September 2024

Good Work

If I climbed into the passenger seat of five cars and asked them to turn on some music, I would likely hear five different genres of music. But even though there are many styles, all of them have songs about working too hard. A few famous ones include The Beatles’ “A Hard Day’s Night,” Dolly Parton’s “9 to 5” and BachmanTurner Overdrive’s “Takin’ Care of Business.” Our interests may differ, but we all work in the 501.

This month, the 501 LIFE Team explores the topic “501 Works,” and we started our journey (and magazine cover) in the warehouse and manufacturing area of Conway at Douglas Companies. They supply products to more than 1,000 convenience stores. A family-owned and operated business, Douglas family members have successfully worked together for 51 years while providing stable jobs in the community.

We then turned our attention to two women who founded companies decades ago and are going strong and even expanding their footprints. Kerry McCoy of Little Rock founded Arkansas Flag and Banner in 1975, selling flags door-to-door. Today, she is a multi-million-dollar distributor, retailer and manufacturer. Cinda Montgomery founded Yours Truly, a clothing consignment store, 25 years ago. To celebrate the anniversary, she recently added 5,000 additional square feet for a home and holiday decor area. People from all over the state enjoy shopping at her store, which is focused on customer satisfaction.

Our Youth feature is about four Morrilton High School football players who operated a window-washing business this summer. Our Artist of the Month is a fashion photographer, and even our Pet of the Month helps coach women’s basketball at the University of Central Arkansas.

With everyone working “9 to 5” like Dolly, how can one find time to relax with a magazine? I encourage you to leave 501 LIFE in your vehicle, so you have easy access while waiting for your kids to finish a practice or when you are waiting at an appointment. You can always read our upbeat articles to relax during your lunch break, and we’re always available on your phone or computer at 501lifemag.com. It’s not “all takin’ and no givin’” with us!

When the Kiwanis Club of Conway hosted their Centennial Celebration on July 24, members of Conway High School’s Key Club attended the large event. Last year, the Key Club boasted 220 members and provided more than 2,500 hours of community service. Catalina McCarthy (from left), Nicole Reynolds, Editor Stefanie Brazile (also a member of Kiwanis), Club President Reese Taylor and Club Sponsor Heather Lancaster.

Susie Douglas Munson (from left), Taylor Douglas and Sarah Douglas Beach work for the family business, Douglas Companies. Located in Conway, the 51-year-old company supplies products to more than 1,000 convenience stores across the mid-South. Photo by Mike Kemp

Barksdale Federal Credit Union, 8

Bears Den, 33

Bledsoe Chiropractic, 13

Burris Heat & Air, 73

Conway Corp, 83

Conway Regional Health System, 91

Conway Regional Rehab, 75

Conway Symphony, 67

First Community Bank, 49, 90

First Security Bank, 92

Freyaldenhoven Heating & Cooling, 44

Garcia Wealth Management, 28 Girl Scouts, 37

Harps, 23

Harwood, Ott & Fisher, 77

Hartman Animal Hospital, 53

Heritage Living Center, 5

Hot Springs Arts & Crafts Fair, 25

Julie’s Sweet Shoppe, 37

Karen Ferguson Team, 16

Kilwins Little Rock, 25

Koontz Electric, 57

Legacy Fencing, 69

Max Event Venue, 63

Methodist Family Health, 71

MSC Eye Associates, 15

Olive Branch, 57

Ott Insurance, 79

PCSSD, 55

Ridgemere Conway, 83

Salem Place, 43

Shelter Insurance, 15

Sissy’s Log Cabin, 19

Superior Health & Rehab, 2

UACCM, 9

UCA, 85

UCA Public Appearances, 29

Unity Health, 3

Yours Truly Consignment, 34-35

SHREK THE MUSICAL

Sept. 9 • Conway

The tale of an unlikely hero ogre, a wisecracking donkey and a feisty princess performed live at Reynolds Performance Hall at UCA. The musical is based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks animated film.

MACARONS CULINARY CLASS

Sept. 19 • Little Rock

In a beginner class at Pulaski Tech, Chef Kelli Marks teaches the art of classic French macarons in the simplest terms. Participants will leave with recipes and the two dozen macarons they make.

CAROUSEL CENTENNIAL

Sept. 10 • Little Rock

Free, two-day festival in the 20-acre grass field adjacent to Saline County Fairgrounds features music by top Christian artists and worship leaders. Some of the artists include Skillet, Crowder and Jeremy Camp.

MUD RUN AND TUG OF WAR

Sept. 21 • Little Rock

Participants in this unique 5K can run, walk, skip or trot through the trails of War Memorial Park. The highlight is the trek through the famous mud pit. Teams of six will face off for tug-of-war in the mud pit.

SUNSHINE BOYS

Sept. 11-21 • North Little Rock

The Neil Simon comedy follows the attempt to bring a pair of vaudevillian actors back together. Don't miss their grudging reunion along with a flood of memories and laughs at the Argenta Contemporary Theatre.

BIG DAM BRIDGE 100

Sept. 28 • Little Rock

Annual cycling tour over the Arkansas River celebrates the longest bridge built for pedestrian and bicycle traffic in North America. The event offers tours ranging between 15 and 105 miles of well-marked courses.

HART WORKING PERFORMERS

Internationally acclaimed artists Chapel Hart bring world tour to Morrilton

The Rialto Community Arts Center in Morrilton (Conway County) will host dynamic female country music trio Chapel Hart at 7 p.m. on Sept. 21.

The day of the show is the actual birthday of Chapel Hart lead vocalist Danica, so a VIP Birthday Party is offered at 5 p.m. VIP ticket holders can hang out with the talented trio before the concert. Tickets are available on TicketLeap and range from $26 to $77.

Chapel Hart consists of sisters Danica and Devynn Hart, along with their cousin Trea Swindle. They are celebrated for their original Dolly Parton-inspired song “You Can Have Him, Jolene,” which they performed during their first appearance on “America's Got Talent” (AGT) in 2022. The group earned a Golden Buzzer (only the second group to receive this on AGT), which catapulted them to stardom. In quick succession, the Mississippi natives shot

to No. 1 on iTunes, heard from Parton via Twitter and received an invitation to make a Grand Ole Opry debut.

They have appeared on “Today,” “Tamron Hall” and AGT. Performances include the Grand Ole Opry, NASCAR Cup Series Quarter State 400 and a popular tour with 60 dates.

Since then, they’ve gone on a world tour and reached fans around the globe, earning them the title of International Group of the Year and an award for International Song of the Year in Scotland. They were also nominated in multiple categories by the British CMA’s, including Group of the Year and Album of the Year for their sophomore album release “The Girls Are Back In Town.”

Because the Sept. 21 concert is a birthday show, they chose the intimate atmosphere found at the historic Rialto, which is more than 100 years old. Visit Chapel Hart’s website and social media for more information and updates.

Trea Swindle (from left), Danica and Devynn Hart will perform in Morrilton on Sept. 21.

Photo by Alexis Carter Photography

Pete Tanguay of Conway was “Loving LIFE” in Paris when his family attended the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Independent Living Services’ consumers Terry (from left), Lum, Deanna and Gunner were “Loving LIFE” at Independent Living Services’ Day Program Profiles in Conway.

The actors who played as gamblers were “Loving LIFE” after their Aug. 17 performance of “Guys & Dolls” at Red Curtain Theatre in Conway.

Freiley, Kim Antoine and Pat Qualls were “Loving LIFE” at the Conway Symphony Orchestra’s annual season promotion event. The ladies are part of the CSO Guild, and Donahue is the president.

The Gold Club of First Security Bank in Saline County was “Loving LIFE” in August at Denali Park Depot in Alaska.

The Honorable Allen Dodson, Faulkner County judge, and the Honorable Jim Baker were “Loving LIFE” at the annual Independence Day celebration on June 29 in Wooster.

Gary and Marsha Wallace of Greenbrier and granddaughter Avery Boardman of Carrollton, Va., were "Loving LIFE" at the Isle of Wight County Museum, home of the world’s oldest ham, which is more than 100 years old.

Board and staff members of The Harbor Home were “Loving LIFE” July 22 at a groundbreaking ceremony for a new residential home in Vilonia for women who are recovering from addiction. Linda Weaver (from left), Pam Sims, Christan Dryer, Karen Ferguson, Dana Davin-Ward (Executive Director), Pastor Larry Ward (CEO), Dottie Mangrum, Lauralise Shaddock, Kenny Shaddock and Linda Dyer.

Gayle (from left) and Mike McCullars of Conway were "Loving LIFE" in Eastern Europe in June while on a Danube River cruise. Home host Lea Kovacalija served them lunch in Aljmas, Croatia.

The Stand in the Gap Youth Basketball Camp leaders and participants were “Loving LIFE” July 31 through Aug. 1 at Greater Pleasant Branch Baptist Church in Conway. Church members volunteered to coach the camp, which was free to the 25 young people who attended. The phrase “stand in the gap” is taken from Ezekiel 22:30.

Conway Cycling Project members were “Loving LIFE” at their grand opening on Aug. 21. They refurbish used bikes for the disadvantaged.

Tracy Luber (from left), Stetson, Charlotte Fox and Barbie of Flower Mound, TX were “Loving LIFE” at the Arkansas Kennel Club Dog Show.

The Conway Regional Rehabilitation Hospital team was "Loving LIFE" as they celebrated their 20th Anniversary on Aug. 9 with a carnival for staff and patients.

Greenbrier Events Director Shellie O’Quinn was “Loving LIFE” showcasing renderings of a pavilion to host outdoor concerts and events in Greenbrier. Fundraising is underway to support the project.

“I came to Bledsoe Chiropractic after a car accident where I was rear-ended. I liked that they had multiple modalities, like massage and a rehab team. Everyone, and I mean everyone, here is kind and genuine. My initial consultation was thorough; I felt heard and validated, and the treatment plan made sense.

I felt like I had an ally.

I decided to trust the process and committed time and energy outside appointments to icing, stretching and strengthening. And lo and behold, when Dr. Bledsoe said I’d be moving to less frequent maintenance treatments, I was feeling back to myself!

Not only that, but I actually have HOPE for some chronic issues I'd given up on as I continue with the magic combo of massage and adjustments.”

LOY-AL LEADERS

James and Laura Loy celebrate 15 years of inspiration at Renewal Ranch

Renewal Ranch honored James and Laura Loy for 15 years of leadership and service on Aug. 3, celebrating a milestone that reflects their profound impact on the organization and its community. Held at the Renewal Ranch campus, the event was attended by 300 guests, including friends, family, supporters, alumni and current residents.

The evening was a heartfelt tribute to the couple’s tireless dedication to Renewal Ranch, a Christ-based residential addiction recovery program located in Houston (Perry County). The celebration featured moving remarks from Pastors Neal Winstead and Steve Knight, who shared reflections on the Loy’s contributions and the significant growth of the program.

Musical performances by Ken Wadley, Susan Isom, The Dooley Family and Donna Gober added a special touch to the event, creating an atmosphere of joy and gratitude. The audience was deeply moved by several testimonies from individuals whose lives have been transformed through James and Laura’s leadership. These personal stories highlighted the influence the Loys have had on not only their own lives but also their families, illustrating the far-reaching effects of their commitment to the mission of Renewal Ranch.

In recognition of their extraordinary service, Renewal Ranch Board Chairman Bill Clements presented them with awards. “James and Laura’s unwavering dedication has been the cornerstone of Renewal Ranch’s success and growth,” he said. “Their commitment to guiding our residents toward a personal relationship with Jesus Christ has been transformative, providing freedom from addiction, forgiveness from past struggles and hope for the future.” For more information visit therenewalranch.org.

David Crow (from left), Laura Loy, James Loy and Janet Crow celebrated the Loy’s 15-year anniversary with Renewal Ranch.

Kyle Sharpe (from left), Renewal Ranch Board Chair Bill Clements and Mike McCarroll. Sharpe and McCarroll work with Phase 2 of the program, which helps prepare men to rejoin regular lives.

DEGREE OF SUCCESS

St. Joseph School Principal earns doctorate

Dr. Matthew Tucker earned his Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership with a Catholic Education Concentration from Saint Louis University in May.

Tucker first came to St. Joseph School in 2009 as the elementary principal. He later moved to the middle school principal position and, in 2021, accepted reassignment as high school principal, as well as the head principal of St. Joseph School, preschool through 12th grade. He has served St. Joseph School for 15 years.

His love of learning motivated Tucker to pursue a doctoral degree while leading St. Joseph School. Even after finishing the degree, he said there is still so much to learn and experience in the world of education.

Tucker’s dissertation was entitled “Analysis of National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools Operational Vitality Standard 10: A Mixed Methods Case Study.”

The Tucker family at Matthew’s graduation: Riley (from left), Alex, Matthew, Jennifer, Grace and Zach.

COUPLE OF THE MONTH

VALERIE AND BRAD ROGERS

CONWAY

Photo by Mike Kemp

HER STORY:

I’m the quintessential “introverted extrovert.” I am determined, hyperfocused and ambitious, often withdrawing to achieve my personal and professional goals. But put me in a social setting, and I transform! I have never met a stranger and can easily spend an hour chatting with someone in Kroger or Walmart. My empathy for people and animals runs deep, and I absolutely love a good belly laugh.

RESIDENT OF: Conway

CHILDREN: Together we have five children. Aidan Lambe (24), Amy Lambe (21), stepchildren Faith Rogers (21), Grace Rogers (17) and Andrew Rogers (13).

EDUCATION: I earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Arkansas Tech University. I am currently enrolled as a full-time student, working to obtain a Master of Science in Nursing as a family nurse practitioner and due to graduate in April 2025.

PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: I’ve been a registered nurse (RN) at Conway Regional Health System for 21 years, specializing in Labor and Delivery and the NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care). I’m fascinated by the deep, intuitive understanding; extensive knowledge; and mastery of skills required in women’s health, obstetrics and neonatal care. Witnessing the miracle of birth, comforting families through tragic losses and educating patients on caring for themselves and their new babies brings me immense joy and fulfillment.

AWARDS/HONORS: I’m honored to have been featured in Arkansas Money & Politics magazine as one of Conway Regional’s Champions of Health Care in both 2020 and 2022. In 2022, I was also recognized as one of the “Top 10 Leaders of the Year.” Additionally, I received the Employee of the Quarter Award for the third quarter of 2019 and was proud to be awarded the Exceptional Performer Award in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: In honor of my grandma, Ceceilia Norman, and my best friend, Mary Jo Alexander, both breast cancer survivors, I proudly served as a committee member for the first annual Tee Off for Tatas golf tournament at Conway Country Club in 2022. Collaborating with peers from Conway Regional Health Foundation and fellow board members from Conway Country Club, I helped direct the funds raised to Conway Regional’s Beautifully You Boutique, which supports local breast cancer patients. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, I was active in a local American Cancer Society chapter, raising awareness and funds for cancer research through events like the Lip Sync for Life battle campaigns in 2018 and 2019. Additionally, I am a dedicated member of Central Baptist Church and volunteer with youth group activities, including the Light the Night event during Halloween.

HOBBIES/SPECIAL INTERESTS: I love diving into home improvement and DIY projects, and there’s nothing better than getting my hands dirty in my backyard garden. Family time is a blast, whether we’re at the lake or beach or hitting the slopes for some snow skiing. Camping, hiking, traveling to new places and cheering on the Arkansas Razorbacks or UCA football teams are some of my favorite pastimes. I also enjoy watching most sports and spending time with my two adorable dogs, Lambchop and Gus.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT CENTRAL ARKANSAS? I love how Central Arkansas, especially Conway, is thriving with new local businesses and infrastructure growth. Despite this boom, it still holds onto that charming small-town vibe, where the sense of family and community is ever-present.

Continued on page 18

HIS STORY:

I’m full of energy, positivity, and resilience! I love running, hitting the gym and spending quality time with my family. My passions include DIY projects, reading, cooking, traveling, and anything outdoors.

RESIDENT OF: Conway

EDUCATION: I earned a Master of Science in Physical Therapy from the University of Central Arkansas.

PLACE OF EMPLOYMENT: Able Therapy at Conway Human Development Center (CHDC).

AWARDS/HONORS: I have a black belt in Taekwondo under Bob Blankenship.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: I’m an active member of Central Baptist Church in Conway, where I love volunteering with our youth group. One of my favorite events is Light the Night, but I also enjoy helping out with various activities and events at CHDC.

WHAT DO YOU LOVE MOST ABOUT CENTRAL ARKANSAS?

I love the slower pace of life in Central Arkansas, where easy access to outdoor activities and the charming rural feel make it a perfect place to call home.

After their wedding, they gathered with their children for a photo. Aidan Lambe (from left), Amy Lambe, Valerie Rogers, Brad Rogers, Andrew Rogers, Grace Rogers and Faith Rogers.

THEIR STORY:

Val and Brad, unknowingly Facebook friends through mutual connections, first interacted in 2019 when Val “liked” a funny post that Brad made about his kids. That summer, Val visited Central Baptist with a friend while searching for a new church. Brad recognized Val from her FB pictures and felt it was a God thing. After some research through mutual friends, they started communicating, leading to a casual double date where they discovered many shared interests.

After dating for two years, Brad took Val on a hiking trip to Pinnacle Mountain and surprised her with a romantic proposal; Val said YES!

Their wedding was an intimate brunch with family and friends at Hole in the Wall Café on January 8, 2022. Embracing a second chance at love brings challenges but also many rewards. Their shared love for God, each other, and family helps them navigate this journey. “Blended and Blessed” is their mantra!

fried piefection

and the ice cream dream

By Chef Don Bingham • Photos by Makenzie Evans

The smell of fall spices and aromas are beginning to make their appearance in our thinking and in our kitchens! I'm even noticing a revival in the historical delight of an old-fashioned delicacy, the fried pie, in food articles, food trucks, and traditional food memories. What a wonderful way to welcome fall!

In doing some research on the history of the fried pie, I discovered the origin in the U.S. goes back to the 1700s with the South's creation of "Crab Lanterns," a term that was used for crab apples which were cooked down with brown sugar and spices, then fried in a pastry until golden brown.

Fried pies come from a long tradition of female home cooks in rural Arkansas, who turned the dessert into a staple dish because of its convenience, affordability and ease. Unlike cakes, which could take all day to prepare and required expensive ingredients that might be hard to access, fried pies were a quick, affordable way to enjoy something sweet. Reconstituted dried fruit, especially apples and peaches, were most often used. Once canned biscuit dough was invented in the 1930s, cooks could even use biscuit dough as a shortcut for the crust. Today's fried pie flavors go beyond fruit and include chocolate, coconut, sweet potato, pecan and even cheesecake.

One of my favorite memories that locals in the 501-area code will recall is that of the "miniature fried pie" that the late Mabel

Sherrin would bake for any special occasion. The tablespoonsize fried pies would always make an appearance for the annual Orpheus Club Musicale fundraiser that the Ladies Musical Society would offer the community to raise funds to purchase instruments for the public school system in Conway. I was honored to have known Mabel Sherrin and have her recipe for these delicacies. The recipe is included with this article!

As my wife and I would attend cooking schools throughout the United States, we would often find fried pies offered in the cooking demonstrations! There are many varieties of crusts and fillings, with only a few mentioned in the recipes that accompany this article. For those of you who do not have time to produce your own home-cooked pies, there are many establishments in the 501 that offer them for purchase.

Two of our favorites are Burge's Hickory Smoked Turkeys and Hams in Little Rock off Cantrell Road in the Heights and Burgers, Pies & Fries on Harkrider Street in Conway. Fried pies may be baked instead of fried and sprinkled with a delicious glaze or even powdered sugar — chef's choice!

Pairing fried pies with homemade ice cream is a double treat! I'm headed to the kitchen now–it's time for a fried pie as a precursor to the coming cooler days of fall!

Don and Nancy Bingham enjoy a Fried Raisin Pie on their back patio during a pleasant evening.

Nathalie Dupree's FrieD pies

Nathalie is a friend who is an author, a chef for PBS TV and the founder of Rich’s Cooking School of Atlanta, Ga.

CRUST:

2 cups self-rising flour

1/4 cup shortening

3/4 cup milk

Place the flour in a small bowl. Cut in the shortening, using a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture is well combined. Stir in the milk to make a soft but not sticky dough that will roll out without sticking. Add more flour to the dough if necessary.

FILLING:

8 ounces dried apples or peaches

1/2 cup water

1/3 cup sugar

Place fruit and water in a heavy, medium-sized saucepan and let stand for 1 hour or overnight. Cook over low heat until thick enough to cling to the spoon, about 45 minutes. Stir in sugar.

Pinch off a piece of pastry the size of a small egg. Place it on a well-floured surface and roll it into a 5-inch circle. Place about 2 tablespoons of apple mixture on the bottom half the pastry round, leaving a half-inch edge uncovered. Fold top of pastry over apples, forming a half circle. Trim to within 1/4 inch of the filling. Press the edges together with the tines of a fork. Prick the top of the pastry with a fork in several places. Place in a heated skillet and fry on both sides until golden brown. Serve hot.

M abel sherriN's MiNiature FrieD pies

Mabel was a Conway resident who was an activist for history and music.

CRUST:

1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup shortening

3 Tbsp. ice-cold water

Mix flour and salt; cut in shortening; add water. Stir gently; roll and cut in small circles. Fill with filling, approximately one teaspoon. Fold into half-moon shapes, baste with melted butter, sprinkle lightly with sugar.

FILLING:

2 packages dried apricots

1 cup sugar

Cover dried apricots with water; boil until tender and most of the water is gone; add sugar and mash. Let the mixture cool before using it to fill the crust.

Place on cookie sheet and bake at 350 till golden.

a lice M ay JohNsoN's FrieD r aisiN pie

CRUST:

4 cups flour

1 cup shortening

1 cup buttermilk

1 tsp. salt

Cut shortening into a mixture of the flour and salt. Add buttermilk and stir to make dough. Shape and roll out into six-inch ovals or rounds. Place a heaping tablespoon of raisin mixture on each pastry, fold over and crimp the edges. Fry in oil over medium heat to golden brown.

FILLING:

1 cup raisins, packed

2 1/2 cups water

1 cup sugar

1/4 cup flour

2 Tbsp. butter

Bring raisins and 2 cups of water to a boil in a heavy saucepan. Simmer for 30 minutes. Add sugar and bring to a boil again. Mix 1/2 cup water with flour and stir into raisin mixture. Cook until mixture thickens. Add butter and let cool before making pies.

Fry in oil over medium heat to golden brown.

More recipes continued on page 24

ora Nge crush ice crea M

This recipe has been in our family for 50 years. We borrowed it from another wonderful cook.

2 liter bottle of Orange Crush soda

2 cans Eagle Brand sweetened condensed milk

1 can pineapple tidbits, crushed Juice of one lemon

Mix together, then pour mixture into an ice cream freezer container and freeze as directed per manufacturer's directions.

boNNie’s

Va

Nilla ice crea M

Bonnie was a sous chef/lunch lady for me at Little Rock’s First Baptist Church for many years. Her recipe is another favorite

4 eggs

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 cartons whipping cream (large)

1 can of Eagle Brand Milk

3/4 tsp. salt

3 1/4 tsp. vanilla

Beat eggs until fluffy; add sugar, beat until thick; add remaining ingredients; mix well; add dairy milk until 2/3 full Freeze in ice cream freezer per manufacturer's directions.

DoNNa Verser's

hoMeM a De ice crea M

Donna is a long-time friend of Nancy and mine’s, and our boys were best buds. She would make her famous ice cream for our sons, Joseph and Justin.

4 eggs, beaten

2 cups sugar

1 can Eagle Brand milk

1 large can evaporated milk

2 tsp. vanilla

1 quart whole milk

Mix Eagle Brand and evaporated milk. Stir in eggs, sugar and vanilla. Add a quart of milk and mix well. Pour the ingredients into an ice cream freezer, then use the remaining amount of additional milk to fill the freezer. Mix well. Put the paddle in the freezer. Freeze until ice cream forms.

music memories

Conway Symphony Orchestra celebrates four decades of concerts and 20 years with director.

By KD Reep • Photo Mike Kemp

The Conway Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is one of Central Arkansas’s hidden treasures. What began in 1984 as a joint venture between the music departments of the University of Central Arkansas and Hendrix College is now an orchestra comprised of professional musicians hailing from throughout the globe as well as pre-professional music scholarship students.

“It wasn't called the Conway Symphony Orchestra when I arrived here,” said Israel “Izzy” Getzov, conductor and music director of CSO and a faculty member at UCA. “It was called the civic orchestra, and what they were trying to do was bring a classical music experience to college students. Before I arrived, I think the primary drivers of the orchestra were the musicians, both faculty and student, wanting to get together and play music and share it. When I came in, I developed a strategy to broaden our audience because Central Arkansas was growing so much. It was just starting to really take off, and there were a lot more resources in the community than there were in the mid-80s.”

Getzov will celebrate 20 years with the orchestra this season, as CSO commemorates 40 years of elevating the arts in the 501. When Getzov arrived, he realized there were talented professional musicians in the area, but they were not all playing with CSO. Today, these professional musicians are compensated for their time and talent.

“We are able to recruit more and better music students, not just from Arkansas but from around the world,” he explained. “We have musicians from many different countries. The community supporting CSO now does so because they want to connect with music. We explain why we perform what we do and why those pieces are valuable to the audience, and make sure to connect with the audience so they feel a real part of the concerts.”

Judy Harkrider, chair of the CSO board, agrees. “CSO is woven into the fabric of Central Arkansas,” she said. “It’s now the premier performing arts organization in the city of Conway, and our board is a major reason. We were looking for a way to diversify the board members to represent all aspects of Central Arkansas to find the resources and commitment from the community to make CSO the best it can be, and our board said yes to this vision and ran with it. They’ve built CSO to what it is today.”

The mission of the orchestra, however, remains the same: provide inspired classical music experiences. The group’s primary purpose is to provide high-quality, professional musical performances and educational programs through the support of corporate and individual donors and fundraising events. This keeps tickets affordable and makes the enjoyment of classical and popular music available to a wide range of patrons.

Carolyn Brown playing with CSO in 2008.

Joe Alessi was a guest soloist with CSO in the 2000's. He was with the New York Philharmonic.

“Within the past eight years, we’ve added a full concert without raising ticket prices, created a season ticket option for faculty/ staff, and expanded our discounted child/student price to all youth and college students, broadening our availability to a whole new generation,” said Suzanne Loerch, general manager of CSO. “Izzy prides himself on making the music accessible and enjoyable, providing commentary interspersed with his musical selections at every performance.”

Loerch’s goal is expanding CSO’s educational outreach programs, and the breadth of offerings already available is impressive. In addition to bringing music into elementary and intermediate school classrooms, CSO added a children’s program and concert at the Faulkner County Library last year, and it regularly invites the clients of Independent Living Services to be guests at concert performances. They also provide concert vouchers to

families involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Haven House, and at schools across Conway. It also supports community fundraisers through the donation of hundreds of tickets to local health care facilities, schools, civic groups, children’s programs, the Humane Society and other arts organizations. All of this is provided for free.

“In nine years, we’ve reached more than 20,000 students through close to 400 visits to public, private and parochial schools, home school groups, a center for adults with disabilities, preschool programs and Boys & Girls Clubs,” Loerch said. “We have an international exchange relationship with conservatories and orchestras in China that grows every year, and we present an annual outdoor concert that is completely free to the public. We also collaborate with other arts organizations in the area to strengthen regional arts programs.”

Suzanne Loerch (from left), Judy Harkrider and Israel “Izzy” Getzov stand above the stage at the Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts Concert Hall, where most of the Conway Symphony Orchestra’s (CSO) season will be performed. Loerch is the general manager of CSO, Harkrider is the chair of the board and Getzov is the conductor and music director.

“There's something unique about Conway and the energy and the people who want to share in engaging and entertaining experiences,” Harkrider said. “I feel like we've crafted our organization around the idea to make it unique. The symphony becomes part of the audience’s lives, and they connect in a way that is just as unique–the people on stage are your neighbors and students and friends, and that's rare in any symphony.”

The upcoming season will no doubt prove to be just as exceptional as the orchestra performing it. While most performances will be held at Windgate Center for Fine and Performing Arts on the UCA campus, the six-concert series includes a free concert in Laurel Park on Sept. 20, which will feature everything from Tchaikovsky to the music from the Muppets.

On Oct. 27, CSO is bringing in a young, national-level cello soloist, John-Henry Crawford. “He is amazing! He studied on the East Coast, lives in New York, and has family in Arkansas,” Getzov said. “In addition, we’ve asked UCA’s own Paul Dickinson, composer and professor of music, to write an original piece based on Conway’s roundabouts. In December, we're bringing in the UCA chorus as well as Prof. Joanne Arushi to sing solo, which will be a Christmas show like we haven't seen. It will include music from Handel's Messiah, John Williams, “Home Alone,” traditional Christmas favorites, all sorts of things. Santa will also be attending, and there will be a special, unnamed, surprise guest conductor for that concert.

Rounding out the season in 2025 is a partnership with UCA to perform a film score from “Ghostbusters,” and the final performance will feature a chamber orchestra repertoire featuring an oboe soloist from Bolivia.

The full orchestra performed circa 2001-02 in the Conway High School auditorium.

Conductor John Roscigno at the 2002 “Lights over the Lake” concert at Beaverfork Park Lake.

douglas delivers

501 distributor keeps thousands of convenience stores stocked to serve you

By Donna Lampkin Stephens • Photo Mike Kemp

Bob Douglas founded his wholesale tobacco and candy business in Texarkana in 1973, and 51 years later, the next two generations of his family have helped grow Douglas Companies into one of the leading convenience products distributors in the mid-South region.

The company, which supplies everything but alcohol to more than 1,000 convenience stores, has had a presence in Conway since 1978, when it bought a second distribution center. Jonesboro marked the third in 1989. According to douglascompanies.com, a 2005 expansion of the facility in Conway’s Industrial Park enabled it to consolidate all of its distribution operation in the 501. In 2017, the final of four expansions of the Conway location put the facility at 120,000 square feet.

“My father died in 2003, and my brother and I made the decision to stay in the business and keep going forward,” said Susie Douglas Munson, executive vice president. Steve Douglas, her brother, is president. “This is the only place we’ve ever worked. The business and family are just kind of one. It was all hands on deck.”

Their mother, Mary Glynn, now 88, was involved from the beginning and still expects reports from her children.

“But we wanted one centralized distribution center,” Munson said. “The way the industry is now, and to have all the automation, which is costly, we didn’t need three places. And to be able to purchase in bracket pricing, we needed to be here. It’s centrally located, and Conway is such a great town for our business.”

Bob Douglas served in the state legislature from 1963-78. He had worked for his father-in-law in the meat-packing business in

Texarkana and called on Piggly Wiggly in Shreveport, where he found that the grocery was looking for someone to stamp cigarettes for excise taxes.

“He thought that would be a little something extra to do, and then he got interested in tobacco and candy, which had historically sold together,” Munson said. “There was a little local place in Texarkana called Williams Tobacco and Candy that was going to sell. He decided he wanted his own business, so he bought that, and that’s when convenience stores were coming into being and the industry was going away from mom-and-pop stores.”

The timing was spot-on, coinciding with the growth of the convenience-store industry.

“My father embraced technology and automation when nobody was doing that in this industry in this area,” Munson said. “He wasn’t married to the idea that there’s only one way to do things. He went from salespeople going around on trucks to pre-sells where our customers do their own ordering. We could sell so many more things that way. I credit him for being so open to doing that.”

Taylor Douglas, Steve’s son, who came on board in 2017, said the company carries 9,000-9,500 separate items, and customers can order any of those at any time.

Sarah Douglas Beach, Steve’s daughter who joined the company in 2014 as director of vendor and trade programs, explained the niche.

“A convenience store can’t order a truckload of candy from Hershey’s Chocolate, so somebody like us is buying a truckload, and then they can buy a box from us,” she said.

Continued on page 32

Susie Douglas Munson (from left) serves on the Conway Area Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee. Taylor Douglas completed the Conway Area Leadership Institute in 2018. He joined the company in 2017. Sarah Douglas Beach joined the company in 2014 as director of vendor and trade programs.

Taylor Douglas said the company buys all kinds of convenience store products from manufacturers and sells 250,000-275,000 pieces per week—cartons of cigarettes, boxes of Snickers, cases of bottled water, Styrofoam cups, ice cream, etc. Douglas Companies services more than 1,000 convenience stores per week all across Arkansas and portions of surrounding states.

The business has 150 employees, including 100 in operations (warehouse and distribution/delivery) and 50 in the front office, sales and customer service.

The four family members are University of Arkansas graduates. Steve Douglas’ degree is in marketing, Munson’s in secondary education, Beach’s in human environmental sciences and Taylor Douglas’ in finance and accounting. While Steve and Susie “graduated on Saturday and went to work on Monday,” the third generation earned graduate degrees and worked for a time outside the family business.

“New family rule,” Beach said. “We both got experience working for other people.” She is a registered dietitian; her brother is a CPA.

Munson said, “We wanted our kids to go out and have other experiences before coming back. We thought that was important. We all work together, and we go on vacation and enjoy each other

outside of here,” Munson said. “The key is we all really have respect for our accountability to each other. We all have to be accountable to each other and trust each other. And I think that’s why it’s always worked.”

Her nephew added, “We wake up talking about it, work all day together and then talk about it at night,” Taylor Douglas said. “We’re fortunate that our company is large enough that we can have our own roles so we’re not stepping on each other’s toes.”

As COO, Munson sees the big picture and appreciates each person on the Douglas team, primarily comprised of non-family members. “Our Executive Team Members who are not members of our family are very important to the success of our business and a big part of our decision-making,” Munson said. “We are not able to operate at the level we do without the contributions of our other team members. Our Executive Team Members and Management Team Members work in the trenches with us every day to help guide and manage the company, and we value their input very much.”

The 51-year-old, family-owned business strives to remain on the course that founder Bob Douglas charted. By embracing technology and automation and staying open to new ways of growing the business, the Douglas workforce is achieving success.

PHOTO 1: Bob Douglas (far right), along with six of his original team members in Texarkana, Ark. PHOTO 2: Douglas distributes to a seven-state area.

PHOTO 3: A current focus is growing food service in convenience stores, and sales staff are trained on how to promote the service to store operators.

PHOTO 4: Technology in the warehouse improves accuracy and efficiency as staff members fulfill orders.

PHOTO 5: The company celebrated their 50th year in business in 2023. PHOTO 6: A staff member makes a delivery to a convenience store.

BRIER’S BIG BACK TO SCHOOL BREAKFAST

The Greenbrier Arkansas Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Back to School Teacher Breakfast Expo on Aug. 13. Numerous booths offered freebies, as well as products that educators could purchase. The annual event is one that Greenbrier School staff look forward to before a new school year begins.

Becca, Heather and LaDona of Bleacher Bling were “Loving LIFE” while hosting their booth at the event.

Mallory Davis-Reed (left) and Mirinda Davis from Kindred Mercantile were traveling in style aboard the 501 LIFE Back To School Bus.

Members of First Service Bank were proud to be part of the Panther community event, and wished the teachers a great school year ahead!

Jeslyn Wallace was “Loving LIFE” when she accepted the 501 LIFE Magazine giveaway basket on behalf of her mother, Dulane Willis, from Greenbrier's Westside Elementary.

Springhill Elementary's Morgan Williams (from left) and Vickie Clements posed in the 501 Bus. Y ou can find Clements on school days behind the wheel of a real Greenbrier bus.

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

Arkansas PBS nominated for eight national awards

Arkansas PBS, headquarted in Conway, has been recognized for exemplary educational content and community engagement by being named a finalist for eight Public Media Awards from the National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA). Nominated projects may be viewed at myarpbs.org/awardnominated.

“At Arkansas PBS, our commitment to sharing the distinctive stories of our extraordinary state and to fostering deep and lasting community connections drives all we do every single day," Executive Director and CEO Courtney Pledger said. "Receiving multiple nominations, including in the Overall Excellence categories, underscores our team's dedication to education, creativity and the powerful ties that bind us to Arkansas."

For the fourth consecutive year, Arkansas PBS is a finalist for three Public Media Awards for Overall Excellence: Education, Community Engagement and Content.

The Arkansas PBS original series “Mystery League” is a finalist in four categories, including Educational Resources for the Classroom, Educational Resources for the Community, Community Engagement–Kids & Family, and Content–Education. This live-action series, filmed entirely in Arkansas, is designed for kindergarten through second-grade students and is aligned with Arkansas academic standards in areas including civic engagement, economics, community involvement and leadership. Featuring three fifth-grade detectives–Millie, Mike and Marta–as they solve the never-ending mysteries of the fictional small Arkansas town of Mulberry Springs, each episode centers on relevant storylines that encourage Arkansas kids to problem solve and build relationships.

Additionally, “TOTALITY: The Great Arkansas Eclipse” is a finalist for Content–Topical Feature. This documentary provides a front-row seat for the complete solar eclipse arc across Arkansas from the vantage point of four strategic Arkansas locations: De Queen, Petit Jean Mountain, Russellville and Jonesboro. Esteemed guests included national and local physics and astronomy experts.

The Public Media Awards honor NETA members’ finest work in content, community engagement, marketing/communications and education. With the exception of the overall excellence categories, stations compete within their divisions based on their station size. Awards are judged by a group of expert panelists from within the public media system, as well as industry professionals working outside of public media.

The 56th PMA winners will be announced Sunday, Sept. 15, at the 2024 NETA Conference and CPB Public Media Thought Leader Forum.

The National Educational Telecommunications Association (NETA) is a professional association representing 303 member stations in 49 states, the Virgin Islands and the District of Columbia. Arkansas PBS, Arkansas’s only statewide public media network, empowers learners of all ages by educating, informing, entertaining and inspiring communities. Arkansas PBS serves as a daily and essential resource for Arkansans.

PLANTING HER FLAG IN THE 501

FlagandBanner.com's Kerry McCoy is a forward-focused patriot with a commitment to Central Arkansas.

By KD Reep • Photo Makenzie Evans

Among the many things Kerry McCoy is and has accomplished, “patriot” is one of the most significant. As the founder and leader of an enterprise that includes FlagandBanner.com (the brick-andmortar store of which is Arkansas Flag and Banner), a podcast, a digital magazine, a radio program, a blog and an historic ballroom, this vibrant lady now ponders a future filled with hope … and a rambunctious Yorkipoo, Coco.

Sitting in her sumptuous office on a recent hot summer morning, McCoy pondered on some good news just received that day–President Biden signed into law the All-American Flag Act, which was sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio. This act requires all state and federal government agencies to purchase flags, which are completely manufactured in the U.S.

“I like the way Google cleverly titled their article, ‘American flags must now be born in the USA,’” she laughs. “It shows how using your voice can make change, whether that’s in your community, city, county, state or country.”

McCoy and other members of the National Independent Flag Dealers Association (NIFDA) recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to raise awareness of counterfeit imported flags. She said that, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Census Data, the value of American flags imported into the country was $4.4 million in 2015, with $4 million of that amount coming from China. In 2017, we imported 10 million American flags, again with about 90 percent coming from China.

“More and more flags from China are having ‘Made in America’ labels sewn in them,” she explained. “So, our American flag is really made in China but being sold as made right here. NIFDA's [goal is for] Americans to know that, if they purchase an American flag that states it’s made in America, it actually is.”

‘All it takes to live the life you want is the determination to see it through. I started Flag and Banner with a business permit, business cards and order forms. You can do that, too.’

— Kerry McCoy

The American flag is how McCoy got her start as an entrepreneur. Working in sales for Betsy Ross Flag Girl in Dallas, Texas, McCoy decided she could do the exact same thing in her hometown. She returned to Little Rock and established Arkansas Flag and Banner with $400, her grit and determination.

“That was 1975, I was homesick, and that $400 was my life’s savings at the time,” she said. “I’d gone to Vo-Tech. I wanted to be a clothing buyer, but I was not meant for college. I thought I was going to be a secretary because at that time, women could be a teacher, nurse or secretary. This was a shot at something bigger, something I believed in.”

She used the sales skills she learned in Dallas to go door-todoor, selling flags and banners of all types. While she jokingly says she became an entrepreneur through a run of bad luck, her business as well as her faith–she is a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Little Rock–sustained her through marriage, four children and, today, a cancer diagnosis.

“It’s fine,” she said. “The medicine is worse than the diagnosis itself, but it will be fine.”

McCoy says she is at a stage in her life and career where she is more focused on what she can give back.

“A few years ago, I went to a small shop here in downtown Little Rock after church because I wanted to pick up a few cards,” she said. “The owner was there, and she asked me who I was. She said she’d listened to me on KABF and thanked me for some advice I’d given there. It really brought home to me that people who want to change their lives will, and they may just need a little clarity. If I can help them do that, I will.”

To this end, one of her focuses is improving the city of Little Rock. She says the city has dropped out of the top 100 places to live in the U.S., and she has ideas on how to make it one of the coolest places to call home.

“I want us to focus on our quality of life,” McCoy said. “Tourists are great, and we have a ton of things to attract them, but what are we doing to attract and keep citizens? What makes a town a place people want to stay? I think there are things we can do as a city that would help make it a beautiful, thriving community.”

One of these things is preserving the city’s history, which McCoy has done with Taborian Hall, which is the building that headquarters FlagandBanner.com and is home to Dreamland Ballroom. According to the Encyclopedia of Arkansas:

Taborian Hall was built between 1916 and 1918 by local African-American contractor Simeon Johnson and is the last remaining original building on the Ninth Street “Line,” which was once the center for black businesses and culture in Little Rock.

Originally known as Taborian Temple, the Classical structure was built for the Knights and Daughters of the Tabor, a black fraternal insurance organization. McCoy says the building chose her, and it has been her joy to restore it.

“I bought it in 1991 and had no idea about its history,” she said. “When I learned it housed a club where B.B. King and Ray Charles entertained, I was blown away. I didn’t know the first thing about restoration or preservation, but I knew this building had to be saved.”

Today, Dreamland Ballroom celebrates the community of historic West Ninth Street in Little Rock, shares its legacy and preserves the original intent of Taborian Hall.

While she muses on transitioning her leadership skills as an entrepreneur into other areas of endeavor, McCoy still concentrates her energy on helping others who share her kind of drive and ambition.

“You know, even a blind squirrel gets a nut every now and then,” she said. “All it takes to live the life you want is the determination to see it through. I started Flag and Banner with a business permit, business cards and order forms. You can do that, too.”

The Dreamland Ballroom, located on the third floor of Taborian Hall, played a key part in the history and development of the African American community in Little Rock, hosting legendary musicians such as Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Etta James, BB King, Cab Calloway, Louis Jordan, Redd Fox and many more.

This multimedia empire began with $400 and a young woman brave enough to knock on doors. Orchestrating web, retail, non-profit, written and radio forums, Kerry McCoy Enterprises now encompasses FlagandBanner.com, Dreamland Ballroom, Brave Magazine and Up in Your Business radio talk show.

Kerry McCoy started Arkansas Flag and Banner in 1975. The headquarters, Taborian Hall, has been on the Historic National Register since 1991.

WAY T GO!

United Way of Central Arkansas honored outstanding nonprofit organizations and businesses on July 23 at its annual Community Awards Luncheon which was held in the McCastlain Ballroom at the University of Central Arkansas.

“Our community is stronger because of these incredible organizations and individuals,” said Jessica Clawson, executive director. “We are honored to celebrate their contributions.”

More than 115 people attended, including local business leaders, nonprofit executives, community volunteers and government officials. UCA President Houston Davis was the keynote speaker, inspiring the audience with insights on community development and the importance of collaborative efforts in driving positive change. Clawson said the event underscored the vital role that nonprofits and businesses play in fostering a vibrant and resilient community.

-Leather Brothers received the Excellence in Giving, Small Business Category Award, and Conway Corp received the Excellence in Giving, Large Business Category Award.

Conway Corp Telecommunication Systems Manager Tommy Nolen called the award an honor.

“It has been an honor to serve as the Conway Corp campaign coordinator for the past 12 years,” Nolen said. “The United Way

has such a positive impact in our community, I couldn’t imagine what our community would look like without their presence.”

Conway Corp employees donated approximately $30,000 last year and corporate donations have contributed more than $738,000 in total to United Way since the program began.

Impact Giving recipients honored at the luncheon include Bethlehem House, Boys & Girls Club of Faulkner County, Children’s Advocacy Alliance, CAPCA, Community Connections, Community Service Inc., Conway Cradle Care, Conway Ministry Center, Smile Savers-Conway Public Schools and Conway Regional Foundation, Deliver Hope, Faulkner County Council on Aging, Milestones, Morrilton Human Relations Council, Rise House and Van Buren County Aging Program.

United Way of Central Arkansas serves Faulkner, Conway, Perry and Van Buren countries. Its mission is “to impact our community members by fostering a greater quality of life through initiatives focused on education, health and financial stability.” For more information, visit uwcark.org.

Conway Corp’s Tommy Nolen, and Natalie Arnold received the Excellence in Giving, Large Business Category Award from Jessica Clawson, executive director of the United Way of Central Arkansas.

After a quarter of a century in business, Cinda Montgomery and her team at Yours Truly in Conway have built a phenomenal consignment store with a legacy of love and empowerment that you can feel each time you step inside.

By Colleen Holt • Photo Mike Kemp

In anticipation of the anniversary, the store recently expanded into an adjoining space that became available next to the business. In conjunction with a complete remodel, Yours Truly opened 2,000 square feet for a children’s department and added 5,000 square feet for a new section—a home and holiday decor area.

The remodel included new paint and shelving, shopping areas that are connected for easy access, and a connected sales and intake system across the different specialty areas. The home and holiday decor area is dedicated to Montgomery’s mother, Judy, who taught her “that it's okay to piddle around as a way to relax and energize.”

“It's been a lot of work to do all of it by our 25-year anniversary on Oct. 1, but we made it happen. It was a huge team effort,” the founder said. “S. Truett Cathy [founder of Chick-fil-A] said, ‘If we get better,

our customers will demand that we get bigger.’ I love this quote.”

This sentiment explains what has happened over 25 years at Yours Truly. “When we decided to improve everything, we did and gave it our all, the customers started asking for us to expand and get bigger. We’ve done that with our storewide remodel and expansion into more shopping space.”

The store is totally consignment, with new and gently used brand-name clothing for men, women and children. The home section includes small, decorative items that are in perfect condition and fit with the current decor trends. The store also features some boutique overstock items that are favorites among shoppers. Through their system of pricing and markdowns for items that do not sell, the store turns over items quickly.

Continued on page 48

‘Without our customers and the consignors, there is no business. So it is truly “our” store.’

— Cinda Montgomery

Local members of the 501 community are not only customers of Yours Truly but are also proud partners who model in advertising for the company.

SPENCER HAWKS

By Susan L. Peterson • Photos by Mike Kemp

Did you ever try to “hold it together?” Or maybe you got “bent out of shape?” Well, consider the paper clip. Spencer Hawks did.

Hawks, who grew up in Conway and is a Greenbrier High School graduate, has worn many hats in his lifetime. He’s been a teacher, educational administrator, real estate broker and politician. Now he can add another title to this list— children’s book author.

When Hawks was teaching about 20 years ago, the concept for “I’m a Paperclip” came to him. He was looking for ways to encourage students to help each other and accept their connection.

"‘I'm A Paperclip’ is about embracing our differences while encouraging us to help our peers with their struggles as we realize the connectivity that we all have both within our small communities and the wider world,” Hawks said.

He found Lindsey Bass Berger, a conceptual artist, who did the illustrations. It was important for him to approve each image throughout the process. Laughing, Hawks said the one

thing he insisted on was keeping yellow frames on his glasses, which he wore when he taught because the kids liked them so much.

Last year, the timing was finally right for him to turn his idea into reality. He met the right people who helped steer him in the publication process, which can be quite daunting.

One of the book illustrations demonstrates that, just like people, paper clips come in many sizes and shapes. An object lesson is also included in the book, which makes it great for educators to use.

A release party was held on May 30, and Hawks has had several speaking engagements at local libraries since then. The book is now available in paperback, hardcover and Kindle editions on Amazon and other online sellers. It is also available at local bookstores and other venues in town.

Hawks lives in Conway with his wife, Xochilt; their three children, Samantha, Selena and Sebastian; and a labradoodle appropriately named Smokey. He is available for book talks and visits. Contact him at hawksfamilyteam@gmail.com.

PET OF THE MONTH MIA

CONWAY

By Mark Oliver • Photo by Mike Kemp

Meet Mia. She’s a 4-month-old Moyen poodle with unrivaled energy, a love for attention and an insatiable appetite for anything she can get her teeth on. This fall, she’s also the newest member of University of Central Arkansas women’s basketball. The pup of Sugar Bears Head Coach Tony Kemper, Mia has already made a great first impression within the Farris Center and the UCA community.

“Everyone smiles when they see a puppy, and Mia has been a huge hit with the team so far,” Kemper said. “When the team comes to our office during the day, they’ll scratch her head and her belly, play with toys or even take her on a walk. She has been a great addition to our program so far.”

Just like dad, Mia goes to work at the office each day, although her idea of work differs somewhat.

“Mia’s office is a little dog crate that sits behind my desk,” Kemper said. “She honestly doesn’t spend a lot of time in it because she’s too busy running around and greeting guests, but she does occasionally nap in there while I’m working. At practice, Mia’s favorite pastimes are chasing things she is not supposed to and chewing on things that are not hers. Socks and sports cones are some of her favorites. She has a lot of energy, is very social and loves running with the team.”

Balancing academics and athletics can be stressful for college student-athletes, especially when they’re apart from their own families and pets. While this is his first time employing a therapy dog with one of his teams, Kemper hopes that having Mia around

will help the Sugar Bears unwind from the grind and believes that the concept will continue to grow at other schools.

“You’re starting to see emotional support animals being more utilized in sports worldwide,” he said. “At the 2024 Paris Olympics, the U.S. women’s gymnastics team also had a team dog with them. I thought it would be beneficial to have Mia around the team to provide some relief from the stress of the daily routine, and I am really pleased with the results so far.”

Sugar Bears fans hoping for an “Air Bud” reenactment may be left waiting, however.

“She probably won’t be at games, unfortunately,” Kemper said. “For now, the plan is for her to spend the day around the team behind the scenes on campus, in practices and in our team gatherings outside of games.”

After a hard day’s work beside Coach Kemper, Mia returns home to play with her other favorite humans: mom Sandra and kids Brayden (14), Landry (11) and Jolie (9).

“My kids have always wanted a dog,” Kemper said. “I didn’t. My kids were persistent, however, and I relented in the end. They agreed to give up social media until they were older in order to get one, so I feel like I got something out of the deal. I’ve enjoyed having Mia more than I thought I would, and now we spend all day together. Isn’t that how it always works?”

STEM-POWERED Success

By Jessica Duff

The Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) boasts many dedicated educators and administrators from 25 schools across Central Arkansas. As the 2024-2025 school year begins, Dr. Justin Luttrell, Director of STEM and Blended Learning, is looking forward to another STEM-powered year of learning for every student.

STEM exposure starts with PCSSD’s youngest learners, and this year, educators will continue taking a creative approach in their elementary classrooms. “Outside of our core curriculum programs, the elementary schools will experience our fourth consecutive STEM is LIT! Initiative,” Luttrell said. This program combines a piece of children’s literature with a challenge in science, technology, engineering or mathematics. “This year, we will explore scientific processes and mathematical dialogue,” Luttrell said.

As students progress to secondary schools, their STEM options grow with them. PCSSD middle school students have the opportunity to accelerate their learning and gain credits for Algebra I, Algebra II, and Physical Science before entering high school. In high school, students will have a chance for real-world application with the district’s Career and Technical Education and Academy programs. “Students can experience STEM through these industry-driven contexts,” Luttrell said. STEM pathways available to students include computer science programming, biomedical sciences and aerospace and civil architecture pre-engineering.

PCSSD will also continue to expand extracurricular opportunities like competitive robotics, EAST (Education Accelerated by Service and Technology) programs and STEMfocused events, like the April 2024 interdistrict Totality STEM event. This event brought students across the four districts serving Pulaski County together for a day dedicated to STEM. In another memorable moment, students from the Sylvan Hills feeder collaborated to achieve a STEM-related Guinness World Record by creating the Longest Human electric circuit.

The benefits of STEM go beyond science, technology, engineering, art and math. STEM programs also provide students with opportunities and experiences that increase innovation, encourage curiosity, inspire creativity, build confidence and perseverance, and foster community and collaboration. PCSSD is seeing success related to STEM with the implementation of these programs.

“The University of Arkansas Office for Education Policy just published a report indicating PCSSD outperformed other districts in the metro area in elementary, middle and high school,” said Luttrell. “Additionally, the same published report indicates that PCSSD outperformed the state average.”

Going forward, the district’s goal is simple. “We hope to continue our upward trajectory and mitigate areas of concerns as we strive to give our students the best educational experiences possible,” said Luttrell. “Our district and department focus for the ‘24-’25 school year will be instructional fundamentals throughout STEM.” PCSSD educators will focus on building a solid foundation for their students. “With the implementation of new state standards, state assessments, and school and district success criteria, we want to ensure we are focusing on foundational mathematics instruction that is best-practiced for all students,” said Luttrell.

When asked what sets PCSSD’s approach to STEM apart, Luttrell continued to emphasize district educators’ dedication to individualized instruction. “At PCSSD, we strive to serve ALL of our students in order to meet the needs of EACH of our students. This is no small task, but our highly trained group of professionals are poised to offer your student an experience like no other. We want our parents and community to expect transparency, open communication, numerous opportunities to explore STEM fields, and a caring and professional staff of educators.”

About PCSSD

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

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

FAMOUS FARMING FAMILIES OF THE

Two Central Arkansas families nominated for Arkansas Farm Family of the Year

By Judy Riley

Hard work and determination are simple words that contain a wealth of meaning.

Both concepts are played out by two families every day in every way. The Joshua and Dana Stewart family of Steprock (White County) and the Strap and Leigh Ann Brents family of Jerusalem (Conway County) are two of eight finalists vying for the 2024 Arkansas Farm Family of the Year. And their farms are in the 501.

The Stewarts took a long and winding road to get back to the farm. Dana is the actual farmer fulfilling her lifelong desire to run a farm, but it took a while. They married young, while Dana was in college and Joshua was deployed in Operation Iraqi Freedom. She finished college, then worked professionally while he finished architecture school. Seven years later, back to the farm they went. “Farming is in my DNA,” Dana said.

“From the time I could walk, I’ve spent every day I could on our family’s farm. There was never any question that I wanted farming to be a part of my legacy.” She is a sixth-generation farmer, producing livestock (cattle and goats) for Martin Cattle Co., a partnership with her parents and sisters. They care for 200 cows and 70 goats on 270 acres.

For Strap and Leigh Ann Brents, the story is similar. Strap is a fourth-generation farmer on his mother’s side and a fifth-generation farmer on his father’s side, raising cattle and chickens. But their road home was not without sacrifice. He worked as a professional welder, an electrician and a construction supervisor in the oil and gas industry, all with the goal of one day farming on his own. He and Leigh Ann bought their first 40-acre farm in 2017. It came with three chicken houses, and they soon added two more called “mega” houses.

On any given day, they house 190,000 chickens. Their original herd of five momma cows has grown to 120, and they now farm more than 700 acres, including what they own and rent. Two hundred of those acres are hay meadows. The skills that the couple learned in previous occupations enabled Strap to do his own welding, electrical troubleshooting and to manage a multifaceted farm effectively. He also works as a Tyson field representative, helping other growers.

For both families, a strong work ethic prevails. Neither Dana nor Strap married a fellow farmer, but that does not diminish their mate’s support. Joshua Stewart works by day as an architect, and Leigh Ann Brents as a kindergarten teacher. They

can be found on tractors, feeding livestock and helping work cattle. They all tackle farming chores as a family.

The Stewarts and their family partners hire no outside help. Their children Jewel, 14, and Henry, 11, actively participate with cattle and goats. Jewell even helps artificially inseminate female goats. The same situation prevails for the Brents. Their 11-year-old son, Kolton, has learned to use equipment to move hay, carry supplies to the field and help work cows in general. He and his 8-year-old sister, Audie, are learning to care for animals of their own, as well as those in the herd. According to both families, that is how they want to raise children, with respect for the land and the animals that depend on it. “We want our children to learn responsibility, know where their food comes from, and learn to solve problems,” Strap said. “There is no better learning lab than right here on the farm, working with us.”

Both families embrace the latest technology in their operations. The Stewarts sell seed stock (bulls for breeding purposes) as well as pregnant heifers. They work continually to improve the genetics of their herd, resulting in stronger animals with increased muscle mass and fewer birthing problems. They continue working on pasture management, planting seasonal grasses to replenish the soil nutrients and make grass available year-round. The Brentses utilize chicken litter from their broiler houses to fertilize pastures, adding much-needed soil nutrients back to the land. Both families want to pay it forward, leaving the land better than they found it.

Farming in and of itself is risky. “Agriculture’s business partner is Mother Nature. Sometimes she is a good partner, and sometimes she is a cruel partner,” Dana said. Droughts, floods and storms are dealt with by both farmers. Sometimes, it takes years to recover from any natural disaster. But one thing is constant with farmers—the faith that there will be better days.

Each family looks to the future. In fact, each will clearly say the reason they do what they do is for the future of their family and their farm. The common thread is their love of the land, the farm way of life they want for their children, and their sheer determination to make it happen. Congratulations to these two young farm families who are perpetuating the life most only read about. To meet these two families is to be in awe of what they do, not just for the children they are raising but for the food they are putting on our tables. Color us grateful to these and other Arkansas farm families.

Joshua and Dana Stewart family of White County

White County’s Dana Stewart is a sixth-generation farmer. She produces livestock (cattle and goats) for Martin Cattle Company, a partnership with her parents and sisters. Currently, they care for 200 cows and 70 goats on 270 acres.

Photos by Lydia Brumfield

Strap and Leigh Ann Brents family of Conway County

Conway County’s Strap Brents is carrying on a family tradition of farming with his wife, Leigh Ann, in Jerusalem (Conway County). Their children Kolton, 11, and Audie, 8, help with chores. On any given day, they house 190,000 chickens and 120 cows, and they farm more than 700 acres. Photos by RKBarger Photography

ARTIST OF THE MONTH

SAGE

SIZER

FASHION PHOTOGRAPHER

By Donna Lampkin Stephens

Photos by Makenzie Evans

Sage Sizer has had a camera in her hand for as long as she can remember, but her creative soul isn’t satisfied with just one outlet.

Little Rock’s Sizer, 47, is a fashion photographer for Dillard’s, but in her spare time, she also travels and does street photography, as well as graphic design. She and her husband, Morgan, have an online business, sizerskate.com, that sells skateboards and T-shirts featuring her designs.

“I think I need all of them,” she said. “It seems that when I have a photography job, I do more graphic design on the side. When I had a graphic design job, I tended to actually get out and take more pictures on the side.”

Sizer grew up in Texarkana, where she remembers walking around her neighborhood, camera in hand, photographing flowers and spending her allowance on film. Tagging along with her older sister to her high school darkroom, she found her niche, and her dad bought her a nice camera as she headed to

Texas High School, where she eventually became photo editor of the newspaper and yearbook.

She went to Henderson State before transferring to University of Arkansas-Little Rock, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts with emphasis in photography and a minor in art history in 2000.

“I wanted to push myself in a different direction to learn a different style of photography, but I thought I’d end up back in photojournalism,” she said.

After graduation, she moved to Austin, Texas, where she worked as a school photographer, shooting senior pictures and state championship games in a variety of sports. She got a shot of WNBA player Brittney Griner dunking during her senior year.

LEFT: Sage Sizer shot this photo to market Sizer Skateboards in the pocket park in downtown Little Rock. The model is Paten Denton Galyean. Sizer and her husband founded and operate the company.

CENTER: A sample of landscape photography at Horseshoe Bend in Page, Ariz.

RIGHT: Sizer shot this Grammy-nominated Austin, Texas, band “The Black Pumas” at Longhorn City Limits, which is a free concert performed after at-home University of Texas games.

A divorce left her a single mother with a toddler and infant, so she returned to Texarkana for a couple of years before taking a job as an imager—basically a graphic designer—at Dillard’s, where “we did everything from making clothes fit better to taking wrinkles out of the clothes, cleaning up stuff,” she said. She moved to product photography before landing as a fashion photographer about six years ago.

Fashion shoots might feature a model and a rack of clothes for internet sales or a shoot on location or in the Dillard’s studio.

“It could be anything—we might have a contemporary shoot for advertising and three or four different looks, then have time to schedule a kid shoot since you’re already on location,” said Sizer, who said she was the only female among the company’s three fashion photographers.

Her travel photography began when she was a single mom when her kids went to their father’s home for the summer. Nathan is now 16 and Judah is 13.

“Rather than being depressed, I started traveling and decided to make something of that time,” she said, remembering her first adventure to Colorado, where she camped and hiked.

“The second day I was there, a bear destroyed my campsite, and I had to put my big girl pants on and decide if I was courageous enough to stick it.”

She was.

She spent subsequent summers in various places in Europe. This year she and her husband, Morgan, whom she married in 2020, went to Arizona and Utah.

Her approach to street photography is simple.

“I just make a playlist, put my headphones in, walk the city and take pictures of what I see all day long,” she said.

During the pandemic, she and her husband, who is from South Africa, started Sizer Skate, where she creates deck designs for skateboards.

“Morgan skated when he was a teenager,” Sizer said. “I still can’t even stand on one, but Judah turned 9 that year and wanted a skateboard for his birthday. That’s when we started talking about it and getting it together. It was the first time skateboarding was in the Olympics, and people were getting out and being more active, so Morgan, knowing that I always need a side project to keep me busy, suggested we do that.”

She also designs T-shirts that are sold on the website.

Sizer is also pursuing a continuing education certificate in graphic design from the Art Institute of Chicago.

“Graphic design is constant learning just because all the programs are changing as quickly as they do,” she said. “Everything I’ve learned graphic design-wise has been selftaught or through YouTube videos. Photoshop was just coming out when I was at UALR, and I’d never used Illustrator.”

She’s taken three of the six required courses for the certificate. Somehow, it’s not surprising to hear that she will likely go on beyond the requirements.

“I really enjoy doing all of this, and I need to stay busy,” she said. “My husband and I are planning a trip to the East Coast. We’ll see what comes of that one.”

Sage Sizer was in her element as a fashion photographer as she photographed model Siyona Karkera with clothes provided by B. Barnett, a clothing store in Little Rock. Styling was by Alexa Hart.

Kiwanis Club of Conway celebrates century of service

By David Grimes • Photos by Mike Kemp

The annual Toad Suck 10k/5k run is a major fundraiser for the club and proceeds are donated to area nonprofits that help children. At the celebration event, checks totaling $44,000 were given to representatives from those charities.

A hundred years of history was shared on July 24 as the Kiwanis Club of Conway marked its centennial anniversary. Doors opened at 11 a.m. as current and former members gathered at Central Baptist College (CBC) along with a host of visitors and guests to celebrate a century of service to the community.

The Conway club was officially chartered on July 23, 1924, with 36 members. The local group was the second Kiwanis club established in Arkansas, having been sponsored by the Little Rock club. Members of the Downtown Little Rock Kiwanis Club attended the celebration, as well as Kiwanians from Batesville, Harrison and Morrilton. Conway co-sponsored the Morrilton club in 1925, and the two have shared a strong bond since.

The Kiwanis Club of Conway is part of the Mo-Ark District. Mo-Ark Governor-Elect Jim Fritz from St. Louis congratulated the club on the milestone achievement. Conway Kiwanian Ron Hill is slated to take over the role of governor-elect when Fritz becomes governor in October.

Club President David DeRosa served as master of ceremonies and guided the group through a packed agenda. “A club with a 100-year legacy is truly amazing!” DeRosa said. “While reflecting on a century of supporting children in Central Arkansas, I am inspired by the impact we’ve made and the lives we’ve touched. The vision that moved the founding members continues to drive us forward.”

CBC President Terry Kimbrow welcomed the event to campus and opened the meeting with a blessing. A proclamation from the city of Conway was read, honoring the club.

From there, a host of club members participated in the program, with Amanda Horton leading the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Reviving a tradition, longtime member Terry Fiddler led the club in song, as they belted out an old club favorite, “Keep It Booming.”

Cliff Henry gave a brief history of the Toad Suck 10K/5K run, which the club sponsors each year. The race dates back to 1982 and is a major fundraiser for the club. The race proceeds are awarded to local nonprofits, and more than $44,000 in checks were given to representatives who attended the meeting.

Other club activities include the annual pancake breakfast and pictures with Santa, food boxes at Christmas, the Bookcase Project and funding several college scholarships for local students each year. Scholarship recipient Kallie Hudnall from Mayflower High School was on hand to speak about how the award will help continue her studies at the University of Central Arkansas this fall.

The club’s original charter from 1924 was on display, as well as a plaque featuring the names of all 100 of the club’s presidents. There are 41 presidents still living, and PresidentElect Cole Shanandore recognized the 24 who were able to attend. Shanandore will take over as club president in October.

The club’s current roster is 96 strong. Gene Bartley asked members to stand to be recognized by the decade they joined. Former members in attendance were also recognized as a group. The club boasts two men who joined in the 1960s. Bill Johnson was unable to attend but is the club’s longest tenured member at 63 years, having joined in 1961. Don Bradley III joined Kiwanis in 1968 and spoke briefly about some of his memories from his 56 years as a member.

Kiwanis International was a male-only organization until 1987, and Ramona Sitz became Conway’s first female member in 1994. Women now comprise more than one-quarter of the roster.

Crystal Kemp also joined in 1994 and was the first female elected president of the Conway Kiwanis, serving in 2000-2001. She spoke about her experiences breaking down barriers and helping lead the club into a new era. Now, five of the previous 13 club presidents have been women, with Lindsey French slated to take over after Shanandore.

David Grimes closed the meeting by reading an article about another Kiwanis Club that had disbanded due to declining membership and challenged those in attendance to not let that happen to the Conway club.

Since 1924, the Kiwanis Club of Conway has met on Wednesdays at noon. It currently meets at CBC and guests are always welcome.

BOOK SMART

Kiwanis Club donates 50 bookcases to preschoolers annually

The Kiwanis Club of Conway took on the Conway Bookcase Project as a service activity in January 2020. It has been a perfect fit for Kiwanis, whose mission is to improve the world “one child and one community at a time.”

The goal of the Bookcase Project is to promote literacy at an early age. It does this by awarding personalized wooden bookcases and starter sets of books to 50 Head Start preschoolers annually. Each child’s name is engraved on a brass plate and affixed to the front of their bookcase. Since Jim Davidson of Conway founded the project in 2005, 1,000 children have received bookcases.

Richard Plotkin chairs the Conway Kiwanis Bookcase Project, which is supported by corporate partners Nabholz Construction, Centennial Bank, Conway Corp and Virco. Volunteers from the Kiwanis Club and other service organizations contribute countless hours to the project.

Additional funds are raised from sponsors and ticket sales to an annual banquet. The next banquet is planned for Nov. 12. Tickets cost $25 and include a barbeque supper catered by Corky’s. The Fat Soul Band will perform, and the keynote speaker is Kathy French, who is the executive director of AR Kids Read. Tickets can be purchased from a Kiwanis Club member.

“I am passionate about the Bookcase Project because the need is empirically demonstrated, and it must be met,” Plotkin said. “Educators, parents and the community must work together to ensure our children can read proficiently. Literacy is a cornerstone of their future.”

The primary source of books for the Bookcase Project is the Faulkner County Library, which fills the bookshelves with books received through community donations. This source is supplemented by donations from numerous supporters, including the Life 10 Sunday school class at Conway’s First Baptist Church, which buys a children’s Bible and a book of bedtime Bible stories for each recipient.

The Bookcase Project is one of numerous public- and private-sector initiatives launched to reverse a decline in reading performance in elementary students. The 2022-2023 assessment for Arkansas’s public school students in grades 3 through 10 was the ACT Aspire test. The results showed that only one of every three third graders met a readiness benchmark in reading.

It is difficult for students with lower-than-average reading achievement scores in third grade to close the gap as they progress through school, according to a special report published in 2010 by the Annie E. Casey Foundation titled "EARLY WARNING! Why Reading by the End of Third Grade Matters."

The benefits of literacy are transformative, said Arnold Holtberg, a former educator and current consultant who lives in Hot Springs Village (Garland County). “At its core, reading involves decoding, analyzing and problem-solving,” Holtberg wrote as a guest columnist in the Sept. 3, 2023, edition of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. “These skills are required for every imaginable occupation, from store clerk to carpenter to plumber to lawyer to professor and more.”

AN INSPIRED EVENING

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas Inspiration Gala Set for Oct. 10

Children’s Advocacy Centers of Arkansas’s (CACar) 2024 Inspiration Gala, once known as the Woman of Inspiration event, will take place Oct. 10 at the Statehouse Convention Center in Little Rock.

CACar is a nonprofit organization that is a chapter of the National Children’s Alliance operating in Arkansas for the purpose of promoting, assisting and supporting the development, growth and continuation of child advocacy centers. Almost 10,000 child victims and their nonoffending family members are served annually by 28 child advocacy centers throughout Arkansas.

The Inspiration Gala honors those who have invested significant time to improving the lives of children. It also serves as CACar’s most prominent annual fundraising event.

“For many years, we have specifically honored women who have been involved in bringing awareness to the child abuse problem that is unfortunately prevalent in our society,” said Elizabeth Pulley, executive director of CACar. “But we know that there are many Arkansans who advocate on behalf of child victims of abuse, and we want to recognize the powerful network of advocates we have across our state.”

The 2024 Inspiration Gala honorees are Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and his wife, Elizabeth Griffin. As a federal prosecutor, member of Congress and now as Arkansas Attorney General, he has aggressively prosecuted those who have abused or threatened the wellbeing of children and has passed laws to strengthen legal protections for children.

Elizabeth Griffin has served on the Arkansas board of The Call, a nonprofit organization that mobilizes local churches to provide foster care services for children.

“Not all heroes wear capes,” Pulley said. “Some wear suits and work on behalf of children at the highest levels of law and politics. “Such is the case with the Griffin family, and we look forward to honoring them for their efforts and hope to encourage others to get involved.”

The Inspiration Gala’s 2024 Blue Ribbon Award recipient will be Jennifer Long, who is executive director of the Children’s Protection Center in Little Rock. This award honors those who have been impacted by abuse and are now advocates for child abuse prevention. For more information and sponsorship opportunities or tickets, visit inspirationgala.com.

Attorney General Tim Griffin and Elizabeth Griffin are the 2024 Inspiration Gala honorees.

The Inspiration Gala’s 2024 Blue Ribbon Award recipient is Jennifer Long, executive director of the Children’s Protection Center in Little Rock.

Landon Boyer (from left), Tripp Eggart. Haedyn Johnson and Dominick McCoy

YOUTH OF THE MONTH

LANDON BOYER, TRIPP EGGART, HAEDYN JOHNSON AND DOMINICK MCCOY

MORRILTON

By Mary Eggart • Photo by Mike Kemp

During the summer, students are given a much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of school life. This often comes with sleeping in, fun at the pool and summer vacations. But for four Morrilton High School football players, Tripp Eggart, Dominick McCoy, Haedyn Johnson and Landon Boyer, this past summer presented itself with a business opportunity, and EMJB Window and Power Washing was born. EMJB represents the first letters in the boys’ last names, and after a little bit of planning and the establishment of a Facebook page, the jobs started rolling in.

Johnson and McCoy are credited for the initial idea, and, of course, social media served as the inspiration. Johnson had seen a TikTok video of another teen who had started a window-washing business. The two boys began contacting people they knew, and soon they had more houses than they could handle. They needed help, so they reached out to friends and fellow football players Tripp Eggart and Landon Boyer.

The boys soon established a daily routine. Every morning during the summer, the foursome had football practice. Some mornings they may have

been there from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. After football, they would grab a bite to eat and then hit the pavement. The boys soon got accustomed to knocking on doors and giving estimates for their services. “Tripp became our salesman,” Johnson said. “He came up with a sales pitch, and we would go door to door through neighborhoods in Morrilton.” Not all responses were a “yes,” but the boys soon learned that this was a service many people appreciated, as it was something that, for many, had never been done to their homes and also a job most people didn’t want to do. Eventually, the word spread throughout Morrilton, and soon business was booming.

The boys value hard work and what results from persistence and dedication. All four are 4.0 juniors who are involved in multiple sports and activities at school. Three of the four have other part-time jobs in addition to the window washing business. When asked about his players and their new business, Morrilton High School Football Coach Cody McNabb said their ambition did not surprise him. “All four of them have a good work ethic. I knew they’d be successful in business—I just didn’t know it would be this soon.”

‘All four of them have a good work ethic. I knew they’d be successful in business— I just didn’t know it would be this soon.’

From the front yard to the football field, always a team.

— Morrilton High School Football Coach Cody McNabb

The boys agree that football, and sports in general, has taught them valuable life lessons that they plan to build on into adulthood. “Sports has taught me the importance and value of teamwork and what it means to be a good teammate,” Eggart said.

“Football has taught me a lot about sticking together and pushing through the hard times,” Johnson said. McCoy added, “And that nothing comes easy.”

The teens admire Coach McNabb. “Coach Mac treats everyone the same, and he doesn’t baby anyone,” Boyer said. “He holds everyone accountable.” The four boys are excited about the upcoming football season and plan to keep the business going during the school year.

Eggart is the son of Bill and Mary Eggart. In addition to football, he also is on the golf team and baseball team at MHS. Other than the window washing business, he has worked at Morrilton Family Dental throughout the summer. In his free time, Eggart enjoys hunting, fishing and playing golf. He plans on attending the University of Arkansas to obtain a business degree in finance and marketing.

McCoy is the son of Thomas and Brandi McCoy. He has been on the MHS football team since his freshman year and is also on the baseball team. Additionally, he works part-time for GC’s BBQ and Catering in Morrilton. He also enjoys playing pickleball and fishing. McCoy has aspirations of becoming an oral surgeon.

Johnson is the son of Jamie Johnson and Amanda Johnson. He has also been on the MHS football team since his freshman year. When he is not working with EMJB, he has a business that does landscaping work. Johnson enjoys hunting and fishing and is interested in becoming an engineer or doing something in the medical field.

Boyer is the son of Matt and Amanda Boyer. He has been on the MHS football team and golf team since his freshman year. Boyer enjoys playing golf, fishing and hunting in his free time. He plans on attending Arkansas Tech University to obtain a business degree in finance and analytics.

When asked what they were going to do with the money they have made this summer, all four boys agreed that there were basic necessities that needed funding, namely gas and food. But other than that, they hoped to be able to set some money back for the future as well, a future that, for all four boys, is sure to be very bright.

TOP: EMJB Window and Power Washing owners were hard on the job this summer.

CENTER LEFT: Dominick McCoy

CENTER RIGHT: Haedyn Johnson (from left) and Tripp Eggart.

BOTTOM: Landon Boyer (from left) and Tripp Eggart

Plantation Agriculture Museum State Park to host antique tractor and engine show

The Plantation Agriculture Museum State Park is hosting the 32nd Annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 7, in Scott, which a community located on the line between Lonoke and Pulaski counties. Admission is free.

During the event, owners and operators of antique tractors and small engines will be on site to share the story of these machines and their role in Arkansas’s rich agricultural history. The event will also feature a kids’ pedal tractor pull, lawn games, historic demonstrations, food trucks and other family-friendly activities. Visitors can view the park’s collection of antique tractors, a 1919 Munger cotton gin and press, a restored seed warehouse listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and artifacts related to the history of agriculture in Arkansas.

“This is our trademark event.” said Emilee Baker, Park Interpreter. “For over three decades, visitors have been coming out to the museum to view these historic machines. We’re excited to add new features to the tractor show, like food trucks and games, and hope that this will encourage even more families to come out and enjoy the festivities.”

Additionally, this will be the opening of the museum’s fall exhibit, A Field of Plenty: Celebrating Arkansas Rice. Through stories and artifacts, this exhibit will allow visitors to explore the history of rice farming in Arkansas from its humble beginnings to global prominence. Visitors to the museum will be able to view A Field of Plenty from September 7 until January 26, 2025.

The Plantation Agriculture Museum State Park preserves Arkansas’s farming history. Exhibits and programs interpret the period from Arkansas’s statehood in 1836 through World War II, when agricultural practices became mechanized.

“In 2023, the Antique Tractor and Engine Show featured more than a dozen tractor and small engine exhibitors and welcomed around 300 visitors,” Baker said. “Hopefully, both of those numbers continue to grow. We encourage everyone, whether you know anything about tractors or not, to come visit. Our goal is to create an event where, though the machines are the stars, there’s something for everybody.”

During these events, the Plantation Agriculture Museum will also be collecting glass recycling at the museum as part of the Great Arkansas Cleanup. Glass bottles, jars, and containers are welcome. Information on how to recycle glass in central Arkansas throughout the year will also be available. Light bulbs, plate glass, and glass containers with lids that cannot be removed cannot be accepted at this event.

Arkansas State Parks is a division of the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism. Arkansas state parks and museums cover 55,006 acres of forest, wetlands, fish and wildlife habitat, outdoor recreation facilities, and unique historic and cultural resources. Established in 1923, Arkansas State Parks preserve special places for future generations, provide quality recreation and education opportunities, enhance the state’s economy through tourism and provide leadership in resource conservation.

The Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism protects and promotes our state’s natural, cultural and historic assets, contributing to a thriving economy and high quality of life. It is made up of three divisions: Arkansas State Parks, Arkansas Heritage and Arkansas Tourism.

The 32nd Annual Antique Tractor and Engine Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 7 in Scott. Visitors will enjoy exhibits inside and outside the Plantation Agriculture Museum State Park. Photos by Curtis Smith, Museum Curator

ON STANDS NOW!

Summer break has passed, and gridiron fans are excited to see their favorite teams in action! 501 LIFE is proud to present our 14th annual 501 Football Team that is featured in our 2024 publication titled 501 FOOTBALL.

The young men were selected because of their on- and offthe-field efforts. This elite team of athletes works hard in the classroom, volunteers in their communities and hustles on the field.

The 501 LIFE Team wants to thank the parents, coaches, school administrators and fans for making Friday nights exciting. Congratulations to our 2024 Football Team - we wish you a safe and winning season!

Aaron Holland – Magnet Cove • Ace Sowell – Vilonia

Axley Davis – Heber Springs • Benjamin Keithley – Bismarck

Bricn Smith – Fountain Lake • Caleb Rouse – Lake Hamilton

Coleton Loper – Conway Christian • Connor Frith – Perryville

Cooper Bahnks – Central Arkansas Christian

Cooper Wilson – Guy-Perkins • Eric Huett – Greenbrier

Ethan Russell – Morrilton • Garland Davis – Little Rock Christian

Jackson Edwards – Beebe • Jackson England – Catholic High

Jacobe Noble – Harmony Grove • Jacoby Wade – Conway

Johnny Bell – Searcy • Jonathan Pacheco – Riverview

Joshua Brock – South Side Bee Branch • Kayden Allen – Hot Springs

Keegan Vest – Cabot • Konner Forte – Maumelle

Liam Hudson – Clinton • Marquez Jackson Jr. – Lonoke

Martell Macon – Bigelow • Owen Miller – Harding Academy

Peyton Mills – Cutter Morning Star • Quinton Cooper – Malvern

Robert Cockerhamm III – Mayflower

Ryan Ballard – Lakeside • Tripp Tapley – Quitman

Turner Harbour – Episcopal Collegiate; Vestin Boyce – Bald Knob • Walter Hicks – Benton

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celebrating athletic excellence

Conway County's

Bud Mobley

By Dr. Robert Reising

He was a star on one of the most spectacular teams ever fielded in The Natural State. With John Bryce “Bud” Mobley as their “groundclearing workhorse,” the 1945 Arkansas Tech University “Wonder Boys” demolished every opponent on their schedule, enjoying one of the most memorable seasons in the annals of American intercollegiate football. Simultaneously, Bud and his teammates created a unique chapter in the playbook of Arkansas’s favorite fall sport.

The 1945 Arkansas Tech "Wonder Boys." Most of the squad was fresh from WWII or about to see duty.

Most of the 48-player squad was fresh from World War II military service or about to see duty during “The Korean Conflict”; Bud was among the former. Born in Morrilton on August 11, 1920, he spent all of his years there prior to his 1939 enrollment in Russellville’s two-year institution. The middle son of Max James and Mary Ellen Mobley, his father in the construction business, his mother a stayat-home mom, Bud thrived in his love- and activity-filled family setting. He also fared well educationally, with football quickly becoming his favorite extracurricular pursuit. At Morrilton High, his gridiron skills were so accomplished that he twice earned All-State honors.

Within months of his 1939 graduation, he was a “Wonder Boy,” and by season’s end he had earned, in his daughter’s words, “a letter as a skinny back-up tackle” on a team claiming the Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference title. In the same year, too, he joined the National Guard, a move that would later catapult him to far greater gridiron acclaim. But a second academic year and an uneventful football season intervened, complete with another letter for Bud.

In January 1941, his unit was activated, an event featured in nationally circulated LIFE magazine. Soon after, Bud’s unit moved to Tacoma, Washington. Weeks later, built around 14 “Wonder Boys,” Bud among them, a talented West Coast football team emerged, destined to sweep “through service competition without a reverse.” They christened themselves the “Arkansas Travelers,” and claimed their first 6 games by scoring 221 points to six against.

They were a media delight, as popular as they were powerful. Ray Peters, also from Morrilton, was an indispensable starter, and Dumas’s Aubrey “Cobb” Fowler a dynamic running back. Bud, however, was unique. According to a Dec. 7, 1941, article in the Arkansas Gazette, he was “modest and [a] non-publicity seeker…never found when the photographers swarm into a practice session.” Yet, “Mobley has been responsible for more yards and touchdowns than as if he had carried the ball.”

The article said that fan interest continued to grow as the Khaki Bowl of December 13, 1941, neared. The contest at the University of Washington Stadium—pitting the formidable Moffett Field team from California against “the Cinderella Team” of Fort Lewis in Washington, the “Arkansas Travelers”—would decide “the service championship of the Pacific coast.” A massive crowd was anticipated, headed by the governor of Washington, who had been formally invited by Seattle’s mayor.

On December 12, with both teams in Seattle “ready for action, and public interest at a steamheat pitch,” military officials in California cancelled the contest. The nation was at war, those officials declared, and the men scheduled to compete would instead join “the boys who will bear the brunt of the fighting within the next few months.”

They did, and until war’s end, they were proud members of America’s “Greatest Generation,” patriotic warriors defending the nation they loved. By 1945, with the Axis powers defeated, they returned to their studies and gridiron efforts, hardened, experienced, mature. What they had visited upon military rivals, and aided by promising newcomers, the “Wonder Boys” of 1945 inflicted upon intercollegiate foes, a record-setting juggernaut that quickly amazed fans everywhere. “Cobb” Fowler, later a professional star, continued his mindboggling running and Ray Peters his stellar line play. Now 220 pounds of military muscle, Bud was again an asset with his bone-jarring blocking. In under 60 days, the trio led coach John Tucker’s team to another AIC Championship and defeated their eight opponents by a cumulative score of 311 to 6. All-American Fowler accounted for 102 points and team substitutes surrendered the lone touchdown. Such lopsidedness was seldom to be seen again in intercollegiate play.

Earning his Tech degree in 1946 and marrying a year later, Bud spent the bulk of his remaining years as a sales representative for Marquette Cement of Memphis while enjoying his expertise and reputation as a Morrilton-area barbecue specialist. Duck hunting and fishing also brought him many pleasurable hours and yummy suppers for his five children.

A Roman Catholic and Boy Scout leader, Bud passed away on December 22, 1973, forever to be respected in Conway County and the 501.

ALL IN A LIFE'S WORK

By Vivian Lawson Hogue

I recall when I was very young that people might ask if my mother worked, and I said, “no.” With five children, I know she would have disagreed. Our dad was on work trips much of the time, so she was the cook, clean-up crew, sore throat swabber, canning expert, family accountant, school activity attendee and clothing manufacturer.

Plenty of mothers did work at the shoe factory or served as teachers, nurses, secretaries, maids, store clerks, seamstresses, cooks, hairdressers or ironers. Grannies and aunts cared for their children if needed. A couple of ladies owned women’s stores, and for our post-war town, some ladies, especially war widows, ran apartments with room and board. It was a long time before I found out that “board” referred to a dining table.

Many men owned small or large businesses. Cotton farms and related services reigned, but many professions comprised attorneys, physicians, college professors, carpenters, plumbers and preachers. Other businesses were dairies, furniture stores, service stations, cafés, clothing stores, barbershops, as well as those selling hardware and shoes. Anywhere from five to seven men were policemen!

Downtown, or “uptown” depending on the location of your residence, was a fascinating place to get some people watching in, as the businessmen sported suits, hats and sometimes canes, while the middle-class women wore “house dresses” and the upper echelon often wore nice dresses, hats and gloves. If you were headed for one of the two theaters, wearing apparel styles and conditions didn’t matter as no one would see you.

Sometimes work can be play! My youngest brother, Noel, once worked very hard at building a store in our backyard. Central College for Women (later Central Baptist College) had closed in 1951, and Westmoreland Furniture located a store on the first floor of Old Main. Much of its stock arrived in wood boxes or wood framing. After shipment items were removed, this lumber was tossed into a pile out back. Noel discovered it one day as he rode past on his bicycle. I did not ask what he was doing, nor did our mother, but I knew something was up. For days, he went to the trash pile and brought lumber home on his bike, one hand on a bike handle and one loaded with his future “store.”

Hammers, nails and cardboard boxes kept him busy for days. He didn’t want my interference until he realized that I could be

useful to travel the alley behind us and survey people’s trash looking for “stock” for his store. This included empty cracker and oatmeal cereal boxes, discarded canned vegetable cans and tiny jars that once held pimiento cheese. Most women actually kept those, though, as their manufacturer-intended use was for juice glasses. My most significant finds were a bottle of corn syrup and a blue bottle of cheap Evening in Paris perfume. Empty glass milk bottles were never found, as residents put those on the back steps to be replaced with full bottles by the milkman.

He never had any customers, but many admired his work. Therefore, he finally declared bankruptcy. As his marketing manager, I would have suggested facing the storefront to the street. He kept the lumber for a few years, then used it later when he built a many-many-feet-high tower on top of our storeroom. It was covered with a smelly, heavy fabric tarp that reeked of car engine oil. This was his getaway so he could do things like smoke newspaper cigarettes filled with corn silks from dad’s garden. He did talk me into trying one. Once. Scorched newspaper and corn silks get very, very hot when introduced to the tongue.

As a 5-year-old, even I worked inside, but preferably outside. After an hour or so of climbing the-now-former mimosa tree and hanging upside down by my knees on the limbs, I might decide it was time to “eat.” I concocted my own artisan bread recipe using mud and mimosa seeds extracted from the tree’s seed pods. I kneaded the “dough” until smooth, added the seeds, kneaded some more, rolled it out on a brick with the sides of a Mason jar and baked it in the sun for three days at 102 degrees. My day’s work was done.

For the most part, the different “classes” of local people worked, some harder than others, but that was just life since time began. If you wanted to live under a good roof, pay your bills, tithe what you could at church, have food to eat and clothes to wear, you worked. I’m always hard on Adam, but when he broke the law in paradise, his Father said, “Son, you had it all for free and you broke the house rules, so from now on, you and everyone else will have to work. And Eve? You will deliver your children in pain.”

Well, something like that. I wasn’t there. But I would like to speak with Eve in private.

WINTERIZATION

10 Tips to Make Your Home Energy Efficient for the upcoming cold

By Beth Jimmerson

Cooler temperatures are on the way, and Conway Corp wants to help make your home warmer without turning up the heat this winter.

While the U.S. Energy Information Administration predicts Americans will pay 1 percent more for heating and cooling expenses this year, that number can change dramatically with unexpected drops in temperatures if your home is not properly prepped. Fortunately, there are many practical ways to enhance your home’s energy efficiency, ensuring you stay cozy while minimizing costs.

Conway Corp wants to ensure your home is prepared for the unexpected, helping you save a nice chunk of change while protecting your property for years to come. With these 10 winterization tips, you'll save energy while saving money at the same time.

1. Seal all Drafts - Drafts from windows, doors and other gaps can significantly impact your heating efficiency. In fact, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, drafts can waste 5 to 30 percent of your energy use.

Window insulation is a few dollars at most hardware stores and is essentially invisible once installed. Repair bigger gaps with caulking and weather-stripping. Looking for a simple fix? Fill old socks with sand or kitty litter to make a “draft snake” to place in front of a drafty door.

2. Change Furnace Filters - It’s important to replace furnace filters once a month during the heating season. Dirty filters restrict airflow and increase energy demand. Consider switching to a permanent filter, which will reduce waste and hassle, saving time and money. Replacing an inefficient furnace for a modern machine will cost you in the short term but save you money every month through the heating season. Disposable fiberglass filters trap between 10 to 40 percent of debris, while permanent electrostatic filters trap around 88 percent and are much better at controlling bacteria, mold, viruses and pollen.

3. Run Fans in Reverse - Many ceiling fans come with a switch that reverses the direction of the blades. Counterclockwise rotation produces cooling breezes, while switching to clockwise makes it warmer. Air pooled near the ceiling is circulated back into the living space, cutting your heating costs by as much as 10 percent.

4. Winterize Your AC and Water Lines - Drain any hoses and air conditioner pipes, making sure you don’t have excess water pooled in equipment. If your air conditioner has a water shutoff valve, go ahead and turn it off. Remove any window air conditioner units and store them so you don’t invite cold drafts all winter. Also, turn off exterior water spigots.

5. Optimize Your Water Heater - Many conventional water heaters are set to 140 degrees, but most households don’t need that much steam. Lowering the temperature to 120 degrees – or lower – will reduce your water heating costs by 6 to 10 percent. Consider a tankless water heater to save even more. Additionally, insulating the tank and hot water pipes can help retain heat and improve efficiency.

6. Install Storm Doors and Windows - Installing a storm door or storm windows can increase energy efficiency by 45 percent by sealing drafts and reducing air flow. They also offer greater flexibility for letting light and ventilation enter your home.

7. Give Your Heating System a Tune-Up - Keeping your furnace clean, lubricated and properly adjusted will reduce energy use, saving up to 5 percent of heating costs.

8. Mind the Thermostats - Most households spend 50 to 70 percent of their energy budgets on heating and cooling. For every degree you lower the thermostat during the heating season, you’ll save between 1 and 3 percent of your heating bill. The average family with a programmable thermostat will save $180 a year.

9. Boost Insulation - Insulation is one of the best ways to save energy and money at home. It can make a big difference to add more insulation between walls and on the attic floor. Properly insulating your attic can save you up to 10 percent annually on energy bills. You can also pay less for hot water and decrease the chance of pipes freezing with insulation. Check to see if your pipes are warm to the touch. If they are, get pre-slit pipe foam at any hardware store, cut it to size and fasten it in place with duct tape.

10. Manage Your Fireplaces - Fireplaces can be a source of heat but also a source of heat loss if not managed properly. If you use a fireplace, ensure it is properly sealed when not in use. An open damper can allow warm air to escape up the chimney. Consider installing a fireplace insert or glass doors to improve efficiency and reduce heat loss.

Implementing these strategies can make your home more energy-efficient, keeping you warm and reducing your heating bills this winter. As you prepare for cooler weather, remember that zero-percent interest loans for energy-efficient home improvements like attic insulation are available to Conway Corp customers through its Energy Smart program. All you need to do is provide an estimate from a vendor and apply for the Energy Smart Loan. Once approved, the vendor will verify the need and install your new insulation. Conway Corp then remits payment to the vendor.

It’s that easy to start saving money with a more energy-efficient home.

Looking for more ways to save this winter? Visit ConwayCorp.com/ EnergySmart and find energy-saving tips or call 501.450.6000 to schedule a free energy audit with a Conway Corp certified energy professional.

THE EQUESTRIAN’S EDUCATION

Honor student Leah Goff is grabbing life by the reins

By Carol Rolf • Photo by Mike Kemp

As Leah Goff gets ready to head back to the University of Central Arkansas to begin her senior year, she can’t help but reflect on recent events.

“It’s been a very busy summer,” she said, laughing. She’s been to London, England, as well as a suburb of Atlanta. And she’s leaving soon for a suburb of Kansas City, Kan. All these places relate to her interest in animals, horses in particular.

Goff, the 20-year-old daughter of Shannon and April Goff of Vilonia (Faulkner County) is working toward a degree in biology with a pre-veterinary medicine concentration. She will apply to veterinary schools this fall, hoping for acceptance to the fall semester of 2025.

“There are not any veterinary schools in Arkansas,” she said. “I don’t really have a preference where I attend. I‘m open and will be grateful for any opportunities offered to me.”

Goff, who is a student in the UCA Honors College with a 4.0 GPA, received an introduction to veterinary school a few months ago. She was accepted to work on a cuttingedge research project at the Royal Veterinary College in London.

“It’s often ranked as one of the best veterinary schools,” said Goff, who participates in English riding competitions, similar to what some local residents may have watched on this summer’s Olympic Games televised from Paris. “I worked on a research project for developing stem cell treatments for soft tissue injuries for sport horses.

“I’m interested in this research because my former competition horse, Castall, a 2011 Hanoverian, was sidelined with a soft tissue injury and went lame during a competition,” she said. “I compete now with a Holsteiner that I call Pax.”

Goff “was working on the role of inflammation in tendon injuries in horses and performed a large amount of background reading in addition to helping with various different experimental techniques,” said Dr. Debbie Guest, senior research fellow in the Department of Clinical Science and Services at the Royal Veterinary College. “Leah was very enthusiastic about the project and was a pleasure to have on the team.”

Goff said she has always loved animals, and after the experience with Castall, she knew she wanted to become a veterinarian and now hopes to pursue a residency to specialize in equine medicine after she completes veterinary school.

In addition to preparing for veterinary school, she also participates in eventing competitions. Eventing may not be a term known by some, but she knows all about it. Eventing is an equestrian event that requires Goff, the rider, and Pax, her horse, to participate in competitions all across the country.

She started English riding when she was 6, taking lessons at Caney Creek Farm in Conway, then started competing at local shows sponsored by the Arkansas Hunter Jumper Association. She now trains at River City Training Stables in Little Rock.

From the local shows, Goff progressed to traveling to three-day eventing competitions or horse trials, where the rider and horse compete in three phases: dressage, which shows the graceful partnership of horse and rider on a flat surface; cross country, in which the rider and horse navigate a series of solid obstacles over varied terrain; and show jumping, in which the rider and horse clear a course of fences. These competitions are sponsored by the United States Eventing Association, and include her most recent event, the Bouckaert Equestrian Eventing Horse Trials and Area III Championships held June 28 through July 8 in Fairburn, Ga.

“I competed on the novice level on Pax and placed seventh and eighth,” she said. “I was pleased as equestrians come from all around the area to participate in this event.”

She will travel next to Olathe, Kan., to participate in the Heritage Park Horse Trail on Sept. 20-22. This event is sponsored by the Mid-America Eventing Association, which is a regional affiliate of the USEA.

Goff has qualified for the American Eventing Championships every year since 2019. When she was 9 and 10, she was the Arkansas Hunter Jumper Association High Point Rider. She has competed in many states, including Texas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and Georgia.

Goff is a member of Delta Zeta Sorority at UCA. She is also active in the community, volunteering at HorsePlay, which provides hippotherapy for special needs children; at the veterinary office of Dr. Mike Pallone; at Community Connections; and at New Life Church. She works at Companions, a nonprofit spay-neuter and vaccine clinic in Spring Hill, and in the cell biology lab at UCA under the supervision of Dr. Kari Naylor, associate dean of the College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics.

Goff competed at the Longview Horse Park in Kansas City in 2022. Photo by JJ Sillman.

Leah Goff started English riding at age 6, taking lessons at Caney Creek Farm in Conway.

SEWN WITH PRIDE

Veteran receives quilt from Conway County Piecemakers

The Conway County Piecemakers have been making quilts for veterans for 12 years and have presented more than 850 to them at no cost to the vets. The group hosted a ceremony in Morrilton (Conway County) on July 4 and presented a dozen more, but veteran Tyrone Hammond was awaiting surgery and could not attend.

On June 24, Piecemakers founder Catherine Pruitt presented a personalized quilt to Hammond while his wife, friends and another quilter looked on at his home in Plumerville (Conway County). Hammond served in the Army from 1966 to 1969 and was in the Vietnam War.

Pruitt and her fellow Piecemakers have been bringing joy to veterans for more than a decade because of their talent for sewing. After starting with a national quilt-gifting program, the quiltmakers realized they could make an even bigger impact if they could focus their attention on a local level. They formed the Conway County Piecemakers, a nonprofit organization, and started making and delivering handmade quilts to veterans in Central Arkansas in 2014.

The group has about a dozen members, and about half sew quilt tops. Other members manage the administrative tasks and planning for the program. “Everyone has a job,” Pruitt said.

The Piecemakers show their love for veterans in more ways than quilt-making. They worked with former State Rep. David Sanders to get funding for a veterans’ monument that stands in front of the Morrilton hospital. They have hosted numerous barbecue dinners, cookouts, fundraisers and events to honor veterans and to present quilts. Each year, they hold two public presentations, one on July Fourth and the other on Veterans Day. The July Fourth program included a meal, entertainment and a guest speaker, and 12 quilts were presented. The Veterans Day program will take place at Morrilton High School, and the faculty and students work hard to make the day special. “They include the choir and band and have reserved seating in the front row for the veterans and their families,” Pruitt said.

Every veteran is special to the club. They have shipped quilts across the country, delivered them to the homes of confined veterans and even continued their mission with a drive-by quilt pickup at Pruitt’s shop during the pandemic. Each quilt comes with a special label sewn into it with the veteran’s name, a branch of service, years served, and any overseas tours noted. Any former service member with an honorable discharge is eligible to receive a quilt. For more information on how to volunteer or to nominate a veteran, contact Cathy at 501.306.8034.

George Pruitt, Wilma Harris, Tyrone Hammond, Nina Richey and Catherine Pruitt.

social butterflies social butterflies

Don't miss your chance to experience Rattles Garden. Central Arkansas's spot for butterflies, native plant seeds and cut flowers

By Judy Riley • Photo by Mike Kemp

All children love butterflies, but Tara Stainton of Vilonia has taken her childhood butterfly interest to an all-new level. For the last 15 years, she and her husband, Robert, have been certified organic vegetable and cut flower farmers on their 45-acre farm, Rattles Garden. She sells produce and flowers directly off the farm or through farmer’s markets. As the cut-flower business grew, so did the butterfly population. Soon, she began researching habitats necessary for butterflies to not only survive but thrive. She now sells plant materials that attract and support butterflies of all species.

Continued on page 89

There are 170 butterfly species common in Arkansas. One of these is the Diana fritillary (Speyeria diana), which became the official state butterfly in 2007, and its survival is considered threatened, “The geological diversity of Arkansas, including the Ozark and Ouachita Mountains, the Arkansas River Valley and the Mississippi River Lowlands are ideal habitat for butterflies. But only two of these areas have a significant population of the Diana: northwest Arkansas and Central Arkansas near the Arkansas River Valley,” according to butterflyidentification.com. Stainton lives in the heart of the Central Arkansas area and has documented more Diana sightings on her farm than those documented elsewhere in Arkansas.

This rare and beautiful butterfly distinguishes itself with its color patterns and the fact that males and females are markedly different. The male is black on the inner portions of its wings and bright orange on the outer margins of both fore wings and hind wings. Likewise, the female has blue, ranging from baby to navy to cobalt, on the outer margins of both fore and hind wings. The effect is a stunning wide band of color edging their wings. The Diana has evolved to prefer certain adult nectar plants, and one species, the native violet, for its larval host plant. The adult female lays eggs near violets on leaves, twigs and pine needles, basically on the ground. Without the violets and leaf litter, the caterpillar would not survive. Open grasslands next to forested areas often provide the best habitat. The Diana Project at dianaproject.org provides more information and links to other sites.

Call it an obsession, maybe, but Stainton definitely has a strong desire to encourage others to appreciate all butterflies, not just the Diana, and to do what they can to attract and support them. “It all started with sharing a few milkweed plants, a known food source for monarch caterpillars,” Stainton said. “That grew as folks asked me for milkweed. Last year, I grew several thousand native milkweed plants and distributed them across Central Arkansas.”

Stainton’s goals for her butterfly operation include producing highquality native plant plugs (small rooted seedlings) available from their farm as food for caterpillars or nectar for butterflies. In time, she hopes to offer between 20–30 different proven species. A desire to create an experience for others prompted her to offer “pick your own bouquet” on Friday evenings.

“Or for folks slightly more adventurous, come walk our farm paths through the native plants in our butterfly fields and make your own observations,” she said. “Maybe even join us for a butterfly festival to celebrate pollinator week at the end of June!” Her end goal is to help others join them in creating a sustainable habitat for butterflies.

The Staintons recently purchased 75 acres adjacent to their farm, about half wooded, half prairie. Robert works as an environmental engineer for NativState, doing forest management. “Robert is obsessed with eliminating invasives on our farm and has become an active birder. I have been working on a plant list of (mostly) flowering species found around our farm, and a timeline of when certain butterflies are using specific plants as nectar sources.” according to Tara.

The process of an adult female butterfly laying eggs, those eggs becoming caterpillars in the larvae stage and a beautiful butterfly emerging from the cocoon is called metamorphosis. All butterflies go through this life cycle that is both unusual and inspiring. A caterpillar turning into a butterfly has been a curiosity and wonder in many children’s books, but what makes it happen is not a fairy tale.

The plants needed for caterpillar survival can be specific to the species. Common ones include the parsley and milkweed families, dill, fennel and Queen Anne’s lace. Common nectar sources are flowers from butterfly bush, butterfly weed, ironweed, rattlesnake master, coreopsis and native violets.

A butterfly garden can be as small as a few containers of plants or as large as a yard or farmstead. The basic requirements are sun, nectar source plants, larval host plants and a pesticide-free environment, according to University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture scientists at uaex.uada.edu.

The Stainton’s have gone through their own metamorphosis, from garden produce to cut flowers to butterfly habitat. The future is bright for supporting butterflies in the 501! Learn more on the farm’s Facebook page, Rattle’s Garden.

PROUDLY PRESENTS

PERSON OF THE MONTH

TARA

CATHEY

PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE

SEARCY REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

“I helped the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce achieve 4-Star Accreditation from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in 2020. This honor is achieved by only a small fraction of chambers nationwide, and it’s a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team and volunteers.”

— Tara Cathey

FAMILY: My husband Eric and I have been married for 34 years. We have two wonderful daughters—Lakin (Darrell) Henderson and our youngest daughter, Tyler Cathey.

CAREER: President and CEO of the Searcy Regional Chamber of Commerce. I started at the Chamber as program director in 2001.

EDUCATION: I grew up in Pangburn (White County). After high school, I attended the University of Central Arkansas, where I earned my Bachelor of Business Administration. Additionally, I expanded my expertise in community and economic development by graduating from UCA’s Community Development Institute in 2003.

COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES: I serve on the Adult Education Advisory Board of Arkansas State University–Beebe’s Searcy Campus, which helps guide programs that support adult learners in our area. Recently, I was also honored to be appointed to the ASU–Beebe Development Council.

HOBBIES: As a big history buff, I have a deep appreciation for the past, which is why I love collecting antiques, glassware, pottery and vintage items. I also enjoy spending time outdoors, particularly gardening and fishing, although I don't get to indulge in those hobbies as often as I'd like. There's nothing quite like the satisfaction that comes from wetting a hook.

WHAT IS ONE OF THE SEARCY CHAMBER'S BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS THIS YEAR?

One of our most exciting workforce development initiatives this year was our inaugural "You’re Hired" Event, held in the spring, which brought together businesses and motivated high school seniors. In addition to "You’re Hired," we launched an Entrepreneur Workshop for teachers in partnership with Economics Arkansas. Strengthening our focus on entrepreneur support, we are collaborating with Harding University’s Waldron Center for Entrepreneurship, HITE Digital, the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center and The Forge to host a variety of educational seminars aimed at empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs. These efforts underscore the Chamber’s commitment to fostering a robust entrepreneurial ecosystem.

WHERE ARE THE BEST PLACES TO VISIT IN SEARCY?

That’s a tough question because there are so many wonderful places in Searcy. One of my favorites is the historic Benjamin Clayton Black House, which houses the Searcy Art Gallery. It's truly a hidden gem, showcasing artwork by talented local artists and featuring beautiful antiques, some of which belonged to the original owners, the Black family. The house recently celebrated its 150th anniversary, adding to its charm and historical significance. I’m also drawn to Pioneer Village, which offers a glimpse into our region’s past, Harding University’s Linda Byrd Smith Museum of Biblical Archaeology, with more than 100 artifacts, and Art Alley, a vibrant display of creativity right in the heart of our city. Our charming downtown is another favorite, where I love to explore the locally owned boutiques, enjoy a meal at one of the restaurants, or get a hot cup of chai tea at one of our coffee shops.

Photo by Mike Kemp