate women who are working toward making our communities a better place for generations to come.” Post credited the Greenbrier Chamber for celebrating women at their annual banquet and said it’s been a real blessing to be supported by a network of like-minded women.

With such support, it is no wonder Glow Aesthetics is expanding and building a new facility. Their new location will be at 28 Business Park Drive, near the Greenbrier Event Center. While the building will be different, Glow will still be a safe space for women to receive facials and spray tans but can also take advantage of more advanced facial services. “I look forward to giving women the opportunity to get everything under one roof by trusted experts in their field,” she said.

You may connect with and follow Glow Aesthetics on Facebook and Instagram @glowgreenbrier or you may email Meredith at meredith@glowgreenbrier.com.

JANIS HORN

KINDERGARTEN TEACHER/SOUTH CONWAY COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT

Janis Horn never dreamed of being anything but a teacher. “I knew from an early age that teaching was going to be my career path,” she said. A teacher in the South Conway County School District, Horn still feels the same way in her 42nd year teaching kindergarten.

“It’s so rewarding to watch my kids learn,” she said, adding that she enjoys the role she plays in giving a child “the confidence to know they can do anything if they try hard enough and believe in themselves.” Horn also says she enjoys seeing the “sweet smile on their faces each morning when they walk in my classroom.”

Horn believes that her most rewarding moments come when former students send her emails, write her a letter, visit or tell her they still remember her and share good memories of their kindergarten experience in her class. Horn and a high school teacher also started a mentoring program several years ago called Puppies to Dogs (the Devil Dog being the district mascot) that has come full circle. “The seniors this year were the first kindergartners to participate in the program,” she said.

As she focused on her students, others paid attention. Horn was recognized as the

SCCSD Elementary Teacher of the Year in 1990-91, was named the Morrilton WalMart Teacher of the Year in 2003 and in 2016 received the honor of Morrilton Area Chamber of Commerce Educator of the Year. Of her career and all her accomplishments, Horn is most proud of her daughter, Brittany, and the things she has accomplished. Brittany and her husband, Brent Pettingill, live in Northwest Arkansas with their dog, Chloe, whom Horn claims as the cutest “granddog.”

Horn is also a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Morrilton. She loves spending time with her family and friends, going to the movies, walking and trips to the beach. She loves living in the 501 area because of its year-round beauty and the hometown feeling she gets everywhere she goes.

To young women of today, Horn would say, “Follow your dreams. Do what your heart tells you to do.” That sounds like solid advice from someone who has lived her dream. For 42 years and counting, she still exclaims, “How lucky am I to be teaching our future leaders!”

TENEAL HILL

APRN, RN, PMHNP-BC DIRECTOR OF NURSING AND PSYCHIATRIC NURSE PRACTITIONER/ BIRCH TREE COMMUNITIES, INC.

Teneal Hill fell in love with psychology in high school. She followed this passion to college and now works with adults living with serious mental illness.

“Early in my career, it was clear to me that this is an underserved and vulnerable population, especially when it comes to their physical health needs,” she said. “I decided to pursue a career in nursing and returned as the director of nursing at Birch Tree Communities, working to improve the disparity where adults with serious mental illness die 15-20 years earlier than the general population. I want to help this population that I care about so much.”

Hill said healthcare is hard for everyone to navigate, but when dealing with a serious mental illness and multiple physical health problems, doing so can seem almost impossible. “In my role, I treat mental health conditions but also help assess physical health problems and ensure holistic care is provided. I am fortunate to work alongside like-minded nurses, therapists, administrators and staff at Birch Tree Communities.

I love being a part of an organization that truly values people and puts them first in everything they do.”

“Teneal is a truly caring and phenomenal medical professional,” said Dr. Brad Hollo-

way, CEO of Birch Tree Communities. “Her commitment to our members is unwavering, and she consistently works to improve the service that our organization provides.”

Some of the most significant accomplishments Hill has achieved in her career were starting at Birch Tree Communities as an entry-level paraprofessional and working her way up to Registered Nurse and Director of Nursing. She has since earned her master’s degree, becoming a Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner. She understands how difficult it can be to pursue what one wants in life, but she urges people to do so.

“Don’t be afraid to go after what you want,” she said. “If you aren’t happy, figure out what you need to do to make a change. I have returned to school for additional degrees more than once, and I know it can be hard. Decide what life you want and put in the work to get it. Growth is uncomfortable. Get used to that feeling and embrace it. I think we are conditioned to avoid discomfort, but that’s where the good stuff happens.”

Sheila Hayes began Restoration Wellness to bring life back to her patients and give them answers to issues they may not have previously received.

"It's important to me to make a difference in our community by improving the quality of life in my patients," she said. "Some of the most rewarding moments in my career are being part of a significant life change like helping with hormone replacement therapy, which helps couples in their marriages."

Through owning her own business, Hayes has learned not to put limits on herself, and she encourages other women to do the same. "There will always be someone smarter and better," she said. Life is challenging. You have to decide how badly you want something and go for it. Every trial is a learning lesson. Know it is okay to mess up, and you aren't a failure. No class, test or job can determine your self-worth unless you let it."

Hayes sees the growing sense of opportunity and community in Central Arkansas as benefits for women who are looking for a place to begin their own ventures. "There are lots of activities going on here, and the people are kind and helpful," she said. A quote that motivates me is, 'The easy thing and the right thing are rarely the same thing.' That

SHEILA HAYES

APRN

OWNER/RESTORATION WELLNESS

helps me when I'm trying to make a fair and honest decision."

Hayes gets inspiration from other Wonder Women in her life, including her mom, one of the hardest-working women she knows. "She has taught me the value of investing in people," she said. "I think of a Wonder Woman as a people person with strong ethics who loves Jesus. Another is Angela Simmon, a nurse practitioner for Arkansas Heart Hospital in El Dorado. She is a champion for all nurse practitioners and an amazing provider."

Hayes says that what brings her joy is spending time with friends and family.

"I'm so proud of the business we've grown," she said. "Our office family is truly that—a family—and we all get along. While I may not know what my future holds, I do know who holds my future. I'm thrilled to be on this journey with the people who mean the most in my life."

Helping Katie Begley and her family create a home that's a work of wonder.

By Donna Benton

Photos by Makenzie Evans

There’s a well-worn anecdote often imparted upon couples who are building a new home. The particular wisecrack involves an exclamation of disbelief that the pair have been able to maintain their happy marriage during such a stressful and trying endeavor as homebuilding. It is true that building a home always comes with a little pain, but it is not as hard as riding one of those bicycles built for two, which I think is a much better test of a couple’s enduring compatibility.

Yes, building a home can be challenging, but Katie and Nick Begley have built three of them and are none the worse for wear! Now, I’m not going to tell you that it is all peace and tranquility in the third and most current Begley home. After all, Katie is as sweet as strawberry pie, but she is also a fiery redhead who ain’t afraid of nothing, and their boys, Grant and Grahl, are young, high-octane thrill-seekers who like to punk one another. Nick mans the kitchen with a hot fire and the music cranking, and Allie the dog likes to launch big air off the back of the sofa (That’s lifestyle performance fabric on the sectional, of course). Usually, this is all going at a fever pitch that seems at first like anarchy but then melds into an enjoyable accord that keeps the Begleys going strong.

Continued on page 67

Katie and Allie snuggling in an oversized down chair that got a fresh look with new plaid upholstery. The Begleys do lots of living in the living room, so we made sure to select fabrics that are pet and family friendly and hold up to real life, ready for worry-free relaxation and an occasional dogpile.

Katie is a Wonder Woman who can find peace in the eye of the storm. If you have taken a header off your bike lately or if your gallbladder has exploded, you might recognize Katie patching you up in the emergency department at Conway Regional Hospital. When she’s not patching wounds and saving lives, her alter ego can be found enhancing natural beauty at Begley Aesthetics. Her eye for beauty and the grace under pressure required in the ER also suit her perfectly to handle the rigors of contracting her own home, which she does with extraordinary special powers. Every superhero needs a sidekick, so when Katie called for my help with design, I pulled on my stretchy tights and came running!

Katie envisioned native stone and natural beams to complement the rustic setting. We located a fellow just down the road who reclaims old beams and recycles them for new construction. After a Saturday afternoon in his workshop experimenting with different wood species, stains and textures, the look and feel was beginning to take shape. From that beam color, we selected stone for the fireplace, matched flooring, paint colors, the kitchen countertop and even the fabric for the living room sofa.

Katie wanted to soften the look of the stone and beams with arched doorways and elements. We made sure to play off of the arches and add subtle curves whenever we could. You know the craftsmen love it when you start talking about curves! We used curves in the marble countertop surround, curves in the fireplace design and vent hood, arched mirrors in the master bath and counters, arched panels on the dining room walls, and a fabulous natural wood cathedral ceiling in the entryway. Repeating this arched shape throughout the house enhanced the custom look and thoughtful design.

Continued on page 69

It took an arduous search to find the blue beaded chandelier framed by the arched tub nook. It’s the same dramatic blue we used on the paneled walls in the adjoining bedroom.

At eight years old,

Her

Katie’s dad would boost her up on her horse named Buck to compete in barrel racing events.

love for horses gets a subtle nod with custom upholstered dining chairs, vintage bronze horses and a leather and brass tack chandelier.

Katie had her heart set on some natural stone sinks for the master bath, so we headed to the legendary Antique Show in Round Top, Texas. We found those stone sinks, some vintage lighting and some fabulous old tile from a French chateau that we used in the laundry room. Yes, we found a trailer load of other cool stuff while we were there! Vintage art and décor really make for an authentic old world feel. And a set of antique worn leather dining chairs helps a custom sofa table turn double duty as overflow dining. The hunt for historic one-of-a-kind pieces to incorporate into the design is all part of the fun.

Contracting your own home, especially while balancing a family and career, is no easy task. It takes a lot of hands-on communication to get your design ideas into the heads and hands of the craftsmen building your home. In the Begleys’ home, there were lots of sawdust sessions where designs were laid out and crafted into reality, lots of flashlight trips to check on the day’s work. Some days, we admired the beauty of those ideas becoming reality, and sometimes, we had to take a step back and rework something that didn’t come out as expected. Sticking to your guns to get what you want takes a lot of resolve for a homeowner when deadlines are looming and spirits are growing weary, but a beautiful home is always worth the labor of love.

A white oak island and marble backsplash add earthy elegance to the kitchen.

KAREN FERGUSON

AWARD WINNING REALTOR®

In what usually takes REALTORS® many years to accomplish, Karen Ferguson has achieved in just a few. She has become a trailblazer in real estate. Her professionalism and expertise have helped her gain recognition and respect not only from her clients and peers but also from her community.

“My drive, grit and passion for helping my clients and community has given me the name of ‘Go-Getter Realtor,’” Ferguson said. “Some of my achievements that I am most proud of are winning Faulkner County Board of Realtors Rookie of the Year Award my first year, the RE/MAX Hall of Fame Award and being named Best Real Estate Agent by Faulkner Lifestyle Magazine.”

Ferguson’s leadership in the 501 goes above and beyond her career. For years, she has invested heavily in supporting the communities she serves. Her many leadership positions include member and Ambassador of the Conway Chamber of Commerce, member and Sponsor of the Greenbrier Chamber of Commerce, member of Grow Greenbrier, Steering Committee member of Hope Village and Board of Directors positions for Harbor Home for Women, the Conway Ministry Center and Choosing to Excel for Youth.

“Helping people brings me joy,” Ferguson said. “Whether it’s helping people buy their dream home or helping women at The Harbor Home for Women learn how to create a resume and learn interviewing skills so they

can get a job and get their children back, there’s no greater joy than helping people.”

True to her servant's heart, she volunteers with Fellowship Bible Church in Conway and with several community projects, including feeding the homeless at Conway Ministry Center and assisting at the Harbor Home for Women and Hope Village, a housing development for the homeless and veterans. In partnership with Verona Italian Restaurant in Conway, she also launched the Cook 4 Conway project to feed people and nonprofits.

Her advice for younger women is to be their authentic selves. “You are your competitive advantage, as people do business with people they know, like and trust.”

Karen is married to Robert Ferguson, an Arkansas native. She has four bonus daughters and a disabled mother for whom she cares. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping and dining, volunteering in the community and camping with her family or at their cabin that her husband built.

Contact Karen Ferguson, REALTOR®, today at 501.697.0042 or karenfergusonteam.com, or come by RE/MAX Elite at 2450 N. Donaghey Ave., Conway.

GEORGEANN BOLTON

FOUNDER/G.A. BOLT ROOFING & RESTORATION, LLC

Courageous is an excellent word to describe Georgeann Bolton, a licensed insurance agent and founder of G.A. Bolt Roofing & Restoration, LLC. A few years back, while selling insurance, Bolton met a roofing contractor who encouraged her to combine her insurance experience with the roofing industry. That meeting resulted in her spending two and a half years as a project manager and learning every aspect of residential roofing. Then, she ventured out on her own to launch G.A. Bolt Roofing & Restoration, her third venture into a small business startup in 30 years.

Bolton owned an auto repair business for 27 years. She has advice for others when making business decisions. "Trust your instincts 100 percent of the time, don't succumb to fear and be true to yourself. I wish I had learned this earlier," she said.

G.A. Bolt Roofing offers more than roofing services. The respected company also provides siding, gutters, interior painting and complete home restoration and remodeling. Among their roofing services, the company offers emergency tarping. In addition, the company will conduct roof inspections for hail or wind damage, assist homeowners in filing insurance claims, meet with the ad-

juster for assessments and more. The company serves Little Rock, Conway, Maumelle, Cabot, Benton and surrounding Central Arkansas locations.

Besides her commitment to her business and customers, Bolton values her friendships. "I have made friends with amazing people," she said, adding that helping others is one of the most fulfilling parts of her career. She learned this early in life from a Wonder Woman who was her neighbor in Fort Smith.

"Ms. Moore was probably 80 when I was 10," Bolton said. "She made sure I got on the church bus each week, and I gave my life to God at 11. She is my hero."

Integrity is another word that describes Bolton based on the advice she offers young women today. "Do the right thing because it is the right thing to do," she said. Integrity is one of many character traits she sees as essential in business. Bolton believes one must be driven, honest, confident, trustworthy, and willing to persevere in the long term to see success.

ALICIA JOHNSON

HUMAN RESOURCES RECRUITER/METHODIST FAMILY HEALTH

When Alicia Johnson made the leap from the medical side of healthcare into mental healthcare, she considered it the defining moment of her career.

"I may not have known what I was getting myself into, but I knew that I needed a change of scenery along with a challenge," Johnson said. "Fate led me here. I found a career that still allows me to help others but from a different standpoint. While demanding at times, I enjoy my job, and I feel extremely confident in my role. Being here gave me the push I needed to continue striving for greatness."

With compassion, resilience, integrity, humility, bravery and courage, Alicia's impact on those around her is palpable. "Alicia has taken on this role and done an exceptional job helping identify prospective team members," said Kim Cox, Director of Human Resources for Methodist Family Health. "She is adept at balancing a busy life that includes three children and a fast-paced career. We are so fortunate to have her on our team."

Committed to improving the well-being of those around her, Johnson believes self-love can help women unlock their potential. "Self-doubt kills talent," she said. "Believing in yourself is so import-

ant. Your happiness is just as important as the people you pour into. It's okay to say no, it's okay to establish boundaries and it's okay to put you first."

Her advice for others is to dream big. "Never be afraid to step out on faith," Johnson said. "Failure is a learning experience—apply it and continue pushing forward."

Fueled by ambitious goals and by personal experience, the recruiter's passion drives change for others like her.

"In the next five years, I would like to start a support group for parents of special needs children in the 501," Johnson said. "Resources for special needs children who require total care are very limited, as well as support for their parents. My daughter, Gabby, and I were blessed to have one of the best villages behind us, but there were times I still felt lost along the journey due to not having anyone I could talk to who could relate. I know this project will take a lot of work, but this is something that I really want to do, and I feel that it would be a great contribution to the community."

Contact Alicia Johnson today via email at ajohnson@methodistfamily.org.

MIRINDA DAVIS

OWNER/KINDRED MERCANTILE BOUTIQUE

Mirinda was mesmerized by the fashion industry as a young child, and at age 15, she started working in her first storefront, "Express," in Park Plaza Mall.

This passion continued; she attended fashion school and worked through many years of retail promotions with private and corporate-owned retailers.

In 2019, Mirinda opened her online and vendor business as Kindred Mercantile. In 2020, she took a complete leap of faith, leaving the life of corporate retail travel and opening a storefront in her hometown of Conway. Her daughter, Mallory Davis-Reed, works with her in this successful venture.

"I love having a storefront where I can love on people and let God's light shine through me every day," Mathis-Davis said. She also supports nonprofit organizations such as Connected Foster Care, Life Choices and Alzheimer's of Arkansas.

Since opening the storefront on Oak Street in Historic Downtown Conway, Kindred Mercantile Boutique has accepted numerous awards within the market. At a recent ceremony, the Conway Area Chamber of Commerce named her Outstanding Retailer of the Year for 2024. "This is a huge deal, and I'm so honored!" Mathis-Davis said.

If she could tell her younger self one thing, she would say, "Stay true to who you are and

don't get wrapped up with impressing people or making big money; just let God's light shine through you, and He will take care of the rest," based on Matthew 5:16.

Of all Mathis-Davis's accomplishments, her family is most important to her. She's been married 31 years and has two exceptional children, both of whom are married to incredible spouses.

Her siblings, nieces and nephews are all very close and supportive, which means a lot to the small business owner.

"Being considered a 501Der Woman is so special to me because it's important to show other women that you can stay true to yourself, never give up on following your dreams and trust God through all the processes!!"

Kindred Mercantile Boutique is for all the ladies! They offer clothing for babies, youth, tweens and adults in sizes XS to 3X. Customers can also find permanent jewelry, designer handbags and fun gifting goodies. "Let us be your 'go-to' store, and don't keep us a secret!" she said.

You can reach Mirinda at 501.472.6450, shop online at shopkindredmercantile.com or visit her at 1010 Oak St., Conway.

AUTHOR OF THE MONTH

DR. CHRISTIE DEL CASTILLO-HEGYI

By Susan L. Peterson

Photo by Mike Kemp

The ability to give birth and then supply nourishment to a child might be considered a female superpower.

Unfortunately, the preconceived notion exists that providing nourishment through breastfeeding is always easy and comes naturally to all new mothers. The fact is, some may find it difficult, like that superpower has been diminished or destroyed. But despite complications, many women are still pressured to persevere with breastfeeding, no matter what the outcome. For those new mothers, the “breast is best” message might lead to feelings of shame and anxiety, or to even more tragic results for their infant.

Dr. Christie del Castillo-Hegyi, a Little Rock emergency physician and co-founder of the Fed Is Best Foundation, has coauthored a book, “Fed Is Best: The Unintended Harms of the ‘Breast Is Best’ Message and How to Find the Right Approach for You and Your Baby,” to inform the public about how to feed newborns safely and adequately.

In “Fed Is Best,” del Castillo-Hegyi relates her own experience as a first-time mother whose child became critically ill from starvation leading to developmental disabilities due to common breastfeeding advice. Subsequently, she sadly discovered that her experience was not all that unusual. She concluded that breastfeeding alone is not always best, and parents and medical professionals need to be educated on how to tell when this might be the case.

She is now on a mission to inform others that pressures to breastfeed exclusively can be damaging and that there are other alternatives. “Every situation is different. There is no right way, and sometimes the breast is just not enough,” she said.

Her message is a simple one, but initially she found it difficult to convey. It was in 2014, following her son’s diagnosis of multiple developmental disabilities and a seizure disorder, that she began research on this phenomenon and found they occur routinely. Complications such as jaundice and dehydration from inadequate feeding were the most common reasons healthy newborns get re-hospitalized. Furthermore, they were known causes of brain injury that could be prevented with supplementation. She wrote to several medical associations, including the Centers for Disease Control, the American Association of Pediatrics, and the Joint Commission, to inform them of her findings. Rather than issuing warnings, the responses she received seemed to merely placate her, saying they would look into it, according to del Castillo-Hegyi. Some did not respond at all.

Frustrated and armed with her research, she tried contacting pediatricians directly. Some were dubious, but others noted that they too had witnessed similar complications for years. Excessive crying and nursing are some symptoms of inadequate feeding that can result in jaundice, dehydration and hypoglycemia.

When she started blogging and posting on Facebook, her message went viral. There she heard stories familiar to her own and found other like-minded medical professionals who felt morally obligated to share this message. Online contacts with two experienced medical professionals were especially promising. B. Jody Segrave-Daly, RN, a NICU registered nurse and international board-certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) from Pennsylvania, eventually became the cofounder of Fed Is Best Foundation with del Castillo-Hegyi. The two then paired up with Lynnette Hafken (MA, IBCLC), who resides in Maryland, to write the book.

Over the course of several years, del Castillo-Hegyi has spoken in hospital grand rounds, medical conferences, at the NIH and USDA, and has published on a fatal case of dehydration in a breastfed newborn in a medical journal. The three have also written extensive educational material on every type of safe infant feeding on the foundation page website. They then built upon previously published peer-reviewed articles and their research on cases of infant starvation received from families who wrote to them. This has led to the “Fed Is Best” book, which provides science-backed guidance on how to tell if a baby is getting enough nutrition. Included are practical guides to breastfeeding, combofeeding, pumped milk feeding and formula feeding, with sample schedules to help parents maintain their milk supply and get more sleep.

Publishing the book was not a quick process. After finding an agent, it took three years to find their dream publisher, BenBella Books. The book is finally in print and is available for pre-order on Amazon and other online publishers. Its scheduled release date is June 25.

Some critics have found the book’s message to be controversial or misinterpret it as anti-breastfeeding, which it is not, del Castillo-Hegyi said. Instead, she wants to educate and inform the world of signs and symptoms of the dangers of insufficient feeding and destigmatize the use of supplements. In her words, “Even I as a medical professional didn’t know what I didn’t know.”

Knowledge can also be a superpower, and her aim is to arm new parents with information to maintain health and save lives.

Finally, the word is getting out. Fed Is Best Foundation’s message has been featured in articles in the New York Times, Forbes Magazine and hundreds more articles. However, the latest statistic still shows that one in 71 newborns is hospitalized for severe complications from inadequate milk intake while exclusively breastfeeding.

More information about del Castillo-Hegyi, the Fed Is Best Foundation, and the “Fed Is Best” book can be found at FedIsBest. org and fedisbestbook.org. She lives in Little Rock with her husband, Michael, also an emergency physician, and her son and twin daughters.

We wish to express sincere appreciation to our Branch Office Administrators for being the 501Der Women who keep our offices running professionally.

- Financial Advisors Stacey Alston, Jason Braswell, Matthew Carpenter, Josh Crawford, Granger Davis, Jakob Henry, Trey Howell, Lisa Lovell, Chris Masters, Sam Nagher and Jimmy Tipton.

What are the responsibilities of Branch Office Administrators?

Our administrators do so much more than run the day-to-day operations of our branches. They take the lead in ensuring our clients receive personalized service by building personal and authentic relationships. They are the driving force behind executing events and marketing opportunities within our branches. They play a critical role in our business planning and improving our client service and satisfaction.

What value do these ladies bring to the community?

Our administrators show up every day to assist and care for our clients. They also volunteer in the community by participating in a sponsored Edward Jones Day of Caring and supporting non-profit programs that Financial Advisors may be involved in. Always ready to lend a helping hand, several serve on non-profit boards and are active members of charities across the region.

What does the company most appreciate about Branch Office Administrators?

We appreciate all that our administrators do for us and our clients. Each one of these ladies brings unique and admirable contributions to the table that make our area succeed, and we are confident that they are what set us apart from other firms in the industry. We're grateful to call them our 501DER Women!

Attorney Leah Jacobs is the owner of Heirloom Legal, PLLC, a business name that reflects the heart of its founder. “Our primary focus is helping families avoid later-in-life issues that arise when no estate planning is done,” she said.

“I also love the opportunity to walk with families who are going through difficult times where planning wasn’t done, or wasn’t possible, in an effort to ease their minds. I want families to feel empowered and also at peace with the hard decisions related to estate planning, elder law and probate,” Jacobs added.

Driven by a desire to help others, Jacobs finds motivation in a quote by Leo Rosten: “I cannot believe that the purpose of life is to be happy. I think the purpose of life is to be useful, to be responsible, to be compassionate. It is, above all, to matter, to count, to stand for something, to have made some difference that you lived at all.”

The attorney is respected for her knowledge and responsiveness. “Leah is the definition of a 501Der Woman,” said Stacey Alston, a Financial Advisor with Edward Jones. “She works hard to actively grow her business and support her family, and she’s always available to answer questions and calls.”

LEAH JACOBS

ATTORNEY AT LAW

HEIRLOOM LEGAL, PLLC

Jacobs believes each person defines their success. “It’s OK not to be the smartest person in the room. It doesn’t mean you lack intelligence or purpose, and it definitely doesn’t mean you aren’t successful. You define your own success, and it may not look like anyone else’s definition,” she said. What advice would she give her younger self?

“Don’t let fear stop you. Just keep pushing through until you aren’t afraid anymore.”

Jacobs is grateful for her mom and grandma's example and influence. “They are the most faithful, servant-hearted women I know. I love that they take care of others so well and honor God through their service to others,” she said.

Outside the legal profession, Jacobs enjoys serving as the worship leader at her church and being a mom. “I have three amazing boys, and I love being a boy mom,” she said. “I want to be the best I can be so I can inspire them to always work hard, help others, and make a difference in the world.”

To reach Leah Jacobs at Heirloom Legal, PLLC, call 501.819.2553 or visit the website at heirloomlegal.com.

GINA FLAKE

OWNER/CEO/INSTRUCTOR

B&B SAFETY TRAINING

Being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2018 was an unexpected twist in Gina Flake's life, yet she has shown that even a self-proclaimed "planner of all things" can survive the unsurvivable.

"After a very normal day in May 2018, I was diagnosed with a very rare form of brain cancer. They gave me 14 to 16 months to live," said Flake. The cancer presented itself as a stroke and occurred at home. "Thankfully, my husband knew what to do, but I realized that my family and friends need to be trained for emergencies because they can happen anywhere. I am passionate about safety and being prepared," Flake said.

Thus, B&B Safety Training was created to train the public in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, first aid and AED usage. "I love people," Flake said. "I enjoy making the classroom fun and engaging!"

Many companies and individuals have hired her for training in CPR, Basic Life Support, AED usage and first aid, and customers are impressed by the professional experience. “Gina is dynamic and self-motivated,” said Tina Cope, CFO of Favoring Tailwinds. “She also operates birth and postpartum doula support services. She is thriving as a 501Der Woman!”

Flake is involved in community service,

much of it through Second Baptist Church. “I am also involved in The Harbor Home. Being in a hard place myself as a young woman, I love supporting women facing difficult times."

She particularly loves to help her inner circle "tribe of women," and her family. Flake and her husband of 31 years have four children and nine grandchildren. "My Aunt Sheilah has always supported me in all aspects of my life. Even when no one else did, she was there," Flake said.

When asked if there is something about her that no one would suspect, she admits to dearly loving shoes, having close to 200 pairs, including Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton and Prada.

"I have always tried to be who others said I should be," Flake said. “I am so much happier in this stage of life. I surround myself with people who love and support me. I am happy with my hair color and body type, doing what I love, and being joyful and confident in myself, the way God made me!"

To learn more about safety training or pregnancy support for individuals or groups, contact Gina at ginaflake@gmail. com or 501.796.3180.

ALEXA MEDLOCK

MEDLOCK AESTHETICS

The most rewarding moments in Alexa Medlock’s job are when her patients look in the mirror and see their results. Medlock, owner of Medlock Aesthetics in Conway, holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, is an RN and an Aesthetic Nurse Injector.

Medlock finds fulfillment in having a positive impact on her patients’ self-esteem and confidence. She focuses on their well-being and empowers and educates them using a holistic approach. She hopes to help destigmatize the industry by providing subtle enhancements without compromising natural beauty.

With the business growing, the future is “glowing” for Medlock Aesthetics. More treatment options and new services are on the horizon. “I love continuing education and this ever-evolving industry constantly delivers opportunities to keep learning,” Medlock said.

Medlock finds joy in a good conversation, laughter, genuine people and putting a smile on someone’s face. “It brings me joy to get to know my patients and for them to know that my chair is a safe and welcoming place to have a little time for themselves. As a mom, wife, business owner and student, I know how hard it is to make time for myself, so I want everyone who comes through my door to feel it is worth their time,” she said.

Various publications have recognized Medlock in the last few years, as she has been listed among Women in Power, voted among the Best Healthcare Professionals, the Best Cosmetic Injectables Top 3 and was chosen as a Reader’s Favorite Top 3.

She and her husband, Dwayne, have two children. “Knox and Poppy are the funniest and brightest little humans, and I thank God they are mine,” she said. Medlock loves the life they have and is proud of the opportunity to build on her dream so she can spend more quality time with her family.

What advice does she offer other young women? “You will not be everyone’s cup of tea, and that’s OK. We are all so different, and that is beautiful. We cannot please everyone without compromising ourselves in some way. Stay true to yourself and honest in all you do, and you will attract like-minded people who appreciate it.

“I wish I had learned much sooner that happiness and peace come from what you create for yourself, not from the approval of others.”

There have been many times in my life that I've allowed myself the undeserved honor of letting others think I had it all together when it comes to motherhood. Being a bonus mom of three along with having two sets of twins, I've been dubbed a Wonder Woman of sorts a time or two. And while I've enjoyed the accolades, the truth is the woman I am when I slip out of that costume and step into my own authentic self is much more of a hero. There is so much power in simply being authentic with others.

I've said it many times before, but being a mom is hard. Each season truly has its own share of struggle and beauty (for the most part) with maybe the tiny exception of those teenage years. Those seasons felt more like I'd taken a journey to the center of the earth. No matter how prepared I felt, it didn't take long to realize I was in territory I'd never experienced and I often felt lost, afraid and unprepared.

I'm halfway joking, but, y'all, those teenage years are tough. You're navigating these little humans who are all the best and worst parts of you over all these hurdles of life. And at the same time, they've developed their own ideas and opinions and you're no longer the center of their universe. It's hard, but it's worth the effort because soon you enter that next season of parenting adults.

This is where I'm at in my current season of raising kids. From this vantage point, I'm able to look back and see how beautiful this whole journey has been. Yes, it is full of twists and turns, bumpy paths that I shouldn't have taken, and I'm perhaps a bit more worn and torn, but there is also so much beauty, grace and growth from where I'm standing.

I recently asked a group of close female friends what was the best and what was the most difficult part of having adult children. It was pretty unanimous across the board that getting to be your adult child's friend and watching them be their own individuals is absolutely amazing. However, we all similarly agreed

the woman behind the cape

Seasons of wonder for all us moms.

By Laurie Green

that one of the hardest parts is learning how to be there, but not necessarily having control over their decisions. Especially when it feels like you're watching a train wreck about to happen, and your advice and opinions are the last thing your child wants to hear.

Over the years, my children have learned to call and quickly add how they just need to vent. They don't need my advice, they just need a safe place to dump all the baggage they are carrying, and I'm honored to be that safe place to unload. I'd like to say some profound wisdom that I could wrap this all up with, but I'll leave you with this.

Today I saw my 79-year-old mom reading a book called “People Can't Drive You Crazy If You Don't Give Them The Keys.” She had so many pages underlined and highlighted that it looked more like a coloring book than a paperback. I realized at that moment, she's in a season of parenting that I've yet to have even imagined and she was reading that book to help navigate relationships with us … her adult children, LOL. We laughed and she reminded me that, at the end of the day, all we can do is make peace with the past, allow grace in the growing and successfully learn to give it all to God and go to sleep.

Laughing with my 501Derful mom.

DANIELLE BURNELL

CONTROLLER/CHRIS CRAIN ENTERPRISES

Danielle Burnell, controller for Chris Crain Enterprises, finds fulfillment in a workplace where she is part of a team and feels a sense of accomplishment in contributing to a common goal. She confessed, though, that in the beginning she found the auto business a bit challenging compared to a similar position she held before Chris Crain hired her in 2018. However, she said it has ultimately pushed her to grow both professionally and personally.

“Mrs. Danielle might be the most patient person on the planet, while at the same time handling her business,” said Brett Berry, General Manager at Chris Crain Hyundai. “She gives us grace and leniency when we need it, but when it’s time to get things done, she absolutely holds us accountable until we produce the results.”

As controller, Burnell balances multiple businesses under the Chris Crain Enterprises umbrella, including Chris Crain Hyundai, Genesis of Conway, MSA Customs and Motorsports Authority, Hot Springs.

Balance isn’t just important at work. “Balancing a career and home life can be extremely challenging at times, but also very rewarding,” said Burnell, a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She places great importance on surrounding oneself with strong personal friendships to lean on for support

when life gets a little crazy trying to juggle the demands of both work and home. She placed equal importance on being that support for others when they are in the trenches. “It truly takes a village,” she said.

Having grown up in Conway, Burnell is encouraged by the opportunities for women in Central Arkansas. “I recently attended the Women’s Leadership Network brunch on International Women’s Day, and looking around the room at so many women who are business leaders in their respective industries was incredibly inspiring,” she said. Burnell’s mom, Nancy Davis, is also a great source of inspiration and encouragement. “She is a gentle soul and has a heart of gold and cares for so many others on a daily basis.” Burnell also feels fortunate to be surrounded by friends who carry a heavy load every day but support each other intentionally and unconditionally.

Burnell enjoys spending time outdoors with friends and family, specifically on or near a lake, a river or the ocean. She loves that the 501 area offers so many beautiful lakes, parks and campgrounds.

What is something no one would suspect about Burnell? “I’m quite a talker, but I hate public speaking!” she said.

NITA KAY FREEMAN

MARKETING DIRECTOR, CHRIS CRAIN ENTERPRISES (SERVICING CHRIS CRAIN HYUNDAI, GENESIS OF CONWAY, MSA CUSTOMS AND MOTORSPORTS AUTHORITY)

Nita Kay Freeman sees the blessings in her life and wants to be a blessing to others. This quote by Brene Brown sums up how she approaches life: “The people who love me, the people I really depend on, were never the critics who were pointing at me while I stumbled. They weren’t in the bleachers at all. They were with me in the arena, fighting for me and with me.”

“God has blessed me with so many amazing friends who make me better just by being in their presence,” Freeman said. “My motherin-law, who is 83, runs circles around us all, and she is my greatest inspiration.

“I am proudest of my family,” she said. “My husband, Greg, and I have been married for 32 years, and our children are Jackson Freeman; Mary Katherine, who is married to Nick Watson; and Emma, who is married to Ben Barre. Our time together is invaluable.”

As the marketing director for Chris Crain Enterprises, Freeman works with charitable organizations, which she sees as the most fulfilling part of her career. “Chris Crain is a huge supporter of the community, and I get the privilege of managing those donations and responsibilities.”

Volunteering and giving back to her community are two of her priorities.

“I love the Downtown Partnership,” she said. "We are the title sponsor of the Genesis of Conway Central Arkansas Open, which supports women who are trying to make it to the Ladies Professional Golf Association. We also contribute to women-led charities and to Haven House which supports adolescent girls in foster care.”

“Nita Kay is our queen,” said Brett Berry, General Manager of Chris Crain Hyundai. “From marketing to entertaining to taking care of all of us crazy car guys and keeping us dialed in and prepared, there is no one on the planet who could do what she does. Honestly, I wouldn’t want anyone else to do it.”

Freeman urges people to let go and trust in what life has to offer. “If I could give my younger self some advice, it would be to enjoy this ride,” she said. “I would tell her not to worry about the next phase as God has it in his hands and plan.”

Contact Nita Kay today at nitafreeman@c nitafreeman@chriscraingroup.com.

St. Joseph Solar Science

Troop collecting data to help scientists better understand the sun

By Carol Rolf

Photos by Stefanie Brazile

Members of Girl Scout Troop 6827 joined the crowds of people viewing the total solar eclipse April 8 at Hendrix College in Conway. However, they were not just there to “ooh” and “aah” at the rare sight, but were serving as citizen science investigators collecting data to help scientists better understand the sun.

Members of the troop, based at St. Joseph School, include eighth-grader Brileigh Choate; sophomores Aubrey Michaels, Addison Choate, Izzy Simon, Peyton Mangum and Amelia Erstine; and senior Carolina Ferrer. The troop was among 19 youth-serving organizations selected by Cosmic Picture (based in London and New York) to participate in citizen science investigations leading up to and during the total solar eclipse as part of its Einstein’s Incredible Universe media and education project. The citizen science program is executed in partnership with Southern Illinois University (SIU) at Carbondale and its Dynamic Eclipse Broadcast Initiative, and it is funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA. The Great Lakes Science Center at Cleveland, Ohio, provided equipment and training on how scientific data about

the eclipse could be retrieved. The troop’s leader, Karen Ferrer, traveled to the Great Lakes Science Center in November 2023 for that training and to acquire the Scouts’ telescope that would be used to collect data. The Scouts began practicing with the telescope soon afterwards.

The troop was invited by Hendrix physics professor Ann Wright to collect the data during the college’s Solar Odyssey event scheduled at the college’s Young-Wise Memorial Stadium from noon to 4 p.m. April 8.

“We arrived at 10 a.m. to begin setting up,” said Ferrer, who teaches math and chemistry at St. Joseph and is a former Girl Scout. “That gave us two hours to troubleshoot. By noon, we were ready to go, and I told the girls to go have lunch. They did, and when they came back, we pressed ‘go’ on the telescope and nothing happened. We rebooted and tried to start over…nothing. We tried again…nothing. It was one of those computer things. So, we missed the start of the partial eclipse for about 15 minutes. We

Conway Girl Scout Troop 6827 includes, in front, Amelia Erstine. Back row, from left: Addison Choate, Brileigh Choate, Karen Ferrer, Peyton Mangum, Carolina Ferrer, Aubrey Michaels and Isabella Simon.

finally got it going and then we had to change programs to record the total eclipse, and we lost the sun. It was just gone. We got that fixed just as totality began, and the sun appeared, covered by the moon.

“It was awesome, an incredible moment,” she said. “I couldn’t be more proud of these girls. There were some stressful moments when things were not going according to plan. They stayed calm and kept trying. In the end, they were able to be successful because of perseverance and teamwork.

“The day was a rollercoaster of emotion from the nervous energy of the morning, through the panic when things weren’t working, to the amazing sense of accomplishment at the end of the day,” Ferrer said.

Brileigh Choate said she would “remember April 8, 2024, forever. It was such a cool experience to be able to see an eclipse in totality, let alone photograph it for research. Not even scientists get perfect results when researching. You just have to not give up, even if your telescope starts spinning and won’t stop.”

Brileigh’s older sister, Addison Choate, said, “This is an experience I couldn’t forget. I learned so much about space and I hope to learn more in the future. People were really interested in what we were doing. I got to talk to people from around the country and teach them new things and learn new things as well.”

Ferrer said they have sent the data and photos to SIU, where they will be studied over the next months, “maybe even a year or two. There were other groups doing the same thing even in areas where it was just a partial eclipse, not in the path of totality. Scientists will line all of that up as they analyze the data. The sun is so bright that it can only be studied during an eclipse when the moon blocks it.

“These girls will be co-authors of scientific research published in scientific journals,” Ferrer said, smiling. “We now have a telescope. We might be able to take part in other citizen science projects. I am so happy to share my love of all things space science with a new generation of girls. I hope that they have a new perspective on their place in the universe and how unique and beautiful the world is.”

The back of a Girl Scout uniform is for patches (not badges) which are received after participating in an experience like a visit to a museum. The vest belongs to Addison Choate who is in her 9th year of Scouting.

The Pulaski County Special School District is committed to providing a quality and equitable education to all students, and this includes finding highly qualified and committed staff. In addition to teachers and substitutes, PCSSD is always hiring for support staff positions, including bus drivers, student nutrition staff, para professionals, office staff and more.

As we wrap up another school year, it’s time to reflect on the senior class of 2024 and their accomplishments during their time at Maumelle School. In his first year at Maumelle High School, principal Dr. Nick Farr had the opportunity to learn a lot from the students this year. He shared the following message to the senior class of 2024.

GREETINGS

Maumelle Seniors!

It has been a great year of change and excellence. You all have risen to the challenge and reached a major milestone in life. Your high school graduation is an accomplishment that comes with great reward. As you embark on your next journey in life, I encourage you to embrace the spirit of service and continue to give back to your community. You all have exhibited the spirit of perseverance and dedication. Because of your efforts and commitment to your education, you are now at the finish line.

As you continue your daily walk, remember that you are the master of your fate and captain of your soul. There is nothing you cannot do, unless you determine that you can't. Be true to yourself and accomplish all you can in life. Remember that there is no task too large for you. Just set your minds to it and see it through.

Maumelle High School will never be the same without you, but the world will be a better place because of you. Now go forth and conquer. Be the Hornet that you are and continue to do great things! I am proud of you all.

Thank you for sharing your senior year with me. I look forward to seeing your success now and beyond.

Good luck!

Dr. Farr

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 26 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.

Dr. Nick Farr

celebrating athletic excellence

Van Buren County's

Maddie Cabana

By Dr. Robert Reising

“Her main love in life is Jesus,” her mother recently explained in a discussion of her teenage daughter’s impressive record-setting feats. With challenging national and international competitions awaiting her at Tulsabased Christian liberal arts institution Oral Roberts University (ORU). Maddie Cabana is currently completing one of the most celebrated public school cross-country and track careers in Natural State history.

Photo by Mike Kemp

Clinton senior Maddie Cabana has competed for years, and her numerous awards are from area, state, regional and national competitions. At the Junior Olympics last July, she impressed with third place in the nation in the 1500-meter run and fourth place in the nation in the 3000-meter run. Her future is bright!

Her faith and humility have served her handsomely and promise to do no less in the future. The Lord’s will governs and guides her, she confidently and proudly proclaims.

Blessed with a sister, Sophia, two years her senior, Madelaine “Maddie” Cabana was born outside Scott Air Force Base in Illinois. Soon thereafter, they resided in Florida and, later, Texas. The family then moved to Van Buren County, where, at age six, Maddie enrolled in the public schools of Clinton.

Maddie has soared beyond academic and athletic norms. Honors have never escaped her, and she currently holds a 4.3 grade point average (on a 4-point scale), while expecting to carry credit from five advanced placement courses and exams to ORU in the fall.

“My grades have always been very important to me,” Maddie admits. Her parents welcomed her zeal for the classroom, no less her love of sports participation. Her mother, a registered nurse, and her father, a retired military officer, have been unflinching in their support over the years as Maddie met the increasingly fatiguing demands of competitive sports, especially cross country and track.

Ever-more demanding and challenging early-morning and evening workouts and ever-more scrupulous time management, along with strict nutritional needs to fuel her ever-improving performance, all accompanied Maddie’s sports successes.

As a ninth-grader, Maddie was well-prepared to meet Arkansas’s strongest senior high school cross-country and track and field runners. The 2022 State Cross Country Championships marked the third appearance for Maddie in

the event. In 2020, as a freshman, she had finished fourth and in 2021 third; in both 2022 and 2023 she took first place.

The Clinton Yellowjackets Booster Club thought so highly of “Her Historic 2022 Cross Country Track and Field Season” that it presented the driven teen with a handsome plaque listing seven of her principal achievements of the year. Included were “2022 Democrat-Gazette All-Arkansas Team” and “2022 Gatorade Player Of The Year Nominee.”

Her second state championship victory last fall represented the culmination of one of the most dominant cross-country seasons in Arkansas history. Maddie claimed victory in eight of the nine events she entered during a season launched the previous August. In the lone meet that she failed to win, the prestigious 28th annual Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in Fayetteville, she captured sixth place in a national field of 391, including numerous intercollegiate runners. The time she recorded was her personal best for the season. She was also one of only two Arkansans to finish in the top eight.

A few weeks later, Maddie won her conference’s CrossCountry Championship at War Memorial Park in Little Rock. Her margin of victory? An amazing four minutes and 38 seconds ahead of the meet’s second-place finisher.

The same season later took her out of state as a member of the elite Team Arkansas, which topped Team Oklahoma on the latter’s home soil. With Maddie again contributing, Team Arkansas traveled to Oklahoma in February to register another triumph outside the Natural State. Two victories closer to home also came in consecutive years, 2023 and 2024, in Little Rock where Maddie won the 10K in the Little Rock Marathon, which unfolded a field of more than 900 runners, including both men and women.

Her achievements in track and field were just as numerous and at least as spectacular. Key in the spring of 2023 were her performances in the one-mile and two-mile runs: in recordbreaking times, she emerged the 3A State Champion in both. The following summer she added a strong performance in the Yukon, Oklahoma Invitational, an Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) Regional Meet, to her honors. Two eye-catching performances in July at the Junior Olympics at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, capped her 2023 exploits: third place in the nation in the 1500-meter run and fourth place in the nation in the 3000-meter run.

In February, the 5-foot, 8-inch athlete experienced a first in her remarkable career: she raced indoors. At the Randal Tyson Track Center at the University of Arkansas, she won the Indoor 4A State Championships in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs.

She hopes to have added the 4A State Championships in both races as the highly successful Clinton High School program advances at a competitive level. Maddie will then hold the coveted Triple Crown (i.e., State Champion in Cross Country, Indoors and Outdoors) if she has claimed either the 1600or 3200-meter race state championship at the state meet in Pocahontas on April 30. [Because of press deadlines, we are unable to include the results in this magazine.]

Before fall’s arrival, the soon-to-be 18-yearold dubbed “the favorite daughter of Clinton” will be morphing into “the favorite daughter of ORU,” eager to learn, to serve and to run.

Everyone can experience a sense of weightlessness with floatation therapy thanks to Jennifer Smith who brought FLOATspa to Conway.

Smith previously worked in an emotionally taxing profession that caused her mental and physical health to suffer. A good friend recommended floatation therapy and Jennifer was quickly hooked on the instant calming and relaxing sensations. “I immediately fell in love and knew I wanted to share this elevating experience in my own community,” Smith explained.

The benefits of flotation therapy go beyond stress relief and energy renewal to helping people manage pain. The feeling of weightlessness helps every single muscle in the body fully relax which can last for days. “Finding ways to help our bodies do what they are supposed to do naturally to heal has been the most fulfilling,” Smith said.

Whether you need to calm the mind, regenerate the body, manage pain or improve your overall quality of life, Smith and her team at FLOATspa in Conway are dedicated to helping customers find relief.

Maddie Cabana loves sports and especially running. She is completing one of the most celebrated public school cross-country and track careers in Natural State history.

A tight-knit team

The Krafty Belles are making a difference for breast cancer patients

By Colleen Holt

A group of young ladies at Mount St. Mary Academy in Little Rock have partnered with a nationwide foundation to create freeknitted prostheses for breast cancer survivors.

Members of the Krafty Belles, a new student club at the school, along with their sponsor Tara Gilmore, are collaborating with the Knitted Knockers Support Foundation to donate prostheses to women who have had breast cancer surgery.

The group recently donated 20 finished pairs to the CARTI Cancer Center in Little Rock, while five more went directly to other women in Arkansas, some of whom had direct connections to Mount St. Mary. While at CARTI, the students visited with doctors and even did a TikTok video with them.

“The Breast Center at CARTI is committed to walking alongside patients for every step of their journeys, whether preparing them for their first mammogram or offering counsel on which breast prostheses may be right for them,” said Dr. Stacey Smith-Foley with CARTI Cancer Center. “We were thrilled to hear about the Krafty Belles Club’s dedication to uplifting and supporting other women’s health and wellness.”

According to a press release from the school, the special breast prostheses provide a soft and more comfortable alternative to the traditional silicone prostheses. Recipients are women who have undergone a mastectomy or a lumpectomy.

“Many patients had heard about the knitted knockers and called or stopped by The Bridge at CARTI to learn more,” SmithFoley said. “Women have loved how light, soft and comfortable the prostheses are and are especially pleased that they come in different sizes, which allows the potential wearer to tailor them to their moods, outfits or needs.”

The Krafty Belles club, one of 60 clubs at Mount St. Mary, was created after Gilmore discussed crocheting with a student last year. They shared stories about other students who had made cute animals, etc., and realized there was an interest at the school in knitting and crocheting. Since the school’s clubs must have a social

component, she started looking at websites for ideas. “The Knitted Knockers program spoke to me immediately,” Gilmore said. “I mentioned it to the student, and she was excited. The program just resonated with a lot of things we do at Mount.”

The Krafty Belles currently have eight members. At the initial sign-up, 50 or so were interested. Not everyone knew how to crochet or knit, so they were encouraged to use YouTube videos and other shared resources to learn the craft and come back to the club when they had completed some projects.

The Krafty Belles use specific patterns and approved yarn. “I’m one of the faster crocheters, so it takes me about two hours to make it,” club member Aubree McCullough said. “It all varies on the size and the kind of yarn. There is lots of counting involved.” The students quickly started to share the information with their friends and classmates. They surprisingly found connections very close to them. The first knitted prostheses actually went to a family member of a current student.

The knitting project has truly hit home with Blakely Potts, another member of the club. “I really like crocheting. When I learned that we were helping breast cancer survivors, I recalled how my grandma died of breast cancer. It makes a huge difference,” she said. “This program is spreading through word of mouth and a little bit of eavesdropping,” Gilmore laughed.

CARTI is sending money to help the Krafty Belles afford materials, as it is very expensive to buy in bulk. The young ladies are also holding fundraisers by selling hats, scarves and toys they have knitted during activities at Mount St. Mary. They have an Amazon wish list that also allows people to purchase supplies for the club. The group recently started working on crocheting Santa hats for the March of Dimes to give to premature babies born during the holidays.

Through the Knitted Knockers program, more than 800,000 knitted prostheses have been created and donated by more than 6,000 groups. For more information, please visit knittedknockers.org.

Coach Tara Gilmore (from left) sponsors the Krafty Belles Club and Blakely Potts and Aubree McCullough are enthusiastic members.

Vicki's victory

Farm owner gains esteemed Arkansas agricultural honor

By Judy Riley

What does it mean to till the soil and raise food and fiber on an Arkansas farm for more than 100 years? Plenty. For sure, it reflects years of hard work through droughts, floods, poor prices for farm products, hardships in tough times and celebrations in good ones. The Abram family of Wilburn (Cleburne County) has done all that with continued success. They have achieved Century Farm status with Vicki Abram Owens as the farmer in charge.

For Owens, obtaining the Century Farm recognition in 2023 was no easy task. Her father, Clarence Verlon Abram, helped with the application from February to May, but became very ill. He died in September and a month later she was notified that the farm was selected. They were invited to the Capital to be recognized by the governor and the secretary of agriculture. “A country that cannot feed itself, fuel itself and clothe itself cannot survive. That is why it is so important to thank and support our farmers,” said Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders during the ceremony.

The timber industry is what brought Owens’ great-grandfather, Clarence Abram, to the forested land bordering the Little Red River, near Heber Springs. He worked for a timber company in St. Louis and came to Arkansas in search of timber of his own. He fell in love with Arkansas and the young woman who would become Owens’ greatgrandmother. Together, they bought the original 560 acres in 1921. Over the years, they added land as it became available. The farm is now at 773 acres.

Continued on page 96

How to be recognized as a Century Farm

To receive recognition as a Century Farm, there is a process. The Arkansas Department of Agriculture administers the program. It is purely voluntary, with no cost to apply. Since the program began in 2012, there have been 604 families inducted, 124 of those in the 501 area. Qualifications, lists of previously inducted families and information on the application process can be found at agriculturearkansas.gov/arkansas-department-of-agriculture-services/arkansascentury-farm-program.

“The Arkansas Century Farm Program represents Arkansas’s history in the purest of forms – our people and their stories,” said Arkansas Century Farm Program Manager Beth Moore. “When you read an application, it is Arkansas history coming alive through the voices of generations sharing their personal experiences and memories.” Moore’s comment says it all: champion farm families for a century.

Photo by Mike Kemp

For most of those 100 years, the Abrams raised cotton and cattle, but always there was timber. Today, Owens has 350 acres in pine plantation, in addition to a few chickens and hay for neighboring farmers.

Most notably, for the last 13 years the family has been feeding trumpeter swans who spend winters on their ponds. Lest one think their annual visits are without work, think again. Around 150 to 250 swans arrive at Thanksgiving and stay until Valentine’s Day, bringing a healthy appetite. Owens provides about 25–50 gallons of corn a day. That is roughly 10 tons per winter. The family welcomes visitors to come to see the swans.

By day, she teaches second grade in Heber Springs. As soon as she gets home, she is about farming. She does have some help from neighbors who assist in swan feeding. Mostly, the labor comes from her family, just as it did in generations past. Her husband, James, works by day as shop foreman for Superior Chevrolet in Conway. But evenings and weekends find him helping with farm chores. They have two sons, Peyton, a sophomore at the U of A, and Gauge, a junior at Heber Springs High.

Will their sons return to the family farm one day, continuing this rich tradition? “I hope so, but they get so much value from being raised on a farm,” said Owens. “They learn the pride of accomplishing a task and the value and characteristics of a good work ethic not taught in classrooms. Sure, there are job challenges on the farm. But our sons get to practice real-life problem solving and experience firsthand the cycle of life.”

Trumpeter swan photos by Linda Henderson

The 2024 Daffodil Daze Art Contest Awards Ceremony and Reception were held on April 16 to honor winners. Family members, friends and educators gathered for the ceremony, which was hosted at the Conway Regional Foundation offices, which are housed within the historic Frauenthal House. The Foundation’s Special Events Manager, Mary Lemings, prepared a lovely reception, and the Chief Development Officer, Maegan Dyson, spoke during the ceremony.

The Daffodil Daze committee and 501 LIFE Magazine partnered with Conway Regional Health System and First Security Bank to present the annual contest, which was open to all Faulkner County kindergarten through 12th grade students. Jeff Young, a professor of art education at the University of Central Arkansas, judged more than 350 contest entries with assistance from Sara Wojtarowicz, a UCA student pursuing a degree in Art Education.

Contest age divisions were elementary (kindergarten through fourth grade), middle school (fifth through eighth grade) and junior/high school (ninth through twelfth grade). Winners received First Security tote bags provided by Stefanie Vann Holt, AVP and marketing officer of the bank.

Donna Evans spoke on behalf of the Daffodil Daze Committee and its work beautifying Faulkner County parks and trails. She especially thanked the men of Renewal Ranch for helping transplant daffodil bulbs to popular sites in the county.

Paulette Higginbotham, advertising director with 501 LIFE Magazine, served as the art contest chairperson. The awards and honorable mentions were announced by Stefanie Brazile, editor.

The annual art competition will return next spring.

K-4th Grade Division

1st -

5-8th Grade Division

1st - Tran Nguyen from Carl Stuart Middle School; 2nd - Avery Richard from Ruth Doyle Middle School; 3rd - Destin Keylor, Homeschool student.

9-12th Grade Division

1st - Alexandra Lee from Conway Christian School; 2nd - Josie Keylor, Homeschool student

Honorable Mentions:

K-4th Grade Division

Kylie Bro from Eastside Elementary • Peyton Gibson from Eastside Elementary Adilyn Martin from Westside Elementary • Drew Blick from Wooster Elementary

5-8th Grade Division

Anderson Pacheco from Carl Stuart Middle School • Madden Keaton from Ruth Doyle Middle School Ava Bjornberg from Conway Christian School •Kindle Stires from Wooster Elementary

Madeleine Hancock from Eastside Elementary; 2nd - Gavin Hill from Springhill Elementary; 3rd - Ameilia Stoffle from St. Joseph School.

1. 1st place K-4th: Madeleine Hancock from Eastside Elementary, Greenbrier

2. 2nd place K-4th: Gavin Hill from Springhill Elementary, Greenbrier

3. 2nd place 9-12th: Josie Keylor, Home School student

4. 1st place 5-8th: Tran Nguyen from Carl Stuart Middle School , Conway

5. 1st place 9-12th : Alexandra Lee from Conway Christian School

6. 3rd place 5-8th: Destin Keylor, Home School student

7. 2nd place 5-8th: Avery Richard from Ruth Doyle Middle School, Conway

8. 3rd place K-4th: Amelia Stoffle from St. Joseph School, Conway

ARTIST OF THE MONTH EMILY RAILSBACK

By Donna Lampkin Stephens

As an undergraduate, Emily Railsback was interested in so many things that she had a hard time choosing a major. Little did she know, though, that her exploration was preparing her for a career as a filmmaker.

Railsback, assistant professor of film at the University of Central Arkansas, is the driving force behind Burnt Sugar Productions, which “creates rural women films that connect culture to place, highlight the environment, and employ primarily female crews in the midwest and south,” according to emilyrailsback.com.

Burnt Sugar’s latest project, “Roadtrip to the Totality Zone,” is an absurdist comedy, one scene of which was recently shot during Dog Barkanalia, UCA’s pet-friendly eclipse party.

Inspired by Dr. Gayle Seymour and UCA’s Barkanalia Committee, which had worked to plan the event since the fall of 2022, Railsback said the film would showcase Arkansas and how the eclipse would change Kitty, the main character, a retired actress who never made it big but found success performing at fancy dog parties. She believes she is destined to die during the eclipse, so she road trips through Arkansas to find her poodle a new owner and meets a burned-out documentarian who captures her journey with real Arkansans.

Railsback is writer, director and producer. Tara Sheffer, an award-winning filmmaker and native Arkansan, is the main producer. After the eight-day April shoot, Railsback will spend the next six months editing and then submitting the film to festivals in hopes of a 2025 distribution. She said the likely first market would be Cannes in May 2025 or the American film market in November 2025.

She couldn’t have known then that her wandering mind during

her two years at Whitworth University would lead her here. “I love learning, and I love finding new subjects,” Railsback said. “I want to do a lot of things. Everything I was studying makes up film — English, theater, cross-cultural studies. Add creative writing and a dance minor, and I ended up with graphic design and international studies with a minor in painting,” which she finished at Tabor College in Hillsboro, Kan.

Born in Los Angeles, Railsback grew up in Colorado and Kansas. After graduation, she taught yoga and then painting before settling in Chicago, where she earned an MFA in Screen Directing at Columbia College Chicago. She then taught as an adjunct and worked as an independent filmmaker for four years.

She started Burnt Sugar Productions in 2015.

“Right after grad school, I was very hungry to make a film,” she said. “I was sort of casually dating my husband (Jeremy Quinn) at the time. He was the wine director for a restaurant in Chicago and sick of the American wine scene. He wanted to go back to live in the Republic of Georgia, which has been making wine in clay pots for 8,000 years.”

She said 525 varieties of grapes originated there, many of which were ripped out during Soviet rule. “But they’re growing in people’s backyards. Jeremy wanted to walk on foot across the country and taste wine in different people’s gardens.”

She thought that idea would make a great film, so she quit her internship at a film company. But the president of the company owned a winery and wanted to talk to her about the project. He ended up paying for the film.

“Easiest funding ever,” she remembered, laughing. “I was 27.”

Continued on page 104

Photo by Mike Kemp

A portion of a movie was filmed on the University of Central Arkansas campus on April 8 during the total solar eclipse at the pet friendly Barkanalia event. The movie’s lead performed on stage, and it was filmed by the crew several times. UCA students and community members who attended the event participated as audience members.

She and Quinn moved to Tbilisi, resulting in their eventual marriage and the 2018 feature documentary “Our Blood is Wine,” which premiered at the Berlinale International Film Festival. Other Burnt Sugar films include “Fear Not” (2020), “American Parent” (2023) and “The Game Camera” (2024). Railsback has also directed more than 10 short films.

Her style blends narrative with cinema-vérité techniques. “That feels truthful,” she said. “I’ve done that on multiple projects. My first film with Jeremy was a documentary, but the next one was narrative. I think my heart is really blending the two.”

The COVID-19 lockdown marked a turning point for the Chicago couple when they had a daughter. “My husband was a sommelier, and restaurants were closing down; I was doing freelance work. So we had no health care (insurance) and we thought, ‘We need a real job,’” she recalled. “During that time is when I applied for teaching positions at different schools, and UCA was so perfect. I feel like the job posting was perfect for my skills.”

In 2017, she and Quinn attended the 2017 solar eclipse in Illinois, planting the seed for her latest film.

“Carbondale was at the center of everything, and it was nuts,” she remembered. “Chicago was out of eclipse glasses; you couldn’t buy them on Amazon. There was so much traffic, the five-hour trip to Carbondale took 11 or 12 hours. We ended up going to campgrounds, but there were no extra spots, and we had a tent, so we just set up our tent at one place 20 miles away from Carbondale.

“On the road trip there, tensions were high. Jeremy really didn’t want to go, and I really did want to go. There’s so much conflict that is ripe for this setting. But it was just a magical experience. Once we got there, there was a kid on a bicycle giving out glasses for free.

“When you experience a total eclipse with people, life doesn’t matter the way we thought it did.”

With Conway in the path of totality for 2024, the topic was perfect for her next film. “As an independent filmmaker, if you don’t have a lot of money, you have to figure out how to make a movie where you are,” she said.

So she did.

Growing together

Centennial Bank donates $150,000 to Conway Regional Health System.

C entennial Bank in Conway is happy to announce a $150,000 donation to Conway Regional Health System.

The donation is a pledge to the Growing Together Campaign, which is a $10 million campaign to expand the hospital’s facilities and services. The campaign fully funded the expansion of the clinical laboratory and the opening of a new behavioral health unit at Conway Regional Medical Center.

As a customer and communityfocused bank, Centennial Bank provides a broad range of commercial and retail banking and related financial services to businesses, investors, individuals and municipalities.

Those present at the check passing ceremony include Summer Hoggard (from left), Marla Hambuchen, Lauren Norris, Rebekah Fincher, Scott Schwartz, Greg Sanson, John Scherrey, Bill Pack, Bob Leffert and Maegan Dyson.

Lisa Barber left a legacy of kindness and footwear

Tammy Keith

Lisa Barber’s friends and family say there were two indisputable facts about her: She was kind-hearted to the core and loved a good pair of shoes.

Lisa died of a pulmonary embolism in February 2020 following a brief illness.

“Her main priorities were her faith, her family, and, really, it’s a cliche, but just to be kind,” Sean Barber of Saltillo said about his late wife. “Kindness to others was so important to her.” Lisa was a paraprofessional at Vilonia Elementary School. “She loved the kids; that was her main passion.” The couple have two children, Morgan Barber, 30, of Clearwater, Fla., and Braxton Barber, 26, of Conway.

Braxton said he wanted to do something to honor his mother’s memory, a woman he described as “someone who would rather have nothing so others could have something.”

Lisa’s Closet was created in 2021 after Braxton had a brainstorming meeting with a few of his mother’s close friends and co-workers; then he approached his dad with the idea. Her love of shoes was a family joke. “I called it an unhealthy obsession,” Sean said, laughing. “She had a closet full.”

The 501(C)3 nonprofit provides new shoes and socks and sometimes coats and belts to Vilonia students in grades K-12. Younger students each receive a book on kindness with a note in it telling about Lisa and the project. Lisa’s Closet started in the primary school and expanded into every building. To date, about 500 students have received shoes; some students are repeat recipients.

The charity originally contributed to Vilonia’s backpack program that sends food home with students on Fridays. Lisa had been involved with that project, but the churches are doing a good job filling that need, Sean said. Shoe recipients are students enrolled in the backpack program.

Sean, who is president of Lisa’s Closet’s 10-member board of directors, said Kim Reed, a reading interventionist at Vilonia Primary School and close friend of Lisa’s, suggested the books.

Reed said she wishes everyone could have known Lisa. “She loved with every piece of her being; you never saw her that she didn’t hug you, say that she loved you. She adored children, absolutely adored them. Lisa loved shoes; that was one of her little vices. We decided to do Lisa’s Closet and have shoes for the kids. She loved children, she loved shoes, so this would be a perfect combo,” she said.

Lisa Barber Be Kind Poker Classic that is held each June, and counselors purchase the shoes. The fourth annual event is June 22 at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Conway, and more information is available at the new website lisascloset.net.

Reed, who coordinates the program for the schools, said the counselors are “fabulous.” They organize the shoes by size and gender and store them at the schools. Shoes are given in the fall and right before the end of the school year, but also throughout the year when a need arises, Kim said. She said students have come to school with “duct tape holding their shoes together” or hand-medowns that don’t fit. Kim said the shoes are given out discreetly to older students to ensure they are not embarrassed.

Braxton said his mother had a heart for children in need. “It tore my mom apart to see kids as sweet as they can be showing up with clothes that were dirty and shoes you wouldn’t put on your kids if you didn’t have to,” he said.

Braxton’s wife, Mindy, is a third-grade teacher at Vilonia Primary School. She has seen firsthand the impact Lisa’s Closet has had on the children.

“I have multiple students in my personal class who’ll tell you their favorite days are when they get shoes,” Mindy said. “They [the counselors] buy the fun, light-up shoes. The students stomp around in the hallways; they just love it. They wear them every day.

“Every year it makes me emotional … their faces are so excited. Lisa would absolutely cherish this. She is just helping so many people, even though she’s not here anymore. Parents say this has been a burden lifted from their shoulders.”

Sean said the project has exceeded his expectations. “So many of these kids, honestly, have nothing, so we don’t think about how a simple pair of tennis shoes can change that kid’s outlook. Even if it’s for that day, they feel like everybody else. A small gesture like that can have a huge impact on their lives.” Sean said the longterm goal is to expand Lisa’s Closet into other school districts. It is seeking a grant, and he would love to partner with a shoe store or brand to provide shoes to children.

Braxton said he thinks his mother “would be overjoyed” at what the charity has accomplished. “I think every time a kid got a new pair of shoes she’d have a crying episode, she’d be so happy,” he said. “Having her name on something so impactful to so many kids would kind of blow her away. It is a blessing to remember her in that way. She’s finally able to do the things she always wanted to.”

Shoes wear out, but Lisa’s legacy of kindness is lasting.

Photos by Mike Kemp

Kim Reed (from left), reading interventionist at Vilonia Primary School, and counselor Cindy Fortson are integral in making sure children who need new shoes are served.

Sean Barber, his son, Braxton, daughter-in-law

Mindy Barber and grandson Reece show some of the new shoes from Lisa's Closet at Vilonia Primary School. The closet is dedicated in memory of Sean's late wife, Lisa, a paraprofessional at Vilonia Elementary School.

ENERGY SMART SUMMER

NOW’S THE TIME TO TUNE UP YOUR AIR CONDITIONER

By Beth Jimmerson

S ummer is almost here, which means temperatures are steadily rising. Sometimes it’s hard to balance comfort and cost, but staying relaxed and cool in your home on the hottest days of the year without worrying about energy bills going through the roof is possible.

One of the easiest things you can do to stay cool this summer is have a professional tune up your air conditioning unit. Over the course of 12 months, a home’s heating and cooling will easily run thousands of hours. Left unserviced, the average unit will lose five percent of its efficiency each year from dust and dirt accumulation as well as regular wear and tear.

Conway Corp recommends customers have a preventative maintenance tune-up on their central air conditioning unit every year to keep it working efficiently. Having your home’s cooling

system serviced is one of the best things you can do – both from a comfort perspective as well as a financial one. Plus, small problems can be detected long before they turn into big, expensive problems when temperatures are likely at their worst.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a checkup of your home’s HVAC system can extend its life by several years as well as save you up to 10 percent a month on energy bills. On average, a tune-up will cost $70 to $100, which easily pays for itself in monthly efficiency savings. Plus, a well-looked-after unit will last up to 15 years, compared to seven years for ones that are left ignored. Extending the life of your unit will save up to $5,000 in replacement costs.

Conway Corp Energy Smart professionals recommend scheduling a local, certified HVAC contractor to perform a system tune-up that includes four basic steps:

• Measure airflow of the system to test capacity and efficiency. Most air conditioners require 400 cubic feet per minute of air to operate to capacity.

• Clean the condenser. The outdoor unit should be sprayed with a heavy foaming cleanser that soaks for 10 to 15 minutes before rinsing.

• Measure indoor and outdoor conditions, including indoor wet bulb, indoor dry bulb and outdoor dry bulb. After all measurements are taken, they should be plotted on a sliding chart to determine super heat that will set the proper refrigerant charge.

• Adjust refrigerant charge. One of the most expensive repairs for units is a refrigerant leak.

Homeowners can also play their part in keeping the system in good working condition by changing the filters on their heating, ventilation and cooling system four times a year. This helps to keep the system running smoothly and improves the home’s airflow, providing better air quality and less temperature fluctuation. When you clean or replace the filter, you enhance your air conditioner’s efficiency by five to 15 percent.

If your air conditioning unit is more than 10 years old or frequently needs repairs, consider replacing it. New units with a high-efficiency rating of at least 13 are 25 percent more energy-efficient than their older counterparts and can save you up to 30 percent on your energy bill.

Conway Corp customers replacing their air conditioning units can apply for a zero percent interest loan. 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 available between $500 and $4,500 and are repayable over a 36-month period.

To learn more about the loan program or Conway Corp’s Energy Smart program, call 501.450.6000 or visit ConwayCorp.com/EnergySmart.

the

George W. Donaghey and wife, Louvenia Wallace

A post-Civil War family moves by wagon.

Sammie Little

Article from

September 2, 1899, Arkansas Democrat regarding John E. Little’s Lollie Plantation.

The home of J.E. Little

Then the LORD God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

Genesis 2:18

History's heroes

A look back at the forgotten women of the 501

By Vivian Lawson Hogue

I don’t know why, but nearly everything that functions as a mode of transportation, such as a boat, cruise ship, airplane, tank or beat-up pickup truck, is of the female gender. The same is true of old houses, vehicles, our country, guns and American flags, as in “long may she wave.” I thought it might be an unflattering reference to the age or personality of older women. Then, I realized that it was homage to something that is dependable, stalwart and something that makes someone content!

Let me explain this for you through Faulkner County history. The details of early women’s lives seemed hidden by the focus upon the stouthearted men who wanted to own and develop land. In the second rank were their children, often many per family, who were involuntary farm hands and household help. But the ones who helped things happen were frequently mentioned simply as “his wife.” Rarely are the women mentioned as necessary, and in some cases, the wives’ names were lost in time! Here are some stories that give them deserved credit.

Elijah Bivens arrived here from Tennessee. Family members remember his wife’s last name but not the first although she bore her husband 11 children. They all arrived here in a wagon train with other families, bringing their cattle with them so the children could have milk. Elijah settled his family near Vilonia and raised cotton, and we must assume his wife and children picked it. Shortly thereafter, Elijah’s wife died and he moved to the hills, married a second time and increased the number of his children to 20. That’s a lot of help.

William Samuel Cooper was born in Kentucky in 1832. When the Civil War began, William joined the Confederates, while his brother joined the Union forces. During his tour of duty, he met Martha Utley, a well-educated Tennessean, and they married in 1866. Due to post-war tensions, the Cooper family and four other families began a move to Oregon in oxen-drawn wagons, with Martha and daughter Molly taking turns riding a horse. In 1871, they reached Mill Creek near Greenbrier.

Children soon began dying of whooping cough, so the families decided to settle there. There was some belief then that there were certain people who could cure babies of childhood diseases, and it seems local residents felt that Martha was one of them. They said she could blow in their mouths and repeat certain words and the child would be cured. Martha

was also a help for many adults as well, as she had the knowledge of letter-writing and legal matters.

John Elisha Little arrived in Arkansas from Attala County, Miss., in 1885 and shortly thereafter married Lollie Trundle. He purchased land in Faulkner County, eventually establishing a plantation of 3,200 acres along the Arkansas River and west of Mayflower. A daughter was born in 1891; his wife died in 1892. The area around his plantation came to be named Lollie in recognition of his wife. Following Lollie’s death, Little married Sammie Glenn. Their impressive mansion at 427 Western Ave. was built after their first home burned. Little died in 1928.

George Washington Donaghey hailed from Louisiana. One would have to read the book “Carpenter from Conway” to know the complex talents and interests of this humble man. One of his best moments was a chance meeting with his future bride, Louvenia Wallace, at a local Christmas party. Following their marriage, Louvenia would later support him in his quest for the highest office in the state and join with him in donating $2,000,000 to what is now known as University of Arkansas Little Rock. After he became governor, he said, “There is just one reason I’m not going to enjoy being governor. I don’t want to leave our home in Conway. I love the tree-shaded streets and the magnificent oaks.” I know Louvenia was elated that he named a street for her! You probably pass it every day when you travel Donaghey Avenue.

These examples of what women before us could and did do are not recognized by recent generations. Most early Arkansas women did exhausting work, whether it was housework, farm work or having and raising children. Without the knowledge of bacteria, sanitation, or blood clots from remaining in bed too long post- childbirth, many women and babies died. In those instances, men had to find another wife quickly as they could not care for children and do farm work. Women did likewise in the event of their husbands’ deaths, as they had no way to purchase provisions.

There are a number of women today who work farms or businesses alongside family members to provide needs for living. Through past centuries and now, I think we could call them the Wonder Women of Proverbs 31:10-31!

PROUDLY PRESENTS

PERSON OF THE MONTH

PATTY POULTER

PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL ARKANSAS

CAREER: I am retiring in June after six years as provost and executive vice president at the University of Central Arkansas. I have worked in education for 42 years, 32 of which have been in higher education.

FAMILY: Two daughters, Corey and Annie. Corey is a licensed professional counselor in the Counseling Clinic at Eastern Illinois University, and Annie is a Lecturer of Art at Eastern Washington University. I also have three grandsons, Calvin, Simon and Holland.

EDUCATION: I hold an Ed.D. in Music from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign; an M.A. in Choral Conducting from Eastern Illinois University; and a B.M. in Music Education, also from Eastern Illinois University.

PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Recipient of the Ronnie Williams Distinguished Service Award. Named by Arkansas Money & Politics as one of the state’s “Power Women” in 2021. I served on the inaugural 10-member Education Technology, Services, and Research (EAB) Research Advisory Council, selected from leaders at over 1,500 institutions of higher education. I served as a member of the HERS (Higher Education Resource Services) outreach group, supporting women leaders in higher education. I also served on the Executive Board of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans, and was the Council’s representative to Americans for the Arts. In that capacity, I assisted in writing the official Call to Action position paper regarding funding for the National Endowment for the Arts and Artists to preserve citizen access to the cultural, educational and economic benefits of the arts and to advance creativity and innovation in communities across the United States. I have also served on several philanthropic or service boards in Illinois, Georgia and Arkansas.

YOU

ARE A BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR. HOW DID THAT EXPERIENCE IMPACT YOU:

I think – or I hope—that the entire experience has made me better at asking for and accepting the help of others.

AS YOU LOOK BACK ON YOUR WORK AS PROVOST AND EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, WHAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS STAND OUT TO YOU:

First, I would say that any accomplishments from a provost's perspective must be understood as involving many people. The provost can help set or refine a vision and provide financial, structural or strategic support for an initiative, but in the end all accomplishments are the result of teams of people working together to achieve the desired outcome. Some of the initiatives of which I am most proud include the establishment of the Center for Student Success and Veterans Resources, completion of the Integrated Health Sciences Building, the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts, and the Lewis Annex. Additionally, significant renovations to several buildings on campus will serve faculty, staff, and students for years to come.

UCA Commitment, helping UCA become part of the National Student Exchange program, expanding the Learning Communities model, and the establishment of embedded academic advisors by college are student success initiatives that I believe are making, and will continue to make, a positive difference for UCA. Creating a true Enrollment Services division, establishing the Center for Teaching Excellence and Academic Leadership, and improving support for Community Engaged and Service Learning and Global Engagement help UCA maintain a trajectory of continuous improvement.