ATOP DARDANELLE ROCK
Reflecting the Character of the Arkansas River Valley November 2014
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RUSSELLVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
EDUCATING, EQUIPPING & EMPOWERING OUR STUDENTS
Russellville School District Board of Education is strongly committed to the district’s vision of “Educating, Equipping, and Empowering all students to be productive, contributing members of their school, their community, and their world.” To that end, the board has adopted these goals to guide the district’s leadership, help students reach their potential, and build a sense of ownership within our community.
FIVE YEAR GOALS: ALL GOALS SUPPORT A CULTURE OF HIGH EXPECTATIONS AT EVERY LEVEL
GOAL 1:
GOAL 2:
GOAL 3:
Be the “School of Choice” in our region for parents, students, and employees.
Increase partnerships that create a unified community that values and supports education.
All students achieve a level of preparedness and readiness to reach their individual potential so that businesses and universities seek out RSD students.
Address: 220 West 10th Street, Russellville, AR. 72802 Phone: 479.968.1306 Website: www.russellvilleschools.net
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November 2014 8 Atop Dardanelle Rock
We all know someone who’s done it. Many of us have done it ourselves. It almost begs to be climbed. Dardanelle Rock. We don’t know when the rock was first climbed or what name, if any, it was then known by, but one of the earliest recorded ascents took place almost two hundred years ago.
12 Every Day Life
14 Where it Pays to Play with Toys
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The average engineer is often pictured as slaving over a laboratory’s neutron well, when in fact, many engineers spend their time grouped together in small offices, researching for their next series of projects.
18 Valley Vittles
24 The Call in Pope County
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Can you imagine being a child and not knowing what “home” is? For the many foster children waiting to find a temporary home or permanent home, these are a few of the realities they face.
28 Fall in the Valley
36 Little Armored One
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Call 479.857.6791 for more information 4
ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
Check Out ROSE DRUG for Unique
Christmas Items Christmas Open House November 15 ~ 9am-2pm
Bridal and Baby Registry 3103 W Main Place, Russellville AR ~ (479) 968-1323
CARING
For YOU, SERVICE To ALL! November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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A PAGE FROM
The Editor’s Notebook
ABOUT the River Valley
Sounds like Home Thanksgiving is about coming home. Don’t believe me? Check with the airlines. I think there’s something hardwired in our genes that makes us yearn for home when winter is on the doorstep. It might be tied to autumn being the season of harvest, and a time in our not so distant past when we humans worked together as family storing our harvest to insure survival through the cold dark months. Whatever the reason, we all seem to head back to our roots for Thanksgiving. My Thanksgivings as a child always centered around Granny’s house. Granny Payton lived on Bells Chapel Road just south of Atkins in an old white farmhouse tucked in tight to an oak covered ridge. Granny was poor, and none of her kids were what you would call well off, but sons and daughters all pitched in and the table in her crowded little kitchen was always overflowing with food. Turkey, ham, homemade dressing, mashed potatoes, corn, green beans (bleh! I always passed on the green beans) and deserts as far as the eye could see. After dinner, there was a football game in the front yard and then more dessert. Sometimes, I was able to get away for a late afternoon squirrel hunt in the surrounding forest. There, in the woods by myself, I peered down the ridge at Granny’s warm little house, and then I closed my eyes and listened. I could hear cousins playing tag with giggles and screams, aunts and uncles on the porch telling tales about each other, Mom asking where the Diet Pepsi is, Dad saying he’s going to finish off the banana pudding, and my dear Granny still asking everyone, “did you get enough to eat?” I’ve made it a fall habit to drive up Bells Chapel Road and park at the gate where Granny’s house once stood. I close my eyes and listen. In the rustling oak leaves stirred by a November breeze, I hear the echoes of those long ago Thanksgivings. And it sounds like home. Johnny Sain, Editor
A Publication of One14 Productions, Inc Vol. IX, Issue 9 – November 2014 Owner/Publisher: Chris Zimmerman 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) 857-6791. Office: 220 East 4th Street Email: johnny@aboutrvmag.com Postmaster: Please send address changes to: One14 Productions 220 East 4th Street Russellville, AR 72801
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ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
Calendar of Events Nov 1 -- Wonder Boys vs. East Central
Nov 4 -- Eagle Tour at Lake Dardanelle
(Senior Day/Homecoming) at
State Park. For more information
Arkansas Tech University Thone
contact 967-5516.
Stadium 3 p.m. For more information contact 968-0389. Nov 1 -- Live Owls, Hawks, and Falcons
Nov 6 -- Golden Suns vs. Arkansas Monticello (Senior Night) 6 p.m. at Arkansas Tech University Tucker
Show at Petit Jean State Park 1 p.m. -
Coliseum on the campus of Arkansas
2 p.m. This program will take place at
Tech University. For more information
the demonstration area. In the event
contact 968-0389.
of inclement weather, it will be moved
Nov 6-8 -- 7th Annual Mistletoe Market
to the historic lobby of Mather Lodge.
at Boys & Girls Clubs of the ARV 600
Please note – taking photos is ok,
East 16th Street. For more information
but only the trained professionals are
contact 968-7819.
allowed to handle the birds. Admission
Nov 7-8 -- Christmas Gala at Hughes
is free. For more information contact
Community Center 1000 East
(501) 727-5441.
Parkway. For more information contact
Nov 1 --Catch the Beat 5K at Bona Dea Trails 9 a.m. Event Description: 3rd
331-3593. Nov 11-14 -- Cargill Pork Cook Out to
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Nov 14 -- What is in the Woods? Lake Dardanelle State Park at 6 p.m. for more information contact 967-5516. Nov 23 -- One Room School House at Lake Dardanelle State Park 1 p.m. For more information contact 967-5516.
Annual Catch the Beat 5K A Race to
benefit River Valley United Way in the
Save Lives 5K Run/Walk, Family 1K,
parking lot of Arvest Bank and Cargill
Support small businesses today and
Virtual Participants Mac’s Chip Timing.
100 block of South Boulder. For more
every day. For more information contact
For more information contact 967-2255.
information contact 968-4560 ext. 230.
968-2530.
Nov 29 -- Small Business Saturday:
*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.
November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
W
e all know someone who’s done it. Many of us have done it ourselves. It almost begs to be climbed. Dardanelle Rock.
The desire is not a new one. For untold millennia, the massive sandstone formation has stood lookout over the river, paying little heed to the countless men and women who have scaled its sides, content in its role as sentinel and landmark. We don’t know when the rock was first climbed or what name, if any, it was then known by, but one of the earliest recorded ascents took place almost two hundred years ago.
Story by DR. ERIC BOWNE | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN
Had we been there ourselves on that early spring morning of April 7, 1819, we might have seen a figure scrambling to reach the summit. Dressed in clothes that, though dirty and worn, were obviously purchased in an Eastern city, the sun glinting off his sweaty forehead where his curly hair had begun to recede, he carried his precious pocket microscope but not his gun, which, to the great amusement of the locals, he primarily used as a tool to dig up roots and tubers. His name was Thomas Nuttall, and he had come all the way from Philadelphia to collect botanical specimens and Indian “curiosities” in the newly formed territory of Arkansas. The thirty-three year old former printer’s apprentice had made something of a name for himself in scientific circles since arriving from England eleven years earlier. Nuttall had been elected to the Linnean Society in 1813 and both the American Philosophical Society and the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia in 1817. Not bad for a man who had taught himself botany as well as Latin, Greek and French. From his perch atop Dardanelle Rock, Thomas was afforded, in his own words, “a sublime view of the surrounding country.” Although Americans were already encroaching on the territory, the world that spread out below him was still primarily an Indian world. Violent conflict between natives and whites was not uncommon in the region, but Nuttall traveled without the aid of a military escort or scientific expedition. He was often alone. Such fearlessness and self-assurance came naturally to the man. In 1808 having only just arrived in the United States, Thomas, unable to find a copy of a particular botany text, simply presented himself at the author’s door. Benjamin Smith Barton, one of the foremost experts on American plant life, was so impressed with the young twenty-two-year-old that he hired Nuttall to collect specimens in every corner of the country. In the intervening years, Nuttall had contracted malaria in the swamps around Delaware Bay, followed the footsteps of Lewis and Clark all the way to the mouth of the Yellowstone, and explored much of the American South – from the crest of the Appalachians to the low country of South Carolina. Yet, the Arkansas territory provided our intrepid botanist with much to stimulate his curiosity and intellect. November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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In one of his rambles near Dardanelle, Nuttall was surprised to find a huge spider, a tarantula, which he had assumed belonged only in the tropics and which, until then, he had only seen in museums. He was also impressed with the mineral springs to the south that were “hot enough to boil eggs or fish.” But even the mundane could inspire Nuttall to wax poetic as clearly evidenced by the following passage from his journal: “The lugubrious vociferations of the whip-poor-will; the croaking frogs, chirping crickets, and whoops and halloos of the Indians, broke not disagreeably the silence of a calm and fine evening.” The botanist did not find every aspect of the Arkansas spring agreeable, however. After returning from a hike collecting insect specimens, Nuttall found himself covered with over fifty ticks, which he noted were “more abundant and troublesome than in any other part of America,” a fact to which the locals could no doubt attest.
as well as Cherokee, owned a large farm and a number of black slaves in addition to his store. It is likely that Webber and his nephew, who also spoke English, were the source of much of what Nuttall learned about the local residents. Many of the inhabitants of the River Valley were Cherokees, newcomers who had recently given up title to some of their lands in the East in exchange for the territory between the Arkansas and White Rivers, west of Point Remove Creek. In general, Nuttall was impressed with the Cherokees, whose farms he found “well fenced and stocked with cattle” and whose homes he described as “handsomely and conveniently furnished.” Yet he decried their “baneful attachment to whiskey” and bemoaned the fact that their “ignorance and superstition” slowed their “happy approach toward civilization.”
“The lugubrious vociferations of the whip-poor-will; the croaking frogs, chirping crickets, and whoops and halloos of the Indians, broke not disagreeably the silence of a calm and fine evening.” In the nearly two weeks that he spent in the vicinity of Dardanelle, Nuttall spoke with a number of the leading citizens of the area, including Rueben Lewis, the brother of Meriwether Lewis, who was serving as the local Indian agent. Nuttall also met Tahlonteskee, the principal chief of the Arkansas Cherokee, whose manners and bearing made such an impression on the botanist that he referred to the native leader as “a Franklin amongst his countrymen.” Nuttall spent a considerable amount of time at the trading post on the south bank of the Arkansas River in present Yell County. It was owned and operated by Walter Webber, a Cherokee headman of mixed European and Indian ancestry. Webber, who was literate and spoke English 10
ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
Nuttall, though a careful and thoughtful observer, was not particularly sympathetic to Indians. He was even less charitable to the majority of Euro-Americans already living in the territory, comparing them unfavorably to the German settlers in Pennsylvania. Instead of the industriousness of the Pennsylvania Dutch, Nuttall found Arkansans preoccupied with drinking, gambling, and the search for mineral wealth, a noted obsession in the region since the time of Hernando de Soto’s sixteenth-century expedition. After examining the site of a mine that residents were convinced contained silver, the botanist lamented the “ignorance and credulity of those who were enticed into this undertaking.”
Before we condemn Nuttall as just another easterner with a low opinion of Arkansans, it should be pointed out that he gratefully acknowledged the generosity he was shown on his trip, during which he always found himself a welcome guest at the homes of settlers and on boats that plied the local waterways. Like most nineteenthcentury scientific explorers, Nuttall was primarily interested in how the country through which he rambled could be developed, and in Arkansas he saw a land of great potential. Some of his ideas seem almost prophetic in retrospect. For example, Nuttall believed that the mineral springs in and around what is now Hot Springs National Park could become a vacation destination for “southern gentlemen” in search of “health and recreation.” And, though he noted that the alluvial soils of the region were suited to cotton agriculture, Nuttall suggested the land would be more productive if rice were grown instead – a position that is easy to defend today.
The botanist left the Dardanelle area on April 20, traveling west toward Fort Smith. From there he headed southwestward on an expedition to the Red River and back before continuing into present Oklahoma, where he spent several weeks exploring. Nuttall encountered a number of problems during this leg of his adventure, not the least of which was a malarial attack that left him in a severely weakened state, during which an Osage robbed him of his penknife and precious pocket microscope. By the time he returned to Arkansas and stopped at Cadron, east of Dardanelle, his patience had worn thin. From December 18 to January 4, Nuttall lodged in the settlement’s only tavern, which he found “very ill provided.” In addition to dealing with frigid temperatures in the poorly chinked two-room log building, the botanist found the tavern’s customers unsuitable company. It seemed to him that “every reasonable and
rational amusement appeared here to be swallowed up in dramdrinking, jockeying, and gambling.” Despite repeated invitations to participate in the illegal gaming, Nuttall refused to “enter this vortex of swindling and idleness,” and, after the New Year, gladly bade Arkansas farewell. Over the next two decades, Nuttall continued to travel extensively in the United States, as well as visiting the Azores, Hawaii, and California, then part of Mexico. Between 1823 and 1834, he lectured at Harvard and served as curator of their botanical gardens, though he held no academic degrees. In addition to writing his own textbook and multi-volume works on both botany and ornithology, Nuttall left us an invaluable record of the River Valley when he published, in 1821, the journal of his time in Arkansas. Available today from the University of Arkansas Press, A Journal of Travels into the Arkansas Territory During the Year 1819 paints a compelling picture of a time before Lake Dardanelle, before Arkansas Nuclear One, and even before most of our ancestors migrated to the region. It deserves a place on the shelf of all those who, like Nuttall himself, have climbed (or thought about climbing) the stone sentinel we call Dardanelle Rock. l November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Every Day Life
Reflecting
Story by DENISE PITTS-ROBINSON | Illustration by CLIFF THOMAS
I’m 40… something-years-old, and this morning while washing my face to get ready for the day what do I discover? A zit, really?! This has to be a joke. Maybe there is a spot on the mirror I didn’t wipe down when I cleaned the bathroom yesterday. Nope, it’s a big ole zit. It’s red and sore, front and center on my chin. What is up with that? How is it that I don’t remember having a problem with these when I was a teenager, but these days I can connect the dots on my face and it resembles a celestial constellation? In my most angst ridden teen voice I say to myself “Whatever!” My teen years were the late 80s and early 90s. We wore tight jeans and had really big hair. Most girls wanted to dress like Madonna or Cindi Lauper, and most parents were smart enough not to let them. We wanted to watch MTV on Saturday, and secretly enjoyed the School House Rock ditties that played between Saturday morning cartoons. We saw great movies like The Goonies, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Ghostbusters and Raiders of the Lost Ark. Teen’s in the 80s watched the creation and beginning of what now ties people from all over the world together -- the Internet. President Reagan accelerated the “War on Drugs” and demanded the Soviet Union dismantle the Berlin Wall. On my brother’s birthday in January of 1986, with every television in every school in the U.S. tuned in, we witnessed the disintegration of Space Shuttle Discovery 73 seconds after it launched. We cried. So what did I see staring back at me while all of this is happening? First and foremost, my hair was too frizzy, especially on rainy days. Yes, I was that girl that looked like Little Orphan Annie if I didn’t smother my unruly mane with a handful of mousse. God forbid I ran out of White Rain hair spray, because in those days my motto concerning my hair was “the bigger the better”. Of course that was after wrestling half of a can of mousse into it. I could never get that darn blue eye shadow to look right, but I wore it anyway, and there was no such thing as too much. The same could be said for my red lipstick. If I ran late getting ready for school in the morning, I may not have had time for the whole make-up routine, but you could bet I had on my red lipstick. At this point you’re all picturing this in your head right? Let me apologize for that, as I’ve recently looked at some pictures of me in the 80’s and all I had to say was “WOW” and “what was I thinking?” Teenage girls put too much pressure on themselves to look “just right” all the time. Looking back, I wish I would have spent a lot more time just being me instead of worrying about what others thought. I should have also spent more time with my nose in the books, but you know what they say about hindsight being 20/20. I got married in the 90s and we welcomed our sons. Technologies like cable television and the internet gave us a window into what was happening outside of our immediate communities. I remember watching with horror the news on the World Trade Center and 12
ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
Oklahoma City Bombings, and learning what the words “domestic terrorism” really meant. We started hearing about Al Qaeda, the Taliban and Saddam Hussein. It seemed with more channels to watch, the more bad news we heard. The 90s seemed to me to be a busy time. President Clinton was in the White House. The House of Representatives impeached him, and the Senate acquitted him. The Hubble Telescope was launched into space. The MP3 player was born, and EBay changed the way we shopped. We watched in awe as we learned about Dolly the first cloned sheep, and we mourned with Columbine, Colorado after 12 students were shot by classmates. I was at home chasing two toddlers. I don’t think I owned a shirt that didn’t have a spit up stain on the shoulder, and my hair was always in a ponytail. Gone were the days I worried about lipstick. Who has time for that when there are 2 little boys running around that hate to wear clothes? I would no sooner get Nick settled down for a nap and Nathan would run through the house stark naked and squealing, and the chase would be on! So maybe I didn’t worry too much about getting prettied up every morning, but I was tired, there’s always tomorrow, right? Now here is where life really gets interesting, Nathan is headed to kindergarten. Did any of you think you would be busier once your kids started school? I thought things would slow down a bit, but boy was I wrong. While the rest of the world was waiting for Y2K, I was getting my first born ready for school. We were so proud. The first week of school Nathan came home with his first homework assignment. He was to make an ‘All About Me’ book and show it to the class. We made the book in the shape of a big crayon and set to filling up the pages. Parents were invited to visit the class on the day their child was showing their book and I was excited for my first school function as a parent. I sat in the back of the class with the other parents and beamed with pride when it was his turn. He stood so tall, and went from page to page showing the pictures and telling all about his favorite food, his dog, his little brother and his daddy. Continued on page 17...
About Products
Looking for the best products in the River Valley? These retailers have them! Shop local for the best deals!
A CHRISTMAS TRADITION
The Elf on the Shelf and now his NEW Pet Reindeer (and other accessories) is now at Official Adoption center, GIFTS ON PARKWAY; 2149 E. Parkway, Russellville; (479) 890-6932
BOYS & GIRLS JACKETS
Denali and Aconcagua Jackets by The North Face. Shown in boys colors but also have girls in stock. FELTNER'S ATHLETE'S CORNER; 2320 West Main, Rsvl; (479) 968-6464
MEN'S VESTS
Men's Apex Bionic Vest by The North Face. FELTNER'S ATHLETE'S CORNER; 2320 West Main, Rsvl; (479) 968-6464
VINTAGE FURNITURE
BOUTIQUE GIRLS CLOTHES
Size infant to girls, $20-$25 per outfit. Hair bows by HeLana's Hats. Follow us on Facebook SHABBY PIG; Junction Highway 21 and 164, Clarksville; (479) 774-4576
MEN'S & WOMEN'S JACKETS
Vintage furniture boutique, custom furniture painting, gifts galore!
Men's and women's ThermoBall Jackets by The North Face
SUDY'S; 108 N. Commerce, Downtown Russellville; (479) 223-1623
FELTNER'S ATHLETE'S CORNER; 2320 West Main, Rsvl; (479) 968-6464
RUSSELLVILLE DOWNTOWN
2014
Drive Thru * Walk Thru * Make Memories NIGHTLY! November 29 thru January 6 November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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Innovative Development Inc. Where it pays to play with toys. Story by SHANE CRABTREE | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN
T H E E N G I N E E R H A S P L AY E D AN INTEGRAL ROLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE WORLD.
Often referenced as the vanguards of science, engineers have achieved feats ranging from the invention of the wheel to Thomas Alva Edison’s creation of the incandescent light bulb. However, the average engineer is often pictured as slaving over a laboratory’s neutron well, when in fact, many engineers spend their time grouped together in small offices, researching for their next series of projects. One such assembly exists in downtown Russellville, on the second floor of a former bank building. To reach the out-of-the-way location, one must climb a tall and steep staircase, and go through a set of brass-rimmed double doors to the left. Inside, one will find the operations office of Innovative Development Incorporated, a local engineering development firm owned by Sergio and Cynthia Picado. According to the Picado’s, Innovative Development Inc. is a company that accepts contractual engineering projects from clients — generally in concept form — and perform the necessary research and production tasks to complete the projects, which are then given back to the client. “We are essentially a product development company,” Sergio Picado, co-owner, said. “We are there for the people who have an idea or a concept, but don’t have the technical knowledge to create it. They hire us and we can essentially create everything. We do the coding, we do the software and we do the hardware, too. We do the whole shooting match, basically.” Though not exactly Tony Stark’s Malibu, Calif. workshop, Picado’s engineering laboratory is no less scientific. Arranged in a clockwise fashion with a desk at each of the four walls and metallic, computer-based project parts on smaller desks in between, the office space is an engineer’s heaven.
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ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
"We are definitely working, but we get to use our minds and learn things, and build things with our hands. That’s fun.” “Engineers, if you want to think about it in this way, are like big kids,” Picado said. “Engineers love to play. They have to have toys. Our office here is pretty much our playroom. We are definitely working, but we get to use our minds and learn things, and build things with our hands. That’s fun.” Picado said he and his wife acquired the company from a retiring engineer during a several-year business detour in Connecticut. Originally natives of the Little Rock area, the Picado’s brought Innovative Development Inc. to Russellville, where they went to work constructing a solid, localized foundation. “I had already worked with Innovative Development for more than 14 years,” Sergio Picado said. “The gentleman I worked with was a mechanical engineer. He always did the designs and I would do the electronics. “Anyway, to make a long story short, he wanted to retire. So when my wife and I got the company, we wanted to bring it home. We wanted to bring it somewhere where we could help build an infrastructure and a community, and we picked Russellville.” With a goal to grow into the local community as their primary focus, the Picado’s are continually working to anchor themselves into the Russellville area. However, the anchor has not quite come to a stop. While the Picado’s have a goal of promoting engineer-based business locally, most of their customers remain out-of-state.
November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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out to Arkansas Tech and the surrounding community in the not-too-distant future. “When I was growing up, I didn’t have those people around me to help me get my career off the ground,” Picado said. “It’s hard to find that work experience. So, we want to work with Arkansas Tech and the local high schools and middle schools, and create an internship program for the kids. “We want to start a program and bring in a half a dozen kids or so each year and give them real-world engineering experience, and educate them. We’d love to do that because it will be a part of our contribution.”
“When we first took over the business, we picked up all of the company’s clients. That being said, many of our clients are not in Arkansas,” Picado said. “In fact, I’d say that more than 80 percent of our clients are from out of state, mostly in the Northeastern part of the United States. “A lot of these projects are major industrial projects, and that’s good. It pays the bills. But we have a special interest in our community, and we put a lot of our attention on human interest projects. In my mind, it’s important to use engineering skills for good, even though many of those human interest projects aren’t very profitable.” Even with the majority of their work coming in from out-of-state, the Picado’s said they are optimistic that their business will continue to grow into the community. To ensure a continued local connection,
RUSSELLVILLE
Picado said he and his wife hired three local engineering students as part-time workers. Together, the Picado’s and their staff work to guarantee a quality connection. “I manage most of the engineering projects,” Picado said. “But my wife, she runs just about everything else, I guess.” Joining Picado in the engineering office is Ivan Pena (mechanical engineer). Akbar Rajani and Luke Reves, both electrical engineers, back up Picado and assist in the never-ending challenge of keeping up with their projects, all the while managing a constant flow of circuitry work and research. Picado said Rajani, who is currently studying electrical engineering at Arkansas Tech University, is set to graduate with his bachelor’s degree in December. Furthermore, Picado said he hopes to reach
Aside from all plans for internship programs, Picado said that his staff’s relationship goes much deeper than just a business-to-community connection, emphasizing the reality that engineers are not one-dimensional creatures. “Whenever you walk into our office, you can look around the room and see us all working together, communicating,” Picado said. “There is a lot of teamwork in the engineering world. You have to know how to communicate with each other. You have to be a people person, too. If you cannot do either one of those things, you are pretty much useless as an engineer.
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ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
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“A good engineer should communicate with everybody — with vendors, designers, customers, each other, even with the guys that sweep the floor.” Having spent the majority of his life surrounded by engineering projects, Picado said much of the world fails to understand the realities of engineering. “A lot of people tend to think that when we are at work, that we put on a funny suit and a pair of goggles and then spend the rest of the day hitting buttons on a computer,” Picado said. “While that may be true at times, that isn’t the reality. “Each project is very, very different. We get project requests from all industries and most of them are from companies that aren’t related at all. To make things even more interesting, they usually already have very specific design ideas that they want us to follow.” Picado said most people underestimate the amount of research required before and throughout a project. According to Picado, after receiving a project request, he and his crew immediately begin studying. Depending on the project’s depth, Picado and crew may even reach out to experts for assistance in explanations. “A lot of times, if it’s an in-depth project, we may meet with professionals and such,” Picado said. “We often get with the companies, and find out as much as we can about the project and the background, and in the process, you always learn things you didn’t know before.” Nevertheless, regardless of the high-level workloads that are relentlessly fed to Picado and the Innovative Development Inc. crew, Picado said there is a secret to ensuring that only the uppermost quality is returned to the client. According to Picado, the secret lies in what he believes to be a mistake made by early scientific researchers. “Scientists and historians have catalogued our species as Homo Sapien, which translates from Latin as “Thinking Man,” Picado said. “But I don’t like that. I don’t think we should be called that at all. I think we should be called Homo Ludin, which means “Playing Man.” That makes so much more sense. “Human beings love to play. When we play, we have fun. When we have fun, we learn and we become experts on that subject. So when it comes down to it, I think it’s a really good feeling to know that something I do, with my own hands, is playing a part in the lives of other people. That’s why we at Innovative Development do what we do.” l
...continued from page 12 He then turns another page, points at me as he smiles and says, “This is my mom, she’s right back there. She’s fat, but she knows everything!” You could hear half of the other parents gasp as the others tried to stifle their laughter. I laughed until I cried. I carried an extra 20 lbs. back then, (I’ll admit I carry a bit more than that now) and he just told it as he saw it. I think back over the last 20 years and so many notable things come to mind. Hurricane Katrina made landfall in New Orleans, LA in 2005 causing a massive loss of life, while creating an opportunity for the people of neighboring areas and states to open there hearts and give aid to others in need. Etched forever in our minds are the images from the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2011, and the War on Terror has become a way of life for all Americans in some way. Barack Obama was sworn in as the nation’s 44th President in 2009, becoming the first African American President of the United States. One can’t help but be affected by their history. The things that happen to us and around us shape who we are. I see the changes in the mirror year after year. A new wrinkle shows up every now and then, and as a true Southern girl I refer to them as “laugh lines”. My fabulous beautician Jerri Kay keeps the gray hair at bay; I purchase night cream and sunscreen by the bucket loads, and have enough skin and hair products to keep L’Oréal in business “because I’m worth it.” I look in the mirror and see a wife who after 18 years of marriage, still thinks her husband is the best man she’s ever known, and a mom who is proud of her children every day. I could spend more time cleaning house, shampooing carpets, and washing handprints off the windows, but I would rather carve pumpkins with my husband tonight so all that can wait. Reflecting upon our past is a funny thing. We all have things we would change if we could, but in the end, we have no choice to accept ourselves for who we are and strive every day to be better. It took nearly 40 years for me to realize I don’t have to be perfect; I just have to be the best me I can be. l
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Valley Vittles
SOUTH PARK RESTAURANT | 1103 N Harmony Rd, Clarksville
Chicken-Fried Perfection Story by JOHNNY SAIN | Photos by LIZ CHRISMAN
The great American truck stop has its roots in the south. You need look no further than the menu to confirm this. T-bone steak and eggs, chicken prepared at least four different ways, bread and potatoes both standard issue for every meal and then there’s the crowning jewel. The combination of beef, breading and white gravy that leads to the chicken-fried steak. The history of chicken-fried steak can be traced back to 1911 and a small Texas town called Lamesa. The story goes that a shortorder cook at Ethel’s Home Cooking restaurant didn’t see the comma in an order written as “chicken, fried steak” and thought the order was for one dish. Seems kind of odd that the cook would prepare a brand new dish instead of asking the waitress to clarify, but we are talking about Texas. Anyway, the chicken fried steak was a hit, and it’s invention is celebrated to this day in Lamesa, Texas with the annual Chicken-Fried Steak Festival. But you don’t have to travel to Lamesa, Texas to sample the town’s creation. The chicken-fried steak soon found its way all over the country. The secret to a delicious chicken-fried steak is bringing everything together just right. The steak is flattened and tenderized. The seasoned breading must compliment the beef. And the steak has to be smothered in white gravy with mashed 18
ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
potatoes and roll on the side. Other favorite sides in the vegetable clan include corn, pinto beans and fried okra. But there’s little room on the plate for side dishes. The sides have to come in their own containers when you’ve got a hubcap sized chicken-fried steak spilling over the sides of the plate. You can find a chicken-fried steak such as this right here in the River Valley at a fine eatery in Clarksville called South Park Restaurant. South Park sits next to Interstate 40, and has been feeding truckers and local folks with a hankering for southern comfort food since the 1960s. With great food and fantastic service, it will be serving truckers and local folks for many years to come. l
November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Countertop Creations
HUBERT’S BANANA BREAD 8 T (1 stick) butter at room temp 3/4 c sugar 2 eggs 1 c all purpose flour 1 tsp baking soda 1 c whole wheat flour 3 lg very ripe bananas, mashed 1 tsp vanilla extract 1/2 c shelled walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped
What’s on your table? Story by LYDIA ZIMMERMAN, Food Editor
D
uring the holiday season family and friends gather to give thanks and to celebrate the birth of our Lord. In doing so you will often find wonderful culinary creations that have become traditions at such family gatherings. At my family's celebrations, the tables are often graced with GG’s crescent rolls (which I have yet to master, but am still trying), my sister Kathy’s wonderful sweet potato casserole and my mother-in-law’s yummy corn casserole. These delectable dishes are just a few traditions that my family and myself look forward to eating each holiday season. This month’s recipe selections celebrate family holiday recipes submitted by a couple of our ABOUT advertisers, our family and friends. Hope you enjoy them as much as I will enjoy trying them. You never know, you might find that one recipe that will become your family's new holiday favorite. As always, enjoy!
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ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9X5X3 loaf bread pan. Cream butter and sugar til light and fluffy. Add eggs one at at time, beating well after each addition. Sift all purpose flour, baking soda and salt together, stir in whole wheat flour and add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Fold in bananas, vanilla and nuts. Pour into pan and bake for 50-60 minutes or tip cake tester comes out clean- Cool in pan for 10 minutes; tun on rack. Makes 1 loaf. Recipe courtesy of Nancy J. Griffin, Griffin Electric H & A, Inc. This recipe was given to her by her dad Hubert Derryberry EASY PEASY SWEET POTATOES 3 lg sweet potatoes 3/4 c water 1 c granulated sugar 2 T butter 1/4 tsp salt 1/2 tsp cinnamon Peel and slice sweet potatoes. Put them in a large saucepan and add water, sugar, butter, salt and cinnamon. Cover and cook on medium heat. Do NOT stir…Shake the pan as the potatoes start boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer until the potatoes are done (should be able to stick a fork into them easily). Recipe submitted by Janet Hulsey Scott. This was her mother-in-law’s recipe
GRANDMA LACEY’S SUGAR COOKIES 3 c flour 1 tsp cream of tartar 1/2 tsp soda 1/2 tsp salt Sift the above ingredients into a mixing bowl. 1/4 c Crisco shortening 1 stick (1/2 c) margarine 2 eggs, slightly beaten 1 c sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract Cut the Crisco and margarine into the flour mixture, until fine crumbs Combine the eggs, sugar and vanilla. Then add it into flour mixture. Roll into several oblong rolls, wrap in waxed paper and refrigerate. When cold, slice and press flat with the bottom of a flat glass dipped in sugar. Bake at 375 for 8-10 minutes. *These are great to decorate with red or green colored sugar to make them ”Christmasy”. Recipe courtesy of Dottie Zimmerman. This recipe was Dottie’s grandmother's (Cleo Trilby Lacey) recipe REFRIGERATOR BISCUITS 5 c self rising flour 1 tsp soda 1/2 c oil 2 T sugar 2 c buttermilk 2 pkg yeast 1/2 c warm water Mix together yeast, water and sugar. Add other ingredients and mix well. Keep
in refrigerator. Pinch off as desired and put remaining back into the refrigerator. Refrigerate overnight before using. Keeps up to 1 week in the refrigerator. Bake at 400 for 30 minutes or your desired degree of browning. Recipe courtesy of Nancy J. Griffin, Griffin Electric H & A, Inc.This recipe was given to her by her husband’s aunt LaVern Hoppis in 1964. PUMPKIN SPICE CAKE 1 box yellow cake mix 1 can pumpkin 3/4 c sugar 1/2 c oil 1 tsp cinnamon 1/2 tsp nutmeg 1/2 tsp allspice 4 eggs
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Combine cake mix, pumpkin, sugar, oil, nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and eggs. Beat together in a mixing bowl for 3 minutes. Bake at 350 for 1 hour. Let cool in pan for approx 10 minutes then turn onto cake tray or plate. Glaze: 1/2 c margarine 1/2 c brown sugar 1/2 c pecans pieces Place margarine and sugar in a microwave safe bowl and place in microwave for approx 30-45 seconds or until margarine melts. Remove from microwave and stir well, add pecans. Stir again. Then drizzle all over the cake. Recipe courtesy of Wilma F. Gray (my mother.)
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POLISH SWEET BREAD “KUCHA” Kucha is a polish sweet bread that has been on my Mom's side of the family for many generations. It is pronounced, "Cuha" and it became our family's traditional holiday bread for Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas. 2 c warm milk 1 c sugar 2 ½ c golden raisins ½ c shortening 1 T salt 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 to 3 eggs 2 pks. Dry yeast 8 to 9 c flour Take a ¼ c of warm water, 2 yeast pks. 1 tsp. sugar in in a small saucepan to dissolve. Beat your 2 to 3 eggs in a small bowl. Add all that to your warm milk (not to hot) into your 8 to 9 c of flour. Use a wooden spoon to mix together. Add golden raisins at this time. When it
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is completely mixed, beat the dough with your hand until it comes off of your hand quickly. Cover with a towel, put in a warm stove to raise for about 2 hrs. Knead by hand on floured large rolling mat. For about 15 min. Cut in 3 to 4 equal pieces and put in lightly greased bread pan. ( Mom liked to take her small piece and make 3 small pieces, roll them into a long piece a little longer your bread pan. Then braid it in the bread pan. Makes a nice looking loaf.) Put bread pans back into oven to raise a second time. Cover with towel. For 1 ½ hrs. or doubled in size. Then uncover the towel and bake. Beat 1 to 2 eggs in small bowl and brush over top of bread, before baking to help it get it golden. Bake at 350 for approx 40 minutes or until golden brown. Recipe courtesy of John Pawlicki Jr. (his mom Ann’s recipe) husband of Billie Pawlicki, Sorrells Body Shop
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE 5 med sweet potatoes 1/4 c butter or margarine 1/4 tsp salt 1 tsp vanilla extract 2 eggs 1 c sugar cinnamon to tast Boil potatoes until tender, drain, then peel and mash potatoes. In a mixing bowl, mix with an electric mixer sweet potatoes and other ingredients listed above until smooth. Pour mixture in a casserole dish and top with the mixture listed below: 3/4 c brown sugar 1/4 c melted butter or margarine 3 T flour 1/2 c chopped pecans Bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Recipe courtesy of Kathy Bewley (my older sis)
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ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
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CORN CASSEROLE 2 (12 oz) cans whole kernel corn 1/2 c margarine 1/2 c sugar 1 T flour 1/2 c evaporated milk 2 eggs, well beaten 1/2 tsp cinnamon 1 1/2 tsp baking powder Drain the corn. In a medium size pan heat margarine and sugar until margarine is melted. Stir in the flour. Remove from heat and stir in evaporated milk. Add eggs and cinnamon, mix well. Fold in the corn. Pour into a buttered 1 quart casserole dish. Bake at 350 for 40-45 minutes or until you can stick a knife in the center and it comes out “clean”. Recipe courtesy of Janet Hulsey Scott CHRISTMAS JELLO SALAD 2 sm pkgs cherry Jello 2 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese, softened 1 c mayonnaise 2 c pineapple juice
20 lg or 160 sm marshmallows 2 sm pkgs lemon Jello 2 sm pkgs lime Jello This recipe is especially pretty in a large, decorative bowl, individual dessert cups, or any Jello mold, because of the three Christmasy layers. Following the package directions, prepare cherry jello and pour into desired container or mold. When the first layer (cherry Jello) is jelled, mash cream cheese and the cup of mayonnaise and cream together. Then add pineapple juice and cream again. Cut marshmallows (if using large ones) and melt in 2 cups of boiling water. Add the lemon Jello. Then combine with the cream cheese mixture. Chill mixture until cool, but not jelled and pour or dip over cherry jello. Chill until firmly set (4-5 hours). Dissolve 2 packages lime Jello in 3 1/2 c boiling water. Cool in refrigerator, but don’t jell. Pour lightly over second layer and return to refrigerator to firmly set. Recipe courtesy of Dottie Zimmerman. This is her mother, Christine Hulsey’s recipe
GRANDMA’S MARBLE SQUARES 1/2 c margarine 6 T granulated sugar 6 T brown sugar 1/2 vanilla extract 1/4 tsp water 1 egg 1 c +2 T flour, sifted 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 c pecans or walnuts 6 oz chocolate chips Beat the first 5 ingredients together in a mixing bowl until creamy. Beat in the egg, then slowly add the flour, baking soda and salt. Mixing well after each addition. Add nuts to mixture. Spread mixture into a greased and floured 13X9X2 in pan. Sprinkle the chocolate chips on top and Bake at 375 for 1 minute. Then run a knife through dough to marbleize. Bake an additional 12-14 minutes. Recipe courtesy of Dottie Zimmerman. This recipe is from Anita (Grandma Zim) Zimmerman
November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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Story by EMILY LANGFORD
IN POPE COUNTY
You have probably heard the saying “home is where the heart is” at some point in your life. There is an even greater chance that you have felt homesick for someone or something. Google defines home as “the place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household.” Can you imagine being a child and not knowing what “home” is? Even worse, the holiday season is coming up, what if your only choice was to spend it in an emergency shelter or group home? For the many foster children waiting to find a temporary home or permanent home, these are a few of the realities they face. In 2012, there were an estimated 399,546 children in foster care in the United States (childwelfare.gov). A little more than 28 percent were in home of a relative, and 47 percent were in the home of a non-relative (childwelfare.gov). More locally, there are 4,500 children in state custody. “This year, more than 7,000 children will spend time in foster care. More than 500 children are waiting to be adopted. There are 1,100 foster homes in Arkansas – too few to meet the needs of children who are taken into care,” reads the shocking statistics on THE CALL’s website. Unfortunately, many of the cases in Pope County are due to drug abuse. THE CALL is an non-profit, Christian organization in Arkansas, working alongside the state, whose mission is to “educate, equip, and encourage the Christian community to provide a future and a hope for children in foster care in Arkansas.” Currently, the faith-based group has services being provided in 29 counties, and five counties are in the process of becoming “CALL” counties. Part of what helps progress the organization and aide with finding foster parents is systematically having representatives in local churches. Missy Varvil, church representative at Dover First Baptist, and her husband Derek, have been ongoing foster parents for around 24
ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
three and a half years, in addition to having two biological children of their own. “We had been considering becoming foster parents for a while. Finally, we just filled out a form online and took a questionnaire on the Arkansas Adopt and Department of Human Services website. After that, we attended an informational meeting and found out what all it would entail to be foster parents,” said Varvil. At the time that they began their process, there was not a THE CALL set up in Pope County. “For six Saturdays, we drove to Conway for training,” Varvil added. Through THE CALL, those hoping to volunteer as foster parents or considering adoption can receive training in Russellville during two “intense weekends.” “After our hours were completed, our home had to have a walk thru to ensure everything was safe, anything from smoke detectors, locks on medicine cabinets, knives, all of it was checked. Once you finish training, a background check is required and the rest of your paperwork, and then you are considered an ‘open home’,” explained Varvil. An open home means you have been cleared to foster and or adopt. Due to the large volume of children needing temporary homes, and some needing permanent homes, the Varvils became foster parents to a newborn baby the day their home was deemed “open.” “That happens quite often, there is a big, big need for foster homes in the area,” said Varvil. When volunteers bring a foster child into their home, it is never definite how long they will be there. The Varvils have had children as long as 18 months and some for just one night. Over the course of three and a half years, they have had just fewer than 20 children in their home. “The amazing thing is that even when they are in your home, it really feels like they are yours, and they need that. Sometimes people say ‘I do not know how you do it without getting attached’,”
said Varvil. “So many of these kids need to know what attachment is, though, they need the bond and this teaches them how to make bonds,” Varvil explained. When asked how she and her husband continually do this and face the challenges that would inevitably come www.thecallinarkansas.org with it, she said, “It takes lots of prayer. All children Children are placed in foster homes because they have have issues, all children. These kids need the exact same been removed from their own families due to abuse, things your own kids need.” neglect, or other family problems that endanger their safety “The most challenging part is that it is frustrating to see the process for a child not moving quickly, for whatever Children in foster care range in age from infancy through 18 years of age reason. They need permanency and consistency and these processes just take some time. Opportunities are given 85% of the time the permanency goal for children who to these children’s [biological] parents to make better enter foster care is reunification with their biological family choices. There are also so many kids in the system that it 50% of children in foster care in Arkansas must be takes time,” said Varvil. placed outside their home county because there are not For anyone considering adoption or becoming a foster enough foster homes available to care for children in their parent, Varvil says “While the process can be frustrating, home county it is worth it in the end. Anything worth having is going to be worth the wait.” 500 children are available for adoption in Arkansas and “When a child is waiting to be adopted and asking ‘When waiting for a forever family is someone going to adopt me?,’ or ‘Why is no one adopting The average age of a child waiting to be adopted in me?,’ you just have to remind them that there is nothing Arkansas is 8 years old wrong with them, that is not them,” explained Varvil. Every year about 250 teens between 18 and 21 “age out” So, where do children go when there is not an available of the foster care system without a permanent home? According to THE CALL’s website, “Children are family connection placed in emergency shelters, group homes or residential facilities. Siblings are often separated because there is not a home available to take them as a group. Nearly half of all children who enter foster care must be placed outside their necessary, but the process for volunteering is much quicker. home county because there is no room closer to home.” There Some of the volunteer opportunities within THE CALL Pope are currently eight families going through training this month County are helping in the office, providing childcare during THE to become foster parents and/or adopt, but that is not enough to CALL meetings and training, becoming a church representative, conducting CPR training, grant writing, notarizing paperwork, being satisfy the large demand. Because THE CALL is a faith-based organization, to open your on a prayer team and many more. If you are interested in becoming home to the many local children waiting, you must be involved with a a foster parent, adopting or volunteering, the next informational church. “ THE CALL tries to recruit through churches, which is why meeting is November 3, 6 p.m. at First Assembly of God in they try to have church representatives in many local churches,” said Russellville. For immediate information, THE CALL can be reached Varvil. If you are not ready for the full time commitment of adoption at 479-890-9035, by email at popecounty@thecallinarkansas.org, or foster parenting, there are plenty of opportunities to volunteer by visiting their website, thecallinarkansas.org, or their office is l or donate. In order to do foster parenting or adoption, training is located at 1375 Marina Road in Russellville.
Fast Facts about local children in foster care:
‘Tis the Season ...a night of music and dance Saturday, December 6th ~ 7:00pm Sunday, December 7th ~ 2:00pm Tickets available at www.eventbrite.com or call (479) 968.6888 for more information. November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Community Commerce
Sorrells Body Shop
W
hat makes a business successful? Great customer service? Being family owned? Both of those things are important, and a big reason local business, Sorrells Body Shop has been operating in Russellville for more than 40 years. Purchasing the body shop upon his father’s retirement in 1988, Jamie Sorrells, president, has been dedicated to two important things in his business: his customers and his employees. In 2002 Eric Hartzell bought his share as partner, and is currently the general manager, vice president and responsible for daily operations. “For the most part, we are a collision
1903 S. Arkansas | (479) 968-3991
Story by EMILY LANGFORD
repair shop. If you are in an accident, and damage your vehicle, we are the place to come and get it fixed,” explained Sorrells. In a tight-knit community such as Russellville, one of the benefits of small businesses is knowing the people that serve you whether it is your dry cleaner, pediatrician, or the person working on your car. “We’ve been here for 40-something years. Over that time, you tend to build up trust in the community. People realize that when they come here they will find people who will take care of them and care about them,” said Sorrells. If you have ever been in an accident you know there can be many parties involved with making decisions. However, Sorrells
Body Shop takes every step to ensure your convenience and respect your time. “When you have an accident, most of the time you are dealing with your insurance company. We have a relationship with all of the [local] insurance companies so we make those issues a bit easier,” said Sorrells. Sorrells Body Shop has a hint of home. Right down to the smile of Billie Pawlicki, PR and customer service specialist, when you walk in the door. “Customer service, unfortunately, has become a thing of the past. Especially in today’s society, and that is something that most small and local businesses take seriously. We want to go above what people expect,” said Sorrells. “Our people
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ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
IN-HOME PERSONAL CARE
(479) 880-1112 • 914 West “B” Street, Russellville • www.youramcare.com
that work here is what makes the business. I am proud of the folks we have here. The technicians do a great job, which makes the people working the front do a great job,” added Sorrells. While the customers are important to Sorrells, he cares just as much about his employees and community members. “We try to make the shop a place people enjoy working. It is a real family atmosphere,” said Sorrells. Philanthropy is part of what makes Sorrells a family. “Our mission is to provide quality and ethical service to customers, while giving back to our community every way we can. Every quarterly meeting, we pick a name out of a hat, and that employee gets to pick a charity to give to,” explained Sorrells. Sorrells Body Shop has also given to local high school clubs and organizations, lent out billboard space for events, and purchased and fixed up a vehicle for local charity, The Russ Bus, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the homeless. The Russ Bus serves homeless by “purchasing tents, buy someone a few nights in a hotel, whatever they need,” said Sorrells. When asked what has made his business so successful, Sorrells replied that he really attributes their success to the fact that he has great people working for and with him. “You will leave here feeling good and sure that you were taken care of,” added Sorrells If you would like to know more about Sorrells Body Shop or see what they are up to, give them a “like” on Facebook, visit them at 1903 S Arkansas Ave, give them a call at 479-968-3991. l
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RIVER VALLEY EQUIPMENT SALES,LLC For Music & Voice Lessons: River Valley Music Center November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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Kailon Ingmire
Fall
IN THE VALLEY
In ABOUT’s first ever reader submitted photo pages, the students from Dover High School’s photography class overwhelmed us with their talent. Only a few photos on these pages are NOT from Dover High School. Enjoy some fantastic images of autumn in the River Valley. Thanks to everyone for submitting their photos.
Leeann Smith Bailey Sparks
Abby Mahon
Miracle Hatchett
Heather Hughes Morgan Beck
Seth Cheak
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ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
Devin Williams
Beck Foster
Tanner Whitted
Benita Drew William White
Sergio Picado Brooklyn Hamby
Caitlyn Wilson
Kelsey Pendergraft November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Community and Events
Junior Auxiliary announces 2015 Children’s Benefit Ball
Junior Auxiliary of Russellville has announced that the 2015 Children’s Benefit Ball will be held on Saturday, February 28, at the L.V. Williamson Boys and Girls Club in Russellville. The theme for the 2015 ball is “Cirque Gala.” Tickets are $70 per person or $130 per couple. Junior Auxiliary is a national non-profit organization that represents an endeavor on the part of women to be active and constructive community participants and to render charitable services which are beneficial to the general public, with particular emphasis on children. The award-winning Russellville chapter is one of 102 chapters in the national association. Junior Auxiliary of Russellville members provide more than 3,000 hours of service per year. Junior Auxiliary projects include “Lunch Buddies,” in which JA members meet regularly with local elementary students to provide support and encouragement. Another popular project is “Milk and Cookies with Santa,” which brings area children together in a celebration of the
holiday season. JA also supports local teachers through Teacher Assisted Grants. The TAG grants provide opportunities for teachers in the Russellville School District to fund innovative projects for their classrooms. In addition to annual projects, Junior Auxiliary provides volunteer assistance to a number of local organizations. The majority of the projects and grants provided by the Russellville Junior Auxiliary are funded by the chapter’s annual Children’s Benefit Ball. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Elizabeth Latch, public relations chair, at (479) 280-7869 or mlatch@newcorp.com.
FIRE & ICE ART GALA HOLIDAY JUBILEE 2014
River Valley Arts Center’s annual major fundraiser, Holiday Jubilee 2014,
will be Friday, November 21 at 7 p.m. at River Valley Arts Center. Our theme this year will include some fire and ice elements and demonstrations for all to enjoy. The evening will feature the talented Jazz Reunion Band for your listening and dancing pleasure, mingling with friends and artists, feasting on heavy hors d’oeuvres, and bidding on fabulous art and items in live and silent auctions. Johnny Story will be the auctioneer. This event is critical to the Arts Center annual funding, and is also a venue to recognize and honor the many talented artists in the River Valley. Group tables can be reserved. Tickets are on sale at the Arts Center or from any member of the Board of Directors for $50 each. “The success of this event depends upon so many that
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ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
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it is hard to name them all. We hope all of the donors are proud to have their name associated with the Arts Center. We certainly appreciate the support. Sponsors, artists and business donors and, of course, patrons who purchase tickets and the art all fill a vital role in the success of the event and the entire program and services of the Arts Center.” said President John Gale. “The Arts Center features more than 40 exhibits each year. What a tremendous gift to residents of the River Valley.” If you would like to sponsor, please call Amy at 968-2452 and sign up to help host this one of a kind night. We have many levels and some wonderful perks to go along with your sponsorship. This event is open to any resident or visitor who wishes to purchase a ticket to support the arts, artists and Arts Center in the River Valley. Call 479.968.2452 for tickets.
NEW LIVING AND LEARNING COMMUNITY BENEFITING AGRICULTURE STUDENTS
The fall 2014 semester is only half complete, and Arkansas Tech University student Lindsey Triplett is already sold on a new social and academic experiment unfolding in Hughes Residence Hall. Triplett, a sophomore agriculture business major from Damascus, is among 45 students from the Arkansas Tech Department of Agriculture living in Hughes Hall as part of the university’s first modern living and learning community (LLC). “The idea of living and interacting with the people I am closest to was appealing to me,” said Triplett. “It’s one thing seeing people in class. It’s another to live with them. I feel like it’s helped us grow as a department in terms of study groups and different activities we get to do together because we have similar interests.
“I didn’t expect everyone to mesh as well as they have,” continued Triplett. “We’ll have 15 or more people hanging out together in the lobby on a regular basis. We don’t have to pull teeth to get them to come to events. They want to be there.” Dr. Lucas Maxwell, assistant professor of agricultural education at Arkansas Tech, said that helping students feel more emotionally connected to the institution is at the core of the living and learning community initiative. “Our idea behind this was that we wanted to create a greater sense of belonging among our students,” said Maxwell. “We’ve always had great students who did tremendous things between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Our goal with this was to put together a space where a diverse group of agriculture students could live together, study together and create a greater sense of family within our department. >>
November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
“The crew that’s living here is more involved and more connected,” continued Maxwell. “We already know them better than we knew previous students. They’re coming to events, they’re doing things on their own and they’re holding each other accountable.” Several residence halls were considered for the Department of Agriculture LLC before Hughes Hall was selected, in part because of its proximity to classes in Dean Hall and the Tech Farm. In addition, the namesake for the facility --Claude A. Hughes --- taught agriculture and agronomy at Arkansas Tech from 1927-59. The structure itself, known to generations of Tech students as the “Rock Dorm,” was erected in 1940 as a Works Progress Administration (WPA) project. According to Dr. Kenneth Walker’s “History of Arkansas Tech University: 1909-90,” construction cost for the building was $34,473. Walker’s book on Arkansas Tech history also notes that Hughes was a proponent of agriculture students “living in a cooperative community.” Hughes Hall has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1992. The building received an extensive renovation that was completed in 2009. The renovation was made possible in part through a $1 million grant from the Arkansas Natural and Cultural Resources Council. Maxwell, a member of the Arkansas Tech faculty since 2012, said that the Department of Agriculture LLC in Hughes Hall will produce long-reaching advantages for students and the institution. “It’s going to be a benefit for them professionally because these are the people that they will work with in Arkansas and beyond during their careers,” said Maxwell. “We are a big industry, but it’s amazing the connections you make and the crossover that exists between the various disciplines inside agriculture. I think we’ll be surprised and they’ll be pleasantly surprised at how meaningful these connections are in their lives. “On the flip side, for us as a department, we’re going to have a stronger alumni base,” continued Maxwell. “We’re going to have folks who are going to want to be active, plan events, speak to classes and support scholarships. It’s all because this is more than the place where students come to class. It’s where they live. It’s their family.”
For now, Triplett is thankful for the simple benefits that the LLC provides. “If I miss a day of class, I just have to go knock on someone’s door and I can get the notes,” said Triplett. “Our professors have hosted study groups right here in our residence hall. It’s a big convenience. You don’t even have to leave the building to get the help you need. Being able to live here…almost all of us have some type of similar interests. We’re building lasting friendships. I think it’s a great thing.” Visit www.atu.edu/agriculture to learn more.
ETERNAL THREADS GATHERING SALE
The 7th Annual Eternal Threads Gathering Sale will be held from 10 am to 3 pm on Saturday, November 1, 2014 at the Family Center of West Side church of Christ, 201 N. Waco in Russellville. Please join us for a unique shopping experience that showcases Fair Trade products from twelve countries across the world. Established in the year 2000, Eternal Threads is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of women and children most as risk of extreme poverty, trafficking and other forms of exploitation. Eternal Threads provides sustainable livelihoods through income generating projects that directly pay a fair and living wage. Proceeds from sales also help fund vocational training, anti-trafficking border units and literacy programs. Come browse beautiful hand crafted items made by skilled artisans in exotic countries. Items include hand crocheted totes from India; hand-loomed silk scarves and shawls from Madagascar; hand-knitted woolen items and jewelry from Nepal; hand crafted jewelry using semiprecious stones from Afghanistan and Thailand, and many more crafts from Ghana, Uganda, Nigeria, Mongolia, Peru, Bulgaria, and the Philippines. With your Eternal Threads purchase, you not only possess a quality item that you will treasure you also give a gift of hope to a woman in the developing world. Join us in “weaving hope and justice” into the lives of hundreds of families. Your single purchase really does make a difference! Visit Eternal Threads website at www. EternalThreads.org. For more information, contact Molly Turner at 479-970-5445 or email at mollycturner58@gmail.com. l
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Backyard Living
Read more from Meredith at www.boileddownjuice.com
The Boiled Down Juice
Monarch Migration
Story by MEREDITH MARTIN-MOATS Photo by JOHNNY SAIN
A FEW WEEKS AGO I WAS TAKING A WALK WITH MY CHILDREN WHEN MY SON SPOTTED A MONARCH BUTTERFLY HIGH ABOVE US. In the coming days, we began to see them everywhere. They stopped for a drink at the few remaining zinnias in the front yard; they circled the echinacea and black-eyed Susans, and they hopped from the bee balm to the hyssop. Monarchs make their way through Arkansas every fall, appearing in late September and peaking in number sometime in early to mid-October. Even now, you’re likely to see a few stragglers, especially on warmer days. Deep orange like the mums blooming in our front yard, and outlined in black with tiny white dots at the tips of their wings, these tea-cup sized fliers appear so striking against the sharp autumn blue skies.
The monarchs we see here in central Arkansas were born east of the Rocky Mountains, sometimes as far north as Canada. They’re all headed toward the Gulf Coast and on to the highlands of central Mexico where they’ll stay until spring. They can travel up to 50 miles a day, making stops along the way in gardens across the U.S. When they reach the forests of Mexico they’ll cluster on evergreen trees with as many as twenty million butterflies gathering in each grove. By February they’ll be ready to mate, and by March they’ll start flying northward again in search of milkweed plants upon which to lay their eggs. A monarch butterfly’s life is short. Though we might like to think the monarchs we see in the fall are the same ones who came through last spring, they’re actually their great, great
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ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
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grandchildren. Monarchs mate and reproduce on a four-generation cycle, with each fourth generation making the long intercontinental trek. Though generations removed, this long-haul traveling fourth generation of monarchs inherently know the migratory route from Canada to Mexico. Scientists who study and tag monarchs say subsequent generations return to same grove each year; sometimes even the same tree. I first became interested in monarchs back in 2008 when my mother was dying. I had always loved the smells and colors of fall, but I was typically too busy going and doing to pay much attention to the movement of tiny creatures. But both my mother and grandmother loved to watch butterflies, and that year---the year I sat at my mother’s bedside and began to learn the importance of being still--my entire life shifted. For the first time since childhood I grew curious about butterflies. I learned to take time to just stand in the garden and watch as they made their way through our yards. In that time of great loss, the movement of an intergenerational, migratory, evermetamorphosing creature was about the only thing that made sense. Since then, I pay close attention to when the monarchs pass through; I talk to my kids about their life cycles and journeys, and I’ve made it a priority to plant the a few different varieties of the milkweed species upon which these creatures depend. In recent years, monarch numbers have been decreasing rapidly. Scientists
have a number of theories as to why this is happening but one thing is certain: they’re losing both their wintering grounds in central Mexico and their egg laying sources here in the United States. Milkweed, the only plants upon
from wildflower nurseries, such as Pine Ridge Gardens near London. It might not seem like much, but actively supporting insect habitat is a an investment in your community’s future. As the monarch most certainly knows, what happens during
A monarch butterfly’s life is short. Though we might like to think the monarchs we see in the fall are the same ones who came through last spring, they’re actually their great, great grandchildren. which monarchs will lay their eggs, is decreasing each year as land becomes developed and wild plants are replaced with seeded lawns, pavement, and cultivated varieties of plants. Butterfly bushes and other species of cultivators are often marketed as butterfly loving plants, and while it’s true that monarchs do enjoying feeding from a multitude of flowering species, they’ll lay their eggs only on milkweed. If we want monarchs coming back each year we have to make sure there’s milkweed in our communities. You can do your part by learning to identify milkweed and leaving wild growing milkweed patches undisturbed in pastures, fields and near your homes. If you live in town you can plant milkweed in your home gardens and around your places of business. They’re perennials and easy to care for once established. Milkweed comes in a variety of colors. You can order seed from a number of heirloom and wildflower seed companies. You can also purchase them
our generation will surely influence the next. It’s easy to overlook the tiniest of things, and far too often we’re too busy with life’s trivial concerns to pay heed to the interconnectedness we all share. May we never get too distracted to overlook these creatures as they pass through. If you want to learn more about supporting monarch habitats, visit me online at www. boileddownjuice.com for a list of links and more information. Do you watch the monarchs? I’d love to hear about it! l
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www.happy-jumpers.com November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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ABOUT...the River Valley | Outdoors
Little Armored One “Good grief that’s a lot of racket,” I thought while sitting in the large hickory tree that just happened to grow in the perfect spot to cover this deery-looking funnel with my bow. My first thought was turkeys. The big birds are notorious for raising a ruckus as they rake leaves in search of hidden mast and invertebrates. But the sound wasn’t moving much, and turkeys cover some ground in their foraging. This was something else. After a few minutes of trying to figure it out, I chose to ignore it. Or rather, I tried to ignore it. Half an hour later, I thought I was going to go crazy as I mumbled, “what the heck is over there?” Finally, I caught a glimpse of the small, pinkish- brown animal responsible. The critter shuffled through the leaves, followed that with frantic digging and then plunged its conical head into the forest duff before quickly moving to a fresh prospecting area a few feet away. This went on for an hour or more, and the snuffling beast covered an area about the size of my truck. The animal was an armadillo. This incident took place years ago. Nowadays, I can identify the sounds of a rambling armadillo within a few seconds. For a relatively non-vocal animal, they make a lot of noise. The noise comes from searching for food. Related to anteaters and sloths, armadillos are opportunistic feeders munching mostly on invertebrates like grubs, wasps, fire ants and scorpions. They do eat an occasional bird egg, reptile or amphibian. And every now and then they eat vegetable or fungal matter. Because they do so little chewing, they’re peg shaped molars have no enamel. The armadillo has a good sense of smell; I’ve been busted several times by a shifting wind as I tried to sneak 36
ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
Read more from Johnny at www.aviewfromthebackroads.com
Story & Photo by JOHNNY SAIN
in for good photo opportunities. Their eyesight, however, is poor. The picture with this column was taken from less than 10 feet, but downwind of course. Armadillos are nocturnal. If you want to see an armadillo in the daylight, winter is the best time of year. They seem to come out of the woodwork during cold days. This is because they have almost no body fat and a relatively low metabolic rate, which means they’re constantly eating to stay alive. Keeping the furnace stoked turns into a full-time job as the temperatures plummet. Armadillo is a Spanish word meaning “little armored one,” and the leathery hide is good protection from brush and briars as the armadillo runs away from predators at up to 30 mph. But sadly, it can’t hold up to an F-150 or other motorized vehicles. To make matters worse, the armadillo has a tendency to jump straight up when startled. Not a good strategy for survival on the road. Armadillo moms give birth to identical quadruplets – the only mammal known to do this. All young are from the same egg and even develop in the same placenta. There are so many interesting facts about the armadillo that even without its armor plating it would be among the most unique of animals. Armadillos can hold their breath for up to six minutes. They can walk across the bottom of creeks and other bodies of water, but they can also float by gulping air to inflate their intestines. Armadillos can also carry leprosy, but transmission to humans is rare. The nine-banded armadillo is the only species of armadillo found in the United States. It’s a southern species that has gradually increased its range, and has been spotted as far north as Nebraska. l
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On a Personal Note Proud Father, Proud Son Guest Written by Shannon Davis
“I’m proud of you son,” or “I’m proud of my girl,” is something I try to tell my kids on a regular basis. Truth be told, what I really mean is, “I’m proud to be your dad.”
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“I’m proud of you son.” Those are words that I always loved to hear when I was a kid. I was a fortunate child who had a loving mom and dad that seemed to know how to handle most situations that my two brothers and I faced. Granted, we didn’t always agree with the outcome of their decisions, particularly when it involved a sibling argument or scuffle. But the point is, they took care of us, protected us, supported us, disciplined us, had fun with us, but most of all…they loved us! Some say you never know what true love is until you have your own children. As Principal at Pottsville Elementary School, I’m not sure that I totally agree with that. My job involves working with children on a daily basis, and I can’t help but to absolutely love our students. But I must admit the love you have for your own child changes a person more than I ever realized. Parenting is a real job, and it seems much harder to me than my parents ever made it appear. But it is that reciprocal love between a mother and son, or father and daughter that makes it the most special job in the whole world. As proud parents of Brody and Gabbi, my wife Bridget and I are dedicated to being there for them. Whether it’s a mother’s kiss on a bruise, or a daddy’s push on the bicycle, we want our children to know they can count on us. We are dedicated to caring for, protecting, supporting, disciplining, having fun with…but most of all, loving our children. “I’m proud of you son,” or “I’m proud of my girl,” is something I try to tell my kids on a regular basis. Truth be told, what I really mean is, “I’m proud to be your dad.” My dad was, and is, an awesome dad. I can only hope that I will be half the father for my children that he has been to me. While at school on December 3, 2013, I got the call that my dad had a motorcycle accident. After being transported to Saint Vincent’s Hospital, the doctor informed us that dad suffered from a TBI. Assuming there were no other complications, recovery would take between 6 and 18 months and that he might never make a full recovery.
ABOUT...the River Valley | November 2014
Caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head, a Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) is an injury that disrupts how the brain works. A severe TBI not only affects the one who suffers from the brain injury, but it changes the lives of everyone who is close to that person in ways that nobody could imagine. Over 5 million people in the United States live with a TBI disability. Honestly, we didn’t know if Dad would make it through the night or not. Dad needed us during this tragic time. Yet, through all the tears and prayers, I found myself selfishly needing him more than ever. I needed him as a father. Brody and Gabbi needed their “Papa D.” His wife, Sandy, needed him as her loving companion. We all needed him in one way or another. Late that evening, the faint words, “I love you son,” were spoken from dad to my brother Heath and me. This was the sparkle of hope I had been looking for. Heath and I knew that underneath dad’s swollen, beaten, and battered head that he was still in there! Prior to the accident dad was physically, emotionally, and spiritually a very strong person. It is my belief that a lesser man would have died that day. Almost a year later, my dad is coping with the ongoing struggles to resume a life of normalcy after suffering from a TBI. Our family has learned the recovery time for a TBI is best measured by milestones on a yearly calendar rather than a weekly checklist. At times, the steps backward outnumber the steps forward, but he continues to press. There have been many unexpected setbacks and successes through the ongoing recovery process. Everyone’s lives have changed. My stepmother Sandy’s love for dad has been undeniable and I’m honored to have her as Brody and Gabbi’s “Granny.” Dad’s spiritual strength provides guidance and purpose. He is improving and we all look forward to many more wonderful years with Papa D. Oh, and in case I haven’t told you lately, “I’m proud of you dad!”
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, P.O. Box 10176, Russellville AR 72812 or sent via email to: editor@aboutrvmag.com. (A phone number must be included for verification.)
~ November 1 ~
~ January 3 ~
Lacie Oels and Kyle Bohannan
Meagan Hamby and Steven Minniear
~ November 8 ~
~ January 17 ~
Sarah Alpe and Eric Neihouse
Jennifer Johnston and Chris Reed
Katelyn Simmons and Dale W. Brown, II
~ February 28 ~
~ November 29 ~
Emma Finch and Trey James
Tessa Brunetti and Austin Floyd
~ March 14 ~
~ December 6 ~
Kathryn Dicken and Alexander Lopez
Sarah Rose Wilbourn and Josh Jefferson
~ April 18 ~
~ December 13 ~
Katherine Wohlgemuth and Cole Smith
Madison Carroll and Charley Buford
~ May 21 ~
Lyndsey Hunt and Jordan Vinson
Hanna Crane and Kurtis Kulbeth
Lauryn Tereza and Taylor Carr
~ June 13 ~
~ December 20 ~
Alisha Sears and Braden Carson
Lauren Nelson and Justin Morden
~ June 27 ~
Bethany Wade and Shawn Sutton
Lindsey Branham and Matt Williams
Photo by Benita's Photography
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.
2609 E. Parkway
Russellville November 2014 | ABOUT...the River Valley
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Chad Masters, M.D. M.D. Chad Masters, Millard-Henry ClinicClinic | Pediatrician Millard-Henry | Pediatrician
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Chad ChadMasters, Masters, M.D. M.D. Millard-Henry Millard-Henry ClinicClinic | Pediatrician | Pediatrician
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