Seeking Balance
Reflecting the Character of the Arkansas River Valley June 2015
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SUMMER LEARNING ACTIVITIES Summer is the ideal time for students of all ages to strengthen their academic skills while still having plenty of time left over for summer activities. Recent research indicates that students, no matter their backgrounds, lose academic ground if they do not stay engaged in educational activities during the summer. Parents can bridge this gap by encouraging academic activities during the summer.
READING
WRITING
u Read. Set aside 15-30 minutes each day for your child to read or for you to read to your child.
u Keep a journal. Have your child write a creative paragraph each week.
u Visit the Pope County Library. Ask about their summer reading programs and activities. www.popelibrary.org
u Practice spelling skills. Have your child write words on the sidewalk with water and a brush.
u Visit a museum online. One example is the Smithsonian Institution kids site. www.si.edu/Kids
u Plan a trip. Have your child use travel books, maps, and brochures to plan their dream vacation.
SCIENCE
MATH
u Map the weather. Have your child keep a running log of the weather.
u Go shopping. Have your child find out what they can buy for $5 at different stores and figure out what the change would be.
u Answer a question. Have your child form a hypothesis and do an experiment to see if they are right. For example: how long does it take an ice cube to melt outside? u Become an inventor. Have your child invent items for a particular situation. For example: an invention that can only be used in the summer.
u Write and draw a comic strip.
u Measure distance. Using a map have your child calculate where you will be if you traveled 20, 50, 100, or 1,000 miles. u Make a meal. Have your child read a recipe, make a shopping list, buy items at the store with a budget, and measure ingredients.
220 West 10th Street n Russellville, AR. 72801 479.968.1306 www.russellvilleschools.net
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June 2015 8 Sup Yoga; Seeking Balance
Although yoga as a practice or sport or discipline has steadily worked its way into the mainstream, its offshoot and far more difficult byproduct, sup yoga, is still obscure enough to raise a few eyebrows at its mention. It raised mine.
12 Wearing the Outfits of Life
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Bend The Oar
There is no denying that many who inhabit the River Valley love to be in or on the water. More often, you hear of locals floating, tubing, fishing, etc., but Steve Newby, founder of Russellville Rowing Club (RRC), has taken the initiative to begin providing the area with the tools needed to be a hub for rowing.
20 Just Trying to Keep Cool
24 Pope County Water Rescure
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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.
32 Here is Where We Must Begin
36 We All Live Downstream
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ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
POTTSVILLE POTTSVILLE PRIMARY CARE
Primary Health Care Clinic We always have time for our patients because providing our community with the highest level of care is our mission. From annual physicals to illness, injury and medical conditions, we are here for you when you need us.
Call 479-880-1118 for an appointment We are accepting all new patients including Medicare and Medicaid. 5395 WEST ASH STREET, SUITE 2 • POTTSVILLE
L to R: Natalie Hill, APN; Carol Townsend, APN; Nataille Beck, APN
MONDAY-FRIDAY 8:00AM - 5:00PM
RiverValley AssistedLiving At River Valley Assisted Living
we have recently opened a specialty cottage with 15 apartments. We’ve also increased staffing to care for residents with increased needs, such as those with short term memory or wandering. We offer total assistance with activities of daily living, and medication administration by a licensed nurse. We have a registered nurse who evaluates the residences’ needs and supervises their care. Specialized activities are planned daily for the individual’s interests. Our courtyard is fenced to allow secure outdoor activities. Couples are welcome! Please come by for a tour or call Sue Gray at (479) 567-5578.
1909 East Fairway Blvd, Russellville
(479) 567-5578 | (479) 970-5669 June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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A PAGE FROM
The Editor’s Notebook
ABOUT the River Valley
The River is Calling “Lazy yellow moon coming up tonight shinin’ through the trees. Crickets are a singin’ and the lightnin’ bugs are floatin’ on the breeze. Baby get ready…. You and me goin’ fishin’ in the dark…” Some hear this song and think of redneck romance on the creek bank. I hear it and think of summer nights from decades ago on the sandbar right down from Catfish N. The heavy summer air smelled like river air always does: the organic scent of life and death in the water. It also smelled of driftwood smoke and Deep Woods OFF with just a hint of kerosene and minnow bucket. Dad’s old Coleman lantern hissed and the fire crackled as our lines bowed against the river’s current. We caught a few fish, but only one catch really sticks out in the muddled memories from my youth. Most memories are of the mundane. The simple things we think don’t matter. What I remember is countless trips from the truck to our fishing spot with hot sand filling my sneakers while wishing we could afford one of those newfangled threewheelers to haul our ice chests and sleeping bags. I remember the race for firewood before sunset. I remember the sun crawling behind Dardanelle Rock. I remember the spotlight of approaching tugboats and the bellowing horn as the lock opened. When my years reached double-digits I would fish the whole night through with Dad as a kind of River Valley rite of passage: An all-nighter of cat fishing. I caught a bona fide river monster on that first all-nighter — a gar as long as I was tall that stripped the gears on my new Shimano reel before finally thrashing on the sandbar as I stood trembling with excitement. After that big gar there was no way I would sacrifice fishing for sleep on a river campout ever again But on those nights when as a youngster I nestled into the sand for some shuteye, I remember Mom tucking us into sleeping bags with a dose of bug spray. I remember hearing a splash from deep in the river channel that sounded like a pig dropped in the water, and drifting to sleep with monstrous catfish and toothy gar swimming through my thoughts. I remember waking to the smell of scrambled eggs and bacon with river mist forming droplets on the sleeping bag. I remember eating those scrambled eggs out of a cup one morning because Mom forgot the plates. I remember the lonely look of the river at dawn. No traffic on the bridge. The gentle lapping of water on sand and the calls of fish crows were the only sounds as pink light filled the sky. I remember feeling at peace. Johnny Sain, Editor Summer is here and, like so many summers johnny@aboutrvmag.com before, the river still calls my name.
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
www.aboutrvmag.com
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A Publication of One14 Productions, Inc Vol. X, Issue 5 – June 2015
ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
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ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
Calendar of Events June 2 - Russellville Symphony Guild fundraiser Spring Ladies Luncheon, at Lake Point Conference Center. Hosted by Dr. Mary Ann Rollans and Paula Stamps. Begins at noon. Mail your $25 check to Judy Murphy. For more information call her at 967-1177.
June 5 - Sunset Cinema at Lake Dardanelle State Park from 6:30-10:30 p.m. $1 per person, children under 12 are free. Four showings scheduled this summer on Friday, June 5 (kid movie), Friday, June 26 (kid movie), July 10 (Date Night Movie), and July 24 (kid movie) beginning at approximately 8:30 p.m. Activities prior to showing starting at 6:30 p.m. In the event of rain the movie will be moved to the Boys & Girls Club of the ARV located at 600 East 16th St. For more information contact 968-2530. June 5 - Downtown Art Walk in Downtown Russellville from 6-9 p.m. June 6 - Stars and Stripes Poker Run from noon - 4 p.m. The Museum of Military History is hosting the Stars and Stripes Poker Run. The run starts at the VFW on North Highway 7 and ends at Russellville Honda. For more information contact 970-8028 June 8-12 - Arkansas Tech presents Summer Culinary Institute for Young Women. Chartwells will host a
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June 8-12 - 2015 Covenant Church VBS. Kids age three through 6th grade are invited to attend Covenant Presbyterian Church's Vacation Bible School. For more information visit russellvillepca. net or call 967-4889.
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June 9-13 - 2015 Miss Teen Arkansas Pageant at The Center for the Arts in Russellville. Preliminary competitions held at The Center for the Arts Theatre, which include talent, physical fitness in active wear, evening wear and on stage questions. Finals held in The Center for the Arts. Tickets on sale in The Center for the Arts Theater or by calling 870740-2070. For more information please visit www.missarkansasot.org. June 13 - Children’s Fishing Derby at Pleasant View Park. Derby starts at 8 a.m. This free event is for children ages 4 to 12. Prizes awarded in three age divisions for the heaviest catfish and the heaviest stringer of catfish. A special prize is given for biggest fish caught during the derby. Pre-register at the Hughes Center. For more information contact 479-968-1272. June 15-18 - River Valley Arts Center -
New Specialty Workshop from 1-4 p.m. Large paper mache art projects. Want to make a 4-ft tall soda can to use as a coin bank or just make a cool piece of art? Ages 10 & up. Cost: $45 members / $70 Non-Members. For more information contact 968-2452. June 16-20 - 57th Annual Auto Show and Swap Meet Museum of Automobiles at Petit Jean State Park. Classic and vintage vehicles from all over the region on display. For more information contact (501) 727-5427 or got to petitjean@ arkansas.com. June 26-27 - Mount Magazine Butterfly Festival XIX. Admission is free. For more information contact 963-8502 or go to mountmagazine@arkansas.com Jun 26-28 - Arkansas Big Bass Bonanza. For more information go to arkansasbigbass.com.
*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.
June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
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ALTHOUGH YOGA AS A PRACTICE OR SPORT OR DISCIPLINE HAS STEADILY WORKED ITS WAY INTO THE MAINSTREAM, ITS OFFSHOOT AND FAR MORE DIFFICULT BYPRODUCT, SUP YOGA, IS STILL OBSCURE ENOUGH TO RAISE A FEW EYEBROWS AT ITS MENTION. IT RAISED MINE. If you’re familiar with stand up paddleboards (SUP), you know where this is going. And no, “yogis,” as their called, did not think land-based yoga was hard enough. They set to the water on their paddleboards, essentially surfboards with an added adjustable paddle, to test their balance on a whole new scale. So it was only natural Tera Dacus, a Russellville native and eight-year yoga devotee, should jump aboard and try SUP yoga, too. For Dacus, fitness and sports are as inseparable from her identity as the summers she’s spent floating the Big Piney Creek since age 16. She still floats the Piney, now usually on a paddleboard and accompanied by her husband and adventure partner, Jesse. Dacus, who’s completed a half iron man, a triathlon, rock climbs and several mountain bike races, says she loves finding new ways to test herself and finding happiness in connection with nature. SUP yoga has helped help her find both. “My friend, Tammy Hottinger, and I started going out on the water on a paddleboard and doing tricks like yoga head stands and balancing poses,” she says. “It was a challenge for me at first because balancing and focus are so much harder on a board. Even simple balancing poses like crow and tree become way more difficult because of the movement of the water.” For someone who can manage a yoga head stand on a SUP to talk of balancing difficulties may seem trifling. But she says everyone should be forewarned of the board’s instability, whether they’re trying a simplistic crow pose (a squatting hand stand, more or less) or something more tasking. She said it’s difficult to equally distribute body weight while shifting positions, especially if only one foot is on the board. Because a person’s center of gravity can easily get thrown off while SUP yoga-ing, she said she encourages the individuals she’s taught to use the paddle as a balancing prop. The paddle serves as a type of pseudo body limb to add weight where needed. Despite the balance complexities, Dacus said she will teach classes for people in all stages of their SUP yoga experience from beginners to the more advanced yogis looking to be challenged. “SUP yoga is something everyone can try,” she says. “I teach common, general yoga classes focused on stretching and having that connection with the water, but I also teach power yoga classes that are more dynamic and involve harder poses. I wouldn’t want to scare anyone away from SUP yoga by trying to make them do a head stand their first time out. We’d work into it all slowly. As long as you go into it with an open mind knowing you may fall in the water you’ll be fine.”
Story by RYAN SMITH | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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Spreading the yoga experience with other people is what drew Dacus to teaching in 2013, and she says the feeling of reward from watching her class try a never-before-landed pose or one they never thought they could do is unrivaled. The smiles that come to their faces, she says, are irreplaceable. She focuses on teaching everything from deep breathing exercises to correct paddle usage techniques. Boards come in all shapes and sizes for various heights and weights. Some are inflatable, like Dacus’s own board, which makes for easy transport. Dacus says the basic SUP equation is a bigger board equals more stability, which can be tough to come by when doing yoga on the water. One of her classes will run something like this: “We’d start on land so I can give general instructions about their paddleboards, especially for those who’ve never been on one,” she says. “After I go over how to use the paddle, getting on and off the board and what to do after inevitably falling in, we’ll paddle out to a spot that’s not a high travel area and use anchors to keep us from floating away from each other while we stretch and go through our
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ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
poses. The hardest part of teaching is keeping everyone together, but the anchors make everyone more stationary.” Dacus says the SUP yoga experience evokes a simultaneous “floating feeling” and connection to the environment, creating a unique sensation of equal parts relaxation and engagement—sort of relaxed but engaged enough to do a head stand or warrior pose on a paddleboard that’s undulating beneath you, that is. It’s this total self-balancing of both body and mind through exertion that Dacus achieves practicing yoga or anything else she can do outdoors. “Yoga helps a lot to give you peace of mind, and this reduces anxiety and stress by helping to calm down the nervous system,” she says. “You get the benefits of meditation, but there’s also the physically challenging power yoga that involves kinesthetic work, so SUP yoga can improve your mental and physical health.” Quite a few people, Dacus says, are into it for the spiritual connection. Maybe it’s the added element of being outside in a meditative state, but I think people really just enjoy throwing a paddleboard and water into the mix with anything. Yogis are drawn to SUP-ing, she says, because they know a fall only results in getting wet, but the balance challenge is still there, and the intensity level has increased. “To outdoor adrenaline junkies like me,” Dacus says, “taking your yoga a step farther with the paddleboard is just a fun way to adapt to the fitness world that’s always evolving and coming up with something new.” The community of fitness, although ever-changing, is one strongly connected through stories of individual growth. When one person reaches a milestone, the whole group can share in the feeling of accomplishment—returning quickly to creating their own new milestone, of course. She says whatever people’s goals are, she wants them to get outside and have fun moving and being
with others. Helping people with “personal growth through finding adventure” empathetically contributes to her own self growth. Yoga and sports play perhaps the biggest role in Dacus’s life as stress relievers, but she says an added bonus is the help both offer in building confidence by challenging her to do new things. Although she is constantly either competing or involved in recreational sports, she says there’s no specific level of physical fitness she wants to attain because she doesn’t consider herself to be a competitive person. “When I enter races, I’m not really focused on trying to win,” she says. “I’m just the type person who if you ask me to do something, I’ll probably say yes. That’s how I got into the half iron man—my friend asked if I would do it with her, so I did.” Dacus first got into yoga in 2007 after a back injury. She says it restored her muscles like nothing else she tried, and practicing yoga became a necessity in countering the stress she places on her body with long-distance running and other strenuous exercise. She wasn’t taking care of her hamstrings properly after hurting her back, and yoga became her way of recovering muscle strength while still exercising. Now she’s a big proponent of “rest,” as she calls it, through yoga. During competitions like her half iron man in 2014, when she swam 1.2 miles, biked 56 miles and ran 13.1 miles, she says her body would tell her it was maxed out. But she says she knows yoga has strengthened her mind, which contributes to her overall bodily health by increasing her endurance. Sometimes, though, she has to escape the competitiveness that can seem endemic to the fitness community. SUP yoga provides this escape. She says her favorite yoga move is a bridge pose, which looks like a back bend requiring some extra-fancy flexibility. With her feet and hands planted, torso extended upward and head inverted, she sees the world upside down.
“Being in that position is just so different from everyday life,” she says. “Everything is upside down and outside of the normal. Then I can just let my board and the water take me places.” Dacus refuses to accept the mundane, and says her upcoming SUP yoga class will zero in on balancing, deep stretching and paddling techniques and putting a fresh spin on yoga. She and a friend who owns SUP Outfitters in Regent Springs are hosting a one-and-a-half hour workshop in Russellville on June 14. She says she hopes the workshop will bring together people who’d normally consider themselves opposites or who might not ever get a chance to connect outside of SUP yoga. “Having people work together and push one another creates this common bond that really gives the feeling of a community,” she says. “It’s great to see people bond over SUP yoga, and I’m happy I’m getting to teach others about something that combines so many of my passions.” For more information on the upcoming SUP yoga workshop, contact Tera Dacus at terawhitedacus@gmail.com l
June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Every Day Life
Wearing the Outfits of Life Story by KECHIA BENTLEY | Photo by STEVE NEWBY Story reprinted from June 2008 issue of ABOUT...the River Valley magazine
Sometimes my life resembles an outfit put together by a four year old. What’s frustrating is I keep putting on the same cowboy boots, plaid shorts, and sombrero. You would think I would learn from my mistakes. Let me stop here for a moment and make sure you all know that I am speaking figuratively. I would never --well, maybe ‘never’ is too strong a word -- actually wear on outfit like that. Now back to my figurative speech. When I have chosen the mismatched life issues, I understand that I look like an idiot (more accurately, feel like an idiot). There are times, however, when I have no say in what I am “wearing”. During those times I just want to look up to heaven and say, “God have you ever heard of this thing called Garanimals?” I swear someone up there is not checking the tags before they start throwing some issues my way. Okay, maybe He is. I am sure God knows if my “clothes” matched all the time, I would never become the person He desires me to be. You see pride is always lurking around the corner and for some reason, I apparently think I look awesome wearing it. So, with that in mind, I will joyfully (or attempt joyfully to) accept some outrageous outfits with a hint of heaven in them. Let me describe one outfit for you. It looks like this, “college freshman orientation, speeding ticket court date, and high school graduation all in one week” in that order. I guarantee there was no matching game going on when these events were put together. However, we are promised that all things work together for good so you just gotta step out on faith. 12
ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
Just having my son graduate has been overwhelming. You would think since I have already watched one son navigate this transition from high school to college, I could actually wear this outfit with flare. Just the opposite is true. It was okay when Adrin graduated because he was the oldest; he was suppose to graduate. Somehow, in my mind Dillon and Payton were always the little boys. I just kept thinking I would have a lot more time with them and now the days are slipping through my hands like sand. It could also have something do with the fact that Dillon is going to Oklahoma State University where we know no one. Panic is setting in at this very moment. I don’t wear panic well; it clashes with my skin tone. This leads me to freshman orientation. We were encouraged to sign Dillon up as early as possible for freshman orientation, so we did. Somehow, it didn’t click that traveling to Oklahoma four days BEFORE his high school graduation might not be such a great idea. I mean, how many kids go through freshman orientation before they graduate? It just feels wrong. I am really not wearing that well. Just the thought of planning a trip to Stillwater, Okla., working full time, and making sure my house is ready for family arriving to attend graduation makes me nauseous. The accessories in this outfit are killing me. Can you see the mismatched patterns yet? Well, if you cannot see it then maybe this last piece of fabric, which ties this hideous ensemble together, will bring things into focus.
My youngest son, Payton, has a court date for his recent speeding ticket. The court date is May 20, the day of Dillon’s freshman orientation. I will have one child registering for college classes and another registering for defensive driving. What a fabulous day. Can a mother get any prouder? Actually if truth be told, I am going to see if we can change the court date. I think that at least one of his parents should be in town for this monumental event. As I write this column, I keep hearing in my head, the Sesame Street song, “One of these things is not like the others. One of these things just doesn’t belong.” My problem is none of these things are alike or belongs. What’s a girl to do? As much as I try to make this outfit make sense, it just won’t. Some of you may be saying, “Just change your clothes”. Fortunately, there are those who understand no matter how much I may want to change them, I can’t. This is the point where I surrender and accept that the cowboy boots, plaid shorts, and sombrero are a means to an end. If a girl has to look a little wacko on the outside so God can do his work on the inside, then I say ‘bring on the polyester!’ God, you do know I was just kidding about the polyester… l
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FEATURE 2
BEND THE OAR Story by EMILY LANGFORD | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN
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ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
There is no denying that many who inhabit the River Valley love to be in or on the water when the conditions are right. More often, you hear of locals floating, tubing, fishing, etc., but Steve Newby, founder of Russellville Rowing Club (RRC), has taken the initiative to begin providing the area with the tools needed to be a hub for rowing. RRC is a non-profit club of rowing enthusiasts organized to teach, practice, compete and promote the sport of rowing in Russellville, Arkansas. They also want to encourage a healthy lifestyle and to foster teamwork in the sport of rowing among people of diverse backgrounds and levels of experience.
“When you mention rowing in the River Valley, people say ‘Yeah! I have a kayak or a canoe,’ but it is not the same thing,” said Newby Rowing is often referred to as crew in the United States. It’s a sport with origins dating back to Ancient Egyptian times. It is based on Newton’s third law that states each action has an equal and opposite reaction. By pushing against the water with an oar a force is generated to move the boat. “I started rowing about four years ago, down in Little Rock on the river at the Arkansas Boathouse Club. I liked it because I was a cyclist. I was intrigued by being on the water and what it did for a workout. It is the only sport that uses all the muscle groups that has no impact,” explained Newby. Upon growing his fascination for the sport, Newby began to scout out opportunities closer to home. “I got tired of going down to Little Rock and didn’t row for a while, but then I realized that the Illinois Bayou is just perfect for it.” His passion and enthusiasm for educating others about rowing sparked a desire to start a local club and ultimately have a boathouse in Russellville. “About two years ago I started putting together the elements that are needed to form a club. >> June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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Terms to know: RIGGER: The triangular shaped metal device that is bolted onto the side of the boat and holds the oars.
Boats are designated by a number, indiciating how many rowers are on board; the letter x to indicate a scull, and a symbol (+ or -) to indicate whether there is a coxswain. Each seat in the boat is numbered from the bow (1) to the stern.
RUN: The run is the distance the shell moves during one stroke. You can figure it by looking for the distance between the puddles made by the same oar.
SINGLE (1x) One rower, no coxswain.
SCULLS: One of the two disciplines of rowing - the one where scullers use two oars or sculls. SHELL: Can be used interchangeabley with boat.
PAIR (2-) Two rowers with one oar each.
STROKE: The rower who sits closest to the stern. The stroke sets the rhythm for the boat; others behind him must follow his cadence. SWEEP: One of the two disciplines of rowing - the one where rowers use only one oar. Pairs (for two people), fours (for four people) and the eight are sweep boats. Pairs and fours may or may not have a coxswain. Eights always have a coxswain.
DOUBLE (2x) Two rowers with two oars, no coxswain
SWING: The hard-to-define feeling when near-perfect synchronization of motion occurs in the shell, enhancing the performance and speed. BOW: The forward section of the boat. The first part of the boat to cross the finish line. The person in the seat closest to the bow, who crosses the finish line first.
FOUR (4+) Four rowers with one oar each with coxswain
STERN: The rear of the racing shell. The direction the rowers are facing. STARBOARD: The right side of the shell when moving forward. Oars on the starboard side of a standard-rigged boat are the Bow, 3, 5, 7. Note that for the rowers, starboard oars will be on their left.
QUAD (4x) Four rowers with two oars each, no coxswain
PORT: The left side of the shell when moving forward. Oars on the port side are numbered 2, 4, 6 and 8 (stroke). COXSWAIN: Person who steers the shell and is the on-the-water coach for the crew.
EIGHT (8+) Eight rowers with one oar each with coxswain
ERGOMETER: Rowers call it an "erg." It's a rowing machine that closely approximates the actual rowing motion. The rowers' choice is the Concept II, which utilizes a flywheel and a digital readout so that the rower can measure his "strokes per minutes" and the distance covered.
There are only three clubs in Arkansas, the Arkansas Boathouse Club in Little Rock being the main one. What I want to start here is a full rounded club, meaning junior teams for kids in high school through competitive club teams, competitive college teams.” When he began talking up his dream of starting the club, the first question many of the people and schools he spoke with had was where they would get a shell, which is the equivalent to a boat. “I made a connection with Wichita State University who was kind enough to rent 16
ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
the club a used four with a coxswain for six months,” said Newby. Because of a abscence of low profile docks in the area, the club has had to borrow docks from the Arkansas Boat House Club in Little Rock. The club is also greatly appreciative of Mak Hollis at Russellville Parks and Recreation for his assistance in modifying the dock. With these rowing docks, the crew is able to balance with their oars and begin rowing. Because of the many components needed to become an active rower, RRC is
trying to make everything accessible and in one location. RRC is in the early stages of membership and intends to meet on a monthly basis as soon as they are at full speed. Benefits offered to members include: organized club equipment, facilities, training, events, learn-to-row sessions and year-round instruction and training by experienced rowers, access, training and competition on ergometers and club 4x sweep shell with stern cox and specialized low-profile rowing dock.
Photo provided by Russellville Rowing Club
“With the water and the facilities that we have in Russellville, we could make this a national venue for rowing." “With the water and the energy we have here, we could make a club that would get people’s attention. This is the fastest growing sport in Texas and Florida, and a major Title IX women’s sport” said Newby. Both beginner and seasoned rowers are welcome to join RRC, however, you must be over the age of 16 and able to pass a swim test. “This is the only water sport that does not require a life preserver,” said Newby. Additionally, official liability, swim test and parental waiver forms are to be signed at the time of payment. Rowing can provide more than just health benefits and a hobby to occupy your free time. For students, it can be a way to pay for college as it is the leading sport for college scholarships. There are 138 rowing programs in all NCAA division, offering roughly 20 scholarships per school.
Whether you are interested in rowing or just learning more about it, Newby has plans to include the entire community as RRC and its activities grow. “People set up picnics and watch them compete. The Illinois Bayou is a wonderful spectator venue because we could block off one lane and still have two-way traffic. People could park and watch regattas,” said Newby. “There are northern collegiate teams that will come here and train in the early spring,” he added. If you are interested in a membership with RRC or learning more about their vision and future plans, contact founder, Steve Newby, at 479-699-5634, by email at snwater1@gmail.com or check out RRC’s Facebook page, “Russellville Rowing Club”. Membership levels, their annual rates and a few of the benefits are as follows, and we hope to see you on the water! l
CHARTER: ($125) First 8 rowers to join RRC Priority in scheduling, events and discounts Instruction and training material Voting right MEMBER: ($150) Instruction and training material Voting right YOUTH: ($85) Ages up to 18 Instruction and training material Reduced fees and rates SPONSOR: ($300) Club patronage Advertising exposure Naming rights
June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Valley Vittles
Cool Story by JOHNNY SAIN | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN
It has three of the five levels on the food pyramid — fruit, dairy and nuts for protein. By this rationale it could almost be labeled a health food. Healthy or not, one thing is for certain: Come summertime, few foods hit the sweet and cool spot like a banana split sundae. The origins of the banana split reach back to the summer of 1904 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania. Inspiration — no doubt it was inspiration straight from heaven — struck 23-year-old druggist apprentice David Strickler, and he split a banana lengthwise onto which he piled three scoops of ice cream. Then, he covered it all with fruit, chocolate and crushed nuts. Presto: an American classic was born. The new sundae was a hit with the local youth, and soon with youths across the country. The banana split truly reached classic status in the 1950s and has been forever linked to poodle skirts and drive-ins, which brings us to Clarksville, home of Diamond Drive-In. Were you to conjure up a drive-in just dripping with small-town nostalgia it would look like Diamond Drive-In sitting in downtown Clarksville. It looks like the place to find an American Classic and tasting their banana split confirms it. Small building, small and personable crew and simply divine banana splits. The perfect combination of tangible and aesthetic “cool” to take your mind back a few decades and your tastebuds to paradise. l 18
ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
DIAMOND DRIVE-IN | 1206 W. Main St., Clarksville
June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Countertop Creations
Just trying to keep cool Story by LYDIA ZIMMERMAN, Food Editor
A
s things heat up with the start of summer, we are constantly trying to find ways to keep cool. When I was a kid (a very long time ago) I remember having a Snoopy snow cone machine. We would put ice cubes in the top and take turns turning the handle to shave the ice. It took us forever to get a cup full of shaved ice. Afterward, we would pour Kool-Aid on top to make our snow cone. It sounds hokey I’m sure, but when you’re a kid you cool off any way you can. In the old days we loved our snow cone machine and our wading pool as ways to beat the heat because we were often put outdoors by Mom to get us out from in front of the TV and out of her hair for a while. Now we’re blessed with the local snow cone stands my kids and I frequent throughout the hot summer months. If you are not in the vicinity of a snow cone stand, or would like to make your own cool drinks at home for your kids or your adult friends, I have gathered some delicious summer drink recipes that are easy to make. All are guaranteed to leave you refreshed and cool. As always, enjoy!
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ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
DISNEYLAND DOLE WHIPS 16 oz bag of frozen Dole Pineapple Chunks 4 c vanilla ice cream 1 tsp lime juice 1 tsp lemon juice 12 oz pineapple juice Puree frozen pineapple in a blender. It works best if it is about halfway thawed. To that, add the ice cream, lime juice, lemon juice and 6 oz (half) of the pineapple juice. Blend together until it is well mixed. Freeze the mixture for about 2 hours to set up. Scoop into glasses or bowls and pour the remaining pineapple juice over each serving. Makes 3 servings Recipe courtesy of sixsistersstuff.com TROPICAL PAPAYA SMOOTHIE 2 c fresh papaya chunks ½ c frozen mango cubes ½ c frozen pineapple cubes ¼ c Greek yogurt 1 c coconut water Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend till smooth. Add more coconut water if necessary to achieve desired consistency. Recipe courtesy of thetastybiteblog.com
Mommy and me
STRAWBERRY “FISHY” LEMONADE 1 lg can of frozen lemondade 1 package strawberry Kool-Aid drink mix 1 pkg Swedish Fish (found in the candy isle) ice cube trays
SPARKLING PEACH PUNCH 3 c water 1 1/2 c sugar 3 oz package peach-flavored gelatin 29 oz can peach slices in light syrup 4 11.3 oz cans peach nectar 1/2 c lemon juice 8 10 ounce bottles ginger ale or club soda In large saucepan combine water, sugar, and gelatin. Bring to boiling, stirring to dissolve. Place undrained peach slices in blender. Cover; blend until smooth. In extra-large bowl combine gelatin mixture, pureed peaches, peach nectar, and lemon juice. Divide peach mixture among four 1-quart containers. Cover and freeze overnight or until firm. NOTE: Mixture can be frozen up to 3 months. Use as many containers as needed to continue with Step 3. (Each quart makes 6 servings.) To serve, place one or more containers at room temperature for 1 hour. Break in chunks with large fork. Place in punch bowl or jug. Stir in 2 bottles of ginger ale per container of peach mixture until slushy. Makes 24 servings (four 6-serving batches). Recipe courtesy of bhg.com LAFAYETTE’S CAJUN MARGARITAS 4 oz. chile-infused tequila (optional) 3 oz. orange liqueur 3 oz. margarita mix 1 tsp. hot sauce 2 cups ice chile peppers and lime slices, for garnish salt For the chile-infused tequila: 5 jalapeno peppers, halved 5 serrano peppers, halved 1 cup tequila
Prepare your frozen lemonade as directed on can in a clear glass pitcher, then place into fridge to chill. Prepare your Kool-Aid drink mix as directed on package in another pitcher and pour in an ice cube tray. Place one Swedish fish into each ice cube compartment in the Kool-Aid. Place ice cube tray into freezer for 4-5 hours until frozen solid. Remove frozen ice cubes from tray and place cubes in the pitcher of lemonade just before serving. Kids will love to watch the ice cubes melt and the fish being “released” to swim.
For the tequila, combine all ingredients in a jar or bowl. Cover, and let sit at room temperature overnight – or up to a week. When ready to use, strain into bottle or jar and keep in a cool, dark place. To make the margaritas, combine the chileinfused tequila, orange liqueur, margarita mix, hot sauce, and ice in a blender. Cover, and puree for 1 minute, until no chunks of ice remain. Rim margarita glasses with salt, and fill glasses with blended margaritas. Garnish with lime slices and a whole chile pepper. Recipe courtesy of tideandthyme.com
Beat heavy cream and sugar on high speed until stiff peaks form, about 2 to 3 minutes. Chill until ready to use. Toast the coconut: Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread coconut flakes on a baking sheet; toast in oven, stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 7 to 10 minutes. Scoop frozen coffee mixture into serving glasses; top with whipped cream and toasted coconut. Recipe courtesy of girlversusdough.com
FROZEN THAI ICED COFFEE 2 c strong hot coffee 14 oz sweetened condensed milk 1 c 2 percent or whole milk 1 tsp vanilla 1 c heavy whipping cream 1 T granulated sugar 1/2 c sweetened coconut flakes In a large bowl or heatproof pitcher, stir hot coffee, condensed milk, milk and vanilla. Cover and chill at least 8 hours or overnight. Pour chilled mixture into a shallow pan (I used a 13-by-9-inch baking pan). Freeze until solid, about 4 hours. Meanwhile, make the whipped cream: June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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Historic Charm. Local People. Delicious Food.
HAYMAKER’S PUNCH (SWITCHEL/ GINGER BEER) 1 qt water 1/2 c molasses 1 tsp powdered ginger juice of 1 lemon Mix the above ingredients and serve over ice. Recipe courtesy of almanac.com WATERMELON SODA FLOAT Lime Frozen Yogurt 1 pint store-bought vanilla frozen yogurt, preferably Greek style 1 1/2 T finely grated lime zest 1 T fresh lime juice
(479) 229-3321 www.catfishn.com
210 Dam Road, Dardanelle, AR Tue-Thu: 4-8pm | Fri and Sat: 4-9pm Closed Sunday & Monday
Bridal Registry, Wish Lists, Gift Cards and Free Gift Wrapping
407 N. ARKANSAS AVE, CITY MALL RUSSELLVILLE • (479) 280-1933
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ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
HIBISICUS MOCKTINI 3 c hibiscus tea (such as Celestial Seasonings Red Zinger) 3 c ginger ale 6 fresh pineapple spears In a pitcher, mix together the hibiscus tea and ginger ale. Serve over ice in a tall glass with a fresh pineapple spear. Recipe courtesy of realsimple.com
Watermelon Soda 1/2 med. watermelon, chilled, plus ½ cantaloupe (optional) 1/3 c sugar 1 T fresh lime juice Pinch of kosher salt 1 c seltzer Lime Frozen Yogurt If the yogurt is very hard, refrigerate until firm but scoopable, about 15 minutes. Working quickly, scoop frozen yogurt into a food processor. Add lime zest and juice and pulse just to combine. Return yogurt to same container, cover, and freeze. DO AHEAD: Frozen yogurt can be made 1 week ahead. Keep frozen.
Just in time for Father's Day and Grilling Season!
melon balls among tall glasses. Pour watermelon soda over. Top with scoops of frozen lime yogurt. Serve watermelon float with a straw and a long spoon. Recipe courtesy of bonappetit.com
Watermelon Soda Using a melon baller, scoop out 1 1/2 c watermelon balls (and cantaloupe balls, if using) into a small bowl. Cover and chill. Cut enough watermelon into 1" pieces to measure 8 c. Stir sugar and 1/3 c water in a small bowl until sugar dissolves. Set simple syrup aside. Purée melon pieces (not balls) in a blender until smooth; strain juice through a fine-mesh sieve into a large measuring cup or pitcher (you should have about 4 c juice). Discard solids. Whisk in simple syrup, lime juice, and salt. DO AHEAD: Purée can be made 4 hours ahead. Cover and chill. Add seltzer to watermelon purée. Divide
CASTAWAY CAY’S KONK KOOLER 3/4 oz Myers's Dark Rum 3/4 oz of light rum 1 oz of passion fruit juice 1 oz of pina colada mix 1 oz of orange juice Mix ingredients with ice, blend and enjoy! Recipe courtesy of partythroughtheparks. squarespace.com/DisneyCruiseRecipes A DAY AT THE BEACH 1 oz coconut rum 1/2 oz amaretto 4 oz fresh orange juice 1/2 oz grenadine Wedge of pineapple and a maraschino cherry Shake the coconut rum, amaretto, and orange juice with ice; then strain over ice into a chilled highball glass. Float the grenadine on top, and garnish with a pineapple wedge and a maraschino cherry. Recipe courtesy of chow.com
HYDERABADI-STYLE SWEET LASSI (BEVERAGE FROM INDIA) 2 c plain, full-fat yogurt ½ c ice-cold water ½ c sugar 1–2 T Rooh Afza or grape juice concentrate Vanilla ice cream or heavy cream, for topping (optional) Chill a mixing bowl in the freezer. Add yogurt and water to bowl and, using a whisk, beat yogurt and sugar until smooth. Whisk in Rooh Afza of grape juice concentrate; pour into glasses and top with 1–2 tbsp. ice cream or heavy cream if you like. Recipe courtesy of saver.com
FROZEN VIRGIN STRAWBERRY MARGARITA 6 oz can frozen limeade concentrate, thawed 10 oz package frozen strawberries in syrup, thawed 3 c water 3/4 c orange juice 1 liter bottle lemon-lime soda (like Sprite or 7-Up), chilled Place strawberries in the bottom of a blender container and add the thawed limeade. Blend until well mixed and smooth. Add water and orange juice and mix well. Pour mixture into a lidded plastic container and freeze until slushy, checking often to prevent it from solidifying. Fill tall glasses 2/3 full of limeadestrawberry mixture, top with soda and stir before serving. Recipe courtesy of cocktails.lovetoknow. com l
15 Years
in the River Valley
Dr. J. Dustin Bonds, D.D.S.
1919 West Main St., Russellville (479)880-2311 Most Insurances Accepted
Card
“A Symbol of Trust since 1944”
‘Nuff Said DOWNTOWN 104 North Denver Russellville, AR (479) 967-0420
LONDON 7206 U.S. 64 Russellville, AR (479) 967-1273
201 North Arkansas Ave.
www.fatdaddysbarbque.com
479-968-2929
www.PetersFamilyLiving.com June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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Pope County Water Rescue
A trained and well equipped team may be the difference between life and death. Story by DENISE ROBINSON | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN
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ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
I
t’s the time of year when we all start making those wonderful plans for summer. I can’t wait for the BBQs with friends, weekend trips to Long Pool, and lazy
weekend days at the lake with nothing but my husband, a good book and a fishing pole to keep me company. The best laid plans can often go awry, though. That’s why I encourage everyone to make sure that safety around the water is a top priority when making your family’s vacation plans. But if things things go really bad on the water, there is a group of community members that can help.
The Pope County Search and Rescue Water Rescue Team began as a Marine Rescue Unit in the mid 60s. Some community members saw a need for a trained team to respond to incidents on Lake Dardanelle and formed the volunteer organization. The team had no public funding at that time, and depended on private donations and equipment to function. Throughout the following years, the team broadened its response to include other area waterways and assisted in land searches when the additional personnel were needed, eventually joining with the Pope County Office of Emergency Services (OES). Dedicated members of the community donate their time for training, public education and response to emergencies throughout Pope County. Justin Drittler, assistant director for the Pope County Office of Emergency Management has been
a member of Pope County Search and Rescue for almost 20 years. He was a member of the Law Enforcement Explorer team in junior high school, and became interested in emergency management after a visit to the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy in Camden. Upon graduating high school, Justin enrolled at Arkansas Tech University and entered the emergency management program. He was hired as the assistant director in 2005. I asked Justin why he thought having a water rescue team was so important. “Accidents on the water are bound to happen,” said Justin. “Having a trained and well equipped team to respond may be the difference between life and death.” The team has changed a lot since its lean beginning. Building on what the founding members began, it has grown from five or six original members, one truck and a flat bottom boat to a fleet of four trucks, a Keener boat, a Zodiac boat, a jet ski, a dive boat, a Swift Water Rescue Unit, three all-terrain vehicles, a mobile command center and 25 to 30 members at any given time. Team members hold regular training sessions twice a month and attend several specialty training sessions throughout the year. In 2009, the team and their equipment moved into a larger facility located at the intersection of SR 333 and Highway 64 West in Russellville. The facility includes a large bay area for trucks and other equipment, and a training/conference room. Water rescue training is crucial to a safe response in any emergency on or near the water. Members are trained to always wear their PFD (Personal Floatation Device, also called a life jacket) when responding to a water incident. I have been a member of this team for 10 years and the first thing I was taught was to never go near the water without my life jacket on. All members are also required to take a swim test every year. We also train to properly operate watercraft, launch and load the boats properly, tow disabled boats and watercraft, rescue people in still and swift water, rescue motorists from flood waters in roadways and recover drowning victims. >> June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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I recently had the pleasure of discussing water rescue with Jerry Evans, master scuba diver and captain of the Pope County Water Rescue Team. Denise Robinson: How did you get started with the Water Rescue team? Jerry Evans: My father volunteered a lot of his time when I was young so I learned from him the value of giving your time when you had skills and the drive to help others. I was a scuba diver and realized I could utilize those skills with the Pope County team so I joined in 1990. DR: How many Water Rescue Team members are there? JE: Right now there are around 20 members on the Water Rescue Team. Many of them are cross trained, meaning they train in different types of water rescue like swift water and diving. We currently have six certified divers other than myself. DR: As captain of the Water Rescue Team you help train these volunteers to assist and rescue others? What would you say is some of the most important training we participate in? JE: Of course all training is important, but we train a lot on techniques used to keep ourselves safe in the water. We can’t help someone else if we can’t save ourselves. Learning how to float and how to swim in different water environments is crucial to a successful water rescue. Swift moving water acts 26
ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
differently than still water, and a rescuer must know how to navigate these ever changing water environments. They also must be able to utilize their equipment. We become not only familiar with the different types of equipment we use, but we learn how to use it correctly and efficiently. When we have the right equipment and the right knowledge to use it we have a better chance of having a successful rescue. DR: What exactly is a successful rescue? JE: A successful rescue is when everyone comes home safely at the end of the day. We want every call we have to be successful in that the person or persons in trouble and our responders are able to return home at the end of the call. DR: How many volunteers does a typical water rescue call utilize? JE: It can vary from three or four people responding to a disabled water craft on the lake to 15 volunteers responding to a drowning. This type of call could include divers, dive tenders, radio operators, boat captains and a large support staff to assist with equipment. This is, of course, in addition to law enforcement and medical personnel also responding to the scene. DR: I feel that some of the more dangerous calls we respond to are calls involving water rescue. Would you agree? JE: Absolutely. Depending on the circumstances, someone in the water can have a very limited amount of time to receive
help before they go under. Even strong swimmers can get tired very quickly in an emergency situation in the water. That’s why it is so important for us to be familiar with our equipment and train together as a team so that we have a situational awareness that allows us to respond quickly and safely, and render aid. DR: What are some of the differences you see in the team today when compared to when you joined 25 years ago?
for Search and Rescue and train with other agencies to sharpen and hone our skills and learn the latest techniques in water rescue and ground search. Every year our team attends field days and other functions at area schools for some fun education about water safety. We feel it is vitally important to teach children to be mindful around the water and to know how
to correctly wear a life jacket. We teach them about the equipment we use and how they can help their families stay safe near the water. I believe any time we can meet with the public and help to educate them on safety is time well spent. The Pope County Search and Rescue Team can be reached in an emergency by calling 9-1-1. l
JE: When I first joined the team we often paid for our own gas to respond to calls. We depended solely on donations and sometimes the funds just weren’t available, but that never kept us from responding when someone needed help. We also did most of our maintenance. If something broke we fixed it, often buying repair parts ourselves. Now we have such great support not only from the public and businesses, but also local law enforcement and county government which allows us to purchase equipment and get the education we need to do our job effectively using the latest technologies and training tools. DR: The summer is quickly approaching, and that means families headed to the local waterways for some fun in the sun. Do you have any safety tips to pass along? JE: First and foremost, always wear a well fitted life jacket. Never let your child near the water without one on. Be a good example and wear a life jacket yourself. Also, watch the weather. Lightening and water do not mix so never stay in the water during a thunderstorm. Ask yourself: Is the water level too high from recent rains? Are any low lying areas in the surrounding areas flooded? If so, chances are water levels in the creeks are high, meaning swift water conditions that even the strongest swimmers could find trouble in.
The Pope County Search and Rescue Team assists local law enforcement when needed and responds outside Pope County to assist other jurisdictions across the state when our services are requested. In addition to in-house training, we take classes through the National Association June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Community and Events
Saint Mary’s Recognizes Volunteers and Install Officers As Barbara Bush has said, “Some people give time, some money, some their skills and connections, some literally their life’s blood – but everyone has something to give.” The devoted members of Saint Mary’s Volunteer Auxiliary have given countless hours of their time and skills and expertise, and have been of immeasurable value to the hospital and our community since the founding of the auxiliary more than 45 years ago. Recently, Saint Mary’s honored this group at the annual Volunteer Installation of Officers and Service Awards Luncheon, held in Cafés 2 and 3 of the hospital. In attendance were auxiliary members and members of hospital administration, who expressed their gratitude for the contributions of the volunteers, presented service awards and conducted installation of the 2015-2016 officers. Large bouquets of fresh-cut spring flowers added gorgeous color to the “candy land” themed event. The room was filled with giant garlands of colorful hard candy and huge paper gumballs hung from the ceiling and decorated the tables. Before filling their plates with a delicious lunch, auxiliary members were seated and led in the “Prayer for Hospital Auxiliaries” by President Diana Stensland. Lunch fare, prepared by the hospital dietary staff, included tossed salad, roast beef au jus with horseradish, chicken kiev, roasted vegetables, steamed vegetables and a wonderful variety of decadent desserts. Special music was provided by Diane Maxil and Scott Arnold. The duo’s songs 28
ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
included music to match the event theme: Sugar Sugar, songs from Willie Wonka, and a sing-a-long to Lolliepop, Lolliepop. Presentation of hourly service pins was conducted by Saint Mary’s CFO, Wendell Van Es. Thirty-eight volunteers received service pins. Lifetime contributions of 3000 hours or more went to: Maggie Barlow 3000 hours; Jerry Pruitt 3500 hours; Sue Schrock 4000 hours; Charles Davis 4400 hours; Barbara Boeh and Dale Boeh each received pins for 4600 hours; Nina Price 5500 hours; Verna Daniel 6300 hours and Delphine Zydzik was recognized for 6900 hours. Van Es expressed his sincere gratitude for the work of the volunteers, adding, “We realize the immense value of your service to this hospital and community – we certainly could not hire the work that you do, nor the spirit in which you give so much of your time.” The auxiliary as a whole served almost 14,000 hours in 2014, which is near the equivalent of hours worked by seven full-time employees. Among the hospital’s 65 active Volunteers, an elite group of 13 were identified by Mike McCoy, Interim CEO/ COO, for the achievement of significant milestones in their years of service. “It
is an honor to be able to recognize our Volunteers and let them know how much they are appreciated,” McCoy said. “In healthcare, the patients and the families we serve are often in their greatest time of need. Volunteers donate their time unselfishly to serve others who need our help. We applaud their dedication and all they do for this hospital and the River Valley community.” Years of service awards pins were presented to: 10 years – Judy Bost, Naomi Darter, Charles Davis, Evelyn Denton, Sharyn French Audrey Olson. 15 years – Verna Daniel, Patsy Parnell and Nina Price. 20 years – Barbara boeh, Dale Boeh and Maggie Barlow. 40 years – Delphine Zydzik Zydzik also received a plaque for her 40 years of service McCoy also performed the installation of officers for the 2015 – 2016 year. Officers include Diana Stensland, President; Lynette Price, Vice President; Wanda Reed, Secretary; and Sharyn French, Treasurer. In her closing remarks, Auxiliary President Stensland thanked the auxiliary for their support and continued hard
work. “I look forward to serving with you,” she stated, “and striving toward our shared goals for our hospital, our patients, and our community. Together we make a difference.” Saint Mary's Regional Medical Center is always looking for people to join its dedicated, energetic and enthusiastic volunteer team. For more information on the program or to become a volunteer, please contact Volunteer Coordinator, Diana Herrera at 968-2841. Applications are available at the hospital switchboard, just inside the main entrance, or can be accessed online at www. saintmarysregional.com.
WRIGHT RETURNS TO SERVE AS CAREER SERVICES DIRECTOR AT ALMA MATER
Brandon Wright says the chance to serve as director of Norman Career Services at Arkansas Tech University is an opportunity to return to a place he considers home. Wright earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in management and marketing from Arkansas Tech in 2010. He attained the Arkansas Tech Master of Science degree in college student personnel in 2012. After working in student support services counseling and career counseling at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Miss., from August 2012-April 2015, Wright assumed his new duties at Arkansas Tech on May 1. “It’s the people that I encountered while I was here,” said Wright when asked why Arkansas Tech is home for him. “They are near and dear to me. There are a lot
of people on this campus who offered me opportunities and bought into me even when I didn’t see who I was. When I completed my degrees, I knew this place was unlike anything else. I’ve been looking forward to coming back. I didn’t know how or when, but I am glad to be back. “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity, and I look forward to building relationships with our faculty and staff,” continued Wright. “I believe in this community and this area. I look forward to being an advocate for Arkansas Tech. I’m a Wonder Boy. That’s what I am.” A product of Stuttgart, Wright was an all-conference performer for the Arkansas Tech football program and an active participant in both Greek life and the African-American Student Association during his time as an undergraduate.
EXCELLENCE G U A R A N T E E D
Since completing his master’s degree at Arkansas Tech, Wright’s work at William Carey University has afforded him the opportunity to develop a passion for assisting others through career services. “You help people find their niche,” said Wright. “You’re helping people discover who they are and what it is they want to do. It’s a lot of communicating. It’s about selfdiscovery. We work with individuals who have difficulties understanding the paths of life…the variables and the obstacles. We help students understand the correlation between turning in assignments on time and meeting a deadline in their careers. “The main focus for people who go to school is to attain a better quality of life,” continued Wright. “I view this office as critical in retention and alumni participation.” Wright said that starting the career development and search process as soon as possible is a key to success for students. “When you start utilizing career services as a freshman or newcomer on campus, your chances of securing employment dramatically increase in your favor,” said Wright. “Seventy percent of people who apply for jobs acquire them through networks. When you get involved with Norman Career Services and start developing your network, the job search is a lot more convenient.” `Norman Career Services provides Arkansas Tech students and graduates with mentorship related to selecting a major field of study or career path, internship and career opportunities, professional development and networking. >>
Community Market Homegrown & Homemade Goods Fresh Produce, Unique Art, Live Music, Local and Handmade Crafts and More!
Saturdays 8am-12pm 1903 S. ARKANSAS • (479) 968-3991
Russellville Downtown
West “C” Street (near the Depot) June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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A series of Norman Career Services workshops and career fairs throughout the academic year allow Arkansas Tech students to sharpen their skills and prepare for the next step after graduation. The office is named for Arkansas Tech alumni Sandra and Robert Norman of Tulsa, Okla. Visit www.atu.edu/career to learn more about Norman Career Services at Arkansas Tech.
UACCM TO HOLD FREE CAREER WORKSHOPS THIS SUMMER
MORRILTON, Ark.— The University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton Department of Community Education will offer two free career exploration workshops in June: one for adults and one for high school students. A Career Exploration Workshop will be offered June 15-18 from 8:30 until 3:30 p.m. each day for adults searching for career training opportunities, and lunch will be provided. Participants will explore the numerous hands-on technical and professional programs offered by UACCM. Instructors will demonstrate the value of technical training and how it links directly to employment opportunities. A Career Exploration Explosion workshop will be offered June 22-25 from 8:30 until 3:30 p.m. each day for 8th, 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students. Lunch will be provided. This explosive four-day journey allows students to explore several of the exciting possibilities for their futures. They will gain hands-on experience while
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shaping an understanding of various career fields and take away valuable skills. Participants in both programs will rotate through demonstrations in Air Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration; Automotive Collision Repair; Automotive Service Technology; Business – Accounting, Business Office Technology, and Retail Marketing; Computer Information Systems Technology; Drafting; Health Professions– Emergency Medical Technician, Nursing Assistant, Practical Nursing, and Registered Nursing; Petroleum Technology; Surveying; and Welding. Also to be highlighted in both workshops is a brand new Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology program. Registration is currently open online at www.uaccm.edu/communityed for these free career exploration workshops. Once on the website, use the “See All Courses” button to locate the course and its registration form. For more information on these unique career exploration opportunities, visit www.uaccm.edu or
The annual Russellville Symphony Guild spring membership brunch, was recently held at the home of Mrs. Aldona Standridge. This brunch serves as an opportunity for women to join the Guild and its role in promoting the arts in the area, and in the schools. In February of this year, the Guild co-sponsored the full Arkansas Symphony Orchestra to play a concert in the Center for the Arts at Russellville High School. There were over 1,800 in attendance from our schools, students from third, fourth, and fifth grades. Scholarships are also given to music students. The committee organizing the successful spring membership brunch were Mary Davis, Gerry Summers, Aldona Standridge, Kathy Westmoreland, and Patty McCutchen. Two new board members have joined the guild and they were introduced at the brunch. They are Emily Mcillwain and Michelle Davis Schoenberger. For those ladies who were not able to attend the brunch, please call Judy Murphy at 967-1177. She has additional information, and the dues are $20. New Symphony Guild officers: Ann Squyres �������������������������������� President Mary Davis ��������������������������Vice President Judy Murphy �������������������������������Treasurer Gretchen Douthit �������������������������Secretary Patty McCutchen ������������������������� Historian Paula Stamps ������������������������������� Publicity
Thanks Dad.
Your guiding hand on my shoulder will remain with me forever.
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June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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10 Cla
ABOUT...the River Valley | Backyard Living
Read more from Meredith at www.boileddownjuice.com
The Boiled Down Juice
Here is Where We Must Begin
T
he banks of the Arkansas river are overflowing. Last week the water went past the basketball goals in downtown Dardanelle, and all the low water bridges have washed out. The wetlands in downtown Little Rock are fully submerged in water. It seems like almost every river town is issuing a flood warning. My little flower garden on top of the hill is exploding with yarrow, echinacia, bee balm and tiny little volunteer zinnias and hyssop seedlings sprouting from last year's deadheading. Meanwhile, in the San Joaquin valley of California, the reservoirs are going dry. Water, and access to it, has been on my mind a lot these days. California's drought has shed light on how woefully ignorant and short-sighted we humans can be about our most fundamental resources. The fact that California waited until now to actually start making real efforts to curtail simple things like watering golf courses should give our whole nation pause. Due to greed, short sightedness and apathy we humans keep trying solve our problems by pretending they don't exist. So far it hasn't worked. There's a much larger discussion 32
ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
we need to be having about money and power and access to resources. Regardless of your political beliefs, it's becoming pretty clear to everyone that what we've got going just isn't sustainable. As of right now, Arkansas doesn't have any problems with drought. But as California dries up, more and more large scale agri businesses will move to the Arkansas Delta and other land rich portions of the state. If the same farming practices prevail we'll wind up in the same boat, or lack a need thereof. It might not happen in our own lifetimes, but that doesn't mean it should not concern us. I think all of us would agree that we care deeply about the lives our grandchildren's grandchildren even if we may never know their names. No one wants to see a well run dry. I met a woman at a Quaker retreat last year who was talking to me about the work she was doing in Oklahoma with incarcerated women. Buried deep within a larger conversation, she said something I've been focusing on for months: “Our circle of concern is large. Our circle of influence is much smaller.� She struck me as both
Story by MEREDITH MARTIN-MOATS Photo by JOHNNY SAIN
practical and inspired. She reminded me to pay close attention to where a person can make a real difference and funnel your energies there. In my community work I see many people waffle between extremes. People set out to change the world; they realize it can't be done with their own two hands and then they decide to just forget the whole thing and give up. In between such extremes are millions upon millions of human-sized goals and an endless process of trial and error. Trial and error is the long-haul work---the kind where we can all focus our energies. I feel deeply concerned about water. I think everyone should. But concern doesn't equal impact and we have to move beyond what we're concerned with to thinking critically about where we can actually make change. Most likely none of us who make our homes in central Arkansas have anything to do with the situation in California. But let's talk about Arkansas instead. Maybe you're part of a gardening club, sit on a city board, operate businesses or are active with the Game and Fish. Perhaps you go to church; you
shop for food; you hold political office or teach students. Water isn't something that belongs only to experts. From the city halls to the church pews, we all need to be educating ourselves about what it means to create a regionally sustainable water plan. We'll be nothing without out it. So back to those flowers I was telling you about – the ones in my little hilltop garden. I love flowers. Like, I really, really love them. When all my flowers start to bloom I feel like my heart will explode. But as I read
and helping people gain access to resources for healing gardens. So the question isn't really whether or not a person grows flowers. It's more about about what kind of flowers we're growing and what kind of water systems we're using to sustain them. So this year I decided to experiment with drought flowers and begin researching creative watering techniques. In most cases we don't eat the flowers, so they can be watered with so-called gray water, the kind that hasn't been purified with a septic system. Rain barrels can be placed at the corner of each eve of the house, for example. During these flood season rain barrels are especially helpful. For a small flower garden you can catch enough rainwater from your roof to last for quite a while. If you live outside of city limits you can also experiment with gray water collection methods, something I'll explore more in future writing. There's a permaculture technique called hugelkulture where you bury logs or decaying wood in the soil before you put in the plants, and this will act as a sponge and keep the water in the soil longer. I tried it last year and it clearly made a difference in how often I needed to water. In the past, I've written pieces about moving wildflowers (what some folks might call weeds) in my yard to the flower beds. Such flowers are as hardy as they come and you hardly ever have to water them. But this year I'm also researching what flowers do best in drought and selecting seeds solely based on this. Many heirloom seed companies like Baker
“Our circle of concern is large. Our circle of influence is much smaller.” more and more about drought and access to water I've started to think more critically about how I flower garden. Am I just ignoring the larger issues of water access in hopes that they'll somehow disappear? Before I write off flower gardening as a wasteful use of resources, I think it's important to note a few things. Many flowers, especially native flowers and wildflowers aren't just there to be pretty. They're food for bees and butterflies, creatures that keep our food healthy. They're essential to our ecosystems. Take, for example, a wild growing field. It's filled with flowers. The creator is clearly a fan of blooms. I fundamentally believe that growing flowers can be a healing process for humans. There is a connection that can develop between flower garden and working through grief, and in recent years much of our work at the McElroy House: Organization for Cultural Resources has been about exploring this link
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Creek will provide information about what flowers are best for drought conditions. This year I'm trying variates of heirloom yarrow, butterfly weed and other milk weeds, black-eyed Susan and hyssop. I'm also trying some new marigold varieties and a few sunflowers that are supposed to tolerate low water conditions. While I'm excited about these new experiments, I'm even more curious about how to put what I'm learning into action beyond my own yard. As part of our work at the McElroy House: Organization for Cultural Resources we're seeking to explore new ways (which are usually actually really, really old ways) of working with the land in a way that makes sense in our community. I know I'm not the only one thinking about this stuff and certainly not the only person experimenting with new ways to think about water usage. I think the best gardens lead to conversations. It's hard to see a beautiful field full of growth and color and not want to show another person. Flowers are sparks. They can get things started. As the national news calls on us to be deeply concerned with the lack of water in California, here is where we live. And here is where we must begin. I'd love to hear how you're experimenting with conserving water and your own thoughts on gardening in a world where water is already a scare resource. You can visit me online at www.boileddownjuice. com for more information about some of the topics listed in this column and for more information on the work we're doing at the McElroy House. We'd love to have you join us. Thanks so much for reading. l
brookdale.com June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Community Commerce
Peter's Family Living 201 North Arkansas Ave., Russellville, AR | (479) 968-2929 www.PetersFamilyLiving.com Story and Photos by EMILY LANGFORD
The year was 1944. A vision and plan had set into motion what many did not know would be the beginning of a thriving, sustainable business in downtown Russellville. F.C. Peters and W.A. Baldwin had just opened a new furniture, hardware and appliance store in the heart of Russellville, PetersBaldwin Company. It was not until the mid-1950’s that Peters bought out Baldwin, leading to the name later changing to F.C. Peters & Sons. Upon F.C.’s retirement in the early 1970s, his sons, Flave and Bill bought the store and ran it together as a furniture and appliance store, Peters Family Living, until Flave’s retirement in 2001. Currently, Bill Peters is the proud owner of the still very family oriented, Peters Family Living. “My father was an excellent businessperson,” recalled Peters. “I grew up in this business. When I was in my early teens, I was down here sweeping floors, cleaning appliances, things like that. I worked on the delivery truck, and evolved as a person who was really interested in the business and I understood the business,” said Peters. Bill credits much of the business’ success to his father instilling the philosophy of treating customers right and earning repeat business. “Both of those are essential in a small business. My father always said if you want customers to come back you have to treat them right,” said Peters. Many businesses may operate with similar ideology, but through the years, Peters has changed his philosophy from “if you want customers to come back, treat them right,” to “treat the customer right because it’s the right thing to do.” 34
ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
It is obvious from the minute you are greeted by the smiling faces beyond the front door that there is defined culture and mission pumping the heart of this local business. After further investigation, you will find that this culture and mission is simple: Peters Family Living is family owned and operated and, from your first step into the store, you are part of the family. Although Peters’ focus is more on maintaining the described atmosphere rather than finding the next sale, he finds the preservation of this kind of environment — in a world that has lost the meaning of customer service — is what allows his business to thrive. “We have in-house financing. When times are hard and people have a hard time getting credit, they can come here and we will find a way to help them. We trust people, we do not do credit checks. We have a customer base that is loyal to us because we are loyal to them,” said Peters. Peters believes we are in a time where people do not trust government, big corporations and organizations, and stresses that everyone pays the same price at Peters Family Living. “To me, the sign outside this building is symbol of trust between our customers and us,” said Peters. “The Lord has been good to me; everything is a result of my blessing. I feel an obligation to pass that on to our customers and take care of them like I should,” added Peters. As a business owner in downtown Russellville, Peters is excited to see the area “on the move,” and “thriving more than ever. “As far as our location goes, I would not want to be anywhere else. Downtown is picking up with the restaurants coming in. It is a great place to be, and it is only going to get better and better as foot traffic increases,” said Peters. “I love being in a Russellville because this size area allows us to develop a warm and fuzzy relationship with customers. If we were in a bigger city, we would not be able to operate the way we do,” said Peters. Located at 201 N Arkansas Ave., Peters Family Living is ready and equipped to satisfy all of your furniture and appliance needs. For more information, stop by their store and meet the family, or reach them at 479-968-2929. l
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Outdoors
Read more from Johnny at www.aviewfromthebackroads.com
We All Live Downstream “Water water everywhere, nor any drop to drink…” This line from “The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner,” a poem by Englishman Samuel Taylor Coleridge, perfectly captures the water situation in Arkansas and many parts of the South. Water everywhere but you can’t drink it. Earth’s surface is mostly covered by water to the tune of 71 percent. But 97 percent of that water is found in the oceans and seas rendering it undrinkable and two percent is locked up in ice and glaciers. Simple math means that one percent is potable (drinkable) water. And of that one percent only a tiny bit is drinkable straight from the source. Of course we do have an abundance of potable water. Crystalline drinking water via treatment facilities is always at the faucet and taken for granted here in the U.S. and in other developed countries around the world. But abundance often leads to apathy and abuse. California, facing a drought of historic proportions, is a good example of this. Raising crops in the desert turned out to be a bad idea as the state literally dries up. Of course there’s more to it than overuse, but overuse and abuse is one problem that we can control. The watery regions of the River Valley are somewhat like a desert mirage. Yes, the water will cool you off and it’s often teeming with life, but few are the bodies of untainted water. You can fish but you can’t just fry up your catch everyday. The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission suggests a limit for consumption of fish from many bodies of water due to methylmercury contamination. Methylmercury is naturally found in many ecosystem, but high concentrations are often a by-product of metal processing, burning of coal, mining, and community waste. Methylmercury moves 36
ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
Story & Photo by JOHNNY SAIN
through the environment in water and moves up the food chain as predatory fish feed on contaminated prey. Methylmercury isn’t the only contaminate found in our waterways, though. Our lakes, rivers, streams and ditches are crammed full of toxic stuff. Pretty much anything we put on our lawns, pastures, driveways, houses, roads and into our bodies will eventually wind up in the water. Overuse of fertilizers produce algal blooms that choke the life out of aquatic ecosystems. Pesticides and petroleum products kill vital aquatic invertebrates. And now we’re even causing sex-changes in fish. You read that correctly. Increased estrogen in waterways from various sources (some crop fertilizers, livestock operations and yes, human sewage) have started playing havoc with spawning habits of various fish even to the point of transforming male fish into females. Sounds like
something out of science fiction doesn’t it? Sadly, it’s all too real. It’s not that we are purposely polluting our most precious resource. On the contrary, you won’t find anyone opposed to clean water. It would be akin to finding someone opposed to oxygen. The problem is a lack of understanding that everyone and everything lives downstream from someone else. All that trash collecting at the Prairie Creek pump station on Bona Dea Trails is an ugly visual reminder of this. Water, along with everything in it both good and bad, from your ditches and the potholes in your street is always on a journey to the lowest point. The recent flooding of the river serves as a good example. All that water didn’t come from local rains. Everything flowing through the creeks and streams in the Arkansas River watershed — a watershed encompassing nearly 170,000 square miles and starting with melted snow in the Colorado Rockies — eventually ends up in the Gulf of Mexico. The water pouring into Lake Dardanelle has drained off of countless pastures, yards and ditches, through thousands of feeder streams and hundreds of larger creeks in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma and western Arkansas. Now think about just the contaminants you put into your lawn. Think about the pesticides, herbicides and nutrient runoff from agriculture you’ve witnessed. Think about the oil slicks you saw in the parking lot this morning. All of that is in our water. What are we to do? Outside of gutting our current lifestyle the only thing we can do is minimize the damage. We can limit the use of lawn chemicals and fertilizers, we can encourage responsible farming practices and we can put our trash in a receptacle. All of this starts with the realization of just how precious our fresh, sweet water is. There is no life without water and there is no human life without clean, potable water. Period. Count your blessings, River Valley. We are home to crystalline mountain creeks, lakes full of fish and bottomland swamps slowly returning nutrients to the ecosystem by ancient and mysterious ways. All are treasures that should be passed down to our children and grandchildren in working order. But those treasures can be ruined by nothing more than our inattention and apathy. l
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37
On a Personal Note Goodbye to the only place I’ve known Guest Written by Alex Duvall
For as long as I can remember, my dad has taken me out into the forests of Arkansas to shoot photos of the flora and fauna. His love for photography quickly turned into my love for photography, and since then has grown into nothing short of an obsession.
38
I’ve lived my entire life in the Arkansas River Valley. I was born at Saint Mary’s on May 27, 1993 and attended Atkins Public School from the first day of kindergarten until the day I got my diploma. Last month I graduated from Arkansas Tech University with two degrees, and come August 17th I’ll move almost 1,200 miles away to live in Rochester, New York. If that sounds a little crazy to you, then that’s two of us. The decision to move away wasn’t an easy one, especially when it’s that far. It’s hard to say goodbye to the only place you’ve ever known. An opportunity arose, though, that I couldn’t skip out on — the University of Rochester offered me a spot in their Photographic Preservation and Collection Management program. While the name is long, it simply means that I will get to study the history of photography, social aspects of the art and ways to preserve it. It might not be for everyone, but for me it’s the opportunity of a lifetime. My interest in photography came from the River Valley itself. For as long as I can remember, my dad has taken me out into the forests of Arkansas to shoot photos of the flora and fauna. It’s a tradition of sorts, and something we do as often as possible. Those times have always been really special to me and have helped to shape my interests. His love for photography quickly turned into my love for photography, and since then has grown into nothing short of an obsession. Photography, in a lot of ways, has shaped more than just my interests. It has also shaped my life and they way I live it. I’ve made friends all over the world, sold photos to some of the largest publishing companies in America, and had my work featured in magazines and online. The two degrees I chose to pursue while at Tech were pointed to help strengthen my resume when applying to grad photography programs. My English degree helped improve my research and writing abilities, and my graphic design degree gave me invaluable technical skills along with a strong background in art and art
ABOUT...the River Valley | June 2015
history. The jobs I’ve held since high school have done the same thing: a photo specialist at Walgreens, a graphic designer at the Arkansas Tech Museum, and assistant photographer with Arkansas Tech University Relations. A lot of what I’ve been doing over the past few years has been leading to this point — the point in time where I have to leave home. I say “have to” because, honestly, I don’t want to. Arkansas. More specifically, the River Valley, is very special to me. You don’t live somewhere for 22 years without growing attached. Yes, there are some things that I would probably change if I could, but the pros always seem to outweigh the cons. And yes, I am scared, scared out of my mind even. But to paraphrase a movie I saw recently, being scared is what allows you to be brave. Rochester probably sounds like an alien planet to most people at first mention, but in a lot of ways it felt like Russellville when I visited. The people were kind, the community was tight and the food was good. Those things are reassuring to me. You can’t hate a place with good food and nice people, right? It may not be my permanent home, or even my homeaway-from-home, but for now the fact that it feels a little like it is comforting. In the big scheme of things this move is probably one of the most important things I’ll ever do. It’s a reward for all the hard work I’ve put in since kindergarten. I have to remind myself of that everyday. As the community I’ve grown up in continues to thrive, as it gets great new restaurants and stores, as the university that I proudly call my alma mater expands to new heights, and more and more opportunities become available, I have to remind myself that moving away is worth it. In the end, I’ve earned it. So this may not be a final farewell but it is a goodbye for now. Whether in two years or twenty, I will find my way back home to Arkansas and the place that sent me on this journey.
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 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.)
~ June 5 ~
Cayce Connolly & Corey Cloud
~ June 6 ~
Taylor Eshnaur & Joshua Willis Alyson Frost & Ryan Ragsdale Megan Pearce & Richard Conrad Audrey Rye and Kyle Spann Lauren Sisson & Caleb Powers Lori Southard & Casey Childress
~ June 12 ~
Loren Duvall & Dayton Keathley
~ June 13 ~
Alisha Sears & Braden Carson Kelli Couch & Mark Jelks Cheyenne Porter & Behnum Ahrabli Bailey Vaughn & Josh Hambuchen
~ June 18 ~
Jancy McCarty & Ryan King
~ June 20 ~
Stephanie Barnhill & Aaron McElroy Miranda Bradford & Joey Potts Rachel Jackson & Cade Richards Ashlie Morphis & Danny Metz
~ June 27 ~
Lindsey Branham & Matt Williams Grace Townsend & Patrick Vest
~ 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 ~
Photo by Benita's Photography
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
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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June 2015 | ABOUT...the River Valley
39
Heart Stories from Home Jim Huml | Cardiac Cath Patient
THE PERSONAL CARE HE RECEIVED IS WHAT TOUCHED HIS HEART MOST. 10 years ago, Jim Huml had major heart surgery. When he recently experienced discomfort in his chest, his family doctor told him to go to see cardiologist Sastry Prayaga. “Dr. Prayaga and his team were truly concerned about me. Every person taking care of me made sure I was comfortable and all my questions were answered,” Jim said. Following a thorough evaluation of his condition, Jim received treatment in Saint Mary’s cardiac cath lab where a stent was implanted, restoring blood flow to the heart. Today, he’s feeling good and has gotten back to his normal routine which includes working part time and fishing on Lake Dardanelle as much as he can. “The people at Saint Mary’s love what they do. That showed in the great care I received.”
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