ABOUT | December 2021 by ABOUT the River Valley Magazine

MANNA HOUSE

Reflecting the Character of the Arkansas River Valley

FIRE OF 1906

GET THERE EARLY

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December 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Manna House - Help for Everyone Five days a week, two hours per day, Manna House volunteers are checking identification cards, stocking the food pantry, handing out free and full meals for all who need it. The nonprofit, which stems from the First United Methodist Church in Russellville, has been feeding those in need in the River Valley since September 2000.

Trust me The Downtown Russellville Fire of 1906 The most serious threat to the survival of a community in the early 1900s was fire. Wooden frame buildings (some with sawdust floors) provided fuel that allowed fire to quickly spread, burning houses and businesses and resulting in the destruction of small towns throughout the country.

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Get there early First rate barbecue is now the norm here in the River Valley. In fact, when considering one of the premier pits in the region, one must take into account the harsh reality that the food is so darn good it could all be gone — gobbled up by more earnest eaters — before you even get there.

Honoring grief For posterity 10 Things ABOUT: Tony Griffin

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DECEMBER 2021

FEATURED BUSINESS Orr Truck Center |

Spending a few hours with the volunteers in the new Manna House facility filled this photographer with the spirit of giving. They treated each person they served with kindness and compassion. Something that truly goes a long way these days.

EDITOR’S LETTER

The more things change… the more they change It’s cliche, sure, but the truth of the matter is that the only constant in our lives is change. That’s not only a hackneyed phrase, it’s also a widely hated phrase. Rarely do we enjoy change, not while it’s happening anyway. And certainly least of all when it’s happening directly to us. There are just too many uncertainties. That yearning for the comfort of the warm familiar traces back to our infant years when within mother’s embrace was where we always wanted to be. Until one day it wasn’t. As our mind grew and absorbed the world from the safest place we could be, we noticed there were lots of other intriguing objects out there. And if we wanted to engage with the interesting but unknown, we had to change who we were, to leave the ways of an infant and become a toddler. We had to let go of all that we knew. As we aged, we then learned that sometimes, very often, we didn’t have a choice in the matter. Change was beyond our control and simply a reality of growing bodies and brains and shifting circumstances. I could make a strong argument — irrefutable, in fact — that change is the mechanism by which everything happens, including our decisions about which stories

Reﬂecting the Character of the Arkansas River Valley since 2006

to tell here in ABOUT. Because while we all claim that we like things just the way they are, no one wants to read about a static condition. I mean, what’s the story if something is the way it’s always been? True to the law of change that rules the universe, this issue features a couple of stories that revolve around transformation. One was caused by unpredictable chaos and one by thoughtful decision. One is the story of a downtown district literally rising from the ashes of destruction and one the story of an organization choosing to find ways to help more people. Actually, everything in this issue (as it has been with every issue) is about something new and different than it was before. I invite you to read through and try to prove me wrong. Of course, there is value in the tried and true, and we never stop longing for Mom’s hug. But as autumn’s festive leaves wither to brown and fall, we’re reminded by the Earth itself that everything is always in a constant state of flux. All we can do is enjoy this moment and look forward to the next.

A Publication of One14 Productions, Inc Vol. XVI, Issue 11 – December 2021

DIANNE EDWARDS | founding editor JOHNNY CARROL SAIN | managing editor johnny@aboutrvmag.com LIZ CHRISMAN | photography editor lizchrismanphoto@gmail.com BENITA DREW | advertising benita@aboutrvmag.com MEREDITH MARTIN-MOATS | freelance meredith@aboutrvmag.com SARAH CLOWER | freelance sarah@aboutrvmag.com LYDIA ZIMMERMAN | columnist lydia@aboutrvmag.com CHRIS ZIMMERMAN | layout/design chris@aboutrvmag.com CLIFF THOMAS | illustrator maddsigntist@aboutrvmag.com

ABOUT the River Valley Magazine is locally owned and published for distribution by direct mail and targeted delivery to those interested in the Arkansas River Valley. Material contained in this issue may not be copied or reproduced without written consent. Inquiries may be made by calling (479) 219-5031. Ofﬁce: 220 East 4th Street Email: info@aboutrvmag.com Postmaster: Please send address changes to: One14 Productions 220 East 4th Street Russellville, AR 72801

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

December 2021 Su

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ENGAGEMENTS

DECEMBER

JANUARY 2022

Jayli Harrison & Zak Holt (4th)

Sarah Etheridge & James Keller (22nd)

Anna Bloodworth & Trey Brown (10th)

FEBRUARY 2022

Amy Mellick & Cole Wetzel (11th)

Abby McClellan & Carter Weatherley (19th)

Mikayla Sheide & Makenna Spears (15th)

APRIL 2022

List your engagement or wedding announcements in the pages of ABOUT the River Valley magazine at no charge. You can email yours to: editor@aboutrvmag.com or mail to: ABOUT Magazine, 220 East 4th Street, Russellville AR 72801. A phone number must be included for verification.

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3rd — 2021 Pottsville Christmas Parade @ 6 p.m. 3rd

— 2021 Dardanelle Christmas Parade @ 6:30 p.m.

4th — 2021 Dover Christmas Parade @ 6 p.m.

3rd-5th — The Nutcracker 2021 at the Russellville High School Center for the Arts. Friday December 3 at 7p.m., Saturday December 4 at 7p.m, Sunday December 5 at 2 p.m. Adults $20, Students (with valid ID) $15, Child $10. For more information contact 498-6600.

www.aboutrvmag.com/events

Save the Date

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2nd — 2021 Russellville Christmas Parade from 6:30 – 8 p.m. The rainout date is Monday, December 6. For more information call the Recreation & Parks Department at 968-1272.

Find up-to-date information and future events @

Tori Barnes & Mason Dockery (21st)

4th

Peyton Bowman & Carl Sullivan (2nd)

— Trout Day at Pleasant View Park in Russellville from 9 a.m.-noon. The CADDIS Fly Fishing Club, the Russellville Recreation and Parks Department, and the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) are again partnering to bring seasonal trout fishing to Russellville. The AGFC will stock Pleasant View Park pond with 1,200 rainbow trout. This will be an opportunity for people of all ages to catch trout without having to travel to the traditional trout rivers to the north.

10th

— 2021 Holiday Glow. Friday, December 10 from 6-8 p.m. in downtown Russellville. Featuring holiday décor and lights, a cocoa sip & stroll, live music, and works of art from local artists in our December Downtown Art Walk. Kids can meet Santa and drop off their letters to Santa at the Depot. The Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce will be presenting awards at the Depot Park Christmas Tree for their Battle of the Bulbs holiday decorating contest. The evening will conclude with a holiday fireworks finale at 8 p.m.

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

Manna House

HELP FOR EVERYONE Now housed in more spacious facilities, the Manna House and The HELP Network work together for those less fortunate in our community Story by HANNAH BUTLER | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN

Five days a week, two hours per day, Manna House volunteers are checking identification cards, stocking the food pantry, handing out free and full meals for all who need it. The nonprofit, which stems from the First United Methodist Church in Russellville, has been feeding those in need in the River Valley since September 2000. And it’s been serving another local and vital nonprofit, the HELP Network, by offering housing for HELP Network operations, strengthening efforts to feed and house our less fortunate community members. The organizations had been sharing space since the beginning, so when Manna House unveiled its upgraded warehouse and office spaces in September the HELP Network wasn’t left behind. The new facility features three office spaces to further HELP Network’s goals while also expanding Manna House’s services.

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“The new building has allowed us to store more pallets of food and receive more donations...We can spread out and have specific stations for our volunteers to work without being in each other’s way.”

he two have always been aligned in their missions as well. Both are faith-based organizations dedicated to helping anyone they can. They differ in their service areas, the HELP Network offering a range of services such as rent and utility assistance, homelessness prevention and employment, while Manna House works to provide the most necessary food and hygienic items. But those differences in service areas compliment one another, creating room for an unofficial dual partnership and the nonprofits’ goals align quite nicely with the convenience of shared space. For example, a patron can walk into Manna House to pick up meals and toothpaste and walk out knowing how to better their living situation through the HELP Network. As Manna House volunteers bag up meals and hand them over, the conversation often leads to recommendations for any additional services that the HELP Network can assist with and vice versa. That ease of transition between needed services has been boosted for both of them with the new facilities updated office spaces, warehouses, and appliances allowing improved service for assisting an increasing number of patrons to Manna House. Once the pandemic eases, HELP Network will be able to hold more interviews and with additional privacy. As of now, appointments are conducted over the phone. For Manna House, executive director Kim Meatheany says the new walk-in freez-

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er and refrigerator inside the facility are “back savers.” The Manna House volunteers used to unload food by hand, but the size of the new appliances allow the volunteers to push the food pallets right inside. “Since we are all retired volunteers, back savers are what we need,” she laughs. Gary McElroy, a long-time Manna House volunteer, says that the previous facility forced volunteers to move vegetables and canned good donations four or five times before being ready to

hand out. The nonprofit was previously housed inside a 1,700 square feet white wooden house converted into a food pantry with room for only a few people at a time and shelves stocked to the ceiling with food donations. Now the volunteer no longer goes through a grueling, aching process to stock food; it’s all stocked and processed seamlessly with more storage available to hold more items. “The new building has allowed us to store more pallets of food and receive more donations,” Meatheany says. “We can spread out and have specific stations for our volunteers to work without being in each other’s way.” It not only has more space for all of their 50 volunteers, but it has also added more people into the food pantry rotation — a greeter, a file reviewer, distributors to process food donations, and baggers. “These can be thankless jobs but they’re all something that has to be done,” McElroy says. The white house was demolished to make room for the new building, which was constructed over the course of six months. In the meantime, the city of Russellville worked with Manna House and HELP Network to provide temporary space for the nonprofits to continue operations. >> DECEMBER 2021

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

“In one month, our client base went up 600 percent,” Burgener says. ”We’re still seeing a steady increase in clients, and I know Manna House has been as well. It seems like, as we’re getting closer to the end of the year, the need will rise.” Despite the toil of construction, both of their services were only put on pause for a few weeks to move out and then into the new facility. “We didn’t miss a whole lot of time,” McElroy says. “It took a lot of folks to help us, a lot of people pitched in, and we can’t say enough that nothing at Manna House would happen without volunteers. It’s just amazing that there are people who will step up.” The helping hands are seeing more patrons and serving more food than ever. With around 350 families stopping by each week, more than five tons of food is being given out on a weekly basis during its daily handouts from 10 a.m. to noon. With the need increasing, Meatheany echoes the sentiment. “I’m so proud of our volunteers that are so faithful and committed to this ministry,” she says. “They show up daily and prepare to serve our community. They listen to each patron, hear their stories, and fulfill their needs.” Manna House always has a need for more volunteers and food donations. Though the church does support their mission, the nonprofit finds itself purchasing around $11,000 a month in canned goods when there is a lack of donations. Donations are a similar need for HELP Network. Sarah Burgener, executive director of the HELP Network, says the best way to offer support is by becoming a one-time donor 12

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or setting up monthly donations. Money donated turns into keeping water, electricity, and other utilities on in local residents’ homes. HELP Network services extend to anyone in Pope, Johnson, and Yell Counties. Since the pandemic set in, Burgener finds more and more people needing help, particularly with rent, utility and employment assistance. Currently, HELP Network is partnering with temporary agencies to keep up with the steady demand of unemployment and financial assistance. In the last month, the nonprofit has been able to provide 45 people with jobs. “In one month, our client base went up 600 percent,” Burgener says. ”We’re still seeing a steady increase in clients, and I know Manna House has been as well. It seems like, as we’re getting closer to the end of the year, the need will rise.” Burgener says she is thankful that the HELP Network does not have to worry about their own rent and utility assistance needs so that more money can go back into the community. With Manna House’s support, the nonprofit’s only expenses are telephone and internet bills. “Those at Manna House have such kind hearts,” Burgener says. “They’re so passionate about giving back. I can’t speak enough praises about how wonderful they are to us. But they believe in the mission we have.” That mission they share, and one that a community can full ly support, is simply helping anyone who needs it. DECEMBER 2021

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

EVE RY DAY L I F E

Trust me Story by SARAH CLOWER Illustration by CLIFF THOMAS

A FEW WEEKS AGO, I BABYSAT FOR MY DEAR FRIEND CHRISTINE. Her daughter Opal had been quite a handful. I wasn’t going to tattle to Christine about all of Opal’s antics, but of course, Raff did. Christine asked me out to coffee a few days later and again apologized for Opal’s behavior. I told her there was no need to, that I was used to a “highly spirited” child. She then lamented about all the other ornery things Opal had been up to. I gently reminded her that Opal was only two, and that the terrible two’s were definitely real, and that I had raised my own ornery child that Opal couldn’t hold a candle to. I wasn’t sure this made her feel any better, though. “Christine, I know you think Opal is a little difficult—“ “She stole a blind man’s walking stick and ran off with it!” she interjected. “I know, but do you recall all the sorts of things Raff has done and all the ways I’ve been embarrassed?” I asked. Christine sniffled. “I remember you telling me a few things…” she said softly. “Well let me jog your memory!” I said with a maniacal laugh. “Did I ever tell you about the time Raff got mad at me for not letting him use the microwave by himself when he was five so he cooked a hot dog in the dryer?” I said. “No! Surely not!” she said. “Yep! Or the time he hid from his dad and me when we went to Lowe’s to buy a new washer and dryer. He hid in a dryer and fell asleep. We thought someone had kidnapped him. Or the time he accidentally 14

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locked himself in a dog kennel at Walmart and I thought someone had taken him and they had to call a Code Adam, and the only way I was able to find him was to review security footage?” “Oh my…” Christine said. “Oh yes! Or the time he pulled the fire alarm at the school because he wanted to go home early? Or the time his kindergarten teacher had to call me and tell me she couldn’t find him, and by the time I got to the school he had been found on the playground. He had snuck outside after music class and just had no idea why he was in trouble.” “Oh noooo…” Christine said. “Oh yeah. Or the time he hopped on a woman’s electric cart at Walmart while

DECEMBER 2021

she stood up briefly to reach something and backed into a whole end-cap of gallon jars of pickles? Or the time at Walmart he asked a woman why she had a butt in the front as well? And then five minutes later, at check out, he was being way too curious about why a breast-feeding mother had put her baby ‘up her shirt.’ And when I tried to discreetly explain that was how he was fed as well, he loudly exclaimed ‘you tried to squish me up your shirt like that lady?!’” “How did you ever take him anywhere?” Christine asked, visibly admonished. “I tried not to!” I exclaimed. “I tried to get family to watch him if I could, but I can assure you, every time I had to take him anywhere there was an incident. Even in the car he would do crazy things. He

had a wolf mask and was scaring other drivers with from the back seat. That got me pulled over!” “Pulled over?” Christine asked, her eyes very round.” “Yes! And although the cop just gave us a warning, Raff informed him that I should be taken to jail because I’ve said bad words before. I thought I was going to die of embarrassment!” “Gosh…” Christine murmured. “Or the time he wanted to lead prayer at a church potluck and he went through the lineup and blessed every member, thankfully it was a small church, even ‘the old man at the back who always smells like farts.’ I just wanted to crawl under the table. Or the time I took him to volunteer with me at a food bank on Thanksgiving, and he insisted that he could handle the green beans. Once the recipients of the food boxes came in, I got really busy and when I looked over to check on Raff I was mortified to see that he was placing the cans of green beans in their boxes with one hand and holding his

“Did I ever tell you about the time Raff got mad at me for not letting him use the microwave by himself when he was five so he cooked a hot dog in the dryer?” nose with his other one.” Christine’s eyes widened. “Nooo.” “Yeeeessss…” I said. “Or just the dayto day-things he would pull at the house, like peeing in the cardboard box that his new TV came in because he ‘wanted to know what it felt like to be homeless.’ I’m telling you, Opal has nothing on Raff. And remember, Raff didn’t even have the excuse of being a toddler when he did most of these things. Christine shuddered. “I don’t know how you’ve made it through all of that.” “I’m not sure how I even have a shred of my sanity left.” I said, taking a sip of my coffee. “I can look back on all of those moments and laugh now, just as you will do in future. It seems overwhelming, but when

she gets to be as old as Raff is now you’ll miss those years no matter how overwhelming they may seem now. I promise.” I assured her. Her facial expression told me I hadn’t convinced her. “And the next time Opal does something like snatch a blind man’s walking stick, just call me and I’ll be happy to babysit again to give you a break. And I’ll tell you a thousand more stories like the ones I just told you to make you feel better.” “There’s more stories?” she asked, shocked. I laughed, a little on the maniacal side. “There’s so many more, and even more that I’m sure would traumatize any mother with embarrassment just by listening to them. Trust me…” l

DECEMBER 2021

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

The Downtown Russellville Fire of 1906 Story by DAVID CULLEN | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN Historical photos courtesy of MAIN STREET RUSSELLVILLE Scanned by KURT JONES

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he most serious threat to the survival of a community in the early 1900s was fire. Wooden frame buildings (some with sawdust floors) provided fuel that allowed fire to quickly spread, burning houses and businesses and resulting in the destruction of small towns throughout the country. Most communities did not have a fire department, and even for those that did the firefighters were volunteers with equipment consisting of a horse-drawn wagon and water pumped from wells. The normal method to control the spread of a fire was a bucket brigade — men and women lined up, handing buckets of water from one to the next, until the last person in line threw the water onto the flames. Russellville had voted to create a volunteer fire department in 1905. Under the supervision of Dr. R. L. Smith, former chief of staff at St. Mary’s Hospital, the 30-member department ordered $850 of equipment including a horsedrawn hook and ladder truck, 400 feet of hose, two dozen rubber buckets (rubber, so that the buckets could be thrown from a rooftop and not suffer damage), and assort-

ed other pieces of equipment. As of January 15, 1906, that equipment had yet to arrive.* Just after 10 p.m. that night, the people of downtown Russellville were awakened by the sound of an alarm and shouts of “fire.” Residents rushed outside to find

flames lighting up the clear, cool sky over the downtown business district. The fire had started in Chronister Brothers Grocery. Those arriving first thought they might be able to contain the blaze as the night air was still and the fire moved slowly through the store. >>

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But within minutes the wind had in- fire burned the central offices of the Rus- Courier-Democrat newspaper offices. Ficreased, fanning the flames and dramat- sellville Telephone Company and those nally, the winds began to decrease and just ically increasing the fire's intensity. The of the Southwestern Telephone Company three hours after it began the fire burned dark blue sky above the city became leaving only the telegraph line — a much itself out, stopping near the west wall of crimson red as burning debris blew from slower and less effective means of reach- Gardner Brothers Furniture Store. one wooden structure to another. With- ing nearby communities. In those three hours the fire destroyed in an hour of its start, the fire half of downtown Russellville. had spread south onto the west “Just after 10 p.m. that night, the people Three entire blocks were a toside of Jefferson Street total loss. Twenty-two buildings ward Main Street then north of downtown Russellville were awakened and 23 businesses all but disapto Mourning & Hoods Drug by the sound of an alarm and shouts of peared that evening. The damStore and east toward the Bank ages of the fire were estimated ‘fire.’ Residents rushed outside to find of Russellville. at $250,000 (an estimated $6 Residents formed a water flames lighting up the clear, cool sky over million today) with only about brigade but the two wells near 40 percent of that figure covthe downtown business district.” downtown could not produce ered by insurance. One witness enough water to match the said it was the most rapid fire speed of the moving fire. Some residents For most of the evening, townspeople he had ever seen, given the destruction rushed home and returned with wet blan- fought a losing battle as the wooden com- caused in such a short period of time. ** kets, throwing them up against the walls of mercial buildings and their contents fed the The next day, townspeople fully rebuildings in an attempt to slow the spread fire. The wet blankets did reduce the num- alized the extent of damage to the busiof flames to nearby wooden structures. The ber of structures destroyed, including the ness district. Sightseers came from miles

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around and discovered that the heart of Russellville lay in ruin with buildings and rubble still smoldering. Merchandise — from shirts and shoes to piles of unrecognizable debris — lay scattered. The businesses destroyed by the fire included a grocery store, butcher shop, two dry-good stores, a jewelry store, a tailor shop, two second-hand stores, a furniture store, a funeral parlor, a saddlery, two barber shops, two banks, a gentlemen’s store, both of the city’s telephone operations, a general store, a hardware business, and clothing stores. Among those businesses was Faulkner and Schaeffer Jewelry and Cream Parlor, which had, to the delight of children, just installed a soda fountain. Fortunately, they held a $3,000 insurance policy that helped cover the loss. Not as fortunate was Jacobson & Sons Mercantile, which lost an estimated $18,000 in stock and held no insurance.

But these figures did not include the loss of income for owners and their employees as the Courier Democrat noted in a special edition published the day after the fire, “mingled with the throng on the streets is seen the property holder who has lost the savings of a lifetime; the businessman who has labored to build up a trade that would enable him to support his family and last night stood by helpless and saw his stock of goods consumed by the flames, and in many instances is this morning practically as a beggar on the streets, the clerk or salesman who yesterday held a position with a lucrative salary and is today without work.” Townspeople quickly replaced their shock with a determination to overcome the destruction. In one example of this resilience, the Bank of Russellville reopened less than eight hours from the time the fire started. The bank’s vault was the only

structure not damaged by the flames (made of steel, the three-ton structure took three days to cool before the combination lock could be touched). Employees moved the vault to the old post office building and the bank opened for business at 11 a.m. the next day. That same day, Tuesday afternoon, less than 24 hours after the alarm sounded, the city’s leaders gathered and called for a meeting to plan for the immediate rebuilding of the downtown area. At the meeting, public officials and merchants pledged to rebuild the business district and restore downtown Russellville as the center of commerce for the surrounding area. One businessman who attended the meeting said, “every Russellvillian will swell with pride when he learns that we already have assurance that every building in the burnt district will be replaced by larger and handsomer structures as soon as the work can possibly be done.” >>

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County Clerk A. H. Shinn sent a note by telegraph (the phones still not operating) to Little Rock’s Arkansas Democrat stating that the city would rebuild with no outside assistance. The paper’s headline for the story read, “Plucky Businessmen Begin Plan for New Stores.” The town kept its word. That summer, six months after the fire, 20 of the 23 destroyed businesses opened in new buildings — constructed of brick. To announce the reopening, representatives from Russellville accompanied by a brass band traveled throughout the county. Merchants sent flyers to nearby towns and Little Rock

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reminding readers that the city was an important trading post. The rebuilt businesses celebrated with a nine-day inaugural sale. Beginning July 15, Rev. E.T. Edwards arranged a weeklong chautauqua that provided three events daily and drew large crowds and customers to Russellville. The following month the state’s Democratic Party chose the city to begin its campaign season. This event attracted 6,000 guests including ex-governor and current U.S. Senator Jeff Davis, a former Russellville resident. The rebuilding continued in 1907 with a new high school. The city laid paved sidewalks in the downtown area in 1908

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and that year the state legislature chose Russellville as a location for one of four new agricultural colleges (now Arkansas Tech University) with classes beginning in 1910. This was also the year when the Russellville Electric Theater opened. The year 1912 saw the completion of the two-story V-Building which housed a restaurant, clothing store, and pool hall. That same year the city created the town’s first paid fire department consisting of 12 men. In 1915 the Wilson Community Theater opened its doors and the first gasoline firetruck arrived (an American La France 10-type automobile truck and pump like

troops used in World War I). In 1916 the St. Louis Iron Mountain and Southern Railroad build their depot two blocks from Main Street. One decade after a fire that might have led to the demise of the town, Russellville used the tragedy as a catalyst to rebuild, transforming the county seat from a small town of under 2,000 into a modern city with a population of over 4,000. l * The downtown historical marker states that the fire started in the afternoon of January 17. However, contemporary newspaper accounts and scholarly histories of the event all agree on the date January 15. Given how quickly the flames spread and the destructive nature of the fire, several customers and employees would have been injured if the fire had begun in the afternoon. The fact that neither newspapers nor oral histories of the event mentioned any injuries to any persons supports the consensus that the fire took place late in the evening of the 15th when the downtown district was empty of people. ** Stores damaged with estimated loss and in parenthesis their insurance coverage: Stark and Rankin Grocery: $4,000 ($2,000) Harkey and Sons Drug Store: $4,000 ($1,500) Building owned by Mrs. J. L. Tucker: $4,000 ($1,500)

“The town kept its word. That summer, six months after the fire, 20 of the 23 destroyed businesses opened in new buildings — constructed of brick.” Patrick Bros. Tailor Shop: $2,000 (0)

Plott Newport and Co.: $12,500 ($8,000)

Bank of Russellville: $10,000 ($5,000)

Brown Bros. Grocery: $6,000 (0)

W. P. Daily Grocery Store: $2,000 ($500)

J.J. Wiggs Drug Store: $4,000 ($2,500)

Robert Ragsdale Gent’s Furnishings: $4,000 ($1,000)

J. D. Williams Grocery Co.: $5,000 ($2,500)

L.T. Ragsdale Building: $3,500 ($1,000) Harkey and Sons Saddlery Co.: $7,000 ($2,000)

Rankin Brothers and Winn Furniture and Hardware Store: $7,000 ($2,500)

Martin and Ferguson Building: $3,500 ($2,000)

H.W. Williams Undertaker: $17,000 ($6,500)

M.R. Craig three buildings and Butcher Shop (total loss)

Jacobson 3 buildings: $12,000 ($8,00): $18,000 in stock (0)

Faulkner and Schaeffer’s Jewelry Store and Cream Parlor: $5,000 ($3,000)

New Store: $17,000 ($6,500)

Chronister Brothers Grocery: $2,500 ($2,000)

Frank Owens Barber Shop N/A

Gardner Brothers and Co.: $7,000 ($6,000)

F.F. Youngblood second-hand store N/A

J. A. Miller second-hand store N/A

DECEMBER 2021

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COMMUNITY

The Boys and Girls Club of the Arkansas River Vally receives grant The Boys and Girls Club of the Arkansas River Valley (BGCARV) has received $344,000 in grant funding that will benefit hundreds of children across Pope and Yell Counties. The funding decision was announced at the Arkansas State Capitol on Thursday, October 28, marking the final step in an 8-month-long application process. These funds will be used to provide evidence-based academic support in afterschool and summer programs that supplement school efforts in addressing lost learning. Additionally, funds will be earmarked to strengthen social-emotional and behavioral skills for kids who have struggled with issues exacerbated by COVID19, secure more opportunities for career preparation among teens who have been set back by economic impacts of COVID19, and supplement feeding programs that ensure better nutrition for youth in communities experiencing health inequities along socioeconomic lines. “I am so incredibly proud and excited to share the news of this funding,” said Dr. Megan Selman, chief executive officer of the BGCARV. “Eight months ago, I began the application process for this request alongside 20 other Boys and Girls Clubs in Arkansas. With support from Boys and Girls Clubs of America, we drafted a six million dollar proposal that would fund Boys and Girls Clubs doing important work across our state. Our portion of the funding is $344,000 which will be used to impact so many futures for so many youth in our community. It has been a long road, but Thursday morning the Arkansas Legislative Council (ALC) gave approval to our funding request. This approval was the result 22

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

Senator Breanne Davis and Dr. Megan Selman

of a huge collaborative effort from CEOs across the state and many members of our State Legislator as well as our Governor. Locally, our representation on the ALC is Senator Breanne Davis, who worked tirelessly in support of this funding initiative for local kids. I believe this award is a direction reflection of the great work our organizations are doing throughout the state and the trust that has been earned by local Clubs on task to fulfill our mission.” Senator Davis added, “The Boys and Girls Club plays a crucial role in our community. This grant is well-deserved. I’m grateful for the opportunity I had to work with the Governor’s office and our local Club on this request. The work our Club does will continue to impact local children and families, granting access to experiences and opportunities for generations to come.” This announcement also coincides with the end of tenure for Selman, who has stepped down as BGCARV’s CEO. Selman said in closing, “Speaking on a personal note, I am elated to hand off this $344,000 piece of funding to the next leadership team at our Club, and I hope this helps set our organization up for even greater success in the future. It has been an incredible privilege to serve the community in this capacity for the past several years. I will miss the Boys and Girls Club tremendously, but I plan to con-

DECEMBER 2021

tinue working in my community for bright futures and increased opportunities for many years to come.” Beginning January 1, 2022, Selman will be joining the Russellville Area Chamber of Commerce part time working on membership recruitment and directing a new committee called the Chairman’s Club. If you would like more information on the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Arkansas River Valley you may contact them at 479968-7819 or email meganselman.bgcarv@ gmail.com.

Children’s Benefit Ball 2022 It is with great pleasure and excitement, Junior Auxiliary of Russellville invites you to the Fire & Ice Gala, our annual Children’s Benefit Ball to support the children and families of the River Valley. The event is scheduled for Saturday, February 26, 2022 at the L.V. Williamson Boys and Girls Club. We are excited to continue the tradition of bringing the community together while raising funds to enrich lives in the River Valley. The Gala will begin at 6:00 p.m. with a seated dinner followed by a live auction. The silent auction opens at the start of the event. The evening will also include live entertainment and a wild card raffle, where one lucky winner gets their choice of any live auction prize package.

our society. This is especially true of the children, youth and families served by JA.

Winthrop Rockefeller Institute announces Marion B. Burton Family Endowment gift of $1 million

Your support is needed now more than ever. Please join us for a Fire & Ice Gala! Tickets are $100 for an individual and $175 for a couple. For more information contact Brooke Taylor, Public Relations Chair, jaofrussellville@gmail.com.

D TRUCKI O O

The Winthrop Rockefeller Institute (the Institute) is proud to announce the gift of $1 million by Marion Burton of Little Rock. The Marion B. Burton Family Endowment will support the Institute and its ability to deliver on its mission, which is continuing Gov. Winthrop Rockefeller’s collaborative approach to transformational change. “I was on the Institute board of directors at its very beginning, and where I saw a farm, Marion Burton saw a world-class institute that could bring together the very best minds and ideas to address some of the most difficult and intractable problems facing this state, this nation, and the world,” said Dr. Donald R. Bobbitt, president of the University of Arkansas System. Burton — Gov. Rockefeller’s former pilot and chief of staff, and the only sur-

N’

Junior Auxiliary of Russellville has served the River Valley area for over 55 years and the Children’s Benefit Ball is our only fundraiser to contribute to our ability to provide assistance to the community. All monies raised at this event are directly invested back into our community. JA funds numerous grants and scholarships and also supports various projects to help the children and citizens of the River Valley. Every ticket sale, auction item purchased, and donation helps support the Equestrian Zone of Russellville, Boys and Girls Club, Russellville School District Cyclone Care Fund, and Joseph’s House, just to name a few. Covid-19 has impacted every facet of

R VA L E Y S T Y L

SPICES FOOD TRUCK

2112 W. Main St., RUSSELLVILLE Sun 4:30-8pm; closed Mon; Tue-Thurs 11:15am-2pm/4:308pm; Fri 11:15am-1pm/4:30-8pm; Sat 12-3pm, 4:30-8pm

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DECEMBER 2021

Mexican Food

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

viving original trustee of his estate — has supported Gov. Rockefeller’s vision for the Institute since its creation in 2005. Burton first met Gov. Rockefeller during the 1964 gubernatorial election, going on to work in his political and aviation activities. “Winthrop was not afraid to take a chance,” Burton said. “He was very innovative. He was always full of ideas, things that could be done, and he did not hesitate to tackle tough tasks. A gift to the Institute seems like the best way to insure Winthrop’s impact continues into the future.” The Institute recently hosted a celebration brunch in Burton’s honor attended by two of his daughters, Jenifer and Jynks Burton, his special friend of 25 years, Doris Davis, and his friend and longtime chief financial officer, Donna Huckabee. Unable

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

to attend were his daughter Allyson and son Tyler. “The generosity Marion has shown toward the Institute, to our people, and to our mission is well-known and long-standing,” said Dr. Marta Loyd, executive director/ CEO of the Institute. “This gift solidifies Marion’s position as a living link between his friend and former employer, Winthrop Rockefeller, and the work the Institute is doing to keep Winthrop’s legacy alive. Marion has dedicated his life to ensuring the legacy would continue to make a positive impact utilizing Winthrop’s historic property on Petit Jean Mountain.” Burton worked with his financial advisor to establish the endowment using the Qualified Charitable Distribution from his traditional IRA. Using this method allows up to

DECEMBER 2021

$100,000 in funds annually to go directly to the charity without first being taxed while simultaneously satisfying a large portion of the annual required minimum distribution. Essentially, saving him thousands of dollars in taxes and allowing him to give to a charitable cause he cares deeply about. He encourages others to consider this same approach to make significant gifts supporting the organizations they care about. As executive trustee of the Winthrop Rockefeller Charitable Trust, Burton’s advocacy for Gov. Rockefeller’s legacy and the Institute was a significant factor in the creation of the Governor Winthrop Rockefeller Endowment, a gift of over $100 million from the Trust in October 2018. The endowment is held by the University of Arkansas Foundation. “Through his work on the board of the Winthrop Rockefeller Charitable Trust, Mr. Burton championed the idea of an independent endowment to support the great work of the Institute in perpetuity,” Dr. Bobbitt said. “He has always believed in the strength of the University of Arkansas System’s broad mission to serve Arkansas and the world, and the addition of the Institute to the UA System strengthened both organizations. Mr. Burton’s generosity is a glowing endorsement of this partnership, and we are honored by the faith that he and his family have placed in the UA System and the Institute to carry out Gov. Rockefeller’s legacy.”

ATU honors ‘19 of the Last 9’ Arkansas Tech University recognized its 19 of the Last 9 award winners during an ATU Homecoming 2021 weekend brunch on Saturday, Oct. 23, at the W.O. Young Building Ballroom. The 19 of the Last 9 award is named in honor of ATU’s founding year, 1909. It is presented each year to 19 ATU alumni who have graduated within the last nine years. According to the ATU Alumni Association, criteria for the 19 of the Last 9 award include: • Alumnus of the university and graduated with in the last nine years of the award year • An emerging leader through profession and/or community achievements • Attained increasingly responsible positions within their organization, business or field of work • Received recognition for significant professional contributions, discoveries or creative work through honors, awards and/ or media attention • Served as an outstanding young role model for current and future ATU students The 2021 recipients of the ATU 19 of the Last 9 award are, listed with the class year and major field of study associated with their nomination, are:

Molly Coffman Class of 2015; Accounting

Will Mullen Class of 2012; Accounting

Patrick Conrad Class of 2019; Professional Studies-Information Technology

Dustin Parsons Class of 2013; Teaching, Learning and Leadership (M.Ed.)

Dylan Edgell Class of 2016; Business Administration

Rebecca Petty Class of 2013; Criminal Justice

C.J. Engel Class of 2014; Emergency Management

Bri Riley Class of 2017; Business Education

Darlingtina Esiaka Class of 2014; Psychology (M.S.)

Johnny Sain Class of 2015; Journalism

Emily Frazier Class of 2015; International Studies

Justin Smith Class of 2019; Mechanical Engineering and Physics

Dr. Sheila Jacobs Class of 2020; School Leadership (Ed.D.)

Autumn Asher BlackDeer Class of 2015; Psychology

Melody Tabor Kwok Class of 2016; Broadcast Journalism

Niall Blasdel Class of 2015; Music Education

Nancy McNew Class of 2013; Business Administration

Kenneth Smith Class of 2014; Biology and Psychology Jessica Spicer Class of 2013; History (M.A.)

from the City Mall RUSSELLVILLE CITY MALL | 407 N. Arkansas Ave.

DECEMBER 2021

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

BIG POPPA’S BBQ 249 W Main; (479) 885-3816 LAMAR 407 S Arkansas; (479) 567-5169 RUSSELLVILLE

Get there early Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN Story by JOHNNY CARROL SAIN

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

FIRST RATE BARBECUE IS NOW THE NORM HERE IN THE RIVER VALLEY. In fact, when considering one of the premier pits in the region, one must take into account the harsh reality that the food is so darn good it could all be gone — gobbled up by more earnest eaters — before you even get there. In this first-come/first-served grilled meat environment, your decision and your actions need to be simultaneous. But with all of these delectable options, how do you even make that decision? Maybe by thinking out of the box. It’s always fun to try something so new and unheard of. And until we found Big Poppa’s BBQ we’d never heard of a few items found exclusively on their menu. First up is corn in a cup. Think about

DECEMBER 2021

the Mexican street corn your aunt served at the family reunion. You know, the corn you ate until you just couldn’t eat any more? Now bump it’s deliciousness up 10 points Next is the crunch wrap — pulled pork, cheese, barbecue sauce, sour cream and pico all cozied up in a tortilla and then grilled to a crispy delight. Need we say more? And finally, the big nasty. Named after Corliss? Who knows. And after a bite you won’t care how it was named. Buried underneath those savory layers of pulled pork, beans, slaw, jalapeños, pico, and barbecue sauce is a meaty bratwurst. The big nasty is anything but nasty. It’s all fantastic at Big Poppas, but everyone else already knows this. You’d better get there early. l

DECEMBER 2021

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

CO U N T E RTO P C R E AT I O N S

Good Luck, Be Prosperous, and Live Long Story by LYDIA ZIMMERMAN, Food Editor Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN

ounds like something you would hear a Vulcan say on Star Trek, but it’s really just reasons for different New Year’s traditions around the world. The following are some examples of traditions around the world on or around New Year’s: In Scotland, the first person who crosses through the threshold of your house after midnight on New Year’s Day should be a darkhaired male if you wish to have good luck in the coming year. These men should come bearing gifts of coal, salt, shortbread and whiskey, all which contribute to the idea of having good fortune. In Italy, wearing red underwear under your clothes is associated with increased fertility in the coming year. In Ecuador, bonfires are lit at New Year’s Eve festivities to cleanse the world of all the bad from the past year and make room for the good to come. In Turkey, it is considered good luck to sprinkle salt on your doorstep as soon as the clock strikes midnight to promote peace and prosperity throughout the year. In Ireland, the custom is for single gals to sleep with mistletoe under their pillow on New Year’s Eve to help them find their future husbands. In researching New Year’s traditions, I also found the different reasons behind the consumption of foods around the world on or around this holiday. And I even found some recipes using these foods and created a couple myself. Best Wishes for a Happy New Year! 28

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

DECEMBER 2021

SPICED CHAI POMEGRANATE MUFFINS (Pomegranates for Strength, Prosperity, Luck and Fertility in Ancient Greece) ABOUT Magazine Featured Recipe ~ December 2021

1 c boiling water 2 spiced chai tea bags 1 pomegranate 1/2 c butter, softened 1/2 c granulated sugar

1/2 c brown sugar 2 eggs 1/3 c orange juice 1/2 tsp almond extract 1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut pomegranate in half and remove seeds. Set aside in a small bowl. In a small bowl place water and place in microwave for 2-3 minutes until boiling. Remove from microwave and place tea bags. Let tea seep for 20 minutes. Then squeeze liquid out of tea bags into the bowl and remove bags. After tea has finished seeping, add pomegranate seeds and let them soak in tea for 20 minutes. In a large mixing bowl, cream to-

2 1/2 c flour, sifted 1/2 tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder 1 c oatmeal

gether butter and sugars on medium speed. Slowly add eggs, orange juice and extracts; mix on low speed. Add flour, salt and baking powder to the mixing bowl and continue to mix on low. Remove bowl from mixer and with a wooden spoon slowly stir in tea and pomegranates. Pour batter into a greased muffin tin. Top each with a sprinkle of oatmeal. Place in oven on middle rack in oven preheated to 350 degrees for 2025 minutes or until a toothpick when inserted come outs clean.

RUEBEN BITES (Corned Beef for Good Luck and Prosperity, Irish Americans and the long shreds of Sauerkraut to symbolize a long life in Germany)

2 teaspoons vegetable oil 1 cup 1/3” pieces (about 6 ounces) thickcut smoked bacon Unsalted butter (if needed) 2 large shallots, finely chopped 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons sweet paprika 2 cups whole milk 2 cups heavy cream Freshly ground black pepper

Rueben Bites

1 1/2 c Sauerkraut, drained and pressed 2 c corned beef, chopped into very small pieces 4 oz cream cheese, softened 1 1/2 tsp salt 1 1/2 tsp ground white pepper 1 tsp onion powder 1 c Bisquick 2 eggs 1 c swiss cheese, shredded 3-4 T milk 2 c panko bread crumbs 2 T of Parsley flakes Thousand Island Dressing or Dijon mustard for dipping Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper, set aside. Drain 1 1/2 c of Sauerkraut and place on multiple layers of paper towels and cover with more paper towels. Press paper towels to squeeze any remaining liquid from sauerkraut. Place completely drained sauerkraut into a large mixing bowl with the next 9 ingredients and mix throughly. In a medium sided bowl place panko bread crumbs and parsley flakes. Roll the meat mixture into walnut sized

balls and coat in panko bread crumb mixture. Then place on lined baking sheet. Place in preheated oven to bake for 3540 minutes or until browned. Serve hot with dipping sauce of choice. CREAMED COLLARD GREENS (To ensure good fortune in southern North America) 2 large bunches collard greens (about 1 1/2 pounds), center stems removed and leaves cut into 1/2” strips Kosher salt

Blanch greens in a large pot of boiling salted water until bright green and beginning to soften, 3-4 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl of ice water to cool. Squeeze dry. Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add bacon and cook until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, 5-7 minutes. Using a slotted spoon, transfer bacon to paper towels to drain; set aside. Drain all but 3 tablespoons bacon drippings from pot, adding butter if needed to measure 3 tablespoons Add shallots; cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until soft, about 5 minutes. Add flour and paprika; stir constantly for 2 minutes. Whisk in milk and cream; bring to a boil, whisking often. Stir in greens; reduce heat to low. Simmer, stirring often, until greens are tender and sauce thickens, about 30 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer creamed greens to a serving dish; garnish with reserved bacon. Recipe courtesy of epicurious.com

DECEMBER 2021

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

the coin in now, wrap in foil and push it through the cake. Turn cake back on top and sprinkle with powdered sugar, you can also even out the top of the cake slicing with a long knife. Recipe courtesy of olivetomato.com

VASILOPITA (For good luck in Greece) 4 c flour 2 T baking powder 1 3/4 c sugar 1 c butter, softened 1 1/2 c orange juice 1 T orange zest 1 tsp vanilla 3 eggs Powdered Sugar

CHOCOLATE GRAPES (Eaten for Good Luck in the New Year in Spain)

Preheat the oven at at about 350 degrees. Line the base of a 9-10 inch springform pan with wax paper and grease the sides. (You can use an even wider pan for a thinner cake-it will take less time to bake) In a bowl mix the flour and baking powder and set aside. In a bowl, cream the sugar and butter. Add the orange juice, vanilla and orange zest- mix with a mixer about 2 minutes. Whip the eggs in a small bowl and add to the butter mixture and mix for another 2 minutes. Add the flour mixture to the wet ingredients and mix for 2 minutes at low speed-do not over mix. If you are adding the coin in the batter, add it now. Pour batter (it will be thick) in the pan, smoothing the top with a spatula. Bake for about 45-60 minutes. Check with a thin sharp knife in the center, it should come out clean. If not bake for additional time. Remove from oven and let cool completely. Release the pan and turn cake upside-down on another plate. If putting

1 pound cold firm seedless grapes, stems removed 4 ounces 60% semisweet chocolate, melted, at body temperature 1 to 2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder Dry the grapes well and place them in a bowl large enough to toss them easily. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Add the chocolate to the grapes about 1 tablespoon at a time, stirring well with a spatula, carefully scraping the sides of the bowl and folding through the center of the grapes to coat all of them evenly. When the chocolate begins to set, using a small strainer, sprinkle the cocoa powder little by little over the surface. Gently toss or stir the grapes as you sift, continuing to add the cocoa until all of the grapes are well coated and separated. Spread on the prepared sheet. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until the chocolate is set, or for up to 1 day. Recipe courtesy of Happy in the Kitchen: The Craft of Cooking, the Art of Eating by Michel Richard.

LONGEVITY NOODLES (For a long life, traditional Chinese Lunar New Year dish) 12 oz linguine 2 tsp toasted sesame oil 12 oz boneless, skinless chicken breasts 1 T minced fresh ginger 1 tsp plus 1 T Chinese rice wine, you can sub with Sherry 1 tsp cornstarch 1 tsp plus 1 T low sodium soy sauce Sea salt 1/4 tsp pepper 2 T canola oil 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes 3 c thinly sliced Napa cabbage 6 scallions, chopped 1 T sesame seeds Cook linguine according to package directions. Drain under cold water, dump back in the pot and toss with the sesame oil. Put chicken in a mixing bowl with the ginger, 1 teaspoon of wine, cornstarch, 1 teaspoon of soy sauce and a pinch each of salt and pepper. Heat a heavy deep skillet (or a wok if you have one!) over high heat. Add the canola oil and the red pepper, give it all a stir and then add the chicken mixture, trying for a single layer as best you can. Let it sear for a minute without stirring it, then toss the chicken with tongs until it is cooked through, about another 2 minutes. Add the cabbage and toss for another minute until it starts to wilt. Add the noodles, the remaining wine and soy

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

DECEMBER 2021

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sauce and the scallions and toss until heated through. Taste and add more salt if needed. Divide among plates, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve, and don’t bite the noodles! Recipe courtesy of framedcooks.com OLLIEBOLLEN (Eaten to ward off evil spirits in Denmark) 3 c flour 2 tsp of salt 3 (.25 oz pkg) yeast 1 1/4 c milk, room temp 1 T of sugar 2 eggs 1 1/4 c raisins (soaked, washed and dried) 1 large apple (peeled, cored and chopped in small cubes) fat for deep fat frying icing sugar Dissolve the yeast in the milk, leave for a few minutes to get frothy. Mix the flour, salt and sugar. Add the eggs and the yeast-milk mixture to the flour. Use a wooden spoon, whisk (needs to be a sturdy one) or dough-hooks and a mixer to mix everything together. Keep mixing for about 10 minutes to develop the gluten. Add the raisins and apple, mix thoroughly. Cover the bowl and leave to rise for about 1 hour. Heat the fat in a deep fat fryer or suitable pan to 350 F. Form spheres from the risen batter with

2 spoons, or an ice cream scoop, dipped in the hot fat and let them slide into the hot fat. Fry them until brown, in 4-6 minutes. When the temperature of the fat is correct, the oliebollen will turn their selves over when the first side has browned enough. Take the oliebollen from the fat with a slotted spoon, place them in a colander to get rid of most of the fat, then place them in another colander layered with kitchen paper towels. Use more kitchen paper towels between the layers. The towels will absorb the remaining fat. Use the same method to bake the rest of the dough. Eat hot, cold or reheated in the microwave and dusted with sugar. Recipe courtesy of honestcooking.com

In a large saucepan coated with cooking spray, heat oil over medium heat. Add onions, celery and carrot; cook and stir until crisp-tender. Stir in lentils, parsley, bouillon, pepper and water; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, covered, 20-25 minutes or until lentils are tender, stirring occasionally. Stir in tomato paste, vinegar, brown sugar and salt; heat through. Serve with cheese. Freeze option: Freeze cooled soup in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Heat through in a saucepan, stirring occasionally; add a little water if necessary. Recipe courtesy of tasteofhome.com

ITALIAN- STYLE LENTIL SOUP (Lentils for Luck and Prosperity in Italy)

2 gal apple cider 2 c orange juice 1 c lemon juice 1 c pineapple juice 1 c granulated sugar 1 tsp whole cloves 1 cinnamon stick, broken into pieces

2 tsp olive oil 2 medium onions, chopped 2 celery ribs, thinly sliced 1 medium carrot, chopped 1 c dried lentils, rinsed 1/4 c minced fresh parsley 1 T reduced-sodium beef bouillon granules 1/2 tsp pepper 5 1/4 c water 1 can (6 oz) tomato paste 2 T white vinegar 2 tsp brown sugar 1/2 tsp salt 2 T shredded Parmesan cheese

GRANDMA’S WASSAIL (For good health in England)

Mix apple cider, orange juice, lemon juice, pineapple juice, and sugar together in a large pot over medium-low heat. Place cloves and cinnamon in a tea ball; add ball to the apple cider mixture. Simmer mixture until warmed through, about 15 minutes. Serve from pot with large ladle Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com

Providing support, when and where you need it most. ASI is prepared to provide you with remote computer support and service, both at your place of business or in your home. We are also equipped with a contact-free lockbox for dropoffs of pickups at our office.

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479.880.2005 DECEMBER 2021

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

COMMUNITY COMMERCE

Orr Truck Center “It was a long process, but it was a no-brainer that Yell County was the choice,” said James Parker, manager of Orr Truck Center of Yell County. “We looked at different towns and talked to councils and chambers and the people in the towns. David Rogers, co-owner and general manager of Orr, really put a lot into figuring out where. It took about a year. After he sat with the mayor and people from Yell County, it was just a matter of finding a

spot, a place that was centrally located.” On September 1, 2021 — in the fully-renovated, former grocery store at 612 Union Street in Dardanelle — Orr Truck Center of Yell County opened its doors.

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

DECEMBER 2021

Orr Truck Center 612 Union St., Dardanelle orrtruckcenterofyellcounty.com/ (479) 477-3069

Story & photo by BENITA DREW

Carrying new and used vehicles, plans are underway to add a full-service center and parts department. While the building is ready, the only delay is in getting necessary equipment. “It’s a longer process than we had hoped,” Parker said, “but the service center will open as soon as we can get parts. Like everything else right now, there’s a parts shortage. Orr Truck Center is an approved Ram Truck Center while Orr Auto Mall of Rus-

sellville contains Orr Dodge, Chrysler, Jeep, Ram; Orr Hyundai; Orr Nissan; and Orr Pre-Owned Center dealership. While the only new vehicles carried are Ram trucks, Orr Truck Center will carry any brand of used with makes including Mercedes and BMW currently on the lot. Parker added that they will service any make and model. “We have vehicles from $2,500 and up right now. We have something for everyone.” Parker said plans were to keep up to a hundred vehicles on the lot. There are currently approximately 60. He added that combined, Orr Auto Mall in Russellville and Orr Truck Center have more used car inventory than the rest of the River Valley. Parker also said that he expects new car inventory to rebound by mid-2022. Parker said that what Orr is most proud of is that everything sold comes with a free lifetime powertrain warranty. “That’s 100 percent parts and labor, no deductible, no max term, at no cost.” Orr Truck Center presently has nine fulltime employees with plans to eventually employee around 30 when the service and parts departments are complete. The current employees all have strong ties to Yell County, and Parker said they are trying to hire from Yell County exclusively. Parker said his family has had Yell County ties since his grandparents settled in Danville. Now his children live in Dardanelle and his grandchildren attend school in Dardanelle. Parker started with Valley Motors and stayed when it became Orr Auto Mall for a total of 20 years. He said of Orr Truck Center of Yell County, “We plan to grow with the community and be an

active part of everything we can, especially with youth programs.” Sales professional Scott Ross is from Dover. He said he enjoys meeting new people and has been with Orr since June, 2021. Sales professional Roberto Guevara said he and his family moved to Dardanelle when he was in the sixth grade. He graduated from Dardanelle in 2016, then went on to earn a degree in collision repair. “I’ve always been involved with cars. I worked at O’Reilly’s and Auto Zone during college, then became employed by Orr in July of 2019.” Finance manager Scotty Stone was the sales manager at Hyundai since 2012, before moving to the Orr Truck Center. He grew up in Yell County and likely has the longest family history there of the Orr employees, dating back to at least 1820. “It’s my home,” Stone said. “I live one mile from here in the house my grandparents built, and I’ll live here forever. I love to travel but my roots are here. I don’t want to be the one in the family to change that now, after 200 years.” Sales professional Walter Gray grew up in Van Buren but relocated to attend Arkansas Tech and earned a degree in social media marketing. Gray took his social media knowledge to Orr and became the Ride Retailer. He is on Facebook with 4,000 followers and having just begun Tic Tok has 200 followers. Gray lives in Russellville but plans to relocate to Yell County soon. Orr Truck Center of Yell County is open from 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., and can be reached by phone at 477-3069. l

DECEMBER 2021

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

THE SEED & THE STORY

Honoring grief Story by MEREDITH MARTIN-MOATS Photo by JOHNNY CARROL SAIN

his time of the year can bring grief to the forefront in ways that are jarring and monumentally uncomfortable. All the twinkling lights, and silver bells, the childhood parties, and festive gatherings are full of laughter and coziness. But if you’re struggling with a recent loss, or you’re ostracized from family or friends, or even if you’re experiencing just some run of the mill seasonal depression compounded by years of trauma, the winter holiday season can feel unnecessarily cruel. Ever since I lost my mother more than 13 years ago, I have been wrestling with how to live life in a way that holds grief and joy in tandem. My mother died at 63 and then a few months later I found out my husband and I were pregnant for the first time. Those twin babies are now 12-yearold preteens, complete with all complexity and raging emotional ambiguity of that age. My whole experience of motherhood and caregiving has been an exercise in

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~

weaving the heartbreak with the celebration. And I’m one of the lucky ones. Some people lose their children or their spouses or partners. A few weeks ago, we hosted a grief circle at the McElroy House. It was designed by several of our members (especially Cary who is excellent at honoring grief) who are wise enough to understand that the early sunsets and the cold, long nights are

DECEMBER 2021

an invitation to rest and process the myriad losses that are a part of all existence. So we lit a fire and talked about grief, specifically, the grief attached to COVID and these last few years of trying to make sense of a world that seems off the rails. At the core of that gathering was this offering: take time to slow down and honor the loss and the sadness and the change. Don’t push it away. Don’t run from it. Don’t feel shame

I think one of the reasons that Christmas time can feel so very achy isn’t simply because we are immersed in traditions that remind us of those we have lost or days we can not recapture, though, that certainly plays a role. The bigger hurt is that the literal Earth shows us this is a time for introspection and slow recollection. in it. Just let it exist. I distinctly remember the Christmas after my mother died, how much the winter holidays cut me to the core. There was a sharpness in that ache — and in that cold wind — that I still can’t fully name. I kept asking myself how could I ever exist in a world where everyone was screaming joy when all I could find was such piercing loss and emptiness. I didn’t know how to pretend or blend in. I didn’t know how to hide my confusion. And I sure wasn’t ready to just “remember the good times.” Everywhere I turned was a memory I wasn’t

ready to face. I know people meant well, but when they told me “don’t cry,” or “just find the happy memories,” all I could feel was that my grief wasn’t welcome or safe with them. And in that period of my life, when all I could feel was sadness, it meant I wasn’t welcome. So I pulled away. I think one of the reasons that Christmas time can feel so very achy isn’t simply because we are immersed in traditions that remind us of those we have lost or days we can not recapture, though, that certainly plays a role. The bigger hurt is that the literal Earth shows us this is a time for introspection and slow recollection. Even the leaves and the trees and the plants and the bears hear that call. And they heed it without question. But do we? So, yes, it is time for all the presents and the warm ciders and the cozy laughter. That is essential. But it is also time for the sorrow and the ache and the cold and the wind. And when we pretend we can have one without the other, we cut ourselves off from an honest existence in this world. And what’s more, we may intentionally cut out some core parts of ourselves---and others off who need us the most. So this is all to say, in these winter holiday seasons, know that deep, sharp, canyon-like grief is fundamentally a part of those twinkling lights and sharp air. Learn how to make room for all the layers of grief and, specifically, for grieving people. Invite the grief in. Invite the brokenhearted. Don’t run or hide from these days that get dark so quickly. Offer grief a welcome seat at the table during even the biggest of feasts. It is the most honest and real thing we can do. l

DECEMBER 2021

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

Story & photo by JOHNNY CARROL SAIN

A JOURNAL of our RURAL & NATURAL HERITAGE

For posterity I TURNED 50 THIS YEAR. That means I’ve survived four years longer on this planet than my father did. Dad never met either of my daughters. Since my first grandchild came into my world six years ago followed by her sister and then brother, I’ve been thankful for my good fortune. I’ve thought about the precious time I’ve spent with my grandchildren so far, about how there are so many things I can teach them about life, nature, this place, our culture. I thought about what they would miss if I were to pass away while they were still 36

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too young to understand so much of it. I thought about, if that were to happen, how very little they would really know about me and how that lack of information might somehow alter what they knew about themselves. Sure, they’d have stories from their mom, aunt, grandmother, and other family members. They might run across people who knew me, and they might hear an anecdote here and there to get a general feel for the character of the man they knew as “Pa.” But I worried that -- grateful as I’d be for those people who would keep my

DECEMBER 2021

memory alive -- the experiences might ring hollow for my grandkids. This was basically how I felt after my dad passed away when I was 24. I’ve been so thankful for those stories about him. But I still feel like I never really knew him as anything but “Dad.” And how could my daughters ever know him as anything but a collection of other people’s ideas about who he was? He left no words of his own to help me or them understand who he was as a person. So here’s this book full of my words for my grandkids (and kids) that’s here now --

even though I plan to stick around for a few more decades -- and long after I’m gone. Most of the 220 pages are composed of previously published work, but there are a few originals in it as well. I’m also positive that it’s full of typos and oversights, and I could have done a damn sight better with font selection, size, and such. But it’s done, and I’m tired of messing with it. A book designer I am not. I hadn’t planned to actively market the book, but the publishing company I used automatically markets it to Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and book stores across the globe so I figured I might as well let folks know. There’s a small sampling from the book’s introduction just after this letter. Maybe the stories can help you or someone you know cultivate that sense of place and a deeper love for our home near the river and between the mountains. Much obliged, Johnny Carrol Sain *** I imagine that by the time you’re reading this on your own, you’ll be well into your teen years. That was my suggestion to your mom, anyway, because there are some word choices and ideas in here that require a more mature mindset to fully appreciate. But as of this writing, Nixie Carrol, you are five years old. Lenny Renae, you are two. And, Luke Henry, you’ve been here for only six months. This book is for each of you, my grandchildren In these pages you’ll find a collection of essays about my experiences in the rural

southern Ozarks and River Valley of Arkansas along with some insights into the culture of the region of which I am a product. I was born here, have lived my entire life here. And I’m quite certain that if your grandmother and I were to move anywhere else, I simply would not be me. My roots run deep in this place and because of this, yours do as well. Most of the essays were previously published in various magazines over the first 10 years of my career as a professional writer, which didn’t start until I was around 40 years old and is an interesting story in itself. But I’ll save that for another time. There’s not really a central theme to the essays, though, I’m sure you can find some semblance of a pattern here and there. Actually, I’ll save you the trouble: The central theme is me. These stories are simply me, and I’ll explain the “why” a few paragraphs down. I tried to categorize them, but there’s so much overlap that a clear demarcation is impossible. Some should probably be in one place and others might really work better in another, but what’s done is done and the book is already published. We’ll all just have to accept that the borders are not much more than a flimsy pretense of order. I want you all to have this collected hodge-podge of stories for a couple of reasons. The first is because there’s a heritage here in this often overlooked land of humble hills and creeks that I hope you come to appreciate and love just as I do. And there are layers within this heritage impossible for me to convey without writing. I hope that through these essays you’ll come to know and embrace where you come from

and that this acceptance will help you understand who you are. This little strip of flyover country, featuring the oldest mountains on the planet and a society moving at what seems a snail’s pace compared to the rest of the world, is your place. But also understand that the whole of the planet is your place, too. As the creek once told me (another interesting story that I’ll save for yet another time), there is nowhere on the globe that you don’t belong. You are a product of your specific place and, even more, you are a product of Earth I also want you to have these stories because there is another heritage beyond the natural and cultural that resides within me, your grandfather, that I need to share with you. I want you to see how I became the person I am because those experiences helped shape your mom, and those long-ago experiences will also help shape you. I’ve fumbled with the proper way to define this legacy for days now. It could be what some folks call spiritual, but I’ve never figured out what that word really means. Whatever you want to call it, I don’t believe you can fully realize its depth unless you can know me, in some small way, as just a boy and then just a man, as just another human being. But we all know that I’m more than just another human being. I am, after all, the blessed soul so very fortunate to have helped welcome you to this world, who stood with your grandmother beside your parents as an assistant guide and teacher on your first, and hopefully several more, legs of this wondrous journey. I am the man honored beyond all I deserve who gets to be your Pa. l

Providing free quality instruction and support to literacy-seeking adults. River Valley Adult Learning Alliance (479) 477-3910

rivervalleyliteracycouncil@gmail.com

DECEMBER 2021

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COMMUNITY LEADERS

...

Tony

GRIFFIN AGE: 52 HOMETOWN: Jonesboro, AR YEARS IN THE Three as of July 1, 2021 RIVER VALLEY OCCUPATION: United Methodist Pastor FAMILY: Tracy, my wife of 26 years; Ad-

dison, my 23-year-old daughter; Will, my 21-year-old son; and Lainey, my 14-year-old daughter.

1.What is your favorite book? I love to read a variety of genres, but one of the most impactful books I have ever read is Thomas Merton’s “New Seeds of Contemplation.” Merton speaks with amazing depth and simplicity about the spiritual life. When I contrast this book with Merton’s journals and letters it reveals a man with an amazing gift for relating the spiritual with all its ups and downs and gifts and challenges. He invites the reader to look deep within one’s self and deep into the mystery of God’s all-encompassing love.

2. Dog or cat? Ha! I love them both! Early in our marriage we had two cats, Bogie and Mattie. Bogie, like a typical cat, could “take you or leave you.” Mattie, on the other hand was a lover. We currently have two chihuahua’s, Ethyl and Olive, and one River Valley “mash-up” rescue dog (we’re thinking some lab, terrier, and maybe blue heeler) named John Wesley Griffin, in honor of the primary founder of Methodism. He goes by Wesley.

3. What do you think is the most positive aspect of living in the River Valley?

Photo by LIZ CHRISMAN 38

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DECEMBER 2021

I love the natural beauty of the River Valley. You are near the mountains along with beautiful, lakes, streams, and rivers. What’s not to like?

4. What’s something that no one would ever guess about you? I was a lawyer and CPA before becoming a pastor. I also drove a school bus for four years and joined the United States Marine Corps in 1991. I was unable to take my commission as an officer due to an injury during training.

5. What is your favorite genre of music, artist? I love all kinds of music. But I have to say that I spend most of time listening to classic rock and roll and a little grunge, especially Pearl Jam.

6. What do you nerd out on? Well, no surprise here. The twentieth century Trappist monk Thomas Merton was central to my doctoral thesis. I love all things Merton!

8. Where is the one location in the River Valley you would tell a ﬁrst-time visitor that they must go? That’s a no-brainer! I would send firsttime visitors to Mount Nebo for the incredible sunrises and sunsets.

7. If you could change one thing about the River Valley, what would it be? It would be wonderful to see a decline in the rate of persons living at or below the poverty line in the River Valley. While poverty concerns me in the River Valley, it is also one of the most inspiring ministries that I see the people of Russellville First United Methodist Church attacking through its Manna House Food Pantry. It is an amazing community ministry that provides food and hygiene items to approximately 24,000 persons per year. The passion and compassion demonstrated through Manna House volunteers and patrons inspires me!

9. Pizza, tacos, cheeseburger, or fried chicken? Whoa, this is tough one. But I’m going to have to go with fried chicken. Why? That crispy, deep fried taste. What’s not to love?

10. What is your favorite quote? Could be from an inspirational person, could be an original. Just one? I find these two inspiring and comforting. “The great use of life is to spend it for something that outlasts it.” ~ William James. “No one must despair of forgiveness from a God who is by nature most merciful.” ~ Desiderius Erasmus.

DECEMBER 2021

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY