SUMMERTIME JOBS
Reflecting the Character of the Arkansas River Valley July 2015
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Center Valley: 5401 SR 124 Crawford: 1116 N. Parker Rd. Dwight: 1300 W. Second Place London: 154 School Street Oakland Heights: 1501 S. Detroit Sequoyah: 1601 W. 12th Street Mon-Fri: 8a- 4p
Classroom assignments posted: Aug 12 at Noon
Russellville High School (10-12)
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Registration Dates
Elementary Schools (K-4)
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2203 S. Knoxville n 968-3151 Mon-Fri: 8a-3p Schedule Pickup: 12th Grade: Aug 3 11th Grade: Aug 4 10th Grade: Aug 5
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Preschool 1000 S. Arkansas Ave. n 967-6025 Accepting applications for the 2015-16 school year. Must be 3 or 4 years old by Aug 1.
Upper Elementary 5th Grade
1201 W. 4th Place n 968-2650 n Mon-Fri: 8a-noon & 1-4p Classroom assignments: Aug 13, 4-6p
Russellville Middle School (6-7) 1203 W. 4th Place n 968-2557 n Mon-Fri: 8a-noon & 1-4p Schedule Pickup: Aug 6, 4-7p & Aug 7, 9a-2p. Parents are asked to attend with their child.
Russellville Junior High School (8-9) 2000 W. Parkway n 968-1599 n Mon-Fri: 8a-3p Schedule Pickup: Aug 6, 5:30-8p & Aug 7, 8a-3p. Parents are asked to attend with their child.
Registration Information: Students who attended Russellville School District last year are pre-registered. All students new to the district should register at the school in their zone, and should contact the school attended last year as well as the one to be attended this year. For more information about the registration process at each school, visit the RSD website at www.russellvilleschools.net
To register students will need: 端 端 端 端
Birth Certificate Social Security Card Immunization Records Medicaid Card (if applicable)
July 2015 8 Summertime Jobs
It’s summertime and the living is easy… unless you’re a kid trying to make a buck. In that case, a summer break from school means you get a tiny taste of the “real world” as mom and dad put it. Time to get a job.
22 Everyday Life
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The Perfect Summer Sandwich
Even though Arkansas summers have been hot and muggy since long before there was an Arkansas, we still complain about it. And we look for ways to cool down. We need something light yet filling; something slightly chilled would be very nice as well. How about a sandwich?
26 Countertop Creations
32 Strawberry Memories
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It’s the time of year when we all start making those wonderful plans for summer. The best laid plans can often go awry, though. If things things go really bad on the water, there is a group of community members that can help.
34 Community Commerce
Special thanks to "I Do" for support on our cover photo.
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ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
OUTDOOR WATER PARK HOURS OF OPERATION
Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday - 11:00 am to 8:00 pm (Family night - 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm) Thursday, Friday & Saturday - 11:00 am to 5:30 pm Sunday - 12:00 pm to 5:30 pm • Private and Semi Private parties available
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FREE Yeti cooler with new vehicle purchase during the month of July! 3300 E. Main, Hwy. 64 East, Russellville
(479) 968-1555 | philwrightautoplex.com July 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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A PAGE FROM
The Editor’s Notebook
ABOUT the River Valley
How I Bought the King of Monsters Summer jobs… that first sweet taste of freedom wrapped in the bitter reality of responsibility. My first experiences with work beyond the normal household chores was around age seven or eight. It wasn’t a summer job because if memory serves it wasn’t during the summer (I’ll discuss my summer jobs in the A View from the Back Roads column). And while it was work beyond the regular chores, it was work still done at home or at Granny’s. But this first venture for extra cash was fueled by the same reasons most kids look for summer employment: a deep and burning desire for various items mom and dad said they wouldn’t buy. I wanted Godzilla. Of course I don’t mean the REAL Godzilla… I mean, I know there’s not a real Godzilla, but what I’m saying is that I didn’t want the skyscraper-tall, nuclear fueled lizard from Japan. I wanted a two-foot copy of the king of monsters manufactured by Mattel. Godzilla was part of the Shogun Warrior collection and he was magnificent. He was olive green with yellow claws and featured a flaming tongue (Mattel was wrong on this characteristic because everybody knows Godzilla has radioactive breath, not fiery breath) along with the ability to shoot his right hand like a missile (another terrible lack of accuracy from Mattel and a biological impossibility). He was for sale at TG&Y for $15. Mom said “no” right off the bat, but she always did. I figured I could eventually wear her down with a combination of pathetic sighs and puppy dog eyes. But to my surprise she held firm and offered an alternative: Work for the money and buy it yourself. So I did. I weeded the flower bed. I crushed aluminum cans. I helped my sister with the dishes. And then, on the eve of another trip to Russellville, my dear Granny paid me an extra four dollars on top of our agreed upon rate for raking leaves, which put $15 dollars in my little velcro wallet. The swell of pride that rose up as I plunked down my own hard earned cash (with a gentle tilt from Granny) was intoxicating. Paying for my own wants meant ultimate freedom. I could buy anything I desired as long as I worked for it… or so I thought. Mom wasn’t so supportive about the next item on my wish list. Apparently eight-years-old was too young for her definition of a responsible crossbow owner. Johnny Sain, Editor She was probably right. johnny@aboutrvmag.com
DIANNE EDWARDS | founding editor JOHNNY SAIN | managing editor johnny@aboutrvmag.com BENITA DREW | advertising benita@aboutrvmag.com CHRISTINE SAIN | advertising christine@aboutrvmag.com KECHIA BENTLEY | columnist kechia@aboutrvmag.com MEREDITH MARTIN-MOATS | freelance meredith@aboutrvmag.com EMILY LANGFORD | freelance emily@aboutrvmag.com LYDIA ZIMMERMAN | columnist lydia@aboutrvmag.com LIZ CHRISMAN | photography lizchrismanphoto@gmail.com CLIFF THOMAS | illustrator maddsigntist@aboutrvmag.com CHRIS ZIMMERMAN | layout/design chris@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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A Publication of One14 Productions, Inc Vol. X, Issue 6 – July 2015
4 7 9 .9 7 0 .1 998 ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
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ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
Calendar of Events July 4 - Old Fashioned Picnic at Museum of Military History, 127 East 3rd Street Russellville from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. For more information contact 970-8028. July 4 - City of Russellville Community Fireworks Display 9:15 p.m. at Old Post Road Park Russellville. Admission is free. Concessions available through Russellville Kiwanis Club. For more information contact 968-1272. July 9 - Owl Prowl at Petit Jean State Park Cedar Falls overlook parking area from 8:45 - 9:30 p.m. Meet Park Interpreter BT to learn more about the nocturnal birds of prey called owls that make Petit Jean State Park their home. Before the evening is over, we will invite a few owls to come in for a visit. Please bring a flashlight for the walk out. Admission is free. For more information contact 501-727-5441. July 10 - Chocolate Festival at Dardanelle Community Center 2011 AR 22 Dardanelle from 5-8 p.m. Proceeds go to benefit lung transplant candidate Bailey Craig. For more information contact 229-3328. July 10 & 24 - Sunset Cinema at Lake Dardanelle State Park outdoor movie theater. The cost is $1 per person,
children under 12 are free. July 10 (Date Night Movie) July 24 (kid movie). Each showing will begin at approximately 8:30 p.m. Activities will take place prior to each showing starting at 6:30 p.m. In the event of rain, the movie will be moved to the Arkansas River Valley Boys and Girls Club. For more information contact 968-2530. July 13 - Opera in the Ozarks Chamber Music Concert at Eureka Springs Auditorium. 36 S. Main St. Eureka Springs 7:30 p.m. Opera in the Ozarks presents its “Chamber Music Concert” This concert spotlights Opera in the Ozarks’ orchestra made up of 25 professional musicians from across the nation performing under the music direction of Thomas Cockrell. Tickets are $10 and may be purchased online at opera.org or by calling (479) 2538595. July 13-24 - Adult Fall Softball League Registration. Hughes Community Center. For more information contact 968-1272. July 20 - River Valley Arts Center Annual Summer Art Camps for Ages K - 5th from 9 a.m.- noon at the River Valley
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Arts Center. Multi media art camp will feature different art styles and mediums taught by local art instructors and pottery by Winston Taylor. For more information contact 968-2452. July 21 - Small Business Start-up Summit from 9 a.m.- 3 p.m.106 West O Street, Russellville. For more information contact 356-2067. July 31 - Running 4 Hunger: 1,000 Miles in 12 Days. Starts in Russellville and ends at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Running 4 Hunger is a 1,000 mile cross country endurance/fund-raising event to be completed within 12 days by a single runner for the Ray of Hope Food Pantry. Individuals and businesses will be able to pledge money toward the cause. For more information contact 970-4759.
*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 (866) 757-3282. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication.
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July 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
7
SUMMERTIME
JOBS
IT’S SUMMERTIME AND THE LIVING IS EASY… UNLESS YOU’RE A KID TRYING TO MAKE A BUCK. In that case, a summer break from school means you get a tiny taste of the “real world” as mom and dad put it. Exchanging your free time for money isn’t always an easy decision, but sometimes a serious want is all the motivation needed. Vehicles probably top the list. Many a dollar made through summer employment has been exchanged for title to a car or truck. But other desires — from money to spend on food you want, buying hobby supplies and all the way to helping out with upcoming college expenses — are also reasons adolescents look for income beyond an allowance. The benefits of employment are sometimes difficult to reconcile with the tradeoffs. But sacrificing some sleepy early mornings, sunny golden afternoons with friends at the lake and summer nights of fun are worth more than the money made. Young people with summer jobs learn the meaning of responsibility both for the job performed and money earned. It’s a lot harder to blow money on useless junk when you know exactly how many hours of your precious life it takes to earn it back. Then there’s that feeling of satisfaction and pride in those first tentative steps toward independence. It’s your money. So if you want to buy useless junk, you can.
responsibilities and reasons for seeking summer employment. And we discovered a surprising common thread woven into the fabric of these stories. Making money was, of course, the prime motivation for filling out applications, knocking on doors or calling about a job. Learning responsibility was part of the experience, too. But if a teenager makes the effort to get a job it’s a safe bet the sense of responsibility was already there. What ties all of these stories together is the attitude that a summer job is an exciting and fun leg of the journey to adulthood. Yes, exciting and fun. You could see it in their eyes, both youngster and adult, as they talked about the experience.
In the next few pages of this issue we take a closer look at summer jobs. We visited with teenagers of today as well as teenagers of yesterday. We talked a little about job
So here’s our tribute to summer’s teenage workforce. Enjoy the stories and photos, and maybe reminisce about your first foray into the working world.
Stories by RYAN SMITH & JOHNNY SAIN JR. | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN
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ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
July 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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LIFEGUARD
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ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
SUMMERTIME
JOBS
"To this day, if I’m at the pool, I’ll almost yell out ‘Please walk, no running!"
L
ifeguarding and teaching swimming lessons was the enviable summer job for most aspiring teens. They had the sunglasses, the power and let’s not forget the whistle. Cool kids were lifeguards, and that’s plenty enough reason to want the red swimming shorts and sunblock-slathered nose as your own. But Russellville residents Todd Sweeden and Rebecca Partain, although certainly lured in by these irresistible symbols of cool, ended up getting something much sweeter out of the deal. “I hadn’t decided what I was going to major in in college, or what’d I would do with my life when I started lifeguarding my senior year,” said Partain, who’s been the principal at Community Christian School for eight years. “It was through teaching those classes that something clicked in me that said, ‘I love teaching.’ I love seeing a lightbulb come on and seeing a kid do something they didn’t think they could do. I think that job is the one thing that sparked in my mind that education was going to be a big part of my life.” For Sweeden, it was a chance to pay forward the swimming lessons he’d received at 8-years-old from Eula Holbrook, who he said taught about half the kids in Russellville how to swim. “Even though she was a staunch teacher who decided if you were proficient by making you swim either the length or width of the pool, you left her classes knowing how to swim, and that’s something that’s always been important to me,” Sweeden said. “Everyone should learn how to swim.”
Sweeden said he copied Holbrook’s method almost to a tee, minus her strong-arm scheme of tossing stragglers in to expedite the learning process via sink-or-swim. Decades later, with the red swimming trunks and sunblock put away, Sweeden is still surprised at the impact he had on the community’s youth when he was only a kid himself. While at dinner one night recently, he said a former student of his came up and told him how she remembered his summer lessons—and more importantly, how to swim. Aside from providing the impetus to her educational career, Partain too is still seeing the effects of her stint as a lifeguard. “To this day, if I’m at the pool, I’ll almost yell out ‘Please walk, no running!’ I probably said that fivethousand times each summer. I also can’t pick up a whistle without twirling it.” But at least the work was worth the pay, they both agree. Partain said she made minimum wage, which at the time was about $4.25. Sweeden, who was working solely to put gas in the brand-new car his parents bought him, said this chunk of change was more than enough to suffice. “At the time, gas was so cheap you could go a long ways on the money you made from your summer work,” he said. “Plus, it gives you responsibility. You may be someone’s only chance if they’re drowning. I took it serious, but probably not serious enough. It was cool to be able to do the lifeguard thing. You have authority, and kids not much younger than you are looking up to you. And there you are, sitting up there with a whistle and in charge.”
July 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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SUMMERTIME
JOBS
“It’s not just a job, it’s a way to do things together with family."
F
arm work is a summer job that many River Valley teenagers have experienced. Hauling hay, working cattle, minor fence mending, basically all those activities that require a strong back and boundless energy. It also helps to have family in the business if want to earn some money on the farm. Bryce Masters, a 16-year-old Dover High School student has all those previously mentioned attributes going for him, and he’s working toward owning a truck. Bryce, a strapping, broad-shouldered lad, labors for his grandpa, Jerry Masters. The elder Masters raises show pigs. No, the pigs don’t dance and sing. Show pigs are judged according to standards for the breed, similar to horse and dog shows, showcasing and celebrating the ideal form for a pig. The trend for pigs nowadays is robust. “The judges want a big, heavy structured, thick bodied pig. It’s really kind of like a beauty contest for pigs,” said Jerry. An accurate but slightly disturbing analogy. Bryce’s job is to get those pigs into show-stopping shape. “I feed and water,and scrape the pens,” said Bryce. He says he enjoys all of it. Even scraping the pens. “Yeah, I like scraping the pens. I just like working outside and with the animals. And I like working with my grandpa, too.” Probably the most interesting farm chore is pulling piglets from a sow that’s having some difficulty in moving the piglets along on her own . Yes, it’s exactly what you’re thinking. But Bryce doesn’t do that anymore. “His arms are just too big now,” said Jerry.
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ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
Bryce puts in the time everyday to the tune of 30-40 hours per week, with days off falling mostly on Sundays and for family vacations. Besides work on the farm, Bryce also travels to show the pigs at locations like the World Pork Expo in Des Moines, Iowa. Travel time can be exhausting, but the silver lining is that it’s spent in the company of family. There’s a lot to be said for that. “It’s not just a job,” said Jerry. “It’s a way to do things together with family. Some kids have baseball and other sports, and the families go to the games together. Not every kid can play sports, but every kid can show an animal.” Like most teenagers, Bryce isn’t sure about what the future holds career wise, and the pigs might be an option. “I love doing it,” said Bryce. “If the Lord takes me that way I think I’d do it. But I’m not sure at this point.” Working with animals is usually a recipe for the unexpected, but show pigs are relatively gentle. There have been no “Old Yeller” moments when a hog latched on to one of Bryce’s extremities. “They’re pretty docile,” said Bryce. “Every now and then one of them wants to play, that’s about it.” Of course a 300-plus pound hog can play rough, but the only animal excitement on the farm so far has come from everyone’s favorite slithering little reptile. “My friend and I were out here moving hay one time and we found a snake and he (Jerry) threw it at us. Ruined my day.” Proof positive that it’s not a genuine Arkansas summer on the farm without a good snake story.
FARMHAND July 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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LAWNMOWER
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ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
SUMMERTIME
JOBS
"I was young, with no responsibility other than mowing lawns—if I wanted to that day."
A
t 9-years-old, Johnny Brazil set out to make his fortune with nothing more than his parents’ push mower, incipient acumen as a haggler and an awesome name. At 27, he’s married and owns his own business. Surely it was those long, hot summer days slaving away on suburban parcels that made Brazil into the man he is today. Well, maybe those days contributed at least. OK— he bought McChickens with his earnings. And can you believe the rates those kids charged? “We generally charged $20 as an average,” he said. “Twenty bucks was a bunch of money to me and the other three guys I started out with when I was like 9. It was definitely worth the work I did because I was buying my own McChickens and whatever else I wanted.” He and his gang of like-minded laborers would purposefully scour the streets of Petaluma, California, in search of any random yard, preferably an old person’s, that needed a good grass cutting. Then, they’d do their darndest to make a buck. “We’d go up to the front door, be as cute as possible and ask for our super-cheap 20 bucks,” he said. “The price went up as I got older, but it really just depended on yard size. The most we ever charged was like 40 bucks.” The pay made him appreciate the job, he said, especially because he was designated as price setter and negotiator of his group. An entrepreneur in the making. But his cohorts soon abandoned the sweet summertime gig for other pursuits more apropos for teenage life. One friend did stick with him, however, until Brazil moved to Arkansas at 16 and gave up lawn mowing as a career choice for a “real job.”
How did he and his friend’s venture into the lawn mowing business go, you may ask? For Brazil, not too bad. He kept the Petaluma McDonald’s lights on. For his friend? Let’s get it from the horse’s mouth who witnessed his buddy’s flourishing career: “I was mowing a yard with my friend—it was a bigger yard, probably one of the 40 dollar ones,” Brazil said. “He was mowing over a grassy driveway that had gravel in it, and a rock shot from the mower and tore a chunk out of his shin down to the bone. It was truly disgusting. It had to have been a good two inch by half inch gash. He started crying and hollering, and I ran over there to help, of course. We had to take him to the hospital, get stitches, the whole bit.” So mowing isn’t for everyone. But an adolescent Brazil made quite the career out of it. Maybe his parents should have let him use the family’s riding lawn mower to make even more profits, right? Actually, his parents did let him use it to mow their own yard. He flipped it on top of himself. “Ran up a hill just a little too steep,” he said. A mere smudge on Brazil’s extensive working record, among which lawn mowing still remains one of his favorites. “From nuclear security, to cooking, managing a website, outdoor retail, bicycle mechanic and lawnmower mechanic, gun salesman and now owning and operating The Wall, I’ve pretty much done it all, and lawn mowing is still close to the top of the list. I was young, with no responsibility other than mowing lawns—if I wanted to that day. What more could you ask for?” July 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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SUMMERTIME
JOBS
"It taught me a lot of life lessons that I didn’t realize at the time would be life lessons"
A
t first, babysitting was simply a way for a teenage Teesha Warren to pay for her cheerleading uniform, camps and other expenses that come with active high school years. Now an adult and therapist, Warren operates her own private practice, Providence Counseling Center in Russellville, and those subtle skills she picked up early on never left her. “It taught me a lot of life lessons that I didn’t realize at the time would be life lessons, but babysitting planted the seed to have a good work ethic and communicate well with people,” Warren said. “I’m a lot better of a therapist now than I was a babysitter as a teen. But I think that comes with growing up and learning. In a different capacity, I still take care of people. I don’t babysit, but I help children, teens and adults." Warren described her high school self as a strict youth who did everything in her power not to commit a babysitting blunder, like the time her 2-year-old sister got into the butter, ate some, and dumped the rest over herself from head to toe. Don’t worry, Warren was only 9 then and was being babysat herself by a cousin with a childtending resumé obviously inferior to her own. She said she now has a better understanding of the proverb “work hard, play hard.” “Whereas when I was younger, I did what I was supposed to do, and I worried about the little things that didn’t really matter as much when you reflect on it. Now, I try to find joy in everything I do.”
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ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
From the time Warren was babysitting family members at age 12 until she began college at 18, she said her biggest problem was that she didn’t know how to play. She focused more on watching over the kids and making sure everything was taken care of—and the butter stayed out of reach. “It was more of a job to me then, but I think I would enjoy it more now than when I was 16. When it got to be too hectic, like when I was babysitting four small kids who were rowdy, I’d tell them to kiss their elbows, and that’d keep them occupied, but only for a little while.” All it took was a master’s degree and a successful career in therapy, and Warren has finally learned the value of play time. A lesson any 7-year-old has no problem grasping. But with a daughter of her own now, she still makes time for worrying. Her 16-year-old, Madeline May, who works in a gift shop as well as the occasional babysitting gig, has taught her to look at some of her early experiences in a new, understanding light. “When I was 16, I would drive from place to place with the kids I babysat, and a grandmother criticized the mom for letting me drive them because I was only 16,” Warren said. “She would say ‘She has no business driving these little kids around!’ I remember being insulted that she didn’t think I was a good driver. But now that I’m the mother of a 16-year-old who is learning to drive, I can totally understand her concerns.”
BABYSITTER July 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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UMPIRE
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ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
SUMMERTIME
JOBS
“Yeah, we get yelled at some, but that’s just part of it.”
A
summer job of umpiring at the ball park sounds like a dream come true. The smell of popcorn and fresh cut grass. Unlimited suicides at the concession stand between games. And then of course you get to carry that minuscule broom in your back pocket and the keep track of strikes and balls with that neat little clicky thing called a pitch counter. It’s a summer job that slides right next to lifeguard on the cool scale. But it’s not all Skittles and Sprite. There are two crucial ingredients needed if you want to be a teenage umpire: A love for the game and hide like a rhinoceros. Both umpires selected for this feature story have a surplus of these ingredients. Seventeen-year-old Kylee Morris is an Atkins High School student, and sixteen-year-old Peyton Golden attends Russellville. Umpiring for these two is an extension of their athletic pursuits. “I enjoyed playing softball,” said Kylee. “So when I got this opportunity it was like, ‘yay’.” A fun job is it’s own reward, but still, making money is the primary reason for seeking employment. Both teenagers are using that money to buy some independence. Kylee’s money is, “going toward moving out” and taking care of herself. Peyton’s cash is spending money with which to buy whatever he wants. Whatever he wants? “Well, yeah, I can spend it on whatever I want… most of the time.” Kylee has longterm plans that include a big move. “After graduation I plan on moving to Dauphin Island
Alabama,” she said. Kylee wants to attend the University of Southern Alabama and then on to medical school. Peyton’s future plans involve baseball. “I hope to play college baseball somewhere,” said Peyton. His ultimate goal would be to don the orange and white of his beloved Tennessee Volunteers. As his distinctive first name implies, Peyton has been corrupted by Vol loving parents Jason and Daranda Golden. The second ingredient, thick skin, is just as important for a young umpire. Getting yelled at is part of the job, and it tops the list when asked about exciting moments behind the plate. Peyton is very laid back about it. “Yeah, I get yelled at some,” he said. “But that’s just part of it.” Kylee’s perspective is a bit different because she teams up with her dad, Brandon, for umping duties. For her, disagreements on the diamond can come not only form the stands and coaches, but also from family. She recalls one play in particular. “I called her out, I saw the tag,” she said. “And none of the coaches saw it. All the coaches were mad at me. So Dad made me meet him in the middle of the field and talk it over, and I told him what I saw. Everyone in the crowd was saying ‘little blue is in trouble’.” But Kylee hung on to her convictions just like she was taught to do. “One of the first things we learned in one of the classes before you can become an umpire is even if you flub a call you stick to your guns.”
July 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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SUMMERTIME
JOBS
“Well my dad calls my job a snow cone engineer, but I just tell people I make snow cones.”
S
ticky sweet syrup and shaved ice go together like… well, there’s probably not a better combination of anything on a hot summer day. A big part of snow cone charm is that, most of the time, you can buy them only from seasonal huts or trailers. For many kids, the opening of the snow cone stand was the real sign that warm weather was probably here to stay. Emily Cooper, age 18 and a 2015 graduate of Russellville High School, works in a snow cone stand. When asked about her official title she giggles. “Well my dad calls my job a snow cone engineer, but I just tell people I make snow cones.” Emily has a family connection to the business. “Brandon, the owner, is my uncle. He posted on Facebook that he needed help, and my mom was like, ‘hey you should go talk to him,’ and I was like ‘okay,’ and he was like, ‘yeah, I could use your help.’” This is Emily’s second summer in the snow cone stand. And though she originally took the job just to make a little money, she has decided to focus her income on contributing
to her education. “Now I’m using it to help pay for college,” she said. “I promised my parents I’d put $500 toward tuition for this first semester.” Her college plans include a double major in sociology and Spanish. “I want to be an admissions counselor for college and be able to translate for Spanish speaking students.” Success in the snow cone business is directly tied to high temperatures. As the sun and mercury climb higher, the demand grows exponentially. But Emily’s job is probably the most comfortable of the bunch.The trailer is air-conditioned and her Harry Potter books keep boredom away during business lulls. No snakes under bales of hay. No screaming baseball or softball parents. Excitement comes in the form of snow cone flavor requests. “Sometimes weird people come by and ask for strange flavor combinations,” she said. And then of course there is the potential for riding out an Arkansas thunderstorm in a tiny trailer. “One time I was here during a big storm and I thought the trailer was going to tip over. And I was like, ‘can I please go home?”
Summer jobs are like summer breezes. It seems as though we wait an eternity for the
chance to be our own person and make our own money while still hanging on to the security of mom, dad and home. And then one day we wake up as adults and the warm winds are gone. The summers of work by choice are over and adulthood is here. The memories of those carefree days will always be there, though, in the smell of sunscreen, gasoline, toddlers, baseball mitts, hay bales and snow cone syrup. And in the lessons learned about what we can accomplish when we roll up our sleeves and get to work. l 20
ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
SNOW CONE July 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
21
ABOUT...the River Valley | Every Day Life
The BEST Summer Job EVER Story and Illustration by CLIFF THOMAS
My first realization that I needed to make my own money was in the fifth grade. It was 1977. Star Wars had just come out. I wanted action figures. My mom and dad were great about buying them for me, but once they acquired the movie's starring cast they thought the job was done. They couldn't understand the importance of having a full squadron of stormtroopers or enough aliens to populate the cantina. After a bit of negotiating, I managed some additions to my basic chores in the form of a list of extras. To the right of each item a number showed how much I could earn upon completion of that particular task. With proper scheduling I could not only build a rebel alliance, I could afford a few X-Wings for special missions, too. By middle school I was selling holiday and greeting cards door to door. Over the next few years I would help clean chicken houses, follow a flatbed trailer through the fields loading square bails and mow many a neighbor’s lawn. But the first real job I had, the first be-there-on-time-clock-in-clock out-organize-your-weekly-schedule-around-yourwork-job was for Dickey Motors. Dickey Motors was a small used car lot owned by Bruce Dickey. That name will be familiar to many of you I suspect Bruce has done quite a few things in Russellville for nearly a half century now. When I met him he was building his own home. He hired me to help him move tools and equipment. I can't imagine that my sixth-grade self was that much benefit to him, but he did pay me and he was fun to be around. At that time he was also dabbling in photography and selling his own pottery. Bruce was a neighbor so landing the job at his lot a few years later wasn't hard. He needed someone to detail cars and I needed to put gas in my newly acquired 65 Bel Air. Detailing cars was, as I said, the job description but that was just the beginning. There was so much more and all of it was a blast. If a vehicle needed repairs Bruce would tell me to do it. My first effort was replacing the water pump on a 1971 Chevelle, thing is, I didn't really know how to do it. I thoroughly 22
ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
messed up the gasket. Bruce helped me take it apart and showed me where I'd gone wrong. We fixed it together and it worked perfectly. After it sold I would sometimes see it in town and I always got a swell of pride. In addition to repairing cars, I also got to help steal a couple. OK, that's not entirely accurate. We were in fact quite legally repossessing them, and usually after Bruce had been incredibly generous about helping the owner arrange to cover the missed payments. But at 16 sneaking up to a home and taking a car away, that's exciting. Not as exciting as hanging out of an airplane as it skims the treetops, but exciting. And I'm not quite to that part of the story yet. The airplane rides were an entirely unexpected benefit. Bruce was getting his pilot's license and looked for any opportunity to fly. He would buy a car in Morrilton or maybe Oklahoma and he would fly me to its location and I'd drive it back to Russellville. I was getting paid to ride in an airplane! As if that weren't enough, Bruce had a new idea. He'd taken aerial photos of some of his friends' homes and given them as gifts. Everyone really loved them so he thought maybe we could sell some. I think what I am about to describe would probably get someone arrested today, but it was 1982 and things were a bit more relaxed then. I'm also pretty sure that the statute of limitations on child endangerment is well expired after three plus decades. I can't remember if we removed only the windows, but I really do think that we actually took the doors off. I can remember the incredible wind as Bruce flew, it seems to me now, mere feet above the treetops. I can remember how I gripped his camera as he tipped the wing on my side of the plane, pointing at the homes he wanted photographed. And I can remember my heart thudding against the harness as I hung there shooting pictures, the plane nearly perpendicular to the ground to afford the best view. Did I mention that he was actually paying me to do this? After a day of shooting, Bruce developed small sample pictures. I would return to the area and go door to door. We gave them the 3x5 as a gift, and if they were interested they could buy larger prints that Bruce would develop and I would deliver. I can remember that I really wanted to sell copies, not just for the additional commission I'd earn but so we could go up again. Cont. on page 30...
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(479) 567-5578 | (479) 970-5669 July 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
23
ABOUT...the River Valley | Valley Vittles
The Perfect Summer Sandwich Story by JOHNNY SAIN | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN
It’s hot. It is, after all, July in Arkansas. We complain about it. Even though Arkansas summers have been hot and muggy since long before there was an Arkansas, we still complain about it. And we look for ways to cool down. Getting out of the kitchen is a good start, and it goes a long way toward cooling the house. Who wants to slave over a scorching stove? And who wants to eat a hot and heavy meal when daytime temperatures are spiking the thermometer around 95 degrees? We need something light yet filling; something slightly chilled would be very nice as well. How about a sandwich? The word “sandwich” sounds pretty blasé as we think back to meals made in haste by slapping some cold cuts between two bread slices along with a quick spread of our chosen condiment. But sandwiches don’t have to be boring. The best sandwiches aren’t boring at all, combing visual aesthetics and palate pleasure into an all-around satisfying meal. And we know where you can get such a sandwich. Smokehouse Deli (formerly known as Ozark Smokehouse) is the place. Order the smokehouse club with a side of potato salad and glass of tea. After your eyes enjoy a few moments of viewing pleasure, take a bite of sandwich followed buy a spoonful of potato salad and then a nibble of pickle spear. Savor the surprising complexity of flavors. Wash it down with a sip from that sweating glass of tea. Repeat. Enjoy. l 24
ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
SMOKEHOUSE DELI | 1000 W Main St, Russellville
July 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
25
ABOUT...the River Valley | Countertop Creations
KANSAS CITY STYLE BARBECUE SAUCE 2 T butter 1 sm yellow onion, finely chopped 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 c ketchup 1/3 c molasses 1/3 c dark brown sugar 1/3 c cider vinegar 2 T yellow mustard 1 T chili powder 1 tsp freshly ground black pepper 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
Summer in the South Story by LYDIA ZIMMERMAN, Food Editor
A
s the saying goes, only two things in life are certain — death and taxes. However, being a Girls Raised in the South (aka GRITS) I am well aware that this statement goes several steps further for us southerners. Of course I am referring to our inevitable summer guests: humidity, chiggers and humongous mosquitoes. Not every constant in the south is bad, though. Case in point, we are home to some of the best barbecue and barbecue sauces in the world. Whether it’s a tasty "mop" sauce from Texas, an incredible meat rub for those ribs or just a lip-smacking-put-it-oneverything sauce, we southerners know how to serve it. So in the spirit of good summer eats, this month I’ve compiled some traditional and not so traditional barbecue recipes from all across the south. As always, enjoy!
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ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add ketchup, molasses, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, chili powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer until slightly thickened, about 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Transfer sauce to the jar of a blender and blend until smooth. Let cool to room temperature, transfer to a jar and store in refrigerator for up to a month. Recipe courtesy of seriuoseats.com/Joshua Bousel TENNESSEE ‘HOLLERIN” WHISKEY BARBECUE SAUCE 2 c Jack Daniel's Black Label 1 c ketchup 1 T lemon juice 2 T Worcestershire sauce 2 T malt vinegar 4 T dark or blackstrap molasses 1/2 tsp liquid smoke (optional) Taste the whiskey to make sure it is up to your standards. Pour 1 cup of whiskey into a saucepan and set aside the remaining whiskey. Bring the saucepan to a boil and reduce the liquid to about 2 tablespoons. Don't let the alcohol flame. Taste the unused whiskey to make sure it hasn't gone bad. Add 1/2 cup of the whiskey and the other ingredients. Simmer over a low heat for 30 minutes and reduce it by about 1/3. Use it immediately or bottle it and keep it in the refrigerator for a month or more. Drink the remaining whiskey. Recipe courtesy of amazingribs.com/Meathead
Goldwyn OLD TIME EASTERN NORTH CAROLINA BARBECUE SAUCE 1/2 lb butter 1/2 c apple cider vinegar (white will work also) 3 T lemon juice (approx. 1 lemon) 1 1/2 T Worcestershire sauce (preferably Lea & Perrins) 1 T honey 2 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper (fresh ground if avail.) Once the butter is melted in a sauce pan, stir in all but the vinegar and bring to a boil. Remove the pan from the heat, stir in the vinegar, allow the sauce to cool. Recipe courtesy of the-greatestbarbecue-recipes.com ESSENTIAL TEXAS BBQ MOP SAUCE 12 oz beer, whatever you’re serving (but preferably not dark beer) 1/2 c apple cider vinegar 1/4 c vegetable oil 2 T Worcestershire sauce 2 T minced serrano chile (2 to 3 chiles) 1 T black peppercorns 2 garlic cloves, crushed 4 fresh thyme sprigs 1 bay leaf 1/4 cup Texas BBQ dry rub (see next recipe) Combine the beer, vinegar, oil, Worcestershire, chiles, peppercorns, garlic,thyme, bay leaf, and 1/2 cup water in a saucepan over low heat. Add
the dry rub and stir to combine. Cook over low heat for about 5 minutes to bring the flavors together. Makes 2 cups. TEXAS BBQ DRY RUB 1/4 c kosher salt 3 T unrefined evaporated cane sugar 3 T packed light or dark brown sugar 1/4 c chili powder 1/4 c New Mexico chile powder 2 T ground chipotle chile 2 T freshly ground black pepper 2 T ground cumin 1 T smoked sweet paprika 1 T onion powder 1 T garlic powder 1 T celery salt 1 T dry mustard (preferably Colman’s) 1 tsp cayenne pepper Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and stir. Store in an airtight container in a cool, dry place for up to 2 months. Makes 2 cups. Recipes courtesy of andrewzimmern. com/Ben Ford RAJUN CAJUN BBQ SAUCE 1/2 c Dark Brown Sugar plus 1 tablespoon 1/2 c Blended Bourbon 1/2 c Heinz Ketchup 2 tsp Liquid Smoke 1 clove garlic mined 1 T minced Onion In a saucepan combine brown sugar, and bourbon. Turn heat to medium and mix well.
Add Ketchup and remaining . Stir until all is well blended. Heat through for about 15 - 20 minutes. You want to make sure the alcohol cooks away. You can use this as a basting sauce for BBQ, or you can spoon it over chicken breasts and pop those into a 400-degree oven covered for about 30 minutes. You can also prepare this with wings for a great change on hot wings. Recipe courtesy of www.copykat.com MEMPHIS’S EASIEST, BEST BARBECUE SAUCE RECIPE EVER 2 c ketchup 1/2 c yellow mustard 1/2 c packed brown sugar 1/4 c apple cider vinegar 1/2 - 1 tsp red pepper flakes, to taste 1 T onion powder 1 T chili powder 1 T freshly ground black pepper 2 tsp garlic powder 1/2 tsp celery salt 1/2 tsp salt 1 T liquid smoke 3 T Worcestershire sauce Combine all ingredients in a medium non-reactive saucepan. Bring to a simmer and cook over low heat about 25 minutes, stirring occasionally, til smooth and thickened. Watch out for splashing-- it's so thick that splashes are killer. It's okay to cover. Let cool slightly, and serve. This bbq sauce gets better as it sits. Recipe courtesy of divinedinnerparty.com
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SOUTHERN BBQ, GEORGIA STYLE SOUTHERN BBQ RUB 2 Parts Sea Salt 2 Parts Granulated Garlic 2 Parts Black Pepper 2 Parts Chili Powder 2 Parts Brown Sugar 2 Parts Paprika 1 Part Onion Powder 1 Part Cumin 1 Part Cayenne Pepper
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BBQ MOP SAUCE 1 c bourbon ½ c apple cider vinegar 1 c apple juice 1 c ketchup 3 T black pepper 3 T Worcestershire sauce 3 T garlic powder 3 T kosher salt 3 T dry mustard Southern BBQ Rub Place all spices in a large bowl and mix with a fork. Remove just the amount you need for the roast you're seasoning so you don't cross contaminate the rest of your rub and have to throw it away. BBQ Mop Sauce Throw it in a pot and put the heat to it. No need to boil it, just heat it until you can get the garlic powder, mustard and salt incorporated. Check your meat about every hour and slather on some mop sauce each time. Recipe courtesy of orgasmicchef.com
ALABAMA WHITE BARBECUE SAUCE (FOR CHICKEN) FOR THE SAUCE 2 c mayonnaise 1 c apple cider vinegar 1/2 c apple juice 2 tsp prepared horseradish 2 tsp freshly ground black pepper 2 tsp freshly squeezed juice from 1 lemon 1 tsp Kosher salt 1/2 tsp mustard powder 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper FOR THE BRINE 1 qt apple juice 1 qt water 1/2 c kosher salt 1/4 c brown sugar 2 T molasses 1/4 c of your favorite BBQ rub. Procedure To make the sauce: Place mayonnaise, vinegar, apple juice, horseradish, black pepper, lemon juice, salt, mustard powder, and cayenne pepper in a medium bowl and whisk to combine. Transfer to a jar and store in refrigerator until ready to use. To make the brine: Whisk together apple juice, water, salt, brown sugar, and molasses until solids have dissolved. Submerge chicken in brine, breast side down, and place in refrigerator for 1 1/2 hours. Remove chicken from brine and pat dry with paper towels. Season both sides of chicken literally with a barbecue rub and grill until meat registers 160 degrees on an instant read thermometer inserted into thickest part of meat.
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ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
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Remove meat from grill and brush chicken liberally with white BBQ sauce. Let rest 10 minutes before serving. Recipe courtesy of Big Bob Gibson’s BBQ Book by Chris Lilly MISSISSIPPI SWEET AND SOUR BARBECUE SAUCE 1 c ketchup 3/4 c brown sugar 1 (5.5 oz) can tomato paste 1/2 c apple cider vinegar 1/4 c dark corn syrup 2 fluid oz pineapple juice 1 fluid oz bourbon whiskey 2 T water 2 T minced white onion 2 tsp lemon juice 1 1/2 tsp mustard powder 1 tsp hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco®) 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce 1 tsp salt 1 tsp ground black pepper 1 tsp onion powder 1 tsp garlic powder 1/8 tsp ground allspice 1 pinch Chinese five-spice powder 1 pinch celery salt Combine ketchup, brown sugar, tomato paste, vinegar, corn syrup, pineapple juice, bourbon whiskey, water, white onion, lemon juice, mustard powder, hot pepper sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, black pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, allspice, Chinese five-spice powder, and celery salt together in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer until flavors have blended
and sauce is slightly reduced, 1 hour. To make into a dipping BBQ sauce increase the brown sugar to 1 c and use white vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar. Recipe courtesy of allrecipes.com/ TasteKing BOBO’S DOWNHOME ARKANSAS BBQ SAUCE 1 1/4 c commercial chili sauce (Heinz style) 3 c ketchup 1 c yellow mustard 1/4 c Worcestershire sauce 1/4 c cider vinegar. 1 T garlic powder 1 T onion powder 1 T freshly ground black pepper 1 T salt 1/2 T dried thyme 1 tsp chili powder (hot for extra heat) 1 tsp cayenne pepper 1/2 tsp liquid smoke (available in most grocery stores) 1/4 tsp ground cumin 1 c dark brown sugar 1/2 c sorghum molasses Combine all ingredients EXCEPT brown sugar and sorghum in a sauce pan and slowly bring mixture to a simmer. Remove from heat and add sugar and sorghum. Mix thoroughly and occasionally as it cools. Store in covered container in the refrigerator. Yields 2 qt. Recipe courtesy of foodgeeks.com/ shellback l
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29
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ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
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traveled the globe with a missionary group helping on building projects. As summer jobs go, I knew the one at Dickey Motors was great. I managed to keep the Chevy rolling to WhattaBurger, and I always had enough cash to buy a double. What I didn't realize at the time was that I was learning something really important. Bruce was
AUGUST 1&2
...cont. from page 22 Bruce eventually sold or closed the business to spend time building a larger home for his growing family. I know he actually taught building trades at the Career Center for a while. I haven't seen him in years but I know that he now hand builds guitars and other string instruments, and I've seen on Facebook that he has
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31
ABOUT...the River Valley | Backyard Living
Read more from Jill at www.journeywithjill.net
Strawberry Memories Story & Photo by JILL MCSHEEHY
"Mom, can we go outside and pick strawberries?" Surprised by my eight-year-old son's request, I finished cleaning up dinner and headed outside with Drew and his sister Alyssa. All three of us began filling our buckets with strawberries. While I continued searching for the ripe ones that were hidden from sight, I looked up to see the kids a few yards away sitting on the trampoline, snacking on the berries they had just picked. Just a few weeks prior, my eyes spotted the very first ripe strawberries in the patch. I showed them to Alyssa, but told her we had to wait until Drew got home from school to pick them. The first strawberries in spring are like Christmas. It's a once-a-year event with much anticipation. And it's a family affair. Drew didn't seem to have as much enthusiasm for the occasion was a book he had colored full of what he appreciated about as I had hoped. Still, nothing could contain my excitement as I me. On one page his words grabbed my eyes and my heart. told my husband to grab the camera. All of us chose our berries "I love picking strawberries with you." A few pages later he and took that very first bite. Fragrant, warm, juicy, sweet. After wrote, "I love gardening with you." a winter of eating tart berries from the store, we savored each bite. "It's not what we buy or how much time we spend planning This began our after-school ritual for a week or so. Every day the kids something special that makes an impact in that child's life. picked their after-school snacks fresh It's being there. Doing life. Asking them to join us in what from the backyard. I never knew if they were cherishing the memories, we're doing, even if it's work. This is what makes memories." but I certainly was. Soon, the strawberries began to ripen quickly and our after- A mother usually has a pretty good pulse on her children's school snack ritual became our evening family activity a few hearts, but never would I have predicted this. Drew, after all, times per week, filling buckets to the brim. I thought for sure is my child who would rather be doing other things besides the novelty had worn off and I'd begin to hear grunts and gardening. He breaks out in a sweat when the temperature complaints soon. But I didn't realize then what an impression breaks 80 degrees. Frankly, I thought he was such an eager our strawberry picking had made on Drew. participant in the strawberry picking solely because he likes On Mother's Day, in the middle of strawberry-picking strawberries. And 74 degree weather. season, Drew brought me a gift he had created at school. It Apparently it was much more than that. As I watched Drew and 32
ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
his sister gorging themselves with strawberries on the trampoline, I drank in the moment. Sometimes it's easy as a mom to think I have to buy all the latest gadgets or plan the most spectacular road trips or craft the perfect Pinterest-worthy Valentine's Day box in order to make memories for my children. But do you know what was missing from his Mother's Day book? Anything that I had ever bought him. The book was filled instead with ordinary moments: talking to one another before bed, gardening together, picking strawberries together. Those were the memories that mattered to him. Moms, dads, grandparents, aunts, uncles, foster parents--any one of us who has a special child in our lives--we need to remember this. It's not what we buy or how much time we spend planning something special that makes an impact in that child's life. It's being there. Doing life. Asking them to join us in what we're doing, even if it's work. This is what makes memories. This is what they will treasure and will pass on to future generations. l
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Community Commerce
C&D Drug Store 121 N. Commerce Ave., Russellville, AR (479) 968-2456 | www.CandDDrugStore.com Story and Photos by EMILY LANGFORD
S
o many staples make Russellville the Mayberry-like, picturesque town that it is. From the eclectic array of superb eateries, the peppy joggers who fill the sidewalks of Main Street, down to the friendly faces working cheerfully in our local businesses, you cannot make it a mile without finding a bit of small town charm. To many, the employees and owners of “home grown” businesses that residents trust to do their dry cleaning, file their taxes and fill their prescriptions are more like honorary family members than someone to provide a service. C&D Drug Store, located in Downtown Russellville, embodies and boasts of all things mentioned above, and has been an asset to the community for years. Their location alone has a rich history dating so far back that it is difficult to trace. “There has been a drug store in this location, we think, since 1877. It has been a drug store ever since,” said co-owner and pharmacist, R.D. Walker. In 1958 R.D.’s father, Dale Walker, and his partner, Charles Oates, went into business together establishing C&D (Charles and Dale) Drug Store. “I remember a conversation with Charles, he 34
ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
said it was such a great partnership because the partners got along, the wives got along, and all of the kids got along,” recalled R.D. Through several sets of hands, remodels and expansions this full-service pharmacy has been and will remain a family business. R.D. and his wife, Johnna, own the pharmacy together. Their niece, Yanci Walker, is a staff pharmacist. “I feel so fortunate to have the opportunity to work with my uncle, R.D. I love seeing, hearing and feeling the family history every day at work. Charles Oates, R.D. and Melinda Reams (staff pharmacist) have been world class mentors,” said Yanci Walker, daughter of the late C&D pharmacist, Robert Walker. “My cousin, Will Walker, just graduated from pharmacy school, and his sister, Courtney, is starting her final year. I am very proud of them both!” While C&D is a traditional pharmacy and snack bar, their approaches and methods are advanced and high quality. “There is a specialty in pharmacy called compound pharmacy. We are a compounding pharmacy, and that just means that we can custom make a product that is not commercially available. It takes some training and we go to Houston for
training and to stay up to date,” said R.D. Convenience and accommodating customer needs is important to C&D, whether it is masking the yucky flavor of your child’s medicine or delivering your medicine to your doorstep. “We do delivery. We understand that people do not have time to go sit in a drive-thru for 25 minutes. We will bring it to you at work, if you are at home with a sick baby, the nursing home, retirement center, whatever it is,” said R.D. The saying “do work you love and you will never work a day in your life,“ seems to be a perfect quote to sum up C&D. “ I love coming to work every day. I love coming to work downtown every day! The last few years, Downtown Russellville has had a surge, and our customers love the old building and the feel of the area,” said Walker. “I believe almost anywhere you go, the Downtown is the heart and soul of the city. Our Downtown once was, and is back on track to being so once again. I am very lucky to live, work and play in Russellville’s Downtown! I have friends who come and visit and are blown away with the progress,” added Yanci Walker. l
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35
ABOUT...the River Valley | Outdoors
Read more from Johnny at www.aviewfromthebackroads.com
Time for Junior to Get a Job
I
’m a Pisces — born under the sign of the fishes. I won’t go far into the backstory of my childhood fishing obsession here, but I’m positive the Zodiac had something to do with it. Everyone in the family says I could cast a rod and reel before I could walk and it got worse from there. John Willis Payton, my grandpa known to me as Poppy, was probably the person to blame. He was a fishing fanatic, too, and made sure I always had a supply of hooks, bobbers and artificial lures. So it wasn’t just a love of fishing passed down to me from Poppy. It was also a love of fishing tackle. I could look at tackle for hours. The Bass Pro Shops catalog was nightly reading as a kid. I loved looking at pictures of rods and reels, crankbaits, spinnerbaits, jigs, topwater and plastic worms. I loved reading a description of their actions and colors: “Mann’s Jelly worm. The perfect balance of durability and natural action with fruit flavoring. Available in colors (01) blackberry (02) black grape (03) grape (04) blueberry (05) scuppernong…” I really loved reading and saying the word “scuppernong.” Mom and Dad supported my habit for several years, but the end drew nigh on the day I learned about B.A.S.S. If you’ve never heard of B.A.S.S. I’m going to have a hard time believing you’re from the South. B.A.S.S. is an acronym for Bass Anglers Sportsman’s Society and is the preeminent organization for tournament bass anglers. Living anywhere in the South, but in particular the River Valley of Arkansas, means that you will have been exposed to tournament bass fishing on a regular basis from an early age. It’s just part of the scene and as inevitable as chigger bites in a cow pasture. I joined B.A.S.S. at the age of ten and my lust for fishing and fishing tackle hit fourth gear with a steady climb in RPM on the way to overdrive, which was achieved when I joined the Lucky Landing Bass Club a few months after my fourteenth birthday. 36
ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
Story & Photo by JOHNNY SAIN
After reading about and seeing pictures of the pros with bundles of rod and reel combos along with stacks of tackle boxes, I could now ride in the boat with and touch bundles of rod and reel combos and stacks of tackle boxes belonging to real tournament fishermen. It was revelation. My two Ambassadors attached to Berkley Lightning Rods were fine and dandy, but I needed more rods and reels in the rotation. I needed at least two of my favorite shades of Bomber Model “A”s and another tackle box to hold them, and lord knows I needed at least one dedicated plastic worm box. I approached Mom and Dad with the list of necessities. It did not go as planned. They said food and shelter were part of their parental duties. Clothing and school supplies would absolutely be covered. But more fishing tackle… Time for Junior to find a job. So I did, or rather, they found one for me. One of the perks (and curses) of growing up in a tiny town is that everyone knows everyone. This was back when people actually knew their neighbors through social interaction as opposed to social media. Mom heard through the grapevine that Frank Griffin Oil needed summertime help with pretty much anything Steve Griffin, owners Carol and Judy Griffin’s son, didn’t want to do anymore. Steve was about ten years older than me and, as luck
"I joined B.A.S.S. at the age of ten and my lust for fishing and fishing tackle hit fourth gear with a steady climb in RPM on the way to overdrive"
would have it, also a bass fishing maniac plus he owned a truck and bass boat. The job consisted of riding my bicycle to Atkins Mountain View 66 first thing in the morning and bagging ice until Steve came by to help haul it to the Griffins’ other station in town. Steve’s arrival was always the highlight of the morning because it meant a solid fifteen minutes of talking bass and even planning an after work fishing trip with Steve while we loaded and delivered ice. Then it was on to mowing or, my least favorite part of the job, hosing and sweeping the parking lot. I don’t think I ever cleaned the concrete to the Griffin’s full approval but, God love ‘em, they understood the shortcomings of a fourteen year-old-boy. Perhaps because they had dealt with two of their own. Overall, the job wasn’t bad. Other than every morning at the ice machine, there was a lot of variety. Mowing, sweeping, helping Steve haul supplies, and because I bragged about my tractor driving experience (of which in reality there was none) they let me mow with their tractor a few times before I eventually broke the front axle in a pot hole. Accidents happen. Yes, the job was fun, but the payoff… oh my. My rod and reel arsenal grew to six with specialized tools like flipping, cranking, topwater and worm combos rounding out the collection. By end of summer I had three tackle boxes — including a worm box — bulging with tackle. And I had bags and bags of plastic worms in every color and shape my heart desired. I’ll bet there’s a pack of black grape Jelly Worms somewhere in my tackle box right now, and maybe some scuppernong, too. A happy reminder of that first summer job so many summers ago. l
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July 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
37
On a Personal Note My First Taste of Freedom Guest Written by Stephanie Brison
In the late 1970s, young girls did not have too many choices for a summer job. I did what so many others did: I babysat. Even after more than thirty-five
In the late 1970s, young girls did not have too many choices for a summer job. I did what so many others did: I babysat. Even after more than thirty-five years have flown by, I can still recall the excitement, anxiety, and apprehension of my jump into “maturity.”
38
years have flown by, I can still recall the excitement, anxiety, and apprehension of my jump into “maturity.” First of all, the blonde, angelic-looking fiveyear-old was used to hearing the word yes about everything. I was only thirteen, and I enjoyed hearing the same word, so yes it was! We watched cartoons, ate pizza, and anything else she desired. Living on a farm, I was used to a television that only showed three channels, and one of those was an educational channel. The first day I kept my little friend, I learned that the fine t.v. in her house offered many different channels. Her favorite cartoon is a bit fuzzy in my mind; I seem to remember a cat and a mouse and plenty of high-pitched sounds. I didn’t mind because when given the opportunity to change the dial, I felt powerful. One of my responsibilities was to take her to a reading specialist once a week. The first time was exciting for this girl who was used to being bored on the farm. The walk wasn’t too bad; we hit the pavement with a steady stride enjoying the scenery for the five blocks to our destination. The retired teacher who was helping this little girl was at least eighty-two years old. She looked me up and down while I stood on her “Welcome” mat and told me to sit on the porch steps before she shut the door. Sitting on the concrete steps was my first opportunity to enjoy town life. After her lesson, my girl asked if we could
ABOUT...the River Valley | July 2015
walk more before going home. Why not? The sun was shining, and there was more of the town to be seen. Before I knew it, we had traveled another five blocks to the tennis courts east of town. Some familiar faces were playing tennis (boys, I might add), so we found a picnic table a considerable distance away and enjoyed the match. The sun was directly above us after half an hour of relaxing and watching, so we proceeded back to the cool house. Once we were there, lunch was our next decision. I learned very quickly that my little girl would eat nothing else but pizza. I thought it was a good choice until the oven would not come on. She informed me that I had to light the pilot light underneath in order to make the oven work. This was the one moment I felt anxious because I had never done this before. I had no idea what to do, so I called my mom. After she made a call to a relative, she called me back and gave me instructions. I finally lit the oven and placed the frozen pizza in the oven. After we devoured the pizza, we watched more cartoons, made prank phone calls (her idea), and played with Barbie dolls. Once her mother arrived home, I was picked up and taken to my home. A typical evening ensued with my family until the telephone rang. Needless to say, I did not take my little girl on long walks after that. We did continue our trips to the reading specialist and back which did limit my experiences of town life, but I enjoyed every minute of my first taste of freedom.
Look for more interesting features and tidbits in "On a Personal Note" each month in future issues of ABOUT...the River Valley. You'll find short stories, interesting pieces and other great reads from people you know, or would like to know from around the River Valley.
ABOUT...the River Valley | Engagements
Save the Date!
Calendar listings of engagement, wedding and anniversary announcements on the pages of each issue of ABOUT‌the River Valley are available at no charge. They may be mailed to: ABOUT Magazine, 220 East 4th St., Russellville AR 72801 or sent via email to: editor@aboutrvmag.com. (A phone number must be included for verification.)
~ July 4 ~
Colleen Lloyd & Keith Eddy
~ July 10 ~
Katy Yerina & Brandon Brockinton
~ July 18 ~
Morgan Newton & Clay Ramey Susan Taylor & Josh Falls
~ July 25 ~
Abby Alford & Seth Jones Calesta Halbert & Nicholas Tarte
~ July 26 ~
Shirley Carr & Brandon Wade
~ August 8 ~
Brandy Standridge & Jon Nathan George
~ August 15 ~
Bailey Craig and Casey Nickleson
~ September 5 ~
LaRaye Anderson & Josh Harris
~ September 12 ~
Taylor Harrington & Jackson Jacobs
~ September 19 ~
Bethany Richardson & Jonathan Reasoner
~ November 7 ~
Emily Blackard & Clayton Frazier
~ November 14 ~
Ramie Hay & Ethan Domerese To have your engagement or wedding published in a future issue of ABOUT Magazine, send your information, photo* and a check for $57.50 to: ABOUT Magazine, PO Box 10176, Russellville AR 72812, or visit visit www.aboutrvmag.com/ forms.html. Word count is limited to 225 words. Deadline is the 15th of the month preceding publication. For additional information, call (479) 857-6791. *Digital files are accepted and will be published upon receipt of payment.
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for New Students for the month of July! (can be used for gift certificates)
For Music and Voice Lessons 479-747-1693 July 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
39
Heart Stories from Home Jean Harbison | Cardiac Cath Patient
HER HEART PROBLEMS WERE SOLVED RIGHT HERE. All Jean Harbison knew was that she was not feeling her best. Her primary care physician referred her to cardiologist Dai-Yuan Wang. After he performed a few tests, it was determined that Jean’s heart condition was serious. Her arrhythmia was life-threatening. Dr. Wang performed a surgical procedure in Saint Mary’s cardiac cath lab to install a dual pacemaker, correcting Jean’s heart rhythm. “Throughout my treatment, the nurses were great about keeping my friends and family informed of my progress,” Jean said. “Dr. Wang and his team were all very nice. I never had to ask for anything.” Now in her 5th week of cardiac rehabilitation, she is getting stronger every day. Today, Jean has returned to putting her heart into her favorite hobby — solving jigsaw puzzles.
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