ABOUT | February 2018 by ABOUT the River Valley Magazine

The Latimore Home

Reflecting the Character of the Arkansas River Valley FEBRUARY 2018

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RHS & RJHS Student Success Conferences The Student Success conferences are for Russellville High School and Russellville Junior High School students in grades 8th-11th. They are designed to provide more personalized information regarding your child’s plans for the future. The conference will involve you and your child meeting with your child’s Student Success teacher/advisor to discuss individualized schedules, selection of next year’s classes, and information regarding college and career. There will also be informational college and career booths at RHS. RHS parents can register for a Student Success conference online at: https://ptcfast.com/schools/Russellville_High_ School RJHS parents will be sent additional information on registering for a conference.

February 12th 1-7 PM

Contact your child’s school if you have any questions or need additional information. A traditional Parent/Teacher Conference will be held Monday, February 19, from 4-7 P.M.

220 West 10th Street  Russellville AR. 72801  479.968.1306  www.russellvilleschools.net

February 2018 TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S

8 Silent Witness

For more than a century the Latimore Home has served as cultural centerpiece for African-Americans in the River Valley. A witness to the past, and the last of its kind in Arkansas, the structure’s future is now in question.

14 No pain no gain 16 For better or worse &

weekends at the dirt track

I’ve always felt confident that I knew all there was to know about most sports — basketball, football, baseball, and even golf. But after meeting my (now) husband, Mitchell, I found out I was wrong.

8 16

DEVOTED - Your River Valley Wedding Planner

The best of the best for your day of enchantment can be found right here within the pages of Devoted.

30 Valley Vittles 42 Journey with Jill in the Garden 44 American Pokeweed

Russellville Pediatric & Adolescent Clinic

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

ABOUT THIS MONTH’S COVER ATU student Taylor Paulk of Little Rock posed for our cover shoot honoring the heritage of the historic Latimore House and Black History Month.

Johnson Regional Medical Center For all of your orthopedic needs

We have outstanding Board Certified Orthopedic surgeons, Dr. Rolando Cheng and Dr. Russell Allison. Both surgeons provide arthroscopic and joint replacement procedures. Dr. Allison specializes in minimally invasive procedures for the knee, hip and shoulder. Johnson Regional recently expanded its outpatient therapy department, with a focus on the treatment of post-surgical patients and sports injuries. New state-of-the-art equipment provides our patients with the necessary treatments for quicker recoveries and a return to active lifestyles. If a more intensive rehabilitation is needed, Johnson Regional has the only certified inpatient physical rehabilitation unit in Johnson County. Our 15-bed unit can assist patients with intensive daily therapy in a supportive setting for improvement and recovery.

Dr. Rolando Cheng

Dr. Russell Allison

www.JRMC.com 1100 East Poplar St. • Clarksville, AR

OFFICE: CLARKSVILLE (479) 754-5405

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FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

EDITOR’S LETTER

Some things never change

his is where I’m supposed to give an obligatory rundown on all the obligatory changes we’ve made in the magazine for the new year. You know the drill. We mark another journey around the sun — something the planet has been doing pretty much along the same path and within the same time frame for 4.5 billion years — by changing things. And though I am a bit contrarian, I do like me some ritual, so we did a little tweaking. Not that there was anything wrong with our old ways of doing things that seem so 2017 right now, but because we genuinely believe that the changes will make ABOUT better. True to my contrarian ways, I’ll start with the last page first. ABOUT has entered into a new and exciting partnership with Dog Ear Books in downtown Russellville. Our new back page sponsored by Dog Ear will be book reviews guest written by various folks around the River Valley that know a thing or two about good reads. We’ll be careful with the spoilers and Dog Ear will be the place to get those books after the review has whetted your literary appetite. Reading is the cornerstone of a well-informed citizenry and a well-rounded individual. We’re hoping this partnership will turn into some-

thing more, perhaps a movement community wide that leads to deeper thought and discussion. Thinking along truly idealist lines, we want this little project to make the question “what are you reading now?” a common inquiry among River Valley people of all demographics. This issue includes a revamping of our traditional February bridal section into something we hope to launch as it’s own annual publication soon. Introducing DEVOTED: Your River Valley Wedding Planner. It’s a concept we’ve been toying with for a while now brought to print for the first time as a trial run. And finally, we’ve axed the A View from the Back Roads column for a concept more encompassing. There will still be some outdoors content, but now it will be under the American Pokeweed column. It’s a place we’ll talk about rural ways of the River Valley — folklore, history, outdoor pursuits, the old ways of doing things — to help instill a sense of place for readers. All of these changes are designed to help us better reflect the character of your River Valley. That’s what we do… because some things never change. – Johnny Carrol Sain

Reflecting the Character of the Arkansas River Valley since 2006 A Publication of One14 Productions, Inc Vol. XIII, Issue 1 – February 2018

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 CHRISTINE SAIN | advertising christine@aboutrvmag.com MIKE QUAIN | creative content producer mike@aboutrvmag.com MEREDITH MARTIN-MOATS | freelance meredith@aboutrvmag.com JILL MCSHEEHY | freelance jill@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 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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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

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COMMUNITY CALENDAR OF EVENTS

February 2018 2nd — Eagle Tour on Lake Dardanelle from 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. Admission is free. Call the visitor center at 967-5516 to reserve your seat. Boarding begins 15 minutes before the tour, at the boat dock near the Tournament Weigh-In Facility. Also, in case of inclement weather, call one hour before tour time for possible cancellations.

5th — Russellville High School Junior Follies from 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at The Center for the Arts. For more information contact 498-6600.

8th — Bon Appétit! at University of the Ozarks Rowntree Recital Hall 415 N College Clarksville at 7 p.m. Bon Appétit! featuring mezzo-soprano Dr. Susan Fleming and pianist Jeffery Watson is a one-act, one-woman opera about famed chef Julia Child with music by American composer Lee Hoiby (1926-2011). Admission is free. For more information contact 979-1420.

9th — Hikes, Hearts, and Hugs: The Legend of Petit Jean in one act. CCC room at Mather Lodge 6:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Want to have a little Valentine’s weekend fun? Meet Park Interpreter Matt in the historic CCC Room at Mather Lodge to take part in the retelling of the “romantic legend” of the naming of Petit Jean Mountain. Light in spirit, this program

Find up-to-date information and future events @

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lasts about 30 minutes. Admission is free. For more information contact (501) 727-5441

16th — O.W.L.S. (Outdoor Women Learn-

28 29 30 31 1 2 3

ing Skills) from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. Admission is $20. The Arkansas River creates many recreational opportunities. This program series is designed to give ladies the opportunity to explore the available recreation at Lake Dardanelle and the surrounding area by learning skills and knowledge needed to enjoy nature. The series will be one evening a month for six months. Each session will cover a new topic including geocaching, weather lore, birding, dutch oven cooking, edible plants, and learning about the things you might encounter in nature. You must preregister for each class by calling (479) 967-5516, registration includes dinner.

4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 1 2 3 *Unless otherwise indicated, all area codes are 479. To have your event included in the ABOUT Calendar of Events, email: editor@aboutrvmag.com or fax to (479) 219-5031. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication.

March 1st

— Beaux Arts Academy Awards 6 p.m.- 9p.m. at Lake Point Conference Center. Winners are: Life Time Mr. & Mrs. David Snellings; Patron of the Arts Dr. Mary Ann Rollans; Performing Arts Ashley Miller Davis; Visual Arts Doyle Young.Tickets are $50.00 and are available at the River Valley Arts center Monday-Thursday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

March 2nd — Downtown Art Walk from 6-9 p.m. in downtown Russellville.

March 3rd— Archeology Day at

Petit Jean 2018 from 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. at various sites park-wide. March is Archeology Month in Arkansas, and you are invited to spend a day discovering the archeological treasures of Petit Jean Mountain, including the American Indian pictographs of Rock House Cave. Contact the park for a schedule. Admission is free. For more information contact (501) 727-5441.

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Silent Witness

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

n 1940 folk singer Woody Guthrie, no stranger to travel, captured the essence of America’s obsession with “hitting the road” in a scribbled ode to his fellow countrymen. His words were immortalized in what is considered the national

anthem of the common man: This land is your land; this land is my land/ From California to the New York Island/ From the Redwood Forest to the Gulf Stream waters/ This land was made for you and me. The irony is that during the height of the song’s popularity - and even at the exact time Guthrie wrote the lyrics - there was a group of citizens excluded from sharing in that expansive magisterial worldview. In fact, those citizens were not afforded the right to ride “that ribbon of highway” with the same impunity as their lighter skinned compatriots. The Latimore Tourist Home of Russellville is a testament to the disparity that played out for African-Americans in the burgeoning era of American transportation, especially on the highways that criss-crossed the South.

Russellville was a transportation hub situated at the nexus of intersecting major highways U.S. 64, running east-west, and Arkansas Highway 7, running north-south. It was also a railroad town with tracks running parallel to Main Street. The corner of Houston and 3rd Place was also the “historical hub of Black life in Russellville,” says Sister Geraldine Wilson, 88, who married into the neighborhood in 1948 and was friends with the eldest daughter Anna Jean Latimore. Wilson is also referring to the historical significance of New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church, currently situated on the property adjoining the Home. According to the National Register of Historic Places, the Latimore Tourist Home, owned by Eugene“Gene” (1878-1980)* and his second wife Cora (Wilson) Latimore and located at 318 S. Houston, “is a rare survival of the era of segregation in Arkansas, especially related to segregated travel.” The Home’s rise to prominence in that role was because of its inclusion in the Negro Motorist Green Book, a mandatory encyclopedic travelogue that served as a guide to places that welcomed African-American travelers. These listings included restaurants as well as lodgings — motels, hotels, and private homes — associated in the South, particularly in small towns, by the term “tourist homes.” In the 1956 edition, 50 sites in Arkansas are listed. The Latimore Tourist Home is the only listing between Little Rock and Fort Smith. Published from 1936-1964, the Green Book ceased publication with the passage of the Civil Rights Act. From its inception, however, The Green Book’s message was clearly articulated and in the 1949 edition reads, “With the introduction of this travel guide in 1936, it has been our idea to give the Negro traveler information that will keep him from running into difficulties, embarrassments and to make his trip more enjoyable.” The Home served as a touchstone for those travelers needing a respite from negotiating the minefield of segregated travel. 10

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

Ironically, many African-Americans old enough to have knowledge of the book never heard of it. Wilson grew up chopping and picking cotton in Kenwood (Conway County). Her family was so poor that they were unable to buy books or magazines. “We read what we had because we could not take the paper or anything like people do now,” she says, “and we certainly couldn’t afford a car. My mother had 17 children (six did not survive childhood).” Retired Menifee School District Superintendent Raymond Chambers and his wife Willye of Morrilton grew up in Hot Springs and were similarly clueless about the Green Book, even though Hot Springs had more establishments listed than any other Arkansas town, likely due to the well-established medicinal tourism industry and legal gambling. Chambers remembers waiting on tables at places that “black folks couldn’t patronize,” he says. His family was also unable to afford a car. “We had to use public transportation, and there were all sorts of places we weren’t allowed and things we couldn’t do,” he added. After a pause in the conversation, Chambers says, “I’m sure the Green Book was useful for those who could travel.” The Latimore Home was built at the turn of the 20th century, according to the National Registry, but a letter written to the editor of the Russellville Courier on December 23, 2015, paints a slightly different picture. Russellville resident Sally Lawrence writes at least the concept of the safe house was already established much earlier. She wrote: The Butterfield Stagecoach, commissioned to carry the mail between 1857 and 1861, came through Pottsville toward our founder Dr. Russell’s house on what is now Houston and Main. After a rest, it continued onward toward Fort Smith. We know this because of a memory passed down through the Latimore family to a friend of ours. When the stagecoach stopped, near what was then Norristown, Black slaves who rode along to tend the horses were dropped south of Dr. Russell’s home. They stayed on the very land now occupied by the Latimore Tourist Home. The affordability of automobiles catered to the growing middle class, and the resulting boom in transportation led to the need for the Green Book, which included the Latimore Tourist Home. The publicity ensured a constant stream of visitors, and the Latimores spent considerable time running the establishment. According to Mother Josephine Nichols, “Josie” for short, the obligations kept the two daughters busy. She vividly remembers helping the

younger daughter change the sheets between visitors, and together they enjoyed watching folks sit on the second story porch outside the bedroom window. Gene Latimore, however, divided his time between his passion and his vocation. He was also a veterinarian and a mighty good one, Nichols recalls. She does not demure when asked her age - or when asked anything for that matter. “I’ll be 91 if I make it to March the 5th,” she says, and to prove her perseverance, she declares, “I worked in the chicken plant ’til I was 78.” She remembers the Latimores well. She and Anna Jean were in the same class and graduated eighth grade from the James School. Further education was not an option for Nichols. “When I graduated, my mother said she wasn’t going to buy no more books, and so I started working,” she says, but the Latimore girls went off to get an education. She is speaking of Anna Jean and her younger sister Frances, known to all as “Princess.” “Their daddy was crazy about them girls,” Mother Nichols adds. “You know, the Latimores built that house specifically for Black people to stay in. They’d come from far and near, and if they had an animal down, he could save them.” She remembers Princess died young like her momma (Cora was Latimore’s second wife). “When Princess came home, they added gas heating to keep her comfortable. I remember the whole house, and even the kitchen, were heated by wood before that,” Nichols says. She sits in silence, rocking gently in front of a wall overflowing with photos of loved ones, stops and leans forward, “That’s a historical place. Why can’t we fix it up for visiting preachers? It’d make a grand parsonage.” Nichols says and mentions her son Jimmy is a

church deacon and one of the renovators that saved the Potts Inn. The oldest living member of New Prospect Missionary Baptist Church (she joined when she was eight years old), Mother Nichols is one of the “three or four” women that hold the distinction of being named a Mother of the church. “As a rule, I work with and nourish young people,” she says. Known for her contribution in the kitchen, she also answers to the affectionate moniker of “Red Velvet Cake Lady” for her talent in producing desserts. Nichols laughs when she remembers those days. She is not able to cook like she used to. The histories of New Prospect and the Latimore Home are intertwined. Deacon Andy Hatley oversaw the purchase of the Home in 2014 from The Latimore’s son-in-law Damon Stokes. “Mr. Stokes was really a Methodist,” Hatley says, “but he decided he would let us take it over.” Shortly after New Prospect assumed ownership, there was a report that burglars were hiding inside. Hayley laughs when he recalls the police officer’s hesitance to venture away from the front door. “Nobody had been in that place. It was just too dangerous, and the staircase didn’t look safe, but I went up, and when I came down the stairs caved in. That policeman’s eyes nearly popped out of his head,” he says with a laugh. The current state of the Home is no laughing matter. In recent years, the declining integrity of the structure has demanded a response from the church. Condemned by the city, the shuttered house is a two-story white clapboard structure with a facade dominated by a massive front porch, Ornamental design is subdued, but includes turned spindles on the railing, and gingerbread work on the second floor of the porch. >> FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

Reverend Lee Tyus and Andy Hatley

Structural features include a gabled or pitched roof, frieze boards below the roof and above the foundation, double-hung windows (that have recently been boarded), pilasters at the corners of the first floor and under the roof, and a striking foundation of native fieldstone. The church has not formally responded in regards to the dilapidated structure but had originally intended it for youth ministry. Community members have expressed their hope that the church would commit to preserving the historical site. The Arkansas Tech History Department has expressed interest in the site’s preservation, and the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program has shared information about available funding. AHPP spokesman Mark Christ confirms his agency’s involvement. “We are in the business of preserving history,” he says, “and the church is a not-for-profit entity that qualifies for assistance. To my knowledge, the Latimore Tourist Home is the only existing structure in Arkansas that was included in the Green Book and has claim to such an important part of our national history, particularly as it relates to the African-American experience.” Local historian and caretaker of the Reed Cemetery, a historically African-American site, Rev. Jerry Linton is vocal about his concern for the Home’s fate. “The truth of the matter is,” he says, “the community wants to save it. Ask anybody. My people have just not preserved our Black history.” Reverend Lee Tyus, who has shepherded the congregation for going-on eight years, is quick to point out that the funding Christ speaks of is not total funding, and part of Tyus’ obligation is to weigh the long-term financial consequences such a move would have on the church. He does not take this burden lightly, and solutions do not come easily or cheaply. Nevertheless, Hatley and Tyus are not native to Russellville — Hatley came by way of Arkansas Nuclear One, and Tyus lives in Conway — and so they are respectful of church members who have a long history in the area. The Reverend is not immune to the impassioned appeals made by community members. “We know there is a level of in12

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

terest from the community about what we do with the building,” says Tyus, “and the church will make a decision soon, and it will be what is right for the church.” He assures concerned residents that his church is under prayerful consideration. New Prospect, established in 1884, demolished its church that stood for 88 years and rebuilt across the street in its current location, as a new fortified brick facility. There are lingering sentiments about that decision. Sister Wilson shares her concerns. “What bothers me is the church is talking about tearing it (Latimore Home) down. I hated it so bad when our church was torn down because it was history, too,” she says, sitting in front of her plate glass window facing the church. “I’ve had people say to me it was symbolic of Black people here. The church was in bad shape, but I have seen other churches in far worse shape fixed up and continue to be used today,” she says. Sister Wilson lifts her cane just enough to display her conviction.“The majority is not always right.” Sister Wilson fingers through news clippings she’s saved. “It bugs me now when people say, ‘forget tradition.’ Forget tradition? You can’t forget tradition. If you do, you won’t know who you are.” She compares her generation to younger generations. “A lot of Black people today don’t know where they are from. Black children don’t study Negro history. When we were coming up, we studied Black history. All they know is Martin Luther King, and he is great, but he stood on the shoulders of a lot of great men,” she says. “Not knowing the roots of all the good things our people has done causes a loss of pride,” she says with certainty. Rev. Tyus has heard the whisperings and concerns. “Preserving history is a wonderful thing. Can we preserve our history without necessarily preserving the building because of a lack of adequate financial backing?” He and Hatley sit in the church foyer against walls plastered with black and white photographs documenting the stories preserved here. The departed faithful brothers and sisters, the buildings that housed them, the good works that have flowed into the community. The reception area doubles as an altar

showcasing the sincerity of this 134 year-old, 125-member strong congregation that serves the hungry through Neighbor’s Table, a free weekly community meal located at the larger Episcopal church down the road and runs an active campus youth ministry. Rev. Tyus leans forward and asks, “How can we utilize this house or what this house represents in our ministry?” Many questions, not so many answers. The bell tower outside the church entrance is evidence that a narrative can continue. Two cornerstones from the razed building are ensconced in the masonry, flanked by a commemorative plaque and topped with the very bell from the prior house of worship. Mother Nichols recalls that the sound of that bell announced the gathering of the congregation for 88 years. The Latimore Tourist Home, however, speaks to a time when ingenuity combined with hospitality addressed a horrific chapter in our national identity. How relevant is this discussion today? The publishers of the Green Book anticipated a time when the guide would no longer be necessary and wrote to that effect in the 1949 edition: There will be a day sometime in the future when this guide will not have to be published. That is when we as a race will have equal opportunities and privileges in the United States. It will be a great day for us to suspend this publication for then we can go wherever we please, and without embarrassment. But until that time comes we shall continue to publish information for your convenience each year. To watch the old house breathe its last, drawn-out breath is a palpable act of reverence. There is no better way to describe it. A person who takes the time to pause in front of the house, long enough for the eyes to traverse its intricacies and past the signs of decay, can feel the joy of children running on the porch, the anticipation as an unfamiliar car parks in front, and the warm embrace of friendship that comes from shared struggles. This is a house with a story tended by people with a story, both rooted in the same sacred place. The church recognizes its obligation to make a decision. As keepers of the house, they have the power to write its history and the history of its people. That power is unpacked by wisdom leaders of the church, how-

Mother Josie Nichols

ever. Mother Nichols is pointed in her opinion. “Right now, they are not going in the right direction. I wish they would listen to me, but they won’t pay attention. They want to shut me down.” She leans forward, hands clasped on her walker, and stares resolutely at the framed certificate signed by Mayor Tyrone Williamson in 2007 in which he declared the day as “Josie Nichols Day” and affirmed her role as Mother of the church. Nichols turns her head and a smile slowly appears, spreading across her face, softening her wrinkles, and lighting her eyes. “I’m not gonna back down,” she says, “I AM a Mother of the church.” * According to Reed cemetery, Eugene Latimore was born in 1871. According to the 1940 United States Census, he was born in 1872, but his obituary listed his birthdate as 1878.

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2320 West Main, Rsvl; (479) 968-6464 Mon-Sat 9:30-6:00

FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

E V E R Y D AY L I F E

No pain no gain JUST LIKE 65 PERCENT OF MY FELLOW AMERICANS, I, too, make New Year's resolutions. And of course, like many resolution makers, I don't always follow through for more than a few weeks or months. But even a few weeks or months of healthy eating and productivity is better than none, right? A few years ago, when Planet Fitness gym opened in Russellville, I thought it was great to have a gym open 24 hours. I tend to keep the oddest schedule with my job. Between parenting duties and other obligations, making time to work out during typical gym hours always seemed impossible. Weeks went by, and I kept thinking about how I needed to get a membership and start

Neylon

Story by SARAH CLOWER Illustration by CLIFF THOMAS

going regularly but just hadn't made the time. But it was a new year! Which meant a new me! On January 2nd I pulled into the parking lot of the City Mall, in my workout clothes. For me this meant an oversized sweatshirt and some old leggings. I mean… who spends money on clothes they are just going to sweat in? I walked into the gym and told the clerk I was ready to set up a new membership. When that was done, she gave me a quick tour. Then she came to the area with lots of big work out equipment that looked incredibly complicated. There were pulleys and knobs, handles and ropes, weights and wheels all over the place. She must have seen my eyes go wide with uncertainty.

“Do you need help figuring out any of the equipment?” The young girl asked. She was dressed very smartly in matching gym attire with a bright pink “Nike” emblazoned on her rear end. “Oh I'm sure I can manage,” I said with immediate regret. “Ok, well let me know if you need anything.” The girl answered cheerfully. “Ok thanks… I work out all the time!” I said loudly to her back while she was walking away. I looked at my reflection in the floor to ceiling mirrors that lined the entire wall in front of me. “Liar,” I mouthed to my reflection. Who was I kidding? The most working out I did all day was blow dry hair and run after my son.

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

Kristen

I looked over the machine in front of me. “This can't be too complicated. You can do this,” I said to myself. I sat down on a seat that looked like a bench and started trying to pull down on some handles. Nothing. I tried again. No give. I sighed. “Um, you're supposed to sit on this part and put your feet where you're sitting,” came a voice from behind me. I glanced over my shoulder to see a tiny old Asian man peering at me with impatience. “Oh. Thanks.” I said. I got off that particular torture device and tried the next machine beside me. I put my hands on the foam padded handles. I began to pull up and down on them thinking, “Now this doesn't seem too bad…” until I felt my head jerk back and my hair pulled tight. I tried to turn around and see what had snagged my locks as I heard the voice of the tiny Asian man. “Ma’am, your hair is caught in the ropes behind you.” Of course it was. Only me. I tried to act nonchalant, but I was clearly in a predicament. The tiny man sighed. He put down his barbells and came to help. Five minutes later, I was

freed and even more embarrassed. I decided these big machines were probably not for me, and made my way to the treadmills. I eyed them cautiously. “How do you even start this thing?” I decided the run-and -jump approach was best. I backed up, gave it my all and jumped on at the same time I pressed start. “Oh.” I said. “It starts up slowly.” As I gradually increased my speed, the tiny Asian man appeared on the treadmill beside me. He placed his water bottle in a big circle opening on the front of the display. “You know, a Pringle’s can would fit there perfectly,” I joked. He looked at me out of the side of his eye. “This is first time you've been here, huh?” He asked. “Yep! Just got my membership this morning!” “I can tell.” He said “My wife and I come here every morning to help us stay fit and young.” He said, with such vigor, as I looked over my shoulder in a area behind us, where a tiny Asian woman was doing squats with weights in her hands. “Dang, y'all are dedica-” Wham!

While still turned around, I managed to trip over my own feet and fall onto the moving treadmill belt, which flung me off the machine. “Holy crap!” The tiny man said. “Are you ok?” As he reached over and turned my treadmill off for me. “Um, I think so.” I said, knowing that I was covered in carpet burn. “I've never seen anyone just fall while they were walking before.” The man said. “I wish I could say the same, but I do it all the time.” I said as I rolled my eyes. The man switched off his treadmill and lithely stepped off. “Well, it's time for our yoga class, but I'll see you back here tomorrow morning!” The tiny Asian couple walked away together as I stood by the treadmill that had tried to kill me. “Well.” I said to myself. “I guess if I'm going get better at this I need come on a regular basis.” I eyed the treadmill with disdain. “Until next time.” I cocked an eyebrow at the machine and headed for the front door. A new year, a new me. Maybe if I repeat it enough it'll sink in!

FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

Mitchell Mourot

is a stock car dirt track racer. He grew up around racing. His dad, Tim, used to race and has loved the sport for as long as he can remember. He’ll tell you there’s not much that can give an adrenaline rush like being behind the wheel of his stock car. While NASCAR racing is one of the nation’s most popular sports, dirt track racing gives auto racing fans around Arkansas the opportunity to experience the action of live racing. What many Arkansans may not realize is just how established the sport actually is in the state, even right here in the River Valley. The first official auto race in the nation took place in Chicago in 1895, and by 1903 there were close to fifty automobiles scattered around Arkansas. The car owners’ curiosity and competitiveness got the best of them and brought them to question whose was the fastest. From there the interest in racing ignited. Built in 1949, Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis is the oldest dirt track in the state that is still in use, and by the 1970s there were several banked oval tracks around the state. Today Arkansas is home to over twenty dirt tracks. Mark Martin, the famous NASCAR driver and Batesville native, actually began his career in 1974 as a 15-year-old racing on Arkansas dirt tracks.

STORY BY MARISSA MOUROT

PHOTOS BY LIZ CHRISMAN

FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

Just as other sports have different levels, auto racing has different classes and divisions of its own. The highest divisions in Arkansas are sprint cars and late models. However, the most common race cars in Arkansas are modified stock cars. These are custom built with open wheels, metal bodies, and various engines. Mitchell started out racing dirt bikes and ATVs at the age of seven with the help of his dad. Over the next few years, he helped a friend work on his stock car and finally, at age fourteen, Mitchell got his own dirt car as a birthday gift. He raced that car for one year in Mini Stock until the track stopped running that class. So Mitchell and his dad decided to sell the car. It wasn’t until he was twenty that Mitchell decided to get back into racing and bought an old car completely in pieces. With the help of a couple buddies, he was able to get the car together, painted, and ready to go. His first night of competition was in the Hobby Stock (today known as Super Stock) class, and he ran 2nd place against more experienced racers. His dad was in the stands watching, and that race hooked them both on racing again. But times had changed since his dad had raced, and there was a lot to learn. Mitchell admits his first year in a tougher class was a rough one, but in just his second year of racing he won the 2014 Points Championship at Plumerville Super Speedway. The following year he lost the championship by one point after an unfortunate wreck during the last race. 18

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

This is when I came into the picture. I met Mitchell at the end of the 2015 racing season. Goodness, I sure didn’t know what I was getting myself into. Mitchell warned me, his parents warned me, his buddies warned me: “Come racing season, you won’t see him unless you go to the shop with him.” They told me he’d spend hours and hours at the shop working on his car each night. I didn’t really understand until racing season rolled around that it takes so much time, hard work, and dedication to make sure a car is race ready. But the first time I saw him out there on the track in that 1X car, I knew I’d found another sport to learn and love. In 2016 Mitchell won his first “big money” race — the $2,000 Super Stock Summer Sizzler held at Plumerville Super Speedway. That was a memorable race for him, but the 2017 racing season was probably one of the most fun for he and the rest of the 1X racing team. He was able to win Points Champion title again at Plumerville Super Speedway, and did so with crazy good stats. He won sixteen out of nineteen feature races. Mitchell says he owes a lot of his success to the pit crew — his dad, and Ray and Eric Welch. “They’ve been there for me since the start, through the good and the bad, and have helped so much. Me and Eric share a bond. He knows my driving and how to read the car and make changes when needed. They all help me keep a fast hot rod for sure.” He will also never forget one of his former biggest fans, Deb-

bie Welch, who was right there with the now than they were back then,” Tim re- see Mitchell’s potential and want him to guys, day in and day out. Debbie passed calls. He remembers things like borrowing keep pushing forward.” He says he is very away in the summer of 2016, but she will his dad’s ’69 Chevy truck to tow his race proud of how much Mitchell has grown as be remembered as the heart of the 1X car and that, in those days, the track ran a driver since he first started racing. team. “You could always find her behind on street tires. “The track is still the same Current track promotors, Harold and the camera,” Mitchell said. “She recorded track and still in the same spot but has had Rita Williams, also agree that Mitchell all of my races and was always showed tremendous growth this taking pictures so we could year. “Mitch’s season has been Mitchell says he owes a lot of his document our memories.” astronomical in many aspects,” Mitchell has raced at tracks all Rita shared. “One thing that success to the pit crew — his dad, over the state as well as a couple is probably the most touching in Missouri. However, his faand rewarding for me has been and Ray and Eric Welch. “They’ve vorite track and the track closest to see how he and his dad’s reto his heart is definitely the one lationship has evolved.” The been there for me since the start, he started out on, the one that Williams’ have been the track holds so many cherished mempromotors for three years. They through the good and the bad, and ories, the one just down the road went on to say that memories have helped so much. They all help from our house—Plumerville like those will last forever, and Super Speedway. that the family aspect of racing me keep a fast hot rod for sure.” This River Valley race track was one of the biggest factors was built in 1991, and Plumerthat first drew them to promote ville Super Speedway typically races four a lot of improvements through the years.” the track. Harold had his own childhood classes each week: Factory, E-Mod, Super Tim also says it means a lot to him that memories of racing with his dad, and now Stock, and Modified. his son loves racing because it gives them his daughter is showing an interest in it as Mitchell’s dad, Tim, actually raced at an opportunity to spend time together do- well. “I’ve thought of the race track as Plumerville Super Speedway on its first ing what they both love. “I know I am hard our sand box, meaning it will always be night of racing “Things are much different on him sometimes, but it’s just because I family based.” >> FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

Mitchell agrees with the Williams. “When you’re racing with the same people every week, being around the same people in the pit area, you form a special relationship with them,” said Mitchell. “They kind of become your race family. You help each other out when you can. It’s a neat thing.” And so, while I knew of dirt track racing, I didn’t know anything about the sport until I met Mitchell. I didn’t know what I was missing out on and definitely didn’t realize how popular it is around Arkansas and specifically in the River Valley. I had no idea how competitive the sport is and how much more there is to it than what meets the eye. I never knew I’d be the type of girl who enjoyed spending her weekends at the dirt track, and wouldn’t mind going home covered in dirt at the end of the night. But here I am a racer’s wife, and I wouldn’t change a thing. Knowing the love Mitchell has for the sport has made me love it, too, and seeing him in victory lane with the checkered flag makes it all worthwhile. The racing season in Arkansas typically runs from mid-March or April through September or October. Most tracks have races once a week, usually Friday or Saturday night.

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

An ABOUT the River Valley Production

devoted your River Valley Wedding Planner

You said “yes”

before he even

finished asking the question because your heart had said yes months ago. Now with the date set for your biggest of days, it’s time to tap into the professional expertise of River Valley wedding vendors and venues. And lucky you, we’ve already done the legwork. The best of the best for your day of enchantment can be found right here within the pages of Devoted. For more than 10 years, ABOUT the River Valley magazine has provided readers with stories reflecting the character of the River Valley. In 2019, ABOUT plans to unveil our new and elegant bridal compendium: Devoted - your River Valley Wedding Planner. The plans for this new magazine are a 40-page publication and an exclusive 5,000 copy run. Each section of Devoted will include select photography from a venue complete with models promoting products and goods available

right here in the River Valley. You’ll also find special advertising sections with area merchants all focused on making the bride & groom’s special day an enchanting event. These next few pages are a sneak peek of what we have in mind. From dresses to bouquets, wedding cakes to venues, couples-to-be will find it in the pages of Devoted.

devoted

~ FEBRUARY 2018

FEBRUARY FEBRUARY2018 2018 ~~

devoted devoted

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devoted

~ FEBRUARY 2018

Rose Floral orbs accented with pink roses, apple blossoms, pink carnations, and Italian ruscus provide a pleasing pastel contrast with warm earth tones of red cedar, pine and native River Valley stone of RUSTIC RIDGE BARN AT MEADOW ON THE MOUNTAIN. This dream wedding design is a mixture of fresh and silk botanicals combined to achieve a soft, romantic look designed by Joe Turner and Rena Rose of CATHY’S FLOWERS. Powder white seating and antique lanterns combine for the aura of a country church, and the cake by KNEADING HANDS BAKERY reflects a traditional lace and pearls theme. The groom sports a slim-fit Manhattan tuxedo from FORMAL AFFAIRS in Russellville. The bride is subtly stunning in a dress from DANIELLE’S BRIDAL. Rings by LEE ANN’S FINE JEWELRY.

FEBRUARY 2018

devoted

With a commanding ridge-top view of the eastern River Valley overlooking, hardwood forests, lush fields, and Point Remove Creek, MEADOW ON THE MOUNTAIN offers a rustic yet refined venue for your special day. Chandeliers, tin ceilings, black iron accents, and fantastic scenery in all four seasons â&#x20AC;&#x201D; itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a combination of irresistible woodsy charm and stylish elegance.

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devoted devoted

~~ FEBRUARY FEBRUARY 2018 2018

devoted vendor list

Meadow on the Mountain

www.meadowonthemtn.com

Cathy’s Flowers

www.cathysflowers.net

Formal Affairs

www.allformalaffairs.com

Kneading Hands Bakery

www.kneadinghandsbakery.com

Danielle’s Bridal

www.daniellesbridalshop.com

Lee Ann’s Fine Jewelry www.leeanns.com

FEBRUARY 2018

devoted

Begin your life together with the "essentials."

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Historic Russellville Depot

479-967-1437 www.mainstreetrussellville.com 320 W. ‘C’ St. • Russellville Downtown

Millyn’s Your Wedding Store Millyn's offers the best selection, the best price, free delivery, free gift wrap, exchange service, knowledgeable help, and record keeping. "At Millyn's you can register everything from bath towels to wall art to cookware. Registering is fun at Millyn's!"

Millyn’s 28

devoted

~ FEBRUARY 2018

FRONT ST., DARDANELLE

(479) 229-4144

Engagements Calendar listings of engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements on the pages of each issue of ABOUT…the River Valley are available at no charge. They may be mailed to: ABOUT Magazine, P.O. Box 10176, Russellville AR 72812 or sent via email to: editor@aboutrvmag.com. (A phone number must be included for verification.)

February

May

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19th Lauren Simer & Tyler Cahill

10th Jen Bandanza & David Rentfro

26th Savannah Young & Michael Troub

March

27th Rashelle Smith & Cody Underhill

10th Raegan Bartlett & Thomas Parker

June

17th Ashley Nordin & Nate Webster

2nd: Abigail Gierman & Jake Whiteside

17th Adrean Tucker & Daniel Goodman

2nd: Kailey Bradley & Ryan Kirkland

April

2nd: Ashton Purtle & Drew Smith

7th Haley Henderson & Matt Buller 7th Madason Kroencke & Patrick Priore 14th Olivia Evans & Evan Carter

9th: Elizabeth Burgess & Carter Witt

We offer a variety of items for your next party or event! Wedding Accessories Tables/ Chairs • Chair Covers Tablecloths/ Runners/ Toppers Dinnerware/ Flatware • Glassware Wedding Arches/ Columns Reception Equipment Paper and Plastic Products

9th: Tracy Cole & Blake Wilson

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9th: Regan Stringer & Cameron Lauckner

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July

May

7th: Alyssa Bell & David Sisson

5th Chelsey Price and Kyle Spargins

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September

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FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN Story by JOHNNY CARROL SAIN

BIG CUPPA www.morriltonbigcuppa.com 205 E Broadway Street MORRILTON

Can you be be an Arkansan and not like ham? Growing up, ham was a regular meat option at every meal after the holidays. Seemed like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and even sometimes Independence Day involved a huge Petit Jean ham that, try as we did, always had leftovers. Pork was what’s for breakfast, often lunch, and sometimes dinners afterward for days. And we never got tired of it. Ever. Some of the most memorable meals happened on the weekends when Granny would make a batch of biscuits. We’d slap a slab of that ham between biscuits hot from the oven then slather that sucker in apple butter — the often forgotten but always perfect condiment for almost anything. The resulting sandwich was heaven

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

in your hand. It was sweet. It was salty. It was flaky. it was the taste of a lazy Saturday morning in Arkansas. I’d almost forgotten about this incredible combo until, as I skimmed through the menu at Big Cuppa in Morrilton, I saw the ham/apple butter/croissant. It starts with golden croissant, a near-perfect substitute for Granny’s biscuits that I think Granny herself would approve of. Add some Swiss cheese and ham, but not just any ham, Petit Jean ham, and then a solid spread of that best of spreads — apple butter. Put it all together and you’ve got the taste of a lazy Saturday morning in Arkansas, the 2018 interpretation.

FEBRUARY 2018 FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

31 31

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

Life’s Loves Story by LYDIA ZIMMERMAN, Food Editor

FEBRUARY IS HERE AGAIN and Valentine’s Day, the day set aside to recognize and celebrate the ones we love, is what we’re all thinking about. Anyone who knows me knows baking is a great love of mine. It started as a child when I would watch my mom bake cakes, breads, pies, and her ever-so-wonderful cinnamon rolls. My mom would bake for school events, church events and, well, just to bake. We could always count on something sweet waiting for us at home after school. I’m sure I inherited this baking addiction from my mother. Any time I’m bored, depressed, or stressed, baking is my therapy. My friends and neighbors can verify this by the baked goods they have had hand delivered over the years or my Facebook posts that say I have an extra loaf of bread just out of the oven if anyone wants to come get it. Baking is just something I love to do for the people I love in my life. So in celebration of Valentine’s Day, I have put together some of my favorite personal recipes and some I’ve researched and collected. I’ve also found a low carb recipe and a ketogenic recipe for those on special diets with a little sweet tooth. Just remember, as long as you know how to bake, life is sure to be sweet! And as always, enjoy!

Pumpkin Gingerbread

PUMPKIN GINGERBREAD ABOUT Magazine Featured Recipe ~ February 2018

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease 2 9X5 inch loaf pans.

2 1/2 c sugar 1/2 c vegetable oil 1/2 brown sugar 1/2 c apple sauce 1/3 c molasses 4 eggs 2/3 c water 1 can pumpkin puree

In a large mixing bowl combine the first 6 ingredients. Beat until smooth then add the water, continue to beat well.

2 tsp round ginger 11 tsp ground all spice 1 tsp cinnamon 1 tsp cloves 3 c flour 2 tsp baking soda 1 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking powder

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

Stir in the pumpkin and spices. In a medium bowl combine flour, soda, salt and baking powder. Add dry ingredients to pumpkin mixture and blend just until ingredients are mixed. Divide batter between the two loaf pans. Bake in preheated oven until toothpick comes out clear, approx. 1 hour.

Allow muffins to cool in pan for about 15 minutes before carefully removing. Muffins will keep up tp 5 days at room temp or in freezer for up to 4 months. Recipe courtesy of averiecooks.com

STRAWBERRY CHOCOLATE CHIP MUFFINS 8 oz frozen strawberries, roughly chopped into 1/2-inch pieces (allow to come to room temp for 10 minutes, do not thaw completely) 2 T all purpose flour, for tossing with strawberries 2 c all purpose flour 1 c granulated sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp cinnamon pinch of salt, optional and to taste 1 large egg 2/3 c buttermilk 1/2 c vegetable or canola oil 2 rounded T vanilla greek yogurt or sour cream 1 tsp vanilla extract 3/4 c chocolate chips Preheat oven to 400. Line muffin tin with paper liners or spray with floured cooking spray. Place the strawberries in a medium bowl, add 2 T flour and toss to coat; set aside. In a large mixing bowl, combine 2 c flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, optional salt, and whisk to combine, set aside. In a medium mixing bowl or glass measuring cup, combine egg, buttermilk, oil, greek yogurt/sour cream, vanilla, and whisk to combine. Slowly our wet mixture over dry ingredients and stir lightly until just incorporated.

ORANGE CRANBERRY BREAD 2 c flour 1/2 c sugar 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 3 T orange gelatin (unprepared) 1 egg, beaten 10 T orange juice 1/4 c butter melted and cooled 1 can jelled cranberry sauce 1 c dried cranberries 1/2 c chopped walnuts, optional Strawberry Chocolate Chip Muffins

Batter will be very thick and lumps will be present; don’t overtax. If your batter is ridiculously thick, add a splash of buttermilk to thin it. Gently fold in strawberries. Fold in the chocolate chips. Fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake for about 20 minutes or until tops are domed, puffed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, or with a few moist crumbs dangling but no batter.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 9x5 loaf pan. Stir the first six ingredients together. Make a well in the center of mixture. Add the beaten egg, orange juice and melted butter to the well. Stir just until the dry ingredients are moistened. Stir in the cranberry sauce and dry cranberries. Stir in walnuts if you elect to use them. Your batter may be very thick, if so add a little more orange juice to thin it a little. Pour into the greased and floured loaf pan and bake until golden brown. Approx 45 minutes. >>

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(479) 968-1157 • 715 W. Main, Russellville, AR Serving the River Valley Since 1970 FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

EASY CINNAMON ROLLS 2 pkgs (.25 oz) active dry yeast 2 1/2 c warm water 1 yellow cake mix 1 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla extract 4 c flour 1/2 c butter softened 3/4 c granulated sugar 2 T cinnamon 3 c powdered sugar 1/3 c butter softened 1 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 1 1/2 T milk In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in the warm water. Let stand until creamy, about 10 minutes. In a large bowl, combine yeast mixture with cake mix, salt and vanilla. Stir well to combine. Stir in flour and beat well. Cover bowl and let it rise in a warm place for 1 hour. Deflate dough and turn out onto a well floured surface. Roll dough out into a rectangle and spread with the softened butter. Sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Roll up dough into a log shape and cut into 3/4” slices. Place rolls into a lightly greased 9”x13” pan. Cover and let rise until double in size, about 45 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake rolls for 15-20 minutes. While rolls are baking prepare frosting in a medium bowl by stirring together powdered sugar, 1/3 c softened butter, vanilla extract and milk. Let rolls cool, then frost.

POLYNESIAN BREAD 1 c butter softened 1/2 c brown sugar 1 3/4 c granulated sugar 3 eggs 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 Del Monte pineapple tidbits in juice (snack size), pureed 3 over ripe bananas, mashed 1 c milk 3 1/4 c flour 1 tsp salt 2 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 c flaked sweetened coconut 1 c macadamia nuts, finely chopped (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place butter in a medium bowl with both sugars and cream together well. Add eggs and vanilla extract to bowl and continue to mix well. Place pineapple tidbits and juice in a blender and puree. Place pureed pineapple and mashed bananas into the butter mixture and mix well. Pour milk into bowl and mix well. In a medium bowl mix flour, salt, and baking powder. Gradually add flour mixture to the other bowl and mix until blended. Fold in coconut and optional nuts. Mix until just blended. Grease and lightly flour 3 mini loaf pans or 2 9x5 loaf pans. Pour mixture into pans and place into preheated oven. Bake approx 50-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean. Leave in pans to cool for approx 10 minutes before removing from pans.

EASY PEANUT BUTTER CHOCOLATE CHIP BREAD 1 c peanut butter, chunky or smooth 1/4 c butter, softened 2 c flour 1/2 c granulated sugar 1/4 c brown sugar, packed 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp salt 1 egg 1 1/4 c buttermilk 1 c mini semi sweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Beat butters together until fluffy; add flour, sugars, baking powder and salt. Mix until crumbly. In a small bowl, combine egg and buttermilk. Stir into crumbly mixture just until moistened. Fold in chocolate chips. Bake in a greased and lightly floured 9X5 loaf pan in preheated oven for approx 1 hour. Let cool in pan 10 minutes before removing from pan. PILLOWY LIGHT CLOUD BREAD 3 large eggs, separated 3 T cream cheese, room temperature ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar 1 teaspoon Splenda or Stevia Preheat oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Mix together egg yolks, cream cheese and sweetener in a small bowl. Set aside. Using an electric mixer, whisk egg whites and cream of tartar on high speed until stiff peaks are formed, about 5-6 minutes. Gently fold in cream cheese mixture. Try not to deflate the egg whites.

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

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Scoop batter onto prepared baking sheet, into even rounds, about the size of a hamburger bun. Bake for 30 minutes, or until golden brown. Transfer bread to wire rack and let cool. Store in an airtight container. This recipe is great for diabetics. You can spread some sugar free preserves on them or low carb peanut butter for a great breakfast treat! Recipe courtesy of cinnamonandtoast.com EASY VALENTINE’S DAY MONKEY BREAD 3/4 c granulated sugar 2 tsp ground cinnamon 2 cans biscuits (8 biscuits per can) 3/4 c butter, melted 1 c fresh or frozen raspberries or strawberries (if using strawberries dice them) 1 T butter 2 T raspberries jam (if using strawberries use strawberry jam) 1/4 c white chocolate chips 2 1/2 c powdered sugar Valentine’s Day sprinkles, for topping (optional) Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a Bundt pan or 12-cup fluted tube with butter or cooking spray. In a large gallon-size food storage bag or large bowl, mix granulated sugar and cinnamon. Separate dough biscuits into 16 biscuits (8 biscuits per can); cut each biscuit into quarters, making 32 pieces. Add dough pieces a few at a time to bag (or bowl) of cinnamon sugar. Shake in bag to coat the dough. Arrange coated dough pieces in prepared Bundt pan. In a small bowl, mix brown sugar and melted butter; pour mixture over biscuit pieces.

Place the Bundt pan on a baking sheet. Bake 30 to 35 minutes or until golden brown and no longer doughy in the center. Meanwhile, add raspberries/strawberries and butter to a saucepan and set on medium heat. Cook, stirring often until berries are soft. Add berries, jam and white chocolate chips (the heat from the berries will melt the white chocolate) to a blender and blend until completely smooth. Next, add 2 cups powdered sugar and blend again until smooth. If needed, add remaining 1/2 cup of powdered sugar to thicken the glaze. Remove the Bundt pan from oven. Allow bread to cool inverted in the pan for 10 minutes. Carefully invert pan onto a serving plate. Drizzle strawberry glaze over monkey bread. You may not need to use all of the glaze. Sprinkle with Valentine's Day sprinkles and serve warm. Recipe courtesy of Tablespoon.com KETO CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER MUG CAKE 2 Large eggs 2 T Almond Flour 1 T Butter (melted) 1 T Peanut Butter 12 Drops liquid Stevia or 2 T of Erythritol or Xylitol 1 tsp cocoa powder (dark or milk chocolate) 1/2 tsp Vanilla Extract 1/4 tsp Baking Powder

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Mix all ingredients in a mug and cook for 60 – 70 seconds in the microwave. Serve and enjoy! This is a great quick breakfast for the kids or a quick after dinner dessert! Recipe courtesy of ketosizeme.com

FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

COMMUNITY

ATU/Tyson Foods partner for Logan County Career Center Arkansas Tech University joined with private and public sector partners to celebrate their shared achievement of constructing the Tyson Foods Logan County Career Center with a grand opening ceremony on Monday, January 22. The facility will allow ATU-Ozark Campus to provide courses in automation technology, allied health and adult education in the Paris community. "ATU is committed to workforce education," said Dr. Robin E. Bowen, Arkansas Tech president. "It is a vision championed by our Governor, Asa Hutchinson. We appreciate Governor Hutchinson’s leadership on this important topic, and Arkansas Tech University will continue to be a ready and able partner in providing relevant academic programming to serve our communities. It is our hope, as a university, that the Tyson Foods Logan County Career Center will serve as a model for Arkansas. We hope that it exemplifies the best in making higher education accessible for every Arkansan by utilizing a combination of private and public support. On behalf of Arkansas Tech University, I express sincere appreciation to each of our partners in this endeavor. Together, we have done so

much…and this is only the beginning." The Tyson Foundation provided a $266,600 grant to assist in the construction of the new educational facility. The building will serve as an Arkansas Tech Career Center (ATCC) satellite location in Paris. A $644,034 regional workforce grant from the Arkansas Department of Higher Education allowed ATU-Ozark to purchase equipment needed for each program. "I'm excited about the future of Arkansas, where we are and where we're going," said Hutchinson. "This career center is a big part of it because of the partnership that is being created and the investment of the community in this important endeavor to give our children the best chance in the future." The Tyson Foods Logan County Career Center enables access to credit-bearing credential, certificate and degree attainments offered through Arkansas Tech-Ozark Campus. The classes will provide high school students with concurrent college credit at no

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

119 E Main St, Russellville Russellville • (479) 968-7772

P H O T O S C O U R T E S Y O F M A I N S T R E E T R U S S E L LV I L L E

charge. Adult learners will also have the opportunity to take both GED coursework and industry training classes as a result of the new facility. The ATCC location in Paris serves high school students from Scranton, Magazine and Paris. For the current semester, there are approximately 58 students enrolled through the center. “The establishment of the Tyson Foods Logan County Career Center will provide students and employers with educational access to relevant industry training in the high demand fields of automation and allied health," said Bruce Sikes, chancellor of ATU-Ozark. "We plan on serving entry-level secondary students from the area schools as well as adult learners in need of job training opportunities. Arkansas Tech-Ozark Campus appreciates the public and private efforts of the Paris Public Schools, the city of Paris, Tyson Foods, the Economic Development Administration, local and state officials and the leadership of our Governor. Arkansas Tech University is committed to providing the communities it serves with educational programming in support of economic initiatives.”

Downtown Russellville wins big The Main Street Arkansas and Arkansas Downtown Network awards are presented biannually to recognize outstanding achievements by individuals, organizations and communities in helping to revitalize their downtown areas. The Main Street Arkansas Advisory Board selects the winners. Main Street Arkansas is a program area of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program. Two Russellville businesses brought awards to the River Valley. The Best Downtown Retail Award went to Dog Ear Books in downtown Russellville for providing a valuable retail outlet and providing programming to bring shoppers downtown. The Best Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit Project Award went to Old Bank Sports Bar and Grill in downtown Russellville, which used state and federal historic tax credits to restore the 1906 Bank of Russellville Building. Russellville Award Winners Billy Newton, Marlene Newton, Department of Arkansas Heritage Director Stacy Hurst, Arkansas Historic Preservation Program Director Scott Kaufman, Emily Young, Pat Young, & Betsy McGuire >>

Belle Helene Bess Historic home available for special events and parties For information on booking a private event contact (479) 968-6688 214 East 5th Street • Russellville, AR FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

Have you considered pre-planning? It is never too early to pre-plan your funeral arrangements. By taking time now to collect cost information and calmly making choices related to your own services, you'll be protecting your family from the stress of having to make these decisions at a time in which they should be allowed to grieve. With pre-planning you can carefully choose specific items you want and need ... and pay for them now, or make a payment plan, locking in current pricing.

A Century of Service ~ 1916-2016

Rotary Club donates Dictionaries By Ashley Snellenberger The Dictionaries for Third Graders program provides dictionaries for all thirdgrade students in Pope County to improve literacy. John Bynum of the Russellville Downtown Rotary Club presented the dictionaries to third grade students at Crawford Elementary.

Gunter named interim chief of staff at Arkansas Tech University Dr. Mary B. Gunter, a member of the Arkansas Tech University faculty since 1998,

took office as interim chief of staff in the ATU Office of the President effective Jan. 2, 2018. Gunter holds the rank of professor of educational leadership at Arkansas Tech. The driving force behind the design and implementation of the first doctoral program in Arkansas Tech history, Gunter has served as dean of the ATU Graduate College since 2009. She added the responsibility of dean in the ATU College of Education in 2015. “It is a pleasure and an honor to be able to assist our president, Dr. Robin E. Bowen, in the role of interim chief of staff,” said Gunter. “As we continue to achieve the goals set forth in our strategic plan, we maintain a sharp focus on student success. I look forward to the opportunities this role will provide me to work on a broader basis with our educational partners, an opportunity made possible in part by the fact that we have leaders who are ready and willing to continue our work in the College of Education and the Graduate College.”

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“Serving Four Generations of Satisfied Customers Since 1944!” 38

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

Dr. Mary B. Gunter

While Gunter is tending to the duties of chief of staff, Dr. Linda Bean will serve as interim dean for the ATU College of Education and Dr. Jeff Robertson will be interim dean for the ATU Graduate College. Robertson will continue as dean of the ATU College of Natural and Health Sciences. Searches for the positions with interim appointments will take place in spring 2018. Gunter will serve on the ATU Executive Council and succeed Dr. Jeff Mott, who came to Arkansas Tech as chief of staff in September 2015. In addition to ensuring a proper transition for chief of staff responsibilities, Mott will also work during the spring 2018 semester to complete the current Leadership Tech year and provide for the sustainability of the program moving forward. Mott will leave the university by the end of the 2017-18 fiscal year. “I cannot sufficiently articulate how much Dr. Mott’s service in the role of chief of staff has assisted me,” said Bowen. “His legacy here includes Leadership Tech, a program that will continue to provide professional development opportunities for faculty and staff far beyond his final day with us. As Dr. Mott pursues the next step in his professional journey and seeks out opportunities that will allow him to be closer to his family on a more regular basis, I wish him the very best.” FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

COMMUNITY COMMERCE

Russellville Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic

ussellville Pediatric and Adolescent Clinic opened field. Many patients, Standridge explained, stay with the clinic February 22, 2016. Gerri Standridge, office manager through college. “We are a very family friendly place,” Stanat the clinic explains that Dr. Pilkingdridge said, “and on a first name basis with all ton and Dr. Kirby opened the clinic to provide our patients.” Russellville Pediatric & support for families and to offer “localized Dr. Neylon Pilkington has been practicing Adolescent Clinic care in a smaller setting.” medicine for twenty years. He’s an Arkansas (479) 498-0858 Today the clinic serves patients from zero native and a graduate of University Of Arkansas 220 North Sidney to twenty years old and together their doctors Medical Sciences. He says his favorite part of Russellville, AR 72801 boast over eighty years of experience in the his work is “the ability to empower caregivers

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ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

“Our goal is to be partners with our parents to help raise healthy children, both physically and emotionally” with the knowledge they need to take excellent care of their children.” Dr. Robin Kirby has been practicing for the past seventeen years in the area and is a native of Russellville. She’s a University of Arkansas at Fayetteville graduate and later completed a residency at Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock. The clinic serves families throughout the River Valley region and offers same day service when needed. “If you need to be seen that day we are going to make sure you get in,” Standridge explains. “We want you to have the best care needed.” They take all forms of commercial insurance also ArKids and Medicaid. There is a cap on the number of ArKids patients they can take, and they are currently at that number but hope to be opening up more spots soon. Their online resources include a patient portal and several of forms are available online to speed up the registration process. They provide detailed information on what you can expect in newborn visits including the American Academy of Pediatrics recommended vaccine schedule and an outline of how physicians assess newborn health. New patients are asked to arrive twenty minutes prior to their appointment to make sure all needed paperwork is filled out and and existing patients are asked to arrive fifteen minutes prior to their appointment. “Our goal is to be partners with our parents to help raise healthy children, both physically and emotionally,” reads the clinic's online information. It is a philosophy, Standridge says, held by everyone in the clinic from physicians to the front desk. The clinic is located at 220 North Sidney Ave in Russellville. They are open Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-5:00 p.m. And Saturday 9 a.m. -1 p.m. You can find them online at www.rpa.clinic. You can reach them by phone at 479-498-0858.

Happy Valentine’s Day May your day be filled with reminders of how much you’re loved. Call AMCARE today at (479) 880-1112 for your FREE ASSESSMENT! 914 West “B” Street • www.youramcare.com

C&D Drug Store is the exclusive retailer in Russellville of the award winning Baby K’tan carriers. Baby K'tan is a ready-to-wear baby carrier that slips on like a t-shirt. No wrapping and no fuss. Free your hands and bond with your baby. We have a selection of sizes and colors. (479) 968-2456 121 N. Commerce Avenue

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Downtown Russellville

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1402 N Church Street, Atkins AR SERVICES PROVIDED: • Skilled Nursing • Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Speech Therapy • Medical Social Worker • Home Health Aide • Fall Prevention Program

The mission of Trinity Home Health of Arkansas is to live out our values of compassion, integrity, and excellence by providing quality, efficient, and effective health care and health-related social services in the comfort of the 479-968-4544 patient’s own home. www.trinityhhar.com FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

Good things grow for those who wait

stepped down from the truck’s passenger side onto the parking lot at Lowe’s. Unseasonably warm February air greeted me, stoking my longing for spring. But whatever we had come for flitted from my mind the instant I saw the vibrant green signs. I mumbled something to my husband about meeting him later, though I might have already been too many steps ahead for him to hear me. Most likely he followed the direction of my near-gallop and knew. He’s used to my giddiness each spring when I start seeing early vegetable plants on display at the local garden centers. While browsing the cool weather crops -spinach, lettuce, and a variety of greens, typical for late winter -- I halted when another vegetable plant caught my eye. Tomatoes? In February? I’m sure this sight wouldn’t come as a shock to most people, but for me, a wetbehind-the-ears gardener, I was perplexed. I knew tomatoes couldn’t survive the cold temperatures that, despite our current warm spell, would surely return before spring established a foothold.

S H O W

A few weeks later I attended my favorite gardening event of the season -- the Arkansas Flower and Garden Show. Seated in a meeting room, I listened as Janet Carson, an extension horticulture specialist with the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture, shared basics of gardening for beginners. I found she shared my thoughts on summer crops popping up at garden centers before they could be planted in the home garden. Many aspiring gardeners think if a plant shows up in their local garden center it must be time to set it out in the garden. They buy the tomato transplant, put it in their garden, and a cold snap kills it. They don’t blame the store that sold it, they blame themselves. Many give up and assume they’re just not cut out to grow a garden. I still don’t fully understand why summer crops begin decorating the shelves of garden centers in February and even into early March. Perhaps more people baby their new transplants in greenhouse environments than I realize. Or maybe some people plant in containers and keep the tomatoes inside on cold nights. But for the rest of us, it’s helpful to under-

T H E M

Love

We provide care in settings from hospitals to patient’s homes. All so you and your loved ones get the right care, at the right place, at the right time. 42

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

Story by JILL MCSHEEHY

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stand when we can plant those beautiful tomato plants in our gardens. These are the guidelines I follow: Wait until the danger of frost has passed. Frosts can kill tomato plants, especially young, newly transplanted ones. For the River Valley area, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac, our last frost has usually passed by April 1st. However, as with any “average” number, frosts can occur a couple of weeks after that date. Wait until the nighttime temperatures consistently stay in the 50s or above. While nighttime temperatures in the 40s won’t kill tomatoes, the plants will not thrive in this cool environment. Another reason this is a good guideline: when the lows consistently stay in the 50s, daytime temperatures most likely rise to the 70s, which is an ideal environment for the young plants’ growth. Wait until the ground can be worked. My garden consists of a high concentration of heavy clay soil. Especially in wet spring weather, this soil remains soggy until warm daytime temperatures, spring winds, and sunny days can dry it out. All plants, including tomatoes, will take longer to adjust to a transplant if their soil is waterlogged. All gardens are different, and each spring brings unique growing conditions. In recent years our last spring frost has swung from mid-March to early May, for example. For the best success in growing tomatoes, when in doubt, wait. I know it’s tempting to want to get a jump-start on the season, especially when those warm spells increase in frequency. But living in Arkansas gives us the flexibility of a long growing season. Even if you don’t get your tomatoes in the ground until May, you can still harvest a bumper crop. Many times, in fact, the later-planted tomatoes end up surpassing the early ones since the the more hospitable planting environment spurs faster growth. If you see tantalizing summer vegetable plants like tomatoes in your garden center this month, admire them and smell their fragrance. Dream of your summer garden. And go back and purchase a few... in a month or two.

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The Arkansas Flower and Garden Show will be held on March 2-4, 2018 at the State Fairgrounds in Little Rock. Get more information at https://argardenshow.org/ FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

Story by JOHNNY CARROL SAIN | Photo by LIZ CHRISMAN

A JOURNAL of our RURAL & NATURAL HERITAGE

Look around the rough edges MOST FOLKS KNOW American pokeweed (Phyto-

lacca americana) by its colloquial name — poke sallet. If you grew up around any semi-feral areas, from clear-cuts and hayfields to empty city lots, you probably saw American pokeweed growing in those forgotten areas. It’s a North American native found throughout the continent and tenacious in its existence. You can’t really kill off pokeweed. You can only hope to contain it. The brittle roots run deep and attempts to pull it up lead to a fractured root in the ground and, shortly, a brand new pokeweed shoot. Each plant can produce up to 50,000 seeds in its lifetime with seed viability lasting up to forty years. So even if you think it’s gone for good it’s probably not. As a native plant, its life is intertwined with its environment. The shoots and purple berries are favored foods of deer, birds, raccoons and other wildlife — seeds passing through a bird’s digestive tract is one of pokeweed’s most successful strategies for colonizing new areas. As I mentioned before, it’s one of the first plants to populate disturbed land, setting up shop and setting the stage for other plants and animals to move in as the slow march of succession leads to a hardwood forest. American pokeweed is a rebel pioneer of the wild and pagan, an agent of reclamation. American pokeweed is the definition of subversive.

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1903 SOUTH ARKANSAS • (479) 968-3991 44

ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY ~ FEBRUARY 2018

Pokeweed is also intertwined with humans of North America. Descendants of the first settlers in the Americas, the Native Americans used the plant for myriad purposes. The berries were paint. The plant’s toxicity was harnessed for medicinal use. And, in its early spring emergence, American pokeweed is edible. All that utility and legend carried over to rural Euro-American culture, and it’s still firmly embedded in American rural culture to this day. “Poke sallet” was and still is a staple of rural food ways. Free and growing anywhere with an open patch of dirt, American pokeweed found its way to the table (after careful handling of course, remember, it’s toxic) to many that found themselves with a growling stomach and empty pockets. It was a lifeline from nature, along with wild meat, persimmons, morels and a host of other foods available to all those willing to look. American pokeweed is always on the periphery of civilization as a reminder of our oft forgotten connection to the land. But if you look to the rough edges, where wilderness touches the farm fields, you’ll still find American pokeweed. And now American Pokeweed is the name of a brand new column in ABOUT the River Valley magazine. The plant’s attributes led to our decision to use its name,

and we hope that you, the reader, see these attributes in our storytelling. Our aim is for a smart column that looks at the connection between people and place, how the land molds attitudes and cultures. We want to explore the deliberate connection of people to land and place with a challenging combination of grit and poetry. I’ve tried to come up with a solid and short description of voice for this column, and I’ve struggled. The best description I've heard is from writer Billy Reeder: "It's like discussing Aristotle over beans and cornbread." But maybe the concept is just too big for a few words or clever phrase. So I’ll again point to American pokeweed and let its character describe our voice. The legend and reality of the plant are rooted in its connection to place. Back when we were trying to decide on a name, and I first pitched “Pokeweed” or a variation of, writer Meredith Martin-Moats hit the bullseye with what I was going for. “It’s metaphorically rough around the edges,” she said. The writing will not be rough around the edges, metaphorically or otherwise, but the spirit of the column and those contributing most assuredly is. Look to the rough edges, where wilderness touches the farm fields, where people and the land are intertwined, and that’s where you’ll find American Pokeweed.

It's like discussing Aristotle over beans and cornbread. It’s metaphorically rough around the edges.

for

Valentine’s Day

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SALES AND SERVICE 2605 S. Knoxville • Russellville (479) 968-8555 • (877) 373-2855 Jay & Dennis Griffin • License #122314

FEBRUARY 2018

~ ABOUT the RIVER VALLEY

What

we’re reading

Just Mercy As reviewed by JILL MCSHEEHY

remember as a child reading about Martin Luther King, Jr. in January and celebrating Abraham Lincoln in February. I learned about what both these men did in their respective eras to pave the way for freedom for all Americans. I learned about civil rights by reading about Rosa Parks’s silent but powerful protest on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama, and as an adult I watched with fascination the movies 42 (about Jackie Robinson) and The Help. But that was about the extent of my knowledge of issues of race and poverty. Like many Americans I’m sure, I’ve observed in bewilderment the racial tensions in the last few years. Having grown up in a small, racially monolithic town in northwest Arkansas, I had no frame of reference to understand these events and the circumstances underlying them. None of it made sense to me. My environment, I’m afraid, contributed to a myopic view of a broadly complex issue. But then I picked up a book that has changed the way I see and understand these controversies. Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson is an autobiographical account of a young Harvard-educated lawyer who finds himself face to face with issues of injustice he could not ignore -- many tied to race. He begins taking clients who can not pay him and soon finds himself plunged deep into issues he never knew existed. In the overarching narrative of Just Mercy,

Stevenson takes his readers through the life of Walter McMillan, a black death row inmate convicted in 1988 who insists on his innocence. As his legal counsel, Stevenson works to find out the truth and advocates for a retrial on Mr. McMillan’s behalf. But sprinkled within this enthralling narrative, Stevenson provides a glimpse into the lives of many other men and women he encounters through his work with the nonprofit organization he ultimately founded -- The Equal Justice Initiative. Although the primary theme of the book centered around falsely-accused and wrongly-convicted inmates on death row, a repeated occurrence seared my conscience. Stevenson discovered in adult prisons young boys accused of crimes. Among the men in these prisons, many of those boys endured horrific rape and abuse. As I read these appalling accounts, my heart pounded out of my chest with sadness and angst. Besides the engaging storyline that held me at rapt attention hours into the night (and soaked my pillow more than once), I gained an awareness of complex issues I have never had before. And I’m not the only one. Just Mercy rose to the New York Times Bestseller List and remained there for over a year. A brilliant mixture of a captivating storyline coupled with an eye-opening look at issues relevant to our nation today, Just Mercy is a must-read.

Author BRYAN STEVENSON

“What we’re reading” is brought to you by ABOUT the River Valley magazine in partnership with Dog Ear Books of Russellville. Each month we’ll feature a book review guest written by various folks around the River Valley that know a thing or two about good reads. Reading is the cornerstone of a well-informed citizenry and a well-rounded individual. We’re hoping this partnership will turn into something more, perhaps a movement community wide that leads to deeper thought and discussion. Look for all titles spotlighted here at Dog Ear Books.